Thursday, 20 November 2008
Germany vs England 1-2 video 19-11-2008 Friendly Match
England arrived in Berlin, a city in which they had never lost to Germany, with the majority of the pre-match talk surrounding the players who had not travelled.
Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney cried off early before being joined by Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Theo Walcott on the sidelines.
Yet the injuries allowed England manager Fabio Capello to try a few different options with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Michael Carrick and Matthew Upson all handed the chance to impress.
Germany, meanwhile, were also suffering with Michael Ballack, Philip Lahm and Torsten Frings all missing and Joachim Low bringing Marvin Commper and Jermaine Jones into the first team.
However, it was the visitors who made the brighter start to the game and they were rewarded for their efforts mid-way through the first half.
A Stewart Downing corner from the right was completely missed by German stopper Rene Adler and the ball fell to Matthew Upson to poke home his first international goal.
The goal seemed to shake the Germans and they struggled to respond, creating little in the way of chances in an unusually lacklustre first half display.
England by contrast looked confident, with a nice balance to the side due to the presence of Wright-Philips and Downing on the flanks and with real pace up front in the shape of Defoe and Agbonlahor.
Joachim Lowe opted to change things at half-time sending on Marko Marin, Patrick Helmes and Tim Wiese whilst Capello brought on the in-form Darren Bent and Scott Carson with Defoe and James making way.
The home side began the second half slightly better but still failed to test Scott Carson in the England goal. Desperate to increase their attacking options Lowe then sent on Lucas Podolski just before the hour mark.
Yet it was the visitors who had the best chance of the second period and really should have doubled their lead just after the hour mark.
Barry slipped an intelligent ball through to Bent and the Tottenham Hotspur man rounded Wiese before slipping and sending his shot wide with the goal gaping.
Less than a minute later and England were made to pay. A terrible misunderstanding between Carson and John Terry saw Patrick Helmes, nip in to grab the ball and slot home.
The goal gave England renewed vigour and they had their chances to regain the lead. Gabriel Agbonlahor coming close after being sent scampering into the area by Carrick but his fiercely struck shot was saved by Wiese at the near post.
Yet Germany seemed to sense the win and with Marin starting to cause problems and Westermann pushing forwards and an on song Helmes proving a handful, they began to dominate.
Yet with ten minutes remaining England again might have scored again. Bent and Wright-Philips combining, and the Manchester City man bore down on goal before crashing a shot which Wiese did wonderfully well to tip onto his left-hand post.
Minutes later and England did have their goal. A free kick by Downing was whipped into the box where skipper Terry was on hand to head across goal and off the far post to hand England the win.
Germany: Adler (Wiese, 46); Friedrich (Tasci, 68), Mertesacker, Westermann, Compper (Schafer, 78); Schweinsteiger, Jones (Marin, 46), Rolfes, Trochowski; Klose (Helmes, 46), Gomez (Podolski, 57)
England: James (Carson, 46), Johnson, Upson, Terry, Bridge, Wright-Philips (Crouch, 94), Barry, Carrick, Downing, Defoe (Bent, 46), Agbonlahor (Young, 77)
GOALS
1-2 Germany (Terry, 84)
1-1 Germany (Helmes, 63)
0-1 England (Upson, 23)
Greece vs Italia 1-1 video 19-11-2008 Friendly Match
Greek coach Otto Rehhagel picked a slightly inexperienced squad for this friendly, as nine of his 20 squad members had played less than 10 times for the country. This was partly due to the injuries to both Angelos Charisteas and Giourkas Seitaridis, and the withdrawals of Giorgios Samaras and Ioannis Amanatidis. There were some familiar faces on show for Serie A fans in the form of Genoa defender Sokratis and Panathinaikos' ex-Inter midfielder Giorgios Karagounis.
A different look Italian squad arrived in Athens, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Andrea Pirlo, Alberto Aquilani and Alessandro Del Piero all out for various reasons. Marcello Lippi, who was looking to break the legendary Vittorio Pozzo’s record of 30 successive Azzurri games undefeated, fielded a forward trident of Luca Toni, Mauro Camoranesi and Giuseppe Rossi, the latter making his first start for the Azzurri.
First Half
Italy had their first chance of the game on eight minutes, as Rino Gattuso forced Alexandros Tzorvas into a smart save. From the resulting corner Rossi missed a fantastic opportunity to score his first goal for Italy, as the ball broke to him, but from just six yards out he could not find a way past Tzorvas.
The Azzurri had made a bright start, but Greece showed intent of their own on 17 minutes as Karagounis sliced the ball well wide from 30 yards.
The home side were improving, and on 25 minutes they created their best opening of the game so far as Spyropoulos crossed from the left for Kostas Katsouranis, who was unmarked in the middle but headed wide.
Set-pieces were a possible weapon for Italy, and Luca Toni just couldn't stretch enough to get onto the end of Daniele De Rossi's free kick. Seconds later the Bayern Munich man twisted past his man inside the area before scuffing the ball wide with his left foot.
Greece had the ball in the back of the net on 38 minutes through Mantzios, but he was flagged offside and Italy survived.
Rossi burst into life a few minutes later by embarking on a superb solo run before being upended on the edge of the area. He took the free kick himself but fired straight into the wall.
The Villarreal youngster had now found his touch, and right on the stroke of half time he showed quick feet to get a shot in, forcing Tzorvas into a low save down to his right.
Second Half
Both teams made two changes at the break. Greece introduced Fanis Gekas and Nikos Liberopoulos for Karagounis and Mantzios. Italy brought on Simone Pepe and Nicola Legrottaglie for Chiellini and Riccardo Montolivo.
Into the second half, and Italy started strongly, with Mauro Camoranesi unleashing a thunderbolt from 25 yards that was turned around the post by Tzorvas. Gattuso then fired over with his left foot.
However, it was Greece who took the lead just moments later as Tziolis slipped the ball through to Gekas, and he finished clinically into the corner past Morgan De Sanctis.
Greece continued to attack, and De Sanctis was called into action to prevent further damage as he went down low to save from Basinas' free kick.
Moments later Italy were level, and Toni grabbed the goal, thus ending his long international goal drought. The Bayern Munich peeled off his man at the back post to nod De Rossi's free kick into the far corner of the net.
On 58 minutes, Italy should have gone ahead as a fine team move ended with the ball being presented to Camoranesi, but Tzorvas produced a superb reaction save to turn the ball around the post.
Lippi made three more changes on the hour mark, as Alessandro Gamberini, Alberto Gilardino and debutant Christian Maggio replaced Cannavaro, Toni and Camoranesi. Gattuso took the captain's armband off Cannavaro.
De Rossi skied the ball over from distance before Greece wasted a good opening as Dimitis Salpigidis screwed the ball wide when well placed inside the area.
Vincenzo Iaquinta came on for Rossi to complete Italy's six substitutions, but on 72 minutes the impressive Katsouranis went close for Greece as he lashed the ball over from 25 yards.
All these substitutions understandably broke up Italy's rhythm, and the game then entered a very scrappy phase, as both sides gave away possession and almost seemed to settle for the draw.
However, on 88 minutes there was a sniff of a chance for Iaquinta, but he could not get a good connection on the ball, and the danger passed.
That was all for tonight's action as the game finished 1-1. Marcello Lippi moved on to 31 successive games unbeaten on the Italy bench, thus surpassing the record he previously shared with legendary 1934 and 1938 World Cup winner Vittorio Pozzo.
Teams
Greece: Tzorvas; Spyropoulos, Dellas, Vyntra, Tziolis, Papastathopoulos, Karagounis (Gekas 46), Basinas (Ninis 88), Katsouranis; Mantzios (Liberopoulos 46), Salpigidis
Italy: De Sanctis; Bonera, Cannavaro (Gamberini 60), Chiellini (Legrottaglie 46), Grosso; Montolivo (Pepe 46), De Rossi, Gattuso; Camoranesi (Maggio 60), Rossi (Iaquinta 70), Toni (Gilardino 60)
Goals
Gekas 50 (G)
Toni 54 (I)
Scotland vs Argentina 0-1 video 19-11-2008 Friendly Match
Scotland boss George Burley was able to name captain Barry Ferguson in a brave 4-4-2 formation. Allan McGregor came in between the sticks for the injured Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley started with Manchester United's Darren Fletcher out and Chris Iwelumo made his first start up front despite his Norway horror show.
New Argentina boss Diego Maradona looked like he was about to burst with pride before kick-off. He was missing the likes of Lionel Messi, 'Kun' Aguero and Juan Román Riquelme, but was, of course, still able to put together an impressive line-up.
After the anthems had been sung, there was a minute of silence for late Boca Juniors president Pedro Pompilio and also former Scotland coach Ian McColl.
First Half
It was a blustery night at Hampden Park, but Argentina were keen to get the ball down and play, keeping early possession.
Left winger Kris Commons provided an early threat for the hosts, though, cutting inside and providing a decent cross that just evaded Chris Iwelumo.
Irked, the South American side roared straight up the other end and, after some cutting play, Javier Mascherano blasted a swerving volley at Allan McGregor that the 'keeper was only to keen to beat away.
Inside 8 minutes, though, the Albicelestes would prove too hot to handle. A long kick-out ended up with Carlos Tevez on the right, who worked his way into the box deftly. He passed off to Jonas Gutierrez, who in turn played in the onrushing Maxi Rodriguez and the Atleti man was able to pick his spot and open the scoring.
Thus followed extended periods of possession for Maradona's slick side, who were almost in again when McGregor was forced to save with his two feet from Napoli man Ezequiel Lavezzi's close-range effort.
However, Scotland were able to show a bit of heart and up the pace midway through the half, clearly annoyed by their own fans' jeering. James McFadden had their first real chance, forcing Martin Demichelis to block his effort bravely.
The intensity levels had been raised and Gutierrez's cynical foul on Alan Hutton gifted Scotland a free-kick in a dangerous area. Subsequently, Commons' inswinging delivery found Kirk Broadfoot, who had escaped his marker, but the Rangers full-back couldn't direct his header.
The visitors were rattled and Juan Pablo Carrizo and Demichelis were involved in a dreadful mix-up, from which McFadden very nearly profited. Towards the end of the first half, then, the Scots certainly had played their way back into the match after a shaky start.
Second Half
One might have expected a slew of changes at the interval, but perhaps the coaches felt like the game had more life in it and only Lee Miller appeared in the place of Iwelumo.
The second half picked up at a very good pace and Lavezzi had a chance early on, firing wide after good work from Rodriguez.
Commons, impressive all night long, was keen to drive at defenders and certainly caused problems. Everything was going though him and the Derby man certainly didn't look out of place against the superstars as Scotland started to dominate the second half.
However, they weren't creating clear-cut chances and Argentina were always going to be dangerous. Indeed, Lavezzi might have been in when he went racing through, but the referee chose not to play what would have been a great advantage and killed the move.
The Scots came close from a corner with 20 minutes remaining. Argentina's zonal marking looked suspect and substitute Lee Miller was afforded too much space, heading just over.
The Albicelestes, perhaps sensing that they weren't really getting anywhere, started to kill the game with their impressive passing for the last 15 minutes.
At times their gear change could be frightening, though, and more great play in tight areas almost let sub German Denis in, but the Scottish defence was able to stifle him.
At the other end, the brilliant Commons played a lovely reverse pass to sub David Clarkson, but his shot was blocked wide and time would run out on Burley's men.
Both coaches saw lots of good things during a full-blooded, up-tempo game that belied its friendly status. However, both sides clearly still have a long way to go before they can turn a corner and rescue their ailing World Cup qualifying bids.
Brazil vs Portugal 6-2 video 19-11-2008 Friendly Match
The inauguration of the Estadio Bezerrao of Brasilia was celebrated in style after an absolutely sensational display by Brazil, who have certainly rediscovered their top form after an emphatic 6-2 victory over European counterparts Portugal.
But things didn't get off to the best of starts for Dunga's men, as Portugal took a surprise lead in the 4th minute when Danny flicked a far post cross into the back of the net with a cheeky backheel.
But Brazil replied immediately, as within four minutes Luis Fabiano blasted the ball home after good work from Robinho down the left wing to draw the Brazilians level.
Minutes later Robinho almost put Brazil ahead, but he shaved the right post with a fine effort from the edge of the area.
Dunga's men dominated their opponents in the midfield and pushed forward at every opportunity. And the five-time World Champions were rewarded for their approach as in the 23rd minute Luis Fabiano fired in a shot on the turn that eluded Quim in the Portugal goal.
In the 35th minute Kaka had a great opportunity to increase Brazil's lead, but he blasted an effort over the crossbar when he just had the goalkeeper to beat.
Brazil went into the break with a well deserved 2-1 advantage, and from what we saw in the initial forty-five minutes much was expected after the break.
It definitely lived up to expectation, as Brazil demonstrated arguably their best display since Dunga was appointed the coach of the national team in 2006. His side managed to rediscover their top form, with a magnificent display reminiscent of the joga bonito.
Brazil played the better football at the beginning of the second half, and after a great deal of pressure they finally increased their lead in the 25th minute with a spectacular strike from Maicon.
Robinho, Elano and Luis Fabiano combined to release the right back and he managed to beat Quim with an absolutely brilliant effort from an almost impossible angle.
Two minutes later Luis Fabiano completed his superb hat-trick with Brazil's fourth goal of the night. The Sevilla striker tapped the ball into an unguarded net after an initial Robinho effort was blocked by Quim.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who couldn't find anything near to his top form during the match, tested Julio Cesar with a long-range free-kick that went awfully wide.
A few minutes later Simao Sabrosa pulled a goal back for the visitors after good work from Deco.
But Portugal were in for another major set-back, as in the 65th minute Elano extended Brazil's big lead when he unleashed an extraordinary curling effort that went inside the left post.
In second half injury time substitute Adriano added Brazil's sixth goal when he connected to a precise left wing Marcelo cross with a powerful header.
Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda brought an end to a breathtaking encounter, that allowed Brazil to demonstrate to the world that they will surely be contenders to lift the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Team Line-Ups
Brazil 6- Julio Cesar, Maicon (Daniel Alves 79'), Luisao, Thiago Silva, Kleber (Marcelo 81'), Gilberto Silva, Elano (Mancini 75'), Anderson(Josue 79'), Kaka, Robinho (Alex 81') and Luis Fabiano (Adriano 63'). Coach- Carlos Dunga.
Portugal 2- Quim, Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche (Cesar Peixoto 82'), Tiago (Raul Meireles 45'), Deco (Joao Moutinho 63'), Danny (Nani 45'), Cristiano Ronaldo and Simao. Coach- Carlos Queiroz.
Goals
Brazil- Luis Fabiano (8', 24', 57'), Maicon (55'), Elano (63'), Adriano(90')
Portugal- Danny (4') , Simao (61')
