Marcello Lippi failed to weave his magic in his first match since returning to the Italy helm as the Azzurri were forced to recover from two goals down to draw with Austria in a friendly in Nice on Wednesday.
Showing posts with label Friendly Match. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friendly Match. Show all posts
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Germany 2-0 Belgium
Second-half goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marko Marin lifted Germany to victory over Belgium in an international friendly on Wednesday night.Schweinsteiger struck from the spot in the 59th before Marin's beautiful strike put the one-sided issue beyond doubt 13 minutes from time.
Video: Great goal from Henrik Larsson
.jpg "Friendly : Sweden - France, Steve Mandanda (France)")
France came back from a goal down and won the friendly against Sweden 3 -2.Henrik Larsson marked his 99th cap with a stunning scissor kick goal.
Sweden 2-3 France Highlights
Two goals by Sidney Govou helped France come from behind to defeat Sweden 3-2 in a friendly on Wednesday.Veteran Henrik Larsson opened the scoring for the hosts with a spectacular volley from a cross by Kim Kallstrom in the fifth minute.
Highlights
Russia 1-1 Netherlands Highlights
Watch highlights of the International friendly match between Russia and Holland here, Right after the match.
Feyenoord defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been named as Holland’s new skipper ahead of their friendly with Russia.
The Dutch captaincy has been up for grabs following the international retirement of former first-choice stopper Edwin van der Sar following Euro 2008.
Van Bronckhorst’s appointment was made public by new Oranje boss Bert van Marwijk on Tuesday, as he puts the final preparations in place for his first game in charge in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russia will be without the services of full-back Aleksandr Anyukov and midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov after they were ruled out due to injury.
Anyukov did not meet up with the national team in Moscow on Monday after sustaining a rib injury while playing with Zenit St Petersburg.
Bilyaletdinov was ruled out of boss Guus Hiddink’s side on Monday night after he failed to respond to treatment on a muscle injury.
Highlights
Video:England salvage last gasp draw against Czechs - Highlights
A motley collection of ageing not so indomitable three lions didn't roar too loudly.Milan Baros (off Ashley Cole) put the Czech Republic ahead.Wes Brown equalised by putting his head to a Beckham corner .Jankulovski put the Czechs in front again with a great free-kick. Joe Cole managed a scappy equaliser in the 90th minute.
England 2-2 Czech Republic Highlights
England rescued a fortunate draw against Czech Republic but were poor in their last game before the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Milan Baros turned England skipper John Terry and had his shot deflected in off Ashley Cole to put the Czechs ahead.
England equalised with a powerful Wes Brown header but were out-classed and outplayed by the visitors.
Marek Jankulovski restored the Czech lead with an superb free-kick before Chelsea’s Joe Cole scrambled in a leveller.
Cole’s goal was more than England deserved and their performance will have given boss Fabio Capello plenty to think about before the qualifying campaign for the next World Cup starts against Andorra on 6 September and a game against Croatia four days later.
The Italian has made it clear he wants his side playing as a unit and the players mirroring their club form for their country.
22′ [0 - 1] M. Baros
44′ [1 - 1] W. Brown
48′ [1 - 2] M. Jankulovski
90′+4′ [2 - 2] J. Cole
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tottenham Vs Roma (All The Goals)
The goals from the Pre Season game between Tottenham and Roma.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Impressions from Barca's Thrashing of Red Bulls
Goals galore in an exhibition game that left no one unfulfilled, and All4All Blogger MoHaMeD was there to enjoy it all.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- It took the crowd of 38,152 a few minutes to settle into their seats, but FC Barcelona needed no such coaxing. From the first whistle Pep Guardiola’s side, fielding close to a full-strength XI, ran rings around the Red Bulls en route to a comfortable 6-2 pre-season win.
It was pure champagne soccer in the first half as Barcelona played the equivalent of half-court basketball. The backline of Eric Abidal, Carlos Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Daniel Alves defended comfortably from the halfway line; their midfield combination of Xavi and Andres Iniesta passed at will and controlled the flow of play.
The Red Bulls could only watch and defend as chance after chance flashed in front of Jon Conway’s goalmouth. When Thierry Henry found the net on 15 minutes, tapping in a Samuel Eto’o pass from the left, the relief on Conway’s face to see the linesman flag up said it all.
It was to prove light relief, though, because less than three minutes later, Alves flung a menacing cross in from the right wing on the overlap, and Xavi rose unmarked between at the edge of the 6-yard box to head home through Conway’s hands.
The vocal, playful crowd expected more. They had come to see all that Barcelona is supposed to be, creative, quick, mythical, almost. And they were not to be disappointed.
Barely a minute later, Barca struck again. The Red Bulls lost possession--again. Iniesta pushed forward, untouched, before releasing Eto’o up the middle with a perfectly weighted pass that left Carlos Mendes and Jeff Parke helpless to Eto’o’s crisp, low finish under Conway. Brilliant execution from the mercurial midfielder, who enjoyed a wonderful run of form during Spain’s route to victory in Euro ’08, and it sent the carnival crowd into delirium.
There was a palpable tension in the press box by this point, as writers stopped to laugh and guess as to just how high the score might get. It was both curious and frustrating. No one wants to see a professional team, the home side, even, crushed beyond recognition.
But there was nothing New York could do when Barcelona struck again just five minutes on. Marquez flicked Iniesta’s shot into the roof of the net, leaving Conway helpless. After the goal, his facial expression shouted for mercy; wide-eyed, bemused and befuddled, he couldn’t help but crack a small smile as Barca celebrated. Hard as it is for any goalkeeper to swallow goals, he knew was this was: Barcelona’s day, their spotlight, and despite his inability to fend off their attacks, one got the impression that he couldn’t help but enjoy the atmosphere.
It wasn’t all glory and gusto from the Blaugrana, as veteran goalkeeper Victor Valdes gifted a simple tap-in goal to Seth Stammler on the half-hour mark. Dave van den Bergh’s seemingly innocuous cross from the right slipped right through Valdes’ grasp, and Stammler was on-hand to smash the ball into the empty net.
The game sagged a little heading into half-time, although Barca’s fourth goal on 43 minutes was the pick of the bunch: recent Arsenal transfer Alexandre Hleb cut in from the right flank, beating two defenders into the box before feeding the electric Eto’o. His first touch brushed him past a tackle and his next slid the ball under Conway for his second goal of the night.
Barcelona made several changes at half-time and let their up-and-coming teenagers run the show. While the tempo and pace became less frantic after the break, Barca ceded little time or territory to the Red Bulls, dictating the game in the same way their seniors had done: controlled passing, sustained possession, continual off-the-ball movement and constant menace. Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets, while lacking the polish of Xavi and Iniesta, gave assured, confident performances that must delight Guardiola as to the strength in depth of his squad.
However, it was the Red Bulls who scored first after the restart, thanks to another Valdes error in judgment. While their goals were far from goodwill in this playful fixture, a dangerous cross from the right side by the tireless Parke skidded under Valdes’ late dive and Rojas tapped it in for his first goal as a Bull. Obviously Valdes was going through the motions on this night. Either that, or Guardiola better start looking for a new goalkeeper.
From there, the game became the usual mish-mash of mistimed tackles and substitutions that one finds in friendlies such as this, but the Blaugrana still found time to squeeze in two late goals; the first saw Puyol (playing a more attacking role in the 2nd half, much to his delight) advance down the right and cutting the ball back to the penalty spot for sub Jeffren Suarez to curl it round substitute goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell, whle the second saw Suarez’s mazy run down the right end with a cut back to Pedro who finished firmly from close to the penalty spot five minutes from time.
After all the off-field distractions involving Ronaldinho’s protracted transfer to AC Milan and the confusion surrounding Messi’s desire to play for his country during the Olympics, it was another self-assured, clinical outing for the Barca superstars, most of whom took a spot on the bench for the second half. La Liga is grueling, and they need to take this sparkling run of form (19 goals and only 5 allowed in 4 matches before tonight) into their early-season schedule. Their midfield shone brightest, and Eto’o put his own petulance behind him with two well-taken goals.
For the Red Bulls, there were few positives, but Rojas and half-time substitute/new face Gabriel Cichero acquitted themselves well against the Barcelona attack. It was hardly the best pick-me-up after a difficult run of recent form, but the Red Bulls must put the carnival behind them and concentrate and reversing the tide of four defeats in their last 5 competitive matches. Meanwhile, it’s onward and upward for Barcelona, who begin preparations for their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Polish league champions Wisla Krakow.
The crowd filtered out in the last few minutes, missing the obligatory swapping of shirts and handshakes between the teams, but they took home the memories of a clinical, thoroughly enjoyable match. Barcelona fans outnumbered Red Bulls supporters in the stands, but the most uplifting sight came in the vast number of neutral fans that flooded the Meadowlands to enjoy the festivities.
Surrounded by the vocal Barca culers, beating drums and dancing from start to finish, they were given a show that everyone could appreciate, regardless of allegiance. It was a welcome alternative to the dour, unimaginative performances from West Ham and Everton against MLS sides in recent days, and as we headed back to the car, passing fans in soccer shirts from around the world, there was precious little to groan about.
Readmore »»
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- It took the crowd of 38,152 a few minutes to settle into their seats, but FC Barcelona needed no such coaxing. From the first whistle Pep Guardiola’s side, fielding close to a full-strength XI, ran rings around the Red Bulls en route to a comfortable 6-2 pre-season win.
It was pure champagne soccer in the first half as Barcelona played the equivalent of half-court basketball. The backline of Eric Abidal, Carlos Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Daniel Alves defended comfortably from the halfway line; their midfield combination of Xavi and Andres Iniesta passed at will and controlled the flow of play.
The Red Bulls could only watch and defend as chance after chance flashed in front of Jon Conway’s goalmouth. When Thierry Henry found the net on 15 minutes, tapping in a Samuel Eto’o pass from the left, the relief on Conway’s face to see the linesman flag up said it all.
It was to prove light relief, though, because less than three minutes later, Alves flung a menacing cross in from the right wing on the overlap, and Xavi rose unmarked between at the edge of the 6-yard box to head home through Conway’s hands.
The vocal, playful crowd expected more. They had come to see all that Barcelona is supposed to be, creative, quick, mythical, almost. And they were not to be disappointed.
Barely a minute later, Barca struck again. The Red Bulls lost possession--again. Iniesta pushed forward, untouched, before releasing Eto’o up the middle with a perfectly weighted pass that left Carlos Mendes and Jeff Parke helpless to Eto’o’s crisp, low finish under Conway. Brilliant execution from the mercurial midfielder, who enjoyed a wonderful run of form during Spain’s route to victory in Euro ’08, and it sent the carnival crowd into delirium.
There was a palpable tension in the press box by this point, as writers stopped to laugh and guess as to just how high the score might get. It was both curious and frustrating. No one wants to see a professional team, the home side, even, crushed beyond recognition.
But there was nothing New York could do when Barcelona struck again just five minutes on. Marquez flicked Iniesta’s shot into the roof of the net, leaving Conway helpless. After the goal, his facial expression shouted for mercy; wide-eyed, bemused and befuddled, he couldn’t help but crack a small smile as Barca celebrated. Hard as it is for any goalkeeper to swallow goals, he knew was this was: Barcelona’s day, their spotlight, and despite his inability to fend off their attacks, one got the impression that he couldn’t help but enjoy the atmosphere.
It wasn’t all glory and gusto from the Blaugrana, as veteran goalkeeper Victor Valdes gifted a simple tap-in goal to Seth Stammler on the half-hour mark. Dave van den Bergh’s seemingly innocuous cross from the right slipped right through Valdes’ grasp, and Stammler was on-hand to smash the ball into the empty net.
The game sagged a little heading into half-time, although Barca’s fourth goal on 43 minutes was the pick of the bunch: recent Arsenal transfer Alexandre Hleb cut in from the right flank, beating two defenders into the box before feeding the electric Eto’o. His first touch brushed him past a tackle and his next slid the ball under Conway for his second goal of the night.
Barcelona made several changes at half-time and let their up-and-coming teenagers run the show. While the tempo and pace became less frantic after the break, Barca ceded little time or territory to the Red Bulls, dictating the game in the same way their seniors had done: controlled passing, sustained possession, continual off-the-ball movement and constant menace. Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets, while lacking the polish of Xavi and Iniesta, gave assured, confident performances that must delight Guardiola as to the strength in depth of his squad.
However, it was the Red Bulls who scored first after the restart, thanks to another Valdes error in judgment. While their goals were far from goodwill in this playful fixture, a dangerous cross from the right side by the tireless Parke skidded under Valdes’ late dive and Rojas tapped it in for his first goal as a Bull. Obviously Valdes was going through the motions on this night. Either that, or Guardiola better start looking for a new goalkeeper.
From there, the game became the usual mish-mash of mistimed tackles and substitutions that one finds in friendlies such as this, but the Blaugrana still found time to squeeze in two late goals; the first saw Puyol (playing a more attacking role in the 2nd half, much to his delight) advance down the right and cutting the ball back to the penalty spot for sub Jeffren Suarez to curl it round substitute goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell, whle the second saw Suarez’s mazy run down the right end with a cut back to Pedro who finished firmly from close to the penalty spot five minutes from time.
After all the off-field distractions involving Ronaldinho’s protracted transfer to AC Milan and the confusion surrounding Messi’s desire to play for his country during the Olympics, it was another self-assured, clinical outing for the Barca superstars, most of whom took a spot on the bench for the second half. La Liga is grueling, and they need to take this sparkling run of form (19 goals and only 5 allowed in 4 matches before tonight) into their early-season schedule. Their midfield shone brightest, and Eto’o put his own petulance behind him with two well-taken goals.
For the Red Bulls, there were few positives, but Rojas and half-time substitute/new face Gabriel Cichero acquitted themselves well against the Barcelona attack. It was hardly the best pick-me-up after a difficult run of recent form, but the Red Bulls must put the carnival behind them and concentrate and reversing the tide of four defeats in their last 5 competitive matches. Meanwhile, it’s onward and upward for Barcelona, who begin preparations for their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Polish league champions Wisla Krakow.
The crowd filtered out in the last few minutes, missing the obligatory swapping of shirts and handshakes between the teams, but they took home the memories of a clinical, thoroughly enjoyable match. Barcelona fans outnumbered Red Bulls supporters in the stands, but the most uplifting sight came in the vast number of neutral fans that flooded the Meadowlands to enjoy the festivities.
Surrounded by the vocal Barca culers, beating drums and dancing from start to finish, they were given a show that everyone could appreciate, regardless of allegiance. It was a welcome alternative to the dour, unimaginative performances from West Ham and Everton against MLS sides in recent days, and as we headed back to the car, passing fans in soccer shirts from around the world, there was precious little to groan about.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Video:Ronaldo,Real Madrid and Wesley Sneijder's knee
Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to go to Real Madrid now because Wesley Sneijder took a bad knock on his knee [ out for six months].This is the latest twist in the saga.....
Video: Chelsea beat AC Milan 5 - 0
It was the third place play-off of the Russian Railways Cup.Anelka hit four out of the 5 goals and the other one came from a Lampard free kick.It helped that AC Milan were missing key players such as Kaka, Pato, Inzaghi and Borriello.They went into half time 3 goals down and stayed down.Is this enough to make Kaka change his mind and move to Chelsea?There's a chap writing on ESPN that thinks so.
Video:Chelsea lose another shootout...
Deja vu ? Andriy Shevchenko did a John Terry in the Railways Cup game against Lokomotiv Moscow.This was the third consecutive shoot-out that Chelsea have lost.More Chelsea trauma for Shevchenko.Scolari ( smiling bravely) said he did not blame any player.The chuckling you can hear in the background is probably Mourinho.The two goals that came in the run of play here...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Video: Arsenal 3 Stuttgart 1
Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere were all on target.Lehmann an old man of 38 by comparision was brilliant in a reflex save that denied Theo Walcott from point-blank range after he was set up by van Persie.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Videos from the world of Friendlies: Arsenal 10 ,Chelsea 2
Not against each other.Arsenal scored 10 goals against Burgenland in a pre season friendly which come to think of it was not a very friendly thing to do.Nicklas Bendtner scored four goals and Carlos Vela got a hat-trick.Wilshere and Walcott completed the carnage.
Chelsea on the other hand rounded off their Asian Tour with a 2 - 0 win over a Malaysian Team.
Readmore »»
Chelsea on the other hand rounded off their Asian Tour with a 2 - 0 win over a Malaysian Team.
Brad Friedel: Thou shalt be missed at Rovers
Think Rovers and the adjectives that flow are tough, uncompromising, physical, ugly, and effective. Part of the rorschach was a unyielding defense whose fail safe option at the back was Brad Friedel. I am sure that there are thousands of fans who feel a bit choked up at Friedel's departure for Villa which opened up once Paul Robinson was signed up by Paul Ince.
Peter Garrett like, Friedel's 6' 4" frame was an unshakeable and umistakable visage at Rovers for the last 8 seasons. I seriously think that Friedel counts for 80% of the few warm fuzzies left in the UK for the USA in these anti Bush days. See Pew polls >>
During his time and because of him in large part, Rovers made the transition to the Premiership in his 2001 inaugural season. The men from the North West gleefully stuck it to clubs taking themselves too seriously even as they cemented their place in the Premiership. Friedel's lightning reflexes, penalty saving instincts, and leadership at the back became a trademark.
It all counted for some unforgettable moments for Rovers fans. As an Arsenal fan, I remember the FA Cup fifth round match against us last year as Friedel kept the Gunners at bay with a wondrous double save. To my chagrin, the match ended in a draw with Rovers taking it to the next leg. This year, April 19th, 2008, he kept swatting aside Man Utd's attack as they circled around goal like sharks tasting blood and it took a 88th minute Tevez strike to breach the citadel. Thanks to that equalizing goal, Man U kept a crucial 3 point lead over Chelsea. Later, a relieved Carlos Queiroz praised Friedel's performance.
And who can forget his match against Spurs when they won the 2002 League Cup final, their first in 72 years. Friedel was at his best. This is what Paul Doyle had to say in his six great goal keeping displays of recent years.
"You could say this was the match in which Brad Friedel repaid his transfer fee ... if it weren't for the crazy fact that he came from Liverpol for free. Graeme Souness, then, at least made one inspired signing in his long and ludicrous managerial career."
And in another memorable moment, he scored his only goal against against Charlton in 2004, a dextrous piece of opportunism that would have made Gary Lineker proud.
I have never seen a drop off in Friedel's intensity and his willingness to give it his all in the years that he has played for Rovers. 287 matches started, most club appearances in the Premiership with 172 matches, a selection to the 2002-03 Premiership all team for keeping 15 clean sheets and leading them to a 6th place finish, good for an UEFA spot.
Friedel's brilliant goal against the Addicks >>
Friedel two times Arsenal >>
Fare thee well at Villa but ye shall be remembered fondly at Rovers.
Readmore »»Monday, July 28, 2008
Video: Tevez atones for penalty miss
In their final game on the Africa tour Manchester United beat Portsmouth 2 - 1 in a friendly.Portsmouth's newly imported old reliable Peter Crouch showed some signs of a possible fruitful partnership with Jermain Defoe.
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Video: Messi hat trickVideo: Messi hat trick
Messi scores 3 out of Barcelona's 5 goals in their 5 -1 drubbing of Dundee United.They really ought to let him go to the Olympics.
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Beckham leads MLS all stars to win over West Ham
Dean Ashton scored first for the West Ham. Gomez neutralised that advantage even as the goal celebrations were going on. Blanco gave the All-Stars the lead a minute before half-time and West Ham levelled through a deflected shot from Ashton’ The All-Stars took the game when De Rosario converted a penalty into a goal that careened in off the cross bar.Becks made himself useful throughout the proceedings though not getting in among the goals himself.
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