Been watching a lot of international matches recently, thanks to the Starhub's Hubstation that recorded these matches and allow me to watch them at my own pace. This past week features more qualifying games to the run-up for the World Cup in 2010.
Europe standings
Italy
090328: Serbia 0 - 2 Italy
Italy have been my favourite national team since Roberto Baggio led them to the finals of the 94 World Cup. They were yet again under-par in this Group 8 encounter, where they are currently leaders without ever playing close to the form that won them the last World Cup. Their football style is based from defending deep and strike on the counter-attack and they have this uncanny ability to grind out results, as was the case in this match. While coach Marcello Lippi, in his 2nd spell, have tried to be positive and inject a bit more of attacking football, they have yet to really find the right mix of players and this despite having immense resources at their disposal. Whatever the case, though, they are always a team to look out for in major tournaments.
090401: Ireland 1 - 1 Italy
When Italy has a man sent off early in a match, let alone much later, expect them to withdraw into a defensive shell quicker than a turtle. That was what happened in this game. Debutant player Pazzini, in fine form for Sampdoria this season, was sent off just 3 minutes in but Italy took the lead on 10 minutes after good work down the left flank from Fabio Grosso. There were not much action on goal from either half in this game to be honest, Italy expectedly producing a controlled performance, but when Robbie Keane struck the equalizer in the last few minutes, Ireland smelled blood and the shots kept pouring on GK Buffon's goal. Still a draw was a good result for both teams. Italy and Ireland are now leaders of Group 8, still unbeaten along with 3rd team Bulgaria (who has a game in hand, 5 points adrift) and in pole position to qualify automatically to SA 2010.
Spain
090328: Spain 1 - 0 Turkey
The reigning European champions proved they are currently the world's best and hot favourites to follow up with the status of world champions with a tough but deserved win against a resilient and gritty Turkish side. Spain played close to the form that made them European champions, playing with plenty of pace all around combined with quick and decisive one-touch passing which Turkey did well to break down at times but still found themselves on the backfoot when Spain were able to penetrate their defence. They may find themselves troubled by such traditional defensively sound teams such as Germany and Italy, as they did with Turkey, but that is the hallmark of true champions, to overcome adversity no matter the opposition. They have potential all around the team and confidence are really buzzing as well as shown by this performance. They also seem to find strength in unity. Spain is indeed THE team to watch out for.
090401: Turkey 1 - 2 Spain
Another win in this quick rematch.
England
090328: England 4 - 0 Slovakia (Friendly)
This was a friendly warm-up game for England's midweek European Group 6 qualifer against Ukraine. One name is the shining hope for England's World Cup aspirations - Wayne Rooney. The man-of-the-match is on a fierce goalscoring streak with 7 goals in 4 games for England and scored 2 goals this match. England showed a glimpse they could play both Lampard and Gerrard as well but this was against an arguably weak team anyway, any England team should win comfortably. There are still problems in attack with England still lacking a Gary Lineker or a Alan Shearer, Rooney is best playing off a main striker, and should England managed to find that one clinical finisher, they could be a team to really look out for.
090401: England 2 - 1 Ukraine
A fantastic display against a very tough team. England maintained their 100% start in Group 6. In fact, only current European champions (Group 5) and Netherlands (Group 9) have such a record in the European section of the qualifiers. This is perhaps England's best team but fullbacks Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson did provide some nervy moments. Pacy Aaron Lennon improved on his delivery as well and Peter Crouch, who scored with another acrobatic effort, is on 15 goals in only 33 starts for England, a fantastic return indeed (though this statistic is roundly criticized as Crouch seemingly scored only against weak teams). Yet his performance today was excellent combining well with Rooney. There was also ample support from the midfield. The appoinment of Fabio Capello may yet harvest more rewards if England continues performing this way especially against the best teams too.
Conmebol Standings
Brazil
090328: Ecuador 1 - 1 Brazil
It was with such injustice that Brazil, of all teams in the world, marred the beautiful game by scoring the opening goal to earn a lead they utterly did not deserve. Apart from GK Julio Cesar, and later substitute Dani Alves to some extent, the rest of the Brazil team were shockingly poor from defence to attack even with Robinho and Ronaldinho in their team. It was fair to say that Julio Cesar kept the scoreline as low as it did, making crucial and stunning saves with hand (and feet) to deny Ecuador time and again from the 10th minute onwards.
Ecuador were stunning and played attractive attacking football in this game. This was only the 2nd time I caught them in action, the last time I had watched them was when they lost to Italy at a World Cup game. Based on what I have been reading about them, they probably lacked self-belief. They played brilliantly but the standings in the South American section of the qualifiers do not lie. They are inconsistent and are only 7th after their games this past week after also drawing 1 - 1 (again) against Paraguay - at home - on Wednesday. Only the top 4 from this group qualifies automatically.
Argentina
090328: Argentina 4 - 0 Venezuela
The great Diego Maradona, one of the best players to ever grace the game by all accounts, I have never really seen him play, is coaching his beloved country for the 1st time. On the back of 2 wins from 2 friendly matches against Scotland and France, this was Maradona's 1st competitive match. And what a match it was featuring an adventurous 3-4-3 formation starring 3 of the hottest strikers in world football today; Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Man Utd) and Sergei 'Kun' Aguero (Atletico Madrid).
Of all previous pretenders to Maradona's No.10 jersey including the trio above, Riquelme, Andres d'Alessandro, Aimar, Ortega et al, only Messi has been the most convincing. He starred yet again in this lopsided victory scoring one and assisting one. Argentina's World Cup dreams, it has been 24 years since 1986, is further enhanced when Tevez and Aguero scored as well!
They have also good strength in depth, with a natural reserve that, like Brazil, can field 2 national teams on any day and still be dangerous for most teams. Argentina is certainly a team to watch if they can continue building on their already formidable offensive options with a solid defensive foundation. With Maradona at the helm, considered 'God' among his endearing fans and the whole of Argentina, it is unthinkable to write them off.
akim
Europe standings
Italy
090328: Serbia 0 - 2 Italy
Italy have been my favourite national team since Roberto Baggio led them to the finals of the 94 World Cup. They were yet again under-par in this Group 8 encounter, where they are currently leaders without ever playing close to the form that won them the last World Cup. Their football style is based from defending deep and strike on the counter-attack and they have this uncanny ability to grind out results, as was the case in this match. While coach Marcello Lippi, in his 2nd spell, have tried to be positive and inject a bit more of attacking football, they have yet to really find the right mix of players and this despite having immense resources at their disposal. Whatever the case, though, they are always a team to look out for in major tournaments.
090401: Ireland 1 - 1 Italy
When Italy has a man sent off early in a match, let alone much later, expect them to withdraw into a defensive shell quicker than a turtle. That was what happened in this game. Debutant player Pazzini, in fine form for Sampdoria this season, was sent off just 3 minutes in but Italy took the lead on 10 minutes after good work down the left flank from Fabio Grosso. There were not much action on goal from either half in this game to be honest, Italy expectedly producing a controlled performance, but when Robbie Keane struck the equalizer in the last few minutes, Ireland smelled blood and the shots kept pouring on GK Buffon's goal. Still a draw was a good result for both teams. Italy and Ireland are now leaders of Group 8, still unbeaten along with 3rd team Bulgaria (who has a game in hand, 5 points adrift) and in pole position to qualify automatically to SA 2010.
Spain
090328: Spain 1 - 0 Turkey
The reigning European champions proved they are currently the world's best and hot favourites to follow up with the status of world champions with a tough but deserved win against a resilient and gritty Turkish side. Spain played close to the form that made them European champions, playing with plenty of pace all around combined with quick and decisive one-touch passing which Turkey did well to break down at times but still found themselves on the backfoot when Spain were able to penetrate their defence. They may find themselves troubled by such traditional defensively sound teams such as Germany and Italy, as they did with Turkey, but that is the hallmark of true champions, to overcome adversity no matter the opposition. They have potential all around the team and confidence are really buzzing as well as shown by this performance. They also seem to find strength in unity. Spain is indeed THE team to watch out for.
090401: Turkey 1 - 2 Spain
Another win in this quick rematch.
England
090328: England 4 - 0 Slovakia (Friendly)
This was a friendly warm-up game for England's midweek European Group 6 qualifer against Ukraine. One name is the shining hope for England's World Cup aspirations - Wayne Rooney. The man-of-the-match is on a fierce goalscoring streak with 7 goals in 4 games for England and scored 2 goals this match. England showed a glimpse they could play both Lampard and Gerrard as well but this was against an arguably weak team anyway, any England team should win comfortably. There are still problems in attack with England still lacking a Gary Lineker or a Alan Shearer, Rooney is best playing off a main striker, and should England managed to find that one clinical finisher, they could be a team to really look out for.
090401: England 2 - 1 Ukraine
A fantastic display against a very tough team. England maintained their 100% start in Group 6. In fact, only current European champions (Group 5) and Netherlands (Group 9) have such a record in the European section of the qualifiers. This is perhaps England's best team but fullbacks Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson did provide some nervy moments. Pacy Aaron Lennon improved on his delivery as well and Peter Crouch, who scored with another acrobatic effort, is on 15 goals in only 33 starts for England, a fantastic return indeed (though this statistic is roundly criticized as Crouch seemingly scored only against weak teams). Yet his performance today was excellent combining well with Rooney. There was also ample support from the midfield. The appoinment of Fabio Capello may yet harvest more rewards if England continues performing this way especially against the best teams too.
Conmebol Standings
Brazil
090328: Ecuador 1 - 1 Brazil
It was with such injustice that Brazil, of all teams in the world, marred the beautiful game by scoring the opening goal to earn a lead they utterly did not deserve. Apart from GK Julio Cesar, and later substitute Dani Alves to some extent, the rest of the Brazil team were shockingly poor from defence to attack even with Robinho and Ronaldinho in their team. It was fair to say that Julio Cesar kept the scoreline as low as it did, making crucial and stunning saves with hand (and feet) to deny Ecuador time and again from the 10th minute onwards.
Ecuador were stunning and played attractive attacking football in this game. This was only the 2nd time I caught them in action, the last time I had watched them was when they lost to Italy at a World Cup game. Based on what I have been reading about them, they probably lacked self-belief. They played brilliantly but the standings in the South American section of the qualifiers do not lie. They are inconsistent and are only 7th after their games this past week after also drawing 1 - 1 (again) against Paraguay - at home - on Wednesday. Only the top 4 from this group qualifies automatically.
Argentina
090328: Argentina 4 - 0 Venezuela
The great Diego Maradona, one of the best players to ever grace the game by all accounts, I have never really seen him play, is coaching his beloved country for the 1st time. On the back of 2 wins from 2 friendly matches against Scotland and France, this was Maradona's 1st competitive match. And what a match it was featuring an adventurous 3-4-3 formation starring 3 of the hottest strikers in world football today; Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Man Utd) and Sergei 'Kun' Aguero (Atletico Madrid).
Of all previous pretenders to Maradona's No.10 jersey including the trio above, Riquelme, Andres d'Alessandro, Aimar, Ortega et al, only Messi has been the most convincing. He starred yet again in this lopsided victory scoring one and assisting one. Argentina's World Cup dreams, it has been 24 years since 1986, is further enhanced when Tevez and Aguero scored as well!
They have also good strength in depth, with a natural reserve that, like Brazil, can field 2 national teams on any day and still be dangerous for most teams. Argentina is certainly a team to watch if they can continue building on their already formidable offensive options with a solid defensive foundation. With Maradona at the helm, considered 'God' among his endearing fans and the whole of Argentina, it is unthinkable to write them off.
akim
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