12bet euro predictions 2012
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EURO 2012 MATCH 1 - GROUP A
As a co-host of EURO 2012, Poland is an automatic qualifier and is set to begin its campaign on June 9, 2012 in Warsaw, facing Greece as its first opponent.
EURO 2012 MATCH 3 - GROUP B
Netherlands and Denmark are facing each other again for the 31st time, this time at the EURO 2012 this June 10, 2012.
EURO 2012 MATCH 5 - GROUP C
EURO 2012’s Group C teams will start their respective campaigns on June 11, 2012 with the national teams of Spain and Italy on the front line.
EURO 2012 MATCH 7 - GROUP D
Group D of EURO 2012 is set to begin its opening round on June 12, 2012 with a much-awaited clash between France and England.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
* Luis Suarez is the Best Player LG Copa America 2011
- Luis Suarez is the Best Player LG Copa America 2011
- Sunday, 24 July 2011
Indeed, the striker had only scored against the Peruvians. In the first phase in Group C, former player of Ajax-NED left his in a tie, 1-1 against Peru. But he also scored in the final, today, in the victory over Paraguay.
"We must be eternally grateful to people who are supporting us," said the striker during the competition, referring to the fans that encouraged the Celeste during the 2011 Copa America.
Check out the latest winners of the "Best Player of the Copa America":
Robinho (Brazil) – 2007
Adriano (Brazil) – 2004
Amado Guevara (Honduras) – 2001
Rivaldo (Brazil) – 1999
Ronaldo (Brazil) – 1997
Enzo Francéscoli (Uruguay) – 1995
Sergio Goycochea (Argentina) – 1993
Leonardo Rodríguez (Argentina) – 1991
Ruben Sosa (Uruguay) – 1989
Carlos Valderrama (Colômbia) – 1987
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Club by club fixtures
Club by club fixtures
It will be an exciting start to the new Barclays Premier League season on Saturday 13th August.
Champions Manchester United now kick off the new campaign away to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday 14th August.
Chelsea open at Stoke City on the same day and Swansea City must now wait until Monday 15th August to play their first ever Barclays Premier League fixture away to Manchester City.
Matches on 5th May will not clash with the FA Cup Final and may accordingly move to a different kick off time on the Saturday or to the Sunday. A further announcement will be made closer to the date.
All fixtures are provisional and subject to change.
Click on the links below for all your favourite club's fixtures for the 2011/12 campaign.
Arsenal fixtures 2011/12
Aston Villa fixtures 2011/12
Blackburn Rovers fixtures 2011/12bolton wanderers
Bolton Wanderers fixtures 2011/12Chelsea
Chelsea fixtures 2011/12Everton
Everton fixtures 2011/12Fulham
Fulham fixtures 2011/12Liverpool
Liverpool fixtures 2011/12manchester city
Manchester City fixtures 2011/12manchester united
Manchester United fixtures 2011/12Newcastle United
Newcastle United fixtures 2011/12Norwich City
Norwich City fixtures 2011/12Queens Park Rangers
QPR fixtures 2011/12stoke city
Stoke City fixtures 2011/12sunderland
Sunderland fixtures 2011/12Swansea City
Swansea City fixtures 2011/12tottenham hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur fixtures 2011/12west bromwich albion
West Bromwich Albion fixtures 2011/12Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic fixtures 2011/12wolverhampton wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers fixtures 2011/12Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tiger throws the wrong guy overboard
Used to be few things in sports made you feel more foolish than second-guessing Tiger Woods. So maybe throwing longtime caddie and close pal Steve Williams overboard after a dozen years and six times that many wins around the world together will pay dividends in the long run.
The guess here, though, is maybe not. You can't be in a good place surrounded by yes men.
It's worth remembering that until Woods' SUV went pin-balling down the driveway 20 months ago, he rarely put a foot down wrong in his career.
He set tongues wagging by changing coaches and twice overhauling a swing just about everybody else considered the picture of perfection — then had the last laugh by tearing off two of the most sublime championship runs golf has ever seen.
At the same time, despite one marketing "pro" after another insisting Woods' flare-ups on the course and his ice-cold demeanor off it would limit his appeal, he built the richest and deepest portfolio of top-shelf sponsors any star had ever assembled.
Now, Woods is in exile, holed up in another Florida mansion with a bad leg and one fewer friend whose counsel he can trust.
The public-relations advice he's been getting since that stunning fall from grace is no better than the lessons overseen by swing coach Sean Foley, Woods' flakiest hire yet.
Neither his image nor his golf game has improved much. So while it's hard to fault Woods for trying to change things up, dumping Williams was probably the wrong place to start. No one else in Tiger's entourage had the guts to tell him the truth, something Williams did one last time on his way out the door.
"To have witnessed some of the greatest golf ever played has been a thrill, no two ways about it," he told TV New Zealand in his first public appearance since the firing.
"It's very difficult to know if he'll ever come back. He's had a lengthy time away from the game, he's been not very competitive the last two years, with the exception of a couple tournaments, he's battled injuries and obviously a major swing change and he hasn't played any golf of any regularity for some time. So it's a tall mountain to climb.
"But if anybody's going to do it," Williams added a moment later, "he's somebody that can."
To be fair, most of the rest of what Williams said was not nearly that gracious. He complained about his own reputation getting dragged along in the mud and then essentially wasting the past two years of his professional life waiting to see whether Woods would recapture any of his magic and at least a measure of his respect. The answer turned out to be "no" on both counts.
Yet Williams deserved a more graceful exit than the clumsy, prolonged and secretive way his boss finally doled out the pink slip.
Then again, he also made millions keeping whatever secrets he did know to himself while toting Woods' bag — nearly $9 million, based on an estimated 10 percent of the winnings during their partnership — and it's hard to imagine either of them ever feeling that flush again.
When Woods fired Mike "Fluff" Cowan and later Butch Harmon, his first pro caddie and coach, he soaked up the criticism that followed and turned it into motivational fuel. In the narrative he and his father, Earl, had carefully crafted since his childhood, anything and everything had to be sacrificed in the service of getting better.
Personal and professional relationships and responsibilities were shrugged off, or pawned off, if they got in the way of winning. And as long as he kept doing that, Woods had precious little reason to change the story, even if the untold half involved a string of late-night romps with porn stars and waitresses that made all of it seem like a lie.
It's probably a measure of how honest Williams was around Woods that he, too, knew so little about where the boss was spending most of his free evenings; that, or else he's saving the really unsavory stuff for his own book. Either way, his protestations of innocence ring true for the time being.
"That was the most difficult period that I've ever been through in my life. I'm pretty hardheaded and took it probably a lot better than my wife and family did, but there's no way that I should have been put through that," Williams said in the same interview.
"My name should have been cleared immediately. It wasn't and that's what makes it even more disappointing what's transpired. I never really got pardoned from that scandal, so the timing of it is extraordinary."
Not surprising. Woods shrugged off any responsibility for his role in the split, releasing a statement on his website thanking Williams and adding, "but I think it's time for a change."
No doubt.
But maybe Woods should have looked in the mirror first. If Williams was second-guessing more than just his choice of whether to hit the 6- or 7-iron from the fairway, well, he was the only one in Woods' inner circle willing to tell him how much the reflection had changed.
Money buys all kind of things, but Woods will have a tough time finding loyalty like that.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Rampone: Let's make USA proud
At the age of 36, Christie Rampone is the oldest and most experienced member of the USA squad. A veteran of the elite women's game, Rampone's 14-year career in her national team has brought her a raft of trophies, including a FIFA Women's World Cup 1999™ winner’s medal, although she was an unused substitute in the final on home soil. By contrast, she is a guaranteed starter in Frankfurt tomorrow when the US tackle Japan for the biggest prize in women's football.
Rampone took her first step onto the global footballing stage exactly 12 years ago, and she has witnessed a dramatic change in the intervening period. "The growth is amazing. More countries are putting more money and support behind their women’s programmes, and it’s showing in the play. The speed and vision of the players is much faster, and the fitness levels much better. The game has definitely grown and it’s amazing to be part of it," the seasoned campaigner exclusively told FIFA.com.
However, the changes are not confined to the football itself. The mother-of-two has modified her own role in the US women’s national team over the years. The young, untested hopeful who made one brief appearance at the 1999 finals has become the undisputed leader and captain of her troops. "In 1999, I was more of an observer, pushing for a place in the line-up. Now, I’m here in 2011 as a leader, trying to give my team assurance and helping to keep everything calm, making sure all my team-mates are confident and ready to play the game," she explained.
Mothers, let alone mothers-of-two, are a rarity in the top echelons of sport, but far from affecting her game in a negative way, Rampone is convinced the experience of motherhood has made her a better player. "I’m still playing because I just love the sport, I love football. The balance comes from having children, being able to be a mom and enjoy time with my kids, having something I love and am passionate about. I love to compete, I love playing at the highest level, but at the end of the day – a good day or a bad day – it’s good to come home to the kids. I think the balance made me enjoy the sport better and become a better leader. As soon as I hear there any issues or problems, I attack them right away and make sure that nothing lingers," she told FIFA.com.
The player, a finalist at the Women's Olympic Football Tournament on three occasions, takes her last bow at the FIFA Women's World Cup tomorrow, in what is her first appearance in the final. "The feeling of playing in a World Cup and an Olympic final are very similar. As an American athlete, you grow up and dream of Olympic gold, but the times are changing. Soccer has grown so much, and this World Cup means a lot to this team. The American and Japanese teams are going to play to their peak in the final. This is what you train for the whole time, to be in a final," she declared.
"The World Cup has been on our minds for a long time. Trying to make it to the final and contesting the final was always our main goal. Have we played our best soccer? No. But it’s about the team, how the team develops, growing stronger together. If we can win this one last match, it would be just amazing for everybody back home, with all the support and coverage we’ve had. It would truly make us proud to make America proud.“
However, it is not Rampone's style to count her chickens before they have hatched, and she is acutely aware of the threat posed by Japan , arguably the surprise package of the tournament after eliminating holders Germany and the muscular Swedes. "Japan are an amazing team. They’re very disciplined, patient, and very attack-oriented. Their speed of play is amazing. To beat Japan it’ll take an organised, distinctively American team. It’s going to be a great match on Sunday."
The North Americans and the Japanese last went to the mat at a major tournament at the 2008 Olympics, although the USA captain feels her team has come on a very long way since then. “It’s the unpredictability on the field. We have so many different personalities on the team now, and we’re more creative. Our build-up play has developed in recent years, and we’re better on the attacking side. We need to combine both to win this game," the rock-solid defender concluded.
Pre-season friendlies - 15th July
Bolton Wanderers went down 1-0 in Tampa Bay in the first match of their American tour.
Second-half substitute Matt Clare grabbed the only goal of the match, the Trotters' first outing of pre-season.
However Evan Newton in the home goal was the star of the show as he made a series of impressive saves to deny the visitors.
The substitute stopper denied Kevin Davies, Chung-Yong Lee and Robbie Blake in quick succession before Tampa Bay grabbed the winner on 65 minutes, with a tidy first-time finish from Clare.
Mark Davies fired in off the underside of the bar from close range but the effort was ruled out as Matt Taylor's cross was deemed to have drifted behind before it was nodded down by Gary Cahill.
Martin Petrov also fired against a post for Bolton, who fielded a total of 21 players throughout the 90 minutes having started with eight of the first XI from the clash against Manchester City in the final fixture of last season.
Carragher hails Liverpool signings
The signing of Stewart Downing will take Dalglish's spending to £100m since returning for a second spell as Liverpool boss.
The Reds' strikeforce was boosted by the signing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January, and Downing is their third midfield recruit this summer after the arrival of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.
Carragher feels the club's new board is putting together a squad which has the same strength in depth as when he first broke into the first-team.
And the veteran defender believes the £20m capture of winger Downing from Aston Villa will add a new dimension to the Liverpool side.
"He's been a top player in the Premier League for the last six or seven years and he will make a difference, with his ability to go outside and down the line to get quality crosses in.
"He was Aston Villa's player of the year and he will give us something that we have been lacking, genuine quality on the left-hand side.
"Every team looking to compete needs quality players in each position and that is what we are getting back towards."
Downing has earned 27 England caps since coming through the Middlesbrough academy and Carragher is confident the 26-year-old will soon settle in at Anfield.
"I know him, so does Stevie (Gerrard)," he said. "He knows Andy Carroll and Johnno (Glen Johnson) from playing for England, so he is not going to be walking into a dressing room and be on his own.
"He will get a great welcome because he's a good lad and a top player as well."
very positive
"When I arrived at Liverpool, five or six years ago, we seemed to have two very good players for almost every position," he said.
"I have just got a feeling we are getting back there. There is more rivalry, more competition but it gets the best out of you.
"The start of pre-season last year was very strange for all of us. We didn't know where the club was going with the owners but since they [Tom Hicks and George Gillett] have gone, there has been a lot of change. A change of manager and a couple of good signings like Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
"It all looks very positive. It is what I want and what the players want. We have to challenge with the best and it looks like we are getting there."
Europa League draw - 15th July
Stoke City's European adventure will begin against Croatian opposition.
Tony Pulis' side have been paired with Hajduk Split in the third qualifying round of the competition.
The Potters will be at home in the first leg of the tie which will take place at the Britannia Stadium on Thursday, July 28th, with the return leg at the 35,000 capacity Stadion Poljud taking place seven days later on Thursday, August 4th.
Stoke qualified for Europe for the first time in their history by reaching the FA Cup final. Although they lost 1-0 to Manchester City, they claimed the Europa League place because Roberto Mancini's men qualified for the Champions League.
Fulham could also be travelling to Split if they get through the second qualifying round.
Martin Jol's team will fancy their chances of doing that as they hold a 3-1 lead from the away leg at Crusaders.
If they get past the Belfast opposition, they will face either NK Domzale of Slovenia or Croatian side RNK Split who won the away leg 2-1.
The first leg would be away on 28th July with the return at Craven Cottage on 4th August.
The Cottagers were handed a place in the draw via the Fair Play League and have already got past Faroe Islands side NSI.
Carling Cup winners' Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League, go straight in at the play-off stage.
Fulham reached the Europa League final in 2010 losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.
If Jol's men are to reach the final again, they will have to play 23 matches in the competition.
New contracts for Chelsea duo
Midfielder McEachran, 18, has penned a five-year deal, while full-back Bertrand, 22 in August, agreed a four-year contract.
McEachran was part of the Blues' FA Youth Cup winning side in 2010, and has made 17 first-team appearances, including four starts. He has made nine appearances in the Barclays Premier League, eight of those coming from the bench.
Bertrand joined Chelsea from Gillingham in July 2005 and had productive loan spells in the Championship with Norwich City, Reading and Nottingham Forest, returning to make his Chelsea debut as a substitute against Birmingham City in April.
McEachran intends to work hard as he looks to continue to progress, telling the club's official website: "I need to keep working. This season my target is just to play more minutes.
"Hopefully I will play more games and keep improving."
Bertrand is in no doubt Chelsea provide a bright future under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.
He said: "It is a big commitment, I see the club going in the right direction.
"I want to stay here, it's the reason I came here six years ago and it's refreshing to have the new manager come in.
"I am looking forward to listening and learning from him.
"I can see the manager is young and hungry and wants to take the club forward so I want to be part of that and I thought it was best for me to stay.
"Obviously Ashley [Cole] is number one left-back but hopefully I can get a game here and there.
"I am aiming to get a few more games. I hope to stay here this season and hopefully catch the manager's eye."
Reds complete Doni deal
The 31-year-old Brazilian is thought to have joined on a free transfer after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
"We are getting a very experienced goalkeeper who is used to handling the pressure of big games and international matches with Brazil. He had a very good end of last season with Roma, so we are very pleased." Doni, who has 10 caps for his country, made 179 appearances for Roma in six seasons in Italy during which time he lifted the Coppa Italia twice as well as the Supercoppa Italiana.
He is expected to act as understudy for first-choice goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
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TV matches for UK announced
The first instalment of Barclays Premier League fixtures selected for broadcast in the UK has been announced.
Last season's top four sides Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal will feature live on Sky Sports and ESPN in the opening weekend of the 2011/12 season.
The first televised fixture sees Newcastle United host Arsenal in a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday, 13th August live on ESPN.
Newly-promoted Swansea City will have to wait until Monday 15th August to play their first-ever Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium but it will get maximum exposure to millions of viewers live on Sky Sports.
The first Saturday lunch-time televised match comes on 20th August with the screening of the mouth-watering meeting between Arsenal and Liverpool at 12.45pm, live on Sky Sports.
To view the full list of Barclays Premier League fixtures for live. click here.
Club by club fixtures
It will be an exciting start to the new Barclays Premier League season on Saturday 13th August.
Champions Manchester United now kick off the new campaign away to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday 14th August.
Chelsea open at Stoke City on the same day and Swansea City must now wait until Monday 15th August to play their first ever Barclays Premier League fixture away to Manchester City.
Newly-promoted QPR take on Bolton Wanderers at Loftus Road while Norwich City resume life at the top level at Wigan Athletic.
Matches on 5th May will not clash with the FA Cup Final and may accordingly move to a different kick off time on the Saturday or to the Sunday. A further announcement will be made closer to the date.
All fixtures are provisional and subject to change.
Click on the links for all your favourite club's fixtures for the 2011/12 campaign.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Three players are suspended of the quarter-finals of the 2011 Copa America
The Disciplinary Committee of CONMEBOL 2011Copa America in Argentina, saw the referee Salvio Fagundes report (BRA), Chile vs. Peru, in Mendoza, and the referee Raul Orosco (BOL), of the match Uruguay vs. Mexico, in La Plata, both on 12 July, and established the following penalties:
- Suspension of a match the players Jean Beausejour (Chile No. 15) and Giancarlo Carmona (No. 17 in Peru) by expulsion. Serve their sentence in their quarter-final commitments.
- Suspension of a match the players of Mexico: Paul Aguilar (No. 22), Hector Reinoso (No. 19) and Ricardo Mier (No. 21), accumulation of two yellow cards. In view of the completion of Mexico's participation in the tournament, annulling the suspension (as art. 38 inc. 4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).
- Suspension of a match the player Sebastian Coates (No. 4 of Uruguay), accumulation of two yellow cards. Fulfill his sanction on July 16, against Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Uruguay won Mexico by 1-0 and now faces Argentina in the quarter-finals
Faced with an opponent virtually eliminated, Uruguay has not faced many difficulties to overcome Mexico by 1-0 in La Plata, and ensure the qualification for the quarter finals of the Copa America. With a goal of the midfielder Alvaro Pereira, at the 14 minutes of the first half, the Celeste started the win, ended the first phase in second place of Group C and will now face the host Argentina in the next phase.
In the first half, Uruguay had total control of the match, creating the best chances. At 14’, good offense and Forlan shot, the goalkeeper Michel released the and on the rebound Alvaro Pereira just pushed into the goal. Advantage, followed by pressing and Uruguay almost did a 2-0 in the next minute with a shot from outside the area, by Forlan, the main player in the field of Celeste.
On the Mexican side, the only good move in the first half came out of the feet of Giovani dos Santos. In a torn left, the attacker entered the area and kicked with danger, but saved by Muslera. By the end of the first half, Uruguay had two more clear chances to score. The main was with Forlan, who kicked into the bar.
In the second half, more pressing by Uruguay, back in search of the second goal. Forlan, in free kicks and other plays, made the main attacks of the team. In corner kicks, Cristian Rodriguez almost headed to score. At 63’, Forlan lost a goal in a small area.
Mexico, who had lost their first two matches, even tried to launch into the attack, but with no result. In the best chance, Rafael Marquez took the left and scored the goal. But the referee Raul Orozco Bolivian annulled, marking impediment.
With this result, Mexico ends its participation in the Copa America as last place with three defeats in three games. Uruguay will prepare for the clash against hosts Argentina, on July 16, in Santa Fe. It is worth noting that Uruguay and Argentina are the greatest champions of the competition's history with 14 titles each.
In the first half, Uruguay had total control of the match, creating the best chances. At 14’, good offense and Forlan shot, the goalkeeper Michel released the and on the rebound Alvaro Pereira just pushed into the goal. Advantage, followed by pressing and Uruguay almost did a 2-0 in the next minute with a shot from outside the area, by Forlan, the main player in the field of Celeste.
On the Mexican side, the only good move in the first half came out of the feet of Giovani dos Santos. In a torn left, the attacker entered the area and kicked with danger, but saved by Muslera. By the end of the first half, Uruguay had two more clear chances to score. The main was with Forlan, who kicked into the bar.
In the second half, more pressing by Uruguay, back in search of the second goal. Forlan, in free kicks and other plays, made the main attacks of the team. In corner kicks, Cristian Rodriguez almost headed to score. At 63’, Forlan lost a goal in a small area.
Mexico, who had lost their first two matches, even tried to launch into the attack, but with no result. In the best chance, Rafael Marquez took the left and scored the goal. But the referee Raul Orozco Bolivian annulled, marking impediment.
With this result, Mexico ends its participation in the Copa America as last place with three defeats in three games. Uruguay will prepare for the clash against hosts Argentina, on July 16, in Santa Fe. It is worth noting that Uruguay and Argentina are the greatest champions of the competition's history with 14 titles each.
URUGUAY 1 X 0 MEXICO
Stadium: Stadium Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Referee: Raúl Orosco (BOL); Goals: Álvaro Pereira (14’) (Uruguay); Yellow Card: Sebastian Coates (91’) (Uruguay); Paul Aguilar (40’), Héctor Heynoso (54’), Hiram Mier (64’), Rafael Márquez Lugo (80’) (Mexico).
URUGUAY: 1- Fernando Muslera, 16- Maxi Pereira, 2- Diego Lugano, 4 Sebastian Coates 11- Álvaro Pereira, 17- Arévalo Ríos, 15- Diego Pérez, 7- Cristián Rodríguez (21- Sebastián Eguren, 83’), 20- Álvaro González (14-Nicolás Lodeiro, 68’), 10- Diego Forlán (13-Sebastián Abreu, 89’) and 9- Luis Suárez. Coach: Oscar Tabárez.
MEXICO: 1- Luis Michel, 21- Hiram Mier, 14- Néstor Araujo, 19- Héctor Reynoso, 22- Paul Aguilar (11-Javier Aquino, 46’), 23- Diego Reyes, 15- Jorge Enríquez, 5- Dárvin Chávez, 16- Miguel Ponce (17-Édgar Pacheco, 70’), 10- Giovani dos Santos (18-Oribe Peralta, 46’) and 9- Rafael Márquez Lugo. Coach: Luis Fernando Tena.
MEXICO: 1- Luis Michel, 21- Hiram Mier, 14- Néstor Araujo, 19- Héctor Reynoso, 22- Paul Aguilar (11-Javier Aquino, 46’), 23- Diego Reyes, 15- Jorge Enríquez, 5- Dárvin Chávez, 16- Miguel Ponce (17-Édgar Pacheco, 70’), 10- Giovani dos Santos (18-Oribe Peralta, 46’) and 9- Rafael Márquez Lugo. Coach: Luis Fernando Tena.
Third bite at Copa cherry for Brazil
- CAMPANA, July 11, 2011 (AFP) - After two false starts Brazil are out to ensure it is a case of third time lucky at the Copa America as they target the win they need over Ecuador to reach the quarter-finals.
Draws with Venezuela and then Paraguay, where substitute Fred rescued a last-ditch point, have left the five-times world and eight-times continental champions chasing the Venezuelans in their group.
Whereas the minnows have qualified after seeing off the Ecuadorians in their second game, Brazil's failure to conjure their customary magic so far means they have hard work ahead of them on Wednesday in Cordoba.
By the time the auriverde take to the field they will know the outcome of the Paraguayans' encounter with Venezuela in Salta, which kicks off two hours earlier.
A draw for the Brazilians and a Paraguayan win over Venezuela could dump out Mano Menezes' side although his budding samba stars insist that they will now seek to bring on the jogo bonito that the world associates with them.
"Everyone has to give it their all and show why they are in the Brazilian team," skipper and defender Lucio told reporters at the team hotel.
Lucio added Brazil had to "get serious and take responsibility" for ensuring they up their game.
The auriverde, on a hattrick of Copa titles, at least no longer have to suffer unflattering comparisons with their women's side after the latter's World Cup exit on penalties at the hands of the USA.
But they are fast running out of excuses for their poor form in Argentina and Menezes says they have to open up and play their game.
"We will play to win - that's what we need and that's what we'll go all out for," Menezes insists, while continuing to stress that he is primarily moulding a team for the 2014 World Cup on home soil - the first time Brazil will play hosts since 1950.
As is the fate of all Brazilian coaches across the generations, Menezes is under enormous pressure to satisfy his nation's craving for success
"If we don't win the Copa America they will say it is a failure as football is like that (but) Brazil has a team which is a blend of youth and experience and we are preparing it for 2014," he insisted.
"Anyway, we shall get through" to the quarter-finals, he forecast. "The players know how to deal with pressure."
Asked to comment on the performances of Santos star Neymar, who was expected to use the event as aplatform to show he is his country's new nascent superstar but who has not yet found his feet, Menezes said:
"He has a lot of promise. But it's the first time for him at a major event.
"He has to learn to find space and to look up and pass to a teammate. He is still full of quality and he has shown that with Santos" he added in reference to his performances in helping his club win the Copa Libertadores.
Possible lineups of the teams:
Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar, 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Lucio, 4-Thiago Silva e 6-André Santos, 5-Lucas Leiva, 8-Ramires, 10-Ganso and 7-Robinho or 20-Jádson; 9-Alexandre Pato and 11-Neymar. Coach: Mano Menezes.
Ecuador: 1-Marcelo Elizaga, 13-Néicer Reasco, 19-Norberto Araujo, 3-Frickson Erazo, 10-Walter Ayoví; 14-Segundo Castillo, 6-Cristian Noboa, 7-Michel Arroyo and 8-Edison Méndez; 11-Christian Benítez and 9-Felipe Caicedo. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.
The stars of the game:
Brazil: The "canary" team has the most wanted played of the worldwide football, who has been wanted by the European market, Neymar. The 19-year-old striker is the bet of the new national team, containing young players, but high quality. Another young talent is Paulo Henrique Ganso. Ganso, who plays for Santos, same as Neymar, is responsible for lead in his back the shirt 10, which once was Pele’s. Alexandre Pato, Daniel Alves and Julio Cesar are other great players of the team.
Ecuador: In the Ecuadorian they have as its biggest star Antonio Valencia. Manchester United midfielder has been evolving every year his football and becoming one of the best players in South America, and even after a serious injury last year, he has fully recovered to lead Ecuador. Other stars are Christian Noboa and Felipe Caicedo.
Curiosities of the Confrontation:
- This confrontation has happened 27 times, with 22 wins for Brazil, Ecuador has two wins and three draws. Brazil has 84 goals and Ecuador scored 20 times.
- For the Copa America were 12 matches with 11 wins and a draw for Brazil. Brazil scored 48 times and Ecuador scored nine goals.
- The top scorer of the clash in the Copa America is Ademir de Menezes with five goals.
- Ecuador never beat Brazil in the Copa America.
- Marcelo Elizaga, goalkeeper of Ecuador, is the oldest player in this edition of the Copa America, 39.
- Defender and captain of the Brazilian team, Lucio is the most capped player between the squad with 101 games. Yet he had never played in a Copa America.
- Ecuador has never won the Copa America. The team has participated 25 times.
- Ecuador is the holder of the worst defeat of all time in the Copa America. The team lost by 12-0 to Argentina in 1942.
The last duel:
In the last duel, Brazil and Ecuador were in a tie in a match valid for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. The draw by 1-1, held in Quito, was in 2009. Brazil's goal was scored by Julio Baptista, and Ecuador’s goal was scored by Christian Noboa.
Pressure off Venezuela, on Paraguay at Copa
Yet that is the situation facing both eight-times champions Brazil and Paraguay as both bid to land a place in the last eight while the Venezuelans can largely afford to relax ahead of their final group game.
Although now the baseball-loving nation will hope to go the whole hog and win the group they can afford to lose Wednesday's encounter in the northern Argentinian city of Salta and still sail on having drawn with the auriverde and beaten Ecuador.
Final group rivals Paraguay must, like Brazil, scrap to ensure further progress after two draws and the Paraguayans will not take the Venezuelans lightly after the Vinotinto's impressive showing to date.
The Paraguayans did the double over Cesar Farias' men in World Cup qualifying on the way to coming third in the regional grouping to book a place for South Africa, where they pushed Spain hard before succumbing in the quarter-finals.
Venezuela, meanwhile, were happy with the highpoint of a draw away to Brazil as the traditional continental whipping boys finished above Peru and Bolivia.
Indeed, two points more and they would have had the same points tally of Uruguay, who finally crept into a playoff with Costa Rica before going on to reach the semi-finals.
With the two best third-placed teams in the three-group Copa advancing to the quarters there is a chance that a draw might be enough for the Paraguayans.
But, just like Brazil against Ecuador, they cannot be sure that three points in total will suffice, hence the need to ratchet up their form.
"Now for the moment of truth," says Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, who will be banned from the dugout after arguing with Colombian match official Wilmar Roldan during the Brazil match.
"We have to correct the mistakes we made in the previous games - we can't depend on luck, otherwise we'll be on our way home," Martino said Monday, adding he believed his side is overall playing better than at the World Cup.
Venezuela counterpart Farias meanwhile is basking in the glory of a first passage to the last eight on foreign soil.
"When you look at the table and see we are first in a Copa America which has coaches of the calibre of (Uruguay's Oscar) Tabarez, (Costa Rica's Ricardo) La Volpe, (Peru's Sergio) Markarian and (Colombia's Hernan Dario) Gomez, then I'd say we must be doing something right!"
Venezuela, almost hourly recipients of praise from President Hugo Chavez via his Twitter account, have in the past been dubbed the "Cinderella" of the Latin American game - but they will go to the quarter-final ball.
Possible lineups of the teams:
Paraguay: 1-Justo Villar, 2-Darío Verón, 14-Paulo Da Silva, 5-Antolín Alcaraz, 17-Aureliano Torres; 13-Enrique Vera, 20-Néstor Ortigoza, 16-Cristian Riveros e 21-Marcelo Estigarribia; 9-Roque Santa Cruz and 19-Lucas Barrios. Coach: Gerardo Martino.
Venezuela: 1-Renny Vega, 16-Roberto Rosales, 20-Grenddy Perozo, 4-Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, 6-Gabriel Cichero; 8-Tomás Rincón, 14-Franklin Lucena, 11-César González, 18-Juan Arango; 9-Giancarlo Maldonado and 7-Miku. Coach: César Farías.
The stars of the game:
Paraguay: Paraguayan national team invests in the experienced former striker Roque Santa Cruz. The forward has 29 years, comes to his third Copa America, being the player who did the most goals among the squad with 24 goals. Other stars of the team are Justo Villar, Paulo da Silva and Lucas Barrios.
Venezuela: The Venezuelan side has as the great hope of winning Juan Arango. The striker, 31, is the team captain and has many years’ experience playing in Europe. Another star of the team is defender Jose Manuel Rey. Rey is the most capped player in history, with 111 games. Giancarlo Maldonado and Salomón Rondón are the other bets of the "vinotinto."
Curiosities of the Confrontation:
- This confrontation has happened 19 times, with 15 wins of Paraguay, Venezuela has two wins and two draws. Paraguay has 41 goals and Venezuela scored 15 times.
- For the Copa America, were 4 matches, with 4 wins of Paraguay. Paraguay scored 16 times and Venezuela scored five goals.
- The top scorer of the clash in the Copa America are Gustavo Neffa, Luis Alberto Monzón, Buenaventura Ferrera and Juan Carlos Rojas with two goals each.
- Venezuelan never won Paraguay in the Copa America.
- Venezuela was the country hosting of the 2007 Copa America.
- Paraguay is the most "foreign" out of the 12 participants, with three Argentines in the squad, plus the coach Gerardo Martino.
- Jose Manuel Rey, defender of Venezuela, is playing his sixth Copa America.
- Venezuela is the only South American who has never played a World Cup.
- Marcelo Elizaga, goalkeeper of Ecuador, is the oldest player in this edition of the Copa America, 39.
- Venezuela has never won the Copa America.
- On the other hand the Paraguayan national team has won twice, in 1953 and 1979.
- Venezuela is the South American country that less acted in Copa America, with 15 participations.
The last duel:
In the last duel, Paraguay won Venezuela for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. The victory by 2-1, held in Maracaibo, Venezuela, was in 2009. The goals were scored by the Paraguayan Salvador Cabanas and Oscar Cardozo. Salomón Rondón discounted to Venezuela.
Tabarez waiting game 'very hard' against Argentina
- LA PLATA, July 13, 2011 (AFP) - Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said on Tuesday he expects a "very hard” match against Argentina in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.
"Nothing is written before the matches, but it is a very difficult opponent, we could face now or later", Tabarez said after the victory over Mexico, in La Plata.
Next Saturday, in the stadium Brigadier Lopez of Santa Fe, Uruguay will decide against Argentina a place in the semifinals.
"We want to forget the (World Cup) team. What for? This is another time. One World Cup is more motivating than a Copa America, with all due respect, but we want results", said Tabarez.
The coach estimated that if wins Argentina the "journalists will say that reappeared the Uruguay of South Africa, but this is not it."
"Despite the fact that we still have not developed a full game that we like, this is the same group as South Africa and we are used to get up in difficult times, and this is a very difficult time, but also very motivating."
''It hurts to go home without a win'', lamented Giovani Dos Santos
LA PLATA, July 13 (AFP) - The Mexican player, Giovani Dos Santos lamented that his team was eliminated from the 2011Copa America without winning a single match. On the evening of Tuesday, March 13, Uruguay won the Mexicans by 1-0 and ordered Mexico’s elimination."It hurts to go home without a win, but with little experience of the cast we already knew it would be difficult", the player told a news conference at the Ciudad de La Plata stadium.
"The Mexico squad has to come to this competition with more experienced players who can compete with the big teams", complained Dos Santos.
"What happened here served as an experience for all who now know how is to play a Copa America. I think the players learned a little more and acquired knowledge", concluded the skillful midfielder.
In a record night, Diego Forlan was elected the best LG player
The night was good to Diego Forlan. The game marked a career record of the attacker in the history of the bi-champion of the world team. It was the 79th time that the soccer star wore the Celeste jersey, surpassing the former goalkeeper Rodolfo Rodriguez. The owner of 10 jersey is also two goals to become the leading scorer of the national team, that’s for now is Héctor Scarone, with 31 goals.
Diego Forlan was the most sought opponents' goal, with the total of eight shots on goal. But the number 10 stood out by arming plays, and most passing attack passed by his feet, so he hit 47 passes and gave two accurate crosses, which left his comrades face to face with the goalkeeper. The main star of Uruguay, who had not yet made a good showing in the 2011 Copa America, now redeemed himself and led his selection into the next phase.
In the first step, especially with the shot from outside the area on 16 minutes, he took a lot of danger, but Suarez missed the rebound. After that, he got in front of the goal, shot at the corner of the goal, but the ball stooped into the bar.
Back for the second half, Uruguay continued to press in an attempt to increase the score. Diego Forlan almost scored his own, after receiving cross from the left, gave a light touch that almost hid the Mexican goalkeeper. At 17 minutes, he left Suarez in a position to score, but also lost the opportunity. At 25, in a beautifully play, after a cross, Diego Forlan received and passed to Diego Peres, who kicked close to the goal.
These were only a few plays of the best LG player of the match, which increased the level in the field. Forlán was replaced in the last minute and left the field standing ovation.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Seger’s mega drive
“This is our time, I feel, and everything is going our way,” she told FIFA.com. “We have more self-belief and we’re playing extremely well together. We believe in what we’re doing and so far it’s worked all the time so we don’t want to change anything. We have had a little bit of luck too and that’s what good teams need. We just want to keep on doing what we’ve been doing.
“We’ve come this far so why stop now? You need to be hungry for a final and we are. I think we can really do this and mentally, I think we took a huge step in winning the quarter-final. That was an enormous step for us, because we’d never made it from the quarter-finals under Thomas [Dennerby] before. So now we just keep on going and hopefully that can lead us all the way.”
The 26-year-old has been a regular for the Blagult since 2006, appearing in the EUROs of 2005 and 2009, the 2008 Olympics, as well as the last FIFA Women’s World Cup. With regards to Wednesday’s match, Seger has never been part of a team which has defeated the Nadeshiko and so has the highest respect for the Asians.
“Japan have improved, like us, with every game,” she continued. “They’re a great team, I love watching them. They’re so skilful and they play fun soccer. They look so relaxed getting away from tight spaces. I think, though, our counter-attacks are going to be so crucial. Especially Lotta [Schelin], because she can run past any defensive line and I think that’s going to be our key in this game.”
Seger was one of the first to congratulate Schelin following her goal on Sunday, her first in this FIFA Women’s World Cup and thinks that there could be more to come from the Lyon forward.
“The good part about Lotta in this tournament has been that she has created so many opportunities, even if she hadn’t scored,” she said. “She’s been creating more and more, never stopping, and fighting for every chance she’s had. I think that’s something that defines her as a good forward because often if they miss a lot, it gets to their head.
"But Lotta just kept on moving on and I’m so happy for her scoring. It means so much for her but also us as a team. Hopefully that’s going to help her in the next couple of games, believing in herself and having that confidence.”
"We’ve come this far so why stop now? You need to be hungry for a final and we are."
Caroline Seger, Sweden captain.
“I think I have leadership in me naturally,” she said. “I try to be an example. I help people if there’s anything I can do. I don’t know if I could be a manager because I think I’m way too nice! I don’t think I could handle putting people on the bench. So if they allow teams to have 40 players on the field, it would make things far easier for me!”
However, the Helsingborg-born star seems to have no problem in consigning family members away from the action. During the group stage her father and grandfather were proudly watching from the stands, but they were dispatched back home when Sweden reached the last eight!
“They’re are often at tournaments, but I told them to go home because every quarter-final they have been to, we’ve lost,” she laughed. “It’s nice to have them here and have their support, but they loved watching the game on Sunday at home too. Hopefully they can come back for a final, that’s the aim!”
Delie: We didn’t come here to be tourists
Striker Marie-Laure Delie is one of the first names on the teamsheet for France, who have surprised many onlookers by reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™. With a record of almost a goal a game in international football, the on-form forward is sure to approach Wednesday’s match with USA brimming with confidence.
France supporters and lovers of curious statistics may have noted that the French attacker lined up against England in the quarter-final boasting identical totals in her international goals and caps columns: 23 in 23. Stretching the idea just a little further, she also happens to be 23 years of age, and her debut for Les Bleues came on 23 September 2009.
While intriguing to some, the player in question does not appear to pay much attention to such figures. “I don’t really think about things like that; I’m just happy to give 100 per cent out on the pitch,” Delie explained in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com.
Upon hearing that her success rate in front of goal is higher with her country than with her club, she reacts more effusively. “I really raise my game when I pull on the French jersey – it gets me going. And there’s also the fact that in the French league, everyone knows each other, and your opponents are familiar with your style of play,” she explained.
“There are some teams that stick ten bodies behind the ball, marking extremely tightly. Here, on the other hand, we have the element of surprise. It’s actually something I’ve noticed in international football since I was young,” she continued.
“I also went through a bit of a crisis of confidence at club level this season; I had real trouble putting the ball in the net,” the Montpellier player added, after some thought. While her 14 goals – In 21 matches – would seem a reasonable return in any forward’s book, the mental blocks she describes have evidently not affected her when she has stepped into the international arena in recent times.
"I really raise my game when I pull on the French jersey – it gets me going."
Marie-Laure Delie, France striker.
Her patience would eventually pay off, as France coach Bruno Bini explained: “Marie-Laure really came to life at the Cyprus Cup, where she just couldn’t stop scoring. Strikers often have exceptional spells like that, and they can last a long time. Remember Jean Pierre Papin? His prolific period lasted four years, whereas she’s only been knocking them in for three months or so. Shots that previously hit the post or went wide now find the back of the net. She’s put in a lot of work to get to this point, and it’s only fair that the work gets rewarded.”
Delie is aware that impressive numbers are not always sufficient to leave a lasting impression, and is quite clear about her immediate ambitions: “Making it to the last four is absolutely fantastic, but our goal is to lift the World Cup. We didn’t come here to tour Germany’s tourist attractions. It’s great that we’re already qualified for London 2012, but now we want to win the next two matches.”
Paradoxically, this hunger for success comes with a very relaxed attitude, something she views as conducive to good performances: “I’m calm; I’m just keen to play and to win. We’re really immersed in the competition and not affected by external pressures. We’re fortunate to be in our own little bubble. The way in which the German players were all over the media here must have been a mentally exhausting experience for them. They were expected to win, while we arrived here as outsiders.”
The group-stage defeat suffered by Les Bleues at the hands of the now-eliminated host nation does not seem to have unduly damaged the morale of the French goal machine. “Actually, I would say that our ability to keep pulling goals back coupled with our general second-half performance have actually made us stronger. We could have given up and gone down 5-0 but we showed some pride which, when all is said and done, is a positive thing,” she said.
Now another heavyweight of the women’s game blocks France’s – and Delie’s – route to the Final. “I’ve already played against USA, but it was at U-20 level in 2008, and we lost 3-0. I’ve watched their games here – they’re a well-balanced, complete team, with a physical aspect to their play that is very impressive,” she pointed out.
Both the French and the Americans were forced to battle through extra time and a penalty shoot-out to secure their ticket for the semi-final. As Delie brings the interview to a close so that she can get some valuable rest, it is clear that she and her team-mates are again ready to give their all to in order to make further progress in the tournament.
USA and France eye Frankfurt
Both France and USA made their fans suffer before reaching the last four of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™, displaying great battling qualities in tense and dramatic quarter-final matches, and eventually prevailing via penalty kicks against England and Brazil respectively. After those gruelling, emotionally demanding encounters, the French and Americans, proponents of two different styles of play, have one more hurdle to overcome before reaching the Final in Frankfurt.
The game
France -USA, Wednesday 13 July, Monchengladbach, 18.00 (local time)
The stakes
After watching their future opponents knock out Brazil, Les Bleues were allowed to feast on hamburgers as a special treat, a reward for their considerable efforts during their own win over England. If they can overcome the Americans in Monchengladbach on Wednesday, their coaching staff may well incorporate the unlikely choice of meal into their pre-Final routine.
France -USA, Wednesday 13 July, Monchengladbach, 18.00 (local time)
The stakes
After watching their future opponents knock out Brazil, Les Bleues were allowed to feast on hamburgers as a special treat, a reward for their considerable efforts during their own win over England. If they can overcome the Americans in Monchengladbach on Wednesday, their coaching staff may well incorporate the unlikely choice of meal into their pre-Final routine.
Nutritional issues aside, statistics and history do not bode well for the French ahead of this crucial game, as they have lost 11 of their 13 previous meetings with the Stars and Stripes, although it is worth noting that none of those matches were played in FIFA-administered competitions. The last time the Europeans managed to record a victory in the fixture came in April 1990, in a friendly match played in Bulgaria. The most recent draw dates back to January 2006, in Guangzhou in China.
By again progressing past the last eight, the Americans have kept up their excellent record of qualifying for the semi-finals of every FIFA Women’s World Cup. Of the five previous tournaments, they went on to reach the Final twice, at China 1991 and on home turf in the United States in 1999; on both occasions, the CONCACAF side were eventually crowned world champions. In the other three, they had to content themselves with a bronze medal, synonymous with third place.
One of the intriguing aspects of this semi-final for fans will be seeing how each team deals with the clash of styles on the pitch. The United States have opted for a more direct approach so far, relying on long balls and taking advantage of their players’ physical attributes. France , on the other hand, while not lacking in athleticism, have tended to dominate the midfield with a shorter passing game.
The stat
32 – The number of shots on goal executed by both France and USA up to this point in the competition, representing the highest total of on-target efforts of the 16 teams participating in Germany 2011. They can also boast the highest number of shots in general; 80 for the Europeans and 76 for the North Americans. The latter side also happens to have found the back of the net most often in the history of the event, their 93 goals putting them just ahead of their nearest rivals in this statistical category, Germany.
The words
“We have a bit of an advantage over the United States because we’re already familiar with this venue. The extra recuperation time has been kind to us – they’ve yet to invent a machine that does a better job of helping players recover than simply sleeping and resting. Another of our priorities has been working on our tactics and ball possession. We’ve been doing some specific exercises related to those aspects,” Bruno Bini, France
The stat
32 – The number of shots on goal executed by both France and USA up to this point in the competition, representing the highest total of on-target efforts of the 16 teams participating in Germany 2011. They can also boast the highest number of shots in general; 80 for the Europeans and 76 for the North Americans. The latter side also happens to have found the back of the net most often in the history of the event, their 93 goals putting them just ahead of their nearest rivals in this statistical category, Germany.
The words
“We have a bit of an advantage over the United States because we’re already familiar with this venue. The extra recuperation time has been kind to us – they’ve yet to invent a machine that does a better job of helping players recover than simply sleeping and resting. Another of our priorities has been working on our tactics and ball possession. We’ve been doing some specific exercises related to those aspects,” Bruno Bini, France
"We are feeling good. We are riding high a wave of confidence right now. France are an excellent team. They put on a great show against England and threw them out the tournament, kept the ball well and played an attractive style. I think it’s going to be a pretty good game," Megan Rapinoe, USA midfielder.
Woke up the best in the world, Messi is the player LG
The press demanded, the crowd was apprehensive, Argentina and the world watched, crying out for a beautiful presentation of the player that has long enchanted the world. There were three games to wake up and drink to Argentina with the classification and presentation as expected.
Just missed a goal! But instead, Lionel Messi was part of the three Argentine goals, and in the last two, left his teammates in front of the goal. Messi tried to head, tried long shots and easily dribbled. The ball did not seem to pull out his feet and his opponents, helpless, could not stop the star, so it was Argentina and Costa Rica, both the first and the second half.
Argentina woke up, which today has a synonym in the language of football: Lionel Messi. The favorites and hosts are alive and stamped the passport to the quarter-finals.
"Olé, olé, olé, Lionel Messi, Lionel Messi", that were the words of the 57 000 supporters in the Cordoba stadium this Monday evening.
"From now on it is a new cup, we, more than everybody, want the best of Argentina", said Lionel Messi, about the great result got in Cordoba.
We could not go head to head with Argentina, said La Volpe
- CORDOBA, July 12, 2011 (AFP) - The coach of Costa Rica, Argentine Ricardo La Volpe, estimated that his team could not "butt heads" with Argentina because could not control the ball, so was the victim of a 3-0, in Cordoba.
"We could not get the ball, we could not go head to head with Argentina, it's hard when you only come out to defend (...) In the meantime I told them: guys, if we not hold on the ball, bye, we were dead men", said La Volpe at a press conference after the game.
La Volpe asserted that more than the failures in the defense, the lack of possession represented the conviction. "Today we went wrong. We played Ping-Pong, you give back the ball and you come to attack me", he quipped.
The naive Costa Rica, with 3 points, depends on the definition of the other groups to get to know its future in the 2011 Copa America, but Bolivia with one point is eliminated of the competition.
"We expected three losses like this", he said about his first defeat against Colombia (1-0) and the win against Bolivia (2-0). "At the moment we have more experience in games like today, watch out", he warned.
The coach assumed that Argentina "played well" and reaffirmed its position as the favorite to the Copa America title at home.
Argentina won the confidence by winning Costa Rica
- CORDOBA, July 12, 2011 (AFP) - Argentina coach Sergio Batista said the rout by 3-0 over Costa Rica, on Monday, served to "restore confidence" to his team.
"We needed a game like this to restore the confidence of the players", said Batista after the match in Cordoba. "We could not do what we did in the other two matches. Today, Messi was brilliant and I was pleased by the application of the team, this is the game we want. "
"We needed to have security as a team and keep the ball. Lionel knows how to overcome these situations and he showed today, made a tremendous start, barbaric."
In the quarter-final, Argentina will play on Saturday in Santa Fe, against the second of the Group C, which can be Chile or Peru, both already sorted, or Uruguay.
Batista did not confirm whether will use the same team that faced Costa Rica on Saturday: "You have to have alternatives, but today everything went well, now let's see the next opponent, how the players are, we'll look."
Messi: Copa America starts now
"From now another Cup begins, more than anyone, we want the best for Argentina," Messi said smiling after the victory in Cordoba.
Messi thanked the support of more than 50 000 spectators who cheered the entire Argentine team: "I want to thank the fans, we missed this affection."
The team directed by Sergio Batista was an offensive flood led by Messi, the man of the match, which gave assists to the second and third goals, and returned to shine as a playmaker.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Swede dreams continue
The Blagult deserved to progress after dominating the match in Augsburg for large periods of the game, but they were made to work hard for the victory by a young Aussie side who showed huge commitment to get back into the game after conceding two early goals.
Player of the match Lotta Schelin had a great chance to open the scoring when Collette McCallum's back pass almost failed to make it back to the keeper, but the Lyon forward failed to control the ball properly and the threat passed.
At the other end, Australia seemed intent on peppering the Sweden defence with crosses from either flank, but the well organised Scandinavians coped well with the pressure.
The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute when a long ball from the back was collected by Schelin who showed some magic to get past FIFA Women’s World Cup™ debutant Ellyse Perry, before cutting the ball inside for Therese Sjogran who took one touch before firing inside Melissa Barbieri’s near post.
Sjogran was the architect for Sweden's second five minutes later when her cross from the right was inch perfect for the virtually unmarked Lisa Dahlkvist to head home. Josefine Oqvist had a good opportunity to make it three when she leapt above Kim Carroll to connect with Schelin’s cross, but her effort was well off target.
Sweden were in total control and Australia were struggling to get out of their own half. It looked as though they would lead either a moment of magic or a mistake to get them back into the game. It almost arrived in the 38th minute when McCallum's free-kick caught Hedvig Lindahl unawares and off her line, but much to her relief, the ball sailed wide.
Australia pulled one back two minutes later - and what a goal it was. A short corner from McCallum was played Perry on the edge of the box. She took a touch to control the ball with her right foot and then launched an unstoppable left footed drive into the top corner of the net.
In their previous two games, Australia had gifted goals to the opposition and unfortunately for Tom Sermanni’s side they made it three in a row at the worst possible time. Carroll casually attempted to play the ball back to the keeper, but failed to spot Schelin. The Sweden forward gratefully accepted the chance, rounded Barbieri and slipped the ball into the back of the net.
Backed by the Augsburg crowd, the Matildas refused to give up and almost reduced the deficit when Tameka Butt’s cross from the right was headed just wide by Kyah Simon. Minutes later, Lisa De Vanna may have regretted not squaring the ball to her strike partner after one of her trademark lung-bursting runs into the box. After beating Lindahl to the ball, the forward opted to shoot herself rather than square the ball to Simon who would have had an easier opportunity to make it 3-2.
As time ticked away, Barbieri almost took the ball over her own line after collecting a cross from the right awkwardly, while at the other end, Lindahl made a fantastic diving save to deny Butt’s drive from 25 yards.
Sweden celebrated a place at the Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 as well as the semi-finals at the final whistle, while Australia will almost certainly be back in four years time stronger for their experiences this time around.
Gallant England take pride from defeat
The words of England coach Hope Powell are an accurate reflection of Saturday’s quarter-final in Leverkusen, which the French won on penalties after outplaying Powell’s brave side for long periods. The statistics underline the dominance of Les Bleues, who had 33 goal attempts to England’s 7, hitting the target 11 times in contrast to England’s three goalbound efforts.
“It was a tough match and we had some really tired legs out there today,” lamented Powell. “The girls were really suffering at the end, and when it came down to the penalties we just didn’t have any luck.”
When Camille Abily had her side’s opening spot-kick saved, it looked as if it might be England’s day. Misses by Faye White and Claire Rafferty tipped the balance in France’s favour, however, leaving Powell to rue her team’s misfortune: “Faye and Claire both wanted to take a penalty. They felt confident, which is fantastic, and they were very brave in wanting to step up. I have nothing but admiration for them.”
Fatigue was etched all over the faces of the England players in the closing stages. And none of Powell’s charges suffered more than striker Kelly Smith, who was struck down by cramp towards the end of the second half of normal time and had to limp her way through the extra half hour, with England having already used their three substitutes. Even so, Smith shrugged off her obvious exhaustion to step up in the shootout and convert her penalty in defiant fashion.
"We gave it our all out there and I don’t think anyone could have asked any more of us."
Karen Bardsley, England goalkeeper
The pride and the passion
As she left the stadium, England keeper Karen Bardsley’s face still showed the telltale signs of defeat, her eyes still filled with tears. “We gave it our all out there and I don’t think anyone could have asked any more of us,” she said. “You can practice penalties in training, but obviously you can’t compare that to what you find here, with a full stadium, the fans putting pressure on you and a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.” With that Bardsley’s voice tailed off, the disappointment of defeat too much to bear.
Despite the reverse, English pride remained intact. “We’re disappointed about the late goal they scored to force extra time, but proud at out terrific team effort,” continued the England keeper. “It was a very emotional match.”
Having the last word, Powell took the positive view: “We need to keep on working towards a better future. The World Cup has been a fantastic experience for us but we have to look forward now. In football there’s always something you need to work on.”
