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| 2010 World Cup Qualifying | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 9 2008, 05:12 AM (3,172 Views) | |
| Nkono | Nov 5 2009, 09:43 AM Post #136 |
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This is the squad Raymond Domenech has named to play Ireland: Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille) Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Aly Cissokho (Olympique Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Rod Fanni (Stade Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla) Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Girondins Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon) Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Loic Remy (Nice). Gael Clichy had to drop out with an injury and he's been replaced by a newcomer Lyon's impressive Aly Cissokho. Evra will likely start at left back (or if he doesn't Abidal will) but Cissokho's play has been impressive and he deserves his selection. The other newcomer is Bordeaux's goalie Cedric Carrasso who we have all seen has been playing well too in his club's impressive Champions League campaign. Making news in the international press is Patrick Vieira's omission but if you have seen him play recently it is with reason. Moussa Sissoko, Toulalan, Alou and Lassana Diarra and Diaby are all in better form than he. The talent is certainly there, let us see if they can produce against Ireland. |
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| Mr. Pither | Nov 6 2009, 10:56 AM Post #137 |
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Don't forget Ribery also is not included on this team as he is still out of action. A big loss but it will mean Gourcuff will have to be the guy setting up France's attackers. I think the question is whether France can score some goals and with Henry still not fully recovered from injury and Benzema in questionable form now it will be up to Anelka and Gignac to produce the goals for Les Bleus. Both have been playing well but the pressure will be on them. Netherlands are playing two friendlies next week, away to Italy and home to Paraguay in what should be some good preparation for South Africa 2010. Coach Bert van Marwijk has said he may look to copy Arsenal and use Robin van Persie as a non traditional center forward. That is mainly because the Oranje's other center forwards are Klaas Jan Huntelaar who does not play with Milan and Dirk Kuyt who plays on the right side for his club Liverpool. This is the entire roster van Marwijk has selected: Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem) Defenders: John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart) Midfielders: Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax Amsterdam), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich) Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Eljero Elia (SV Hamburg), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) It is strong on midfielders and wingers, weak at center forward and questionable in defense. I am curious to see how they will do against two very different but solid teams in Italy and Paraguay. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| Hector | Nov 9 2009, 08:41 AM Post #138 |
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Here is the Greece team to play Ukraine in their playoff: Goalkeepers: Kostas Chalkias (PAOK), Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos). Defenders: Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Loukas Vintra, Nikos Spiropoulos (both Panathinaikos), Vasilis Torosidis, Avraam Papadopoulos (both Olympiakos). Midfielders: Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens), Kostas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis, Sotiris Ninis, Alexandros Tziolis (all Panathinaikos), Vassilis Pliatsikas (Schalke 04). Strikers: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Theofanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Kostas Mitroglou (Olympiakos), Vasilis Koutsianikoulis (PAOK). |
| iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo! | |
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| Merengue | Nov 10 2009, 02:29 PM Post #139 |
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Portugal have finally come to the realization that they will have to play Bosnia without Cristiano Ronaldo. Good time to test the theory some have expressed here that Portugal plays better without Ronaldo as the players become too deferential to him on the pitch. |
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| Yogi | Nov 12 2009, 11:16 AM Post #140 |
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These are previews from Reuters of this weekend's first leg playoff games in Europe with the expected lineups for both teams: Ireland vs France Ireland vs France Preview Expected lineups: Ireland - Shay Given; Sean St Ledger, Kevin Kilbane, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne; Glenn Whelan, Aidan McGeady, Keith Andrews; Damien Duff; Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane. France - Hugo Lloris; Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Patrice Evra; Lassana Diarra, Jeremy Toulalan; Nicolas Anelka, Yoann Gourcuff, Thierry Henry; Andre-Pierre Gignac. Russia vs Slovenia Russia vs Slovenia Preview Expected lineups: Russia: Igor Akinfeyev; Alexander Anyukov, Sergei Ignashevich, Vasily Berezutsky, Renat Yanbayev; Igor Denisov, Igor Semshov, Vladimir Bystrov, Konstantin Zyryanov; Alexander Kerzhakov, Andrei Arshavin. Slovenia: Samir Handanovic; Miso Brecko, Bostjan Cesar, Marko Suler, Bojan Jokic; Aleksander Radosavljevic, Robert Koren, Andraz Kirm; Valter Birsa, Milivoje Novakovic, Zlatko Dedic. Greece vs Ukraine Greece vs Ukraine Preview Expected Lineups: Greece: Kostas Chalkias, Loukas Vintra, Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Evangelos Moras, Nikos Spiropoulos; Giorgos Karagounis, Kostas Katsouranis, Alexandros Tziolis; Giorgos Samaras, Theofanis Gekas, Angelos Charisteas Ukraine: Andriy Pyatov, Vasyl Kobin, Yaroslav Rakytsky, Oleksander Kucher, Olexiy Gay, Sergiy Nazarenko, Ruslan Rotan, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Evgeniy Hacherydy, Artem Milevskiy, Andriy Shevchenko Portugal vs Bosnia Portugal vs Bosnia Preview Expected Lineups: Portugal: Eduardo; Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Duda; Pepe, Deco, Raul Meireles; Nani, Simao Sabrosa, Liedson. Bosnia: Kenan Hasagic; Emir Spahic, Sanel Jahic, Boris Pandza, Safet Nadarevic; Elvir Rahimic, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Sejad Salihovic, Miralem Pjanic; Edin Dzeko, Vedad Ibisevic. |
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| Manzanares | Nov 12 2009, 09:02 PM Post #141 |
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Nice work Yogi but I think Reuters is wrong in listing Pepe as a midfielder for Portugal. So it looks like Nani will be taking Cristiano Ronaldo's place. As Merengue wrote before, we will find out if Portugal can play well without Ronaldo. It is hard to score on them and since they've added Leidson they've been betetr offensively. From what I have seen of them, Bosnia has a good attack but a suspect defense which makes them hard to predict in any given game. Should set up a nice two game series. |
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| Simon | Nov 13 2009, 06:15 AM Post #142 |
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Nice work, Yogi. First, news of an unfortunate diplomatic incident between the French and the Irish re an executive box for President Sarkozy: http://irishsoccerinsider.wordpress.com/20...r-box-incident/ Clearly fake, but funny all the same |
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| Martin | Nov 13 2009, 02:37 PM Post #143 |
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Better this humorous look at it all than what is going on between Egypt and Algeria, take a look at the African World Cup qualifying forum for the frenzy being whipped up in Egypt over the match. I was reading where Jeremy Toulalan has not practiced with France all week and is thus of course questionable for this game. nkono or anybody else know who might replace him? Sissoko? Alou Diarra? Diaby? France is already going into this game without Ribery now they may have to miss another starting midfielder. Simon can tell us Nani is not exactly a fair swap for Ronaldo but Portugal still does have alot of attacking talent and I think manzanares is right that Leidson's arrival has finally given Portugal something they've lacked for years, a consistent goalscoring threat at center forward. |
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| Nkono | Nov 14 2009, 12:23 AM Post #144 |
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I would expect Alou Diarra to come in for Toulalan. I think Diarra can adequately cover for him. This likely will be a tactical game but one thing to remember about France recently is that much like Portugal with Leidson, Gignac has provided France with a consistent scoring threat at center forward, something the team has lacked for some time now, since Trezeguet was a starter in the pre Domenech days. |
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| Yogi | Nov 14 2009, 11:50 AM Post #145 |
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Russia looked set to win 2-0, a pair of goals from Bilyatidenov but Slovenia Pecnik with an 88th minute goal to set them up pretty well for the return leg. A 1-0 win sends Slovenia through. Minute 90 in Athens, 0-0 between Greece and Ukraine. |
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| Merengue | Nov 14 2009, 03:36 PM Post #146 |
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Saturday's first leg scores: Russia 2-1 Slovenia Greece 0-0 Ukraine Ireland 0-1 France Portugal 1-0 Bosnia All 4 games are still up for grabs but France with the away win are in the best shape. Anelka with a deflected goal for the win from what I saw, France took the play to Irleand after a pretty even first half where ireland ahd slightly the better of chances. A couple of good saves from Lloris preserved the win. Portugal won with a Bruna Alves headed goal, controlled play but could not finish and in the end were fortunate as Bosnia a couple of times hit the woodwork. Where have we heard all of this before with Portugal? I saw the highlights of Russia-Slovenia and it was all Russia until that late goal but ten Slovenia almost tie dit forcing Akinfeeyev the Russian keeper to make agood save. Greece-Ukraine was from what I read the snorefest many of us expected beforehand! |
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| Manzanares | Nov 14 2009, 10:58 PM Post #147 |
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Portugal did blow some opportunties to add to their lone goal by Bruno Alves, from an excellent cross by Nani, and were lucky at the end when Bosnia hit the bar/post several times but actually Portugal are probably the best situated of all of the home teams from leg 1. Look at the others, Ireland lost, Greece played a scoreless tie, Russia won by a goal but gave up an away goal. Portugal won by the same margin as Russia but did not allow an away goal. They can afford for instance to lose say 2-1 in Bosnia and still advance. Although Portugal's defense is stingy and will be very difficult to score upon. |
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| Mr. Pither | Nov 15 2009, 03:12 PM Post #148 |
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You know you make a good point manzanares. Much of the talk after Saturday's matches was how Portugal blew their opportnity against Bosnia but as you rightly point out the fact they did not give up any away goals should help them in the return. There may have been a bit of poor fortune in St Ledger slightly deflecting Anelka's shot into the goal but France did look the betetr team for most of the 90 minutes. Abidal will miss the return leg, as will Toulalan, but it was a mistake by Abidal, losing the ball deep in his own half, which nearly led to Ireland's equaliser. Only a quick intervention by Lloris saved France from giving up a goal then. Abidal, who played in the centre of defence, can be replaced by Squillaci for Wednesday. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| hobbes | Nov 16 2009, 12:58 AM Post #149 |
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I worked all weekend and still managed to catch six matches. So here are my extremely sleep-deprived thoughts: Russia v Slovenia I should never question question Guus. No Bystrov, Kerzhakov, Semshov or Sychev . . . instead Pavlyuchenko and Bilyaletdinov. I thought Pavlyuchenko was too static and Bilyaletdinov wasn’t getting enough of the ball and the Russian attack wasn’t as dynamic as it could be and then Bilyaletdinov did superbly to open the scoring on a great little ball from Pavlyuchenko. And then Bilyaletdinov poaches a second and I definitely had it all wrong. Still at 2-0 down I felt Slovenia were a bit hard done by. Cesar had a great game in the back, but his partner Suler was really struggling. Still they were holding posession and didn’t look out-classed. I thought they deserved the goal and I think they’re set up fairly well coming home. I said before that if they were within a goal coming home they’d upset the Russians and I’ll stick to that. That being said Akinfeeyev is really sharp right now. Portugal v Bosnia What an odd match. Portugal dominated the first 30 or so until they scored. Then Bosnia slowly began to get back into the match. Then after nearly another 30, Portugal magically woke up and created three great chances right before the hour mark. I’m not sure how Portugal shut off the way they did. I’m curious what others thought, but it seemed to once Deco, Nani and Simao’s work rate dropped, Bosnia finally started to get some of the ball in the midfield. I thought Muratovic and Rahimic looked ancient in the opening stages. The 33 year olds were just being over-run in the middle of the field and I thought they were both going to get sent off the way they were going. But slowly they started to get into the game and that got Salihovic and to a lesser extent Missimovic going. I thought Salihovic and Ibricic had a tough match on the flanks. Salihovic made a rash challenge and was beaten with a 1-2 to give Nani space to cross on the goal and Ibricic was standing wrong-side of Bruno Alves on his back-post run. Dzeko was also extremely quiet (until he nearly scored). I thought Liedson’s work rate was excellent and Pepe and Raul Mereiles were both excellent. For me the problem is that Dzeko was quiet, Bosnia struggled to cope with Portugal’s pace and quality for long stretches and yet they hit three posts and are only down a goal coming home. If Bosnia actually puts a good performance together at home I think they could pull off the win. Greece v Ukraine No goals? I’m shocked. ![]() To be fair this wasn’t as dire as I expected, both teams looked like they wanted to attack a little, but neither side created much. To me it’s a shame that one of these teams is going to qualify and a side with real quality — like Portugal, Russia or France — or a decent plucky upstart — Bosnia or Slovenia — won’t get in. I fear that whoever wins this tie will end up playing the role of Serbia 06, Austria 98 or say Greece 94. Ireland v France I like both of these teams and rather enjoyed this game. I really think France just has too much for Ireland. That being said I didn’t think France played practicularly well. I thought the Diarras didn’t play overly well and Alou (I think, I maybe confusing them) gave the ball away for too much. Neither pushed forward a ton, but with Anelka and Henry largely sticking wide and Sagna pushing forward there was a void in the centre of the attack. I know there’s no replacing Zidane, but this game was screaming for someone to take over in the middle of the field. I like Gourcuff, but he almost disappeared at times. I’ve been critical of Whelan and Andrews, but I thought Andrews played really hard and was full of committment. But as the game wore on Anelka moved more and more infield (though I thought he was lazy and wasteful often too) which helped, but finally Henry came inside and France started to play 1-2s and combining and the Irish really had no answer for that. The Irish caused some danger and Lloris was forced to make some good saves, but Kilbane and O’Shea never got forward at all. It’s hard to score when you only have four men attacking. I actually had Abidal down as my MOTM. He covered for Evra a couple of times, won tons of balls in the air and made a great recovery on a break — and then he makes a shocking give-away. Despite that give-away I think he’ll be missed in Paris. I like Trapattoni a lot and think highly of him, but I thought it was a big mistake taking Doyle off. He was very active and provided a lot of spark and Best just didn’t offer as much. The thing I like about Gignac is that he adds graft and a fighting spirit for France. He likes to mix it up and he battles, which is something some of their other forward players lack. He didn’t do a lot, but he gave St. Ledger and Dunne something to think about. A pretty good day of action. I’m looking forward to Wednesday. cheers, hobbes |
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| Merengue | Nov 16 2009, 10:04 AM Post #150 |
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Excellent game reviews hobbes, fortunately my wife does not look at this message board otherwise she'd tell me to skip watching futbol on TV and just come here and read hobbes detailed reviews of the games! :lol: I watched both Ireland-France and Portugal-Bosnia so can comment on those two. I think hobbes has it right, France just has too much talent for Ireland, the Irish work hard but didn't have the inspiration to break France down. I also thought taking Doyle off hurt them as he was their most active attacker. I thought Abidal, apart from his late give away did well but I think he is replaceable with either Squillaci or Escude. Gourcuff did not play well yet France still won, odds are the Irish won't be able to keep him down a second time and with that 1 goal lead, France have to eb smiling now but Scotland's success there in Euro 2008 qualifying does show that France, especially against teams with a lot of tenacity in them, can trouble them. Gignac is a good addition to France and provides them with what hobbes mentions, their own bit of tenacity but what a shocking miss he had late in the game, an open net which would have sentenced the series. Portugal did waste chances to get their own second goal but even with talented attackers like Bosnia has, I think it is extremely difficult to score on Portugal. Eduardo, their new goalie looks secure and the rest of the defense are all good players. And with Bosnia obliged to attack that should open up space for Portugal. I think Portugal should put Joao Moutinho in midfield, he will help Deco offensively while still providing defensive cover. As for the other two series, Guus Hiddink is a guy with magic as a manager particularly in home and home series, I just find it extremely hard to pick against Russia. And any team with a goalie in the form Akinfeyev is in will be hard to beat. Ukraine are probably now the favorites against Greece but Greece are one of those teams who can go away from home and get a result, an opportunistic goal and some solid defending can get them through. Yet as hobbes notes neither country really looks impressive now do they? |
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