one down.
SPAIN 1 - 0 ENGLAND
yeah well fine I'll let Aragones go this time. Shame on him for not bringing Xabi on, but he did bring Torres and Cesc on so I guess 2 \ 3 isn't TOO bad.
It wasn't much of a match no? I fell asleep at the start of 2nd half but got up at the 48th min luckily. But I kept drifting off it was so annoying. Stevie didn't stay on. Meh. Terry didn't (and I guess i didn't expect him to) come on. And XABI never came on ;__;
But Moro was good I guess. Silly miss at the start. Crouch had a bad night. Spose he should have gotten wide and chased the ball in instead of just standing there waiting for it to come to him. I felt so bad for him.
Stevie had no ball time too. Maybe a good cross occasionally but you don't see him taking a shot or running at defences. Lamps never got a chance to shoot too. It was a fast paced yet, dull game IMO. But I don't mind it. I guess it ended up how I wanted.
ANYWAY, I know the results to all the other games played which pissed me off so now I'm online and I can't be any shocked to see any results. *slams Andy Penders* But I'll be heading off to watch the Germany game anyway. Who cares. Mannschaft love.
and i got a match report by www.englandfootballonline.com
England woefully underperformed to slip to their first home defeat under coach Steve McClaren in an international friendly against Spain at Old Trafford. Spain were on the back foot at the start of each half, but the visitors survived to take control of the match.
Fernando Morientes blazed over the bar in the first-half, while David Villa's shot was well saved by England debutant Ben Foster just before the hour. Soon afterwards substitute Andres Iniesta arrowed a shot past Foster. Iniesta had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he quickly collected Rio Ferdinand's defensive clearance, before sending an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Spain face a real struggle to qualify for Euro 2008, but they were far the better side and this despite making three substitutions at the interval.
England also made a raft of substitutions - six in all - with Joey Barton making his international debut, coming on for Frank Lampard with 11 minutes to go. So poor were England that it was hard to remember Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas having to make a save. Any optimism engendered by England's bright approach at the start of each quickly evaporated as Spain took control in midfield with Xavi a key influence. While Xavi dictated the game's tempo, England's hotch-potch of a midfield struggled to regain some semblance of control.
More worringly ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra in March, this game provided further compelling evidence as to the incompatibility of Steven Gerrard and Lampard to play together in midfield. Deployed to the left of Gerrard, who was given a central midfield position, Lampard looked a shadow of the player he is for Chelsea. Gerrard was rested for the second half, with Gareth Barry replacing the Liverpool midfielder, but the switch did little to provide England with any better balance.
At least Gerrard had the consolation of playing the pass of the first half, picking out Peter Crouch with a ball played with the outside of his right foot just before the interval. Unfortunately Crouch was unable to deliver a similar level of precision and his shot was well wide. With the right-footed Phil Neville playing as left-back, and Lampard just ahead of him, perhaps it was not altogether surprising that Spain's best attacks came down England's flank in those opening 45 minutes.
Since leaving Liverpool, Morientes cannot stop scoring goals for Valencia, but he made an awful hash of a chance when it looked easier to score than miss on 18 minutes. After Spain had carved open England down the right, Morientes deceived Gary Neville only to then embarrassingly scoop the ball high over the bar with only Foster to beat.
only if you have too much time to read. So .. viva espana.
Can't be bothered with an RL post now. Some other day. =)
I've got some pacalis work to do. Hope you all enjoyed the match! (if you didn't fall asleep)
oh and im watching Netherlands VS Russia now. LOL Kuyt in orange. and i loff van basten's coat. meep.
and from other people's entries, i've learnt that SAN MARINO SCORED A GOAL! OMG. LOL. this is just too amusing. phrawr.
yeah well fine I'll let Aragones go this time. Shame on him for not bringing Xabi on, but he did bring Torres and Cesc on so I guess 2 \ 3 isn't TOO bad.
It wasn't much of a match no? I fell asleep at the start of 2nd half but got up at the 48th min luckily. But I kept drifting off it was so annoying. Stevie didn't stay on. Meh. Terry didn't (and I guess i didn't expect him to) come on. And XABI never came on ;__;
But Moro was good I guess. Silly miss at the start. Crouch had a bad night. Spose he should have gotten wide and chased the ball in instead of just standing there waiting for it to come to him. I felt so bad for him.
Stevie had no ball time too. Maybe a good cross occasionally but you don't see him taking a shot or running at defences. Lamps never got a chance to shoot too. It was a fast paced yet, dull game IMO. But I don't mind it. I guess it ended up how I wanted.
ANYWAY, I know the results to all the other games played which pissed me off so now I'm online and I can't be any shocked to see any results. *slams Andy Penders* But I'll be heading off to watch the Germany game anyway. Who cares. Mannschaft love.
and i got a match report by www.englandfootballonline.com
England woefully underperformed to slip to their first home defeat under coach Steve McClaren in an international friendly against Spain at Old Trafford. Spain were on the back foot at the start of each half, but the visitors survived to take control of the match.
Fernando Morientes blazed over the bar in the first-half, while David Villa's shot was well saved by England debutant Ben Foster just before the hour. Soon afterwards substitute Andres Iniesta arrowed a shot past Foster. Iniesta had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he quickly collected Rio Ferdinand's defensive clearance, before sending an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Spain face a real struggle to qualify for Euro 2008, but they were far the better side and this despite making three substitutions at the interval.
England also made a raft of substitutions - six in all - with Joey Barton making his international debut, coming on for Frank Lampard with 11 minutes to go. So poor were England that it was hard to remember Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas having to make a save. Any optimism engendered by England's bright approach at the start of each quickly evaporated as Spain took control in midfield with Xavi a key influence. While Xavi dictated the game's tempo, England's hotch-potch of a midfield struggled to regain some semblance of control.
More worringly ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra in March, this game provided further compelling evidence as to the incompatibility of Steven Gerrard and Lampard to play together in midfield. Deployed to the left of Gerrard, who was given a central midfield position, Lampard looked a shadow of the player he is for Chelsea. Gerrard was rested for the second half, with Gareth Barry replacing the Liverpool midfielder, but the switch did little to provide England with any better balance.
At least Gerrard had the consolation of playing the pass of the first half, picking out Peter Crouch with a ball played with the outside of his right foot just before the interval. Unfortunately Crouch was unable to deliver a similar level of precision and his shot was well wide. With the right-footed Phil Neville playing as left-back, and Lampard just ahead of him, perhaps it was not altogether surprising that Spain's best attacks came down England's flank in those opening 45 minutes.
Since leaving Liverpool, Morientes cannot stop scoring goals for Valencia, but he made an awful hash of a chance when it looked easier to score than miss on 18 minutes. After Spain had carved open England down the right, Morientes deceived Gary Neville only to then embarrassingly scoop the ball high over the bar with only Foster to beat.
only if you have too much time to read. So .. viva espana.
Can't be bothered with an RL post now. Some other day. =)
I've got some pacalis work to do. Hope you all enjoyed the match! (if you didn't fall asleep)
oh and im watching Netherlands VS Russia now. LOL Kuyt in orange. and i loff van basten's coat. meep.
and from other people's entries, i've learnt that SAN MARINO SCORED A GOAL! OMG. LOL. this is just too amusing. phrawr.