The International Friendlies Thread

[onlikecorn]

so i find mexico look good against new zealand. . . big up concacaf

highlights here . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHYqZ_hb3AU&feature=player_embedded&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.footytube.com%2Fvideo%2Fmexico-vs-nueva-zelanda-2-0-030310-amistoso-mundial-sudrafica-2010-azteca-deportes-35904



and germany argentina highlights here . .

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcg35e_germany-v-argentina_sport

[Zeppo]

Americans still displaying favorable traits despite tough loss to Dutch

Less than 30 minutes after the U.S. fell 2-1 here to the Netherlands on Wednesday, defender Jonathan Bornstein breathed a deep sigh on the floor of the Amsterdam ArenA and pondered his night. Although the Dutch had dominated possession for most of the game, it still came down to two moments involving Bornstein -- one within his control and one outside it -- that decided the outcome in the end.

Late in the first half with the game still scoreless, Bornstein grabbed Wesley Sneijder in the box, drawing the same kind of avoidable penalty that Bornstein picked up in the 1-0 loss at Slovakia in November. Sneijder didn't have to fall, but he's a cagey player who knew there had been contact, and Bornstein knew it too.

"I did grab him a little bit," Bornstein acknowledged. "I touched him, and he could have kept going and he fell. But they called it, so I guess it was a penalty."

(continue)

[kicker]

Americans still displaying favorable traits despite tough loss to Dutch

Less than 30 minutes after the U.S. fell 2-1 here to the Netherlands on Wednesday, defender Jonathan Bornstein breathed a deep sigh on the floor of the Amsterdam ArenA and pondered his night. Although the Dutch had dominated possession for most of the game, it still came down to two moments involving Bornstein -- one within his control and one outside it -- that decided the outcome in the end.

Late in the first half with the game still scoreless, Bornstein grabbed Wesley Sneijder in the box, drawing the same kind of avoidable penalty that Bornstein picked up in the 1-0 loss at Slovakia in November. Sneijder didn't have to fall, but he's a cagey player who knew there had been contact, and Bornstein knew it too.

"I did grab him a little bit," Bornstein acknowledged. "I touched him, and he could have kept going and he fell. But they called it, so I guess it was a penalty."

(continue)

U.S. played a good game last night.  One of the few times I've seen where they played as if they humbly and intelligently knew their place among the global powers of the game (Spain in the Confed Cup was another).  They were not naive as they sometimes are in trying to match bigger opponents at their own game, eventually losing their shape, getting stretched and looking inferior in a losing effort.  Instead they recognized that they were up against a team that was better than them on paper, and clearly more technical in almost every part of the field.  They stayed compact and allowed the Dutch possession in the non-dangerous parts of the field, they picked their spots well, and in the end could have actually won the game with better luck.  Howard had a little work to do but wasn't too busy which is a sign that their defense didn't get stretched.  The two goals that they conceded were unfortunate, and down the stretch they were able to dominate the game, and make the Dutch work and while they pressed for an equalizer...  They should approach the England game with the same mindset if they want a shot at getting a result out of it. 

[Pointman]

I'm liking the black and gold Germany's using

I love it!!

[Jah Gol]

Argentina vs Spain

http://www.atdhe.net/23691/watch-argentina-vs-spain

[Jah Gol]

gol de Messi 10'

[Jah Gol]

gol de Higuain 13'

[DeSoWa]

Jai John probably wetting heself all now   

Big Up!

[Jah Gol]

oh shit Reina looking like an Englishman

[Jah Gol]

3-0 Argentina at HT.

[Brownsugar]

Nah man, Spain send dey E team or wha?? 

[Jah Gol]

Nah man, Spain send dey E team or wha?? 

more or less the full side.

[D.H.W]

Nah man, Spain send dey E team or wha?? 

more or less the full side.

oh shit!

[Jah Gol]

Llorente gol 3-1

[Jah Gol]

gol de Aguero

[Jah Gol]

4-1 Argentina FT

Argentina started very strongly and were very effective in front of goal with the few chances they actually created. Spain controlled the flow of the game after about 25 minutes onwards but they were already 2 down. They conceded a freak goal when Reina made a mistake worthy of a British passport, slipping on a clearance that gifted Tevez a goal. Excluding the Reina blunder ,Argentina created about 5 good chances in the game, three were converted , one was saved by Valdes and one was offside but finished anyway.

What a tremendous display of football by both teams.

[Midknight]

They conceded a freak goal when Reina made a mistake worthy of a British passport

[Mango Chow!]

They conceded a freak goal when Reina made a mistake worthy of a British passport

  is RIGHT!!

[jai john]

Palos on holidays 4 against the world champions !! ,,,and Riquelme still recovering from knee surgery. Brazil in November !! we take we lix in South Africa but we sharing licks now !
New side, new coach .... Copa america next year in argentina ...ah hope de money tree start to bear soon yes !!!

[Bakes]

They conceded a freak goal when Reina made a mistake worthy of a British passport, slipping on a clearance that gifted Tevez a goal.

Not sure how you can say he "make a mistake"... he went to kick the ball and his plant foot slipped out from under him.  To say it's an mistake is to say that it was in his power to do the proper thing.  Not trying to split hairs, but yuh being kinda harsh to him.  Of course I biased and feeling bad fuh him since he finally get ah sweat behind Iker, lol

[Jah Gol]

They conceded a freak goal when Reina made a mistake worthy of a British passport, slipping on a clearance that gifted Tevez a goal.

Not sure how you can say he "make a mistake"... he went to kick the ball and his plant foot slipped out from under him.  To say it's an mistake is to say that it was in his power to do the proper thing.  Not trying to split hairs, but yuh being kinda harsh to him.  Of course I biased and feeling bad fuh him since he finally get ah sweat behind Iker, lol

It really was a freak accident. I hate to see that happen. He's better than that.

[jr sams]

Messi open the scoring with a sublime, deft chip...real nice...
here is the story from FIFA.com

Argentina handed Spain only their third defeat since 2006 after putting the reigning world and European champions to the sword with a 4-1 scoreline in Tuesday's international at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, two players who ply their trade in Spain, put Argentina two up inside the opening 14 minutes and Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 in the 34th minute following a costly slip by Jose Reina. Spain, who hit the woodwork three times in the match, pulled a late goal back through Fernando Llorente but Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero made it 4-1 for the home side in injury time.

That wrapped up the scoring and saw Argentina, under the guidance of interim boss Sergio Batista following the departure of Diego Maradona, join USA and Switzerland as the only sides to have beaten Spain in the last 58 matches - 52 of which have seen the Iberian nation emerge victorious.

Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque made five changes to the side that started Friday's 4-0 UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying win over Liechtenstein, resting the likes of Xavi, Fernando Torres and captain Iker Casillas, and the new-look line-up soon found themselves in trouble.

Tevez gave an early warning to the visitors when he beat the offside trap to get on the end of Messi's fine through ball, but the Manchester City man dragged his shot wide of the far past with only Reina to beat. The same two Argentinians were involved four minutes later as Spain were cut open again, but this time with a different outcome. Tevez put Messi in inside the area and the Barcelona man coolly chipped the ball into the net as Gerard Pique and Reina closed in on the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.

Tevez was heavily involved early on and in the 14th minute he helped make it 2-0 with a great pass for Real Madrid forward Higuain, who looked to have gone too wide as he rounded Reina but still found the net from a tight angle.

That was hardly the sort of start Spain would have been expecting but they settled down and were soon passing the ball around in trademark fashion. Then, in the 28th minute, they came within a whisker of pulling a goal back when David Villa hit the top of the far post with a stunning 30-yard left-footed drive. If that had gone in it would have seen Villa equal Raul's national record of 44 goals, and also given Spain a lifeline back into the match.

However, it flew away for a goal-kick and six minutes later Spain found themselves 3-0 down, and Reina nursing a very red face. There appeared little danger as Reina collected Alvaro Arbeloa's back pass but the Liverpool goalkeeper slipped as he looked set to return possession to his team-mate and Tevez nipped in to slide the ball home.

If Spain this evening did not look like the side that won the World Cup, then the way Argentina played had a lot to do with that.
Argentina coach Sergio Batista
That was a real setback for Spain just as they looked to be getting into their stride, and the European champions must have realised it was not going to be their night when Villa struck the post for a second time just before the break. The number seven's free-kick from outside the area took a deflection off new Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano in the Argentina wall before striking the far post.

Del Bosque made four changes at the break and Spain had Argentina on the back foot for much of the second half. Llorente went close with a header before Santi Cazorla saw his brilliant dipping volley tipped onto the bar by Sergio Romero. Romero then palmed over a Pedro Rodriguez shot as Spain continued to push for at least a consolation goal.

That goal finally arrived in the 84th minute when Pedro fed Llorente, who turned and stabbed the ball inside the far post. Spain had a half-chance to pull another goal back through Cazorla at the far post but Argentina survived that and then added gloss to the win when substitute Aguero headed home Gabriel Heinze's cross late on.

Argentina coach Batista said that the emphatic win proved that Argentina had put the crushing loss to Germany behind them. "We were sent packing from South Africa, but we could just as well have won the World Cup," he said. "If Spain this evening did not look like the side that won the World Cup, then the way Argentina played had a lot to do with that. We played the way we wanted to play."

Del Bosque said that there was no shame for Spain in losing to Argentina. "We lost with dignity and never gave up trying," he said. "Argentina were very fast up front, they move well and it was normal that they controlled the game. They hardly left us any room to play in."

Source: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1299381.html#argentina+stun+world+champs

[Jah Gol]

Real touches and Brazil leading 1-0

http://atdhe.net/25626/watch-brazil-vs-ukraine

[elan]

Why was the Ukraine goal disallowed?

Shaka doing well though.

[Socafan]

Real touches and Brazil leading 1-0

http://atdhe.net/25626/watch-brazil-vs-ukraine

Thanks!!...Dais it for work.

[elan]

2-0 now. Pato

[Socafan]

Dais Shaka commentating. Brazil trying to play a strict 1 touch possession game. NICE!!

[AirMan]

So Argentina mash up de world champions Spain...Good! 

[Jah Gol]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-balaBHnl4I&amp;feature=7#!" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/-balaBHnl4I&amp;feature=7#!</a>

[dinho]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-balaBHnl4I&amp;feature=7#!" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/-balaBHnl4I&amp;feature=7#!</a>

Thanks.. For anyone else viewing this clip the football does start at 4:10.

Real nice finish from Pato on the 2nd goal.