Sport
International
Friday, March 5, 2010
15
Spain puts Domenech in doldrums as French lose friendly match Agence France - Presse
PARIS – Spain confirmed their position among the World Cup favourites with a dominant 20 victory over France in their friendly match at the Stade de France here on Wednesday. The European champions prevailed through first-half goals from David Villa and Sergio Ramos, inflicting upon their hosts a first defeat in 13 home games. Worse for France was their powerlessness in the face of Spain’s masterful control of possession and the home fans made their feelings known at regular intervals by imploring under-fire coach Raymond Domenech to resign. The enigmatic 58-year-old has seen his popularity plummet since leading France to the 2006 World Cup final and the defeat will increase calls for him to step down before this summer’s finals in South Africa. Key Spanish dangermen Xavi and Fernando Torres did not even make an appearance until half-time, but although the scoreline remained the same until the end, the damage had already been done. “Losing makes nobody happy but Spain confirmed to-
night that they are big favourites for the World Cup,” said Domenech. “We lost thanks to two mistakes, two pieces of poor positioning after we gave the ball away in midfield. To beat Spain you have to be exceptional. We weren’t tonight, but we have three months to prepare for the World Cup.” Thierry Henry, representing his country for the first time since his infamous handball in the play-off victory over Ireland in November, was whistled when he left the field in the second half, while the French fans took to airing their frustrations by cheering every completed Spanish pass. Florent Malouda headed against the post from fellow substitute Djibril
Cisse’s right-wing cross in the 80th minute and it was to prove the closest the hosts came to a breakthrough. Sevilla winger Jesus Navas almost made it 3-0 in injury time but his shot across goal from the inside-right channel flashed narrowly wide. “There was a bit of everything, good and not so good,” said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque. “We are demanding, we always want to play better.” France had made an industrious start, with Franck Ribery a persistently menacing presence on the right of midfield. The hosts, though, were playing with an untested centre-back pairing of debutant Michael Ciani and Julien Escude, and cracks quickly appeared.
Maradona says Argentina can go all the way Agence France - Presse
MUNICH, Germany – Argentina’s larger-than-life coach Diego Maradona thinks that his players can win the World Cup if they show the form that saw them beat fellow favourites Germany 10. “I am very happy because my players were so committed. They fulfilled my expectations. After 24 years Argentina needs the title, and playing at this standard we can do it,” Maradona said after Wednesday’s match. “It was a tough game, but we
showed that we are a great team, one of the best in the world,” he added. “God willing, we are going to give our people a good World Cup.” Ninety-nine days before the World Cup in South Africa, the clash found “El Diez” under pressure after the 1978 and 1986 winners - the latter victory over the then West Germany virtually singlehandedly delivered by Maradona - came within a whisker of not qualifying and for his use of over 100 different players. But his side outshone Germany on Wednesday, leaving the home side, which in contrast to Argentina
(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Germany’s Serdar Tasci, right, and Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain, left, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between Germany and Argentina in Munich, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
had looked solid in qualification, looking like the one needing to go back to the drawing board. “Mistakes get punished at this level,” said Germany trainer Joachim Loew, assistant coach when Germany beat Argentina in a penalty shootout in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals. “Argentina really was a very, very strong team with lots of strong individual players. We didn’t manage to build up pressure today, to make use of chances.” After a slow start as the teams sized each other up, it was Argentina who looked the more dangerous of the two sides, led from the front by Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Fifa’s world footballer of the year 2009. In the 38th minute, Angel di Maria dribbled his way past a sea of German defenders to fire off a shot. Germany ‘keeper Rene Adler, fresh from being named Germany’s firstchoice goalie for the World Cup this week, pulled off a spectacular save, deflecting the ball onto the woodwork. But then just before the break, disaster struck for the Germans with a slip-up from Adler, who plays for high-flying Bundesliga outfit Bayer Levekusen, that suddenly made his selection look not quite so shrewd. Adler sprinted out of his goal to intercept the ball from a fast-approaching Gonzalo Higuain, but the Real Madrid star won the challenge, rounded the ‘keeper and tapped into the open goal. The episode was much to the disapproval of long-term ‘keeper Oliver “King” Kahn, now resigned to the commentary box. “If you leave your goal you have to make sure you get the ball. Otherwise you should stay on your line,” he said.
(AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Spain’s Sergio Ramos, left, celebrates with David Villa after scoring the second goal against France during their friendly soccer match at Stade de France stadium, outskirts of Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 in preparation of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.
Cameroon hold Italy in goalless draw Agence France - Presse
MONTE CARLO – African giants Cameroon held world champions Italy to a 0-0 draw in a dull World Cup finals warm-up international in Monaco on Wednesday. Italy coach Marcello Lippi said that despite the 0-0 scoreline he had found the match a useful exercise. “That was a very useful match, I had the chance to have a look at many players for the first time, even those who had already been in the squad before (when Lippi wasn’t coach)” he said. Lippi used this fixture to have a look at new players and he picked an experimental line-up with a mix of regular first teamers such as captain Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Andrea Pirlo while giving debuts to Cagliari midfielder Andrea Cossu and Bari right-back Leonardo Bonucci. The unfamiliar nature of the Italy team possibly contributed to a first half which saw barely a chance created by either side. Italy were marginally the more potent, although that speaks vol-
umes about the lack of threat from Cameroon. The world champions did have the ball in the net on 13 minutes but it was rightly ruled out for offside. Cameroon goalkeeper Souleymanou Hamidou came for a corner but made an absolute hash of his attempt, yet inadvertently his actions saved his team from conceding as when Daniele De Rossi helped the ball forward, there was only one defender between Giorgio Chiellini and the goal. There was the usual flood of half-time changes and one of the Italy substitutes, Juventus’s Claudio Marchisio, fashioned a chance for Antonio Di Natale, whose volley was deflected over. With 16 minutes left Italy came close again but Hamidou did well to come out and smother Bonucci’s close range effort from Chiellini’s flick. But Cameroon then had the best chance of the game as Pierre Webo was played in behind the Italy backline only for his first touch to be poor and allow Federico Marchetti to come out and smother on the edge of the box.