International news thread - Page 4 - Eternal Allegiance

PastyHusty · 11-22-2002, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMB
The 0-0 was from the World Cup '98, both our first match

Two months later we played again against each other ... making it 5-5 that time You guys even had the home benefit

5-5!!

Was that due to loads of brilliant strikes, or defensive errors.

DrTagnian · 11-22-2002, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GetNasty
5-5!! Was that due to loads of brilliant strikes, or defensive errors.

I don't know anymore (a draw against Belgium is something I'd like to forget as soon as possible

)

Maybe John can tell us. After all, he brought those matches up again.

ForeverInLoveWithJus · 11-22-2002, 06:19 AM

Nicolas Anelka has likened his plight with the French national team to that of Eric Cantona.

Manchester City striker Anelka caused outrage in his home country this week when he turned down an invitation by coach Jacques Santini to join Les Bleus squad for Wednesday's friendly against Yugoslavia as a late call-up following an injury to striker Sidney Govou.

Cantona was among those criticised for France's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals of USA 94 and although he played again in 1995, his relationship with then-national coach Aime Jacquet proved untenable.

Despite going on to more glory at Manchester United, France never called on Cantona's talents again and he missed out on the European Championships in his adopted homeland in 1996.

Like Cantona, who also experienced a clash with France coach Henri Michel in 1988 before being brought back to the fold when Michel Platini took over in 1989, Anelka feels he is an outcast of the national side.

"I am quite similar to Cantona and I feel sometimes we have experienced the same things," Anelka told France Football.

"I appreciate "Canto" a lot, I have always been 150% behind him whether what he did was right or wrong."

A call-up for the French clash with Russia appeared to indicate that Anelka was in line for a place in the 2002 World Cup squad, but coach Roger Lemerre had other ideas.

"I was not respected," the forward added. "There has been a split between me and the national side since Real Madrid.

"For example Roger Lemerre used to say "vous" to me and not "tu" like he would say to the others, as if I was not like everyone else."

MMB · 11-22-2002, 11:34 AM

Not much defensive errors

The Netherlands were playing at home and they wanted to take revenge for the last 0-0 encounter with Belgium at the WC a feww months earlier. Also they wanted to avenge the match against Brazil (semis WC '98). So they played very attacking.

Belgium on the other hand had nothing to lose, so they played very attacking as well.

What resulted was an awesome match, with loads of goal chances and some great goals

PastyHusty · 11-22-2002, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMB
Not much defensive errors

The Netherlands were playing at home and they wanted to take revenge for the last 0-0 encounter with Belgium at the WC a feww months earlier. Also they wanted to avenge the match against Brazil (semis WC '98). So they played very attacking.

Belgium on the other hand had nothing to lose, so they played very attacking as well.

What resulted was an awesome match, with loads of goal chances and some great goals

Now that's the kind of matches I like to see.

I doubt the score would have been as high if it were a qualifyer.

MMB · 11-22-2002, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GetNasty
I doubt the score would have been as high if it were a qualifyer.

If it would have been a qualifier, both teams would have chosen for a more patient approach, leading to less spectacle, leading to less chances and leading to less goals scored ...

ForeverInLoveWithJus · 11-25-2002, 01:31 AM

Don Givens believes the next Republic of Ireland manager will inherit a squad of players capable of propelling their country to the finals of the European Championship in Portugal in 2004.

Ireland have lost their opening two Group 10 qualifying matches and are already seven points behind early leaders Switzerland.

But after taking charge of the squad for last night's friendly in Greece, Givens is confident the players left behind by former manager Mick McCarthy have the spirit and the ability to turn things around and stake a serious claim for a ticket to Portugal, albeit via the play-offs.

``I honestly believe Mick has left things very healthy,'' said Givens.

``He has gradually reduced the age of the squad and left it in very good shape for the next manager to come in.

``I would like to think we can still qualify for the 2004 European Championships, although we have got a mountain to climb.

``We are seven points behind the group leaders, so realistically you are looking at a play-off place, but of course it is not impossible.

``The lads in the squad have performed very well before. They have had a blip now, but when the new manager comes in there will hopefully be a more positive attitude all round that we can go from there and get into those play-offs.''

Givens is hoping the goalless draw in Athens has stopped the rot after those two successive defeats, and that the team can bounce back in their qualifying double header in Georgia and Albania in March and April.

``I am sure this result has steadied things a little bit,'' said Givens.

``I was certainly aware that we didn't want to lose, that was first and foremost in the equation because we didn't want to be having three defeats on the trot.''

Although 10 players withdrew from Givens' squad on Sunday night - seven of whom would surely have started against the Greeks - there were still some positives for the new manager to take out of the friendly when he takes up his post, hopefully before the friendly in Scotland in February.

Manchester United's John O'Shea looked accomplished at the heart of the defence on only his second senior appearance, while Richard Dunne from rivals City showed his versatility by playing as an emergency left-back and walking away with the man-of-the-match award.

The one main worry remains the fact that Ireland need a striker who can bang in the goals on a regular basis if they are to hold on to their ranking of 14th in the world.

``John took another step forward and Richard confirmed what a good player he is,'' said Givens. ``I have no doubts John will become a very good player for us, while I have always rated Richard highly.

``I think we shall always look solid defensively, but the hardest players to find who can do the business at international level are up front, because that is the hardest place to play.

``We are never ever going to have a conveyor belt of top strikers coming because we are a small country, but I don't think we are too badly served when everybody is available.

``It is a position where we would like more competition but we can only work with what we've got and hopefully things will improve in the next 12 to 18 months.''

ForeverInLoveWithJus · 11-27-2002, 05:01 AM

Birmingham's Robbie Savage and manager Steve Bruce have been on the receiving end of a telephone hate campaign conducted against them by angry Welsh fans.

Supporters of Mark Hughes’ side have already hit the headlines for sending abusive faxes to Newcastle United about Craig Bellamy’s withdrawal from the Welsh side to play Azerbaijan last week.

And they are also incensed that Savage played for Birmingham last weekend and then pulled out injured from Wales' midweek European Championship qualifier.

Bruce then fielded Savage for Birmingham three days later in the game against Sunderland, but he only lasted an hour before limping off.

Angry and insensitive fans posted the pair's mobile phone numbers on the internet. Savage's number was incorrect, but Bruce has now been forced to change his after receiving a number of calls in the middle of the night.

Savage feels that the 'hate campaign' is completely unjustified as he was injured for the Welsh game.

"I knew I was injured," said Savage, who was examined by Welsh team doctors before being sent home.

"It's not Steve Bruce's fault, it's not my fault, it's nobody's fault.

"To put both our telephone numbers on the internet is childish... at the end of the day we're human beings and people have got to look at themselves.

"Steve Bruce has got to do what's right for Birmingham but the rule was that I was allowed to play for Wales.

"I was utterly disappointed that I couldn't and he was as well. He expressed how disappointed he was for me not to go.

"If Steve Bruce keeps getting phone calls, the club might take stronger action and say that they have every right to release me.”

Savage is still struggling with the groin injury that kept him out of the Euro 2004 qualifier and is doubtful for Saturday's home tie against Tottenham.

André_ea · 11-27-2002, 05:39 AM

Quote:

AUSTRIA 0 NORWAY 1 Pa-Modou Kah pounced eight minutes from the end to give Norway victory in their friendly clash against the hosts in Vienna.

I watched it...what a shame!!

ForeverInLoveWithJus · 11-28-2002, 03:41 AM

Match officials will work in three-man teams at the 2006 World Cup, Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced on Wednesday.
The teams will work together throughout the tournament.

"We will have very consistent refereeing for the 2006 World Cup finals," said Blatter.

"We're going to designate trios of match officials to always work together, that is like a football team. We won't be able to change them."

There has been no word on whether the teams will be from the same country, as recommended by Fifa's referee's committee last month.

Fifa is determined to improve refereeing standards following controversy over the performance of some officials at the 2002 World Cup.

The present system of officiating means that referees do not necessarily work with the same assistants from game to game.

The new system will have its first try out at the World Youth championships in the United Arab Emirates in March and April.

The changes are expected to be approved by the International Board when it meets in Belfast on 15 March.