World Cup Friendlies May-June 2018

[Napoleon 8822]

We need a thread to talk about all of the friendlies over the next 2 1/2weeks. (We don't need a separate thread for each match.)

Argentina vs Haiti 

8' or 9' - Messi almost scores a goal like he did against Mexico in the 2007 Cops America, but he had more time tonight and his chip was non-Messi level.

11' Messi with another shot.

Messi appears to be playing much further forward than in the 2014 WC.

[Napoleon 8822]

Penal!!

Love Celso gets Haitian full clete (una plancha) against just right thigh, just above his knee.

Leo takes it and barely gets it through the Haitian keeper's hand. (Messi went to his left/ keeper's right, about 3 feet off the ground.(

[Napoleon 8822]

25' Build up on the right (for practically the first time tonight) before ground pass to the middle near the defensive line, the chip to the left where Dí Maria's volley goes just a bit wide of the far (right) post.

[Napoleon 8822]

SIDE NOTE: Dí Maria still looks like Ed Grimley's Latin doppelganger.

Back to the game: Higuain has dropped at least 10 pounds since last year, but still does finish his opportunity.

[Napoleon 8822]

58' Build up from close, but this time to the right, Higuain overlaps, takes a 2nd touch that takes him to the endline, but chips back for Lo Celso (Defender... I believe... he's about 6ft) who heads it down, but the keeper blocks it and Messi cleans up the mess for his 2nd goal of the night.

It's always good for Leo to score when playing in Argentina, because the locals get upset when he only scores for Barcelona.

SUBS @ 59'

Out: Higuain, Lanzini, Fazio, Dí Maria

In: Pavón, Agüero, Rojo, Meza

Edited May 30, 2018 by Napoleon

[Napoleon 8822]

Messi scores a 3rd 

After Argentina fouls to get the ball back (no call... NBA level star treatment), the ball goes to Messi who threads it through to Agüero and Kün scores for #4.

Mascherano may or may not be moving well, depending on whether the Spanish speaking announcers are reading his body language correctly from their studio in Miami. 

[Constant 6885]

C C C C CCCCOMBO BREAKER!!!

[Napoleon 8822]

Peru vs Scotland is on now, but it costs $34.99 to see it on PPV. (I think I will pass.)

[Napoleon 8822]

Australia 4 - 0 Czech Republic
Mathew Leckie (32', 72'),  Andrew Nabbout (54'),  Jakub Jugas (80' OG)

Mathew Leckie stars as Australia thrash Czech Republic

 

Highights & Story: http://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=509721 

Edited June 2, 2018 by Napoleon

[Napoleon 8822]

France 3 - 1 Italy
Samuel Umtiti (8') _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Leonardo Bonucci (36')
Antoine Griezmann (29' PEN)
Ousmane Dembélé (63')

Ousmane Dembele's fine strike helps France ease past Italy

 

Highlights & Story: http://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=499989

Edited June 2, 2018 by Napoleon

[Napoleon 8822]

Saturday, June 2nd Friendlies involving World Cup Teams

Austria vs Germany @ 11:00am CDT on ESPN Deportes

England vs Nigeria @ 11:15am CDT on Fox Soccer Plus (FSP)

Sweden vs Denmark @ 12:45pm CDT need to find it online (maybe ESPN+)

Belgium vs Portugal @ 1:45pm CDT on ESPN Deportes

*REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs USMNT* @ 2:08pm on ESPN2 & UNIM

Mexico vs Scotland @ 7:00pm on FS1 ("your official home of El Tri") & UNIV

*NOT a friendly involving World Cup Teams

[Hagbard Celine 11215]

brazil 0 - 0 croatia 10' anfield bein

[Hagbard Celine 11215]

croatian hack goes studs to knee on thiago silva on 15'

useless, stupid foul, totally unnecessary in a friendly

[texasdago 7767]

Watching Italy - Netherlands... a painfully irrelevant game although I see Italy may have a foundation to build upon.  A lot of guys making dumb mistakes but I can see them improving given time and someone like Mancini.

[Napoleon 8822]

On 6/3/2018 at 8:15 AM, Hagbard Celine said:

croatian hack goes studs to knee on thiago silva on 15'

useless, stupid foul, totally unnecessary in a friendly

I think that Croatia lost to Brazil in the opening match. of the last World Cup in large part due to ref calls/lack of calls.

Perhaps this was his way of saying "Fuck you for having the refs in your pocket when we had our best team ever!"

Then again, maybe the Croatian guy is an idiot.

[texasdago 7767]

...and they haven't even dealt with the wrath of Mandzukic

[Napoleon 8822]

What seemed to be the dumbest friendly leading up to the World Cup has now been cancelled.
 

Israeli Embassy confirms cancellation of Argentina friendly in Jerusalem

Argentina's controversial friendly against Israel has been suspended after the match scheduled in Jerusalem provoked waves of protest, the Israeli embassy has confirmed. 

Reports had surfaced in Argentina on Tuesday that the match would be called off, with Palestine's Football Association celebrating the news. 

Palestinian FA chief Jibril Rajoub had helped spark the controversy with his claims that fans should burn Lionel Messi photos and shirts if the Argentina star faced Israel.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/israeli-embassy-confirms-cancellation-of-argentina-friendly/1k8jddr12cgo51wpw11jnauhp6

This means that Argentina will have only played a warmup match against an insanely weak Haitian squad on May 29th and then not another game until their opening match vs Iceland on June 16th, three weeks later.

[Napoleon 8822]

Belgium 3 - 0 Egypt (w/o Salah)

Romelu Lukaku became Belgium's all-time leading scorer in the win. He looked like a quick and massive being near the goal.

Egypt's keeper didn't look very bueno.

 REPORT & VIDEO:  http://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=508389 

 

[kingkoopa6 8670]

haha.

batshuayi did him dirty

 

[Hagbard Celine 11215]

DEN 0 - 0 MEX 31'

univision

[travelingtexan 198]

On 6/5/2018 at 6:45 PM, Napoleon said:

What seemed to be the dumbest friendly leading up to the World Cup has now been cancelled.
 

Israeli Embassy confirms cancellation of Argentina friendly in Jerusalem

Argentina's controversial friendly against Israel has been suspended after the match scheduled in Jerusalem provoked waves of protest, the Israeli embassy has confirmed. 

Reports had surfaced in Argentina on Tuesday that the match would be called off, with Palestine's Football Association celebrating the news. 

Palestinian FA chief Jibril Rajoub had helped spark the controversy with his claims that fans should burn Lionel Messi photos and shirts if the Argentina star faced Israel.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/israeli-embassy-confirms-cancellation-of-argentina-friendly/1k8jddr12cgo51wpw11jnauhp6

This means that Argentina will have only played a warmup match against an insanely weak Haitian squad on May 29th and then not another game until their opening match vs Iceland on June 16th, three weeks later.

Why was it controversial in the first place? What is the back story here please.

[Napoleon 8822]

4 hours ago, Hagbard Celine said:

DEN 0 - 0 MEX 31'

univision

Oh, ho, hoooooo..

Denmark 2 - 0 Mexico  FT

71' Yussuf Poulsen
74' Christian Eriksen
 

http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=506572 

Edited June 9, 2018 by Napoleon