Euro 2008 Qualifier Latest !

Crouchy To The Rescue (Where Are The Boo-Boys Now?)

Skopje, Macedonia

Macedonia 0 - 1 England

Scorer:
ENG - Crouch (46min);

Great job, Crouchy. He's certainly on his way to become an indespensible part of the England set up now, Plan A or Plan B. And after 10 goals in 14 games for England, what else can you really complain about. I know he scored bucketloads against poor oppositions, but one can only play against what is placed in front of him. Scoring the only goal in the game and rescueing England is not good enough for you? Then you shouldn't watch football.


Read the match report on BBC since the match wasn't live over here in Singapore. Seemed like McClaren's constant sticking to Stewart Downing is a little worrying, ala Sven and Beckham. Lampard was poor as usual and Gerrard wasn't up to his usual standard (since he wasn't played at right-back). Crouch had a penalty claim that was turned down but seemed valid while Jermaine Defoe....I never rated him anyway. I'll pick Johnson ahead of him.

Poor performance, but still 3 points in the bag. One should learn not to complain so much, you know.


Can A Human Mind Imagine A 13-0 Thrashing?

San Marino 0 - 13 Germany

Scorers:
GER - Podolski x4, Schweinsteiger x2, Klose x2, Ballack, Hitzlsperger x2, Friedrich, Schneider

When I saw this picture on GettyImages, I was thinking if there was anyone actually playing Germany last night. Presumably they just walk the ball into the net and TADAH, 13-0. THIRTEEN BLOODY NIL! In a European qualifier! But don't take the credit away from Germany, I always thought they're a brilliant team to watch and I think every team on earth should learn how to attack like them.


REVENGE!! HAHA!

Stade de France, Paris

France 3 - 1 Italy

Scorers:
FRA - Govou (2min, 55min), Henry (18min)
ITA - Gilardino (20min)

After the World Cup finals heart break, France found the perfect catalyst for a wonderful performance against the reigning world champions. It's a case of France playing really well and Italy on the opposite end. The Italians looked disjointed and some of the players like Cassano and Semioli seemed out of depth. They struggled to string a few good passes along the floor and resorted to pumping aimless ball up to Alberto Gilardino. It was a poor performance on their part, but France were brilliant, albeit some poor marking that gave Gilardino the chance to score and nearly revived Italy.

Sidney Govou didn't take long when he volleyed home a William Gallas cross, but replay shows Gallas is fractionally offside. It was a wonderful finish from the right sided attacker, who slotted the ball past Gigi Buffon with ease. It took only 2 minutes.

It was 2-0 before it hits the 20 minutes mark. Henry lurking in his usual left wing position took a pot shot at Buffon's goal and it went in after a deflection from Italy captain, Fabio Cannavaro.

The Italians struggled to kept hold of the ball while the French looks hungry and always looked dangerous on the break. Makelele and Vieira were fantastic throughout the game, as the stiffled Andrea Pirlo and kept the Italian playmaker really quiet.

But his set piece quality was never in doubt,after placing a perfect cross for Gilardino to head home. It's the type of free kick that goes into the 'no mans land', and Gilardino shrugs off his marker and Coupet stranded.

But Italy never build on that confidence booster and didn't create much clear cut chances. They had a penalty claim in the first half which looked controversial, but was turned down.

The game was all over when Sidney Govou, the Lyon winger who scored the first goal, increased the lead to 2 goals again with a wonderful header.

Sweet revenge for the Les Bleus, but the war is not won. There's still an away leg at Rome to play for and it's going to be difficult.

Tags: Euro 2008 Qualifier, England, Macedonia, France, Italy, Germany, San Marino