Yup. And they'll need him so bad in calcio that he'll take playing time away from the others. And just like that the Udes have equalized.
"A wide-ranging match-fixing investigation has uncovered more than 380 suspicious matches -- including World Cup and European Championship qualifiers and two Champions League games -- and found evidence that a Singapore-based crime group is closely involved in match-fixing." http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...ches-suspect-in-european-fixing-probe?cc=5901 Uh-oh
We should re-instate the Blaugranas on International duty thread, but in the meantime... La Furia Roja vs. Uruguay today looks lively from the start. For us, VV, Puyol, Alba, Busquets, Cesc, Iniesta, and Pedro are all starters today. For LPB, Ramos is playing. Call it a tax on excellence, I guess. The other starters are Azpilicueta, Cazorla, and Mata. edit: the Uru GK spills a Cesc long-range shot right at his gloves. 1-0 España edit2: When was the last time España played with NO players from La Liga outside Barça and LPB?
Pedro can't stop scoring for country, can't start scoring for club. Spain 2-1 Uruguay edit: Villa and Pique on in the 2nd half, upping the total Barça appearances in this friendly to 9.
9 appearances but "only" 8 on at a time max as Pique replace Puyol. Villa almost scores. Pique assists Pedro's goal. Mata assisted Cesc's (as did the keeper).
I'm more concerned about the disparity in national team work our guys have to do compared to other clubs. This, plus the fact the game is being played in Qatar... it all points to a bad case of 'FIFA virus' vs. Getafe. If I were Jordi/Tito, I'd heavily rotate this weekend.
Great goal off a beautiful pass from Cesc to... Pedro! And Del Bosque subs Pedro right away. Maybe he can bring some of that magic back from the desert.
Another Pedro, brilliant pass from Cesc, and brilliant run by Pedro sets up a tap in for him, after Villa lays it off for Cesc to thread the needle. Wow all Barca, couldn't have seen that coming. And Pedro is out to cheers for Negredo. Down to 6 Barca players I believe. Now Alba off we have a minority of Barca players. Forgot that Isco came on for Iniesta - only 4 Barca players, yikes. Wait, recount, still on are Villa, Cesc, Busquets, Pique and Valdes, so probably just enough to hold our lead
Argentina quick counter, Di Maria to Higuain whose shot is deflected in for an own goal. 2nd minute Sweden 0-1 Argentina Messi and Mascherano both starting.
Jonas Olsson heads home for Sweden off a corner for 1-1. Argentina come right back a minute later, Di Maria pass to Kun Aguero who slots past the keeper. 19th minute Argentina 2-1
Messi rockets a shot from about 20 yards, goalkeeper parries, rebound to unmarked Higuain who easily puts ball into open goal. 23 minutes Argentina 3-1
That was one of the worst PK's I've ever seen Ronaldinho take. Argentina is putting on a clinic vs. Sweden. The team could have scored five in that half.
Netherlands team (starters especially) looks so different from the squad that came close in the World Cup and then underperformed in Euros, perhaps necessary given that downward trajectory. Not sure how many are injured. Affelay nowhere in sight - is he hurt? Also can Hummels really play DM (and is he doing so)? I am not watching but they listed him as a midfielder when I looked up their starters. If so, sounds even more like the CB for us but we'll have to pay Javi Martinez / Silva money for him.