Most, Least Impressive Nations During International Friendlies
by Richard Farley on Mar 4, 2010 12:46 PM EST
8 comments
Only Chile and Paraguay were not in action during the mid-week international friendlies, leaving thirty World Cup qualified teams to evaluate.
Before that can be done we need time to take in all the matches, though that shouldn't stop us from doing some guarded evaluation of the most and least impressive results from Wednesday.
Five Most Impressive Results
1. Argentina - Gonzalo Higuaín's 45th minute goal gave the Albiceleste the win, a gift from René Adler. Argentina's ranking here is based on defending alone. In Germany against one of this summer's contenders, Diego Maradona deployed a foursome that gives us reason to consider whether Argentina's biggest problem - their defending - might have reason for hope. The quartet for Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolas Otamendi, and Walter Samuel kept a clean sheet for the first time in four matches.
2. England - Perhaps this is my high regard for Egypt speaking, but winning 3-1 against a full-strength African champs' squad impresses me. I don't care if it was in Wembley. Egypt had a good chance to win this match, but given the result - the way the Three Lions adjusted and came back from a goal down - my awe of Don Fabio increases. Two goals from Peter Crouch beg the question whether he is the better choice than Emile Heskey for the number nine. Regardless, England keeps scoring loads of goals.
3. Serbia - Algeria showed in the Cup of Nations (against Malawi and Egypt) that they are prone to this type of game. Still, for an Eastern European country to go to Algiers and win 3-0 is worth a place on this list. Granted, Serbia's size and prowess on set pieces makes them particularly well-suited to match-up with Algeria. However, match-up advantages always exist. It's rare we see them converted into a 3-0, away victory.
4. Uruguay - Again, my biases might inform this ranking, as I saw Uruguay as a weak side. The were poor at the end of qualifying, and at a decent Swiss team that has a number of in-form players, I thought Uruguay would lose. On the contrary, the Sky Blues posted a 3-1 victory, the only goal allowed coming from a penalty kick. The Luis Suarez golazo is worth You Tubing.
5. Slovenia - They were only playing Qatar, but if you've seen this Slovenia team over the last year, you know how remarkable it is that they scored four goals. Qatar is not a bad team, but a 4-1 loss to Slovenia hints otherwise.
Five Least Impressive Results
In the interest of symmetry, let's count down.
5. Algeria - In their last six matches (going back to the Cup of Nations), they've had three "blow-ups." How does Rabah Saadane allow this to keep happening?
4. Ghana - The scoreline was not that bad, a 2-1 loss in Sarajevo to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The display, however, was. Ghana looked inhibited against a Bosnia and Herzegovina side against whose defending you can play ambitious. As I explained yesterday, I just don't understand what Milovan Rajevac is doing.
3. France - Were their Wednesday performance against any other team, it would be the clear "winner" on this list. As is, Les Blues get a break because they were playing Spain. However, they were at home, and for a team with the talent of France, giving an ineffectual 0-2 performance continues a disturbing trend of poor results.
2. Côte d'Ivoire - The only excuse for Les Elephants is their Federation throwing this tie into turmoil by firing Vahid Halilhodzic this weekend. But a 0-2 loss to South Korea is still surprising. South Korea is a very good team, but Côte d'Ivoire has physical advantages they should have been able to exploit.
1. Greece - When the 12th ranked team in the world loses at home to the 91st, it's a disappointing result. When the loss is by two goals with the favorites help scoreless, it may be a terrible result.
Notice no mention of the U.S. Men's National Team. I know a lot of you are interested in them, but while they played poorly in Amsterdam, they did not fit either of these lists.
However, if you need your fix, here are some resources:
- Steve Davis at Daily Soccer Fix provides his notes on the friendly.
- Set Piece Analysts' coverage: Match report; minute-by-minute; players' stock-up, stock-down.
- The SPA Daily Podcast talking about all the results, though we give special focus to the USMNT result.
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I caught the France/Spain match
And I agree with your assessment; though France won plenty of possession, and fought bravely in the midfield, they just did not seem dangerous. Thierry Henry was dismal…
Looking forward to watching a replay of the England/Egypt match. I would have called a draw or Egypt win. Why? Well I am used to being disappointed by England and used to being impressed with Egypt. For the 3 Lions to come from behind and win big like this is fantastic.
You are correct that the U.S. match does not qualify for either list. It was, unfortunately, an unremarkable result.
Agree with everything ...
… and I think France’s constant possession advantage is one of the reasons people are mis-evaluting them. France has the skill to maintain large swathes of possession, but Domenech’s tactical ineptitude means Les Blues have no means of converting on those advantages, part of the reason Ireland was the better team over 180 minutes. Of coarse, the best team doesn’t always win.
On England/Egypt, I would have picked the same: draw, or Egypt win. That’s why I’m so impressed with Capello and England.
by Richard Farley on Mar 4, 2010 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
England
They just have insane depth, particularly at midfield. Provided that Rooney stays healthy, they are built like a team that could go deep in the Cup.
Not mediocre. Right about average
I agree ...
… though I think the match-ups are important, for them. I think we all see Brazil and Spain being on the first level right now.
This may sound strange to people who support the Three Lions and have developed an understandable phobia of this foe, but Germany is very beatable for the Lions, while I would not want to face the Dutch with their skill, speed, fitness, and movement.
by Richard Farley on Mar 4, 2010 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
Peter Crouch
How does he have such an amazing England scoring record? I didn’t see his goals from this game but they always seem to roll in off the back of his knee or something. He looks like he is the most ungainly inept player ever yet he keeps scoring.
A side note on Greece, though the senior side is somewhat lacking, their U21 side beat England U21 this week.
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010
I think there are three reasons ...
… first, I would not only cite the Premier League’s depth in good-to-elite central defenders but also the style of game those defenders are allowed to play. These players are trained to use their physical strength to a greater advantage than corresponding players in other countries. In England, the games are called such that the central defenders can utilize this training with relative impunity. For a player with like Peter Crouch, that could be more problematic than on the international level, where matches are officiated more closely and central defenders are less apt to be overly physical.
Second, you have to look at the player. Peter Crouch is very focuses on his international success, a focus that he has had trouble applying to the domestic game.
Finally, Peter Crouch is not a do-it-yourself player like Rooney, Gerrard or (to use a non-superstar) teammate Aaron Lennon. Without players to give him space and get him the ball, he’s as useless as a San Diego blogger in a 4-4-1-1 (I’m really best on the wing in a 3-5-2).
by Richard Farley on Mar 4, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
not only did argentina’s defense work. it even worked after 2 substitutions. okay, there were some minutes of confusion, trying to get their bearings after losing 2 players in 10 minutes, but overall, it was good. i’d even say it was better after heinze left.
and… di maria! a true threat coming up the left. what a way to take the pressure off the right (cough, messi, cough) both by drawing defenders leftward and by not relying on the right’s expected performance so much.
don't care if i ever get back.
Di Maria ...
… has been somewhat unreal in the Liga Sagres. What a talent, and a unique player, being a true left-sider.
And I agree re: heinze. I would rather see Cristian Ansaldi get a look.
by Richard Farley on Mar 5, 2010 5:42 PM EST up reply actions
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