World Cup Qualifiers Review
There wasn’t a doubt in this world that the lead to this post will be Portugal beating Malta 4-0. It was a professional win where the players didn’t look rattled when they didn’t score after the first 20 minutes.
Speaking of a team that did get rattled look no further than England. Wouldn’t want to be in their locker room after that 0-0 halftime score against Andorra. The press will be full of credit today for Joe Cole. He is just about the only English players that didn’t seem to get worn down by the exceptions of wearing the England jersey. That is unlike Chelsea team mates John Terry and Frank Lampard whose performances for England don’t match up with their Chelsea performances.
Yes the scoreline read Austria 3 France 1 and while credit should go to Austria for that victory but the main storyline is that it’s clear the French players have had it with Raymond Domenech.
Italy 2 Cyprus 1. If Roberto Donadoni were still the coach fans would be on the streets demanding answers. When you are the defending World Cup winner coach you get a past. Having Grosso come out injured will effect this Italian team. One of the most under rated defenders currently playing.
Now we look at a tale of two countries. One in Ireland coming out with a tricky 2-1 win over Georgia. Giovanni Trapattoni must be happy with the positive start. Said it from day one that the Irish FA made the right call bringing him in. There is nothing that man hasn’t seen in the world of football.
Then we have Scotland who picked up a coach from the English second division and has yet to win a game as Scotland’s head coach. You can make excuses for injuries if you like but this is not the same team that looked like it could beat any team on any given day under Walter Smith and Alex Mcleish.
Carlos Tevez must not like the long flights. That is two red cards for Argentina in his last four games.
I love Canada but this is why I can’t seem to get behind them in soccer. 2-1 over Honduras. Canada up the early goal only to give it all away. Don’t blame the players. The coaching is third rate and the suits running the Canadian Soccer Association have no clue what it will take to get Canada back into a World Cup.