Tom Carroll Harry Kane and Tom Carroll helped the England Under-21 team to a comfortable win in Moldova. Having scored the winner in the last game, Kane created the second goal and scored the third in the 3 – 0 success. Harry Kane continues to add to his cv with another impressive display for the England Under-21 team who were captained by Tottenham midfielder, Tom Carroll. Kane came on as a substitute in the last game against Lithunia and immediately created an opening with a knock down only for Nathan Redmond’s shot to strike the bar. In the final minutes, Kane scored the only goal of the game to maintain England’s impressive record in their group games for the European Under-21 tournament. Speaking after the win over Lithunia, Gareth Southgate, the England U-21 manager, said of Harry Kane on the FA website, "He’s a goalscorer and is a real goal threat who is really knocking on the door for us." Against Moldova, Southgate selected Kane in his starting line-up and the young Tottenham striker responded to the opportunity given to him as he has done with Spurs and in his progression through the England under-age teams from Under-17 level. Kane has set himself the goal of breaking into the senior England squad and his performances for the England Under-21 team aren’t doing his cause any harm. He faces stiff competition, however, from the young players who are already in the England squad and play regularly in the Premier League. Last season, after breaking into the Tottenham team, Kane spoke boldly of his ambitions of playing for the senior England team. The Mirror reported Kane’s remarks, "I’ve played for England at all levels below the senior squad and that is the next step for me." In the three goal win over Moldova, Kane and Carroll played their part throughout the game. England took a first half lead and as the game neared the half-time interval Carroll set up a chance for Redmond and then Kane put a shot over the bar. In the second half, Kane won the ball in midfield and with an inch perfect pass found the West Bromwich striker, Saido Berahino, who scored his second goal of the match after 52 minutes. With around an hour played, Carroll and Kane linked well from a free-kick. Carroll found his Tottenham team mate outside the penalty area. With his back to goal, Kane controlled the ball on his chest and turned his man, holding off other defenders before striking a shot straight at the goalkeeper. Shortly after, he burst into the area to drive a shot across the goal and wide. Never one to give up, Kane battled away and scored the third goal with a shot from a cross with five minutes to play. Gylfi Siggurdsson Impressive Iceland too strong for ten-man Turkey The hosts kicked off Group A with an impressive win, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthórsson adding to Jón Dadi Bödvarsson's early header. by Stefán Stefánsson Group A P Pts Czech Republic Czech Republic 1 3 Iceland Iceland 1 3 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 1 1 Latvia Latvia 1 1 Netherlands Netherlands 1 0 Turkey Turkey 1 0 Iceland began their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying campaign with a win thanks to a ruthless display against ten-man Turkey in Reykjavik. Beaten by Croatia in the play-offs for the FIFA World Cup, the home side were in determined mood from the outset and began aggressively, harrying their opponents relentlessly and pressing every ball. Turkey looked happier to sit back and wait for openings, although that approach almost backfired in the 14th minute when Ari Skúlason's pass picked out Bödvarsson, but his header struck the crossbar on its way over. Four minutes later the Iceland midfielder again struck the woodwork, but this time the outcome was a happier one – for the home fans at least. Sigurdsson's corner caught out goalkeeper Onur Kıvrak, who could only help on the ball for Bödvarsson to nod against the bar and into the corner of the net. Turkey began to push forward more after the break, but their plans were undermined in the 59th minute when Ãmer collected his second yellow card of the evening. The visitors nevertheless continued to look for an equaliser, but the numerical disadvantage left them increasingly vulnerable on the break and in the 76th minute Iceland doubled their lead, Onur unable to keep out Sigurdsson's curling effort. Sixty seconds later the points were Iceland's, Skúlason delivering an accurate pass over the top of the Turkish defence and Sigthórsson keeping his head to round off an impressive night's work for the home team. Summary Siggy scored 1, made another, picked up a booking and was subbed in the 89th minute. Ash and Taylor Andorra 1 Wales 2: Gareth Bale saves Wales’s blushes against Andorra in Euro 2016 qualifier By South Wales Evening Post | Posted: September 09, 2014 By Stephen Ware GARETH Bale saved Wales from huge humiliation in Andorra as his double saw Chris Coleman’s side come from behind to inch past the tiny Pyrenees province. After Andorra had gone in front from the penalty spot, Bale hit back with a superb header after 22 minutes before smashing home a free-kick to hand his side victory. The second of those efforts came just nine minutes from time as Wales headed towards one of the worst results in their history. Andorra had lost all 40 of their previous Euro qualifiers and not managed to take anything from a competitive game since drawing with Finland in 2005. Indeed, Ildefons Lima’s spot-kick after only six minutes was their first meaningful goal for four years, the previous coming in a 3-1 defeat to the Republic of Ireland. Though this was the first match of a ten-game qualifying campaign, failing to bank three points would have represented a hammer blow to hopes of reaching the France finals. And that was a distinct possibility but for Bale’s influence. Next Wales have a home double-header against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus next month. And after relief subsides, Coleman will realise his side must improve significantly to realise their dream of becoming the first Welsh team in 58 years to reach a major tournament. The much-mentioned artificial Andorran pitch undoubtedly hindered Wales, its sluggish effect on the ball clearly hampering attempts at slick passing. But that was not the only reason for such a poor display, with question marks hanging over Coleman’s 5-3-2 formation, which failed to yield many goal-scoring chances. As suspected in the build-up, the Wales boss opted to start Bale in a central attacking role, but it was something of a surprise that he was partnered up front by Charlton striker Simon Church. That was in the absence of Burnley frontman Sam Vokes, who will be missing long term after rupturing his cruciate ligament. Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams anchored a three-man central defence that also included Hull youngster James Chester and former team-mate Ben Davies. Unusually, Davies was selected in the middle, with Swansea defender Neil Taylor starting at left-back and Reading’s Chris Gunter on the right. Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Andy King formed a midfield three. Other players to have withdrawn from the squad included West Ham defender James Collins, Reading wide-man Hal Robson-Kanu and Celtic full-back Adam Matthews. Wales started brightly as Chris Gunter thumped an early chance against the body of Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol. But they were hit with a sucker punch after only six minutes when the hosts took a shock lead. Taylor was adjudged to have tugged Ivan Lorenzo’s shirt and Lima converted from 12 yards to stun the travelling Welsh support. Though struggling with the unfamiliar ball movement on a plastic pitch, Wales came close to levelling just past the quarter-hour mark with a Bale header that flew just over. And the Real Madrid man made no mistake midway through the first period when he expertly headed Davies’s cross into the far corner of the net. That should have been the cue for Wales to forget their early setback and push on to victory. But the remaining minutes of the first half became a scrappy affair in which they failed to carve out any further scoring chances. A slower-than-normal surface was clearly causing some problems, while a string of soft free-kicks awarded against them saw frustration build even further. Wales continued to struggle for fluency at the start of the second half before seeming to settle just before the hour. Bale saw a long-range free-kick beaten away and Andy King headed just over with the goal at his mercy. Wales superstar Bale remained by far his side’s most potent attacking threat and he saw another effort from distance flash just wide after 61 minutes. Still play was fragmented as Wales struggled to play through their hosts. Attacks came from a succession of corners, with the most dangerous ending in a Bale back-header being cleared off the line by Emili Garcia. But Wales’s talisman still had time to dig them out of trouble. With ten minutes remaining, the £85 million man sent a thumping free-kick crashing past Pol. Ki South Korea 0 - 1 Uruguay The German was an interested observer as his new side were defeated by the South Americans, who were playing their first game since the World Cup - again without Luis Suarez The Uli Stielike era started in defeat for South Korea as Jose Gimenez's second-half header proved enough for Uruguay in a 1-0 win. The former Germany international was appointed as South Korea's new coach last week, replacing Hong Myung-Bo, and looked on from the stands at the Goyang Stadium. It could not inspire the hosts, though, as Uruguay – playing their first game since a last-16 exit at the World Cup – proved too good. The visitors, missing the suspended Luis Suarez, dominated the first half but failed to score and, when they did have the ball in the back of the net in the 62nd minute, Abel Hernandez's effort was disallowed. South Korea then had a golden chance to take the lead when Ki Sung-Yueng's lofted pass found Son Heung-Min on his own. But with the goalkeeper to beat, Son could only shoot straight at Martin Silva. Gimenez made the hosts pay with 20 minutes left when he rose above Kim Joo-young to head in Giorgian de Arrascaeta's free kick. Gimenez's effort was almost cancelled out by Ki with five minutes to play but the Swansea City man nodded his effort onto the crossbar. South Korea 3 - 1 Venezuela Best I can do for now is this report here that says Ki played left-back in a 3-1 win against Venezuela; http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2014/S...v-venezuela-lee-poised-for-100th-cap/n415307/
Wilf Soccer-New Ivory Coast era without Drogba starts with a win Reuters September 6, 2014 4:31 PM ABIDJAN - Ivory Coast began a new era without the talismanic Didier Drogba on Saturday, defeating Sierra Leone 2-1 in their opening African Nations Cup qualifier. The Ivorians came from behind to beat their west African rivals who were severely affected by the Ebola virus outbreak in the leadup to the game, with support staff prohibited from travelling to Abidjan by Ivorian health authorities. Two goals in three minutes midway through the second half turned the Group D game around after Kei Kamara has given Sierra Leone a 40th-minute lead. Seydou Doumbia equalised in the 64th minute with a header from Serge Aurier's cross and Gervinho hit the winner three minutes later to give new coach Herve Renard a triumphant start. Chelsea striker Drogba, 36, announced his retirement from international football last month after scoring 61 goals in 103 appearances for his country. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg, editing by Tony Goodson) No mention of Wilf in there, but found a video here; http://www.footytube.com/video/ivory-coast-sierra-leone-sep06-294636 He headers narrowly over and is still on the pitch when Ivory Coast take the lead around the 70 minute mark....is that him nearly scoring with his head in the last minute? Federico Fernandez Germany 2 - 4 Argentina Angel di Maria inspired Argentina on a Dusseldorf revenge mission over their World Cup final conquerors Germany as the Manchester United new boy scored once and set up three goals in a 4-2 victory.Germany Vs Argentina highlights. Only four members of the Germany team which started the biggest match in world football on July 13 were selected, and the transformation from the Rio de Janeiro showpiece was dramatic. Di Maria set up the first three goals for Sergio Aguero, Erik Lamela and Federico Fernandez before adding the fourth in a game filled with chances at both ends. Argentina led 4-0 early in the second half but Andre Schurrle pulled a goal back for Germany before Fernandez turned a Mario Gotze effort into his own goal, on a night when only players from the English Premier League found the back of the net. Mario Gomez had the first real chance of the game in the sixth minute, but his shot struck Sergio Romero in the face. It was the first of three excellent chances wasted by the Fiorentina forward, who received some boos from the home fans when his best opportunity on the stroke of half-time went begging. By then, Germany were already two goals down due to the vision and precision of Di Maria. In the 20th minute, he curled a cross in behind the Germany defence with the outside of his left boot, serving the ball on a plate for Aguero to lift into the roof of the net from point-blank range. Ten minutes later, Di Maria terrorised the Germany defence once more, choosing to shoot this time but placing his effort straight at Manuel Neuer. Five minutes before the break, Di Maria got to the by-line and lifted the ball back for Tottenham’s Lamela to place perfectly into the top left-hand corner with a side-footed volley. It became 3-0 for Argentina almost immediately in the second half when Swansea’s Fernandez arrived to head Di Maria’s cross past Germany’s replacement goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller with the aid of the far post. Three minutes later, Di Maria crowned his excellent personal performance with a goal, racing in from the right before dinking the ball delicately past the onrushing Weidenfeller. Germany grabbed a consolation just moments later when Schurrle was left in space in the centre to volley at Romero. The ball came back to the Chelsea forward off the Argentina goalkeeper and he converted at the second attempt. Marco Reus hit the post as Germany attempted a comeback with Gotze’s wayward effort deflected into his own goal by Fernandez to bring the hosts back to within two goals. There was not to be a dramatic comeback, though, as Argentina gained the merest modicum of revenge for defeat in Brazil, taking their chances in a way which will give them even more regret for the ones they wasted at the Maracana, when it really mattered.
Jordi Amat ÃÃguez fires Spain U-21s to Hungary success Published: Thursday 4 September 2014, 18.27CET Saúl ÃÃguez scored the only goal as Spain maintained their 100% record in Group 4. by Matthew Watson-Broughton from Pancho Aréna Hungary 0 - 1 Spain Group 4 P Pts Spain Spain 7 21 Austria Austria 6 12 Hungary Hungary 7 6 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 6 Albania Albania 8 6 A well-organised Hungary side came close to ending Spain's 100% record in UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group F, but Saúl Ãiguez broke their resistance. Spain might have suspected their luck was out when captain Iker Muniain missed a penalty after just four minutes, but Ãiguez found his range on 66 minutes after a number of near misses, firing low under Levente Jova after Gerard Deulofeu jinked into the Hungary penalty area and found him on the edge of the area. Muniain fired wide from the spot on four minutes after Márk Tamás was penalised for a pull on Deulofeu, and Spain looked to make amends. Denis Suárez had a shot beaten away by Jova, and looped a header over the bar within the space of three first-half minutes, but the pressure continued after the interval. Already certain of a play-off place, Ãiguez's goal was a relief for reigning champions Spain, and they might have made it 2-0 soon afterwards, the impressive Deulofeu surging through the Hungary rearguard before Jova saved his shot from the right. Hungary's best chance came at the death, Patrik Poór hooking over the bar after Spain failed to clear a Roland Ugrai corner. AMAT DIDN'T MAKE THE TEAM OR THE BENCH FOR THIS ONE....WHICH IS A SHAME AS HE IS IN HIS LAST YEAR WITH THE U-21S AND IS ONLY 6 CAPS AWAY FROM MAKING THE TOP 11 ON THE MOST LIST FOR SPAIN (AT THIS LEVEL). Spain denied by eliminated Austria Published: Tuesday 9 September 2014, 20.45CET Spain 1-1 Austria Group 4 P Pts Spain Spain 8 22 Austria Austria 8 16 Hungary Hungary 8 9 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 6 Albania Albania 8 6 Austria denied Spain a perfect record in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 4 but did not get the win they needed to join the holders in the play-offs. Spain's victory against Hungary on Thursday had settled first place in the section, but Austria still had hopes of being one of the best runners-up. However, they needed to triumph today and, after falling behind to Pablo Sarabia's strike, only levelled through Michael Gregoritsch deep into added time. The home side, hoping to land a third straight title in the Czech Republic next June, were given a tough time in the first half but on 50 minutes Sarabia, dominating down the wings with Denis Suárez, shot in after Cican Stankovic parried in the Austria goal. Unai López's arrival at half-time had put Spain in control and they had most of the play until just before the end when Gregoritsch ensured they did not end with eight perfect wins going into Friday's draw and October's play-offs. Reaction: Albert Celades, Spain coach "I'm happy with the game because we were very good for 70 minutes. Maybe we failed in the end because we tried to press when we should have slowed things down. We achieved our objective and it's because of the great work of Julen Lopetegui, the coach before me, and the players. They made this real and we have to enjoy it now." "It's good that young players from the Spain U21 team can play with the senor national team, like Munir [El Haddadi]. That means that we have good players who can improve." Pablo Sarabia, Spain scorer "I'm very happy with the game and the goal, but we wanted to win and we only managed a draw. We have a good team, but we must keep working to be better and to improve. The atmosphere in Puertollano was fantastic with lots of people cheering. It was very nice and we really like that as players." AMAT STARTED AND FINISHED THIS GAME I BELIEVE.
Didn't see Montero listed even as an unused sub in the friendly with Brazil. does anyone know what the deal was there? Did he not travel?
He stayed in Swansea. Must have been a decision he made with the Ecuador manager's blessing as he is not injured and is one of their stars. Bony played tonight. Will try and find a report.
Yes Musty, 4-1 to Cameroon, did not see that coming!! But in all honesty, we're probably all willing on the Cote D'Ivoire's opponents, hoping they don't qualify for Morrocco 2014 so Bony doesn't go missing for a sizeable chunk of the season come January!!!
