Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Live - Wednesday football

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

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By Sam Lyon

BBC football commentator Nigel Adderley on Twitter: "Open game so far in Podgorica. Brunt and Patterson trying to get forward to support Lafferty for Northern Ireland, Montenegro looking technically strong and physical."

1949: Not the greatest of starts so far for Wales, and Joel Kitenge receiving the ball inside the box for Luxembourg but contriving to spoon his shot well over the bar.

matt_taylor9 on Twitter: "Not excited about desperately overrated England team. Much more excited about desperately overrated English Premier League."

Half time
1947: HALF-TIME Sweden 2-0 Scotland

1945: Wales get the game under way at Stradey Park. Approximate crowd - a little more than one man and his dog, by the look of things. Nowhere near the 14,000 capacity, certainly.

elemcee1980 on Twitter: "Good England line-up, good formation. Shame Fab couldn't muster this up during WC. Pay to boo? What's the point? Come on England!!"

BBC Radio Scotland pundit and former Scotland striker John Robertson at Rasunda National Stadium: "It is déjà vu. There is no communication between the full-back and wide midfielder. Bajrami got behind them, but what a tremendous finish after a tremendous save from McGregor. It looked like we were settling into the game, but now we have to batten down the hatches"

mem on 606: "Hard to believe Scotland are playing 4 5 1, Sweden getting so much time in midfield to just walk the ball through us. Where is the fight Scotland, show some bloomin passion, it wont hurt you!"

Goooooooaaaaaaaaal
Sweden goal: Ah, Chick, Craig Levein might be a touch more concerned now. Anders Svensson chips a lovely ball over the Scotland defence into the path of Emir Bajrami. McGregor saves his first shot but Bajrami collects the rebound and cleverly clips the ball into the far top corner.

1941: GOALFLASH Sweden 2-0 Scotland (Bajrami)

BBC Scotland football correspondent Chick Young on the touchline at Rasunda National Stadium: "Craig Levein does not look stressed or overly-concerned. He probably feels that Scotland have worked their way into this."

BBC football commentator Nigel Adderley on Twitter: "Less than 5000 expected in Podgorica (for Montenegro-NI) tonight. We are told everyone heads to the beach in August. Not surprised in this heat."

bentron on Twitter: "Adam Johnson hasn't really been talked about that much in the build up to this game. For me, England's most exciting player!"

1936: Wales v Luxembourg team news
Steve Morison makes his Wales debut in the friendly against Luxembourg in Llanelli, the Millwall striker part of a three-pronged attack including Robert Earnshaw, winning his 50th cap, and captain Craig Bellamy on his first start for Wales in 2010. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey starts ahead of Boaz Myhill and Doncaster's Brian Stock wins his third cap in defence.

1935: Wales v Luxembourg teams
Wales:
Hennessey, Ricketts, Morgan, Williams, Gunter, Ledley, Cotterill, Stock, Bellamy, Morison, Earnshaw. Subs: Myhill, Eardley, Crofts, King, Vaughan, Brown.
Luxembourg: Joubert, Mutsch, Janisch, Kintziger, Hoffmann, Schnell, Peters, Krogh Gerson, Bettmer, Da Mota Alves, Kitenge.
Subs: Oberweis, Collette, Bernard, Blaise, Laterza, Pedro, Bensi.
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (Finland)

1934: Full England v Hungary line-ups:
England:
Hart, Glen Johnson, Jagielka, Terry, Ashley Cole, Barry, Lampard, Walcott, Gerrard, Adam Johnson, Rooney. Subs: Loach, Dawson, Cahill, Gibbs, Milner, Young, Wilshere, Carlton Cole, Zamora, Fielding.
Hungary: Kiraly, Liptak, Vanczak, Juhasz, Szelesi, Vadocz, Dzsudzsak, Rudolf, Elek, Gera, Huszti. Subs: Fulop, Laczko, Toth, Hajnal, Komlosi, Czvitkovics, Priskin, Vermes, Koman.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)

1931: Scotland's best chance so far. Great work from James McFadden down the left as he wriggles his way to the byline. His cross is dropped by goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson at the feet of Charlie Adam, but the striker's goalbound effort is blocked.

Robthebarman on Twitter: "Really Fabio thats the future? Same old crew. I might watch the second half if some of the newer squad members get a look in."


1930: We are up and running in the Montenegro-Northern Ireland encounter. I think. Unfortunately I don't have TV pictures of that one but I'll do my best to keep you up to date on the score at least. Cheers.

BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Wembley: "So seven of the World Cup squad start against Hungary - Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole, Gareth Barry, Glen Johnson and John Terry. All were booed to a greater or lesser extent as their names were read out over the tannoy. Phil Jagielka, Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson and keeper Joe Hart make up the rest of the starting XI. Expect to see plenty of changes through the evening."

King-Haith on 606: "Am i the only one that thinks the England starting 11 is brilliant?!

1926: It would appear, then, fears of Operation England Boo have proved unfounded. That might have something to do with the fact this England squad contains just 10 of the players who failed rather spectacularly in South Africa, mind. One man who does remain, of course, is manager Fabio Capello - and that was a subject that prompted some furious chat from you all a few days ago on Sports Editor David Bond's blog. So what do we think - is this the same ol' same ol', or a brave new dawn folks?

BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Wembley Stadium: "A very generous reception for the rest of the England squad as they make their way out on to the field to go through their warm-up routine. Wembley is far from full, though. Skipper Steven Gerrard's predicted boos have yet to materialise. Fair play to the Hungary fans, who are cheering loudly as the PA announcer tries to get to grips with announcing their team."

coz2000 on 606: "I feel sorry for Sam Lyon to be honest, he's the one who's gotta try and find something positive from someone regarding England tonight - personally I think he'll fail. Awful team selection."

BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Wembley Stadium: "Out come England's three goalkeepers for their warm-up and it is cheers all round from the crowd. I didn't hear a single boo. Mind you, it would be a bit harsh to blame Joe Hart, who starts tonight, Scott Loach and Frankie Fielding for the mess in South Africa."

1920: I think it's fair to say Sweden are absolutely bossing things in the municipality of Solna - and that's a bit of an understatement - Scotland keeper Allan McGregor pulling off another, albeit more routine, save from Ola Toivonen moments ago.

Piggin_Tea_Break on 606: "Not the shock England team selection I was hoping for. A chance to really give the youth players a chance to shine and the same old tired Lampard-Gerrard-Barry midfield trots out again."

1916: Montenegro v Northern Ireland teams: Montenegro: Mladen Bozovic, Pavicevic, Djudovic, Jovanovic, Milorad Pekovic, Milorad Pekovic, Vukcevic, Pejovic, Zverotic, Vladimir Bozovic, Vucinic, Djalovic. Subs: Blazic, Savic, Drasko Bozovic, Beciraj, Novakovic, Tomasevic, Delibasic.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Little, McGivern, Jonathan Evans, Craigan, Baird, Davis, Clingan, Paterson, Lafferty, Brunt. Subs: Tuffey, Corry Evans, McCann, Healy, Feeney, Patterson, Norwood, Gorman, Blayney.
Referee: Bosko Jovanetic (Serbia)

From Tony in Brighton via text: "I hope the England youngsters show the seniors some national pride tonight and play like they want to be wearing the shirts - and not just as if they deserve it."

1913: Fantastic double save from Allan McGregor. Ola Toivonen tries his luck from the edge of the area and the shot is parried by the goalkeeper but Johan Elmander pounces on the rebound and his shot from close range is brilliantly blocked by McGregor.

BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Wembley Stadium: "High up in Wembley Stadium is a flag with the word 'respect' running across it. We will have a pretty good idea in less than an hour's time how much respect there is from the fans in the stands for the England players after their shoddy World Cup campaign..."

1912: England team to face Hungary:
Hart; G Johnson, Terry, Jagielka, A Cole; Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Walcott, A Johnson; Rooney.

1910: So, I think it's fair to say that this is the round of international matches almost no-one wanted a part of, isn't it? Unless you're Zlatan Ibrahimovic, apparently, obviously. A host of managers have spoken out against it, reports suggest the fans are far from enamoured by it, and then, of course, there's the players - and frankly if you haven't either pulled out of a squad injured or quit the international scene altogether, you're just not down with the kids, girlfriend *snaps fingers either side of face*. Here's the breakdown... (apologies if I've missed one or two out, there's been like a million)
England pull-outs: Ben Foster, Darren Bent (both injured), Paul Robinson and Wes Brown (retired).
Scotland pull-outs: Lee McCulloch, Alan Hutton, Andy Webster, Graham Dorrans, David Marshall, Scott Brown (injury).
Wales pull-outs: Gareth Bale, Darcy Blake, Dave Edwards, Simon Church, Ched Evans, Sam Vokes (injury) and Simon Davies (retired).
Northern Ireland pull-outs: Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley, Trevor Carson, George McCartney (injury) and Damien Johnson (retired).

Adam_Clatworthy on Twitter: "Don't pin your hopes on tigers becoming lions (below), they are a completely different species..."

Goooooooaaaaaaaaal
Sweden goal: It's taken him exactly five minutes to show what Sweden have been missing for the last few months. Pontus Wermbloom is the creator and Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes the most of some slack defending to nip in and tuck home the cross from eight yards out. Simples.

1905: GOALFLASH Sweden 1-0 Scotland (Ibrahimovic)

Collycoo on Twitter: "Ibrahimovic must be delighted at the prospect of facing Gary Kenneth tonight."
Delighted... or intimidated?

1902: Aaannddd we've kicked off in Sweden.

1859: The teams are out at the Rasunda National Stadium, the anthems sung, and we're about to get up and running. Confusingly, both teams are wearing their away kits this evening, meaning Sweden are in rather Scottish-looking blue and Scotland are in a rather Swedish-looking yellow. Nice.

1857: Sweden v Scotland team news:
So Scotland coach Craig Levein goes for Wolves newboy Steven Fletcher as a lone striker ahead of Kenny Miller - maybe because he already knows what the Rangers man can do in that role - while Ibrox goalkeeper Allan McGregor makes his return to the international fold for the first time since being banned for a late-night drinking session during the tenure of previous Scotland manager George Burley. Dundee United 21-year-old Garry Kenneth wins his first cap as he starts ahead of Stephen McManus at the heart of the defence alongside Christophe Berra and they will have the job of shackling Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Barcelona frontman who has been handed the captaincy after being persuaded to come out of international retirement by new Sweden coach Erik Hamren.

From Stead via text: "We should get behind our tigers tonight and watch them become lions without the over-paid playboys! Come on England!"

1855: Sweden v Scotland teams
Sweden:
Isaksson, Lustig, Mellberg, Majstorovic, Safari, Svensson, Wernbloom, Elmander, Toivonen, Bajrami, Ibrahimovic. Subs: Wiland, Berg, Larsson, Kallstrom, Granqvist, Hysen, Wendt, Olsson, Wilhelmsson.
Scotland: McGregor, Broadfoot, Kenneth, Berra, Wallace, Robson, Darren Fletcher, Thomson, Adam, McFadden, Steven Fletcher. Subs: Alexander, Whittaker, Miller, Iwelumo, Boyd, Robertson, Morrison, McManus, Turner.
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

1852: Which leaves me only to open the doors for you to get involved in this here commentary. You all know the drill by now, I'm sure, but just in case the sangria has got to you a little too much over the summer break, here's the breakdown. Tweet me on that there Twitter, text me via via 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) or continue the red hot chat over on 606. Do it.

1850: Elsewhere, and expecting a far kinder reaction I'd wager despite not even making it to the World Cup, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also in action. Nigel Worthington's men kick off in Montenegro at 1930, Scotland are the first to get under way at 1900 in Sweden, and John Toshack's Wales are playing host to Luxembourg, with that match starting at 1945. Suffice to say I'll do my best to keep you abreast of the key action from all of those as well - and I might even throw a bit of Republic of Ireland-Argentina chat in here and there too if you're good. You lucky people.

1847: Yes, tonight sees the return to action of the England football team following what was pretty much the unmitigated disaster that was their World Cup - and the word is that they should ready themselves for some top-level heckling from the Wembley crowd. Coach Fabio Capello says he expects it and captain Steven Gerrard says he'd do it if he were in the stands - but what about the home faithful? As a wise man/my mate Joe once said: 'Football is pantomime for grown-ups' - and I suspect tonight the boys in white are playing the part of the comedy villain. We shall see.

1845: Y'alright folks - got your 'Booboozelas' ready?

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