The Emirates Cup started in entertaining fashion as Arsenal and AC Milan shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, though the score line does not reflect what was an extremely entertaining match. With teams awarded an extra point for each goal in the competition, Celtic and Olympique Lyonnais lead the way with three points apiece after a 2-2 draw in the opening game. Thus, Arsenal and Milan are tucked in behind with two points each.
Arsenal started with Lukasz Fabianski in goal ahead of Manuel Almunia who didn’t even make the bench. New signings Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh both started at the Emirates alongside youngsters Jack Wilshire, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Frimpong. Arsene Wenger sent out a very attacking side with no recognized holding midfield player.
AC Milan were the complete opposite in terms of starting players as a number of veterans started for the Rossoneri. Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Alessandro Nesta were all in the first eleven. Massimino Allegri also preferred new signings Mario Yepes, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, though he did not pick new goalkeeper Marco Amelia instead choosing Christian Abbiati as his number one. Brazilian Pato also partnered Marco Borriello up front.
Arsenal were neat and tidy from the off with Nasri and Wilshere impressing. And both new boys earned early ripples of applause. Chamakh and Rosicky made inroads down the right in the opening exchanges but Kieran Gibbs’ early inroads down the left looked more likely to do damage.
With the Rossoneri were under pressure early on Pato sprinted into the area but was closed down as he tried to square the ball back along the six-yard area. The same player then dipped a header wide from a Seedorf corner. Flamini had an effort deflected off Koscielny and onto the woodwork after a long ball from Yepes was knocked down into his path.
Arsenal opened the scoring on 36 minutes when Marouane Chamakh slotted home from inside the area after collecting a through ball from Arshavin. Rosicky then shot straight at Abbiati but it was Milan who looked lively going forward in the closing stages of the first-half.
Milan kept Arsenal on their toes after the break but the home side looked more likely to extend their lead than relinquish it. They nearly had a second on the hour mark after Chamakh drove down the left and found Arshavin inside the box with an audacious drag-back. The Russian’s shot was blocked and the rebound just eluded the onrushing Wilshere.
But Milan levelled four minutes after he departed the scene. It was a soft goal from Arsenal’s perspective as Clarence Seedorf curled in a free-kick from the left, Pato was allowed to run free and he glanced a header into the corner. It hinted at defensive failings that will need to be addressed.
Milan then almost snatched victory with two minutes remaining when Gianluca Zambrotta curled an exquisite effort against the bar.
An entertaining match with both side looking to attack from the off and a draw was probably the correct result.
Arsenal (4-4-2): Fabiansky, Ebouè (46 Sagna), Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs (46 Clichy), Rosicky (46 Walcott), Frimpong (69 Djourou), Wilshere, Arshavin (63 Vela), Nasri, Chamakh (73 Randall). Subs not used: Szczesny, Emmanuel-Thomas, Nordtveit.
Milan (4-3-3): Abbiati, Papastathopoulos (65 Zambrotta), Nesta, Yepes, Antonini, Gattuso (62 Merkel), Seedorf, Flamini (77 Strasser), Abate (81 Verdi), Borriello (69), Pato (82 Oddo). Subs not used: Amelia, Roma, Bonera, Albertazzi, Novinic, Adiyah.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Monday, 31 May 2010
World Cup 2010 Focus: Portugal
Portugal set out to South Africa in pursuit of World Cup glory in the knowledge that the Seleccao's so-called ‘golden generation’ has gone, in the last few tournaments they have come close to major championship glory with the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa but Carlos Queiroz will be in optimistic mood given the record of three semi-finals and one final in the last five major tournaments.
In qualifying the Portuguese made hard work of what should have been a straight forward task; Denmark and Sweden were their main rivals, but ones that should have been dispatched. It was Denmark who triumphed in the group, posting a 3-2 victory in Portugal and a 1-1 stalemate in Copenhagen, this meant Queiroz had to contest a play-off with his team. Portugal then dispatched an impressive Bosnia side 2-0 on aggregate to claim their place at the World Cup.
As you would expect Portugal’s main threat will come in the shape of Real Madrid forward and worlds most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo. The £80 million man will carry the nation’s hopes in South Africa, though it must be noted the Portuguese played a lot better when he wasn’t in the side during the final games of qualifying and the playoff matches.
But can they do without him, he is confident though: "I will try to give the best of me, as I always do, both in Madrid and in the national team. I'm in a great form but I don't do miracles. The important thing is not me, if the team is fine, we can go far and that is the mentality we will have at the World Cup."
Other’s in the squad capable of the unexpected are Manchester United’s winger Nani, who is in explosive form for United, especially during the final months of the season. Simao can produce moments of magic and Danny is a midfield maestro who can unlock defences with inch perfect passes. Pepe of Real Madrid has been passed fit for the tournament despite not playing for six months.
Much rests on coach Carlos Queiroz who is under pressure to perform, lacklustre qualifying made him a prime candidate for the chop but he survived and will lead his team in South Africa, but as usual Portugal are without an out-and-out striker, Liedson is the likely starter but isn’t renowned for his accuracy in front of goal.
Portugal’s Provisional 24 Man World Cup Squad: Eduardo (Sporting de Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (FC Porto); Miguel (Valencia), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Rolando (FC Porto), Ze Castro (Deportivo), Pepe (Real Madrid); Fabio Coentrao (SL Benfica), Duda (Malaga), Pedro Mendes (Sporting CP), Tiago (Juventus), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting CP), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit), Nani (Manchester United); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting CP), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)
In qualifying the Portuguese made hard work of what should have been a straight forward task; Denmark and Sweden were their main rivals, but ones that should have been dispatched. It was Denmark who triumphed in the group, posting a 3-2 victory in Portugal and a 1-1 stalemate in Copenhagen, this meant Queiroz had to contest a play-off with his team. Portugal then dispatched an impressive Bosnia side 2-0 on aggregate to claim their place at the World Cup.
As you would expect Portugal’s main threat will come in the shape of Real Madrid forward and worlds most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo. The £80 million man will carry the nation’s hopes in South Africa, though it must be noted the Portuguese played a lot better when he wasn’t in the side during the final games of qualifying and the playoff matches.
But can they do without him, he is confident though: "I will try to give the best of me, as I always do, both in Madrid and in the national team. I'm in a great form but I don't do miracles. The important thing is not me, if the team is fine, we can go far and that is the mentality we will have at the World Cup."
Other’s in the squad capable of the unexpected are Manchester United’s winger Nani, who is in explosive form for United, especially during the final months of the season. Simao can produce moments of magic and Danny is a midfield maestro who can unlock defences with inch perfect passes. Pepe of Real Madrid has been passed fit for the tournament despite not playing for six months.
Much rests on coach Carlos Queiroz who is under pressure to perform, lacklustre qualifying made him a prime candidate for the chop but he survived and will lead his team in South Africa, but as usual Portugal are without an out-and-out striker, Liedson is the likely starter but isn’t renowned for his accuracy in front of goal.
Portugal’s Provisional 24 Man World Cup Squad: Eduardo (Sporting de Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (FC Porto); Miguel (Valencia), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Rolando (FC Porto), Ze Castro (Deportivo), Pepe (Real Madrid); Fabio Coentrao (SL Benfica), Duda (Malaga), Pedro Mendes (Sporting CP), Tiago (Juventus), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting CP), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit), Nani (Manchester United); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting CP), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)
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