Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts

Monday, 31 May 2010

Chile beat Isreal 3-0 in World Cup warm up

Chile maintained their winning rhythm as they prepare for the World Cup finals after securing a 2-0 win over Israel, thanks a first half strike from Humberto Suazo and second half goals from Alexis Sanchez and Rodrigo Tello.

Following their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Chillan earlier on Sunday, Marcelo Bielsa's side made the journey west to Concepcion for their second friendly of the day as Bielsa fielded a far stronger lineup for the test from Luis Fernandez's side.
The hosts were always in control on a misty night at the Estadio Municipal de Concepcion and could have gone in front minutes before Suazo found the net.

The Zaragoza front man got through one on one with Dudu Aouate but the veteran goalkeeper did enough to claim the ball at Suazo's feet when a goal seemed certain.
Suazo did score two minutes later as Jorge Valdivia carved open the Israeli defence, placing an excellent ball into the path of the excellent Carlos Carmona down the right. Both Carmona and Suazo looked suspiciously offside but the Reggina man squared it to Suazo who made no mistake smashing it home from eight yards as Aouate tried in vain to block.

In a first half of few chances Jean Beausejour had a great opportunity to extend Chile's lead but opted to take a touch when it called for a first time shot as la Roja's players seemed to be queuing up to strike inside the Israeli penalty box.








At the other end, Claudio Bravo was merely a spectator as Israel failed to threaten. Auoate was called into action once again just before the interval making a smart one-handed save low to his right from Valdivia's well struck 25-yard free kick.

After the break the South Americans continued to probe with some promising build up play and their endeavours were rewarded five minutes in when Alexis Sanchez added to the brace he hit against Zambia by netting a fine solo effort.

Racing through the middle the Udinese striker was afforded too much time and space and made the Israeli's pay unleashing a low drive which sailed past the outstretched Aouate from 20 yards.

Both coaches made changes in the second half and while Chile continued to dominate Aouate was never really stretched until the final minute when Tello struck Chile's third, pouncing on a poor headed clearance to volley home from 22 yards to seal a convincing win.

The South Americans now have just one remaining warm-up game against New Zealand before taking on Honduras in their opening group game on June 16.


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Thursday, 13 May 2010

Chile names 30 man provisional squad for World Cup

Chile names provisional squad for World Cup with Jaime Valdes as a surprise inclusion.

Valdes, who has played in Italy for a decade, has never played under Bielsa,
who has been in charge of Chile since 2007. Valdes last played for his country in 2006.

Flamengo midfielder Claudio Maldonado was left out having come back in March from a knee injury he suffered playing for Chile against Slovakia in November.

Universidad de Chile midfielder Marco Estrada was included despite not playing much for his club side having not fully recovered from a leg injury.

Bielsa, whose team meet Mexico in a warm-up at the Azteca in Mexico City on Sunday, must trim his World Cup squad to 23 by June 1 for the finals starting on June 11 in South Africa where Chile face favourites Spain, Switzerland and Honduras in Group H.

Chile squad

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad
de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola).

Defenders: Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (West
Bromwich Albion), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Arturo
Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonica), Ismael Fuentes
(Universidad Catolica), Roberto Cereceda (Colo Colo).

Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Carlos Carmona
(Reggina), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain), Matias
Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Jean Beausejour (America, México), Pedro
Morales (Dynamo Zagreb), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Gonzalo Fierro
(Flamengo), Charles Aranguiz (Colo Colo), Manuel Iturra (Universidad de
Chile), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas).





Forwards: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese),
Mark Gonzalez (CSKA), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Hector Mancilla (Toluca),
Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Jaime Valdes (Atalanta).

Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Fernando Torres may miss start of World Cup

Spain's chances at the World Cup took a knock as Liverpool striker is ruled out of the opening games by Liverpool medical staff.

The 26-year-old is recovering from surgery to repair knee cartilage torn in the 4-1 win over Benfica on 8 April.

"Whether he will be fit for the first game or not is uncertain," said Peter Brukner who is overseeing his recovery.

"But, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup."

Spain, current European champions and one of the pre-tournament favourites, play their first match in Group H is against Switzerland on 16 June.

Games against Honduras on the 21 June and Chile on 25 June then follow.

If they progress to the knock-out stages, Spain will play a second-round match against one of Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast or North Korea on the 28 or 29 June.

Boss Vicente del Bosque also has injury concerns over midfielder Xavi who is playing through a calf tear that may see him ruled out of the World Cup.

The 30-year-old is playing on in an attempt to help Barcelona hold off Real Madrid's challenge and win a second successive Spanish league title.

But del Bosque said although he was worried about Torres, expectations for his recovery were good.

"I am sure that when the moment comes all the players will say they are fine but we are the ones who have to evaluate and decide the risk that should be taken," he said at a Spanish soccer federation event in Madrid.





"We cannot go to South Africa with four or five doubtful players," he added. "We have good hearts but we have to listen to our heads."

Bruker, who was appointed as Liverpool's head of sports medicine and sports science in March, believes there is a balance to be struck between the demands of club and country for Torres.

"He is certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can," he said.

"Hopefully we can get a compromise where he plays in the World Cup and he is fit and well for Liverpool next season."

Torres spent a month on the sidelines after a knee operation in January and was hampered by a troublesome groin injury before Christmas.

Despite the disruption, the former Atletico Madrid forward has scored 22 goals in his third season for the Reds, including 18 in 22 Premier League appearances.

Torres has an impressive record at international tournaments, scoring three goals in four games in the 2006 World Cup and the winner against Germany in the Euro 2008 final.



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