International performances - FIFA, UEFA and the "mediasphere"

As I surf the football-Internet waiting for today's home encounter with champions AaB let me share with you a couple of links, notes and thoughts on what has happened in the long break since last league game.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 6th of September: Albania vs Sweden 0-0
Oscar Wendt played 77 minutes as a left wing in a three defenders lineup. More: UEFA.com / Albania stifle Sweden challenge, The Local / Sweden draw a blank in World Cup opener.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 6th of September: Hungary vs Denmark 0-0
A dull game with participation of zero current FC København players but several former ones. Good performances by Hungary's Tamas Hajnal and a couple of others. Danish media went nuts after this one - each furious match report inspired the next one to go even lower. A losing battle for most as Ekstra Bladet will always win such a game (except if we'd played a Muslim country I'd have considered Jyllands-Posten a dark horse in the race). More: UEFA.com / Hungary and Denmark share spoils.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 10th of September: Northern Ireland vs Czech Republic 0-0
Had Libor Sionko starting and doing 67 minutes to be substituted by Zdenek Pospech. The Irish goalie "had to get down low to keep out a shot from Libor Sionko" FIFA's match report says. More: UEFA.com / Czechs checked in Belfast opener, FIFA.com / Czech stalemate for Northern Ireland, BBC / N Ireland 0-0 Czech Republic.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 10th of September: Portugal vs Denmark 2-3
A magnificent win with Hjalte Bo Nørregaard on the bench. The players didn't bother with the post-match press conference leading aforementioned media circus into another self-induced week long state of rage. Pathetic if you ask me. For once the tabloid didn't patent the truth but what do I care as long as the players put three points on the table? More: UEFA.com / Denmark pip Portugal at the last.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 10th of September: Mexico vs Canada 2-1
Atiba Hutchinson played all 90 minutes.
More: Mexico beats Canada 2-1 in World Cup qualifier, Knight: World Cup reality check.

FIFA World Cup qualification, 10th of September: Sweden vs Hungary 2-1
This time with Oscar Wendt benched seeing no action.

A meager break of international games to say the least. Speaking FC København.

UEFA Cup, 18th of September: FC Moscow vs FC København 1-2
A strangely slow game except for the second half injury time. Nice to see the team go into overdrive as an extra effort was suddenly needed to clinch all three points. The "Russian News and Information Agency" sums up their nation's teams performances:

FC Moskva, playing in the Russian capital, went behind to a first half penalty in their match against the Danes FC Kobenhavn. A last minute equalizer by Aleksandr Samedov looked to have saved the match for Oleg Blokhin's men, but the Danes struck back in injury time, a header from substitute Libor Sionko earning the visitors a surprise win.

[CSKA and Spartak win away, Moskva suffer home defeat in UEFA Cup]

Blokhin said at the press conference we were "better than Spartak". More: Ajax take applause amid Kalmar clamour.

Junior gives Cliftonville a lesson

Sublime sub Jose Junior put Cliftonville to the sword with two sensational strikes at Mourneview Park last night as FC Copenhagen wrapped up a 4-0 first-leg win against spirited opponents.

[...]

The opening goal came on 21 minutes when Aaron Smyth - playing in an unfamiliar left sided role - missed an interception from Kvist's cross field ball and Sionko squared for Norregaard to convert.

[...]

Nordstrand supplied the pass, Junior miscontrolled his initial touch but regained his composure to spin Declan O'Hara and thunder a drive into the roof of the net - it wouldn't be his last moment of inspiration.

[...]

Zdenek Pospech struck from 30 yards to make it 3-0 with 11 minutes left and the final goal came when Jose Junior claimed possession with his back to goal 20 yards out, flicked the ball up and smashed a delightful scissor kick home.

International performances 8th of September

San Marino - Czech Republic 0 - 3

San Marino far from disgraced themselves here, holding the Czech Republic to a (relatively) narrow victory in Serravalle - even after going down to ten men.

Source: Goal.com - Euro 2008 - San Marino Sink To Czech Republic Late Show

The Czech Republic picked up the expected win in San Marino which consolidated second place in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D but they were made to work by their hosts.

Source: uefa.com - UEFA EURO 2008™ - Hard work pays off for Czechs

# 17 Libor Sionko unused substitute.

Sweden - Denmark 0-0

The home side will feel that they should have won the game, but Denmark have left the Rasunda with a point following a 0-0 draw. While Denmark looked good in places, it was the Swedes who carved out most of the openings - each of which, however, was wasted...

Source: Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Sweden And Denmark Play Out Entertaining Draw

Sweden stayed on course to reach UEFA EURO 2008™ thanks to a goalless draw with neighbours Denmark that took Lars Lagerbäck's team three points clear in Group F.

Minute-by-minute
1 Grønkjær (Denmark) is flagged for offside.
19 Grønkjær (Denmark) commits a foul after challenging Hansson (Sweden).
33 Grønkjær (Denmark) misses the target.
37 N Jensen (Denmark) delivers the corner.
80 Grønkjær (Denmark) is booked.
88 Mellberg (Sweden) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Grønkjær (Denmark).
90+1 Gravgaard (in) - Tomasson (out) (Denmark)

Source: uefa.com - UEFA EURO 2008™ - Solna shutout suits Sweden

Jesper Christiansen injured in practice (!), Marcus Allbäck, Rasmus Würtz, Hjalte Nørregaard and Morten Nordstrand unused substitutes.

Moldova - Norway 0-1

Moldova kept the score down but failed to excite as Norway managed a narrow 1-0 win in Chisinau.

Source: Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Norway Edge Out Moldova

Steffen Iversen struck four minutes into the second half as Norway secured a victory against Moldova in Chisinau which boosted their bid to qualify for UEFA EURO 2008™.

Minute-by-minute
62 Hangeland (Norway) commits a foul after challenging Zmeu (Moldova).
82 Hangeland (Norway) delivers the corner.

Source: uefa.com - UEFA EURO 2008™ - Iversen goal takes Norway second

Atiba Hutchinson interview

The official FC København webpage has published a short video of two very short interviews with Hjalte Nørregaard (in Danish) and Atiba Hutchinson talking about their expectations and the team tactics for tomorrow's game against Benfica.




...and contrary to what they try to make you believe the video does not require Windows Media Player ;-) But just click the image and watch the video.