FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.09.2007 00:56

Xavi and Iniesta on song for Spain

Marc Guillén

Barca’s international players all featured in this Wednesday’s games, with Iniesta again on good form and Xavi scoring for Spain, Gudjohnsen back for Iceland and Zambrotta starring in Italy’s win over Ukraine.

Xavi Hernández, who played the whole 90 minutes, put Spain one up against Latvia after just 13 minutes, latching onto a good through ball from Joaquim to fire home and for the rest of the game the Barca man stamped his authority on the midfield for Aragones’ team. Spain dominated throughout, chalking up 23 shots to just two for Latvia and after Iniesta came on for Villa on 50 minutes the Barca youngster really livened up the team setting up Torres for the second, slipping in a great pass to the Liverpool man under pressure from three defenders.

Gudjohnsen’s Iceland lend Spain a hand

Spain’s win put them into second spot in Group F, level on 19 points with Sweden, who’ve played a game less. Three points behind them are Northern Ireland, who went down 2-1 away to Iceland, for whom Eidur Gudjohns turned out for his first game after his long injury lay off. The Barca striker came on after 53 minutes and his team did Spain a big favour by seriously denting Northern Ireland’s chances of challenging Spain for a top two spot in the group.

Italy overtake France

Group B is proving a really close run thing, with Scotland pulling off a shock 0-1 win over France in Paris to go top. Thuram featured for the whole 90 minutes, whilst Abidal was substituted on 77 minutes and Thierry Henry was of course suspended and forced to watch from the sidelines. Mc Fadden’s 64th minute strike gave the Scots the points, but it was France who dominated with 15 shots to Scotland’s two and 16 corners against just three for Scotland. France are now third on 19 points, two behind Scotland, with Italy squeezed in between on 20. The Italians, for whom Zambrotta played 90 minutes at left back, beat Ukraine 1-2. With Italy yet to travel to Hampden Park, France are still very much in the hunt and if they can win their last three games they’ll definitely be in with a shout for one of the top two spots.

Portugal hit by last minute equaliser

Deco played the first 77 minutes of Portugal’s game against Serbia, which Scolari’s team looked on track to win 1-0 till the Serbs hit a dramatic 87th minute equaliser through Ivanovic. The dropped points mean Portugal are now in third place, four points adrift of Poland and 2 away from Finland, with a game in hand on both the top two, who drew 0-0.