FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.08.2008 22:27

Positive night for Barça’s international players

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Five wins and two draws, a good result for Barça’s internationals in the games played this Wednesday. Victories for the national and under-21 teams from Spain, France, Mexico, and the Ivory Coast, with draws for Belarus and Iceland.

Barça’s internationals got through most of their games positively. Those that stand out were Spain’s victory in Denmark, France’s in Sweden (2-3) or Mexico against Honduras (2-1). The under-21 squad also beat Russia 1-2 and this almost assures their qualification for Euro 2009.

Spain shows what it’s got in Copenhagen

Spain thrashed Denmark 0-3, with Xavi scoring a goal but Bojan will have to wait for another day to make his debut in the national side. In Vicente del Bosque’s debut as manager, the Barça striker saw the whole game from the bench. Meanwhile Xavi and Puyol played the 90 minutes and Cazorla substituted Iniesta in the 62nd minute. Spain beat Denmark outright by 0-3 thanks to a good second half in which they were superior to the Danes.

A game marked by grief

The game was marked by the grief over the tragedy at Barajas Airport where an accident took the lives of more than 150 people. Before the game there was a minute of silence and both teams’ members wore black armbands as a sign of grieving.

Denmark dominated the first half

Denmark played better in the first half and had good chances on goal. In one of these, Barça’s Puyol was decisive, parrying a centre by Bendter in front of an open goal. The Spanish team didn’t have many chances. The clearer ones were for Barça players. In the 45th minute Xavi almost scored from a well-aimed shot sent out for a corner by Sorensen. In extra time Iniesta shot just too wide.

Spain superior after the break

Spain’s game improved after the break. Vicente del Bosque’s men recovered the passing football that we saw in Euro 2008 and five minutes into the second half Xabi Alonso made it 0-1 scoring from a cross by Torres. The second came in the 73rd minute when Xavi, unmarked beat Sorensen with a well-aimed shot from the front of the box. It was Xavi’s eighth international goal. In the 90th minute, Xabi Alonso rounded off the victory with Spain’s third goal putting away a cross from new boy Capel easily.

Mexico beats Honduras (2-1)

Mexico beat Honduras 2-1 in the first game of the qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup. Sven-Göran Eriksson made his official debut as the Mexico manager and Barça’s Márquez played the full 90 minutes and hit the post with one shot. Mexico had lots of problems overcoming Honduras who had gone ahead through a goal from León. Pavel Pardo turned the game around with two almost consecutive goals in the 74th and 76th minutes.

Henry, the main man in the victory over Sweden

Thierry Henry played a good game wearing the captain’s armband. France beat Sweden 2-3 in Gothenburg in a spectacular game. Henry played the full 90 minutes and, although he didn’t score, was a constant danger and set up the move which gave the Gauls their third goal. Benzema and Govou, twice, were France’s goal scorers whilst the ex-Barça player Larsson and Kallstrom, from a penalty, scored for the Swedish side.

Hleb played the full game against Argentina (0-0)

Alexander Hleb played all 90 minutes of the friendly between Belarus and Argentina played in Minsk, which ended in a goalless draw. The Barça midfielder played from the start and he did so in a somewhat more defensive position than that which he has been playing for Barça so far this season. The game was pretty even, although Argentina had better chances

Under-21s, one step away from qualifying

The Spanish under-21s beat Russia 1-2 and practically assured their qualification For the Euro 2009 in Sweden. Barça player Gerard Piqué was in the starting line-up and played all 90 minutes. The Spanish side didn’t miss the absence of Bojan and Capel, called up for the national team against Denmark, and were superior to the Russians. Xisco, in the 7th and Jurado in the 26th minute were the goal scorers for López Caro’s side.