France proved that they're much more than a one-man team but David Villa stole the show with a last-gasp goal to send Spain through to the DSP International Cup final following an exhilarating match at the Bernebeu.
Prior to the match, France manager Slumberland (who also manages DSPremiership leading side Livorno) announced that star striker Thierry Henry would still start despite suffering from a bad viral illness. Slumberland also continued his goalkeeper rotation, this time Gregory Coupet starting between the sticks in place of Mikael Landreau.
France began with a solid 5-3-2 formation with Henry & Zidane upfront with Louis Saha just behind the two. Spain, meanwhile, continued with their successful 4-4-2 formation.
Following a cagey start, France broke the deadlock with a fantastic goal by Zinedine Zidane in the 23rd minute. Louis Saha burst through the midfield before sliding the ball through to his captain who proceeded on a mazy, jinking run past three defenders before slamming the ball past Casillas. The goal was his first of the tournament and a definite contender for goal of the season.
France were in the ascendancy, controlling much of the play but Henry, clearly suffering from the effects of his illness, fluffed a chance to make it two nil on a partial breakaway.
A minute later, and against the run of play, Spain were level. Joaquim threaded a beautiful ball into the outside channel for David Villa to run onto. Able to hold off the best efforts of Willy Sagnol, Villa beat Coupet short-side with a swerving effort.
The goal did little to faze France and they continued to dominate the first period with the trio of Zidane, Henry and Saha causing Pernia and Puyol all sorts of problems in the Spanish defense. Meanwhile, Viera and Makelele proved effective in preventing Xavi and Raul from creating much.
Just prior to half-time France had two glorious chances to pull ahead. First, a Zidane header struck the crossbar from point-blank range following a corner. Then Viera had an effort cleared off the line by Sergio Ramos.
After re-grouping at half-time, Spain began the second half with renewed purpose. Manager Macca began to alternate on the fly between 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 formations. This allowed more space for Torres and the Athletico Madrid striker had numerous chances to score each foiled my excellent goalkeeping from Coupet.
France still remained dangerous on the break, however, and both Albelda and Salgado received yellow cards for cynical fouls on both Zidane and Henry.
The match seemed destined for Extra Time but in stoppage time Sergio Ramos stormed into the France 18 yard box and unleashed a fierce drive from a narrow angle. The shot beat Coupet, but not the post and Villa was quickest to react to the rebound - driving the ball home with aplomb.
2-1 the final score following a scintillating match. France will feel hard done by particularly considering their chances in the first half and one can only wonder how a fully-fit Henry would have changed the match. Spain continue their march and will play either the USA or Czech Republic in the final.
MoM: David Villa
GREAT game Slumber, I was so freakin' nervous! I almost shat myself each time you entered the attacking third. Great goal by Zidane as well!
Amazing game, Macca... probably my favorite game I've played where I didn't win.
I never really though about subbing out Henry. Even down-arrow Henry was able to generate space in a way most players can't. He just wasn't sharp enough to put anything home. Or I wasn't!
Jared and I will be playing our game tomorrow night, 10pm est. I will be going away for the week on Wednesday afternoon, so whoever I am to play based on that result, we may want to try and play Tuesday night as well. (Unless you can play Weds morning, when I will be free as well.) Is that possible for either of you guys?
Jared and I will be playing our game tomorrow night, 10pm est. I will be going away for the week on Wednesday afternoon, so whoever I am to play based on that result, we may want to try and play Tuesday night as well. (Unless you can play Weds morning, when I will be free as well.) Is that possible for either of you guys?
I can play Tuesday night. Good luck in the semi-final! Man-mark McBride!
The Czech Republic and the United States played in an action packed thriller, with the Czechs winning behind a Nedved brace. The scoring started with the underdog American squad scoring first, as a torrid Eddie Johnson found his way behind the defense, slid, and chipped the ball around the keeper for the first goal. Johnson was giving the Czech defense fits, with nearly all of the American shots. However, as well as he played, Eddie Johnson was unable to finish with many near misses throughout the match.
However, the star for the Czechs was Pavel Nedved, who tied the match on a curler near the side of the penalty box. Nedved nearly had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Nedved skied a shot over an empty net, leading to the 1-1 tie at the break.
The second half was a back and forth affair, with the Czechs shooting on-target but unable to get the ball past Keller, and with the Americans unable to find the frame. Finally, a Czech midfielder was dribbling in the box away from the goal, and (I believe) Chris Albright slid towards him, clipping his heel and giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. (Translation: I did NOT hit the tackle button...stupid computer, making Albright act realistically unable to cope w/the int'l game.) Keller guessed in the correct direction, but the ball went under the keeper, making it 2-1. The Americans pushed forward, with Donovan dribbling through the defense but skying his shot over the bar a few minutes from time. However, the equalizer was not to be, and the Czechs advanced to play Spain in the final.
Good game Naples.
18' Eddie Johnson (Donovan)
26' Nedved (Jankulovski)
74' Nedved (PK)
CZE USA
15(11) : 10(2)
6 : 2 FK
3 : 0 Corner
2(1) : 7(6) Offsides
50 : 50
Wow, what a stunning set of results! Congrats Naples - the site will be updated on a preliminary basis now and fully tomorrow morning. No hurry on the consolation match - there really isn't much riding on it now that Villa couldn't quite catch Henry for the golden boot.
Rome (Italy) - For the Czech Republic, the theme of this year's DSP International Cup has been one of resilience. The Czech's lost their first match of the tournament to England and yet bounced back to win Group C. They came from behind in the tournament semi-final against the USA to win 2-1. And tonight, against tournament favorites Spain, the Czechs once again showed their resilience to erase an early two goal deficit to win the Digital Sports Page International Cup 2007 by a score of 4-3. The match was truly one for the ages.
Czech manager Naples, made no major changes his starting line-up and fielded the same 11 that defeated the United States. Spain fielded one surprise with Xabi Alonso taking the place of the ill Xavi in midfield, while Torres and Villa continued up front.
The norm for major finals of this nature is for both teams to start off cagey and begin to feel each other out. This final proved to be the exception as both teams threw defense out the window and traded wave after wave of attacks.
Spain took the lead in the 12th minute when Fernando Torres broke free of Radoslav Kovac in the Czech box and finished cooly past a diving Peter Cech. The goal was Torres' 5th of the tournament.
The Czechs immediately looked to respond with a neat give and go between Koller and Baros that was cut out at the last second by Puyol. Five minutes later, however, Spain were up 2-0. This time Raul received the ball in midfield and played a wonderful 30 yard pass into the outside channel for David Villa to run onto. The Valencia striker beat Rozenhal for pace and blasted the ball into the far corner.
Just after the re-start it was almost 3-0 as Torres once again broke free of Kovac but this time, when one on one with Cech, he dragged his shot wide. It would prove to be a costly mistake.
The missed opportunity seemed to spark the Czech Republic into life. With manager Naples bellowing orders from the touchline the Czechs began to place a stranglehold on the midfield with inspirational captain Pavel Nedved seemingly everywhere. Both Baros and Rosicky has chances to score until the captain took it upon himself to bring his team back into the match in the 27th minute.
Nedved took a pass in midfield from Grygera, spun past Albelda, and raced into the Spanish penalty area. As Pernia rushed into tackle, Nedved deftly side-stepped him before coolly chipping Iker Cassillas.
The goal ignited the Czechs and it was all one way traffic with Nedved and Rosicky controlling the midfield while Koller and Baros, in particular, dangerous on the break. Less than ten minutes later Baros and Rosicky combined to bring the match level. Rosicky's individual run drew three Spanish defenders to him and he placed a delightful through ball into Baros for a breakaway. The Lyon striker showed supreme confidence and finished from outside the 18 yard box with a drilled low shot into the far corner.
The Spanish were reeling and the Czechs further tightened their grip with Baros and then Nedved coming close with long range efforts. With five minutes left in the half the Czechs got the lead they so richly deserved. A fine individual effort by Nedved won the Czechs a corner and from the resulting set-piece Jan Koller rose above the Spanish defense to hammer home a header into the top right hand corner. Even Sergio Ramos on the goal line was unable to keep out the powerful header.
The Spanish were at sixes and sevens, the Czechs were delirious and it would get even better just two minutes later when they added a fourth. A neat give and go sprung Koller for a breakaway, Puyol was able to beat the big man for pace but his clearance bounced off an onrushing Cassillas and popped up in the air just outside the 18 yard box. Koller managed to get a head to the ball but his effort seemed to be going wide until Milan Baros beat Michel Salgado for pace and tucked in a superb finish from the most acute of angles!
Four goals in 15 minutes and the Czech's were well in control.
After presumably, a half time berating by manager Macca, the Spaniards started the second half with much more purpose. David Albelda was drawn more closely into a midfield diamond. After 10 minutes Macca had seen enough and switched to a 3-4-3 formation with the ineffective Joaquim being replaced by Reyes.
The switch had the desired result as Spain dragged themselves back into the match on 67 minutes following a fantastic 25 yard curling strike by Xabi Alonso. It was Spain's chance to turn the screw and both Reyes and Villa game squandering chances - Villa shooting over the bar from 15 yards and Reyes shooting wide when one on one.
Meanwhile, the Czech's were still dangerous on the break with both Nedved and Baros tireless in their running.
As the clock wound down Spain began to throw more and more at the Czech goal. Peter Cech made a fantastic stop on Jose Antonio Reyes when one on one with five minutes remaining. In the final minute of regulation time came the moment of truth - substitute Luis Garcia played a through ball into David Villa for a partial breakaway. Villa, Spain's Golden Boy, held off Rozenhall, rounded Cech and seemed destined to slot into the empty net but Cech recovered and made one of the saves of the tournament to deny the equalizer.
The Czechs held on to win but on the balance of the match their victory was thoroughly deserved as they out-chanced and out-worked a solid Spanish side. Winning manager Naples refused to comment on the victory, instead handing the mic to his inspirational captain Nedved,
"We gave a hundred and ten percent today, our best players were our best players and we left it all out there on the field. Our backs were against the wall but this was a total team effort, we never gave up, we never stopped fighting and I never ran out of sports cliches."
Well said Macca, and great game. You have quite the memory for detail!! The only thing is that I think on your first goal Cech made the initial save, but someone put the rebound in an open net.
Great tournament everyone. Had a good time and feel quite fortunate to be last one standing against some solid squads.
Here's my photo essay of the Czechs in the finals;
Things look bleak as the Czechs trail 2-0 on 17 minutes
Nedved picks up the squad with some inspired play
Baros ties the game 2-2 on a breakaway
Koller bangs in a corner and gives the Czechs the lead, 3-2
Baros adds his second of the game just before half time, 4-2 Czechs
The final whistle sounds, and the Czech celebrations begin
Baros salutes the crowd
Sweet victory assures the Czech captain he can end his international career on a high note
Congrats to Naples and thanks to everyone who took part. It was a joy to administer - the whole thing went off without a hitch thanks to everyone's efforts.
Naples, PM me your address if you want me to send out the Peter Adolph Trophy in time for the tickertape parade through Prague.
Well, the 'dreaded consolation match' is complete, with France defeating the United States 2-0 despite inspired goalkeeping from Keller, including a blocked penalty followed by an immediate save with his noggin on the rebound. Henry opened the scoring (19') to up his cup tally to a lucky 13, then Wiltord gave Les Bleus some breathing room thanks to the setup from Zidane. (30').
