8th August 2009 - Happy 1st 080808 Anniversary!

England ends 2008 with a victory over long time rivals Germany


A late John Terry header ensured England continued their resurgence under Fabio Capello with a 2-1 victory over Germany in Berlin to end 2008 on a high. England travelled to the German capital ravaged by injuries and surrounded by debate regarding the importance of Wednesday's friendly, but Capello's side produced a thoroughly convincing display to secure a fifth successive win.

The Three Lions - who recorded a famous 5-1 success on their last visit to Germany - took a scrappy lead in the 23rd minute as centre-back Matthew Upson poked home after Rene Adler had flapped at a Stewart Downing corner. After the interval, England continued to enjoy the better of proceedings but substitute goalkeeper Scott Carson endure a horrible mix-up with Terry to allow Germany striker Patrick Helmes to equalise on 63 minutes.

The game, both sides' final outing of the year, then continued in entertaining, end-to-end, fashion and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips rattled a post from range. England, though, then ensured Germany suffered their first defeat in Berlin since 1973 as Terry met a Downing free-kick to head in with six minutes remaining.

When the Three Lions analyse 2008, there will be a massive gap in the middle when they should have been at the European Championship. That absence was not Capello's fault of course. Yet if the by-product of two years' failure under Steve McClaren is a coach with vision, willpower and knowledge, maybe the pain was worthwhile.

Holland sweeps past Sweden


Holland proved far too strong for Sweden on Wednesday as they eased to a 3-1 victory. Having begun their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with maximum points from their three games so far, the Dutch appeared full of confidence.

It did, however, take Bert van Marwijk's side 32 minutes to break the deadlock, with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie firing them in front. The Gunners ace was then among the goals once more four minutes after the interval, strengthening the home side's grip on proceedings. Kim Kallstrom did pull one back just a minute later, but Liverpool front-man Dirk Kuyt settled the contest when he grabbed a third in injury-time.

France jeered off the pitch, again...


France were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Uruguay at the Stade de France on Wednesday. The home side struggled to break down a resolute Uruguay defence and the best opportunity fell to Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, who headed just over from Franck Ribery's free-kick in the 17th minute. Uruguay came close to scoring on 23 minutes when Cristian Rodriguez shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area. France captain Patrick Vieira played his first international match for nine months, but was taken off at the break by Raymond Domenech.

Caen striker Steve Savidan was handed his France debut in the second half and the 30-year-old went close with two efforts. His first attempt, a powerful shot from just inside the box, was parried by keeper Fabian Carini and his second effort was an acrobatic bicycle kick which flew just wide of the target. France were jeered off at the final whistle as the pressure grows on under-fire Domenech following a poor year.

Maradona leads Argentina to win
Diego Maradona enjoyed a winning start as Argentina coach after seeing his side overcome Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park. Maxi Rodriguez's early goal proved to be enough to give Argentina a deserved victory and get Maradona's Argentina reign off to the best possible start. Argentina dominated from the first whistle as they looked to impress their new boss and they opened the scoring after just eight minutes through Atletico Madrid winger Maxi.

Carlos Tevez played the ball into Jonas Gutierrez who in turn slipped the ball to Maxi inside the six-yard box and he comfortably slotted the ball past Allan McGregor. Scotland improved in the second half, but they could not find a way past a resolute Argentina defence.

Most of the attention before the game was on Maradona, who returned to Glasgow for the first time since he scored his first goal for Argentina in a 3-1 friendly win at Hampden in 1979. The former Napoli and Barcelona superstar was given a huge roar of approval from the Tartan Army, mostly for his 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.

Lippi equals world record
Italy came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Greece and help Marcello Lippi equal the world record of 31 international games without defeat. Luca Toni ended his international goal drought to cancel out Theofanis Gekas' opener for Greece.

Greece broke the deadlock five minutes after the break when substitute Gekas beat the Italy offside trap to lift the ball over Morgan De Sanctis. The lead proved short-lived as Italy drew level just four minutes later with Toni's looping header from Daniele De Rossi's free-kick finding the net. The goal was Toni's first for the World Cup winners since the friendly win over Portugal in February. Both sides had chances to win the game late on, but they both had to be content with a draw.

Danes go down against Wales
Craig Bellamy's solitary strike was enough to hand Wales a 1-0 win against Denmark on Wednesday. The man who handed the Welsh a surprise victory on Danish soil ten years ago was at it again as his second half goal settled the contest. Wales' youngsters made positive inroads throughout the opening period and were frustrated to go in at the break on level terms.

Bellamy, the elder statesman within John Toshack's ranks, wasted a couple of golden opportunities on the counter, while Ched Evans proved to be a lively foil alongside the skipper. Michael Krohn-Delhi and Morten Nordstand went close at the opposite end, but Denmark were largely restricted to ambitious efforts from distance. The Danes did provide more of an attacking threat after the interval, with the Welsh back four tested at regular intervals.

It looked for long periods, though, as if the game was drifting towards a mundane stalemate, only for Bellamy's 77th minute 25-yard drive to sneak past Thomas Sorensen and produce a winner. Wales did absorb relentless pressure as time ticked away, but Denmark failed to find an equaliser and the home fans were left to vent their frustrations at the final whistle.

Other Matches
Savo Milosevic marked his farewell game for Serbia with two goals in the 6-1 thumping of Bulgaria. The former Aston Villa man also missed two penalties in the first half as Serbia ran riot. Milan Jovanovic gave Serbia the lead after just eight minutes, but Blagoy Georgiev drew Bulgaria level on 19 minutes with a superb free-kick. Jovanovic restored Serbia's lead on 27 minutes before Milosevic (28, 34) grabbed a quick-fire brace to put the game beyond Bulgaria. Second half goals from Nenad Milijas (57) and Danko Lazovic (67) completed the rout.

Slovakia proved too strong for minnows Liechtenstein running out 4-0 winners in Zilina. Marek Hamsik (43, 72) helped himself to two goals, while further strikes from Robert Vittek (75) and Robert Jez (90) eased Slovakia to victory

Iceland secured a confidence-boosting success on Wednesday as they overcame Malta in friendly competition. Olafur Johannesson's men have endured a difficult start to their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign and will be delighted to get back to winning ways. Bolton striker Heidar Helguson, who is yet to find the target for the Trotters domestically this season, grabbed the only goal of the game on 66 minutes to end Malta resistance in Corradino. Iceland's next fixture is against Scotland on 1st April, when they will be hoping to move above George Burley's men in qualifying Group Nine and take a positive step on the road to South Africa.

Israel saw victory against Ivory Coast snatched from their grasp in the closing stages of their 2-2 draw. Elyaniv Barada gave the Europeans the lead inside 18 minutes, before Omer Golan doubled their advantage six minutes later. An own goal from Avi Strool (33) gave the Elephants hope before the break, and Boubacar Sanogo then completed the comeback when he levelled matters five minutes from time.

Cyprus, who occupy World Cup qualifying Group Eight alongside Republic of Ireland, proved too strong for England's Group Six rivals Belarus. Dimitris Christofi opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark and Andreas Avraam pushed Cyprus further ahead three minutes after the interval. Leonid Kovel halved Belarus' deficit on 55 minutes, but they were ultimately unable to find an equaliser.

Norway endured a night to forget as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat away at Ukraine. Yevhen Seleznyov's 26th minute penalty proved to be the difference in a game which also saw the Norwegians go down to 10-men after former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise was dismissed four minutes into the second half.

Romania came from behind to see off plucky Georgia in Bucharest. Otar Martsvaladze had fired the visitors in front on 11 minutes, but they failed to hang onto that lead. Ciprian Marica pulled the sides level on 62 minutes and Dorin Goin snatched a winner eight minutes later.

Slovenia and Bosnia produced a seven-goal thriller, with Slovenia eventually coming out on top 4-3. Vedad Ibisevic broke the deadlock after only two minutes, before a Zvjezdan Misimovic penalty on 13 minutes put Matjez Kek's side firmly in command. West Brom midfielder Robert Koren pulled one back for Slovenia on 27 minutes, but Bosnia re-established their three goal lead when Edin Dzeko pounced on 53 minutes. Ibisevic then grabbed his second of the game 10 minutes later, making a late Slovenia fightback obsolete. Milivoje Novakovic scored from the spot on 64 minutes and bagged a second 15 minutes from time, but the night would ultimately end in frustration for the the hosts.

Switzerland had Reto Ziegler to thank for handing them a narrow 1-0 win over Finland. The former Tottenham and Wigan defender struck with six minutes remaining to settle the contest.

Mario Mutsch grabbed his first international goal as Luxembourg claimed a promising 1-1 draw with Belgium. The FC Aarau midfielder snatched an equaliser two minutes into the second half, cancelling out Kevin Mirallas' 23rd minute opener.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough striker Tuncay Sanli was the star of the show in Turkey's 4-2 victory over Austria. The Austrians took a 28th minute lead through Andreas Holzl in Vienna but were pegged back by Mehmet Aurelio (38) and two goals from Tuncay (41 & 47). Holzl grabbed another on 53 minutes, but Tuncay rounded off the scoring when he completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes.

Brazil hits 6 pass Portugal


A Luis Fabiano hat-trick powered Brazil to a 6-2 victory over Portugal in Brasilia on Wednesday. The win was a reprieve for embattled Brazil coach Dunga, whose team had been held scoreless in three consecutive home games in World Cup qualifying.

However, the defeat increases pressure on new Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz as his country slipped to their heaviest defeat to Brazil. Danny opened the scoring for the visitors on four minutes, but Fabiano equalised shortly after following a break down the left by Robinho.

And the Sevilla striker then put Brazil ahead in the 25th minute with a shot on the turn from Kaka's pass. The second half produced four goals in a 10-minute spell as Maicon scored and Fabiano completed his hat-trick. Simao Sabrosa pulled one back for Portugal, only for Manchester City midfielder Elano to net before Adriano completed the rout.