Friday 12 October 2012

World Cup 2014 Qualifiers - LIVE Coverage:

Hello and welcome to the LATEST installment of my EPL Blog. As you can probably tell from the title of the blog post, the EPL season has been put on hold for the next two weeks and the next EPL fixtures will be on the 20th and 21st of October.

But do not fear, as the Football365Mo blogger is here with Coverage of the orld Cup 2014 Qualfiers again tonight.

England play against San Marino, Republic of Ireland host Euro 2012 semi-finalists Germany, and Serbia host Belgium are just a few of the World Cup 2014 qualifying matches on show today.

BREAKING NEWS:

Here is the England vs San Marino line-ups: 

England: Hart, Jagielka, Baines, Walker, Cahill, Carrick, Cleverley, Oxlade-Chambrlain, Walcott, Rooney and Welbeck. 
Subs: Ruddy, Cole, Lescott, Shawcross, Milner, Shelvey, Adam Johnson, Lennon, Carroll, Defoe, Forster.

San Marino: Aldo Simoncini, Fabio Vitaioli, Davide Simoncini, Brolli, Palazzi, Cibelli, Coppini, Rinaldi, Della Valle, Gasperoni, Cervellini. 
Subs: Valentini, Bacciocchi, Bollini, Buscarini, Marani, Mazza, Selva, Vannucci, Matteo Vitaioli.

The major news ahead of the match is that Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is left out of the starting line-up. Leighton Baines replaces him at left-back.

Machester United striker Wayne Rooney has been named as captain for the first time in a competitive match.


A strong England side, especially as they host a 207th FIFA ranked San Marino side who have only won 1 match in their WHOLE existence as a national side.

I would have expected to see Jack Butland in the squad, but apart from that, the exact team that I expected. Even though they are ranked very low in the FIFA Rankings, this is the World Cup qualifiers and ANYTHING can happen.

FACT: San Marino are the 2nd lowest ranking national team in the WORLD after Turks and Caicos Islands.

FACT: Today will be Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick's FIRST match for England since 2009. 

Team Line-ups:

Republic of Ireland vs Germany:
 
ROI: Westwood, Coleman, O'Shea, O'Dea, Ward, McGeady, McCarthy, Andrews, Fahey, Cox, Walters. 

Subs: Forde, McShane, Long, Meyler, Kelly, Wilson, Clark, Keogh, Brady, Clifford, Randolph.

Germany: Neuer, Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Schmelzer, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Muller, Reus, Klose. 
Subs: Zieler, Howedes, Westermann, Schurrle, Podolski, Kroos, Stegen.

Strong German team including Mesut Ozil and Marco Reus. Doesn't look good for Ireland though, even though they are at home.
They are going to miss Damien Duff now that he is in international retirement, hopefully Aiden McGeady can weave his magic tonight.

Yesterday's Match:

Brazil 6 Iraq 0

Chelsea's £25million midfielder Oscar scored a brace as World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil thrashed Iraq by 6 goals to nil with ease. 

£25million talent: Chelsea's young midfielder Oscar scored twice on Thursday as Brazil beat Iraq 6-0.


He scored twice in 5 minutes, in the 22nd and the 27th minute to give Brazil a comfortable 2-0 lead. But they were not finished there... as Real Madrid midfielder Kaka made it 3 just after half-time before new Zenit winger Hulk scored to make it 4-0 in the 56th minute.  

Thank you: Real Madrid midfielder Kaka celebrates his first goal for Brazil in 29 months to make it 3-0.
World-class winger: Zenit St. Petersburg's new signing Hulk scores to make it 4-0 in the 56th minute.


(Over-rated, *cough cough*) Santos striker Neymar scored in the 76th minute before Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas scored in the 80th minute to rub salt into the Iraqi wounds and make it 6-0.

Deadly strike: Santos striker Neymar completed the thrashing at 5-0, but it was not over yet.

 

England vs San Marino - LIVE Commentary: 

0: The referee has blown the whistle to start the match, with San Marino kicking off the match at Wembley.

5: Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott has had a nasty aerial collision with San Marino goalkeeper Simoncini. He is on the ground lying in pain, and is needing medical attention as soon as possible.  

7: A stretcher has come onto the pitlked but Walcott stands up gingerly and is walked off the pitch by the physio. Concern for Arsenal fans.

9: England SUB:
Theo Walcott OFF
Aaron Lennon ON

15: England are giving the ball away easily, and the fans are understandably getting frustrated. 

17: LATEST - Republic Of Ireland 0 Germany 1

Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus has broken the deadlock for Germany in the 32nd minute. 1-0 and Ireland are trailing at home... 

For the future: Dortmund striker Marco Reus gives Germany the lead against Ireland in the 32nd minute.

22: England corner, but a Baines cross was mis-hit and was easily cleared away by the San Marino defence. 

24: England patiently passing the ball up the pitch, looking for gaps in the midfield, which they are finding easily.

LATEST - Republic of Ireland 0 Germany 2

Marco Reus doubles his goal-scoring tally for today, and doubvles Germany's lead in the 40th minute.

Two for me: Reus scores his second in 8 minutes to double Germany's lead and give Irealnd trouble.

25: Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain caps off a good passign move with a good strike from 25 yards out towards goal which was parried away by the San Marino goalkeeper before the ball was cleared to safety by the defence.

28: England free-kick after good pressure by the hosts inside the box.

30: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has a placed shot from 25 yards out after some link up play with Rooney.... OVER THE BAR!!!

31: England corner, with Rooney's delivery eventually falling to Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who crosses the ball into the box for Rooney. 

Rooney heads the ball towards goal, but the shot is just wide of the post!

33: Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick unleashes a piledriver from 25 yards out, which hits the crossbar before falling to club team-mate Danny Welbeck.
Welbeck shoots while off-balance and hits the post!

33: Welbeck is brought down inside the box by San Marino goalkeeper Simoncini. 
The referee instantly points to the spot, before giving the goalkeeper a yellow card for his troubles. 

Clumsy penalty: San Marino goalkeeper Simoncini clips Welbeck inside the penalty area and gives away a pen

35: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney steps up to take the penalty, before powerfully blasting the ball into the top corner of the net out of the keeper's reach

Powerful: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney scores in the 35th minute to give England the lead.

1-0 to England, and Rooney scores from the penalty spot!!!!

FACT: That is Rooney's 30th goal for England - and his first goal for club or country this season!  

36: Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon runs down the wing before losing his marker and finding Welbeck in the 6-yard box.

Welbeck backheels the ball past the goalkeeper into the net! 2-0 to England, and the lead is doubled within 1 minute!!!

De ja vu: Danny Welbeck recreates his backheeled goal against Sweden in Euro 2012 against San Marino.
Good service: Welbeck celebrates his goal with creator and winger Aaron Lennon.

40: Rooney has a curling effort towards goal tipped past the post by goalkeeper Simoncini. The ball was creeping in at the last minute, and he needed to get his fingertips to the ball..

44: Rooney has another shot on goal, but this time it does not even trouble the goalkeeper and fizzes out wide of the goal into the electronic billboards.   

45: England have a decent penalty shout after Lennon is hel back inside the box by a defender who was never reaching the ball and does not make contact with anything - apart from Lennon.
He falls to the ground but does not appeal for a penalty. 

45: The fourth official has signalled for 3 minutes of stoppage time to be added on at the end of the first half.

45+2: Oxlade-Chamberlain has a shot just outside the 18-yard box, but it is weak and is a comfortable save for the diving Simoncini.  

45+3: The referee blows the whistle to end the first half at Wembley;

HALF-TIME SCORES:

England 2 San Marino 0
Wales 1 Scotland 0 - LIVE
Republic of Ireland 1 Germany 4 - LIVE 
  
45: The referee has blown the whistle to start the second half at Wembley. England lead by 2 goals to nil, having heard that earlier Moldova drew 0-0 with qualifying rivals Ukraine.

46: England start the half well with some good precise passing together, meanwhile pitchside reporter Gabriel Clarke has confirmed that Theo Walcoot is in hospital and may not be available to play against Poland on Tuesday.

52: Lovely play by England, before midfielder Michael Carrick has a shot parried away by Simoncini.

53: Defender Gary Cahill mis-hits the ball and Simoncini comfortably collects the ball easily.

lt comes after a good cross into the box by Rooney.

56: Chamberlain has a shot from 20 yards out, but Simoncini comes to the rescue to parry the ball away from the goal.

60: England are just parked inside the San Marino half right now. Just need to score now..

63: England have a free-kick taken with pace by Everton left-back Leighton Baines from 25 yards out who curls the ball towards goal, but the shot is just over the bar!

64: Liverpool young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is getting talked to on the touchline, and is getting ready to come on.

65: San Marino go on the counter attack with Ronaldi who has a shot after beating the last defender Gary Cahill.

His shot goes wide and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has nothing to worry about. 

66: England SUB:
Michael Carrick OFF
Jonjo Shelvey ON  

69: Leighton Baines heads the ball from the wing into the box for Oxlade-Chamberlain who is tripped onto the floor.
Wayne Rooney is next to him, and instinctively wraps his foot around the ball before hitting the ball towards goal....

GOAL!!! England have scored their 3rd of the day, with 20 minutes to go!
There is more to come yet!

Nicely done: Wayne Rooney scores his second of the night to make it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go.

71: England midfielder Tom Cleverley passes the ball across goal towards Danny Welbeck who taps the ball away from Simoncini into the net! 4-0 to England!

Easy tap-in: Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scores his second, to make it 4-0.

ENGLAND SUB:
Wayne Rooney OFF
Andy Carroll ON 

Carroll gets a run out tonight, and Rooney gets a rest after scoring 2 goals today. Good move by Hodgson.

Joe Hart is given the captain's armband.

75: San Marino SUB:
Matteo Coppini OFF
Lozenzo Buscarini ON

76: Nice move by England, finished off by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who places the ball in the top corner of the net out of Simoncini's reach! GOAL!!

Young lion: Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores to make it 5-0.


FACT: That is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's first goal for England, and he is now the 4th youngest player to ever score a goal for England. 

77: San Marino SUB:
Danilo Rinaldi OFF
Andy Selva ON 

FACT: Selva is San Marino's legend. He is 36 years old and has scored 7 out of their last 9 goals. They have not scored a goal for 4 years by the way.

81: England young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has a low shot from 25 yards out after a cheeky skillful dummy by Oxlade-Chamberlain. Simoncini comfortably saves it, but it is promising from the Liverpool youngster.

83: San Marino SUB:
Fabio Vitaoli OFF
Simone Bacciocchi ON 

85: Shelvey finds Oxlade-Chamberlain with a lovely through ball into the box. He is about to pull the trigger before a defender blocks the shot and the ball goes out for a corner.

90: The fourth official has signalled for three minutes of stoppage time to be added on.

90+3: The referee blowns the whistle to end the match at Wembley.

FULL-TIME SCORE:

England 5 San Marino 0

England played well throughout, with good passing. 
There is still progress to be done as they need to be more clinical despite scoring 5 goals tonight and need to be quicker and more composed when they are not playing against semi-professional players.

The match against Poland on Tuesday wil be more interesting. 

My Man Of The Match:
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

He passed the ball well, and always looked to pass or play someone through. He worked hard throughout the match and helped at the back and went forward all the time. He also scored a goal for his troubles.
One for the future.  

World Cup 2014 Qualifying - Group H Table: 

1st: England with 7pts from 3 matches
2nd: Montenegro with 4pts from 2 matches
3rd: Poland with 4pts from 2 matches
4th: Ukraine with 2pts from 2 matches
5th: Moldova with 1pt from 2 matches
6th: San Marino with 0pts from 2 maches

I will speak to you all next week in my next blog post. Have a nice weekend and do not forget to follow me for football blog updates if you have not already!

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