World Cup qual - Worldwide team of midweek

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Apr 18:10:00 2009

The midweek World Cup qualifiers produced some extraordinary results and some brilliant individual performances. Here are the best.

2009 France-Lithuania Franck Ribery - 0

GK: Craig Gordon (Scotland) - Stepping in for bad-boy Allan McGregor, the Sunderland back-up showed no ill-effects from his recent lack of first-team football, keeping Iceland at bay with some fine saves.

RB: Daniel Alves (Brazil) - After a disappointing draw against Ecuador, a 3-0 win against Peru was just what Brazil needed to get back on track, and Alves was his usual effervescent self down the right.

CB: John Terry (England) - It takes something special to get singled out for praise by Fabio Capello, but Terry's late winner against Ukraine prompted the Italian to laud his captain's telling contribution.

CB: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) - Giampaolo Pazzini's fourth-minute red card left the Italians under pressure for much of their game against Ireland. Chiellini defended stoutly, despite Robbie Keane's late goal.

LB: Joan Capdevila (Spain) - The European champions made it six wins out of six with a gritty win in Turkey, and Capdevila contributed at both ends of the pitch in a hard-fought encounter.

RM: Dirk Kuyt (Netherlands) - You know you are going to get plenty of hard graft from Kuyt, but two goals against Macedonia were a real bonus as the Dutch maintained their 100 per cent record.

CM: Michael Ballack (Germany) - Why doesn't he play like this for Chelsea? The midfield general delivered a commanding performance at the Millennium Stadium as Wales were brushed aside - and thumped a stunning drive into the top corner.

LM: Franck Ribery (France) - Where would France be without Ribery? Not in South Africa next summer, that's for certain. The Bayern winger scored the only goal in the win against Lithuania.

FW: Ebi Smolarek (Poland) - Having lost to Northern Ireland on Saturday, the Poles took their anger out with a 10-0 obliteration of San Marino, with Bolton man Smolarek weighing in with four.

FW: Joaquin Botero (Bolivia) - The architect of Bolivia's extraordinary 6-1 win against Argentina, Botero netted a fine hat-trick as Diego Maradona's charges were run ragged in La Paz.

FW: Erik Jendrisek (Slovakia) - His late winner sealed a famous win away to neighbours Czech Republic, and was just reward for a superb all-round performance.

Eurosport

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  1. dreaded, you went on about africa when the article­ specifically states midweek matches and there were none­ in africa in midweek. so all your blabbing about your­ big schlong is more rubbish as you continue to miss the­ point. I hope for the sake of us all you never become a­ lawyer or woe to those that you would represent with­ that kind of logic. I think you should read the article­ again.

    From go, on Thu 2 Apr 9:49PM

  2. Smolarek smoked em.

    From wizzo, on Thu 2 Apr 9:07PM

  3. Go, thank you for your condescending attitude. How you­ like to explain the two English men I work with who­ cant read and write? Living in one of the most­ previleged countries in the world. There's no need­ to get personal. My statement was borne out of­ frustation of seeing african footballers not being­ properly credited for their contribution time and­ again. If you want to get dirty then you can explain to­ me why so many of your women want my big black @#$%?

    From Seth, on Thu 2 Apr 8:31PM

  4. this is second team.where is first dzeko,misimovic...

    From anerdurakovic, on Thu 2 Apr 3:15PM

  5. dreaded, i will tell you what the africans need to do­ to get some recognition: they need to learn how to read­ and understand properly. There were no scheduled FIFA­ activities in Africa yesterday (MIDWEEK) and the team­ that is listed is to highlight the performers in­ midweek (aka Wednesday = midweek)
    Education will do­ you more justice than football, if you want to get some­ recognition.

    From go, on Thu 2 Apr 2:54PM

  6. Midweek team of the week. There wasn't any games in­ African qualification last night was there? No. So what­ the f*** do you people want. READ THE ARTICLE!

    From james b, on Thu 2 Apr 2:15PM

  7. By "world" you obviously mean Europe and­ maybe south america. what does the african have to do­ to get some recognition? Thats why I love Arsene­ Wenger...

    From Seth, on Thu 2 Apr 2:00PM

  8. gdje je džeko

    From amraletic, on Thu 2 Apr 1:50PM

  9. Ribery is the pure class, and also the worlds ugliest­ player.

    From laboca123, on Thu 2 Apr 1:48PM

  10. Yes we(England are overated), but no more so than­ others like Germany and France. They just seem to be­ better at doing things in finals of major tournaments.

    From laboca123, on Thu 2 Apr 1:47PM

  11. Wheres Vinnie jones?

    From laboca123, on Thu 2 Apr 1:42PM

  12. I see Slovakia beat the czech republic away. It seems­ Englands 4-0 demolition wasnt so bad after all

    From laboca123, on Thu 2 Apr 1:41PM

  13. Africa is awful theyshould have the j league us soccer­ and australian leagues for the reserves and africa as­ the water boys

    From Thomas, on Thu 2 Apr 1:37PM

  14. and not even an african in sight huh! did drogba not­ score two very nice goals, maybe the african peoples­ are just not good enough for this columnist, come to­ think of it is there even a black person in the list,­ hmmm..

    From Mark, on Thu 2 Apr 1:22PM

  15. Yes, it is unfortunate that "worldwide" did­ not cover Africa. Didier Drogba scored two. Even a half­ fit Emmanuel Adebayor put one past Cameroon. Maybe you­ plan to present a reserve team in which the Africans­ will feature?

    From Kaybee, on Tue 31 Mar 11:28AM

  16. Robert Enke as goalie? Was he tested at all by­ Lichtenstein?

    From Giovanni T, on Tue 31 Mar 9:48AM

  17. its rather surprising that no african player made the­ list-perhaps the african qualifyin series was not­ covered......drogba scored 2 lovely goals!!!

    pumpy

    From ilias, on Tue 31 Mar 4:33AM

  18. You call this world wide assessment......Which world is­ Africa? Does it only exists when buying talented club­ players?

    From gracemanda, on Mon 30 Mar 3:57PM

  19. Whoever did this assessment is biased or had no time to­ follow African football....No African team?

    From max, on Mon 30 Mar 3:30PM

  20. What are u writing? You mean no African in this your XI­ or you don't cover African football?

    From Int Baller, on Mon 30 Mar 3:20PM
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