Premier League - International watch

Eurosport - Mon, 30 Mar 16:23:00 2009

How did the Premier League's foreign legion fare over the weekend? Find out here as we take a whistle stop tour of the globe to bring you news of English-based players.

FOOTBALL Germany Michael Ballack - 0

Fernando Torres played a full 90 minutes in Spain's narrow 1-0 win over Turkey, but perhaps surprisingly, the Liverpool striker failed to find the target, former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique doing the honours instead. Middlesbrough's Tuncay featured for the Turks.

As ever France boasted a strong Premier League contingent, with Arsenal duo Bacary Sagna and William Gallas joining Manchester United's Patrice Evra in helping Les Bleus keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Lithuania. Another Gunner, Samir Nasri, made an appearance as a late substitute.

A Portugal side containing Chelsea pair Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa also kept a clean sheet, against Sweden, but the day ended disappointingly for the latter, as he limped off injured.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea midfielder Deco also featured for the Portuguese, but neither could unlock a Swedish defence well marshalled by former Aston Villa man Olof Mellberg.

Chelsea pair Michael Ballack and Branislav Ivanovic were both on target as Germany and Serbia both won their respective qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Romania.

Ballack opened the scoring in a 4-0 rout of the European minnows while Ivanovic - who partnered Manchester United stopper Nemanja Vidic - netted Serbia's third in a memorable 3-2 win in Constanta.

A Dutch side packed with Premier League stars saw off Scotland, with Robin van Persie of Arsenal and Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt getting on the scoresheet. Blackburn's Andre Ooijer played while Manchester City's Nigel de Jong was booked and substituted.

Another Liverpool man, Yossi Benayoun, was again in the thick of the action for his country, and it was the midfielder's through pass that led to Israel's equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Greece.

Aston Villa's Stiliyan Petrov featured for Bulgaria against the Republic of Ireland while Sami Hyypia of Liverpool, Jussi Jaaskelainen of Bolton and Toni Kallio of Fulham were in the Finnish side that triumphed in Wales.

Roman Pavlyuchenko got Russia on their way to a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan before the Tottenham striker laid on the second for Konstantin Zyryanov. Arsenal playmaker Andrei Arshavin also featured for the Russians.

Manchester City's Gelson Fernandes came on as a 79th minute substitute to seal a 2-0 win over Moldova with Switzerland's second - a header from close range - late in stoppage time.

Robert Koren of West Brom played in Slovenia's goalless draw with Czech Republic, for whom Chelsea's Petr Cech kept a clean sheet.

Elsewhere, Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini picked up another booking in Belgium's 4-2 defeat to Bosnia, while Liverpool stopper Dan Agger and Nicklas Bendtner of Arsenal featured in Denmark's 3-0 win over Malta.

To South America, where Carlos Tevez was on target in Diego Maradona's competitive debut as Argentina coach with Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano also playing in the 4-0 drubbing of Venezuela.

Manchester City had players on both sides as Ecuador took on Brazil in Quito. Elano and Robinho both started for the Brazilians - although the former was booked and substituted after an hour - while Felipe Caicedo featured for the home side.

Wigan's Luis Valencia and Segundo Castillo of Everton both completed 90 minutes for Ecuador, who emerged with a creditable 1-1 draw.

Aston Villa reserve goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Fulham's Clint Dempsey were involved in a thriller as the United States came from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw against El Salvador, while West Ham's Jonathan Spector was an unused sub.

Ivory Coast's 5-0 win against Malawi was overshadowed by a tragic crush that killed over 20 supporters.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba (two) and Salomon Kalou both scored, while Arsenal pair Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue played along with Tottenham's Didier Zokora and West Brom's Abdoulaye Meite.

Michael Essien was another Chelsea man in action as Ghana beat Benin 1-0. John Paintsil of Fulham and Wigan's Richard Kingson also played, as did former Portsmouth man Sulley Muntari.

Nigeria were held to a goalless draw in Mozambique, and featured Chelsea's John Obi Mikel, Bolton's Danny Shittu and Newcastle's Obafemi Martins. Nwankwo Kanu of Portsmouth was an unused substitute.

Wigan's strike force was out in its entirety as Amr Zaki got on target for African champions Egypt in a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Zambia. His club-mate Mido came off the bench 20 minutes from time but was unable to conjure a winner.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor played his first game for six weeks and scored as Togo beat Cameroon 1-0 in a friendly.

Eurosport

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  1. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

    ALL THE HIGH LIGHTS­ OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Tue 31 Mar 11:18AM

  2. zeralfay..We hope we meet you too hahahahaha

    From laboca123, on Tue 31 Mar 2:39AM

  3. How about Belhaj from porthsmouth what he did with­ algeria, or you don,t consider algeria as national team­ ,hope we meet you one day england!!!!!!

    From zeralfay, on Tue 31 Mar 12:43AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Come on, I'm a girl from UK. I like this team very­ much. He is my Favorite. I have a account on –seekbi c­ o m-- I like to share the funny¬ things with you guys~~

    From fine.adelaide, on Mon 30 Mar 4:28PM

  5. and Jocky Wilson !

    From Chris, on Mon 30 Mar 4:16PM

  6. England for the cup??? Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha-they­ are muck-really and truely muck!

    From LFCool!, on Mon 30 Mar 4:15PM

  7. Sie Steve Jones came from Wee Jimmy Krankie !

    From Chris, on Mon 30 Mar 4:12PM

  8. To: sirstevejones16
    You racist and ignorant knobhead.­ YOU originate from foreigners...ALL British people­ do..the Queen, Priminster..old uncle Tom Cobbly an'­ all... that's what makes our country so fantastic.­
    Almost every sport originated in Britain (mainly­ England), and if you took away all the inventions,­ discoveries and our massive contribution to politics,­ human rights...etc: etc:..there wouldn't be much­ left (Oh...and tolerance towards bigotted and­ illiterate people like you).
    Now go away, study British­ history...appreciate it, then write back and tell me­ I'm right, and that I'm a wonderful person, and­ how you feel very humbled by my amazing wisdom a­ intellect. Oh just one more thing...FEK OFF!!!!!!!!

    From Troika, on Mon 30 Mar 4:08PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lewis - are you a junkie ?

    From sirstevejones16, on Mon 30 Mar 3:52PM

  10. ENGLAND FOR THE CUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Lewis, on Mon 30 Mar 3:45PM

  11. Poor Nigeria, misfirng Obafemi (the so called weapon of­ mass destruction fialed to hit ffrom point blank­ range). The guys strolled round the pitch clueless and­ watched helplessly by the fat bellied Shaibu Amodu. i­ dont think Nigeria needs a foreign coach. i guess the­ guys at the No Future Focus (NFF) i mean the Nigerian­ Football Federation should bring in Siasia (at least he­ will fetch us Silver, dont expect Gold Siasia will­ always win silver an nothing better). Nigeria is­ currently on its way to playing in Angola and not the­ neighbouring South Africa come 2010. The crop of­ players that palyed against Mozambique lack ambition­ and are a hopeless bunch of lazy players.A better team­ should represent Africa come 2010.

    From Godwin, on Mon 30 Mar 3:41PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tony h - are you the end result of your mum being raped­ you low life unemployed tramp

    From sirstevejones16, on Mon 30 Mar 3:36PM

  13. Go Zambia Go i cant wait to see Egypt kicked by Algeria­ so that the CHIPOLOPOLO(COPPER BULLETS)can relax on top­ coz we are kciking Rwanda ofcourse

    From micheal, on Mon 30 Mar 2:54PM

  14. Re sirstevejones:
    We need to meet to discuss your views­ & see if you are brave enough to make those­ statements to a TRUE englishman. I doubt you are bcause­ putting those comments on a forum is nothing but­ cowardice.

    From Tony H, on Mon 30 Mar 2:42PM

  15. Sir Steve Jones - think about it with a bit of­ positivity - if this place was so awful all these­ people wouldn't want to come here, and people would­ be leaving in their droves. Take it as a compliment­ and enjoy the wonderful diversity it gives this­ country. How lucky we are, and as well as that there­ are some fantastic soccer players over here now. Enjoy­ it!

    From goalsgalore, on Mon 30 Mar 2:31PM

  16. To: sirstevejones16
    Insecure people try to build­ themselves up.. by putting others down.
    Now go back to­ school, while this Englishman gives your mum a good­ humping.

    From Troika, on Mon 30 Mar 2:03PM

  17. I agree with comment number 16. Players in the Nigerian­ national team these days are lazy and their coach is a­ double tragedy. There is no competition for shirts­ anymore. Nigeria needs a good foreign technical adviser­ and not a clueless and pompous Amodu Shuaibu. The­ Nigerian Football Association (sorry Nigeria Football­ Federation) are a bunch of footbal­ 'illiterates' and that is the reason they do­ not know how to identify and appoint a capable foreign­ technical adviser. If you identify and appoint one for­ them, they would not know how to work with him.­ Nigerian football will continue going down unless­ something drastic happens. How many Nigerian players­ are among the current top international African­ players?????? Those outside, which clubs do they play­ for???? If by African magic they make it to the World­ cup next year, they'll go out in the first round.­ The tragedy is that Nigeria will believe the next World­ Cup should be won by an African nation;.........and­ guess what: they'll beliecve the country to win it­ is Nigeria.

    From Sebastian, on Mon 30 Mar 2:03PM

  18. Adebayor scored winner against Cameroon in a world cup­ qualifier not a friendly.

    From JohnM, on Mon 30 Mar 1:55PM

  19. He isnt from Cornwall , he is Scottish, I have seen him­ before on scottish forums. Let the little boy say his­ peace , then if we ignore him he might crawl back under­ his park bench

    From laboca123, on Mon 30 Mar 1:44PM

  20. Sounds like sir steve jones is describing his own­ nation of scotland, apart from the immigrant manager­ ofcourse. Well we can continue to laugh at his jealousy

    From laboca123, on Mon 30 Mar 1:42PM
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