Internationals 18/11 -09

This was a pretty nervous round! As the last play-offs were finished..

France vs. Ireland, 1-1(agg. 2-1), Play-off, France
This was without a doubt the most exciting game of them all, France won the last game 1-0 away, and ahead of the game you thought that France easily would qualify, but Ireland took the lead and kept it until the end, but in the extra halfhour France could finish it off.
Henry got the ball on the hand in the box, but the the referee(who ironically is from Sweden) didn't blow and Henry played it to Gallas who scored from close-range.

Slovenia vs. Russia, 1-0(agg. 2-2, Slovenia qualify on away goals), Play-off, Slovenia
You didn't see that coming, really disappointing for the Russians, who have played some great football and dominated the game, but Slovenia scored and they couldn't match it.
So we won't see Andrey in next years World Cup, I personally think that it is sad because I think that Russia plays great football, and they were really great to watch in Euro 2008.

Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 2-2, Friendly, Germany
Eboue scores for Ivory Coast!! But I can't really say that it was a strong indvidual performance.. Just look below;


Austria vs. Spain, 1-5, Friendly, Austria
Cesc was on target for Spain with the equalizer 2 minutes after Austria surprisingly took the lead, but Spain proved why they are World Cup favourites with a thrilling display.
Fabregas played the entire game and was a vital part in Spains attack play.

Injury Update;
-Denilson is fit again and will travel with the squad to Sunderland on Saturday!
-van Persie will be away for about six weeks.
-Gibbs has picked up a knock playing for the England U21, he will be out for the Sunderland clash, but could be back against Standard Liege on Tuesday next week.

Internationals 14/11-09

This week the play-offs began, and the rest had some friendlies going on, not all so friendly though...

Wales vs. Scotland, 3-0, Friendly, Cardiff Stadium, Wales
This game was Ramsey's game, with two assists and one goal he claimed the man of the match award! It feels so great that he is doing well for his country, the game wasn't showed here but I have read some about the game now afterwards, and it seems like he was the most influential player on the pitch, even though he only played for about an hour!

Russia vs. Slovenia, 2-1, Play-off, Russia
A bit disappointing for the russians as Slovenia grabs a late goal to even things out a bit for the return game on Wednesday.
Arshavin captained Russia and assisted to the second goal, after being booked at the end of the first half.

Republic of Ireland vs. France, 0-1, Play-off, Croke Park, Ireland
An important win for France in this play-off, and we had both Sagna and Gallas in action for this game, keeping it clean for France while Anelka scored a priceless away-goal.
Ireland seemed very much up to it but in the end that wasn't enough, and now they have to score in France if they are to make it to South Africa.

Spain vs. Argentina, 2-1, Friendly, Vicente Calderón, Spain
What a game! If you didn't know better you would think that it was a World Cup Final! I think that half of the Argentina team was booked! But fortunately no injuries.
Xabi Alonso gave Spain the lead after some amazing playing by the European Champions! Spain was in total control of the game when Argentina got a penalty 15 minutes inte the second half, and Messi cooly converted from the spot and it was 1-1, but Spain kept up their good work and Fabregas came in a bit into the half and got a harsh tackle by Tevéz after his first touch of ball, but after that he started to work his magic, and when his corner was nodded away and Alonso took a shot, the ball touched a hand and Spain had a penalty!
Alonso converted from the spot and Spain had their win.

Italy vs. the Netherlands, 0-0, Friendly, Italy
I have saved the worst for you, van Persie started this Friendly against Italy, but only got to play for 10 minutes, Giorgio Chiellini harshly tackled RvP, and it seems to be a serious ankle injury.
He could be away for the entire season if there is a fracture in the ankle, so things aren't looking to good, but if it isn't a fracture he could be away for 2-3 months, he was going to get a proper scan today, so hopefully I can bring some good news on Wednesday..

Cameroon won away against Morocco, and they have now booked their place to South Africa, Song played the entire Game.
Croatia won 5-0 in their friendly against Liechtenstein, Eduardo scored twice.
Vermaelen grabbed a goal in Belgiums friendly against Hungary, which the Belgians won 3-0.

Internationals

Now the European qualifying is over, and here's a list of every gunner who already have made it to South Africa next summer!

Cesc Fabregas
Robin van Persie
Nicklas Bendtner
Theo Walcott
Philippe Senderos
Carlos Vela
Emmanuel Eboue

And things are looking brightly for Alex Songs' Cameroon, they are one win away from South Africa.

And here's the one's that have reached play-offs;

Bacary Sagna
William Gallas
Gael Clichy
Abou Diaby
Andrey Arshavin

There were not so many goals from the squad in this last round, but Ramsey netted from a freekick, his first senior goal for Wales, and Andrey scored for Russia as well.

Internationals

Denmark vs. Sweden, 1-0, 10/10 -09
A really good game, and i'm pleased that Bendtner at least grabbed an assist in the game, he's pretty much criticized by the family and Sweden in general, he had a point to prove.
Denmark were the ones that started best, but their tactic seemed to be to take a lot of shots from just outside the box, and that was how the goal was made by Jakob Poulsen.
Sweden had two goals ruled out so it simply wasn't their day, but I must say I wouldn't have had anything against a Swedish goal, since I had my money on 1-1 in this game, but I won the bet last game, when Denmark won 1-0 as well, so this time it was the neighbour wife's time.
Now it is up for grabs for Portugal, who are right now leading 1-0 home against Hungary, and they don't seem to slip up on those points.
We had the neighbourd over and my dad's friend Tony for the game, and everyone basically looked for mistakes in Bendtner ! xD

Armenia vs. Spain, 1-2, 10/10 -09
I couldn't watch the game since it wasn't on TV, but Cesc scored in the 33rd minute! I don't know what it looked like, but i can bet it was another breath-taking one.
Armenia equalized in the second half, but Mata finished it off on the penalty spot.

Luxembourg vs. Switzerland, 0-3, 10/10 -09
I felt like I had to mention that Philippe Senderos scored twice in this fixture! in the 6th and 7th minute, not bad for a defender!
I don't know exactly how it happened, but I'd think it was on the head, perhaps corners or free-kicks...

France vs. Faroe Islands, 5-0(88'), 10/10 -09
Finally things are looking bright for 'les Bleus', and Gallas scored the third! I wouldn't be surprised if it was a header! 'Bac' is playing as well, but neither Clichy or Diaby were on the bench, a bit disappointing perhaps, but the good news is that Nasri perhaps will be back in the Arsenal shirt after this International break!

Internationals

Albania vs. Denmark, 1-1, 9/9 -09
Bendtner scored in the first half to give Denmark the lead, was basically alone with the goalkeeper and he headed the ball over the keeper who were running out, and the ball went straight for goal.
But Albania equalized and the first place is up for grabs, it seems like the Sweden game is going to be important, for both of the teams..

England vs. Croatia, 5-1, Wembley, 9/9 -09
England totally ruled the game, but it is worth saying that it was Eduardo who scored Croatia's consolation in a superb way, it was some good play in the England box, first Eduardo headed great, but the keeper saved, and since he didn't hold the ball, and a Croatian played the ball back to Eduardo, who didn't let them down, he also had a penalty situation, but I think he didn't get the penalty because of the one at Celtic, cause this one was definitely a penalty.
And that ended Croatia's hope of first place, because now England has secured the first place in their group, so it looks like play offs for Croatia.

Spain vs. Estonia, 3-0, 9/9 -09
Cesc scored and set another up in this great display from Spain, it was in the 32 minute that he started the scoring, it was a beatuiful shot just inside the box.
Within the last ten minutes of the game, Spain killed the game with two goals, the first came from Santi Cazorla, Cesc flicked in a ball and Cazorla finished low and hard.
And that meant that Spain is now as well finished for top place in their group, so now the fight is all up for second.

And of course things just can't end on the good sida, Arshavin is going to miss at least 3 games since he played for Russia even though his groin injury wasn't fully healed, and Djourou is set to miss 6 - 8 months after the operation on his knee.

Some of the Goals;

Internationals

Denmark - Portugal, 1-1, 'Parken Stadium', 5/9 -09

Bendtner scored a really nice one in the end of the first half, the ball was delivered into the box, and Bendtner shrugged off his defender, took the ball down on his chest, and just slammed it into the roof of the goal! Really beautiful play there!
The debutant in Portugal, Liedson, scored a header when the game was getting to an end, but Portugal didn't manage to score a second, even though Denmark was pressed hard.
But from this game I'd like to pick out Bendtners goal as the highlight of the match, perhaps not a particularly big surprise.

Spain - Belgium, (3-0), 5/9 -09

Firstly, I just want to say that this was a very late game, I kinda' fell asleep somewhere after the third goal..
All I can remember is wastching the game, and then suddenly mom put her hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was watching thai-boxing, and I just said, 'no, i'm watching Spain vs Belgium', but then I looked at the TV and saw two guys hopping around in a weird way.
I then saw the clock, and realized the game was finished fifteen minutes ago.
And that's the story of how I fell asleep watching the European Champions.

But now, let's get back to the game, I can tell you how things happened before I fell asleep, I don't know yet if Fabregas played at the end, he started on the bench because of the injury he's had, but Vermaelen started, and I can say that he didn't do much wrong, because he was on Torres's heels, and Torres didn't participate in any of the goals as far as I know.
Villa missed a penalty about 20 minutes into the first half, but if anything, that was a turning point, cause a little while after the penalty, Silva had a great shot that went all the way back in the net and Villa wasn't far behind when in the second half, his amazing shot went straight to goal, and minutes after that Pique found himself in the penalty area, slamming in 3-0.

I have just read that the match ended 5-0, but I still don't know if Fabregas played or not, but atleast Torres didn't score, so Vermaelen did his job well (a)

Ps. I have just read that Johan Djourou will be gone for six months, he's just had a knee surgery, and it is really bad obviously.