Showing posts with label World Cup Qualifier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup Qualifier. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Friday, 5 September 2025
JULIAN NAGELSMANN PLAYERS SLAMS GERMANY AFTER 2-0 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING LOSS TO SLIVAKIA
Nagelsmann did not hesitate to call out his players after the shock 2-0 loss to Slovakia
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| Getty Images |
It was a night to forget for Germany as they kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Slovakia in Bratislava. Despite dominating possession, Julian Nagelsmann’s side looked devoid of creativity in attack and were vulnerable in defense en route to a 2-0 loss.
David Hancko’s goal for Slovakia shortly before the halftime whistle set to tone and David Strelec curled an effort into the top left corner in the 55th minute to complete the scoreline. By the closing stages of the match, several players in the German squad cut entirely frustrated figures, throwing arms in the air with every misplaced pass or chance as the inevitability of defeat set in.
After the match, Nagelsmann did not shy away from expressing his dissatisfaction.
“Apart from 2-3 injured players, these are the best quality players we have in Germany. Maybe next time we have to call up players with less quality but who will give everything on the pitch. I trust my players, but being simply a better player than the opponent is not enough if you don’t show willingness and desire,” the former Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim manager ranted (via @iMiaSanMia).
Nagelsmann also drew parallels from Bayern’s narrow 3-2 win over Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal to the Slovakia loss, taking a bit of a dig at the lack of fight he saw from players in his squad, which featured Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and Jonathan Tah.
“Why do you think a team like Wiesbaden almost drew 2-2 with FC Bayern? it’s not because they have better quality, but because they showed emotionality and desire,” Nagelsmann pointed out.
Next up for Germany is a home match in Köln against Northern Ireland. It is a must win for them if they don’t want to wind up in a bad spot after the first international break for qualifiers. Northern Ireland won their first match of qualifying 3-1 at Luxembourg.
The German national team hit the road to face Slovakia, looking to get off on the right foot for this round of World Cup qualifier action.
That did not happen.
Julian Nagelsmann — as he is prone to do — did some experimenting with his lineup and it did not work as the team dropped a 2-0 decision. The players were bad, the coaching was not great, and it was not a banner effort overall.
- Tom Adams
Saturday, 22 March 2025
BENNI MCCARTHY TEATS TO KENYA'S SIX-GOAL THRILLER AGAINST GAMBIA AS BAFANA BAFANA LEGEND AVOUDS DEFEAT ON INTERNATIONAL COACHING DEBUT - 'VERY STRESSFUL. NOT HAPPY '
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| FKF |
The former Cape Town City trainer began his journey as a national team coach on Thursday.
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| Harambee Stars during a training session |
WHAT HAPPENED?
Kenya came back from behind to force a 3-3 draw with Gambia in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier Group F match at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Thursday.
It was Benni McCarthy's first match as Kenya coach and his debut leading a national side.
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| Backpage |
WHAT MCCARTHY SAID
“Very stressful, not happy, but listen for the neutral it was very entertaining, lots of goals, that you don’t usually see in a game of football in World Cup qualifiers, but I think the two teams eliminated each other in the opening half,” McCarthy said as per iDiksi Times.
“We had brilliant opportunities with our captain Michael, one of the easiest he would get, he doesn’t take it with the header then straight after that, Gambia got into the game with some good momentum and were awarded a penalty.
“Then we thought okay 1-0 up, they controlled the game a bit better – I think at the break it was a fair reflection of the game… second half was really bizarre, crazy, not sure if it was the altitude, heat or something got to us," added the former AmaZulu coach.
“We made two errors in defence and if you grant Gambia that chance, with the players they have, they usually accurate in front of goal, and it 2-0 up many think it’s over, so I changed things around with some fresher legs, because most players only arrived on Tuesday from Europe with one day of training together.
“We got given a penalty, I’m not sure to say it’s soft but if it was given to them I would have been furious, so I can imagine how their coach feels – happy to receive it, captain steps up and scores, gave us hope and made us really start [playing], we looked like we’d score next and then a fantastic individual effort from Muhamed [Bajaber], a young player I’ve given an opportunity from out of nowhere," he continued.
“He took the goal exceptionally well – we thought there was momentum to control the game but then another rookie mistake – but like I said, one training session with the team, the organisation and communication isn’t there yet.
“They got the 3-2 with six, seven minutes to go with a counter, where we should have scored, so I think it was a brilliant effort of the team [to draw]. Fortunately, the boys had a lot of fight, character and personality to fight until the end.
“Overall, a draw doesn’t help either team but I will take it as my first game in charge, happy with the point after a few days as coach of Kenya national team," the ex-FC Porto star went on.
“The positivity I see gives me a bit of hope that after another day or two, trainings we can squeeze in before the game against Gabon, gives me hope we can go one step better than today.”
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| Backpage |
THE BIGGER PICTURE
After earning themselves a point, it did not count much for Kenya who remain fourth in Group F in these qualifiers.
They have six points fewer than log leaders Gabon.
That leaves McCarthy with a tall order to guide the Harambee Stars to World Cup qualification.
WHAT NEXT FOR KENYA?
Kenya look to pick their second win of Group F when they host Gabon in Nairobi on Sunday.
It would be McCarthy's second match in charge of the Harambee Stars and playing at home gives him pressure to win.
- Michael Madyira
Friday, 6 September 2024
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
ARGENTINA HAND BRAZIL THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS AFTER CROWD TROUBLE AT MARACANA
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| Reuters |
Nicolas Otamendi scored with a towering header to give Argentina a 1-0 away win over Brazil in a bad-tempered World Cup qualifier that was delayed by half an hour on Tuesday after police clashed with fans at a sold-out Maracana Stadium.
The longstanding sporting rivalry between two of the most successful teams in world soccer hit fever pitch after the Brazilian police charged Argentinian fans in response to fighting in the stands during the national anthems.
The world champions, led by captain Lionel Messi, went over to the terraces to try and calm the situation before leaving the pitch and returning to the dressing room for more than 10 minutes.
The players eventually returned and the match started in a tumult of noise as local fans roared their support of the five-times world champions, who were looking to get their campaign back on track after losing successive qualifiers for the first time.
Instead, Brazil plunged to a third straight defeat and first ever at home loss in a World Cup qualifier to stand sixth in the standings, eight points behind leaders Argentina and in the last spot that guarantees a berth at the 2026 finals.
Sunday, 19 November 2023
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
MESSI DOUBLE GIVES ARGENTINA 2-0 WIN OVER PERU
Lionel Messi become the all-time top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday after netting both goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Peru in Lima.
Messi, who was included in the squad despite having been sidelined in recent weeks with a muscle problem, came on as a substitute in Thursday's 1-0 win over Paraguay but was on the pitch from the start of the game in Lima.
The 36-year-old put the world champions ahead in the 32nd minute with a superb shot after an assist from Nicolas Gonzalez, and made it 2-0 10 minutes later with a fierce finish from Enzo Fernandez's pass.
Messi, who was denied a hat-trick in the second half when he had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review, became CONMEBOL's leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers with his double taking his tally to 31, breaking a tie with Uruguay's Luis Suarez.
Friday, 8 September 2023
MESSI MAGIC EARNS ARGENTINA WIN OVER ECUADOR IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
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| Reuters |
Lionel Messi's second-half goal gave Argentina a 1-0 home win over Ecuador on Thursday to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off on the right foot.
World champions Argentina were dominant in possession but frustrated in attack as they struggled to make the breakthrough.
Captain Messi, however, continued the fine form he is showing with club side Inter Miami by scoring from a free kick after 77 minutes.
Monday, 6 June 2022
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
Sunday, 27 March 2022
Saturday, 29 January 2022
Saturday, 20 November 2021
Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Monday, 15 November 2021
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