ASTANA, March 22 (Reuters) - Germany eased past lowly Kazakhstan 3-0 on Friday without deploying any strikers for the first time in a competitive match under coach Joachim Loew as they stayed top of their World Cup qualifying Group C.
Two goals in two minutes midway through the first half from midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze, playing in a forward role, quickly put the Germans in control and dashed any faint hopes for the hosts.
Thomas Mueller grabbed Germany's third goal in the 74th minute in a lacklustre second half after the home side attempted a brief comeback and even hit the bar.
The result lifted Germany to 13 points from five games ahead of Sweden, playing Ireland later on Friday, who have seven points from three games. (Writing by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Mark Meadows)
El Guaje returns home, the Molinón, where it all began. At age 31, David Villa, son and grandson of miners, has left a serious injury that kept him out of competition eight months. I was in Yokohama to win their first World Cup and came home on a plane hospitalized with broken left tibia . Now, the greatest scorer in the history of the Red, 53 goals in 86 games, is to be instrumental in Barcelona's comeback against Milan . And again Gijón. Question. Remember where you were a year ago? Response. Camino clinic of the sports or climbing La Mola. Q. I was warned that it could break? Does it hurt much? A.
Yes, I knew it could happen, but until I saw the crooked leg on the
floor I knew I had not broken, at first I thought I had been kicked, no
more, but when I saw the leg was ... No I felt real pain until I went
into the dressing room and I went from one stretcher to another. And on the plane, returning from Japan, I spent an hour of excruciating pain. Q. When given the downturn? A. There have been many days, so there has been for many lows. There were days that noticeable improvement but others you gave huge step back. After the second operation had already exceeded inconvenience and that was hard because it was going back. Fortunately, I had the family next door. Not sure how I cared most. I saw lying on the couch, stiff leg, and I wondered, 'Dad, will you command, I bring water?'. I was seven and I was surprised that strength to absorb what had happened. I even warned up to take my pills. Q. The worst day was when I had to give up the Euro? A. It was after a workout of possession. There was one month to the list, there was much pressure on the coach and told Emili [Ricart, therapist] I wanted to try. saw that it was good. Del Bosque I called and told him . He could not fool anyone. Then I took it and patience. Emili spent the holidays with us. I owe you an eternity.
Villa sits on Wednesday. / ALEJANDRO RUESGA
Q. Is it more important to physical exertion or mental? R. Physically doing everything possible. For example, all that the nutritionist told me not helped, stopped taking it. I have not drink coffee. Needed calcium and not see spending on dairy products: yogurt, milk, cheese ... Tremendous. But mentally he was not ready because I had not lived. The doctors told me that the first month could not do anything, but I wanted to work, so no coconut was spinning. The friends would say, 'Man, now enjoy more of the family'. And I was never at home, but in the Chiron in the sports ... He talked a lot with Xavi, who went through a long injury and I said, 'David, sensations, and go looking'. Q. When he learned that the ordeal was over? A. The day I came back to play a game, in Romania, in preseason. I needed to prove. Xavi said, 'You'll know when you try it. You have to see you in the field '. Q. And when he heard that the team he missed his goals? R. That gave me a lot, because I saw that people remembered me. I did see that my contribution is valued. But then, there came a time when I felt bad, basically because I could not help my teammates at all. In addition, a long standing body notices and you have to reposition muscularly joints, ankles and knee. I forced myself to be patient because I had to return to the conditions that I left, I could not go back to take a step back. Q. Have you changed your game? A. I have lost weight but I do not think that has changed. Q. How did the end of last season, losing the Champions League and confirmed and Guardiola's farewell? R. Evil The worst was the day of Chelsea. That day I took more than ever need to play football. Not because I think I could have done this or that.
It was when I went to the locker room, which was broken, scrap, and
made me want to comfort but was uncomfortable, because I had not been
able to help, and I was not useless, but as useless. He had a huge rage of not being able to help anything. I felt terrible. It was a feeling of helplessness uppercase.
David Villa serves COUNTRY. / ALEJANDRO RUESGA
Q. In the club have overcome many adversities ... Q. When you compare my injury Tito's disease and Abidal ... That speaks of life, of two amazing people. His lesson has made us all stronger. It was they who came to cheer, hard, whole, strong, fighting. You stop to think of everyday things you sulk and say, 'What nonsense'. Q. And the defeat in the Cup? R. In this club is never acceptable to lose. But these things happen. We used very well to people ... The Madrid has a lethal against the best in the world, and we won. Q. Do you feel more comfortable in his new position, open more focused on defense and attack? A. I feel good playing. Being closer to the goal I like, take more risk, but I feel comfortable departing from band, I have no problem. Q. Have you learned to live for something more than the goal? R. Al striker is judged by the goal, but a lot of work in the field besides dial. In Barca strikers work hard. The goal also works. Q. Is the goal hooked? R. I speak as a striker and will generate a need. I need to dial.
If the game ends and you played well, you gave two assists, the team
has won but you do not score ... not you go home happy, it gives you the
'what a pity that footed'. I remember the failures more goals that I put. Dream with goals, with matches ...
David Villa, in a second interview with the country.
Q. From the back, what is the goal that month you cried? A. The first, because his shirt and I wanted to devote to family. I hate to think how dedicate goals, as I prefer to shout it out. And Milan. The celebration reflects the absolute joy I felt. Q. What is the row with Messi? A. We've talked a thousand times and all, right? These are things that we do not give importance, it gives those who want to look where no. It is neither the first nor the last time that happens, but behind closed doors, nothing . We do not talk because there's nothing to talk about. In the field the screaming is Puyol. I think and it's ridiculous: I've been so bad with Messi who has given me half the goals I've scored in Barcelona. Q. Is it easy to play with Messi or generates a huge demand? R. Messi is amazing. People talk about their goals, and I understand that, but the game that generates around is amazing. Is in gear more. Q. Will at Barca next season? What was Arsenal? A. That is forgotten, now the only thing I hope is to continue as I am, with health, and to see if we win on my return to Gijón. Q. Do you remember the day you arrived at Sporting? A. I think so. That day I realized that this was serious. It came from Oviedo, a club steeped in history, but playing with friends, it was more of a hobby. Dizziness was a crib where players raised. I made my debut in a friendly in León and dialed. Acebal I went to the branch and I debuted in second. All the people came to see me ... Sporting owe everything. I was 16 and taught me values. Q. And the federation has made this gift back to Gijón? R. had a desire! I dreamed about this day, playing at home. I turned away and I always felt like stepping to steal in my own home. Gijón hope you enjoy it.
Paris: Spain
may be the reigning European and world champions, but they will arrive
in Paris for Tuesday's crucial World Cup qualifier against France with
more than a few nagging doubts.
Friday's 1-1 draw with Group I's
bottom side Finland, coupled with a 3-1 win for France against Georgia,
left them two points adrift of Didier Deschamps' men in the section.
It
may be a little soon to start panicking, but Spain can ill afford to
lose at the Stade de France -- do so and they will be five points off
top spot with just one automatic berth at next year's finals in Brazil
up for grabs.
Indeed, some in Spain are even beginning to
entertain the possibility that a defeat on Tuesday could lead to them
missing out on a play-off place.
Only the eight best runners-up
will get a second chance to qualify in the two-legged play-offs, with
the poorest performing runner-up missing out.
Such a scenario
seems highly unlikely, but it is no exaggeration to say that things have
not been this bad for Spain in a long time.
Having won three
consecutive major international tournaments, Spain have become
accustomed to winning, so failing to beat opponents as limited as
Finland calls into question the methods that have worked so well in
recent years.
Spain utterly dominated possession against the
Finns at Gijon, with even their central defensive pairing of Gerard
Pique and Sergio Ramos spending most of the evening in the opposition
half of the field.
But they lacked the imagination and the width
required to break down the visitors' defensive wall, and were too often
restricted to shots from long range.
Coach Vicente Del Bosque
tried several permutations in attack, from Cesc Fabregas in the role of a
false nine, to Cesc and David Villa together and the introductions of
burly Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo and Chelsea's Juan Mata.
They
couldn't kill the game off after Ramos' headed opener early in the
second half and were made to pay when Teemu Pukki equalised late on.
Following
last October's 1-1 draw with France in Madrid, Spain have now gone two
successive competitive home games without winning for the first time
since the 1982 World Cup finals, a statistic that conjures memories of
older, far less glorious times.
"Teams have found a way of playing against them," observed France midfielder Blaise Matuidi. "Now it's up to us to do the same."
The
prevailing opinion in the Spanish media is that Del Bosque's team were
over-confident and allowed thoughts to drift towards France before
Finland had been put to bed.
The loss of David Silva due to
suspension and flying left-back Jordi Alba to a thigh problem has
provided further cause for concern.
But Del Bosque, who has now
passed Laszlo Kubala's record of 68 matches at the helm, is nothing if
not a reassuring presence and is not about to push the panic button just
yet.
"There are still four games to go and it is still in our
hands," he said. "We must not be pessimistic. We will be going to France
to try and win."
There is good reason for Del Bosque to be
optimistic. Like Finland, France may have snatched a draw in Spain, but
they will surely not be so defensive in their approach on home soil.
"They
are well within their rights, but we never imagined they would be so
defensive," the Spanish coach said of Finland. In contrast, France will
be compelled by their demanding support to attack.
"I don't see myself telling my team to just defend," said France coach Deschamps.
That
philosophy is admirable, but could play right into Spain's hands,
especially if key midfield duo Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso both
return after missing Friday's match.
The balance of power in Group I has shifted into France's favor following Friday night's matches. With Spain only managing a draw and the Blues recording a comprehensive win, the two swapped positions. Didier Deschamps now sees his men sit proudly at the top of the table with 10 points from their four games. Vicente del Bosque's side are only two points back, but anything other than a win against their northern neighbors on Tuesday leaves qualification out of their hands. There is the playoffs, though, so La Roja would still be likely to make Brazil 2014.
Swipe through for a complete preview.
Real Madrid's Varane could line up against Spain
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Team News
France went with 4-4-2 in their win against Georgia, featuring
Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud up front—it's likely the latter will
drop to the bench against Spain or the former will play deeper. They
also started youngsters Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba, and it will be
interesting to see if Deschamps again prefers them when La Roja visit. One
man definitely not playing is Newcastle's Mathieu Debuchy. He pulled
out of the squad after picking up an injury for his club. Therefore, PSG's Christophe Jallet should continue to fill the right-back slot. Two key components of the Spain midfield were missing in the draw with Finland: Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso. Both
have struggled for fitness recently, playing only for their club sides
in the bigger matches, but both hope to be involved on Tuesday. Jordi
Alba is a slight doubt after picking up a knock on Friday night. Nacho
Monreal is waiting to come into the side if he doesn't make it. Neither
Carles Puyol nor Iker Casillas made the squad due to injury, so Victor
Valdes should continue in goal in the absence of the latter.
Deschamps will be hoping to beat Spain on Tuesday
Form
Since Didier Deschamps took over after Euro 2012, France's results have been inconsistent. They've drawn with Uruguay and lost to Japan and Germany in friendlies. Competitive results are beginning to look good, though. Three wins in Group I—against Georgia, Finland and Belarus—join a draw against Spain in Madrid.
Spain's last defeat was 1-0 against England in a friendly back in November 2011. They haven't lost competitively since Switzerland surprised them in the opening fixture of the World Cup in 2010. So far in their qualifying group they've been unimpressive, though. They did beat Belarus 4-0, but labored to a win in Georgia and were held by Finland and France.
France celebrated a late point in Madrid last October
Last Time
A 94th-minute equalizer from Arsenal's Olivier Giroud ensured a share of the spoils when the two sides met at the Vicente Calderon last year. Sergio Ramos had given Spain a first-half lead, but France pushed on in the second half and got the goal they deserved. That point now seems ever more telling given Friday night's results. The two sides also met in the summer in the European Championships—Spain winning 2-0 to dump France out in the quarterfinal.
Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso scored both the goals on his 100th appearance for La Roja.
Spain will hope Xavi is passed fit
Predicted Teams
France: Hugo Lloris; Cristophe Jallet, Raphael
Varane, Mamadou Sakho, Gael Cliche; Yohann Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi;
Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema, Frank Ribery; Oliver Giroud
Spain:
Victor Valdes; Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Nacho
Monreal; Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso; Andres Iniesta,
David Villa, David Silva
As Argentina took on Venezuela in World Cup qualification on Friday night, all eyes were once more on captain Lionel Messi to inspire the Albiceleste to victory in the Estadio Monumental. The No. 10 did not disappoint.
The times of Messi "not performing" for his country, although a somewhat unfair accusation, are now consigned to the distant past.
Following a goal late in the first half, the Barcelona man lapped up the adulation of the home crowd in BuenosAires—a clear sign that the mistrust towards him is no longer prevalent.
Since Messi
was installed as captain of his country in September 2011, his
performance levels on the international scene have notably improved.
With additional responsibility and a more balanced team around him, the
Argentine audience is now finally seeing his very best side.
On
Friday night, he was exemplary once more. Right from the opening
minutes, when he drifted infield from his starting position and fired a
testing shot at goal, it was clear that he was in determined mood.
By
the time that half-time came around, Argentina knew that they had the
game sewn up, and it was largely due to the wonderful abilities of the
little maestro.
A wonderful, quick, one-touch build-up had enabled Gonzalo Higuain to score the side's opening goal midway through the first half, and, as ever, Messi was the key figure in the move
While
the movement and general passing of his colleagues had been good, it
was the perfectly weighted first time ball of the Barcelona man that
eventually presented Higuain with the opportunity. His colleague made no mistake.
Then in the final moments of the half, it was Messi who forced defender Gabriel Cichero into a rash handball. From the spot, he then delivered with his usual precision.
After the break, it was more of the same story. Having
forced another fine save from goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez, he would
repeat his trick by once more picking out a sublime through ball to
supply the clinical Higuain.
It wasn't just in the build-up to goals where he came to the fore, though. With Ezequiel Lavezzi adding pace and industry on the left flank, Messi
was free to roam from the right flank and was an ever-threatening
presence in between the forward lines. It is a role that he plays better
than anyone else when on form.
However, it was not all fun and games for the gifted playmaker on the night.
As his influence grew, so did the strength of the tackling, and one body check in particular from Hamburg midfielder Tomas Rincon left him sporting a nice bruise under his left eye. As ever, though, rough treatment failed to knock him out of his rhythm. Messi
has found his role in Alejandro Sabella's side, and, as everyone in
football is clearly aware, there is no one more dangerous than the Ballond'Or winner when integrated into an effective team unit.
Argentina's
improvement ahead of the 2014 World Cup will worry their rivals. They
will be better suited to the conditions in Brazil than most, and they
appear to have ironed out the defensive issues that dogged the reigns of
recent managers.
Add to that the special talents of Messi, and it is clear that they will hope to go a long way in the tournament next year. HIGHLIGHTS - - - - -
Overall rating - A+: Argentina may not have been facing an elite opponent, but both the team and their captain were in fine form. Messi
was integral to the side's success and, at times, dissected his
opposition seemingly at will. All in all, it was nothing less than what
we have come to expect from the world's best player.
