07 September World Cup qualifies from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL included within. First it was Stoke City’s Wilson Palacios playing 80′s for Honduras in their 0-3 victory over Cuba. Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa played the entire match.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF qualify two American’s played in the 2-1 Jamaica victory over the USA. New Tottenham signing Clint Dempsey opened scoring in the 1′ but Jamaica scored twice to win 2-1. Maurice Edu, in at Stoke City, also played for the Americans – he earned the start and was replaced by Terrance Boyd in 73′.
Dempsey’s former club teammate, Bryan Ruiz, did not earn the start for Costa Rica in their qualifier against Chichrito and Mexico. The Manchester United striker did the nod for his international side, playing alongside Oribe Peralta Morones at the head of El Tri’s attack. Mexico won the match 0-2 and Hernandez played 75′, being substituted for Marco Fabian De la Mora.
Liverpool’s Sebastian Coates did not get on the field in the Colombia v Uruguay match. The oft discussed Radamel Falcao did score once for Columbia. More immediately relevant to fantasy EPL, Southampton’s new boy Gaston Ramirez was a 59′ substitute for Uruguay, coming on for Victor Maximiliano Pereira. Liverpool’s Luis Suarez did not make the squad, Diego Forlan and Edison Cavani led the Uruguay attack. Suarez was suspended for Friday’s qualifier against, but will join his team-mates for Tuesday’s clash against Ecuador in Montevideo.
It was a who’s who of European club football getting on the scoresheet for Argentina as Angel Di Maria (2′), Gonzalo Higuain (30′) and Lionel Messi (63′) found the target in a 3-1 win. We’re discussing the match because of the absence of Fabricio Coloccini – from the Daily Star, who summarize the issues in Newcastle succinctly:
The defender has pulled out of the Argentina squad for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay and Tuesday’s trip to Peru after injuring a hamstring in training. Coloccini is awaiting results of a scan and is staying with the national team, but his absence would cause boss Alan Pardew a major defensive headache. The versatile Ryan Taylor is ruled out for the season after damaging cruciate ligaments last week, while Danny Simpson could be out for up to a month after limping out of the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday with a hamstring injury. Scan Coloccini, 30, missed the Toon’s opening two games of the season through injury but he has an excellent fitness record.
There were also two friendly fixtures that warrant quick mention.
Brazil defeated South Africa on a 74′ Hulk goal. Several fantasy EPL players were involved in the match, namely Chelsea trio David Luiz, Ramirez and Oscar. It appears the trio have survived the match, which will no doubt provide a degree of comfort to Robert di Mateo who earlier had to deal with news of a possible ankle injury sidelining club stalwart John Terry.
Brazil sXI: Diego Alves; Dani Alves, Dede, David Luiz, Marcelo (Alex Sandro 59′); Borges Romulo, Lucas (Jonas 72′), Ramirez (Hulk 73′), Oscar; Leandro Damiao, Neymar (Arouca 89′)
Spain saw off Saudi Arabia with a 5-0 dismantling of the Saudi side in Pontevedra. New Arsenal man Santi Cazorla continued his recent excellent form with a 23′ goal to open scoring. It would end up being the winning goal, but Spain added a Pedro brace (27′ 73′) a Xavi goal (47′) and David Villa converted a penalty (63′).
Spain sXI: Valdes(Casillas 72′); Albiol Pique (Ramos 46′) Monreal Juanfran; Fabregas (Xavi 46′) Etxebarria Busquets (Iniesta 60′) Cazorla (David Silva 60′); Torres (David Villa 53′) Pedro
Liverpool’s Pepe Reina was an unused substitute.