Saturday, March 28, 2009

The Bootroom: International Week

We'll admit it, we hate international week, a.k.a the Interlull. Despite the Prem having one of the most exciting fights in recent memory, there are no league matches this weekend. Boo!

In the meantime we'll have to console ourselves with some World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Speaking of, don't forget our very own Ian will be liveblogging the USA v. El Salvador match later today. Hurray!


Here's a rundown on the fixtures. Chat it up in the comments.

Saturday

World Cup Qualifiers (all times Eastern)

11:00 Wales v. Finland
13:15 N. Ireland v. Poland
14.00 Israel v. Greece
15:45 Slovenia v. Czech Republic
15:45 Germany v. Liechtenstein
15:45 Ireland v. Bulgaria
15:45 Netherlands v. Scotland
15.45 Lithuania v. France
16:45 Portugal v. Sweden
17.00 Spain v. Turkey
18:10 Argentina v. Venezuela
19:00 Mexico v. Costa Rica
21:00 USA v. El Salvador

Friendly

13:00 England v. Slovakia

Sunday

World Cup Qualifiers (all times Eastern)
9:00 Mozambique v. Nigeria
13:00 Ghana v. Benin
13:00 Ivory Coast v. Malawi
17:00 Ecuador v. Brazil
19:10 Peru v. Chile

16 comments:

Jason Davis said...

Wait. Is USA-El Salvador at 19:00 or 21:00 Eastern?

Jacob said...

9PM, if you don't want to mess with all of that military time.

jjf3 said...

Don't forget that vital Asian WCQ of Iran-Saudi Arabia in 15 minutes...

As for the games, I think there's some pretty compelling ones - Holland-Scotland, Domanech's last stand/game - maybe he can ask for a divorce afterwards, Portugal and Sweden figuring out which one probably won't advance, and Costa Rica seeing if they can win at Azteca again (I think they can - adios Sven).

Jacob said...

I agree with jjf3, there are better games this weekend than usual for qualis. I would add Spain-Turkey as one worthy of watching.

Sad to say, though, that apparently Domenech is safe no matter what tonight.

And, ES-US is not very compelling to me. 0-1 and walk off the stage. Hopefully the lights will be bright enough to see what is happening on the pitch.

BurgerBrother said...

I'm biased but Israel-Greece is compelling. 2 "almost there" second tier European teams fighting out for one automatic WC qualification spot. 2 games in 4 days. Israel's biggest match in FORTY years. Benayoun to defy Benitez and Liverpool and play with a partially torn hamstring...

I'm hoping for the 2-1 win... but it will be tough.
Fingers crossed.

EbullientFatalist said...

Israel in South Africa for the World Cup would actually have fairly historic implications. Israel not being able to join a respectable football association for a number of years, and then also being seen as an international pariah in many parts of the world. South Africa couldn't play in any international comps due to the (deserved) stigma of apartheid. Also, South Africa and Israel may have performed a joint nuclear weapons test in 1979, the Vela Incident. My point being, I'm pulling for Israel to make it to South Africa and then be put in the same group as Iran.

That'll be all.

Jacob said...

I like these Russian shirts.

Teeknuts said...

Heskey scores for England

jjf3 said...

nice goal for Israel...1-1

jjf3 said...

Yossi gets carted off after what looks like a cramp in his right calf...which makes me think its more than just a cramp...

Goat said...

Where's the Crew-TFC liveblog?

jjf3 said...

Portugal makes the petulant diving one their captain? Is that really a good idea??

jjf3 said...

Answer: I guess not. He wasn't his usual whiny self, but they created few really dangerous chances at home against a Sweden side that didn't just park the bus.
Now I'm watching Costa Rica come out and attack Mexico at Azteca. But, holy crap, my 2 years of college Spanish are not up to Andres Cantor's pace. I'm getting only 1 or 2 words per sentence that's not a name...

jjf3 said...

Both teams look like they've settled into the match now...

jjf3 said...

GOL to Mexico. Bravo shoots, keeper saves, but it goes right back to Bravo, who finishes

jjf3 said...

Oh, and Sven finally wised up and is starting Ochoa in goal instead of Sanchez...