Internationals Preview: Weekend Action

By: Ed | November 10th, 2011

suarezuruguay

It’s few and far between for the matches that actually matter this weekend, with really only one from a Liverpool perspective, as none of the current squad members are involved in the playoffs for the final Euro qualifying spots. Those of you with a strong affiliation for any of the nations facing off—Bosnia-Herzegovina v. Portugal, Turkey v. Croatia, Czech Republic v. Montenegro, and Estonia v. Ireland—will want to tune in starting at 7:00PM GMT/2:00PM EST. The rest of us have the next couple days to slog through some hopefully uneventful matches and enough poppy references to make you engage in some serious paper-cutting.

Friday CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier:

Uruguay v. Chile 10:00PM GMT/5:00PM EST

The Copa America champions currently sit atop the CONMEBOL table, one point ahead of Argentina. Uruguay hit Bolivia for four in their opener before earning a point away to Paraguay in their second match. Luis Suarez and company are back at home for their next two matches, and will have a good shot at getting all six points. After an impressive showing last summer in South Africa, Chile got off to a rocky start away to Argentina in the opening round, but rebounded via a 4-2 win over visiting Peru. Suarez will obviously play a huge role for the hosts tomorrow, with Sebastian Coates likely continuing on the bench.

Friday Friendlies:

Denmark v. Sweden 6:00PM GMT/1:00PM EST

Discussions about Danish friendlies are best handled with vague references to players involved and complete disregard for the idea of fitness. Liverpool have a player involved, he’ll likely play, and after it’s finished we will be able to evaluate how things went for him. Avoid at all costs.

Netherlands v. Switzerland 7:30PM GMT/2:30PM EST

I’m worried about Dirk Kuyt every time he heads out on international duty—not that he’d come back injured, because that’s just not possible. But he’s such a vital part of the Dutch setup that I can’t help wondering how his current spot on the bench at Liverpool juxtaposes what’s a clearly integral role in his national side. There’s likely nothing to it other than me being neurotic, and I guess for now we just act grateful that he’s getting time and staying fresh and whatever.

Cyprus v. Scotland 6:00PM GMT/1:00PM EST

A chance at Euro qualification technically came down to the last day for Scotland, but they’d have needed to beat Spain in Alicante, a task that proved to be too difficult. Charlie Adam stays in the squad, while Danny Wilson’s left out. Bit surprising about Wilson, who seemed to be on the positive side of the fringe throughout qualifying. He’s found regular football hard to come by, though, and I’d guess lack of first-team action hasn’t really helped his case.

Saturday Friendlies:

Wales v. Norway 3:00PM GMT/10:00AM EST

Gary Speed’s Welsh squad finished up Euro qualifying with a strong run of results, winning three of their last four and saving some face after starting their campaign with four straight losses. Craig Bellamy’s international career might not extend through World Cup qualifying, but he’s in the squad tomorrow and could get the start after playing an important role in their successes late in qualifying.

England v. Spain 5:15PM GMT/12:15PM EST

If you’re not already, odds are by kickoff you’re going to be too tired of this one to actually watch. Glamour friendly and John Terry and poppies and blah blah blah England lose by three. Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson make the England squad with Pepe Reina hoping to see some sort of action for the Spanish for the first time in awhile. But maybe this is England’s time, and this starts a magical run to Euro glory next summer. Or not that.

Things get going soon enough, and if you’re really diving into things for the day you can catch AFC World Cup qualifying from 9:00AM GMT/4:00AM EST. The usual streaming sites—MyP2P.bz, StopStream.tv, ATDHEnet.tv, FromSport.com, FirstRowSports.eu, KiwiSportz.com—should have you covered, along with ESPN3.com for those with service and Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN, and Sky Sports likely carrying coverage on either side of the ocean.

In the meantime, the creepiest video I could find on YouTube using “poppy” as the search term. You’re welcome?

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Euro 2012, International Duty, Miscellaneous, Team News, World Cup, World Cup 2014

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NotTooXabi

Screw the fact that there's no LFC this week; I'm stubbornly sticking to a "Never Will Happen" line-up. How about a 3-5-2 in about 2 years?

     Kelly Agger Enrique
RWB     Lucas Hendas     LWB
                Jonjo
       Carroll        Suarez

First draft looked like this (though not a 3-5-2 per say):

         CB   Coates Agger
Kelly    Lucas Spearing   Enrique
       Hendo          Adam/Jonjo
           Carroll Suarez

Thoughts?
Purify_the_body

Forget in 2 years, that formation would be a good idea for the next 2-3 weeks. I like that idea of Kelly as a CB in a 3-5-2. Perfect for him!

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger
Johnson Enrique
Lucas Spearing
Henderson/Adam
Kuyt/Carroll/Bellers Suarez

This lineup would do us nicely for the next 2 league games and cup tie. We are asking for trouble if we play 4-4-2 against Chelsea and Man City, especially in the cup with some players fatigued.
Luis Suarez dentist

I would be amazed if Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Shelvey are at the club in two years time. If they are, I suspect we will be lucky to still have quality like Suarez.
Latortillablanca

i think ur seeing a future in the andy/mercurial maestro partnership... nice. jus push enrique up on the left, include coates, and play fanno or johnson on that right side and yes, that would work. if mazzari was our coach. otherwise its terrible idea. ;)
ejbauer11

Y'all don't think Raheem can break into the first team in two years? I'm chomping at the bit here; after all, he's the next-big-thing-can't-miss-superstar...
Red2death

Raheem and others. If you believe in what Rafa started and what Borrell and Segura are doing, we've got a whole lot more where Raheem came from. I mean, next to La Masia we're the next best academy to be at - in the world.

Of course it needs some time, given the fact we got owned by Sporting Lisbon at NextGen and will likely get owned again in the return.

I really want to see a whole generation come out of the academy playing as a team and taking the world by storm like Barca. Sterling, Suso, Shelvey, Wilson, Coady, Ngoo, add on Coates and now Pelosi. Marco Bueno? I hope they know what they're doing and it wasn't just luck that they managed to develop Xavi, Iniesta and co.

10-15 years of Liverpool dominance without a look-in from any other side. That'd be nice.
Latortillablanca

i dont think raheem or anyone else in our academy is a 'can't miss superstar'... sterling weighs about 100lbs and this isnt la liga, an we arent barca, he's gonna have to get on a specific lifting program once he hits 18-19... suso kinda started well, and clearly has class but no more so than (probably) hundreds of thousands of other kids his age around the world and his progression has stuttered a bit. plus he's really slow and really small, has every bit the chance to be the next pacheco rather than the next iniesta... wilson's a bust at this point. ngoo i actually like if he can continue developing his touch, he has a natural willingness to hold up play and seems instinctive running his channels, getting wide. coady is basically no better as a prospect than spearing was a couple years back - not that thats anything to scoff at, just, he's gotta ways to go.

you can't really expect more than 1-2 prospects from each class making an impact on the first team, and unless i'm mistaken, we've already gotten two from that class in flanagan and robinson. barca is barca, and ok, we've got our shop set up well, but we're not going to be reaping the real rewards of that for another 2-3 years, I'd imagine...

All that said, I think Shelvey's got a real shot. he's just gotta keep gettin minutes and developing his mental game over the next couple seasons.
ejbauer11

Because the international break could only be better if peppered w/ transfer rumors - Keita commenting on potential link (I can't comment on the second sentence of the second paragraph in a sane manner until after the win over chelsea):

"Liverpool is a great club - it is fantastic to hear that they are interested in me - but you know how I feel about Barcelona," he told skysports.com. "However, we are in football and nothing is an absolute, so let's wait until the end of the season."I want to play more games than last season. Playing regularly in a winning team is very good for the player, but the Premier League is very attractive and exciting for any player. My contract runs until 2014 - at the end of the season we will see."
ejbauer11

Dammit, I'm not a complete idiot: the Keita quote appeared as two paragraphs in the text box before I hit "post." The sentence beginning "Playing regularly..." was the one I attempted to reference, in case that's not abundantly obvious...
Latortillablanca

i think, being a blog, its automatically a given that ne(eeeee!!!!) grammatical surprises are overlooked. keita. i guess. wudnt be exciting, but would be very nice for squad depth. however, considering wages... nah. just cant see it.
NotTooXabi

Two Cents on the Supreme Bad-Assery that is --> "The Past doesn't count. Everything is starting again." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

1. How fitting is it that Xabi is there and Torres is not?

2. How hilarious would this spot be if it were England?
Noel

Not to spoil things, but the only reason Torres isn't in it is that he's sponsored by Nike. If he wore adidas they'd probably have had him in it.
NotTooXabi

good point.

*kicks dirt*
CheekyFellow

I feel your pain
Latortillablanca

fernando torres should look into the various and expandable ways one can poulsen oneself with one's own degen.
Seanster

Off topic a shade. Ye know when you've been going out with a bird for a long time and can't get muster the balls to tell her ye want to break up. This is an effective, although fairly elaborate way of avoiding having to break it to her directly:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news...
redtrev73

"I was gay when I woke up and I still am", Mr Birch said today, speaking from J's hair salon.

Has there been a better line in print journalism this year?! Best. Story. Ever
Seanster

That line is pure magnificant Trev, the Irish Times have upped their game big style.

I'm not a betting man but if I was to hazard a guess at how Chris is playing this one out I'd say that only a straight man pretending to be gay could come out with a line like "I was gay when I woke up and I still am".

I'm thinking Chrish faked the coma to buy himself some thinking time at how to break it off with his squaw without her going fucking mental. A couple of weeks, eyes shut, thinking away...."aha gay! Genius!". Wakes up to celebrations, "result that I'm out of the coma love, but I've turned gay". Strange uncomfortable awkward sympathy vibe but she doesn't go mental.

Chris thinks "okay I'd better back this up now, what do gay men do? Skinny hairdressers, thats what they're at." Jacks in the job, lobs in the Slimfast, off to the salon for a do and a job. He thinks "one last thing gay men do, they have boyfriends!". Gets pally with a teenager down the road bribes him to move in with tinnies and the new FIFA with xbox live to enhance their "relationship".

Chris plays it cool for a few months being gay and the like until the Ex eventually gets over herself and meets another sucker. In the meantime Chris bulks back up through tinnies and kebabs and when the hassles died down goes back down the local and explains to his mates the story. They understand cause they all know birds go mental if you break up with them cause your not into them anymore, especially engaged ones. Goes back to his bank job explaining hairdressing wasn't for him.

This leaves Chris to hang out with his mates, drink pints and chase skirt again with a clear conscience and having cleverly avoided a scene with the Ex. Most us us just ended up getting married. Chris Birch I salute you.
redtrev73

You know what Seanie? I admire the Birchster's De Niro-method-acting focus and commitment to his cause but really I think the marriage and endless visits to in-laws and outlet malls are preferable to becoming a skinny hairdresser. Faking gay would be a challenge for a straight guy sure, but spending a year crimping some old-dear's grey hair and talking about the weather...whilst starving?? Hellish.
JPR

Have to say boys, my favorite line was..."I went from a 19-stone skinhead to an 11-stone preened man.” It could happen to you!
Seanster

Thats a beauty aswell JPR, the whole tale has greatly enhance my Friday. Slow news day? I beg to differ.
JPR

Yea. I gotta say, the only way this story makes any sense to me is the way you explained it above. The birds tend to accept this crazy shit at face value and not look for all the angles like the dudes do. But, if it was a true story, I guess this would qualify for what you boys call "losing your Mickey"?
redtrev73

I see where you're going with that mate!! But with proper apocalyptic Irish football drunkeness it's not so much that one loses one's mickey, JPR, as one is so blind drunk that one is unsure as to where on one's anatomy one might locate said appendage...and even then the co-ordination involved in anything other than wayward urination would make employing the old chap virtually impossible. Or maybe I need to just get into a regular meeting.....
JPR

Yea. I understand now, maybe. Saw you boys talking about "the mickey" and I was a little lost. Being 1/2 Irish, I also possess some of the talents you so eloquently describe above. Have not experienced the Irish football drunkeness per se, but the misplaced mickey, blind drunkeness, misdirection to toilet facilities, employing the old chap with little known co-ordination.... well, uh, yea, I may need a regular meeting too. Thanks for the info., Trev!
Latortillablanca

anyone check out the pitch in the Gabon v. Brazil game? yeesh... the cup qualifiers im fine with, but some of these cash spinner friendlies are just gary neville levels of retarded...

speaking of real mouth-breather decisions, how bout that carling cup scheduling, huh? YAY!
Suarez from the car park...

carling cup scheduling, like you say, gary neville levels of retarded.
redtrev73

It's pretty scandalous. Fair play to Kenny for handing the authorities their fat arses on a platter in his presser. Would this happen to the mancs and dear old aunty fergie? Would it fuck.

In previous campaigns we wouldn't have cared as much but this competition is important to LFC this year.
kenny

I can't handle seeing that video, and having to hear it is another story.