 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
|
Group One Roundup France stays perfect with 2-1 win over IsraelPosted: Wednesday April 02, 2003 4:36 PMUpdated: Wednesday April 02, 2003 6:00 PM PALERMO, Sicily (AP) -- Goals by international stars David Trezeguet and Zinedine Zidane led France to a 2-1 win against Israel Wednesday, maintaining the defending champion's perfect record in Euro 2004 qualifying. France was caught off guard when Israeli midfielder Omri Afek scored just two minutes in, but Zidane and the rest of his world class teammates quickly regained control, giving the 2000 winner 15 points atop Group 1. Israel dropped into a tie for third place following Slovenia's 4-1 win against Cyprus in the other group match Wednesday. After numerous scoring chances, Juventus striker Trezeguet scored on a header off a pass from fellow standout forward Thierry Henry in the 22nd minute to even the match. Zidane's goal came off a shot from just outside the area that was defected slightly by an Israel defender in first-half injury time. While France controlled the play throughout (they possessed the ball 69 percent of the time in the first half), coach Jacques Santini's squad showed vulnerable to quick counterattacks by their under-matched opponents. Afek's goal, an angled shot off an assist from Galatasaray striker Haim Revivo, came on one such play. The second half was played at a much slower pace, with France seemingly content with its narrow advantage. Auzerre striker Djibril Cisse came on for Trezeguet in the 73rd and had his shot tipped over the bar by Israeli 'keeper Dudu Aouate two minutes later. "It was hard, very hard," Santini said. "We showed two faces of our game tonight, but we managed to get three points. We had a lot of problems concentrating and were disorganized defensively and in attack. There was not much cohesion." The match was considered a home game for Israel, which is banned from playing official matches in its own country due to security worries in the Middle East. Security was high nonetheless, with more than 1,000 police officers patrolling the Renzo Barbera Stadium. The few fans that showed up, numbering about 2,500, were subjected to body searches upon entering. The only tense moment of the night -- off the field of play -- came during the singing of the Israeli national anthem. After a small group of fans started whistling at the live performance, they were drowned out by a loud applause from the rest of the stadium. The crowd started to cheer again in the 41st when Israel nearly went up 2-1, as Revivo lost control before he could get a shot off in a one-on-one duel with France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. "We had more chances to score than the French," said Israel Coach Avraham Grant. "Unfortunately we allowed two easy goals. I'm happy for my players though, they're young and don't have much experience against great teams like France." Barthez was booed repeatedly by Italian fans still upset with his effective play in victories against Italy in the 1998 World Cup and the Euro 2000 final. About 1,800 Italians attended the match, in addition to 300 fans from Israel and about 400 supporters from France. The show of flags was just as varied, ranging from peace banners and regional Sicilian flags to the French tricolor and the Israeli Star of David. Even the Algerian flag was displayed, likely in support of Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants. Israel is also scheduled to play its next qualifier in Palermo, against Cyprus on April 30. France's next match is a friendly with Egypt on April 30. "Les Bleus" do not play another qualifier until they host Cyprus in September. Lineups: Israel -- Dudu Aouate; Alon Harazi, Tal Ben-Haim, Ariel Banado, Adoram Keisi; Omri Afek, Tal Banin (Yossi Shai Benayoun, 73rd), Idan Tal (Valeed Badeer, 56th), Amir Torjman (Michael Zandberg, 46th), Josef Abukasis; Haim Revivo. France -- Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Bixente Lizarazu; Sylvain Wiltord (Sidney Govou, 66th), Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Zinedine Zidane; David Trezeguet (Djibril Cisse, 73rd), Thierry Henry. Referee -- Graham Barber, England. Siljak fires Slovenia to 4-1 win over CyprusLJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Ermin Siljak scored twice as Slovenia outplayed Cyprus 4-1 Wednesday in a qualifying match for the 2004 European Championship. Most of the action took place early in the match, with all the goals and a bagful of golden chances falling in the first half. Siljak opened the scoring for the Slovenes in the fourth minute when he rose high in the penalty box to head the ball in from a perfectly lofted cross. Michalis Constantinou equalized for Cyprus only six minutes later when he exploited a defending blunder before the Slovene goal and headed in forcefully behind goalkeeper Mladen Simeunovic. However, the visitors could not prevent a drubbing and conceded another three goals before the interval. Siljak put the Slovenes ahead again in the 14th minute when he found some space outside the box and drove home a powerful low shot to make it 2-1. Zlatko Zahovic increased the score to 3-1 when he converted a penalty kick awarded after Nastja Ceh was brought down in the area in the 39th minute. Ceh was again in the thick of action to complete the scoring two minutes from halftime. The skillful midfielder ran onto a deftly floated ball from the sideline to beat stranded goalkeeper Nicos Panayiotou with a strong header from close range. Lineups: Slovenia: Marko Simeunovic, goalkeeper, Fabijan Cipot, Amir Karic, Muamer Vugdalic, Spasoje Bulajic, Goran Sukalo, Nastja Ceh (Tonci Zlogar, 90), Ermin Siljak (Ermin Rakovic, 90), Zlatko Zahovic, Miran Pavlin, Robert Koren (Mladen Rudonja, 85). Cyprus: Nikos Panayiotou, Petros Konnafis (Ioakim Ioakim, 46), Dimitris Daskalakis, Panayiotis Spyrou (Georgios Constantinou, 75), Georgios Theodotou, Vladan Tomic, Yannakis Okkas, Costas Kaiafas, Michalis Constantinou, Stelios Okkarides, Rainer Rauffmann (Konstantinos Charalambidis, 64). |
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
