**Players in bold are key players for that game (not strictly about performance, also about who a team needs to perform high for that game). Italicized players were the players of the match.
FC Barcelona vs. AC Milan: UEFA Champions League
Barcelona Lineup AC Milan Lineup
GK: Victor Valdes (Spain) GK: Christian Abbiati
RB: Carlos Puyol (Spain) RB: Ignazio Abate
RCB: Javier Mascherano (Argentina) RCB: Alessandro Nesta
LCB: Sergio Busquets (Spain) LCB: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
LB: Eric Abidal (France) LB: Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy)
RM: Thiago CDM: Mark Van Bommel (Holland)
CM: Xavi (Spain) RM: Alberto Aquilani (Italy)
LM: Seydou Keita (Mali) LM: Clarence Seedorf
ST: Cesc Fabregas (Spain) CAM: Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana)
ST: David Villa (Spain) ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
ST: Lionel Messi (Argentina) ST: Robinho (Brazil)
Barcelona had total control of the game. Their passing was far superior to AC Milan and they created far more chances. Xavi played extraordinarily well and was the whole reason why Barcelona won 3-2. Credit to AC Milan, they fought the whole match and came back twice to tie the game but in the end Barcelona obtained the well deserved victory. Not having Gerard Pique hurt them on defense and not having Andres Iniesta hurt them in the midfield. AC Milan on the other hand should have started Pato over Robinho. When Pato came into the game he energized the team and they began making chances. Barcelona is now through as a first place team but in the coming rounds they need to crack down on their defense in order to repeat.
Manchester City vs. Newcastle United: English Premier League
Manchester City Lineup Newcastle Lineup
GK: Joe Hart (England) GK: Tim Krul (Holland)
RB: Micah Richards (England) RB: Danny Simpson
RCB: Vincent Kompany RCB: Steven Taylor
LCB: Joleon Lescott (England) LCB: Fabricio Collocini (Argentina)
LB: Gael Clichy (France) LB: Ryan Taylor
RM: James Milner (England) RM: Sammy Ameobi
RCM: Nigel De Jong (Holland) RCM: Yohan Cabaye
LCM: Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) LCM: Danny Guthrie
LM: Samir Nasri (France) LM: Jonas Gutierrez (Argentina)
ST: Sergio Aguero (Argentina) ST: Hatem Ben Arfa
ST: Mario Balotelli (Italy) ST: Demba Ba (Senegal)
Manchester City was dominating the play. 64% of the possession and five more shots should tell us the whole story, but it doesn't. Manchester City didn't win because of this, they won because of two penalties and a terrible Ryan Taylor. Taylor was responsible for the first penalty flinging his arm with him in a challenge. Even though his arm didn't touch the ball he forced the ref to reconsider the play at hand. The second mistake was him giving Micah Richards a wide open shot to make the game 2-0. Yes Manchester City worked Tim Krul but they only won because of defensive errors. Roberto Mancini after the game demanded improvement from his squad because on Tuesday, the must win game between Manchester City and Napoli arrives.
Chile vs. Paraguay: WCQ CONMEBOL
Chilean Starting Lineup Paraguayan Starting Lineup
GK: Claudio A. Bravo GK: Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno)
RB: Pablo Contreras (Celta Vigo) RB: Dario Veron (UNAM)
CB: Marcos A. Gonzalez (Universidad de Chile) RCB: Carlos Bonet (Libertad)
LB: Waldo Ponce (Cruz Azul) LCB: Miguel Samudio (Libertad)
RM: Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon) LB: Julio C. Manzur (Guarani)
RCM: Charles Aranguiz (Universidad de Chile) RM: Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul)
LCM: Gary Medel (Boca Juniors) RCM: Julio D. Dos Santos (Cerro Porteno)
LM: Mauricio Isla CM: Sergio Aguino (Libertad)
ST: Alexis Sanchez (FC Barcelona) LCM: Marcelo Estigarribia
ST: Humberto Suazo (Monterrey) LM: Victory Ayala (Libertad)
ST: Eduardo Vargas (Universidad de Chile) ST: Nelson H. Valdez
Chile did what they needed to do. Chile controlled the midfield. Gary Medel and Matias Fernandez took charge of the midfield today. Cristian Riveros was unable to make an impact on the game. After 2 tough losses against Uruguay and Argentina, Chile bounced back with a great win over a pretty good Paraguay team. With Arturo Vidal in the next WCQ, we'll see how good Chile really is. For now it's nice to know that without Vidal, Chile can still beat quality teams. Without both him and Sanchez however, the team shows it's lack of depth.
Germany vs. Netherlands: International Friendly
German Starting Lineup Dutch Starting Lineup
GK: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) GK: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma)
RB: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich) RB: Gregory Van der Wiel (Ajax)
RCB: Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) RCB: John Heitinga (Everton)
LCB: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich) LCB: Joris Mathijsen (Malaga)
LB: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV) LB: Edson Braafheid (TSG Hoffenheim)
RM: Sami Khedira (Real Madrid) RM: Mark Van Bommel (AC Milan)
LM: Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich) LM: Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven)
RAM: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) RAM: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
LAM: Lukas Podolski (FC Cologne) LAM: Ryan Babel (TSG Hoffenheim)
ST: Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid) ST: Wesley Sneijder (Inter)
ST: Miroslav Klose (Lazio) ST: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04)
Germany is looking pretty damn good right now. A sweet 3-0 win puts them in great form going into the Euro 2012. Of course the Dutch offense with hurt without Rafael Van der Vaart and particularly Robin Van Persie, but Germany still put on a spectacular performance. Wesley Sneijder didn't do enough to cover the middle and track his man. Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos did well to hold him. The reason why the Dutch lost 3-0 though was not mainly because of lack of offense, it was also because of poor defending. The 1st goal dealt with terrible, terrible man marking from the Dutch defense. The defender didn't look behind him when the ball was played to Klose and no one marked the surging Thomas Muller. The defense made it easy for Germany. The second goal dealt with terrible positioning. Edson Braafheid shifted into the center and left Mesut Ozil open to cross the ball to Klose with ease. The third goal was just a counterattack off of a defensive error. The Germans looked really strong offensively and defensively. Now let's add Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mats Hummels, Mario Gomez and Mario Gotse to the team. Seems like a formidable opponent for any team.
England vs. Spain: International Friendly
English Starting Lineup Spanish Starting Lineup
GK: Joe Hart (Manchester City) GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
RB: Glen Johnson (Liverpool) RB: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid)
RCB: Phil Jagielka (Everton) RCB: Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona)
LCB: Joleon Lescott (Manchester City) LCB: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea) LB: Jordi Alba (Valencia)
RM: Phil Jones (Manchester United) RM: Xavi (FC Barcelona)
LM: Scott Parker (Tottenham) CM: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona)
RAM: Theo Walcott (Arsenal) LM: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
LAM: James Milner (Manchester City) RF: David Silva (Manchester City)
RF: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) CF: Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
CF: Darren Bent (Aston Villa) LF: David Villa (FC Barcelona)
The 1-0 win for the English shouldn't go down with a grain of salt. Even though Spain had 21 shots (only 2 on goal) and had 71% of the possession, a depleted English squad beat an almost full Spanish squad (who didn't start the likes of Cesc Fabregas or Carlos Puyol). The English didn't start or even play captain John Terry, Wayne Rooney was absent, and they didn't start Leighton Baines over Ashley Cole (as close as they are in skill, Leighton Baines is faster and younger). Also Steven Gerrard was absent and Jack Wilshere has been out from injury. The Spanish side will need to rebound from this loss, even if the goal was against Pepe Reina and not Iker Casillas. However if English continue to play Italian style soccer I see no reason in rooting for them. This win though is one big step toward a World Cup title.
There are a couple of individual names that played really well in this game. Scott Parker has been remarkable for the English and for Tottenham. He sprints box to box the full 90 minutes and deservedly got man of the match honors. The central defense for England (Jagielka and Lescott) also had the game of their lives, stopping everything that came towards the center. With all of the possession Spain had, they did nothing with it.
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