German pride took a second bashing in eight days on Saturday as their Euro 2012 countdown began in earnest with a humbling 5-3 friendly defeat by Switzerland, but European champions Spain and tournament co-hosts Poland enjoyed useful victories.
A week after Germany’s biggest club Bayern Munich suffered Champions League final heartache against Chelsea, Joachim Loew’s national team were stunned by a hat-trick from Eren Derdiyok, who will not grace the finals after Switzerland failed to qualify.
It was a mixed night for the various Euro 2012 qualifiers as they fine-tuned their squads for the tournament that kicks off with Poland against Greece on June 8 in Warsaw.
Photo: AFP
World Cup runners-up the Netherlands, who like Germany are fancied to challenge for the title next month, suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Bulgaria.
England, rated as outsiders after an unsettled few months following Fabio Capello’s resignation, kicked off Roy Hodgson’s tenure as national coach with a workmanlike 1-0 win in Norway — their first in the Scandinavian country for 32 years.
Spain, who are set to defend the title they won four years ago when they beat Germany in the final, fielded a below-strength side without any Barcelona players against Serbia in St Gallen, Switzerland, but still had enough in reserve for a 2-0 win.
Photo: AFP
Adrian Lopez, one of four debutants for Spain, scored the opener, with Santiago Cazorla also netting with a penalty.
However, there was concern for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque when Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas was ruled out for up to 10 days with a hamstring strain.
Poland, staging the finals with neighbors Ukraine, beat Slovakia 1-0, although there was some disturbing news for the hosts, with second choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski being ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Photo: EPA
Defender Damien Perquis headed Poland’s winner in Warsaw.
Germany coach Loew did not use any Bayern Munich players against Switzerland, handing opportunities to some of the less heralded members of his squad.
However, he was given food for thought as Germany suffered their worst defeat at the hands of Switzerland since 1908.
“We made far too many mistakes,” Loew, who is set to announce his final squad later this week, told reporters. “I did not expect this result, though I knew it could be dangerous because of the many training sessions we have had until now. I knew that we could be lacking this freshness.”
Germany take on Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark in the tournament starting in two weeks — a tough group that may be beyond some of the players who appeared on Saturday.
Derdiyok, a new signing for Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, slotted Switzerland ahead after 21 minutes and struck again two minutes later with Germany’s defense in disarray.
Defender Mats Hummels pulled a goal back just before the break, but Derdiyok completed his hat-trick soon after the interval, before Andre Schuerrle made it 3-2.
In a frantic spell, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Admir Mehmedi scored for Switzerland either side of Germany’s third goal of the night from Marco Reus.
The Netherlands also have much to ponder after a surprise defeat by Bulgaria in Amsterdam.
Robin van Persie put Bert van Marwijk’s side ahead just before the break, but Ivelin Popov equalized from the penalty spot and Ilyan Mizanski grabbed the winner in stoppage-time.
Van Marwijk’s mood was not helped by a hamstring injury to defender Joris Mathijsen, who limped off.
“Joris felt something in his hamstring and wanted to avoid any risk,” Van Marwijk told reporters. “It was an annoying match, especially after the penalty, before that we did everything well, although we did not create a lot of chances.”
England’s new coach Hodgson, appointed on May 1 to replace Italian Capello, who guided the team to the finals, said he was satisfied with the performance of an experimental side that featured Liverpool’s Andy Carroll and Ashley Young up front.
They could form England’s attack in the Euro 2012 opener against France in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the first two matches, and Young’s classy ninth-minute strike did his chances no harm.
“I thought he [Carroll] was good. Full stop. Not only was he good for us when we had the ball ... he was also very important to us defensively,” said Hodgson, whose main concern was a groin injury to midfielder Gareth Barry.
Portugal were jeered by their own fans after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Macedonia, while Greece, who travel to the finals aiming to produce another shock like they did in 2004 when they were European champions, drew 1-1 with Slovenia.
Denmark lost 3-1 to Brazil after Hulk scored twice for the South Americans in Hamburg, Germany, but fellow Euro 2012 outsiders the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic secured morale-boosting wins against Bosnia and Israel respectively.
Saturday’s other international friendlies:
‧ Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2
‧ El Salvador 2, Moldova 0
‧ Finland 3, Turkey 2
‧ US 5, Scotland 1
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
RSS