FIFA had scheduled a bout of international friendlies(pointless ones, let me remind you) this midweek and most of the Chelsea players participated, donning the national colours. Lets take a look at how they fared.
Brazil vs South Africa
Players Involved: David Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Willian
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa.
David Luiz and Oscar started for the Selecaós while Willian and Ramires came on in the second half. Oscar scored a goal in the 5-0 rout, before being subbed off at half-time. Ramires collected a yellow at the 75th minute.
RESULT: 5-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpL0oo2Rx_4
Czech Republic vs Norway
Player Involved: Petr Cech.
Venue: Eden Arena, Prague, Czech Republic.
Petr Cech and the rest of the Czech defense twice conceded the lead and the game ended in a draw.
RESULT: 2-2
England vs Denmark
Players Involved: Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard.
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, England.
Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill started the game while Lampard was an unused substitute. Cahill played the entire duration but Cole was subbed off at half-time. The Three Lions managed a win through a goal from former Blue, Daniel Sturridge.
RESULT: 1-0
Spain vs Italy
Player Involved: Cesar Azpilicueta.
Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Spain.
Azpilicueta started the game and played the full 90 minutes at right-back (Surprise!) and put on a solid display.
RESULT: 1-0.
Ghana vs Montenegro
Player Involved: Cristian Atsu.
Venue: Stadium Pod Goricon, Podgorica, Montenegro.
Cristian Atsu started but for a losing cause.
RESULT: 0-1
Belgium vs Ivory Coast
Players Involved: Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku.
Venue: Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels, Belgium.
Thibaut Courtois started for Belgium while Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku made substitute appearances in the second half. Courtois was at fault for the Belgians conceding their 2-0 lead in the last quarter of the game. Hazard picked up a knock(a swollen ankle, to be specific) from Tioté’s challenge, but is expected to be fit in time for the Spurs game.
RESULT: 2-2
Egypt vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
Player Involved: Mohammad Salah.
Venue: Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria.
Egypt ran out the surprising winners of the contest, as Salah played a peach of a game, creating the first goal and scoring the second.
RESULT: 2-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwi2aw9ut_s
Serbia vs Ireland
Players Involved: Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic.
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.
Ivanovic and Matic started and played the complete 90 minutes, as the Serbs beat the Irish.
RESULT: 2-1
Germany vs Chile
Player Involved: Andre Schurrle.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, Germany.
The latest Chelsea hattrick-star played in the second half.
RESULT: 1-0
Nigeria vs Mexico
Players Involved: John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Kenneth Omeruo.
Venue: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Mikel and Omerou played the entire 90 minutes to put up a solid performance and ensure a clean sheet against the not-so-prolific Mexicans who dominated the game. Moses was called off at the hour mark after another ineffective display.
RESULT: 0-0
Cameroon Vs Portugal
Player Involved: Samuel Eto’o.
Venue: Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal.
Eto’o started for Cameroon, but was in for a drubbing from the Portuguese.
RESULT: 1-5
Senegal vs Mali
Player Involved: Demba Ba.
Venue: Stade Municipal, Saint-Leu-la-Foret, France.
Demba Ba played the entire game in an inconsequential draw.
RESULT: 1-1
It was a busy midweek for most of the Chelsea players and quite a few of them had to play the entire 90 minutes. What is to be seen if this outing puts a bearing on Chelsea’s title chances or if the boys can shake off the fatigue from the travels and the games.
Let us know your thoughts about the international break. Do you think this FIFA drill is at all necessary, especially when the season approaches it’s business end?
