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Soccer » International » Friendlies
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Review by: Sport news, comment and results | guardian.co.uk. 0 comments
• Italy's new strikeforce on song to boost Euro 2012 hopes
• France win but Germany struggle to draw with Ukraine
Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini struck either side of half-time to give Italy a 2-0 friendly win over Poland on Friday in the first football match at the newly built stadium in Wroclaw, which will host Euro 2012 matches.
The Poland striker Jakub Blaszczykowski missed a penalty five minutes before the end.
Italy's new forward partnership of Balotelli and Pazzini replaced the pint-sized strike force of Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi, whose recent illness and injury setbacks respectively threaten their presence at Euro 2012 next June.
"This great game by Balotelli counts for a lot because other than the goal he played an excellent match. Compliments to him and the team," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said.
"Again we haven't conceded and it is important to keep a certain balance. The lads managed the game well, Poland started strongly but we contained them."
A second-half goal by the substitute Loic Remy earned France a 1-0 home win against the United States but Les Bleus failed to impress.
France, who booked their place for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine by topping their qualifying group, lacked creativity but Remy's strike saved the day on a cold night at the Stade de France.
The hosts dominated but Jürgen Klinsmann's side could have been awarded a penalty in the 20th minute when the Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who had a night to forget, appeared to bring down Jozy Altidore in the box.
"It could have been better but some players were playing their first game for France and we made a lot of changes in the second half," the coach Laurent Blanc said. "We would like to be better but it's easy to say. It was a pleasant game but we have to be patient."
France play Belgium at the Stade de France on Tuesday.
The Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine twice surrendered a two-goal lead against Germany as the first match in the newly renovated Olimpiyskiy Stadium ended in a 3-3 draw.
A near-capacity crowd in the stadium that will host the final of Euro 2012 watched Ukraine lead 2-0 and 3-1 with goals by Andriy Yarmolenko, Yevhen Konoplianka and Serhiy Nazarenko, but Germany refused to be beaten and earned a draw with a Thomas Müller goal after 77 minutes.
Yarmolenko opened the scoring after 28 minutes, tapping in from close range, before Konoplianka doubled the lead eight minutes later.
Germany replied with a Toni Kroos thunderbolt from the edge of the area but Ukraine went in at half-time with a two-goal cushion when substitute Nazarenko's long-range effort flew into the top corner.
Simon Rolfes brought Germany back into the game after 65 minutes and they grabbed a deserved equaliser 13 minutes from time when Müller poked the ball past a defender and fired home.
Tottenham's midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will miss Holland's upcoming friendly against Germany. The 28-year-old midfielder hobbled off in the second half of the goalless draw against Switzerland.
The Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner was on target as Denmark beat Sweden 2-0. A lobbed pass from Lars Jacobsen found Bendtner in space to put Denmark ahead in the 35th minute. Michael Krohn-Dehli scored Denmark's second goal.
guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
- Game Highlights
| Time | Poland | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 30' |
Mario Balotelli |
|
| 46' |
Andrea Pirlo   Simone PepeDaniele De Rossi Thiago Motta |
|
| 54' |
Eugen Polanski  |
|
| 56' |
Ludovic Obraniak Pawel Brozek |
|
| 60' |
Giampaolo Pazzini |
|
| 62' |
Giampaolo Pazzini Alberto Aquilani Riccardo Montolivo Antonio NocerinoClaudio Marchisio Alessandro Matri |
|
| 65' |
Slawomir Peszko Adrian Mierzejewski Eugen Polanski Adam Matuschyk |
|
| 70' |
Damien Perquis Marcin Wasilewski |
|
| 77' |
Domenico Criscito Angelo Obinze Ogbonna |
|
| 80' |
Rafal Murawski Dariusz Dudka |
|
| 90' |
Angelo Obinze Ogbonna |
- Live Commentary
| Time | H | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 90 +4 | Adrian Mierzejewski crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 90 +4 | Marcin Wasilewski from Poland heads wide | |
| 90 +4 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 90 +4 | The referee blows the final whistle | |
| 90 +3 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 90 +3 | Angelo Obinze Ogbonna charges Adrian Mierzejewski from behind | |
| 90 +3 | |
Yellow card for Angelo Obinze Ogbonna |
| 90 +2 | The game is restarted | |
| 90 +2 | Adrian Mierzejewski crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 90 +2 | Andrea Ranocchia relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 90 +2 | Mario Balotelli sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 90 +2 | Alessandro Matri has a great chance to score but somehow manages to miss the target! | |
| 90 +2 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 90 +1 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 90 +1 | The fourth official shows there are 3 minute(s) of time to be added | |
| 90 +1 | The game is stopped | |
| 90 +1 | Jakub Blaszczykowski is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 90 | Jakub Blaszczykowski from Poland tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 90 | Adrian Mierzejewski from Poland takes a corner kick | |
| 90 | A player from Italy clears the ball | |
| 90 | Marcin Wasilewski from Poland sends a volley wide | |
| 89 | Marcin Wasilewski from Poland heads wide | |
| 89 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 89 | Pawel Brozek fouls Angelo Obinze Ogbonna | |
| 88 | Robert Lewandowski has a shot deflected off target | |
| 88 | Adrian Mierzejewski from Poland takes a corner kick | |
| 87 | Lukasz Piszczek pulls Mario Balotelli by the shirt | |
| 87 | Simone Pepe crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 87 | Mario Balotelli sends a header towards goal, but the keeper saves it | |
| 87 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 87 | The home team have had 39% of possession compared to the away team's 61% | |
| 85 | Robert Lewandowski is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 85 | Robert Lewandowski is injured and is taken off the field to receive medical treatment. | |
| 85 | The game is restarted | |
| 85 | Robert Lewandowski comes back onto the field. | |
| 85 | |
SAVED - Jakub Blaszczykowski takes the penalty, but the keeper saves it |
| 84 | PENALTY! - Andrea Ranocchia fouled Robert Lewandowski in the box | |
| 84 | The game is stopped | |
| 83 | Pawel Brozek hand-balls | |
| 82 | Simone Pepe is penalised for pushing Adrian Mierzejewski | |
| 82 | Robert Lewandowski dribbles past his opponents | |
| 82 | Ignazio Abate relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 82 | Dariusz Dudka misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 82 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 82 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 81 | Mario Balotelli puts in a cross | |
| 81 | Arkadiusz Glowacki relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 80 | Lukasz Piszczek puts in a cross | |
| 80 | Robert Lewandowski has a great opportunity to score, but fails to hit the target with his header! | |
| 80 |  |
Rafal Murawski is leaving the field to be replaced by Dariusz Dudka in a tactical substitution. |
| 80 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 79 | Jakub Wawrzyniak relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 79 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 79 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 78 | Simone Pepe puts in a cross | |
| 77 | Thiago Motta sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 77 | Alessandro Matri from Italy is ruled offside | |
| 77 | |
Domenico Criscito is leaving the field to be replaced by Angelo Obinze Ogbonna in a tactical substitution. |
| 75 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 75 | Arkadiusz Glowacki sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 75 | Ignazio Abate relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 74 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 74 | Jakub Blaszczykowski puts in a cross | |
| 74 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 74 | Robert Lewandowski puts in a cross | |
| 74 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 73 | The pitch is in good condition today and it is helping the players. | |
| 72 | Thiago Motta comes back onto the field. | |
| 72 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 70 | |
Damien Perquis is leaving the field to be replaced by Marcin Wasilewski in a tactical substitution. |
| 70 | Thiago Motta is injured and is taken off the field to receive medical treatment. | |
| 70 | The game is restarted | |
| 69 | Mario Balotelli has a great chance to score, but his header is saved by the keeper! | |
| 69 | The game is stopped | |
| 69 | Thiago Motta is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 68 | The game is stopped | |
| 68 | Damien Perquis is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 68 | The game is restarted | |
| 68 | Simone Pepe from Italy takes a corner kick | |
| 67 | Simone Pepe sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 67 | Alessandro Matri finds himself in a 1 on 1 situation with the 'keeper. | |
| 67 | Alessandro Matri has a great chance to score, but his effort is turned behind by the keeper! | |
| 66 | A player from Poland commits a foul | |
| 65 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 65 | The home team have had 40% of possession compared to the away team's 60% | |
| 65 | |
Slawomir Peszko is coming off and he is replaced by Adrian Mierzejewski |
| 65 | |
Eugen Polanski is leaving the field to be replaced by Adam Matuschyk in a tactical substitution. |
| 65 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 64 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 64 | Simone Pepe sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 62 | |
Giampaolo Pazzini is leaving the field to be replaced by Alberto Aquilani in a tactical substitution. |
| 62 | |
Claudio Marchisio is leaving the field to be replaced by Alessandro Matri in a tactical substitution. |
| 62 | |
Riccardo Montolivo is leaving the field to be replaced by Antonio Nocerino in a tactical substitution. |
| 60 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 60 | Claudio Marchisio sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 60 | Simone Pepe puts in a cross | |
| 60 | |
G O O O A A A L - Giampaolo Pazzini scores. |
| 59 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 59 | Mario Balotelli puts in a cross | |
| 59 | Lukasz Piszczek relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 58 | Rafal Murawski pulls Mario Balotelli by the shirt | |
| 58 | Mario Balotelli sends a direct free kick on target, but the keeper saves it | |
| 57 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 56 | Eugen Polanski has a great chance to score but somehow manages to miss the target! | |
| 56 | Domenico Criscito comes back onto the field. | |
| 56 | |
Ludovic Obraniak is leaving the field to be replaced by Pawel Brozek in a tactical substitution. |
| 55 | Domenico Criscito is injured and is taken off the field to receive medical treatment. | |
| 55 | The game is restarted | |
| 54 | Eugen Polanski from Poland commits a foul on Domenico Criscito but the referee waves play on. | |
| 54 | The game is stopped | |
| 54 | |
Yellow card for Eugen Polanski |
| 53 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 53 | The game is stopped | |
| 53 | The game is restarted | |
| 53 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 52 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 52 | Simone Pepe puts in a cross | |
| 52 | Arkadiusz Glowacki relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 52 | Riccardo Montolivo puts in a cross | |
| 52 | Mario Balotelli from Italy heads wide | |
| 51 | The game is restarted | |
| 51 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 50 | Giampaolo Pazzini from Italy makes a dangerous play against an opponent. | |
| 50 | The game is stopped | |
| 49 | Thiago Motta sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 49 | Arkadiusz Glowacki relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 49 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 49 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 48 | Arkadiusz Glowacki is penalised for pushing Giampaolo Pazzini | |
| 48 | Robert Lewandowski pulls Andrea Ranocchia by the shirt | |
| 47 | Jakub Blaszczykowski puts in a cross | |
| 47 | Ignazio Abate relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 47 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 46 | |
Andrea Pirlo is leaving the field to be replaced by Simone Pepe in a tactical substitution. |
| 46 | |
Daniele De Rossi is leaving the field to be replaced by Thiago Motta in a tactical substitution. |
| 46 | The second half is underway | |
| 45 +1 | The referee blows for half time | |
| 45 | Claudio Marchisio misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 45 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 44 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 44 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 43 | Arkadiusz Glowacki pulls Giampaolo Pazzini by the shirt | |
| 43 | Andrea Pirlo crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 43 | Mario Balotelli from Italy is ruled offside | |
| 42 | The game is in a period of relative inactivity, with neither side able to apply pressure. | |
| 42 | Domenico Criscito fouls Jakub Blaszczykowski | |
| 41 | Ludovic Obraniak puts in a cross | |
| 41 | Domenico Criscito relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 41 | Slawomir Peszko puts in a cross | |
| 41 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 40 | Lukasz Piszczek puts in a cross | |
| 40 | Rafal Murawski misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 40 | The home team have had 40% of possession compared to the away team's 60% | |
| 40 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 40 | Riccardo Montolivo shoots from outside the box, but the keeper saves it | |
| 39 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 37 | Slawomir Peszko fouls Riccardo Montolivo | |
| 36 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 36 | Ignazio Abate pulls Robert Lewandowski by the shirt | |
| 35 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 34 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 34 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 34 | Robert Lewandowski puts in a cross | |
| 34 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 33 | Lukasz Piszczek puts in a cross | |
| 33 | Andrea Ranocchia relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 33 | Eugen Polanski puts in a cross | |
| 33 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 33 | A volley from Robert Lewandowski is blocked by the keeper and goes back into play | |
| 33 | Ignazio Abate relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 32 | Mario Balotelli sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 32 | Wojciech Szczesny comes out and claims the ball | |
| 32 | Domenico Criscito puts in a cross | |
| 32 | Damien Perquis relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 30 | Mario Balotelli shoots and hits the target, but the keeper saves it | |
| 30 | Claudio Marchisio sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 30 | |
G O O O A A A L - Mario Balotelli from Italy scores from outside the box. |
| 29 | Rafal Murawski sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 29 | Jakub Blaszczykowski dribbles past his opponents | |
| 29 | A shot by Jakub Blaszczykowski is blocked | |
| 29 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 29 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 28 | Claudio Marchisio from Italy tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 28 | Poland start a counter attack | |
| 28 | Lukasz Piszczek sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 28 | Robert Lewandowski shoots, but his effort was never close to hitting the target. | |
| 28 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 27 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 27 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 27 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 26 | Jakub Blaszczykowski sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 26 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 26 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 25 | Riccardo Montolivo from Italy tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 24 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 24 | Slawomir Peszko misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 24 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 23 | Mario Balotelli from Italy heads wide | |
| 23 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 23 | Robert Lewandowski is penalised for pushing Giorgio Chiellini | |
| 22 | Robert Lewandowski has a great opportunity to score, but fails to hit the target with his header! | |
| 22 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 22 | Ignazio Abate puts in a cross | |
| 22 | Damien Perquis makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 22 | Andrea Pirlo from Italy takes a corner kick | |
| 21 | Giorgio Chiellini is penalised for pushing Jakub Blaszczykowski | |
| 21 | Jakub Blaszczykowski plays a neat 1-2 with Robert Lewandowski. | |
| 21 | Giorgio Chiellini relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 21 | Ludovic Obraniak puts in a cross | |
| 21 | Giorgio Chiellini makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 21 | Ludovic Obraniak from Poland takes a corner kick | |
| 20 | Arkadiusz Glowacki is penalised for pushing Giampaolo Pazzini | |
| 20 | The home team have had 42% of possession compared to the away team's 58% | |
| 20 | The pitch is in good condition today and it is helping the players. | |
| 20 | Mario Balotelli fouls Jakub Blaszczykowski | |
| 19 | Claudio Marchisio puts in a cross | |
| 19 | Daniele De Rossi puts in a cross | |
| 19 | A player from Poland clears the ball | |
| 19 | Jakub Blaszczykowski from Poland crosses the ball but it is nowhere near the intended target. | |
| 19 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 18 | Andrea Pirlo sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 18 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 17 | Andrea Pirlo from Italy takes a corner kick | |
| 17 | Lukasz Piszczek relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 17 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 16 | Ludovic Obraniak from Poland takes a corner kick | |
| 16 | Andrea Ranocchia relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 16 | Ludovic Obraniak is penalised for pushing Andrea Pirlo | |
| 16 | Andrea Pirlo sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 16 | Giampaolo Pazzini finds himself in a 1 on 1 situation with the 'keeper. | |
| 16 | Damien Perquis makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 15 | Jakub Blaszczykowski puts in a cross | |
| 15 | Domenico Criscito makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 14 | Slawomir Peszko from Poland sends a volley wide | |
| 14 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 14 | A player from Italy commits a foul | |
| 13 | Ludovic Obraniak takes a direct free kick, but the shot goes wide | |
| 13 | Andrea Ranocchia relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 13 | Eugen Polanski sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 12 | Mario Balotelli puts in a cross | |
| 12 | A shot by Giampaolo Pazzini is blocked | |
| 12 | Lukasz Piszczek relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 12 | Domenico Criscito pulls Jakub Blaszczykowski by the shirt | |
| 11 | Domenico Criscito sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 11 | Wojciech Szczesny comes out and claims the ball | |
| 11 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 10 | Italy take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 10 | Andrea Pirlo sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 10 | Wojciech Szczesny comes out and claims the ball | |
| 9 | Ludovic Obraniak from Poland crosses the ball but it is nowhere near the intended target. | |
| 9 | Goal kick for Italy | |
| 9 | Jakub Blaszczykowski from Poland tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 8 | Riccardo Montolivo sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 8 | Goal kick for Poland | |
| 7 | Eugen Polanski sends a long ball upfield. | |
| 7 | Gianluigi Buffon comes out and claims the ball | |
| 7 | Daniele De Rossi puts in a cross | |
| 7 | Wojciech Szczesny comes out and claims the ball | |
| 6 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 6 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 5 | A shot by Rafal Murawski is blocked | |
| 5 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 5 | Mario Balotelli pulls Arkadiusz Glowacki by the shirt | |
| 4 | Ludovic Obraniak has a shot deflected off target | |
| 4 | Jakub Blaszczykowski from Poland takes a corner kick | |
| 4 | Andrea Pirlo crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 3 | Poland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 2 | Italy take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 1 | Poland kick-off, and the game is underway. | |
| 1 | Poland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 1 | Lukasz Piszczek puts in a cross | |
| 1 | Domenico Criscito relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 0 | Welcome to Stadion Sportowy KSZO, the match will start in about 5 minutes. | |
| 0 | The referee starts the match |
- Game Stats
| Poland | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots On Target | 3 | 9 |
| Shots Off Target | 14 | 4 |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
| Throw Ins | 20 | 18 |
| Crosses | 15 | 15 |
| Counter Attacks | 1 | 0 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 |
| Fouls Commited | 13 | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Ball Possession | 39% | 61% |
- Stats
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