War of the thousand penalties

Argentina was close to send the British home but after a long “war”, England emerged as the winner and claimed its place in the semi-finals

It was not as long as the war of the thousand years… and it wasn’t even a real war, but both teams wouldn’t let go of the semifinal and only after a long series of 14 penalties, we came to know who won the battle. The British didn’t miss but Goecoechea, the Argentinian keeper, hero of the game, was not competent enough when it came to the penalty shootout. He wasn’t able to stop at least one penalty and when called to shoot, just missed the goal.

Mundialito Oporto Indoor (Quarter Finals)

June 29th of 2014, 21 hours

England, 4

Argentina, 4

*11-10 after penalties

At Oporto indoor Games

England – Max Seaman; Sergio Wright Phillips, Nuno Ferdinand [C] (1), Pedro Crouch (2); Leandro Lineker.

From the bench: Pedro Beckham, Ricardo Rooney (1).

Coach: Tózé Robson

Mid-term: 1-3

March of the score: 0-1; 1-1; 1-3; 4-3; 4-4

It was a strange game. England showed better arguments, during this game but also during the competition. Argentina however never quitted. On the contrary. Having no Messis or Maradonas, the south-americans based their game on a strong and low defence, followed by fast counters.

The first part of the game is easily summed by the sentence “England played and Argentina scored”.

The second half though, was quite different with Ferdinand, Rooney and Crouch scoring, placing England on the front.

When things seemed solved on the England side, Abel Balbo tied the game again, only two minutes to the end.

Coming to the penalties, all the boys scored, including Seaman, and after that Goecoechea missed, putting an end to the Argentinians dream.

Talking about wars, the elder people would recall the “Falkland’s war”. The Argentinians called it “Guerra de las Malvinas”. The result was the same, England won…

Next comes Russia that also won (France) in the penalties.

Penalties shoot-out

5-4              Crouch

5-5              Burruchaga

6-5              Beckham

6-6              Ruggieri

7-6              Rooney

7-7              Garay

8-7              Ferdinand

8-8              Diaz

9-8              Wright Phillips

9-9              Balbo

10-9             Lineker

10-10           Ardilles

11-10           Seaman

-      Goecoechea missed.

Man of the game

Pedro Crouch – 7

It was not his best game but even on a less achieved game, scored two goals and made two assists, thus intervening in a 100% of the team’s goals.

The other members

All team – 6