International Round Up 2
By David Hobbs
November 21 2004
A number of Manchester United players were in World Cup Qualifing action last night for their respective national sides. Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith all helped England earn 3 points in Azerbaijan, beating Carlos Alberto's outfit 1-0 courtesy of captain Michael Owen.
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Former Old Trafford star Mark Hughes ended
his reign as Wales manager with a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Poland in
their own back-yard, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Robert Earnshaw and
John Hartson managed to get their names on the scoresheet for the Welsh.
The now vacant position of Wales manager seems even more unattractive to
possible candidates as Wales lay bottom of their group, that includes
Northern Ireland and England. Ryan Giggs however pulled out of the game
hours before with a virus.
England, on the other hand, managed to pick up a well-fought 3 points in Azerbaijan, beating Carlos Alberto's outfit 1-0 courtesy of captain Michael Owen's headed goal. Owen took temporary charge of the captaincy due to the absence of ex-United winger David Beckham, who was injured and suspended. Quartet Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith all featured. Roy Carroll returned in-between the sticks for Northern Ireland as Lawrie Sanchez's side came back to draw 3-3 with Austria in front of a 20,000 Windsor Park crowd. Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane managed to break The Republic of Ireland's goalscoring record tonight, scoring the two goals that were enough to beat the Faroe Islands. Liam Miller replaced club team-mate John O'Shea on the our mark whilst skipper Roy Keane completed a full 90 minutes. Ruud Van Nistelrooy bagged 2 goals in Holland's 3-1 victory over Finland. Despite an early goal from the Fins, Van Nistelrooy and Wes Sneijder struck back with vengeance. Cristiano Ronaldo also found his way onto the scoresheet for Portugal against Russia (late kick-off.) Midfielder Darren Fletcher may have played his last Scotland game under Berti Vogts as Scotland drew 1-1 away to Moldova whilst Mikael Silvestre completed over an hour in France's 2-0 win in Cyprus. |
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