Let's play a game: pick the results of this week's friendlies

[Pharaoh]

oh yeah, we play our friendlies in england most of the time. but i didn't know those other matches would be played there too. what are the reasons? why don't brazil just play in portugal and korea in greece?

It's usually because those friendlies are arranged by marketing firms. It's sorta become the new phenomenon with friendlies. Just like the last FIFA window, Egypt played South Africa in London. The other part of it is that it makes traveling so much easier for many of these teams, since so many of their players play in Europe. Brazil for example gets to play with stronger lineups than if their game was in South America.

[fashionista17]

It's usually because those friendlies are arranged by marketing firms. It's sorta become the new phenomenon with friendlies. Just like the last FIFA window, Egypt played South Africa in London. The other part of it is that it makes traveling so much easier for many of these teams, since so many of their players play in Europe. Brazil for example gets to play with stronger lineups than if their game was in South America.

yeah, the last reason is why we play in england most of the time because most of our players are based there. but what i didn't get is why brazil don't just play in portugal since it's not that far from england. but now i see why. i guess more people will go to the matches if they're in london? especially when african or south american teams play there. everyone wants to watch brazil live....

[Aryaan21]

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidad

Northern Ireland vs. Wales: Draw

Australia vs. Denmark: Austrailia

Greece vs. Korea Rep.: Draw

Cyprus vs. Hungary: Cyprus

Bulgaria vs. Latvia: Bulgaria

Nigeria vs. Ghana: Nigeria

Brazil vs. Portugal: Draw

Mali vs. Lithuania: Mali

Benin vs. Guinea: Guinea

Malta vs. Austria: Austria

Egypt vs. Sweden: Sweden

Georgia vs. Turkey: Turkey

England vs. Spain: England

Netherlands vs. Russia: Netherlands

Belgium vs. Czech Rep.: Czech Rep

Israel vs. Ukraine: Ukraine

Uzbekistan vs. Azerbaijan: Uzbekistan

Morocco vs. Tunisia: Tunisia

Germany vs. Switzerland: Germany

Croatia vs. Norway: Croatia

France vs. Argentina: France

Algeria vs. Libya: Algeria

Slovenia vs. Estonia: Slovenia

USA vs. Mexico: Draw

Venezuela vs. Chile: Chile

Poland vs. Slovakia: Poland

Colombia vs. Uruguay: Draw

Italy vs. Romania: Canceled\Italy

Angola vs. Senegal: Draw

China vs. Kazakhstan: China

Belarus vs. Iran: Iran

Albania vs. Macedonia: Macedonia

Togo vs. Cameroon: Cameroon

Andorra vs. Armenia: Armenia

Luxembourg vs. Gambia: Gambia

Botswana vs. Namibia: No clue

Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe: No clue

Mozambique vs. Swaziland: No clue
__________________

[ali_asghar]

It's usually because those friendlies are arranged by marketing firms. It's sorta become the new phenomenon with friendlies. Just like the last FIFA window, Egypt played South Africa in London. The other part of it is that it makes traveling so much easier for many of these teams, since so many of their players play in Europe. Brazil for example gets to play with stronger lineups than if their game was in South America.

Hey Pharaoh... Why doesnt ur boy Aboutrika go to Europe? As far as what I saw of him at the Club world cup, he was nothing short of brilliant, and my Egyptian friends say he does the same for the national team. Also he struck me as a humble guy when i saw him give an interview and he said this I think after the African Champions League
" We need to stop this habit of praising a definite player. It isn't Aboutreika, but the whole team who got the Cup. Without the others' efforts, I can't ever make anything. Football is a game played by many players, it isn't Tennis or Squash"

[police in helicopter]

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Costa Rica

Northern Ireland vs. Wales: Northern Ireland

Australia vs. Denmark: Australia

Greece vs. Korea Rep.: Draw

Cyprus vs. Hungary: Hungary

Bulgaria vs. Latvia: Bulgaria

Nigeria vs. Ghana: Ghana

Brazil vs. Portugal: Brazil

Mali vs. Lithuania: Mali

Benin vs. Guinea: Benin

Malta vs. Austria: Austria

Egypt vs. Sweden: Sweden

Georgia vs. Turkey: Turkey

England vs. Spain: Draw

Netherlands vs. Russia: Netherlands

Belgium vs. Czech Rep.: Czech Rep.

Israel vs. Ukraine: Ukraine

Uzbekistan vs. Azerbaijan: Uzbekistan

Morocco vs. Tunisia: Draw

Germany vs. Switzerland: Draw

Croatia vs. Norway: Croatia

France vs. Argentina: France

Algeria vs. Libya: Algeria

Slovenia vs. Estonia: Slovenia

USA vs. Mexico: Mexico

Venezuela vs. Chile: Chile

Poland vs. Slovakia: Poland

Colombia vs. Uruguay: Uruguay

Italy vs. Romania: Italy

Angola vs. Senegal: Senegal

China vs. Kazakhstan: China

Belarus vs. Iran: Iran

Albania vs. Macedonia: Macedonia

Togo vs. Cameroon: Cameroon

Andorra vs. Armenia: Draw

Luxembourg vs. Gambia: Gambia

Botswana vs. Namibia: Draw

Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe

Mozambique vs. Swaziland: Mozambique

[Club monaco]

Winners' are highlighted, Draw games are not.



Costa Rica Trinidad & Tobago
Northern Ireland Wales
Australia Denmark
Greece Korea Rep
Cyprus Hungary
Bulgaria Latvia
Nigeria Ghana
Brazil Portugal
Mali Lithuania
Benin Guinea
Malta Austria
Egypt Sweden
Georgia Turkey
England Spain
Netherlands Russia
Belgium Czech Rep.
Israel Ukraine
Uzbekistan Azerbaijan
Morocco Tunisia
Germany Switzerland
Croatia Norway
France Argentina
Algeria Libya
Slovenia Estonia
USA Mexico
Venezuela Chile
Poland Slovakia
Colombia Uruguay
Moldova Romania
Angola Senegal
China Kazakhstan
Belarus Iran
Albania Macedonia
Togo Cameroon
Andorra Armenia
Luxembourg Gambia
Botswana Namibia
Lesotho Zimbabwe
Mozambique Swaziland

[ncorral]

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Costa Rica
Northern Ireland vs. Wales: Wales

Australia vs. Denmark: Denmark
Greece vs. Korea Rep.: Greece
Cyprus vs. Hungary: Draw
Bulgaria vs. Latvia: Bulgaria
Nigeria vs. Ghana: Nigeria
Brazil vs. Portugal: Brazil
Mali vs. Lithuania: Mali
Benin vs. Guinea: Draw
Malta vs. Austria: Austria
Egypt vs. Sweden: Sweden
Georgia vs. Turkey: Turkey

England vs. Spain: Spain of course
Netherlands vs. Russia: Netherlands
Belgium vs. Czech Rep.: Belgium
Israel vs. Ukraine: Ukraine
Uzbekistan vs. Azerbaijan: Uzbekistan
Morocco vs. Tunisia: Morocco
Germany vs. Switzerland: Draw
Croatia vs. Norway: Norway
France vs. Argentina: France
Algeria vs. Libya: Algeria
Slovenia vs. Estonia: Draw
USA vs. Mexico: USA
Venezuela vs. Chile: CHile
Poland vs. Slovakia: Poland
Colombia vs. Uruguay: Draw

Italy vs. Romania: Draw
Angola vs. Senegal: Draw
China vs. Kazakhstan: China
Belarus vs. Iran: Iran of course
Albania vs. Macedonia: Macedonia
Togo vs. Cameroon: Cameroon
Andorra vs. Armenia: Armenia
Luxembourg vs. Gambia: Draw
Botswana vs. Namibia: Namibia
Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe
Mozambique vs. Swaziland: MOzambique

[Pharaoh]

Hey Pharaoh... Why doesnt ur boy Aboutrika go to Europe? As far as what I saw of him at the Club world cup, he was nothing short of brilliant, and my Egyptian friends say he does the same for the national team. Also he struck me as a humble guy when i saw him give an interview and he said this I think after the African Champions League
" We need to stop this habit of praising a definite player. It isn't Aboutreika, but the whole team who got the Cup. Without the others' efforts, I can't ever make anything. Football is a game played by many players, it isn't Tennis or Squash"

Aboutrika's issue, as far as I know, is the same as most of the Egyptian players trying to make it out of our local league... outrageous transfer fee demands. The clubs in Egypt simply request too much from Euro clubs for the transfers to go through. In El-Ahly's case, it's worth more money for them to keep Abou Trika around like they did the past two years. He's helped them win the domestic and African Champions League titles for two years straight (which of course means lots of money), so is it worth letting him go for a certain amount of money, or will we as a club make more by keeping him around? So ya in short it boils down to cash. The national team's interests aren't a consideration

Because of this, you'll mostly find that the Egyptian players playing in Europe are the ones who left Egypt at a very young age (eg. Mido, Zidan) and escaped our trap of a football transfer system early enough.

And you're right about Trika.. an incredibley humble, pious individual. Always smiling and having fun on the pitch, and bows down to thank God every time he scores.

[Pharaoh]

Apparently Angola vs. Senegal, which I was looking forward to, has been cancled. The Angolan FA is pretty furious at the last second scratch by the Senegalese. That's Africa for you. Wouldn't be surprised if another African friendly gets cancled.

[Suprah]

Aboutrika's issue, as far as I know, is the same as most of the Egyptian players trying to make it out of our local league... outrageous transfer fee demands. The clubs in Egypt simply request too much from Euro clubs for the transfers to go through. In El-Ahly's case, it's worth more money for them to keep Abou Trika around like they did the past two years. He's helped them win the domestic and African Champions League titles for two years straight (which of course means lots of money), so is it worth letting him go for a certain amount of money, or will we as a club make more by keeping him around? So ya in short it boils down to cash. The national team's interests aren't a consideration

Because of this, you'll mostly find that the Egyptian players playing in Europe are the ones who left Egypt at a very young age (eg. Mido, Zidan) and escaped our trap of a football transfer system early enough.

Meh...such an issue reminds me of the Saudi league and their greedy club owners who have actually ruined the progess of many a players for decades now.

Mohammed Noor was approached by Villareal after the World Cup for a transfer and a two year contract from Al-Ittihad and the Saudi club owners only wanted a one year loan deal for Noor to play in La Liga or asked a ridiculously high fee that Villareal just couldnt pay

[Pharaoh]

Meh...such an issue reminds me of the Saudi league and their greedy club owners who have actually ruined the progess of many a players for decades now.

Mohammed Noor was approached by Villareal after the World Cup for a transfer and a two year contract from Al-Ittihad and the Saudi club owners only wanted a one year loan deal for Noor to play in La Liga or asked a ridiculously high fee that Villareal just couldnt pay

True Suprah.. I remember similar incidents with a few Saudi players during my years in Jeddah, namely winger Hussein Abdel Ghani. But overall Saudi players are sought in Europe on a very isolated and rare basis.. like once every few years. Sadly, there are several players every single month in North Africa whose careers regress to do greedy club economics.

[karimi_magic8]

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Costa Rica

Northern Ireland vs. Wales: Northern Ireland

Australia vs. Denmark: Denmark

Greece vs. Korea Rep.: Greece

Cyprus vs. Hungary: Hungary

Bulgaria vs. Latvia: Bulgaria

Nigeria vs. Ghana: Ghana

Brazil vs. Portugal: Brazil

Mali vs. Lithuania: Mali

Benin vs. Guinea: Guinea

Malta vs. Austria: Austria

Egypt vs. Sweden: Sweden

Georgia vs. Turkey: Turkey

England vs. Spain: Spain

Netherlands vs. Russia: Netherlands

Belgium vs. Czech Rep.: Czech Rep.

Israel vs. Ukraine: Ukraine

Uzbekistan vs. Azerbaijan: Uzbekistan

Morocco vs. Tunisia: Morocco

Germany vs. Switzerland: Germany

Croatia vs. Norway: Croatia

France vs. Argentina: France

Algeria vs. Libya: Algeria

Slovenia vs. Estonia: Slovenia

USA vs. Mexico: Mexico

Venezuela vs. Chile: Chile

Poland vs. Slovakia: Poland

Colombia vs. Uruguay: Uruguay

Italy vs. Romania: Italy

Angola vs. Senegal: Senegal

China vs. Kazakhstan: China

Belarus vs. Iran: Iran

Albania vs. Macedonia: Macedonia

Togo vs. Cameroon: Cameroon

Andorra vs. Armenia: Draw

Luxembourg vs. Gambia: Luxembourg

Botswana vs. Namibia: Namibia

Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe

Mozambique vs. Swaziland: Swaziland

[Pali]

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Costa Rica
Northern Ireland vs. Wales: Wales
Australia vs. Denmark: Denmark
Greece vs. Korea Rep.: Greece
Cyprus vs. Hungary: Draw
Bulgaria vs. Latvia: Bulgaria
Nigeria vs. Ghana: Nigeria
Brazil vs. Portugal: Brazil
Mali vs. Lithuania: Mali
Benin vs. Guinea: Guinea
Malta vs. Austria: Austria
Egypt vs. Sweden: Egypt
Georgia vs. Turkey: Turkey
England vs. Spain: Draw
Netherlands vs. Russia: Netherlands
Belgium vs. Czech Rep.: Czech Rep.
Israel vs. Ukraine: Ukraine
Uzbekistan vs. Azerbaijan: Uzbekistan
Morocco vs. Tunisia: Morocco
Germany vs. Switzerland: Draw
Croatia vs. Norway: Croatia
France vs. Argentina: France
Algeria vs. Libya: Algeria
Slovenia vs. Estonia: Slovenia
USA vs. Mexico: USA
Venezuela vs. Chile: Draw
Poland vs. Slovakia: Poland
Colombia vs. Uruguay: Uruguay
Italy vs. Romania: Italy
Angola vs. Senegal: Draw
China vs. Kazakhstan: China
Belarus vs. Iran: Iran
Albania vs. Macedonia: Macedonia
Togo vs. Cameroon: Cameroon
Andorra vs. Armenia: Draw
Luxembourg vs. Gambia: Draw
Botswana vs. Namibia: Botswana
Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe
Mozambique vs. Swaziland: Mozambique

[Pharaoh]

Egypt vs. Sweden: Egypt

it's us against the world on this one

[Pali]

it's us against the world on this one

haha inshalla we'll pull it off but we're gonna have to do it without abu treika