(F14) International Friendlies - Week 3

Please schedule matches and post results here

REMINDERS:
- These matches are completely optional to play...especially during the holidays
- You may schedule and play up to 3 "official" friendlies with 3 different teams
- I suggest posting your availability and finding a match rather than picking a team and trying to schedule. In some cases that will be easier than others, of course.
- Read the Roster Rules one more time

OPEN: Tuesday, Dec. 24 - 9a ET
CLOSE: Wednesday, Jan. 1 - midnight PT

This opens tomorrow but if anyone wants to defy management and kick off a couple while Santa is getting around tonight I'm on.

Anyone around to play between now and 3pm EST?

I can play now Go Devils

I may have opened a can of worms.

It's fine, let's open it up now anyway....have at it

I can play after 8:30 pm today a few games. I'll be out of town the rest of the week until Sunday night.

Let me know , if anyone can play a friendly or 2.

Senegal will be looking for games later in the week. Out of town until Friday night or Saturday morning, but should have some time to play after that

Are there different weeks to play friendlies or must we play all 3 this week?

You can play up to 3 this week only

Will there be "complex" FIFA rankings after these friendlies?

hmm...I'm sure Broncos218 will come up with something

Anyone around for friendlies? No kids , no wife for a little while

Yup, I'll be posting a FIFA rankings after every international week (friendlies/qualifiers)

my head still hurts from the draft order process, so I think we're all done with the crazy algorithms until the next WC draft. But as zikry mentioned above, he's planning to post some rankings throughout the cycle.

Are you gonna be online?

i'll hop on later tonight, going to work on the last WC group preview first though and might even try to put up a team page as well (might hold off until tomorrow w/ that tho)

I'll be around for the next hour or so if anyone wants to play Sweden

Int'l Week 3 Friendly

(Broncos218) Poland 2 - 1 Argentina (YNWA96)

Match Facts:
2 Goals 1
6 Shots 5
3 SOT 4
48% Possession 52%
14 Tackles 10
0 Fouls 0
0 0
0 0
2 Offsides 0
0 Corners 0

Poland:
R. Lewandowski (59') G. Krychowiak
L. Obraniak (86') L. Piszczek

Argentina:
A. Di Maria (32') L. Messi

MOTM: G. Krychowiak - Poland (8.5)​

Poland Opens International Friendly Play With Late Winner
TFS international play officially began today with the friendly match between Poland and Argentina. Both teams appeared to be using their full-strength lineups at the start, and Argentina was first to strike in the 32nd minute. "They nearly connected in similar fashion prior to that goal," said Coach Bronc, "and they burned us the second time." Messi set up Argentina's goal on a pretty through pass to Di Maria, while Poland LB Boenisch had no chance of preventing the shot. Argentina went into the half with the 1-0 lead, and both teams made a sub at the half. Poland then leveled the match with a Lewandowski strike in the 59th minute, a play that appeared to stun the Argentinians a bit after nearing being lulled to sleep with Poland's patience around the box. Obraniak then gave Poland the late winner before being substituted shortly thereafter as both teams made some late subs. It made no difference though, as the scoreline of 2-1 stood until the final whistle. "Great opening match for us, I think we're learning exactly what we have here with this set of players," continued Coach Bronc. "Argentina played great and I let their manager know that following the match. I think they're on course for a final 16 spot, and I wouldn't mind not having to face them down the road. They have great players and showcased their dominance on their goal setup, and they certainly played better than the scoreline indicated." Poland will have a chance to play a couple more friendlies before the international window closes, and Coach Bronc mentioned that he would like to get in a match with some of the more borderline players in one of those upcoming games.

gg YNWA96

After working the ball around the box, Lewandowski pounces for a quick strike to level the match


In the 86th minute, Obraniak brings back Bronc's memories of Bordeaux with this late game-winner​

just a heads up- scores will be kept track of and posted for official friendly matches, but stats will not be kept. You can post a recap if you would like, but it's not mandatory

Int'l Week 3 Friendly

(Broncos218) Poland 1 - 1 Ghana (Zikry)

Match Facts:
1 Goals 1
3 Shots 8
3 SOT 4
47% Possession 53%
9 Tackles 19
0 Fouls 1
0 0
0 0
1 Offsides 0
2 Corners 3

Poland:
D. Perquis (45') J. Blaszczykowski

Ghana:
A. Ayew (24') A. Gyan

MOTM: W. Szczesny - Poland (8.1)​

Poland Draw With Africa/Asia Favorites Ghana
Following a win against Argentina, Poland was quickly back at it with a friendly against Ghana. Seen as the favorites in the Africa/Asia region, Ghana's real test may come when it plays against teams outside of its qualification group, and they got their first preview of that today. It didn't seem to phase Ghana early, as the African nation scored in the 24th minute on a rather easy looking pass and shot. The culprit for Poland looked to again be LB Sebastian Boenisch, which may very well put him in Coach Bronc's doghouse after being exposed in both of Poland's goals against this week. "Players have bad games and bad moments here and there," said Coach Bronc at first, downplaying the situation at first. Yet he then added, "at the same time, we're at a phase where we need to evaluate everyone on the pitch, and Boenisch hasn't exactly passed the initial test. He's talented and we'd like to see how he does against other opposition, but he sure isn't locking down his position liked we had planned him to." Depsite the early gaffe, Poland struck back off of a free kick in the 45th minute. Kuba kicked it in from just outside the corner of the box, and CB Damien Perquis headed the ball in to level the match. The second half brought about no more goals, yet it provided each team the opportunity to sub in players and evaluate talent off the bench. Kuba ended up with the highest rating among all outfield players, and Maciej Rybus upped his stock in Poland's LM battle with a solid 80 minutes of work. Poland played with its full-strength once again to test out their worth relative to a tough team in Ghana, but Coach Bronc is expected to work in even more players in the team's final friendly later this week.

gg Zikry

A. Gyan sets up A. Ayew in the 24th minute for the Ghana's lone goal​

Willing to play anyone starting tomorrow. I'm off from work until next Wednesday. Woot

I will be around until 2pm EST today. If anyone is around give me a 30min heads up to check the board. Merry Christmas!

I'm around so just gimme a tag on here when you want to play and I'll head on.

I figured this was going to happen on my only day off. So I preemptively struck with the wife and the new kindle she got will keep her busy for an hour at least setting up.