World Cup Friendlies Recap: Everybody’s Awesome.

May 26th, 2010 | by: chris | View Comments

Quite the turn of events these last 24 hours, we must admit. From World Cup teams going 0-4-2 across five games yesterday to a 4-0-1 record today – with that lone loss, Mexico, coming against the Dutch, who are a World Cup team (dontchaknow).

Of course it helps that those in action are supposed to be decent, at the least, World Cup teams, with the Netherlands, France, Chile and Uruguay all expected to either progress or be right there on the final day.

But more, the week of the debutant continues: after Lucas Barrios scored Tuesday with his hot-off-the-press Paraguayan passport in hand, Matthew Valbuena opened his French account, free checking, on Wednesday with the winner versus Costa Rica.

Clearly every World Cup team should be running out eleven international virgins each game. Damn the details.

Netherlands 2 – Mexico 1

Everybody sit back and watch some international class defending…

Nevermind. Three lovely goals in their own way, and proof that van Persie is back with further proof that Ibrahim Afellay is the honey dripping off the bee’s knees, but you have to believe they won’t have it quite so easy in a World Cup game. At least you hope not.

Chile 3 – Zambia 0

Young phenomenon Alexis Sanchez got the brace after coming on as a halftime sub, but the control by Jorge Valdivia on ball over the top to set up his first combined with his goal, Chile’s third, made generations of babies in Santiago. Well maybe not, ’twas Zambia after all, but it was still quite phenomenal for a guy playing in the United Arab Emirates. (For the football, obviously.)

Of course Sanchez’s second goal was nothing to scoff at. That would be why he’s one of the most highly rated youngsters on the planet.

Uruguay 4 – Israel 1

Poor Israel never stood a chance – not with Luis Suarez in the house. Setting up the first two goals, the first after some nifty work in midfield to keep possession, and causing fits for the Israeli defense which his teammates then converted. Which is really what he does: cause fits. (Scored one or two goals this year as well.)

Sebastian Abreu finished off nicely with a late brace, helped by Edinson Cavani, to pad the friendly scoreline and practice his celebrations, which mostly involve running a few yards and allowing the little people to hug him. Less is more.

France 2 – Costa Rica 1

We can safely say Steve Mandanda hates the Jabulani too. Thierry Henry was also trying to catch the flight of the ball. Just why, no one knows.

Costa Rica were sympathetic to Mandanda’s plight with the flight and expertly put Ribery’s cross into the back of their net, making it 1-1 until Mathieu Valbuena was run out in a France shirt for the very first time, and he didn’t disappoint. Winner in the 83rd, all while wearing the number 10 and Pat Riley’s hair.

He’d like that back.