Tag: 2010

GERMANY WIN PENALTY SHOOTOUT USING NEW SYSTEM

The German under-17 side became the first team to win a match using the new penalty shootout system. Germany defeated their counterparts Norway 3-2 to make the final of the Euro Under-17 tournament in the Czech Rep.


The new system is more of a replica of the tie breaker in tennis. Referred to as the ABBA system, it seeks to help the team that takes the kick second in the shootout. The team that kicks after the other side in the shootout usually battle a psychological disadvantage as they have to play catch up.

The new system prescribes that the shootout follows the tennis tie-break method. Germany lost their first three chances, yet they won the shootout.

Germany played the first kick. The Norway keeper Karen Sneve saved it. Norway played theirs, which they lost. According to new rule, Norway played first in the second round of kicks – the third kick of the shootout as against Germany in the popular method. Norway scored so the scoreline was 1-0.Read More

Antonio Conte is excited about being drawn with Spain

The coach of the Italian national football team, Antonio Conte said that he feels excited and stimulated about being drawn in the same group as Spain for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Spain has recently been going through a downhill road of underwhelming results as they still haven’t appeared to be able to completely bounce back from their early exit in the 2014 World Cup.

Nonetheless, even though Spain is clearly struggling and are not going through their best of times, Vicente del Bosque has at his disposal some of the best players in the world including the likes of: Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, David Silva, CescFabregas and Isco just to name a few of their main stars.

With this amount of talented players, Spain still is considered to be a huge threat but Antonio Conte is happy about this challenge.

Italy’s Antonio Conte said: “It is a tough group, however, I prefer to think that Spain could boost us,” Conte said after the draw in St Petersburg.I don’t like the word ‘difficult’. It will be a stimulating challenge against one of the strongest in the world. I am sure that we can do well and we can have good performances.Spain is not the best draw, but Germany would have been worse. On paper, Italy and Spain are the best teams; however, it will be decided on the pitch.”Read More

Schweinsteiger states that his team will not be underestimating Gibraltar

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger states that his team will not be underestimating Gibraltar when they take on the minnows in an upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying match.

After recently suffering a shock 2-1 defeat against the United States, Germany will be pumped up in order to get a result. This match is heavily important for the Germans, as it represents their ability to stay above Scotland in the Euro 2016 qualifying race. They also need to keep up with Poland, who have a one-point advantage. Germany have suffered only one defeat in the qualification campaign so far, but it has proved very costly indeed.

Poland have been undefeated so far and it has helped them get an unlikely lead in the group D. Should the group finish the same way, Poland will have a great opportunity to keep their advantage in the Euro 2016 finals since they are likely to get a slightly easier group. The match against Gibraltar could end up in a thrashing, as the opposition have conceded a whopping 27 goals in the six games so far. They have managed just one goal in reply. Despite these statistics, Schweinsteiger says that the team is expecting a competitive game on Sunday.Read More