BALTIMORE, Maryland March 7, 2014 - While world events spun out of control not far away, the Polish National Team took on Scotland in Warsaw on Wednesday, with the Tartan Army winning, 1-0, when Scott Brown beat Wojciech Szczesny in the 78th minute. The match, played before about 41,000 disappointed fans at Slaski Stadium, was a preview of a Group Play match-up for Euro 2016 set for this coming autumn. The Poles played without their best striker, Robert Lewandowski, and their captain, Kuba Blaszczykowski. Despite the absences, Poland's Coach, Adam Nawalka, admitted the entire effort was not what he was looking for, according to Polanad Radio's "The News" website. "We're all very disappointed," he was quoted as saying. Despite this, Poland had a wonderful opportunity to grab the lead 13 minutes after the half. A set play, created when Scotland's Alan Hutton fouled Slawomir Pesczko, resulted in the ensuing kick coming to Kamil Glik just eight yards from the Scottish Goal. A Sky Sports report from the match says Poland should have scored here, but Glik's header went just a yard wide and the crowd let out a joint grown. The win allowed the Tartan Army to extend its unbeaten streak to five games.
Ukraine Beat USA, 2-0, in Cyprus In a game scheduled to be a home game for Ukraine, the embattled nation's soccer team stopped World Cup bound USA, 2-0, on goals by Denys Garmash and Marko Devic. As Ukraine fans displayed a large sign reading: Ukraine is Undivided! One Country - One Team!, the blue and gold improved their all time record against Team USA to 3 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie.
Wales blitzes Iceland, 3-1 Around the soccer world, fans are abuzz after the performance of Gareth Bale. A Real Madrid star who joined the Wales National Team when he was 16, Bale scored one goal himself and assisted on both of the other Welsh scores at Cardiff City Stadium. Despite the excitement, the stadium was described as half-empty for the match. Wales is in Group B for Euro 2016, and other friendly scores this week from Group B have Welsh spirits soaring. Bosnia, the top seed in the group, lost to Egypt, 2-0. Slovakia defeated third-seeded Israel, 3-1 in a game played in Tel Aviv. Cyprus, another Group B team that is seeded lower than Wales, drew, 0-0, while playing at home, with Northern Ireland. while another lower seeded Group B team, Andorra, was whacked by Moldova, 3-0, in a match played at Andorra La Vella. And World Cup-bound Belgium surrendered a goal in Injury Time and settled for a tie with Ivory Coast, 2-2. Homestanding Belgium led, 2-0, until the Ivory Coast scored in the 74th minute and then two minutes into Injury Time.
There were these other Friendly scores: Mario Goetze scored in the 16th minute for the match's only score as Germany stopped Chile, 1-0 before 54,449 at Mercedes Benz Arena in Germany. Nonetheless, observers said it was Chile which played the better game. Costa Rica downed Paraguay, 2-1. Mexico and Nigeria played a scoreless draw in front of over 68,000 fans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Japan downed New Zealand, 4-2, before over 47,000 at Saitama Stadium in Japan. Georgia scored in each half to defeat Liechtenstein, 2-0, st Boris Paichadze Stadium in Georgia. Russia defeated Armenia, 2-0. Azerbaijan defeated the Philipines, 1-0. Lithuania and Kazakhstan drew, 1-1. Bulgaria held off Belarus, 2-1. Albania edged Malta, 2-0. Algeria beat Slovenia, 2-0. South Korea stopped Greece, 2-0, in a match between two World Cup-bound teams. Greece shooters hit the crossbar three times in the first half. Finland beat Hungary, 2-1. Montenegro stopped Ghana, 1-0. It was Brazil 5, South Africa 0 in a match between the last and the next World Cup host countries. Norway and the Czech Republic drew, 2-2. In Barcelona, Spain, Colombia was tied by spunky Tunisia, 1-1. Macedonia downed Latvia, 2-1. Luxembourg and the Cape Verde Islands played a scoreless draw. Turkey beat Sweden, 2-1. Estonia beat back Gibralter, 2-0. Romania and Argentina played a scoreless draw. Austria and Uruguay drew, 1-1. Switzerland and Croatia drew, 2-2. Serbia stopped Ireland, 2-1. It was Ecuador 4, Austrailia 3. England defeated Denmark, 1-0. In front of 50,000 at Stade de France, Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi each scored at the home team downed Holland, 2-0. Portugal routed Cameroon, 5-1. Pedro scored in the second half as Spain edged Italy before only 20,000 in Madrid. Finally, Honduras beat Venezuela, 2-1.
In case you haven't heard, Euro 2016 held its draw for Group play in Nice, France on February 23. These are the Groups that will begin play this fall:
Group A: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland and Kazakhstan.
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina. Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus and Andorra
Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Luxembourg and FYROM (Macedonia).
Group D: Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia and Gibralter.
Group E: England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino.
Group F: Greece. Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands.
Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova and Liechtenstein.
Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta.
Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia and Albania.
The 53 national teams listed above will compete beginning this fall in search of one of 23 places in the final round. As the host team, France is guaranteed the 24th final spot. Euro 2016 will be Gibralter's first in the tournament.
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