retired_destiny1124

3.9.05
San Marino (1) Uzbekistan (2) Friendly
San Marino- A.Isomoilov 54-OG
Uzbekistan- A.Akbarov 38 M.Shatskikh 89
MOM- Maxim Shatskikh, Uzbekistan

Another loss for us and it was another one of our own making. The first goal came when Paolo Cupi deflected a long Aziz Akbarov shot enough to change the direction past Federico Gasperoni to give them the lead. They gave us an own-goal back to even the match, but if their defender hadn't put the ball into his net- then Matteo Valli would have because he was right next to him. We turned a draw into a loss when Niccola Ranocchini tussled trying to challenge Maxim Shatskikh for the ball- and lost. Shatskikh moved past him and put a pretty shot just inside the right post for the late match winner. We played without several injured players- including most importantly for us our best player Andy Selva. The youngsters played ok in the match, but I would have preferred a better result.

retired_destiny1124

7.9.05
Belgium (4) San Marino (0)
Belgium- L.Pieroni 12 W.Sonck 20,54 G.Dufer 33
San Marino- None
MOM- Wesley Sonck, Belgium

We may have lost worse in this match than in our match at Olimpico, but I was actually pleased with portions of our play. Our young backline played- and covered for each other- the way I have been trying to get the club to play since they awarded me the job. The midfield offered some glimpses of good play and we generated three top drawer scoring chances- but their keeper came up big to keep us off the scoreboard. We lost because they simply overpowered us with their pace, their skill and their ability in the air. Their first goal came when Federico Gasperoni made a terrific reaction save on a deflected ball, but Luigi Pieroni was much quicker to the rebound than Niccola Ranocchini. Wesley Sonck overpowered us for his pair of goals- we simply don't have anyone that can match up with him. Despite that, I was very pleased Paolo Cupi's play- even with an early yellow card- he was willing to challenge and he came up with some big tackles in our area. Dufer scored when he alertly picked up a loose ball at the edge of the area and made a good shot to score with it. The signs of improvement were there, but we have to get better in all aspects of our play AND play a consistently determined entire match to have a chance against a club of this caliber, and we just aren't there yet.

retired_destiny1124

8.10.05
Bosnia (2) San Marino (0)
Bosnia- R.Moroni 45-OG, E.Bolic 77
San Marino- None
MOM- Zlatan Bajramovic, Bosnia

We may have lost by the same margin, 2-0, to Bosnia but I have to say this was a good performance by us. The backline worked extremely well together and I am a lot more confident that this foursome will help carry us into the future. I was impressed by their coverage today and we made some superb tackles to blunt their offensive efforts. We gave up an own-goal to ruin the first half when Raffaele Moroni made a mistake. They finally managed to score one of their own when Elvir Bolic deflected a corner past Federico Gasperoni. The one element we were missing today- and cost us a better result- was bad passing by our midfield and forwards as we got into their area. We moved the ball down the pitch very well at times, but then were very hesitant inside their area and that kept us from getting more chances. It doesn't bode well for our final Group 7 match against Spain that we lost Federico Gasperoni, as his twisted knee will keep him out of the match and off the roster.

retired_destiny1124

12.10.05
San Marino (0) Spain (3)
San Marino- None
Spain- I.Helguera 17-P R.Baraja 20 Xavi 35
MOM- Xavi, Spain

The score today was indicative of our overall improvement in play, but it could have been even closer. Their first goal came on a disputed penalty kick after Carlo Valentini was whistled for pushing Fernando Torres in the area. Their second goal was a 35 yard blast that Federico Valentini had no business not stopping. He had a clear view of the shot and time to react- but never did. Their last goal came courtesy of a nice pass and the backline didn't close quickly enough to stop Xavi from blasting away just inside the area. We didn't generate too many chances as we rarely won the ball in the air, saw them continually quicker to the ball, and their tackling was just generally very effective. I was glad to see this World Cup Qualifying Group play finally end- there were no clubs in our Group that we really had a chance against, though we did play a few good matches. With the defense looking much more in tune now- I desperately need to find a midfielder who can create some chances for our forwards. I had been hoping Raffaele Moroni would do this- but he continues to be ineffective when we need him to assert himself.

retired_destiny1124

As we approach our last pair of friendlies to close out the year, the press are having a field day with the perceived situation between Roberto Selva and myself. I tried to call Roberto up after an injury for the Bosnia and Spain matches, but he refused the call up saying "I am not anyone's 2nd choice." The press asked me about his refusal and comments, but I chose not to offer any comments on the matter. Now, with him not being called up this time- they have taken the whole situation to an entertaining degree of discussion. The truth of the matter is that I don't think Roberto is one of the top 26 players- and I didn't call him up both because of that and because we are also trying several other new players in this pair of friendlies. They also made a big deal of Federico Gasperoni not being called up, but that is simply because I know he isn't quite healed up from his injury- and I wanted to take a look at Riccardo Daniel Ceccoli, a 17 year old who has seen Under-21 playing time. A lot of the press have derided Ceccoli's call-up, but those were the same ones who said that Andrea Domeniconi didn't have a place on the National side.

retired_destiny1124

12.11.05
Poland (5) San Marino (1)
Poland- M.Zurawski 2,37 J.Kowalczyk 20 A.Wichiniarek 71 R.Kaluzny 83
San Marino- M.Valli 7
MOM- Jacek Kryznowek, Poland

We played well in first stages of the first half, battling back to 1-1 after they scored in the opening moments. After that, the superiority of their players showed as they executed well in finishing us off 5-1. Until late in the second half, Riccardo Daniel Ceccoli played well for his debut. The goals they scored against him were well earned- except for the last one that came on a corner where he wound up a bit out of position. We also featured more youngster's debuts- 17 year old AMLC Stefano Gioia, 17 year old SC Felice Gusuele and 20 year old MC Andrea Bollini. The result was expected but did give me more insight into the youngsters we are playing. With Gioia injured, I recalled Federico Gasperoni to play goal in our other friendly as we host Cyprus.

retired_destiny1124

16.11.05
San Marino (0) Cyprus (0)
San Marino- None
Cyprus- None
MOM- Federico Gasperoni, San Marino

I believe our fans and our federation were cheered by the scoreless draw, but we didn't play all that well and could have won the match if we had played better. They went a man down early in the first half after Theodoras Katsiaris drew two yellow cards. We did not take very good advantage of the advantage though as our passing wasn't very effective. Our backline play was pretty solid for the match, but we wasted many outlet passes that could have helped the midfield get going. Despite being a man down, they were a much pacier club than us and we just weren't finding the space we needed to really get some good scoring chances. At this point, the draw was a welcome result, but I remain disappointed that we squandered a good chance for a win.

retired_destiny1124

The draws were announced for European Championship 2008 qualifying and it will be another difficult Group for us to gain a good result. With us in Group 3 are:

Russia
Italy
Poland
Lithuania
Scotland

At the least- with Italy we won't have far to travel for our match with them. We have already seen how tough Poland has become and both Lithuania and Scotland have done moderately well in World Cup qualifiers- this could be another long road through qualifying for us.

boblive77

Good story as always Faramir. :thup:Btw, how are your San Marinos youngsters doing? Any new superstar in the making?

shannon2007

Yay well done on the point! I think you can mibbe take something from Lithuanian and Scotland with a bit of luck, but indeed it's going to be another tough group.