P W D L F A PTS
Spain 3 2 0 1 6 5 6
Yugoslavia 3 1 1 1 7 7 4
Norway 3 1 1 1 1 1 4
Slovenia 3 0 2 1 4 5 2
Quarter Finals
Spain vs France
Yugoslavia vs Holland
21 JUNE 2000
GREATEST GAME OF ALL TIME?
SPAIN 4-3 YUGOSLAVIA
Alfonso 38, 95 Milosevic 30
Munitis 52 Govedarica 51
Mendieta 93 Komljenovic 75
Milosevic should have headed Yugoslavia into the lead from Drulovic's cross.
Helguera brilliantly pulled down a raking Sergi pass spurn around and shot
just wide. Raul and Mendieta combined for another chance, Mendieta playing
the ball wide with a deft pass, Salgado smashed in a first time cross but
Alfonso fell over the ball. Kralj saved a Mendieta volley with his chest.
Jokanovic won a ball in defence, Stojkovic back heeled to Mihajlovic who
launched an awesome 40yd pass straight to Drulovic, he crossed and Milosevic
headed low into the net. Alfonso headed wide from a corner. Spain equalised
when Yugoslavia failed to clear a corner, Raul tried to put the ball through
Djukic's legs, Djukic hurled himself at the ball, it broke to Alfonso who
beat Kralj with a superb first time shot. Krlaj made an excellent save from
Raul's volley and Djukic denied Mendieta on the rebound with a great tackle.
Both substitutes scored within minutes of coming on. With an awesome turn of
pace Drulovic cut inside Sergi and touched the ball for Govedarica who hit a
magnificent first time curling shot past an unsighted Canizares. Spain hit
back immediately, Mendieta and Etxeberria combined on the right flank,
Etxeberria picked out Munitis who hit a sensational left foot shot in off the
post, awesome goal. Raul's shot took a deflection of Djukic's backside and
just trickled wide of the post. Jokanovic was sent off for fouling Munitis.
Alfonso and Mijatovic went close before Yugoslavia went back into the lead.
Spain wasted several chances to clear a free kick, Govedarica crossed and
Komljenovic launched himself to volley in at the far post. Spain, now playing
with FIVE forwards, continued their relentless attacks, Krlaj saving
brilliantly from Guardiola's audacious chip and saving with his feet from
Alfonso. Krlaj spilled Alfonso's point blank header, Raul chipped the ball
to the far post, Abelardo threw himself to the ground, penalty. Mendieta sent
Kralj the wrong way. With seconds remaining Guardiola launched a long ball
into the box, Urzaiz headed down and Alfonso volleyed into the bottom corner.
Simply the greatest match I have ever seen. Watching Alfonso's winner,
several hours after the match ended still sends chills down my spine. Full
credit to Yugoslavia who despite only needing a draw attacked relentlessly,
that's when they managed to get the ball off Spain.
Man of the Match : Alfonso - Two fantastic pieces of finishing spared his
country from another embarrassing first round exit.
Assists : Drulovic to Milosevic, Drulovic to Govedarica,
Govedarica to Komljenovic
Etxeberria to Munitis, Abelardo, Urzaiz to Alfonso
Red Card : Jokanovic 64 (Yugoslavia)
FROM THE BEST TO THE WORST
NORWAY 0-0 SLOVENIA
This must have been awful as there were no second half highlights and no
decent shots on target in the first half.
18 JUNE 2000
SPAIN EDGE TIGHT CONTEST
SPAIN 2-1 SLOVENIA
Raul 5 Zahovic 59
Etxeberria 60
Raul reacted brilliantly when Salgado's shot cannoned off a defender, he
waited for the ball to bounce and then lashed it past Dabanovic. Just a
classy, classy finish, he didn't even look at the goal. Valeron created an
opening for Alfonso but he took several touches too many and was closed down,
something he did all match, he also kept looking for penalties, what's new?
some excellent one touch passing on the right wing opened up Spain, Novak
sent a cross into the box, Udovic missed the ball and Rudonja's shot was
charged down. Alfonso capitalised on a defensive mistake and played in Raul
with some excellent ball juggling but he dragged his shot wide.
Zahovic was credited with the equaliser but it looked like Rudonja's cross
came off both Zahovic and Osterc. Slovenia's lead only lasted a minute,
Mendieta brilliantly controlled Alfonso's flick off, beat the entire
Slovenia defence, poked the ball through Milanic's legs, cut infield,
slipped in Etxeberria on the right side and Dabanovic made a complete mess
of what should have been a routine save. Fantastic assist, I doubt we'll see
a better one all tournament. Galic made a complete mess of a 100% chance
when 'the Beckham of the left', Karic, gave him a perfect cross from a free
kick. Abelardo also missed a great chance from Mendieta's perfect corner.
Zahovic forced a brilliant save from Canizares as Karic once again caused
havoc from a corner.
Man of the Match : Mendieta - Direct, gifted, inspirational.
Assist : Mendieta to Etxeberria
Rudonja to Zahovic
UGLY YUGOSLAVIA SEE OFF UGLIER NORWEIGANS
YUGOSLAVIA 1-0 NORWAY
Milosevic 8
Stojkovic slung in a free kick from wide on the right, Milosevic stuck out
a heel and the ball bounced into the net. Norway strung together four passes,
no, really, Mykland finding Flo in the box but Krlaj closed down the
angle and made a great save. Myhre repeated the trick at the other end
following brilliant interplay between Mijatovic, Drulovic and Stojkovic.
Kralj almost decapitate Iversen when bravely coming out for a cross, I say
bravely because if he missed it was a goal. Inzaghi's friend, referee Hugh
Dallas then completely lost the plot. Following over 80 minutes of diving
by Yugoslavia Mijatovic stayed down after a clash of heads, Dallas of course
told him to get up. He then sent off Kezman, within a minute of coming on for
a late foul on Mykland. He just came on you stupid twat, use some common
sense. Carew should have equalised when Solskjaer hit a ball over the top but
predictably, that's is if you've seen him play, shot wide.
Norway's best chance followed some passing so they predictably went back
to banging long balls forward. Yugoslavia played some nice football but were
let down by hurried finishing.
Man of the Match : Very confident on crosses which is our course Norway's
only weapon and made a crucial save in the first half.
Red Card : Kezman 88 (Yugoslavia)
Assist : Stojkovic to Milosevic
13 JUNE 2000
COMEBACK OF THE CENTURY
YUGOSLAVIA 3-3 SLOVENIA
Milosevic 67, 73 Zahovic 23, 57
Drulovic 70 Pavlin 52
Boy was I like not looking forward to this match and it turns out to be the
best game so far. Zahovic opened the scoring with a superb diving header from
an equally superb Karic cross. Swift interplay between Udovic and Karic
opened up the Yugoslav defence, Zahovic ran though but was denied by a
fantastic save from Kralj. Karic gave a hospital pass straight to Stojkovic,
on for the ineffective Stankovic, in the box but he crossed to nowhere
with the goal at his mercy. Udovic went close with a diving header from
another perfect Karic cross.
Just as Milosevic came on for Kovacevic, Pavlin scored with another
brilliant header from Zahovic's free kick. Mihajlovic was then booked for
giving the ref a dirty look, stupid twat. He then made what has to be
one of the best hospital passes of all time, he couldn't possibly have
given Zahovic a better ball, Zahovic picked his spot. To complete a truly
miserable performance he got himself sent off for pushing Udovic (who dived
before anyone starts) straight in front of the ref and he couldn't possibly
have done his team-mates a bigger favour as they suddenly decided to pull
their fingers out of their arses and made the comeback of this century.
Dabanovic made a great save from a beautifully struck volley by Drulovic.
Djukic threw himself at a miss-hit shot, the ball sailed over Dabanovic,
hit the post and Milosevic tapped in what appeared to be a consolation
goal. Stojkovic released Mijatovic with a peach of a pass down the left
wing he centered and Drulovic beautifully placed the ball into the corner
of the net. Drulovic then murdered Ceh down the right flank, got into the
box and gave a present to Milosevic for the equaliser. Deep into injury
time Djorovic cleared Milinovic's header off the line.
What a bloody great game which fittingly caps off what has been a spectacular
first round of action. Once again credit to the referee who was as magnificent
as the game itself. Karic's crossing was World Class, if he keeps it up he
will be dubbed the Beckham of the left wing.
Red Cards : Mihajlovic 59 (Yugoslavia)
Assists : Karic to Zahovic, Zahovic to Pavlin
Djukic to Milosevic, Mijatovic to Drulovic, Drulovic to Milosevic
MOLINA GIFTS BORWAY VICTORY
SPAIN 0-1 NORWAY
Iversen 66
Myhre made what was probably the save of the tournament so far from
Etxeberria's cruel, dipping, swerving shot. Solskjaer headed against the
crossbar. Myhre made an excellent save from Urzaiz's header. Raul wasted a
100% following a mistake by Berg.
Myhre spilled a ferocious shot by Fran but recovered brilliantly as Raul
steamed in. Myhre punted a ball upfield, Mollina came out and missed and
Iversen headed into an empty net. Myhre became the first goalkeeper in
history to be punished under the new six second rule. Guardiola touched the
ball back to Hierro and by the time he took his shot Norway charged down the
ball. Mendieta and Alfonso came on in the 70th minute but couldn't find a way
through Norway's 10 man defence, Carew left alone in attack. Salgado went
close with a half volley. The two subs combined for a rare chance, but once
again Myhre came to the rescue, saving from Salgado at the near post.
Ok so Norway made it tough, they got everyone behind the ball but you
would expect Spain to break down any defence but then we've heard that
before.
Man of the Match : Myhre - Made some crucial saves also made the goal
Assists : Myhre to Iversen
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