Friendlies/Internationals/Liga strike roundup
By: Jack | March 30th, 2011With the International break now over with it is a good time to roundup how our Leones got on, how the friendlies went and the latest on this weekend’s possible Liga strike.
International Roundup
First of all Mikel San José, Iker Muniain and future León Ander Herrera were called up to the Spanish U21s. None of them played in Spain’s first friendly against France but all three played in the 1-1 draw with Belarus, Muniain impressing as a half-time substitute.
Herrera and Muniain also got to practice their Pokemon skills.
Andoni Iraola, Javi Martínez and Fernando Llorente were called up to the senior squad, the first time a Spain squad featured three Leones since 2000. As with the U21s, none played in the first game (a home victory over Czech Republic) but all three featured in the 3-1 win in Lithuania with Llorente scoring one of the goals.
Friendlies Roundup
The rest of the players were still kept occupied though as Athletic had two friendlies organised.
The first was on Wednesday night against Alavés and featured mostly fringe players. Markel Suseata scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Then on Saturday the first team played against Celtic at San Mamés to raise money for the Bizkaia youth clubs.
There was a great atmosphere from the Athletic and Celtic fans (both during and before the game) and while it was a decent game it finished goalless.
As is customary to visiting captains on their team’s first visit to San Mamés, Anthony Stokes placed a wreath at Pichichi’s bust.
Raúl had a good game in goal and Díaz de Cerio got some much needed match practice. Youngsters Iker Guarrotxena and Galder Cerrajería both made their first team debuts as second half substitutes. Freddie Ljungberg featured for the visitors.
Basque ref Iturralde González also made himself popular with Celtic boss Neil Lennon….
Strike latest
And finally, there will be league action this weekend after all. The LFP was unhappy about a law that states that one Liga game a week must be shown on free TV and threatened to suspend this weekend’s matches. However 6 ‘rebel’ clubs (including Athletic) disagreed with this action and mounted a legal challenge which was upheld today by a Madrid court.
Athletic will therefore travel to Almería on Monday night.
The lineups for the two friendlies:
Alavés game: Raúl; De Marcos (Urko Vera 64), Ocio (Ustaritz 46), Amorebieta, Castillo (Balenziaga 64); Susaeta, Gurpegi (Orbaiz 46), Iturraspe, Gabilondo; Díaz de Cerio, Urko Vera (David López 46)
Celtic game: Raul; Ekiza, Ocio, Amorebieta (Guarrotxena 46), Castillo (Koikili 64); Gurpegi, Iturraspe, Orbaiz (Cerrajeria 64), Gabilondo (Balenziaga 46); Susaeta, Díaz de Cerio.
Category: Alaves, Athletic Bilbao Team News, Athletic Bilbao Team News, Friendlies, Spain, Translation
Comments
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Llorente didn’t score against Lithuania- everything I read has it down as an own goal.
Still, he had a good game and definitely could (should) have put himself on the scoresheet.
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When is the last time 3 Athletic players played 90 mins in the same match for Spain? Probably Guerrero, Urzaiz and Extebe but maybe even further back than that! Any pics of the 3 together?
Muniain and Herrera look about 10 in that photo! Still it will be good to see them zipping about in the same side next season.
Neil Lennon cannot contain his emotions. I read he was sent to the stand in that friendly for disputing a throw-in. He is currently serving a 4-match ban or being a brat in the dugout in Scotland and is due for another 2 games on top of that although his lawyers are trying to have him serve them simultaneously. I hear the ref is also a notorious power-mad fool but since I dont speak Spanish these details pass me by.
I take it Iker Guarrotxena was seriously injured for a long while? Have been trying to find out, but again the language barrier (and the obscurity of the thing) has thwarted me. A few years ago he was one of the ‘next big things’ in the harrobi, then nothing was heard of him while the rest of his ‘class’ got to 2 cup finals (spotted him in the cup-winning squad photos though) and now here he is back and getting some game time with the big lads ahead of the Baskonia team – when he hasn’t even appeared at Tercera level?
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Jeez, crowsus, way to play the downer! I only would have expected that from a Madridista!!!!!!
(sorry for the outburst, alcohol is involved)
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i’m sick of hearing about lock-outs. in the end we all lose as we the fans miss out on something that makes us forget about our bad days and bills. i mean what is this bullshit, american sports?
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@Crowsus, I think Guerrero/Urzaiz/Extebe were the 3 in 2000, don’t know if they all played in the team though.
Lennon has got a reputation for this (and mostly deserved) but what I’ve read from both sides is that the ref overreacted.
Guarrotxena was called up as he was suspended for the Bilbao Athletic’s league game. That’s why a Juvenil player (Galder Cerrajería) was called up – all the other BA and Baskonia players were involved in league action.
@Jose yeah, it’s always the fans that lose out and as a hockey fan I remember the NHL lockout a few years back
Thing is, this was the league that decided to strike rather than the players/clubs. It’s becoming more and more of a joke, I’m sure we could run La Liga better between us (or at least, couldn’t do any worse).
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