These days it's rare for Lionel Messi to accomplish something he has yet to already do, but he was able to cross another item off his career bucket list on Wednesday.
The Barcelona catalyst and reigning Ballon d'Or winner scored his first career hat trick for his country, tallying all of Argentina's goals — including two late ones — in a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in Bern.
Messi, still criticized by some for his performance on the international level, silenced all doubters on Wednesday, turning in a dominant showing and outdueling Swiss rising star Xherdan Shaqiri. He opened his account with a low shot from the edge of the box in the first half. After Shaqiri leveled the score with a 50th-minute finish, Messi went to work, shaking a defender in the box before chipping the goalkeeper in the 88th minute. He capped off his hat trick from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Highlights from the match and more results from Wednesday's wild day of international soccer are after the jump:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AgnWp_2bDA]
COLOMBIA 2, MEXICO 0
Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado scored to cap a pretty dominant performance by the Colombians, who silenced a first-choice Mexico squad in front of more than 51,000 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
Falcao scored on a rebound of a spilled save in the 36th minute, while Cuadrado finished off a tremendous team passing sequence by one-timing a cross into a vacated net in the 60th minute to extend Colombia's advantage.
Here's video from the match:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_6ArOlazoM]
NETHERLANDS 3, ENGLAND 2
Arjen Robben broke England's collective heart with a stoppage-time goal that came on the heels of Ashley Young's dramatic equalizer, leading the Dutch to a wild victory at Wembley Stadium.
After a fruitless first half, the Netherlands scored in consecutive minutes, with Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar getting on the board.
With England looking just about finished, Gary Cahill and Young scored in a five minute span at the end of the second half to seemingly salvage a draw before Robben found the back of the next just seconds after for his second goal of the match.
Here's video of the wild friendly:
SPAIN 5, VENEZUELA 0
Roberto Soldado notched a hat trick to pace the World Champions past a Venezuela side that was reduced to 10 men midway through the second half.
Soldado could've had four goals, but he had a spot kick saved after Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for pulling down the Valencia striker.
Iniesta and David Silva also got on the board for Spain.
Here are highlights of the rout:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lih-r8jGwWo]
FRANCE 2, GERMANY 1
Olivier Giroud and Florent Malouda got on the board, as France continued its comeback under Laurent Blanc and stretched its unbeaten streak to 18 games with an impressive victory over a Germany side that had a number of regulars in its lineup but was not at full strength.
Cacau pulled a goal back for the hosts in second-half stoppage time, finishing off a cross from Thomas Mueller.
GHANA 1, CHILE 1
Matias Fernandez' 75th-minute penalty kick cancelled out Richard Mpong's opener, as the two sides battled to a draw at PPL Park.
Dominic Oduro started for Ghana but only lasted 17 minutes before being pulled in favor of Mpong for an undisclosed injury, according to the Chicago Fire website. Patrick Nyarko came off the bench at halftime, as the two Fire attackers earned their first caps.
ARMENIA 3, CANADA 1
Canada started brightly but couldn't maintain that throughout, as Marcos Pizzelli's brace led the Armenians to a victory in Cyprus.
Toronto FC Designated Player Julian de Guzman set up the Canadians' fifth minute goal, assisting Kevin McKenna for the early opener.
SLOVENIA 1, SCOTLAND 1
The next opponent for the U.S. men's national team tied a recent opponent, as Scotland's Christophe Berra cancelled out Andraz Kirm's goal and the draw.
Vancouver Whitecaps summer-arriving DP Barry Robson entered the match as a late substitute for Scotland, who will play the United States in Jacksonville on May 26 in the next match for the senior national team.
COSTA RICA 1, WALES 0
Arsenal youngster and rising CONCACAF star Joel Campbell scored the lone goal in a friendly that doubled as the Gary Speed memorial match.
Portland Timbers fullback Rodney Wallace started and played 68 minutes for Los Ticos, while New York Red Bulls defender Roy Miller went the distance.
IRELAND 1, CZECH REPUBLIC 1
Simon Cox scored in the 86th minute to rescue a draw for the Irish. Milan Baros had tallied for the Czechs in the 50th minute.
Los Angeles Galaxy DP Robbie Keane started and played the opening 71 minutes for Ireland.
ESTONIA 2, EL SALVADOR 0
Unruly fans caused a premature end to Estonia's victory, which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
With fans throwing projectiles onto the field and at officials, the match was stopped in the 89th minute by referee Ricardo Salazar. Ragnar Klavan and Raio Piroja accounted for the scoring for Estonia.
Timbers defender Steve Purdy started and played 88 minutes for El Salvador but left the match with an eye injury and had to be taken to a hospital, according to the Associated Press. Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere went the distance for Estonia.
JAMAICA 3, NEW ZEALAND 2
The Reggae Boyz took to the road and came away with a victory, with Navion Boyd's goal proving to be the difference.
The Houston Dynamo's Jermaine Taylor and JeVaughn Watson and the Colorado Rapids' Omar Cummings all started for Jamaica, while Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Dan Keat earned his first cap, coming off the bench for New Zealand.
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What did you think of all of Wednesday's international action? What results stood out for you?
Share your thoughts below.
I understand rooting for your team and all but calling Hernandez names. The kid has more class in his left boot then you’ll ever have in your life. Grow up and you might get laid some day (and not be charged).
No, Mike was OBVIOUSLY being sarcastic lol, y’all must be either 12 or live in closet ha…
what I want to know is Roberto sarcastically responding to Mike’s sarcasm, anticipating all the nerds that wouldn’t catch it?…now THAT would be some professional sarcasm right thur hahah
Chicharito was hot last year…now everyone has figured him out. Don’t know if it applies to him but many Mex players regress when they discover the European nightlife ( see former “golden age” phenols Vela and Dos “the next Pele” Santos)
So Mexico isn’t the second coming of Jesus Christ and this Golden Age team isn’t the best team in the Americas much less the universe when they arent playing against Bornstein?
Had this game been played in the Cuna AztecA mex would have won because the altitude and pollution yet posters would be adamant about them being the frontrunners for the WC.
I guess collecting splinters on the Bench at Man U have not turned Chickenpizza into a Pele/Maradona/Perseus demigod
I guess the same rule applies to the second wave of Mex Golden age who got trounced By the US when not playing at high altitude
Oh year I forgot CR7 scored 42 in one season.
Annnddd had I read I would see it was sarcasm. My bad.
I think you will find it hard to find anyone that, playing with 10 men, can net a hat trick for his team. In a WC final no less. So I am assuming you are being sarcastic.
If not, and that’s how you truly judge the skill of a player please don’t post anymore. Messi is a once in a generation/lifetime type of player. If you can’t appreciate that and choose not to watch him, you are missing out but I don’t feel sorry for you.
And the United States with Jurgen at the helm, and beating italy. Had to include USA
Mexico played their FB’s high like Barcelona and got burned, Colombia got in behind them easily. Chicharito failed to take two early opportunities. Colombia looked very good.
ESPN’s Macca fell off his chair just before me as both England defenders went to Robben’s right boot on the breakaway goal. Do teams go over this before the game? Was it even necessary to remind them?
Of course I meant “ho,” but “hoe” was all you gave me to work with. Your fingers have dirty thoughts.
CR7 didn’t have those numbers?
CR7 led the EPL in scoring, broke the season scoring record, and I think set a Man United record.
I don’t know, they kind of let that shot go uncontested and it was pretty hard so he had to do what he could to stop it. Mexico was just being too much of a ball watching team and Pekerman had Colombia playing really really well
Right now he is not better than Falcao, regardless of his sub role at United he is not finishing like he use to last season even as a sub. Falcao is playing well and with Simeone now at the helm he may play for a Europa type team next season, who knows maybe they sneak into the 4th UCL spot? I hope Torres gets sold cheap from Chelsea and he goes back to Atletico to partner up with Falcao and give Atletico a great threat to make them a better side out of La Liga, my beloved Barca and hated Real need more competition, Valencia hopefully will rise again soon, Soldado is on a roll
He’s being sarcastic, I am pretty sure he agrees Messi gets a bad rap because he didn’t score last World Cup despite basically handing out a couple of goals off his shots being saved or ricocheting off the post or simply giving a great assisting pass in both the World Cup and over half the goals Argentina scored in Copa America. Plus Nigeria’s Eneyama totally took away a Hat-trick or more worth of goals from Messi in Argentina’s 1st game in South Africa lol
I think he’s right by saying when he said “with a man down” to be an indicator of sarcasm
Dude you need to relax, your man love for messi is disturbing.
I wouldn’t take anything Pep says to heart, dude is too nice. He complements everyone!
Anyways it just way to easy to score in La Liga, just look at Forlan, Cr7, they never had those number playing in the ELP.
Falcao needs to prove himself by moving to ELP.
I think you mean “Ho”, not “Hoe”. My fingers have a mind of their own, so my typos are not Freudian.
What he said.
Much more of the mexican “a” team squad plays in north america where our best play in europe.
Clueless.
It was something more like “cha-ching”.
The World Cup is still the watermark for our sport. It captures all of the passion of the world in that one month.
I concede that the UEFA Champions League in the knockout stages is the highest level the sport is played at the moment.
But nothing captures the globe’s attention like a World Cup.
Remember those replays in Hondruas we all heard when Bornstein tied the WCQ against Costa Rica in Nov ’09? The pictures/videos coming out of Spain and the Netherlands when they played in the WC Final in 2010 w/ hundrends of thousands of people amassing to watch the game? You think that happens in big Champions League games? I say no.
such an idiot… please, never refer to yourself as a knowledgeable fan, because you truly showed how little you know.
+1
They never (and never will) take the next step. But they also beat Italy in Europe two years ago.
I’ll cheers the day the US wins at the Azteca, heck I’ll cheers even if it is in Tijuana!
Whaa?
You mean from Krypton, right?
Mexico two nil loss brings a smile. Ochoa muffed the first Colombian goal.
Robbin defeats England almost single handedly.
Spain soldiers on with reinforcements. Soldado will not miss the easy tap ins but some nice footwork on his second goal.
Hoe-field, eh? 🙂
We are talking about Brazil after all… Freudian slip?
Don’t worry dude that was clearly sarcastic… people are just really quick to jump down people’s throats ’round here.
Do you mean from Krypton? Or, are you suggesting he was exposed to a fragment of rock from the exploded planet Krypton, perhaps a piece of red kryptonite which has been known to imbue persons exposed to it with strange powers?
Hahha very funny…no F&%& way. even Pep guardiola said Falcao was one of the best box (striker) players in world football. Chicharito? a joke like his nickname
I’ll agree with you about Shaqiri, but where are you getting the rest of this nonsense? Shaqiri’s goal was a fluke, made possible because the Swiss player who was supposed to get the pass whiffed on his shot. As for goals, where does it matter where they come from? Aguero’s back-hell to set-up Messi was probably the sweetest play anyhere in the world yesterday — and Higuain drew a PK.
I’m looking at an exciting World Cup. Spain is ridiculously deep, when they pull up Soldado from their bench and he gets a hat-trick. Brazil has the up-and-coming star in Neymar, plus hoe-field advantage. Netherlands continue to impress. Germany has such a good young corps, and outplayed France, despite the score-line. For all that, though, I make Argentina the team with the best chance to dethrone Spain.
Much more of the mexican “a” team squad plays in north america where our best play in europe. If more of our top players where in north american leagues then we would have more friendlies here.
Its odd how mexico has been to way more us cities than the usa has! But thats not really ussf’s problem more just mexico being ambitious
Yeah. I’ve read that the Mexican National Team is the most popular sports team in this country (any sport). Might not be true, but it wouldn’t surprise me, either.
Venezuela was the sacrificial lamb. I wonder what their FA was thinking when it was decided they’d play Spain? I bet it was something like “Ah, sh*t.”
Seriously, guys? I thought the “when his team is a man down” was a dead giveaway…
Same here, and I couldn’t help noticing a few fans wearing USMNT shirts cheering for Colombia. Hating El Tri is in our blood.
Yup, you’re either a professional sarcastic or a moron.
And that play where he was 1 v 1 with the keeper and taken down from behind.
MESSI is SUPERMAN, from Kryptonite
$$$$$$$$$$$$
That is why they never take that next step. While we are beating Italy in Italy Mexico stays in there comfort zone in the US for the money.
The problem with the Mexican team right now is that their two best creative players Gio and Barrera are not playing at the moment and Guardado is playing in the weak Spanish second division. It will continue that way until summer and with Vela declining the callup Mexico are screwed.
In all fairness Chicharito should have had a goal on that one play he rounded the keeper. An in-form Chicharito puts that away and is better than Falcao.
Because being consired one of the best players that ever played by the age of 24 isn’t enough.
Does anyone else find it strange that Mexico plays most if not all of their friendly matches here in the good ole US of A rather than in Mexico?
you are an idiot. the real world cup is the champions league……moron.
I’m getting tired of posters like these
Argentina is playing Switzerland, an average but defensively stout European squad, and still their forwards cannot score and their defense looks like crap.
I don’t get it. People rag on Messi for not pushing Argentina to anything, but do they ever watch this team play? Messi does everything of note.
Shaqiri is going to be a star.
COLOMBIA! COLOMBIA! COLOMBIA! COLOMBIA!An amazing coaching debut by Jose Pekerman. Chicharito was nowhere to be found. And Mexico’s attack gets nulled everytime they are up against some pretty talented fullbacks like zuniga and armero.
Yeah, it was truly a great day yesterday. I tuned into U-23 game just in time to see the end of Mexico taking it in the shorts. LOL.
Lots of games in the USA and with MLS players – speaks volumes about the leagues development.
man i love seeing mexico lose…i hope i’m not f*cking with karma or anything, but it just never gets old for me.
Whatever. Until Messi nets a hattrick in a World Cup final, when his team is a man down, I will continue to ignore him.