Category: World Cup (Page 10 of 17)

Portugal are through after beating a very average Iran team 2-0. Iran actually hasn’t looked that bad in their two losses, but the promise of millions and their own villas from their dodgy president wasn’t enough incentive to get them out of the group stage.

Portugal, in their best imitation of England–loads of talent and still no offense, will advance. Or maybe they’re just imitating themselves. At any rate, they’ve only earned the privilege to be fodder for Group C anyway.

Pretty boy, Christiano Ronaldo, actually looked useful at times rather than just showing off. It’s Figo’s presence on the pitch that’s making the difference so far, though. Deco was the star today, but this team will only go as far as the old man takes them. They should be better, but they’re not. Loaded with guns. A great coach.

Two more matches to play, and they can head for the beach–that seems to be what they’re thinking.

Mexico might have looked the more dangerous side, but things ended 0-0, as Angola attempt to salvage some African pride. I’m still hoping they manage to get through over the overrated Mexicans.

I just can’t warm to that team. I see nothing.

Surely, one African team must advance. Isn’t it in the rules?

In what clearly was the Group of Death, Holland join Argentina in the second round after getting past Ivory Coast 2-1.

Ivory Coast will probably be the best team that doesn’t advance. Despite the two losses against powerhouses, they looked good in both matches. They had more going for them than Didier Drogba, just not quite enough to make it past two of the best teams in the World Cup.

The Netherlands have shown that as long as they can quit bickering, they’re a force to be reckoned with. However, if any team can get you to start bickering, it’s Argentina–whether the game’s virtually meaningless or not. They play each other next to see who wins the group. Either team should handle Portugal and Mexico, so the order of finish isn’t very important. That could make for a wide-open, pressure-free match between these two entertaining and offensive teams.

After completely destroying a supposedly decent Serbia Montenegro 6-0, Argentina are the best team in the world.

At this minute.

They are playing perfect football right now. Not a weakness to be found. The bench is stocked with loads more talent that we finally got a glimpse of today. Messi and Tavez are stars, forget about starters, on every other team in the world.

You can say they haven’t been tested yet, but neither have any of the other ‘name’ teams. While the rest of them are floundering around and scraping through with 1-0’s, Argentina have been putting on shows.

Stretching to find anything negative to say about Argentina, you could argue that they are peaking too soon. Okay. But I wouldn’t want to play this team.

No one would beat them tomorrow. Whether that’s still true on July 9th, we’ll have to see.

Sweden waited until the 89th minute to finally break the ice and score their first goal of the World Cup. Luckily for them, that was all they needed to get past Paraguay 1-0.

The Swedes have looked like they were about to score constantly for two matches now, but had to wait 179 minutes before they finally managed it. A Freddie Ljungberg header eventually found the back of the net and Sweden was able to breathe again.

Their offense is too potent to have those sorts of problems for long. England may be in for a goal-fest when they meet next week, even though all either team really needs is a draw.