Category: World Cup (Page 14 of 17)

Looking cool, calm and collected throughout, Argentina easily took all three points against an Ivory Coast team featuring Didier Drogba, but little else. The Ivory Coast started confidently and looked dangerous at the start, but Argentina soon took control and held on to win 2-1. Argentina clearly showed they were the class of this group, arguably this tournament’s ‘Group of Death’. Saviola and Crespo looked good together up front and Riquelme was solid as usual. Their young phenom Lionel Messi wasn’t even missed.

The Ivory Coast might have been the better team at the start, but seemed to lose interest until Drogba pulled a late goal back.

Argentina are going to be very tough to beat. They seemed to barely break a sweat in the match, and are clearly in top form already. They have an amazing list of strikers and once they get a lead, they’re one of the best at holding possession and draining the clock.

To all those who think soccer is all about boring nil-nil draws, they need to take a look at this match. Trinidad and Tobago somehow dug deep and outlasted an onslaught from a Sweden team that outmanned them literally and figuratively. Despite Sweden having the vast bulk of possession and countless opportunities at goal, the old man, Shaka Hislop stood firm and denied them every time.

Yes, the match of the World Cup so far was a 0-0 draw, but it was a huge moral victory for Trinidad and a tough set back for a far superior Swedish side. Even a neutral would have to have been thrilled with this match. Swedes are crushed. Trinidadians must be over the moon. Everyone else should just be gratefully happy to have witnessed it.

All the pressure was on Sweden, T and T had absolutely nothing to lose. To their credit, Sweden did everything right but put one in the net. It just wasn’t their day. It was Hislop’s. He made impossible stop after impossible stop.

I’ll raise a pint tonight for Dwight Yorke and especially Shaka Hislop for showing what the World Cup is all about. And also in cautious celebration–they just practically handed England the Group stage.

It might have been a bit boring, but England easily did enough to take control of things in Group B, in a near perfect display of Italian football–find a way to score once, then hunker down. Except Italy rarely ever manages it. Any meager threat Paraguay tried to mount was quickly handled by England’s defense. At this point, it would be hard to say if that was down to England or just Paraguay’s complete lack of firepower. After the quick own goal, Paraguay seemed almost as content as England to keep things at 1-0.

England looked more workman-like than spectacular, but they didn’t need brilliance today. Owen was nonexistant. Beckham was only useful on set plays. Crouch did his usual share of flailing about. But, the midfield was very solid and the defense was never really tested.

A nice, easy opening round win which should set England on their way, as long as they don’t expect all the matches to be so easy. They’ll probably actually have to score if they’re going to win any more.

Poland looked absolutely atrocious losing 2-0 to ‘just happy to be here’ Ecuador. Group A essentially belongs to Germany now, as if there was ever a doubt. Unfortunutely, one of these other three teams are going to move to the next round. Despite losing today, I think it’ll be Costa Rica.

England hasn’t kicked a ball yet and things are already looking up for them. All they need to do is win their easy-ish group and they’ll walk any of these three teams in the next round. Rooney won’t even be needed.

Poland was practically playing a home game, and still was barely in the match. I’d been told by someone pretending to know that they were bad, but… I thought they looked okay losing 1-0 to the US a few months ago. Maybe everyone looks okay against the US.

Today was a nice warm-up to whet the appetites. The next few days should be more interesting. England generally take awhile to get things going, but they can’t afford a slip against Paraguay. I like that Mexico/Iran match Sunday. Monday, both matches are great. The US must get a point from the Czechs or they’re on their way home, and Italy/Ghana should tell us what the Italians are going to do.

Exactly as expected Germany got past an overmatched Costa Rican side 4-2. The offensive firepower from Germany was constantly on display, unfortunately so was their completely inept defense.

Germany will be able to outscore teams to easily get through a round or two, but unless some sudden transformation shores up the defense, they’ll struggle after that. Obviously their only philosophy on defense is to have a good offense.

The mouth, Michael Ballack, was shown to be completely unnecessary unless he wants to suit up in the back. Any team that makes Paolo Wanchope look like a stud, are in deep trouble when they face a real one.