Cameroon v. Denmark 1-2 19/Jun/10

Second Round, Fourth Game, Group E, Day 9. (26 of 64)


A great comeback sent another African representative home.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


Disgracefully, the Indomitable Lions suffered a shocking early exit in their second World Cup game against the resilient and hard working Danes. Probably Paul Le Guen may be considering not just the tactics and the players but also the general attitude of his team towards the little part they played in the tournament. It is sad to see some promising youngsters go home early - such as Alex Song for example - but this remains a doubt in the pecking order since his relative Rigobert was ahead of the fresh starter.

The entertaining match was solved by the quick and sudden reaction of the Danish midfield. The terrible and hideous defending that costed the Cameroonians against Japan surfaced again. Most probably the next match will be the less to important with the qualified Dutch team facing a impotent African squad. The entertainment will arrive thick and fast when the Danes face Japan try to pick the last ticket of the Group E. The crucial encounter will take place at Rustenburg on the 24th.



Congrats!
[Photo: Myjoyonline.com]


I need to stop for a moment on this one: "Perro" Bermúdez - that dreadful hideous barking mug which narrates pretty often much of Mexican footy matches - fabianskied (or greened) his transmission of the match after making a comment regarding "Blackburn Rovers en el futbol de Escocia" [Blackburn Rovers from the Scottish Football]. As far as I am concerned there is no top flight team in Scotland with that name - we could find it in the country just below.

Anyway, the early lead came through Eto'o in the tenth minute: after another defensive mistake was seized by the advancing African midfield Eto'o's position between the two defenders was accurate and he finished it cooly in front of Sorensen. The defensive mistakes on both parts did not diminish even when each team took precautions: both got away with some nice chances. Eventually Bendtner took advantage as he was set by a cross from the right hand side. Eto'o took a chance at the post again by the delusional Dane mistakes when beginning the play.


The following half was hectic at best and mistakes from both teams led the game into an open season shooting. Eventually Rommedahl reverted the scoreline and put it in the back as he dribbled past two players and shot against the poor Souleymanou. The Danish could have broadened the score but the African keeper denied Tomasson. While the Cameroonians were on the full advantage of their capabilities, it was quite funny that the match still remained at a the thin margin of a one-goal lead. In the final minutes Idrissou scrapped to decent chances to give their team the last surviving hope of recovery.

Ghana v. Australia 1-1 19/Jun/10

Second Round, Third Game, Group D, Day 9. (25 of 64)


Rosetti sends Kewell to the showers: two matches, two expelled.
[Photo: Daily Mail]


In the sunny evening at Rustenburg the Aussies were held in a one-goal match against the Ghana Stars in what is a new draw of the 452nd we have seen in this tournament. As in particularly every match so far, the referees made themselves clear and present as Rosetti sent off the poor Harry Kewell in what appeared to be an off-the-ball situation. To me, the ball came into his hand rather than the opposite. This tournament really needs something to lift its horrid and dreadful lull. Probably in future stages we will encounter some precious and memorable games nevertheless somebody sent a terrible terrible curse on the competition and so far I dread this awful start.

Again all options will be left in the final moments of this group since the panorama looks decent enough for a late surprise by any of the contending teams. We saw the Germans fall and in the following matches at the exact time in Johannesburg - in which Ghana will face Germany - we could watch the EURO runners-up fall in an outrageous fashion whilst in the other side, at Nelspruit, the Aussies will look to upset the onlooking Serbians. This group seems to be one of the most balanced in terms of results and the final day will be massive for home supporters and neutrals.



"Asamoah Gyan hit his second penalty of the tournament".
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


The hectic pace of the start saw the Australians taking some advantages regarding the Africans; in the second minute Kewell fell in the box in what was supposed to be an alleged penalty. Bresciano took a freekick, in the 11th, that the keeper Kingson managed to pull in a Green-esque fashion; Hollman scored afterwards. Again as in so many previous games the terrible approach from the keeper, the incomprehensible trajectory of the ball and the torrid moment made the scene even more dramatic.

Ayew, the pacey right winger, was the main threat as his 13th minute shot got deflected. In another well crafted, yet lucky play, he managed to scrub two defenders off and set a cross. The result was a fierce shot that occasionally landed in the moving arm of Harry Kewell; Gyan converted from the penalty spot. Tagoe's shot and an effort from Kevin Prince Boateng were denied in the final minutes. The hunger from the Black Stars to get the lead was enough to see them winning.


The drive of the Africans continued nearly a quarter of an hour into the second half with the main chance used in the form of a Gyan shot. The Aussies had their chance with the sub Chipperfield, as he headed wide off the mark after a pretty decent effort from Wilshire in the 66th. The African response was a violent cross from Gyan and another failure in delivering by Boateng.

Kingson, who previously committed that Jabulani mistake, was becoming a factor in the game as he saved a solo effort by Wilkshire; the Australian was alone and virtually had the open goal to score. In the last minutes the Africans went with all their might for the lead as they produced two dismal chances, both late: the first, a Mensah header; and the second, a shot by the ex-Gunner Quincy Owusu.

Netherlands v. Japan 1-0 19/Jun/10

Second Round, Third Game, Group E, Day 9. (24 of 64)


Dutch long range joy.
[Photo: AP via Daily Mail]


In the monumental Durban, the Dutch national team secured their passage to the following round as they beat a lacklustre Japanese side with the minimum margin. Again another blunder was the main factor only goal of the game in what was a pretty much dull match. Sneijder shot was savable indeed but Kawashima - who previously had some decent matches, including the one against England - managed to pull a Green-esque effort to put his team in the thin line.

Again, whether it is the nature of the dreadful Jabulani or the simple meteorological conditions the sole fact that this match ball has been the main culprit of many of the previous mistakes is alarming. Despite this, what appears to be even more alarming is the other strange fact of underrated of the matches: if we are relying on the terrible mistakes to watch goals, probably we should revise the format, the date of the event, the calendars and so on. Strangely the Japanese have a good chance to qualify to the following stages: they just need three points and several goals in the next game against Denmark and the dream could become true only if they evade such a dreadful staging as the one we witnessed today.



Another one: how many there will be at this World Cup?
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


The clear dominion by the Dutch team was proved when Van Persie was fouled in the 8th minute. His fellow countryman Sneijder tried luck but shot a wide freekick. The attacks from the European team were mainly down the left hand side; in one of them Kuyt nearly made a wonder goal after an accurate cross. Nagamoto retaliated after a quick combination of passes that ended in another wide shot. Honda and Tulio headed wide for the "visiting" team near the 33rd minute mark. Whether the Japanese were making amends from the dreadful opposition they were providing, at least they grabbed several decent chances. One from Matusi and another from Van der Vaart were enough to kill the first part off.


The following half lacked emotion whilst the action remained: Van Bronckhorst provided Van Persie with an effective cross which the Arsenal man could not help but head wide. Eight minutes after the start, the London striker was able to control a loose ball and set Sneijder whose fierce shot bend Kawashima's hand and got in the back of the net. The response of the Japanese was a shot from Okubo in the 56th minute, several weak approaches were made by Okada's army but all were wide and weak. In the final minutes probably the encounter posed its best: Huntelaar and Afellay joined forces and the latter nearly scored. The following action, with all the Japanese on the prowl for the equaliser, was deemed to be decisive when sub Okazaki made a final decent shot as he chest-controlled and volleyed.

England v. Algeria 0-0 (18/Jun/10)

Second Round, Fourth Game, Group C, Day 8. (23 of 64)


Edgeless score.
[Photo: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson via Cleveland.com]

It was probably - according to some - the easiest match for the English team. Strangely, or perhaps not so, Capello's men proved to be all wrong, not just with their tactics but with their attitude towards the game. The desperate cry of the captain summed it up all: the English team need the three points in a pretty much square group where the Americans have two points, the Slovenians four and the Algerians two, At any point "another monumental upset could happen." Probably to go out from the World Cup could have more disastrous consequences for the English football than that disappointment exit before the EURO.

The following matches are decisive: the English face Slovenia at Nelson Mandela Bay while the Algerians will battle at Pretoria on the 23rd. All depends on how the English will cope with that frantic and indecisive lack of cohesion that at least, from the bench onwards, they are showing. I'll probably watch the US match, knowing their recent form, probably they will exhibit some kind of dangerous, in-the-edge, ninety-minute equaliser that will get them through.



Furious!
[Photo: ITV via Telegraph]


The start required - for the English to work - an impulsive an uncared-for offensive attitude towards M Bohli's goal. Obviously this did not took place and the nervy English team went ahead on schedule to provide some naïve attacks that fell in the realm of the repetitive. Gerrard marshaled the team up the Algerain defensive apparatus just to find a shaky M Bohli who nearly got one in after a lob from the Liverpudlian. James did almost the same as a lone and sloppy cross reached his box; he saved the effort by punching away the ball.

A combination between Gerrard and Rooney gave certain advantages to the "home" team since the Liverpudlian striker supported any attacks by receiving and moving. Gerrard's shot went into the hands of the keeper. Naturally the most important arrival came form the right side, where Lennon was left alone to cross. Belhadj headed, the deflected ball coming into Lampard. The shot was well saved by the efficient M Bohli.



A "horror show" according to the captain.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


The following half was a particularly well made sample which showed how off-the mark were the English team. The exposition of the offensive display was countered with the quick ability of the Algerian defence to convert an impeding attack unto a somewhat efficient counter. The problem was that neither of the teams were able to justify their efforts. Terrible times came to the viewer: a direct freekick was one of the two occasions which the Algerians drew some advantage.

On the other side, Rooney nearly slotted one in as a defender managed to deflect to the corner the ball. Gerrard made another header form a corner but the luck seemed to be fading away. Despite all the defensive issues that the Algerians tried to cope with, the English were not even in the match, regardless of the incredible amounts of opportunities and the freedom the Africans simply gave out to them. The match ended with the booing by the English fans against one of the most mediocre performances in the history of the game in recent years.

Slovenia v. USA 2-2 (18/Jun/10)

Second Round, Third Game, Group C, Day 8. (22 of 64)


Captain America scoring.
[Photo: Getty Images via Telegraph]


The Americans got robbed; yes we know it, and we know that this is particularly new for them since the sport's popularity is increasing by the minute but this things happen on a daily basis and unless technology - in some sort of form - is applied we will have an endless repetition of these situations in every football tournament in the world. We, who watch it on a weekly basis, have witnessed robberies of the size of countries. There is absolutely no need for recounting them and I'm sure you'll have your private collection of amazingly stupid decisions by either local refereeing or FIFA.

With this I'm not contributing to the idiocy of defending with any argument the referee and also to the fact that we know what happens when we do this kind of unkindly apologetic gestures. What strikes me the most is the amount of media coverage - particularly in the blogs - this incident has had. Obviously one expects this problems at the local league and certainly no in a stage of the most important world sport event.

Probably this is another futile rambling of my very own stash of lunatic responses against American football media. Nevertheless the Americans will have Algeria at Pretoria on the 23rd. That match will prove decisive since any mistake made by the Englishmen later today will open a Pandora box as in many other scenarios in the distinct groups that conform this messy tricky yet exciting World Cup. Brooks Peck at Dirty tackle provides two decisive responses from the happening: the first, an immediate one; the second, a response. The well-learned blogger left aside his nonsensical humour for a moment to complain.



Another view of the late scorer.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


Obviously the first parts of the match were among this inevitable dull and shallow beginning where the Americans looked quite dazzled as in their previous game with Gerrard's lead. Efforts from the Slovenian right-backs helped to put a dominance in the early minutes. This offered a pretty solid chance for Birsa to strike as the childish American defenders looked at the way he stroke the ball. Howard could not help but watch the astonishing effort in the 14th minute.

Despite the efforts from the Americans to edge closer to Handanovic's goal the proportion was nearly three arrivals to one, favouring the Europeans. Torres' effort in the 37th, a delightful freekick from the right edge of the box, was kept at bay by the Slovenian keeper. Brecko stole a precious little chance from Donovan as the Americans edged closer but it was the handy job of the Slovenian midfielders that snatched the ball; Novakovic got the touch and beat the offside trap to release Ljubijankic; the striker slotted the lead past Howard.


With the healthy lead Kek's men relaxed a little to much when facing their opposition. Landon Donovan secured a chance on the right side as he strolled past one defender who missed the clearance to beat Handanovic with a fierce strike. Three minutes into the match and the Americans were back in the game after the nightmarish start. Whether the flak the Europeans were receiving was not good enough for the equaliser, Altidore made some attempts which again Handanovic saved sternly.

If the match appeared to be brusque or sloppy in the very beginning, the crucial moment was coming in the final stage. It was again Captain America Michael Bradley who left it late with equaliser to give a thin ray of hope. The American special of the house, a quick counter attack followed by a late goal, was administered when a long ball came in for Altidore to flick it; the rest is history as Bradley slotted it and squared things up.

In the final moments, 85th to be more precise, the nightmarish previously mentioned occasion showed as the linesman disallowed the legitimate goal by Edu. Bradley's complains were completely spot on as what appeared to be was probably a penalty kick on at least two American players. Novakovic and Radosavljevic provided final chances by the prowling Europeans, nonetheleess time was up and the points were shared.

Germany v. Serbia 0-1 (18/Jun/10)

Second Round, Third Game, Group D, Day 8. (21 of 64)


Neuer, effortless.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


When Löw and his players were over the moon due to that previous win, the reality check came quick and sudden when the Serbia National team stunned one-goal against the EURO runners-up. In what appeared to be one of the toughest contest for the Germans, Antic's men rose above the dismal and unlucky performance they gave against Ghana to edge title contenders Germany. The game was tempestuous; everything that appears in a Copa Libertadores match - moronic bookings, handballs, numerous shots at woodwork and so on - was present in this polemic tournament.

Löw's attacking tactics were not enough to counteract the struggle that the defensive Serbian apparatus provided. There was the feeling of a lucky evening for the Germans since many of the attacking options were deflected by inches. Another faulty mistake by the Mannschaft and it will all be over sooner than what they think. Ghana will poise a several threat to Germany's ambitions at Soccer City on the 23rd. Uli Hesse, as always, gives a polite and well informed verdict on the mistakes by Lahm's men.



Another view of the goal.
[Photo: Getty Images via Telegraph]


The first half was a competitive struggle between each of the offensive forces. While the Germans provided a solid display in the left side, the Serbians did the same in the opposite. During the first fifteen minutes the Mannschaft tried to go ahead with arrivals from the flanks. The scrappy match, mainly by the fact that three Serbian players were already booked by the 20th minute, took a slightly interrupted rhythm.

A minute before the goal Miroslav Klose collected his second booking of the day. It seems, with the repetitions, that the decision was a bit harsh to be fair. The lack of attention of the German centre-halves was the main culprit of the goal in the 38th minute. Badstuber missed the cross by Krasic and Zigic sent Ivanovic who shot at point blank. In spite of Neuer's acrobatics the lead was well deserved, particularly with that dismal defending. Before the following part, the Germans had the precious chance of scoring the equaliser. Unfortunately for Khedira, his shot went into the crossbar as three Serbians were defending ferociously almost inside the goal.



In the repetitions, Klose sent off seems "a bit harsh".
[Photo: EPA via Daily Mail]


If the first part was chaotic, the next one proved to be all the more strange. The Germans tried for large parts of the game to break the stalemate that, in the 54th minute, the defence led by Vidic posed. Podolski was set by Özil twice and in the latter opportunity the Köln striker hit the side-netting. Stojkovic became the hero as he stole the goal from Podolski in the penalty shot. This was originated by the silly handball of Vidic, similar to that which gifted Gyan the penalty in the previous match.

The following minutes were a dismal and desperate effort from the Germans to score. Where this seemed to happen really fast, it was the prowess of Vidic's commanding decisions that the scoreline remained still. The strange tactical disposition of the Serbians allowed them to counterattack any minute they wanted to. The main problem was the fact that Antic's men did make an outstanding effort to double their lead until the end of the match.