Italy v. Paraguay 1-1 14/Jun/10

First Round, First Game, Group F, Day 4. (12 of 64)



Alcaraz heads in.
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


Aside from the fact that certain opinions of this World Cup had been taken into the usual common places -such as the Jabulani effect, the Vuvuzelas and the mediocre performances- today's first match of Group F had all those elements we could ask for a true exciting match. De Rossi's performance, as well as his decisive equaliser, was one of the main highlights of the evening as well as the strong position Paraguay took for nearly seventy minutes.

The defensive mistake that Villar made - another eclipsing situation of the tournament - paid dividends to the World Champions as they rose from another one of those dreadful performances to give their nation a sacred point in the group stage. The following match will not be decisive if neither of the teams prove to be worth enough the challenge.



De Rossi celebrates his late lead.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


Actions in the first half began in a wet pitch. Just as if we asked for it, the weather decayed and the pouring rain, by the 20th minute, was affecting the game. The neatness and calmness of the South American team shadowed the Italian for almost thirty minutes since many of their approaches were poor and disorganised. Just after the Paraguayan momentum began to slow, the Italians took full advantage of their slip and won nearly all challenges.

Exactly in that tense moment, the "visitors" grabbed the lead just few minutes from the half time whistle. The dangerous freekicks and set pieces finally helped them as Torres set Alcaraz, who head past Buffon. Apparently the Juventus keeper got injured in that moment. The first time ended in the tonic of certain disgrace since the Italian keeper did not return and the panorama was sombre as hell.



The Roman edging three defenders.
[Photo: AP via Daily Mail]


With the substitution made there was no big change in the way the team played; even after Camoranessi's entrance the Italians barely changed the approach they were making against the American team. Despite the efforts of Simone Pepe, there was little hope for the Italians in the ground; instead they had to take the aerial route and it was Pepe himself who set De Rossi as he pushed the ball to square things.

Villar's rookie mistake was absolutely pivotal for the development of the match. It was not until yet another substitution came from the prowling Italian team could capitalise their full attacking capabilities. As the match
wore, Di Natale managed to weave each and everyone of the plays that were salvaged by De Rossi. In the final minutes the Paraguayan team was devastated physically and the Italians, as they are, were content with the point shared.

New Zealand v. Slovakia 1-1 15/Jun/10

First Round, Second Game, Group F, Day 5. (11 of 64)


Reid left it late to steal the show.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


For many viewers and football junkies across the Atlantic, it was a gross achievement to wake up at 06:30 to watch a really unimportant match, regarding the result. Today, the "Kiwis" stole the show with a late late goal from Winston Reid at Rustenburg. Even when the two goals came in the second part, overall possession was shared as well as the attacking possibilities. If there was an actual emotion to the match, it was the prospect of watching the progress of youngster Vladimir Weiss as well as some starlets in the Slovakian team. For me it was the insane, yet tactically brilliant formation that Herbert posed: a pretty well-balanced 3-4-3.

Where Weiss's men will not be happy in gifting two points the reality in the group is open to at least three possible teams at the moment. The All Whites made an impressive leap forward although it can only be attributed to a fine cross and a decent header. Whether this match resulted in another one in the infinite series of dull games in the beginning of this World Cup, there still is room for improvement for both sides.



Vitek scoring the first.
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


The game started in a low tone when Weiss's attempts in the first ten minutes caused little struggles. As the minutes passed Sestak and Vittek both provided short range challenges to Paston's goal. Smeltz proved luck but, at least for the New Zealand part, the powder (or any trace of game) was wet. Mainly all action was held at the Kiwis' door; another proof of that was when Hamsik shot was palmed away by the busy "home" keeper.


If the previous half was moved by long range strikes the following provided some excellent individual displays such as the own which gave us the early goal, in the 50th minute by the afore-mentioned Robert Vittek. Sestak provided some space and when he crossed the contact was enough to beat Paston. The keeper denied Weiss and his full back Reid denied the scorer after some handy work by the Man City youngster.

It was until the very late minutes that the All Whites wrote history as Winston Reid hammered one in to level things. Although it appeared to be a cheerless cross of two whites against three blues, the outcome was fatal for the Slovakians Again, as in other groups, the points were shared, giving everyone one a zero goal difference.

Japan v. Cameroon 1-0 14/Jun/10

First Round, Second Game, Group E, Day 4. (10 of 64)


Honda, the sole scorer.
[Photo: Getty Images via Telegraph]


With key absentees Cameroon let the victory pass in the second game of Group E at Bloemfontein earlier today. Japan now stand second in the respective standings after today's previous encounter. The key goal of Keisuke Honda gave frail hopes throughout the second portion of a rather dull match. The Africans were not sharp enough to put some advantage and cope with that horrid pressure of coming from behind. Since their last meeting in World Cup, dated well back in 2002, the Cameroonians made one of those dismal appearances such as the one in the Africa Nations Cup some six months from now.

All that's left for Le Guen's team is to throw everything against the Netherlands; a win will definitely put the Indomitable Lions back on track although the prospect of piercing the armour of the well-oiled Dutch machinery is by far difficult. We only see the real results in these types of tournaments well onto the very last second of every game.



Here, congratulated by friends.
[Photo: Eugene Hoshiko/AP via Guardian]


Benquerenca, the Portuguese referee for the match, began the encounter as the Japanese took possession which ultimately was shared with their counterparts. The match being closed to the first twenty minutes, saw some opportunities but nothing really as clear as the one that Honda galvanised. Near the 40th minute he encountered a rebound which he shot past Souleymanou. With the advantage the Japanese went to the dressing room with such a precious upper-hand.

In the following half the desperate attempts from the Cameroonians continued as there were only two or three clear chances for the Africans: the first a fierce Mbia post that shook the cross bar; the second was a strong challenge that Eto'o managed to deviate to land in the unlucky feet of Webo who shot at point plank just for Kawashima to save. Any remaining attempts from part of both teams proved worthless as the match was pretty much decided with the vital early strike from Honda.

Netherlands v. Denmark 2-0 14/Jun/10

First Round, First Game, Group E, Day 4. (9 of 64)


Kuyt finishes Elia's work
[Photo: EPA via Daily Mail]


One severely questions this match reports from FIFA when utter lies arise: "Fue un primer tiempo entretenido al que, si hubiera que sacarle un pero, sería la ausencia de un gol." [It was an entertaining first half to which if one should poise a question, it would be the absence of a goal.] Certainly neither the first half nor the whole encounter offered an "entertaining match" in any case; both teams, and particularly the Dutch, weren't able to truly find a way to work with the ball. Only through the bad luck of Agger and some flashes of brilliance by Elia the match had its "entertaining" bits.

I suffered, not just due to the schedule (6:30 AM in Mexico's time) but because on the dreadful state of the play. This match will probably go to the "worst" in the award section of every site and blog out there since it provided us some utter relentless gameplay. Bendtner and friends will need to step up the plate and win the following match against Cameroon if they are keen on scrambling any opportunites later. That will happen at Pretoria in the 19th and earlier that day, in the beautiful stadium of Durban, the Japanese will act as hosts of Van Marwijk's men



Well...
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


The news came in as Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner started as well as his fellow London team mate Van Persie. The match started with a pretty lively atmosphere (as you can see above) in a sunny half-emptied stadium. Where the Danish team played with an order worth of a troop, there were no real efforts nor highlights until a header from Bendtner that went to the side-netting in the 29th minute. In the final minutes Rommedahl shot wide as well as Kahlenberg. There was really nothing much to add to what was probably one of the dullest shows of "entertainment" across the world.


The second part began with a "goal" by Arsenal's Dutchman Van Persie. The forward managed to pull his mark away from the box and crossed; the result was a deviated header by Agger which found the back of Poulsen and also the back of the net. Sorensen saved with a perfect act of gymnastics the shot of Van der Vaart after a quick combo with Van Persie. When Elia came in for Rafael, in the 67th, things suddenly changed in that left side, as he thundered with a tremendous display of pace. Again Sorensen kept the efforts from the Dutch, specially Van Bommel's, at bay. In one of those escapades, Elia took advantage and set Kuyt who just pushed to double the lead. The match ended after some substitutions.

Germany v. Australia 4-0 13/Jun/10

First Round, Second Game, Group D, Day 3. (8 of 64)


Cahill sent off by Rodríguez.
[Photo: Sky Sports]


Were there was a consensus in the major bet houses of a Germany win, the fact that it was so appalling was not of a surprise but of recognition. Even when Löw's team remains one of the youngest that have performed in the history of German World Cup teams, the performance showed some solid arguments. In spite of the thunderous scoreline, the Germans remained calmed and missed, through Klose at least a handful of chances. Even when this outstanding show of character produced several smiles, the Germans did suffer when the Aussies nearly scored in the very first minutes with the frightened Neuer's defence.

After the dreadful and boring previous group match were Ghana edged Serbia, the panorama looks brighter for both winners; they will face other in the very last game and if Löw's troops repeat a virtuous feat like today's, qualifications will be guaranteed in the very early stages of the tournament. Uli Hesse final comment is by far the most critical and brilliant piece out there.



The Bayern midfielder finishes bottom right.
[Photo: Sky Sports]


The blue Socceroos, which anyone near a TV or at Durban could have confused with a Rugby team, got themselves quick in the match when Cahill headed and García shot; the effort got deflected in the following rebound as Neuer kicked away. This proved to be a vital lifeline for the Germans since, if otherwise the Australians scored, the following goal would have not take place at all.

In the following five minutes Poldi grabbed the lead with a thunderous strike to the far post. The play which was worked by Özil found its way into the Köln striker. Although the German attacks did looked with certain authority, there were Australian ones that did. García shot wide when some shaky defending let some advantage to the "visiting" team. Before Klose doubled the lead, he missed a sitter when Podolski crossed to find him unmarked.

The goal was a similar manufacture of the previous play, Klose headed when Lahm curved the ball beautifully; Schwarzer can get most of the blame due to his late exit. Before the break Özil find two clear solo chances were he faced Schwarzer: in the first, the young midfielder lobbed the ball but Neill came to the rescue; in the second, he found another Podolski pass but he could not control the ball.



Klose closes in to 11 goals in three World Cups.
[Photo: Sky Sports]


Even when the Germans were not clinical in their finishes the Australians gave up every chance of scoring. Müller's shot, after a nice combination with Lahm, flew wide in the 54th. In the following minutes Chiquimarco did his joke and sent off Tim Cahill after a challenge which seemed only to suffice with a preventive card. The decision nullified the Aussies' game and he went to the showers with that feeling of angst.

After some approaches the Germans released the full strength of their attacking prowess into a defenceless Australian team. Obviously the spaces left after Cahill's departure let Müller with certain freedom and he took it rather nicely when, after some dribbling, he shot crossed to Schwarzer's far post and made it three. It was only a matter of time and with some substitutions that the Germans scored another, this time through Cacau.