Over And Out Africa - Day 22 Round-Up

After two days of emptiness without football, we're back with a bang. And what a bang it was.

The first quarter final of the day was between the Netherlands, and Brazil. Very nearly one of the best games of the tournament so far. After an absolutely incredible ball that sliced the Dutch team in half, Robinho got on the end and slid the ball into the net after 10 minutes. It began a lot of brilliant, flowing, Brazilian attacking play, and all throughout the first half, they played some beautiful stuff. But after half time, it became a Dutch revolution, and some amazingly poor defending allowed Wesley Sneijder's cross ended up in the corner of the net, after a very poor Felipe Melo brushed header. It continued all the way, and after 15 more minutes, Sneijder reaped his rewards, and scored a brilliant flick header to put the Oranje in the lead. Melo then decided it was alright to stamp on Arjen Robben, so with 17 minutes to go, Brazil were down to 10 minutes, and that was that. 5 times world champions Brazil are knocked out, and the Netherlands go through to the first semi-final. To watch the highlights, click here.

The next one of the day was Uruguay vs. Ghana, and it was Africa's last hope at their World Cup. It was quite a slow start, and the first half was a bit of kick-and-run football, but Sulley Muntari, the poster boy for Ghana, and making his first start for the team after a fallout with manager Milovan Rajevac, scored a curling stunner from about 40 yards in the first minute of added time. The half time break revitalised Uruguay, and a beasty free-kick from Diego Forlan curled through Richard Kingson's arms and put the game back to where we started. It stayed that way until the end of 90 minutes, and then the same until the 120th, but that's when it got interesting. In the added minute of extra time, a long throw started pinball for Ghana, and a bullet header forced Uruguay's Luis Suarez to shove his arms up and stop the ball going into the net. The striker then received a straight red, and the resulting penalty would be the last kick of the game. Asamoah Gyan stepped up for Ghana..... and missed. Hit the bar. Shocking. So we went to penalties, for the second time in the tournament. Gyan scored the shootout penalty, but obviously not the most important one! John Mensah didn't, nor did Dominic Adiyiah, but Uruguay scored all of theirs, leaving Sebsatian Abreu to chipped the ball very calmly over the keeper, win the shootout 4-2, and put Uruguay into the semi finals to face the Netherlands next Tuesday. To watch the highlights, click here.

Knock-Out Blow To Two - Day 16 Round-Up

Ah, and the real fun begins today!

There are only two games a day this week, so I'll start with the 3 o'clock kick-off. Group A winners Uruguay played Group B runners-up Korea Republic in a tie that could see a 'minnow' reach at least the semi-finals. It all really started when Diego Forlan played a brilliant ball across the box after 8 minutes, which was missed by the keeper and fell straight to Luis Suarez, who slotted the ball home to give Uruguay the lead. The game then fell quite quiet, and most possession came in the centre of the field. Both teams had chances, but Uruguay looked the most lively team. The half-time break helped the Koreans, and after 60 minutes, they finally got their breakthrough, and Lee Chung-Yong put the ball in the net for 1-1. It looked to be heading to extra time, but Suarez had other ideas, and after 80 minutes, scored arguably the best goal of the tournament so far, with a curled effort from the corner of the box. It made it 2-1, and put Uruguay through to the quarter finals for the first time since 1970. To watch the highlights, click here.

The other game today was between Group C winners USA, and Group D runners-up Ghana. Bizarre order I know, but hey, as said before Blatter is an idiot. On paper, it looked a relatively easy win for the USA, but how wrong we were. The 50th game of the tournament threw up a bit of a surprise. Kevin-Prince Boateng scored a brilliant goal for Ghana after just 5 minutes - attacking flair showed through with his run from the halfway line to slot the ball past the keeper. Top stuff. It was then all Ghana, and that's how it stayed until half time - even with USA coach Bob Bradley making an attacking substitute after just half an hour. Brave. And it bloody worked too. After 10 minutes of the restart, Landon Donovan converted a penalty, after Clint Dempsey was fouled in the box by Jonathan Mensah. Fantasy football points for Adam, and smile for 300 million people. The USA then had dominance throughout the second half, but couldn't make that pay, and the game ended up being the first of the tournament to go to extra time. It only took 3 minutes for Ghana to take a lead through Asamoah Gyan, who scored a stunning 20-yard goal to give them a massive advantage in the first half of extra time. The second half followed suit, and it was again, all Ghana. And it led to some unforgettable celebrations, and kept Africa in their own party. And with all of the continent behind them, who knows now?! Two words Africa - Waka Waka. To watch the highlights, click here.

A Nation... Celebrates?! - Day 13 Round-Up

I did expect to finish that title with 'mourns', but alas!

Group C were the earlier kick-offs today, with the division culminating with Slovenia vs. England, and USA vs. Algeria. With the former three teams needing a point to finish top of the group, it was all a bit too close to call. With England all over Slovenia, it was only a matter of time, and Jermain Defoe duly delivered in the 22nd minute to give them a 1-0 lead. At that point, it meant England qualified as winners, with Slovenia runners up. One goal in either game could knock one of those teams out of those positions and pull the USA in. And we waited. And waited. And waited. And nails were ripped off left right and centre, and then the whistle blew for the England game. Victory at last, and a progression to the round of 16.But what's this? At the same time as the whistle blew, the USA took the lead through a Landon Donovan slot-in. It broke Slovenian hearts, and meant the USA go through as winners, and England are group runners-up. To watch the Slovenia vs. England highlights, click here, and to watch the USA vs. Algeria highlights, click here.

Then we had Group D, with games between Ghana vs. Germany, and Australia vs. Serbia. With any of the teams still able to qualify as group winners, everything was still to play for. Both games were all level until half time, and then, in the 60th minute, Mesut Ozil put Germany ahead to consolidate their position at the top of the group. Tim Cahill made it the same scoreline for Australia, and Brett Holman added another for the Socceroos with 15 minutes to go. Things looked a bit scary for Ghana, but it was too little too late for Serbia, after Marko Pantelic pulled one back with 5 minutes of normal time to play. It means that Germany go through to the second round as group winners, and Ghana scrape past by the skin of their teeth as runners up. To watch the highlights, click here for Ghana vs. Germany, and here for Australia vs. Serbia.

Blunder-ful - Day 9 Round-Up

A day to forget if you're a national team goalkeeper....

Netherlands vs. Japan started off today's proceedings, and it finished 1-0. I'll get that bit out the way... Wesley Sneijder's beast of a shot in the 52nd minute was flapped at by Eiji Kawashima, and he pushed it into the bottom corner of the net. Admittedly, it was going in, and it was very powerful, but it still should have gone over the crossbar. Have been very impressed with Japan so far - they actually seem a classic equal attacking, equal defending team. It also meant that the Netherlands qualified for the knockout round, due to the result in the final game of the day. If you wish to see the highlights, click here.

Our next game was Ghana vs. Australia, and it was split straight down the middle. The first half was action packed, and was brilliant; second, not so. We began it all with a goal from Brett Holman after Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson scooped and spilled a simple free kick, and played it into the path of Holman. We then had a bit of 'controversy', when Harry Kewell handled the ball on the line, and was sent off. He was adamant it wasn't a red card, but in my eyes, it certainly was. You can't leave you arm in the way of the ball, and claim its 'ball to hand'. Pillock. Anyway, the resulting penalty was converted by Asamoah Gyan, who has now scored two penalties for Ghana in this World Cup. Classy, really, considering Ghana have only scored two goals. The highlights can be found here.

Finally, the last game of the day was Cameroon vs. Denmark. Cameroon came in to the game with the whole of Africa on their shoulders, and it looked like it was going to be their day, when Samuel Eto'o put the ball in the net after some poor defending by the Danish. They then relaxed a bit, and Cameroon can't relax, and it led to a Danish goal, which many are saying is the best of the tournament yet. A 63-yard ball from Simon Kjaer from the halfway line to the corner flag, to Dennis Rommedahl, who then slid the ball inch-perfectly towards Nicklas Bendtner, who slid the ball in. Rommedahl then got a goal for himself when he curled one in after creating an opening for himself - beautiful stuff. The game finished 2-1, which means that Cameroon are out, the Netherlands are qualified, and Denmark and Japan have it all to play for. And guess who play each other next.... To watch the highlights, click here. 

Tale of Two Halves - Day 3 Round-Up

And it really was. We went from one extreme to another in just a few hours. And it was well worth the wait.

First up today was Algeria vs. Slovenia, to finish off the first round of games in Group B. It was like watching paint dry. The game was boring, slow and repetitive, and it looked like no-one would score until Robert Koren popped up with little over 10 minutes to go. Dull. Dull. Dull. If you really, really want to waste 5 minutes of your life, and watch just how dull this game was, then click here.

Then we had Serbia vs. Ghana to launch Group C, and that was just like a party. Having an African nation actually play well, unlike Algeria earlier, made the whole continent go mad. And that was before the goal. Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty with 5 minutes to go to give Ghana an opening game win, and they now set themselves up for a big tournament. To watch highlights of this one, and I advise you at least watch the brilliant goal, click here.

And the final game of Day 3 was that between Germany and Australia, and what an absolutely stunning game. The first half was the best half of football I've watched in the last year. Ozil is the best player seen so far, and with Australia playing very poorly, they conceded two very classy goals. Second half was a little more open, and with a correct piece of refereeing, sending Tim Cahill off killed the game with it. The third goal was a one-man effort, and then Cacau slotted one in with 20 minutes to go. It just seamed effortless for them to walk this game. With the game finishing 4-0, Germany now look like the team to beat. To watch the highlights, and please do, because it was just brilliant, click here.

And today was the first time ever that every game of the day involved a red card. Weird how things like that go, int it? Let's hope that's the lot for now though.

Group D - Ghana

The last team in Group D, and probably the last team come the end of the group stages. Ghana should be doing well, and be going through, but they really donb't look that way, should the injuries hampering the squads hit them again too. Losing Michael Essien was the biggest loss they could have suffered.

Capital City: Accra
Captain: Stephen Appiah
Manager: Milovan Rajevac
Star Man: Asamoah Gyan - the striker, who strangely likes the number 3 shirt, is in lethal form. He has a 50% goal per game percentage - which is top stuff. And at only 24, he could be in for a very bright future in a big league. 
Group Games: Serbia (13th June); Australia (19th June); Germany (23rd June)
Adam's Prediction: Missing some key players, so won't qualify, but will play some amazing football. 4th in Group D.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions) 

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) 

Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England) 

Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland)