4 In, 4 Out - Day 12 Round-Up

And we began the beginning of the end today!

The first couple of games were Mexico vs. Uruguay, and France vs. South Africa. They were played simultaneously, so I shall blog them simultaneously! It was first blood to SA, when Bongani Khumalo put the ball in the French net, and the dream was on. It was made even better when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off for France, which was quickly followed up by another goal from Katlego Mphela to give them a 2-0 lead at the break. Just before the break, however, Uruguay had gone 1 up through a beautiful Luis Suarez header, and that was how the games stayed until the 70th minute, when Florent Malouda spoilt the fun and pulled one back for France. The games stayed that way,which means Uruguay and Mexico progress, with South Africa 3rd and France rock bottom. Rightfully so if you're Irish and you are still feeling aggrieved after THAT incident. Highlights are available here for both Mexico vs. Uruguay and France vs. South Africa.

The next games finished off Group B, with matches between Nigeria and the Korea Republic, and Greece vs. Argentina. With Argentina already 3 points ahead of the other teams, they looked certain to progress, but the rest was all to play for. A Kalu Uche goal put Nigeria ahead, but after 38 minutes, Lee Jung-Soo scored a brilliant goal to pull it level. The South Koreans then went in front after a tremendous free-kick from Park Chu-Young, which brought half time. In the other game, Argentina were battering Greece, with Lionel Messi, the captain of the evening, proving why he is the best football player potentially ever. After 70 minutes, Yakubu converted a Nigerian penalty to bring it to 2-2, after a brilliant bit of chopping from the Korean defence. Argentina then began to put their attacking force into line, with a smash-in from Martin Demichelis with 10 minutes to go, and then a Messi-created tap-in for Martin Palermo. Juan Sebastian Veron played the best game I've ever seen him play, and Messi was just a maestro in the team. Both games finished 2-2 and 2-0 respectively, which means Argentina progress as group winners, and the Korea Republic go through as runners-up. Nigeria vs. Korea Republic highlights can be found here with Greece vs. Argentina highlights found here.

 

Knockout Round
Uruguay vs. Korea Republic
Argentina vs. Mexico

Creepin' Cheatin'

Has anyone else noticed the increase in feigning, cheating and diving there has been this World Cup? Teams are going down with the slightest of touches, and players have been sent off for incidents that didn't even occur. It seems an absolute joke that the referees are allowing this to happen.

But what is the way to combat this? I can only see one way - referrals. Football has to move with the times, and we need goal-line technology, and referrals to a 'fourth official'-type figure. Rugby has, tennis has, now its football's turn to embrace what needs to happen to make things better and fairer.

10 in 3?! - Day 11 Round-Up

Well there's something we weren't expecting!

Lunchtime kick off was Portugal vs. Korea DPR, and bloody hell, what a game. Raul Meireles started the scoring after some beautiful build-up, and the teams went in for half time at 1-0. We didn't expect the second half though. Simao with a belter; Hugo Almeida with a tricky finish; Tiago with a thump. 4-0, within 15 minutes of the restart. Liedson headed one in with 10 minutes to go, and Cristiano Ronaldo broke his two-year duck for an international goal with 3 to go. Tiago then topped things off in extra time by scoring Portugal's seventh. 7-0. The North Koreans aren't going home to a warm reception.... To watch the highlights, click here.

Next up were Chile vs. Switzlerland, and if you like your football aggressive, then this was the game for you. The first half had Valon Behrami sent off - after two consecutive elbows. And he protested his innocence. Plank. But it was truly Chile's game, and they look a really good package this time around. It was with 15 minutes to go that Mark Gonzalez scored the only goal, thanks to a brilliant cross and a header down. It means Chile can go through with a point against Spain on Friday. Fancy watching the highlights? Click here.

The last game of Day 11 was Spain vs. Honduras, and on paper, it was a walkover. And it was. David Villa put the Spaniards ahead with probably one of the best games of the tournament so far - a jink in from the wing, tickling it round the defenders and putting it straight in the net. Just beautiful. He then scored a second in the 50th minute, but later missed a penalty by a good foot, and missed out on his hat trick. Spain looked really good, but Fernando Torres looks a waste of space... Click here to see the highlights.

The Controversial Couple - Day 10 Round-Up

A bit of an odd one, if I'm honest. It was a bit of a scary day, if you were a player, and a good day, if you're a ref who likes the colour red.

Today began with Slovakia vs. Paraguay. It was probably one of the best games of the tournament - it was attacking, it was quick, and it was very entertaining. Paraguay took the lead in the 27th minute through a beautiful goal from Enrique Vera, who curled the ball into the bottom corner of the net with the inside of his boot. It continued the period of play where everything was Paraguay. There weren't many more shots, just some very skillful football, but Carlos Riveros finished the game off with 4 minutes to go, with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box. The game finished 2-0, and if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Next for us were the delights of Italy vs. New Zealand. Now this game would normally have Italy written all over it, but after their poor performance in the first game, and New Zealand's renewed efforts, it was gonna be close. And it was. Having gone ahead through a Shane Smeltz goal in the seventh minute, New Zealand lost their attacking abilities, and became very defensive. This allowed Italy to fight back, and the world champions converted a penalty in the 29th minute, after Daniele De Rossi was hauled down in the box. The game finished that way, but only after Chris Wood very nearly gave New Zealand an unlikely win over the reigning world champions. To watch the highlights, click here.

Brazil vs. Ivory Coast topped things off tonight, and it was a brilliant, brilliant spectacle. Luis Fabiano kicked things off with a beautiful goal for Brazil in the 25th minute - chipped, kicked, flicked and struck his way into the net. It stayed like that till half time, until Fabiano scored again, with a lovely little effort into the net. Elano picked up goal number 3 in the 62nd minute, and all looked lost for the Ivory Coast. That was, until, Didier Drogba stuck one in the back of the net with 10 minutes to go, but Brazilian coach Dunga shut up shop, and stopped everything from passing. Kaka picked up two yellows, to equal a red, after a shocking and blatant dive and feint from Abdelkader Keita, who ran into Kaka's shoulder, and went down clutching his face. Appalling, and I hope FIFA look into it. But anyway, 3-1 was enough to secure Brazil's place in the second round, and if you want to watch the highlights, you can find them here.

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. 

It's All Kicking Off

After a week of relatively little controversy, we always have a day where everything goes a little bit mad. And for the 2010 World Cup, that day was today.

We started the day with the news that Wayne Rooney went a little mad towards the TV cameras yesterday, after England's bore draw with Algeria. He said 'Nice to see your own fans booing you, that's loyal support...' with a little more after that. Watch it. Good to see the footballers actually reacting to what the fans feel. Then a fan got into the dressing room to really tell them what he felt...



We then heard of Nicolas Anelka being sent home from the France squad, after a bust up with boss Raymond Domenech. Arguably the best player so far for the French, it was a snap decision that I think Raymundo may regret. Still, if that's how strongly he feels, its probably best to do it now, rather than let it linger.

Best One, Worst One - Day 8 Round-Up

Well, that was a day and a half!

We began at lunchtime with Germany vs. Serbia, and that was some game... We began with what looked like a very strong German team, and quite a weak Serbian team. The Serbians were naturally defensive, and Germans attacking (no WWII accusations intended...), and that looked to be how it would go. But it was completely different, and Milan Jovanovic put the ball in the German net in the 33rd minute. Miroslav Klose then got himself a second yellow for a stupid tackle, and Germany had to finish the game with 10 men. Plenty of woodwork hitting then went on, and when Nemanja Vidic conceded a penalty, things looked to become equal again. Lukas Podolski then missed the penalty, and the game finished as we were, at 1-0. If you want to see the highlights, click here.

The next game was Slovenia vs. USA, and it just got better. Best game of the tournament so far. Slovenia took the lead in the 13th minute with an absolute belter from Valter Birsa, and then Zlatan Ljubijankic made it 2-0. Half time obviously went well for the USA, and Landon Donovan pulled one back through rocketing the ball into the roof of the net, and then, with 10 minutes to go, Michael Bradley, scores the decisive goal. Maurice Edu then had a goal disallowed, wrongly, and they were rightfully annoyed. Still, the ref was a bit trigger happy with his cards, and a couple of the players will miss the next game. If you want the highlights, they are found here.

Our final game today was England vs. Algeria. By a living mile, the worst game I've seen of the tournament. England just lacked absolutely everything - no attacking power, no decent tackles, nothing. It was just so so poor. David James hardly had to make a save, so it wasn't like Algeria were all over us, but there was no-one to take charge - Gerrard was abysmal, and even Rooney was poor. Waz summed it up with this - 'Nice to see your home fans booing you'. It leaves every team in Group C on 2 points, so everything is to play for next Wednesday. If you want to watch what very few highlights there were, click here.