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. 

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.

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)

Group D - Serbia

Being in the Group of Death, every Group D game is gonna be difficult, but with the resurgence of Serbia, their games prove that little bit more difficult.

The likes of Vidic, Stankovic and Tosic al.l add to the depth the squad has, and I really do think Serbia could be one of the big shocks of the tournament. However, we have to be sensible with predictions and how it all works out...

Capital City: Belgrade
Captain: Dejan Stankovic
Manager: Radomir Antic
Star Man: Dejan Stankovic - it has to be the captain. Coming into the World Cup on the back of a historic Treble with Inter Milan, he is the right man to lead, and the right man to make the passes, crosses and set up the goals to create a successful campaign.
Group Games: Ghana (13th June); Germany (18th June); Australia (23rd June)
Adam's Prediction: Think they may very well scrape through to the second round, and set up a potential tie with England. 2nd in Group D.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria) 

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio) 

Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (VfB Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege) 

Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Birmingham City), Marko Pantelic (Ajax Amsterdam), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad)

Group D - Australia

The Australians must surely be aiming for the second round. They have a squad built up of players of a relative level, but they won't go any further than the second round - if they even make it....... A lack of forwards will massively affect them.

Capital City: Canberra
Captain: Lucas Neill
Manager: Pim Verbeek
Star Man: Tim Cahill - there couldn't be anyone else. Cahill is the best player in the squad, bar none. Having just signed a new contract at everton, he's been playing amazing football, and this could lead to a brilliant World Cup for him to showcase his talents.
Group Games: Germany (13th June); Ghana (19th June); Serbia (23rd June)
Adam's Prediction: Unfortunately, probably won't make it through. Will run Serbia close mind you. 3rd in Group C.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough) 

Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira) 

Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo) Vince Grella (Blackburn), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hulll), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg) 

Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray)

Group D - Germany

Welcome to the Group of Death, opening with Germany. Now Germany have a 'history', let's say, with a lot of teams at the World Cup, which could add to the rivalry and atmosphere in every game. Brilliant.

Every memeber of their squad is based in Germany, which hasn't happened for years. With the loss of Michael Ballack, they could be missing a natural leader, but Germany will do well this year.

Capital City: Berlin
Captain: Philipp Lahm
Manager: Joachim Low
Star Man: Mesut Ozil - he hasn't played many games for Germany, but what a player. This kid is just a speed machine - he's like Wayne Rooney was when he was at Everton. Expect big stuff from him this year, and a big move in the near future.
Group Games: Australia (13th June); Serbia (18th June); Ghana (23rd June)
Adam's Prediction: Should win the group comfortably, and will win in the second round, but I don't think they'll get much further than the quarters. 1st in Group D.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen) 

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Jerome Boateng (Hamburger SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart) 

Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV) 

Forwards: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)