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.

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.

Outstanding Attacking - Day 2 Round-Up

Having now watched 5 out of the 64 games, we're beginning to get a bit of a feel for how its all going. And how attacking was today?!

First game of today was the Korea Republic against Greece,and it was a brilliant display by the Asian team. They showed that they really have recovered the form of the 2002 semi-finalists, and it was actually a very enjoyable game to watch - makes a change when it involves Greece. Highlights are found here.


Next up on the roster was Argentina vs. Nigeria, and it was the best game so far. First half was absolutely stunning - haven't seen a game of football like that in a while. Messi's jinking runs and Tevez's brute force matched perfectly, and the lack of defence for both teams were only uncovered fully in the last 10 minutes. The passing was brilliant too, and it bodes well for the next month. You can watch the highlights here.

Finally, we had England vs. USA. What a really poor game. When Gerrard put the ball in the net within 10 minutes, I thought we were on our way. But no, however we did it, we let the USA come back, and eventually ended up drawing 1-1, thanks to an absolute blunder from Robert Green. If I were Capello, I'd have pulled him off at half time, and let him know it wasn't acceptable. Second half was a little better, but we brought on slower players and brought the pace of the game right down, making Wayne Rooney a very unhappy bunny. Still, if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Group C - USA

The team that have hosted the World Cup, and still not conquered football. 'Soccer' remains the 3rd biggest sport in the States, but the tide is slowly turning, and manager Bob Bradley really is turning the fortunes of the team around.

The USA squad are, in fact, incredibly attacking. Quick pace, attacking mentality, and a strong defence could make games against the team very difficult.

Capital City: Washington DC
Captain: Carlos Bocanegra
Manager: Bob Bradley
Star Man: Michael Bradley - the coach's son has gone from zero to hero in a matter of months. Now an integral member of the team, he is reminiscent of a young Paul Scholes - a man whose passing accuracy leads the team and could prove to become the man who makes the crucial difference.
Group Games: England (12th June); Slovenia (18th June); Algeria (23rd June)
Adam's Prediction: Will win against Slovenia and Algeria, but lose to England. Runners up in the group, but to lose in the second round. 2nd in Group C.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves) 

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham) 

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (unattached), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla)