Group C, the Group of Life

Breaking from format, I give you Group C: England v. USA and Algeria v. Slovenia.

Result: England 1  USA 1

Aside from the extraordinary drama this wasn't a particularly entertaining match.  One thing was certain, we saw the the worst goal of the tournament.  It's been written about.  My two cents is that everything that was discussed before the game was spot on.  Strengths and weaknesses proved to be just that.  Suprisingly the US attacks better than they defend.  More surprisingly, the England midfield partnership of Gerrard and Lampard, for all their skill, appears miscast.  I hope to see better from Donovan and Rooney going forward.

Result: Algeria 0  Slovenia 1

No drama, a red card and the second worst goal of the tournament.

When there are sixty matches, they can't all be entertaining.  Slovenia is now in charge of the group, but if England and the US don't get through there will be hell to pay back home.  Let's hope that Group D brings us more joy today.

Argentina v. Nigeria, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Result: Argentina 1  Nigeria 0  Take Away: Argentina should have no problem going through to the next round, but they looked suspect defensively at times.

The setting for this match was Ellis Park, the site of South Africa's Rugby World Cup triumph, made famous in the US by the movie Invictus.

The most famous member of Argentina's entourage is its controversial coach Diego Maradona.  Maradona's coaching chops are more than a little suspect, having used 38 players in the eight qualifiers for which he was in charge and using a system of play that doesn't necessarily highlight the talents of FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.  But, the 49 year-old FIFA Player of the Century (with Pele) did manage to guide Argentina to South Africa after taking over in November of 2008.

For this match Maradona elected to go with his big three up front--Messi, Manchester City star Carlos Tevez and striker Gonzalo Higuain.  Their skill was evident right from the start.  Four minutes in Messi danced through the Nigerian defense and slid a square ball to Higuain six yards out which the Real Madrid striker inexplicably side-footed wide.  A minute later Messi again found himself in space at the top of the box and played an beautiful curling left-footed shot ticketed for the upper right-hand corner that Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama did well to push wide.

The Albiceleste were rewarded on the ensuing corner as left back Gabriel Heinze went unmarked at the penalty spot and directed a diving header into the upper left hand corner of the net.  Six minutes in, Argentina 1, Nigeria 0.

Messi in particular continued to wreak havoc missing on another beautiful shot in the 37th minute that was also well saved by Enyeama, but couldn't find the net and went to the half up one.  The strength of the Argentine side was evidenced by the fact that they were able to bring Champions League Final hero Diego Milito on as a substitute in the 79th minute.  The scoreline held and Maradona's side collected their three points.

The Nigerians competed well, but few African nations are known for their defensive prowess and the Super Eagles did nothing to make one reasses that line of thinking.  Most visibly, down one with three minutes left in regulation time the Argentines knocked the ball around for a full two minutes as the Super Eagles looked on passively.  They will have to step up in their next two matches or their tournament will be a short one.  Their match versus South Korea on the 22nd is one to circle on the calendar.

South Korea v. Greece, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Result: South Korea 2  Greece 0  Take Away: From start to finish South Korea was the better side.  The Greeks have to be disappointed with all aspects of their play.

5% of the allocation of World Cup tickets were not sold.  Not surprisingly an early round match between an Asian nation and one of the weaker European sides was a match that didn't sell out the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.  Announced attendance was 31,513 about 15,000 less than capacity.  Those not in attendance missed a one-sided affair that produced the first victory of the tournament.

Just seven minutes in Lee Jung-Soo scored off a set piece.  That was foreshadowed by a classic line here, when it was determined that Lee would be key for the S. Koreans. The free kick was taken just in front of the left corner flag.  The Greeks were caught playing zone and doing a bit of ball watching.  The in-swinger grazed off the head of one Greek defender, changing its path ever so slightly and J. Lee, coming in unmarked, was at the back post, five yards out, to bang it home.  The S. Koreans have scored 24 goals in their World Cup history, eleven off set pieces.  The match went to half 1-0.

South Korea essentially put the game away seven minutes after the break with a great piece of skill by Park Ji-Sung.  The Manchester United striker took advantage of a misplay by the Greeks just inside the center line and took off toward goal, one defender on his heels and one in front.  He showed wonderful touches on the ball running at speed, eluded both defenders and slotted it in the right side past the on-rushing Greek keeper.  Although one might not notice it because Park seemed to score with such ease, it really was a goal of great class and enhanced his reputation as one for the big moment.

The Greeks made a better showing of it in the last twenty and Theofanis Gekas rifled one that forced the S. Korean keeper to react quickly in order to parry it over the bar.  But the result was never in doubt and the Greeks still have not scored at a World Cup after going goalless in the US in 1994.  South Korea was worth the 2-0 result, playing a fast-paced and entertaining style, while Greece will have to go back to the drawing board.

No doubt the Koreans will be hoping that Argentina fills the tally sheet in the other match in Group B as it now looks like they will be battling with Nigeria for the other spot in the Round of 16.

Uruguay v. France, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Result: Uruguay 0  France 0  Take Away: France dominated the run of play but Uruguay defended well

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it has a brand new soccer stadium to match.  Not yet as iconic as the Sydney Opera House, but certainly a stunning venue with the backdrop of Table Mountain and Robben Island a short distance off shore.

From Wikipedia:

The fifteen-story structure of the stadium features curved walls and it is clad in a translucent fabric mesh made from woven fibreglass coated with Teflon, The filigree skin changes its appearance with the movement of the sun, appearing blue at noon, rose in the late afternoon and red at sunset. On stormy days, it can appear silver, grey or even pewter. The stadium also features 360 internal lamps, which lend a transparent gleaming appearance to the outer filigree skin, revealing its interior when switched on.

I think the stadium probably shone brighter than either team today.  It wasn't the most titillating of matches.  France's Franck Ribery, recently in the headlines for this, was the most dangerous player on the pitch.  However, the best chance of the match fell to Uruguay's Diego Floran who missed an opportunity to start a weekend party in Montevideo that might have been worth getting on a plane for.  In the 72nd minute Floran had a half-volley from 12 yards.  He struck it well but missed his target badly to the left and Uruguay's best chance was gone.  

Nine minutes later Los Charruas' Nicolas Lodeiro, who came on in the 63rd minute, was sent off by the Japanese referee for a vicious tackle on Bacary Sagna.  With Thierry Henry on as a substitute, France pushed forward but couldn't penetrate the South Americans' strong defense.  There minutes of extra time brought nothing more and the day ends with all four teams in Group A tied with one point.

South Africa and Uruguay will go to sleep tonight feeling good about their efforts and look forward to their match on Wednesday.  For Mexico and France there may not be panic, but there will be a great sense of urgency when they clash on Thursday.  A loser in that match will now find themselves in deep trouble.

South Africa v. Mexico, Soccer Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

Result: South Africa 1  Mexico 1  Take Away: A Fair Result

The tournament opened today with all the pomp and circumstance you would expect for the world's biggest sporting event.  And it opened in a beautiful new venue in Joburg in front of 83,548.

The hosts played as if the eyes of the world were upon them for the first thirty minutes--tentative and uncertain.  Mexico had the run of play and in the 37th minute Carlos Vela appeared to score the opener.  The South African keeper came out to play a corner swung in from his right but was beaten to the ball by a Mexican attacker who flicked on a simple header which Vela directed into the open goal.  The commentators Martin Tyler and Efan Ekoku noted the defender standing on the goal line and Ekoku was adamant the linesman had blown the call.*  In this case, it's better the announcers were wrong.  In misplaying the ball the keeper had gone past Vela, thus he did not have TWO defenders between him and the goal when the ball was played.  It was very close but the linesman got this one right.

*With the Ireland-France handball fiasco in World Cup qualifying, the horrendous officiating in the NBA Finals, the blown call in the recent (im)perfect baseball game, this would not be a good start.  Non-soccer fans and the media would have had a field day.

The game went to the half scoreless and it was clear Mexico had squandered multiple chances.  It wasn't long before they were punished for their indiscretion.  In the 55th minute the hosts strung together a nice series of passes and Teko Modise found Siphiwe Tshabalala behind the defense.  Tshabalala scored what will be one of the five best goals of the tournament, rifiling a shot from eight meters out from the left post into the upper right hand corner.  Commentator Tyler noted that Tshabalalalalala has the perfect name for the thousands of songs that are now going to be written about him.

Mexico had no choice but to go forward and in the 79th minute Rafael Marquez leveled the match.  He was left onside when the South African captain failed to move forward with his teammates.  Marquez took a cross, settled it beautifully and beat the keeper from 5 meters.  Over a few cervezas he will tell his teammates that he meant to beat the keeper on the right, the short side, and it was a majestic strike.  No doubt he took it well and in that situation if you basically avoid ripping it into the keeper you will get your just reward.  Marquez did that.  But both he and I know he meant differently.  He was a bit lucky and I'm sure he will thank the Almighty in his prayers tonight.

The country almost erupted as Bafana Bafana hit the post in the final minute, but the scoreline held and both sides left the pitch relieved.  South Africa kept the host nation's slate clean in World Cup openers, now 15-0-5, and Mexico recovered to get a point.  The South Africans will need to upgrade their level going forward, but played 25 very good minutes in the second half and were dangerous counter attacking.  El Tri will have to do better with the chances they got.  Their road to round two just got a little more diffiuclt.  France and Uruguay up next.

Copa Mundial and a Funny E-mail

So the biggest sporting event in the world starts tomorrow.  I'm a bit surprised the poll on the site is running so strongly pro-soccer.  It is difficult to convey the passion and frenzy that this event brings out in so many people in so many countries.  I'll preview and recap some of the matches for you, but will probably spend more time pointing you to articles that I found interesting and that convey this passion.

If you are looking for some background Fox Soccer Channel is running thirty minute shows called The Contenders which preview all the teams in the WC.  They are also running half-hour shows called 500 Greatest Goals and Football Rivalries--great shows to get you in the mood.

I fear the US may have a tough go this time around.  They have drawn well by being in a group with England (Saturday, 2:30), Slovenia (June 18, 10 am) and Algeria (June 23, 10 am), and they will be the second favorite to come out of Group C.  The team seems to be more dangerous on the attack than in years past with Jozy Altidore and Landon Donovan, proven world class players.  But, surprisingly, the US looks very vulnerable in the back, particularly in the center where Oguchi Onyewu has been very slow to recover from injury.  They will find out early, opening against England one of the pre-tournament favourites (like the spelling twist?).

I got an email from Fritter a Danish-born, US resident friend of mine who is particularly soccer-crazy.  I thought it was worth passing along.  It was sent by a British friend of his living in Boston.  The British guy emailed his American buddies:

As my American friends will be unaware there is a World Tournament taking place where ALL the World got to qualify(could not resist that to all you Baseball fans)

 So the good news is the USA qualified the bad new is they get to play England!!!  Given a number of you have tried to explain the finer points of baseball, American Footballetc it seems only fair that you should come round for a Footy match to the Brits house ( and Yes those British flags will up again!)

Venue:  153 Washington Street

Time:  2pm 

Purpose: Eat and Drink warm beer( will have some cold American ones there also) and watch a game of Footy uninterrupted by commerical breaks

As Fritter notes, "The funny thing is it was sent last Thursday morning and five people showed up at his house that afternoon looking for the game.....Can't make this up."

The lure of free booze is big in Boston.  Some will even suffer through a Football Match.