"Soccer was invented by European ladies to keep them busy while their husbands did the cooking."
Posted on 06/24/2010 3:19:17 AM PDT by cartan
Today’s matches:
If New Zealand wins, Italy needs to win, too. Reportedly, they are getting nervous…
Here is Mehdi’s account of yesterday’s matches:
AUSTRALIA 2 (Cahill 69, Holman 73)
SERBIA 1 (Pantelic 84)
An absolutely disgraceful performance by the Serbs. Serbia broke from an Aussie corner, Ninkovic played the ball inside a defender to Krasic who murdered him for pass, rounded Schwarzer then with a goal gaping sent the ball high over the bar. Another attack from the right, another chance, Schwarzer with an excellent save from Ivanovic. Cahill got above Vidic to head in a superb, deep inswinging Wilkshire cross. Four minutes later Holman beat Stojkovic with a speculative drive which bounced into the corner. Schwarzer made one of his rare but trademark fumbles when he spilled substitute Tosic's tame effort and even Pantelic couldn't miss. Culina should have scored a third on the break.
Nothing p*sses me off more than seeing talented sides fail to fulfil their potential. The Serbian's should have wiped the floor with Australia (and Ghana). These type of performances are what we have to look forward to in the Euros. They should make it an invitational event and invite Brazil and Argentina so we don't have to watch sh*t like this.
Attendance : 37,836
Assists : Wilkshire, Culina, n/a
GHANA 0
GERMANY 1 (Ozil 60)
Cacau hit a through pass on the turn to release Ozil as the Ghana defenders appealed for offside but he wasted the opportunity, shooting straight at (Kofi) Kingson. Gyan forced a corner then met Ayew's cross with a flick header, Lahm controlled the ball on his chest and passed out of defence.
Gyan headed on a goalkick and Amoah's blistering pace was too much for Germany's centrebacks but his shot was poorly struck and Neuer parried. Ozil scored a fantastic goal following a sustained period of Germany pressure. Muller ran infield and poked a pass to Ozil who was standing on the edge of the D, with his first touch he flicked up the ball and with his second sent a half volley screaming inside the left post. Fabulous goal. Lahm, who has been the outstanding defender at this World Cup, appeared from nowhere to put a block on Ayew as he met Gyan's centre. The match ended on a sour note for the Germans when Schweinsteiger had to be substituted 10 minutes from time with a hamstring injury. He's out for the rest of the tournament. A massive blow.
Attendance : 83,391
Assist : Muller
SLOVENIA 0
ENGLAND 1 (Defoe 23)
The big news in the ongoing England soap opera was, not surprisingly, Capello ignored John 'big mistake' Terry's instructions to pick Cole and went with Defoe and Rooney in attack, Gerrard on the left and Milner on the right. England's goal followed six passes, well it is England, Milner swung in a deep cross from the left, Defoe got between both centrebacks, shinned the ball, straight at Handanovic who couldn't hold what was a powerful shot. Milner pumped another deep cross into the box but this time Handanovic beat Defoe to the ball and Lampard blazed the rebound over the bar. Shocking miss. Barry headed on a long ball or forced a mistake from a midfielder, the replays didn't show the incident and the real time camera also missed it, Handanovic made a phenomenal save down to his left from Defoe, Gerrard headed the rebounded to Rooney, who should have shot first time but, clearing lacking confidence, took it down, passed to Gerrard and Handanovic made another great save.
Handanovic punched out a corner, Lampard headed the ball back into the box and the unmarked Defoe flicked the ball wide of the right post. Handanovic made another remarkable save at his near post from a thundering Terry header. Rooney became the latest England player to spurn a chance that would prevent elimination at the hands of Germany in the next round when he pulled down Lampard's ball over the top but volleyed against the outside of a post. England almost paid the price for their woeful finishing. The Slovenia's countered when Barry gave the ball away in his own half, although England got men back in numbers the Slovenians fashioned a chance, Terry made a desperate block from Novakovic, Johnson hacked clear from Dedic on the rebound and Koren shot the third rebound wide. Upson made a brilliant goal saving tackle in injury time.
Much better from England, no surprise though, they were liberated from Heskey, whose sh*tness is so absolute it transcends through the squad. If England manage to take Germany to penalties Rooney will miss one.
Attendance : 36,893
Assist : Milner
USA 1 (Donovan 91)
ALGERIA 0
The Americans had an early scare when DeMerit failed to deal with a longball into the box, Djebbour controlled the ball on his chest and rifled a volley against Howard's crossbar. The Algerians were diving in with wild tackles, to nobodies surprise, Altidore was floored on the edge of the box then Bradley sandwiched inside it, a hospital pass turned into a perfect centre for Torres but he shot straight at M'Bolhi, fired the rebounded across goal and Dempsey stabbed over only to be denied by a linesman's flag. Just as Dempsey pulled the trigger on a glorious Donovan pass he was tackled by a defender. Donovan played a one two with Bradley, who retained the use of both his legs by hurdling over an insane sliding tackle and played in his captain with a brilliant reverse pass, M'Bolhi dived at Donovan's feet, Altidore and Donovan went for the rebound, Altidore got there first and sent the ball out of the stadium. Altidore nutmegged Halliche before tearing down the left flank, Dempsey curled his centre against the post and shanked the rebound. Buddle rose above the Algerian defence and met Cherundolo's cross with a tremendous header - straight at M'Bolhi. He threw the ball out to Belhadj, the Portsmouth defender raced upfield, centred to Ziani but he screwed his shot wide. Howard made a routine save from a Saifi header then released Donovan with a strong throw down the channel, he passed to Altidore, Dempsey was once again denied by M'Bolhi but Donovan snared the rebound. Yahia was sent off for something, dissent I think though his team-mates were the ones who were giving the awful referee some fearful abuse.
I'm not sure of the exact timing of this incident but somewhere in the second half Dempsey was punched in the face with a cheapshot that drew blood.
Attendance : 35,827
Red Card : Yahia 93 (Algeria)
Assist : n/a
PING!
"Soccer was invented by European ladies to keep them busy while their husbands did the cooking."
PARAGUAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It does bring out the trolls. I’ll approve of soccer just for that.
Forza Italia. Go Azzurri.
I heard on the radio the U.S. team made the group of 16 with a last-minute goal. How many teams did they start with?
32
I haven't read that anywhere else, and you know BILD would have half of the front page dedicated to it.
If that's true, who replaces him? Does Loew have any other defensive 6's?
Here’s hoping Italy wins today, otherwise it’s gonna be a dark day here in Sicilia.
No surprise, but all four Group F teams are trying to play their way in, with all placements up for grabs. The path to advance for each:
Paraguay sits in first place, and in the best position. They advance with a win or a draw. They can also advance with a loss and a Slovakian draw with Italy, or a Slovakian win where Slovakia can't make up the goal differential (currently +2 vs. -2)
Italy at least can play themselves through outright with a win. The can advance with a draw and a New Zealand draw if they score more goals than New Zealand.
New Zealand... take everything above and swap "New Zealand" for "Italy" and vice-versa. If both draw with the same number of goals, it's a coin flip to advance (and who wants that?).
Slovakia has put themselves behind the eight ball. Still, If they beat Italy, they advance if Paraguay wins or draws or if Slovakia can make up the four-goal differential.
Holland is already through and will win the group barring a fluke (involving a loss and some serious goal differential).
Japan advances with a win or draw against Denmark.
Denmark advances with a win against Japan.
Cameroon has already been eliminated.
In essence, Japan and Denmark are playing for the #2 spot here, with Japan winning on tiebreakers. Yes, in theory, one could still win the group, but it's extremely unlikely. Holland can slack off against Cameroon if they wish, as long as they don't concede a pile of goals.
Over 100 national teams tried to make it to SA, only 32 qualified. 8 groups of 4 competed in pools to narrow the field to 16. The top two move on. The U.S. topped their pool (pool C), and face the second place team in pool D (Ghana). From now on, it’s a win or go home scenario.
If you haven’t seen this yet make sure you click on a couple of videos. This is awesome!
Across the U.S., an Explosion of Joy
http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/across-the-u-s-an-explosion-of-joy/
Between that incessant and stupid noise in the background and the 90 minutes of scoreless and constant possession changing, I just wonder who in the hell is watching that horribly boring South African garbage . . . I keep hearing of high ratings . . . from where?
ML/NJ
Your intro says Schweinsteiger is done for the tournament. I haven't read that anywhere else, and you know BILD would have half of the front page dedicated to it.True. Apparently, there is still hope!
I don’t think there is anybody who could replace him. Perhaps Kroos can play there.
Anyone but Brazil. They have won too many.
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