Man-nipples aplenty on the Algerian side
So while everyone analyses Fabio Capello’s formation and team tactics, let’s face it, as much as we all want England to win, screaming at the TV just won’t help. Neither will booing.
Sunday’s match was like watching a dog chasing its tail, and so naturally my eyes also began to wander away from the ball. If you haven’t already realised, I’m a girl. So here’s an alternative take on England v Algeria. (more…)
Gonzalo Higuaín finally found his scoring boots
Despite the win, Argentina undoubtedly had a frustrating start to the World Cup against Nigeria. Argentina went into this game looking to prove their right to be called one of the favourites. (more…)
No comment.
This game was always going to be a bit special for Argentina coach Diego Maradona. His final ever international match was against Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup, before he failed a drug test and was banned from the tournament. Now, he’s facing the Super Eagles in his first ever World Cup match as a manager, and he has unfinished business to take care of. (more…)
Greece were on the whole unimpressive in their opening game against South Korea, but will be thanking Zeus they didn’t suffer a heavier defeat. (more…)
The World Champions are the strong favourites to top this group and are expected to cause some heartbreak in the knockout stages. But even as World Champions they aren’t favourites to reach the final in let alone reclaim their title. How far and brightly will their 2010 campaign blaze?
Paraguay considered favourites to progress to the knockout phase alongside Italy. They saw off both Brazil and Argentina to seal their place at the summer tournament, with two games to spare, during their qualifying campaign. Are their impressive qualifying performances enough to strike fear into the hearts of Group F?
Although they pose little threat to Italy and Paraguay, Slovakia are still expected to outperform New Zealand. But how will they perform against the group favourites?
They’re not expected to move higher than the foot of the table in Group F. Surely they deserve some respect for making it to the greatest stage in the footballing world which some of their higher rated counterparts failed to reach, or are they just cannon fodder for their group mates?
Ghana
Qualified: Winners of Group 5 (in second round), Winners of Group D (in third round)
Best World Cup finish: Last 16: 2006
FIFA Ranking: 32
Odds for 2010: 100/1
Ghana successfully negotiated two rounds of qualifying to secure their place in the first ever African based World Cup and also a place at their second consecutive tournament following their run to the last-16 of the 2006 tournament before being eliminated by five time winners Brazil.
Like Germany, Ghana have been robbed of their star player, the versatile Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, who will miss the tournament having sustained a knee injury during ‘the Black Stars’ African Cup of Nations campaign in January 2010, an injury that ruled him out of the rest of his club’s domestic campaign and which ultimately ended his World Cup chances, with a recovery estimated for late in July.
In his absence, the responsibility of his role in the side will be spread across the rest of the side, with Essien’s all-round midfield contribution regarded as almost impossible to replace. (more…)
Germany
Qualified: Winners of European Qualification Group 4
Best World Cup finish: Winners: 1954, 1974 (as West Germany), 1990.
FIFA Ranking: 6
Odds for 2010: 14/1
Germany cruised into their 15th consecutive World Cup finals with an unbeaten qualification campaign that was clinched with an impressive one-nil victory over Russia in Moscow.
Dropping just two points in the whole campaign, the Germans had the two highest scorers in their group with Miroslav Klose’s seven goals just edging him ahead of frontline partner Lukas Podolski who notched six.
So the Germans, perhaps inspired by Bayern Munich’s impressive run to the Champions League final, marched into South Africa with a spring in their step, confident of at least a semi-final finish.
However, their optimism was surely rocked with the news that Captain Michael Ballack will miss the tournament courtesy of an injury picked up in the FA Cup final thanks to a tackle from Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boatang – suffice to say it didn’t take long for the conspiracy theorists to clear their throats. (more…)
The tournament’s second group boasts a bunch of past champions of their respective continental championships within the last 20 years – and South Korea. (more…)
South Africa – Entering the tournament as the lowest-ever ranked host nation, little is expected of Bafana Bafana and we can see why. Uninspiring in failing to qualify for the African Nations Cup, they missed their chance to test themselves in readiness for the big stage. Although unbeaten in seven months, they ambled to draws against Jamaica and Namibia, before beating Jamaica 2-0 in April. Beyond Steven Pienaar, their only top-level player, there is little quality in the side. Benni McCarthy, well known to English fans, was dropped from the final squad amid concerns over his form and weight. With the exception of captain Aaron Mokoena and Kagiso Dikgacoi of Fulham – hardly a regular – the squad lacks experience in competitive European Leagues, with a few members plying their trade in Greece and Germany having been omitted. World Cup-winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has called on a large group of domestic-based players who we can know little about. Nevertheless, he has been unbeaten in 11 games, upon being named coach and we can be sure to expect that the strong team spirit that has been fostered will do their nation proud. (more…)
Should the vuvuzelas be silenced?
Sunday, June 13th, 2010Tags: evra, South Africa, vuvuzelas, World Cup
Posted in Comment, World Cup | 3 Comments »