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2010 World Cup
FIFA World Cup 2010 - Football / Soccer - ESPN Soccernet
FIFA.com - Fιdιration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) South Africa v Mexico Group A, 14:00 GMT, June 11, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa With the eyes of the world trained upon the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, the opening match of the FIFA World Cup offers South Africa a unique opportunity to make a statement of intent, both for their own team and for the tournament as a whole. How far can South Africa go? Bafana Bafana will take to the stage after the usual extravagant, drawn out opening ceremony and will find it tough to focus their attention on overcoming their opponents after being part of such a scene. However, buoyed by the sound of around 90,000 vuvuzelas, Carlos Alberto Parreira's men will have the entire nation - perhaps even continent - behind them as they walk out onto the pitch and you can never rule out the benefit of having a '12th man' in the stands. Coach Parreira boasts all the experience needed to succeed at the highest level, however few have given the South Africans much of a chance of getting out of a group that also includes France and Uruguay. Led by the likes of Steven Pienaar and Aaron Mokoena, Bafana Bafana have, though, been in great form of late. Unbeaten since mid-October, the side have recently beaten Colombia, hammered Guatemala, and overcome Denmark in their warm-up games and have an excellent fourth-placed campaign in the 2009 Confederations Cup (held in South Africa) to draw upon should they need to. Their opponents, Mexico, have also been on a good run. Unlucky to lose to England after a first-half showing that suggested coach Javier Aguirre will place his emphasis on attacking football, Mexico will have confidence flowing their veins after beating reigning world champions Italy 2-1. It is something of a turnaround considering that, under Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Mexicans were on the verge of missing out on the tournament altogether, and Aguirre now has the team playing with a freedom that brings out their self-belief. With a mixture of veteran performers like Rafael Marquez and young talent in the form of Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela, they will be a tough proposition for the hosts to overcome. South Africa player in focus: Katlego Mphela. South Africa left Benni McCarthy out of the squad for a reason and one of them is the form of Mphela. With four goals in his last two starts, the Mamelodi Sundowns striker has made a first-team place his own and, on the back of an incredible goal in the Confederations Cup against Spain, his star is on the rise. Mexico player in focus: Javier Hernandez. Having just moved to Manchester United in a deal reported to be around £10 million, the spotlight will well and truly be on the young striker. Quick, agile and with a good eye for goal, he has scored seven goals in 12 games for his country. Will need to perform better than he managed in the friendly at Wembley though, if he is to prove his doubters wrong. Key Battle: Steven Pienaar vs. Efrain Juarez. Pienaar's form is crucial if South Africa have any hope of getting out of the group and his work on the wing will set up chances for his team-mates. A great season at Everton has raised expectation, but then Juarez's form for UNAM Pumas has also caught the attention. With Juarez also able to play at full-back, his defensive qualities could be key to stopping Pienaar. Trivia: This year's opening match is the first ever in Africa and it will be the third opener to feature an African team. On both previous occasions the African sides picked up shocks wins as Cameroon beat holders Argentina 1-0 in 1990 and Senegal beat champions France by the same score in 2002. Stats: South Africa coach Parreira will take charge of a side at his sixth World Cup. Kuwait (1982), United Arab Emirates (1990), Saudi Arabia (1998) and Brazil (1994 and 2006); while Mexico have been sent home in the Second Round stage in the past four World Cup tournaments. Eight of the last 11 opening matches have produced one or no goals. Odds: A 2-2 draw comes in at 17.00, while Mphela looks a good bet to score first at 7.50 with Bet 365. Prediction: You can't rule out the importance of the crowd in the first game. Players at the Confederations Cup complained of hearing what sounded like a swarm of bees on the pitch - in fact it was the vuvuzela noise - and Mexico could be stunned. It should be enough for South Africa to claim at least a draw. |
Uruguay v France
Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 11, 2010 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa Historians of French football did not have to search too far back in the record books for worrying omens when the World Cup draw was made. In 2002, when les Bleus surrendered their crown in such meek fashion, it was a 0-0 draw in their second game against Uruguay that truly confirmed their fall from grace. France do not approach the 2010 finals enjoying the lofty status of world beaters, though. In fact, having infamously required a Thierry Henry handball to edge past Republic of Ireland in a play-off and suffered a defeat in a warm-up game against China's second string, Raymond Domenech's side look ripe for another early exit in Group A. With Lassana Diarra absent due to injury, and Henry exiled to the bench, France are also grappling with an experimental 4-3-3 formation that is open to exploitation. In contrast, Uruguay - winners in 1930 and 1950, but competing in only their second finals since 1990 - appear high in confidence, with captain Diego Lugano boasting Oscar Tabarez's side are hitting their best form. Whether that is enough to take advantage of France's very evident problems remains to be seen. Uruguay player in focus: Diego Forlan. Cometh the hour, cometh the man? In recent seasons, Forlan has proved to be the player for the big occasion and in May scored both of Atletico Madrid's goals in the Europa League final. Forlan top-scored for Uruguay in qualification with seven goals and, in his only match of the 2002 World Cup, netted in a 3-3 draw with Senegal. The striker has reached double figures in each of his past six seasons in Spain. France player in focus: Franck Ribery. The Bayern Munich star missed the Champions League final due to suspension and must be keen to make amends. Ribery was one of the breakthrough stars of the last World Cup but has seen his preparations for the current tournament disrupted by a sex scandal, though he remains a key figure for les Bleus. Raymond Domenech needs Ribery to flourish in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation if the country are to enjoy a trouble-free group stage. Key battle: Luis Suarez v William Gallas. The Uruguay forward is arguably world football's most in-form player heading into the finals having scored a remarkable 49 goals for Ajax last season. In Gallas, he faces an opponent who has been recovering from injury and has yet to prove he can strike up a productive partnership with Eric Abidal in the heart of Domenech's defence, but the Frenchman's form at Arsenal was impressive in the first half of the season. Trivia: Diego Forlan's father, Pablo, was named in the Uruguay squads for both the 1966 and 1974 World Cup finals. Stats: Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan scored 71 goals between them in all competitions last season. France's five forwards - Thierry Henry, Sidney Govou, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Djibril Cisse and Nicolas Anelka - managed just 59. Odds: Uruguay (3.50), the draw (3.20), France (2.20) with Bet365. Uruguay to win to nil is 5.50 and may be worth a flutter with France looking unconvincing of late. Prediction: Uruguay possess some formidable firepower and with France still adjusting to a new formation and struggling for form, we may have an early shock on our hands. |
Full-time - 90'
South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico Group A, 14:00 GMT, June 11, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Giovani Dos Santos - Everything positive that Mexico did was through him, and though it didn't always come off exactly to plan, he certainly showed flashes of creative brilliance and will likely be key to Mexico's hopes of progress. South Africa verdict: Played a counter-attacking game and looked impressive at times when breaking at pace. But aside from Tshabalala's goal, the final ball was always lacking and Perez in the Mexico goal was rarely threatened. Defensively very shaky and Marquez's equaliser was just another demonstration of the poor marking from set pieces, prevalent throughout. Mexico verdict: Dominated possession throughout with Dos Santos pulling the strings, but despite creating chances, Franco's finishing was not up to scratch. Prone to committing too many men forward and leaving huge spaces at the back, especially down either flank. Could do better: All the defenders. An exciting end-to-end opener is great for the spectators but the coaches would have been livid with their respective sides' backlines. Lots of mistakes, poor marking and a lack of discipline. Entertaining stuff nonetheless. Stat attack: South Africa's draw was the sixth occasion the host nation have drawn their opening match of the tournament. The others were England 1966, Mexico 1970, Spain 1982, USA 1994 and Japan 2002. No hosts have ever lost their opening fixture. After struggling through the first half, the home side came out firing after the break and took the lead through Siphiwe Tshabalala. But after missing plenty of chances to build on their advantage, they saw their lead cancelled out by the Barcelona defender. Katlego Mphela could have snatched victory at the death, but his strike found the base of the post as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils. After an entertaining opening ceremony in Johannesburg, Bafana Bafana failed to make the most of their advantage, much to the disappointment of the 85,000 crowd. The visitors almost stunned their hosts inside the first 120 seconds, but were thwarted by a last-ditch block by Aaron Mokoena. It came after Paul Aguilar's cross from the right was not convincingly cleared by Itumeleng Khune and Giovani dos Santos' shot was repelled by the South Africa captain with an empty net gaping. Steven Pienaar sent South Africa's only real early chance - a 25-yard free-kick - disappointingly over, while Efrain Juarez became the first player to be booked at the World Cup for trying to slow down play. Dos Santos again came close when a quick counter-attack resulted in the Galatasaray forward striking a rising shot narrowly wide. There was a slightly nervy moment for Mexico after 22 minutes when Oscar Perez fumbled and then regathered Pienaar's cross. Fortunately for the goalkeeper, there were no attacking players close enough to capitalise. Khune continued to be kept busy and did well to keep out Guillermo Franco after the former West Ham striker controlled well in the area only to see his shot blocked. Bongani Khumalo then diverted another Dos Santos shot away for a corner, before there was a lucky off-side escape when Khune flapped at a corner - but came so far he played Carlos Vela offside as the Arsenal forward latched on to a flick-on and tapped in. The home side finally came out of their shell in the closing moments of the half - Mphela failing to connect with Tshabalala's well-floated cross and Kagisho Dikgacoi heading a corner wide. Lucas Thwala, who was stretched down the left in the opening 45 minutes, was replaced by Tsepo Masilela at half time as Carlos Alberto Parreira looked to shore up in defence. But it was in attack where they prospered, taking the lead through a fine Tshabalala effort after 55 minutes. The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was put through on the left by an excellent ball from Teko Modise and unleashed a powerful cross-goal shot that gave Perez no chance. Mexican coach Javier Aguirre responded by throwing on Andres Guardado for Aguilar. It was Dos Santos, though, who continued to torment the home defence and he again drew a fine save from Khune with a strike from the right that was turned away for a corner. The home side were clearly lifted by the goal and Modise should have doubled the advantage after the hour mark when Mphela's shot was deflected into his path six yards out - but he struck his effort wide. Veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco was thrown into the mix in place of Vela, but again it was the home side through Modise who engineered a good chance. However, he took too long to pull the trigger and Francisco Rodriguez cleared away the danger. Javier Hernandez also entered the fray but it was another substitute that set up the equaliser - Guardado's cross from the left looping over the head of Mokoena and Marquez took a touch before firing in. Mphela showed good pace minutes from time when he outpaced Rodriguez, but his shot could not beat the post. |
Full-time - 90'
Uruguay 0 - 0 France Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 11, 2010 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Diego Forlan. A constant threat up front, Forlan had some great chances to put the game to rest, but could not break the deadlock. When Uruguay went down to ten men, he worked hard to close down the opposition and secure a point. France verdict: Lacking in cohesion, spark or frankly anything that would give them a positive write-up, the French carried their poor friendly form into their first match. Malouda brought something when he came on, but it was not a good night at the office and something looks badly wrong with the side. Uruguay verdict: Carrying a decent attacking threat throughout the game, Forlan and company had chances to win the match but didn't capitalise on the lacklustre French defending. Soaking up most of the pressure, they didn't look that troubled and showed good pace down the flanks. Could do better: Raymond Domenech. As if hauling his players up mountains before the tournament wasn't bad enough, the French coach opted to keep Sidney Govou on the pitch for 84 minutes and reportedly had a bust-up with Florent Malouda before the game. Stat attack: It has been 25 years since there has been a goal in this fixture. It may be another 25 until the next one. Raymond Domenech's side, who drew their first two group games in 2006 before going on to reach the final, struggled for ideas against a well-drilled South American outfit. Winger Sidney Govou had by far the clearest chance to score for France in only the seventh minute, side-footing a Franck Ribery cross wide with the goal gaping. Uruguay even played the last nine minutes with ten men after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro's dismissal. France, who are in South Africa thanks to William Gallas' highly controversial goal in their qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland, left former captain Thierry Henry on the bench with Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra having inherited the armband. Uruguay, meanwhile, boasted two of European club football's most potent goalscorers up front at Green Point Stadium in Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan and Ajax forward Luis Suarez. France should have opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Abou Diaby played Ribery in down the left and when the winger's teasing left-footed cross flashed across the face of goal, Govou failed to strike it cleanly and the ball went well wide. The first booking by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura came after 11 minutes when Evra was cautioned for a cynical shirt pull while Ribery joined him in the book before the break. France striker Nicolas Anelka headed over while at the other end a bending Forlan effort from the edge of the box forced Hugo Lloris to save. Playmaker Yoann Gourcuff had two speculative efforts on goal as the half-time whistle approached. Egidio Arevalo and Forlan both had chances early in the second half but neither could find the target for the two-time World Cup winning South Americans. France were probing for the killer pass but Bordeaux talisman Gourcuff was repeatedly denied by a well-drilled Uruguay defence. Mauricio Victorino was carded for a late lunge on Evra in the 59th minute and Ribery blasted wide from the resulting training-ground set-piece by Gourcuff. Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez sent on Lodeiro for Ignacio Gonzalez and he was booked within a minute. In the 66th minute Lloris dropped a catch under pressure from Suarez, who could not capitalise before Jeremy Toulalan was booked for a lunge on Uruguay wing-back Alvaro Pereira two minutes later. Domenech sacrificed Anelka to send on Henry in the 71st minute to the delight of the 64,100 crowd, which was mainly comprised of locals. Forlan had a 73rd-minute sight of goal when he dragged a first-time effort wide from Suarez's flick-on, before his strike partner was swapped for veteran substitute Sebastian Abreu. Domenech threw Chelsea's Florent Malouda on for the disappointing Gourcuff but still they were devoid of cutting edge. Lodeiro's hapless cameo was ended abruptly in the 81st minute when he was carded again for a late and high challenge on Bacary Sagna. Domenech's last throw of the dice was to throw on Andre Pierre Gignac for Govou with five minutes left but even his predatory instincts were insufficient and French appeals for a penalty were dismissed when Henry's stab towards goal seemed to hit Victorino's lower arm in the 89th minute. That, however, was as close as they came, with Henry hitting the wall from a free-kick and for the third World Cup in a row, France failed to win their opening game. |
South Korea v Greece
Group B, 11:30 GMT, June 12, 2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa In what looks a relatively open group, both South Korea and Greece will feel they have to take three points from their first match if they are to progress. "If we win, we are in a position to try to qualify for the next round," Greece midfielder Christos Patsatzoglou said. "It's very important not to lose, everybody knows that." South Korea will feel confident of a victory and look the more likely to go through. Their final warm-up game brought a creditable 1-0 defeat to Spain, and they beat Ivory Coast 2-0 in March on neutral territory. For Greece, their best result in the warm-up games was a 2-2 draw with North Korea. However, South Korea have a couple of injury doubts, to Park Ji-Sung and Park Chu-Young, which could affect their hopes. Both players are expected to be available but, given the former's importance to the team, Huh Jung-Moo will have cause for concern. South Korea player in focus: Park Ji-Sung. Having proved a vital player for Guus Hiddink for both South Korea and PSV Eindhoven, Park is now a hugely important part of the Manchester United squad. His work-rate is an obvious asset, but he is also capable of scoring goals. An injury scare has threatened to rule him out of the opener, but he is expected to return in time. Greece player in focus: Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Otto Rehhagel relies completely on his defence remaining resolute so they can nick narrow victories from set-pieces and centre back Kyrgiakos, who joined Liverpool from AEK Athens last summer, is absolutely central to that aim. Key battle: Lee Chung-Yong v Kostas Katsouranis. In a heavily defensive team, Panathinaikos' Katsouranis is the defensive midfield general. He will need to work hard to contain 21-year-old Bolton starlet Lee, whose skilful and inventive play from the midfield makes him a huge asset for South Korea. Trivia: Greece coach Otto Rehhagel, 71, will be the oldest coach at the World Cup. Stats: Greece have never won a World Cup match, having qualified for just one previous tournament (USA '94). Greece striker Theofanis Gekas, though, was the top scorer in European qualification for this year's World Cup, scoring ten goals. Odds: South Korea (2.87), the draw (3.10), Greece (2.62) with Bet365. A 1-0 win for South Korea looks good value at 7.00. Prediction: South Korea have been impressive in many of their warm-up games and, while Greece are always hard to beat, the 2002 semi-finalists should have enough to take the win. |
Argentina v Nigeria
Group B, 14:00 GMT, June 12, 2010 Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa The talent in the Argentina squad is so vast that Diego Maradona has left out two of Inter Milan's Champions League-winning stars - Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti - and the two-goal hero of the final, Diego Milito, may be his sixth-choice forward. Nonetheless, the coach's selections and tactics have been so erratic that a team that could have been the overall favourite is considered to have little hope of going beyond the quarter-finals. That may be unfair, and the negative press could prove a motivating factor, but the fact remains that few believe they can compete with the very best this summer. Nigeria's preparations have been no less hectic. The Nigerian federation finally decided to dismiss Shaibu Amodu after the African Nations Cup and appointed former Sweden boss Lars Lagerback in February. Lagerback is a good and experienced coach, but the lack of preparation time has severely damaged his hopes of getting it right in South Africa. Argentina player in focus: Lionel Messi. While Messi has often struggled to find his best form under Diego Maradona, it is welcome news that the coach is planning to adopt a 4-3-3 formation with the Barcelona star featuring alongside Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez. The rumours are that Messi will be given a free role and allowed to drift behind his fellow attackers, which could allow him to flourish on the world stage. Nigeria player in focus: Obafemi Martins. While Nigeria are not short of attacking talent, Martins has the best goals-to-games ratio for the Super Eagles with 17 goals in 31 appearances. The Wolfsburg man scored the goal that took Nigeria to the tournament and, having played in Serie A and the Premier League before his stint in Germany, he is used to coming up against the very best. Key battle: Javier Mascherano v Haruna Lukman, a 19-year-old who plays his club football for Monaco, faces the task of replacing John Obi Mikel in the Nigeria midfield. Mikel plays a far more creative role for his national side than at Chelsea, so his replacement will need to be on top form to get the better of one of the game's greatest defensive midfielders and supply the attackers. Trivia: Diego Maradona is the father-in-law of Argentina striker Sergio Aguero. Stats: Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero were Argentina's leading scorers in qualification with four goals apiece. Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Martin Palermo each scored one. Odds: Argentina (1.50), the draw (3.80), Nigeria (8.00) with Bet365. Carlos Tevez is at 6.00 for first or last goal-scorer. Prediction: Argentina remain a difficult team to predict, given their wretched performances in qualifying and their wealth of talent available. Nonetheless, France reached the final four years ago despite difficulties with their coach and Maradona's men could surprise a few people in South Africa. Lagerback has had little time to work with his squad since taking over in February and, with John Obi Mikel ruled out through injury, Argentina should come out with a win. |
England v United States
Group C, 18:30 GMT, June 12, 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa When England entered their first World Cup in 1950, they went down to a famous 1-0 defeat at the hands of the amateurs of USA in a match that became known as the 'Miracle on Grass'. The game has come a long way in America since that match and, while most firmly expect an England victory in Rustenburg on Saturday, an upset would hardly be viewed as miraculous. England have mixed feelings going into the 2010 tournament. While Fabio Capello has turned the team around following the failure to qualify for Euro 2008, winning all but one of his competitive matches, the disjointed performances in the warm-up games for South Africa have done little to inspire confidence. USA, though, have also struggled to convince during their warm-up matches, and it is largely the memories of last year's 2-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup that will provide hope of a win in what represents a huge match for both countries. "For the last six months, all we've seen is US-England, so if you're a casual sports fan at home you might think this is the World Cup final," USA star Landon Donovan said in his press conference ahead of the game. "We're not like Brazil where if they don't win the World Cup soccer is still the biggest thing in anyone's mind, but this is a great opportunity to grow the sport." USA could adopt a 4-5-1 formation for the match with Jozy Altidore as a lone striker, with Japan enjoying success against England using the same formation as they dominated the midfield battle. With Donovan and Clint Dempsey out wide, the tactic would not be overly defensive. England have largely used 4-4-2, and a change seems unlikely at this stage, but it was only when Joe Cole was brought on as a substitute against Japan that England were able to compete in the middle, so Capello's hand may be forced. USA coach Bob Bradley has said all 23 players in his squad are ready to play the full 90 minutes, although Oguchi Onyewu's lack of match practice in recent months remains a concern. For England, Gareth Barry's absence could prove problematic given the lack of an alternative holding midfielder in the squad. England player in focus: Aaron Lennon. England's right winger has often been central to hopes of unlocking opposition defences and, while Joe Cole should offer creativity from the left, Lennon could become the focus if his team struggle. He'll come up against an experienced opponent in USA captain Carlos Bocanegra, the former Fulham man who now plays in Ligue 1 with Rennes, so Fabio Capello will hope the Tottenham man can rediscover his pre-injury form on the big stage. USA player in focus: Landon Donovan. This pacy attacker is very much the star of the USA team and he can provide a real threat out wide, frequently swapping flanks with Fulham's Clint Dempsey. The English defenders will be fully aware of his capabilities following his loan stint with Everton earlier this year, and Ashley Cole may be a little wary of facing the man whose tackle nearly ruled him out of the tournament. If Donovan gets a chance to play on the left flank, Glen Johnson will need to curtail his natural instinct to support the attack. Key battle: Wayne Rooney v Oguchi Onyewu. Rooney finally ended an international goal drought with his strike in the warm-up match against Platinum Stars, but he may have the chance to really kick-start his England career on Saturday. USA centre back Onyewu, the former Newcastle loanee, joined AC Milan from Standard Liege last summer but made just one appearance in Serie A after suffering a knee injury on international duty. USA coach Bob Bradley believes Onyewu is fit to play the full 90 minutes but, as he has not appeared in any of the warm-up games, it is essential that he gets back up to speed from the off. Trivia: England boss Fabio Capello gave USA coach Bob Bradley some help and insights into the world of management during his time at AC Milan in the 1990s. Stats: Wayne Rooney was involved in more goals than any other player in Europe during the qualification campaign, with nine goals and five assists. USA have not kept a clean sheet in a World Cup finals match since beating England 1-0 in 1950. Odds: England (1.50), the draw (4.20), USA (7.00) with Bet365. USA are 15.00 to win 1-0, which could be worth a flutter. Prediction: USA showed they are capable of causing shocks in the Confederations Cup last year, and their experience in South Africa may give them an advantage in terms of adapting to the altitude. However, England are firm favourites for the match and should have enough to clinch a victory. |
Full-time - 90'
South Korea 2 - 0 Greece Group B, 11:30 GMT, June 12, 2010 MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Park Chu-Young - Park caused plenty of problems for Greece playing as the lone striker for South Korea. He may have wasted a gilt-edged opportunity when heading over from Cha Du-Ri's pinpoint cross, but Greece can only wish to have a player of such influence in their forward line. South Korea verdict: Many pundits' tip to be the surprise package in South Africa, an accomplished and stylish display will enhance their credentials and make them firm favourites to advance from the group alongside Argentina. A physically fit and adventurous team, they have progressed immeasurably from the side which reached the semi-finals in 2002 on the back of a wave of public support. Greece verdict: Greece under Otto Rehhagel had a proud reputation as being a strong, resolute side that is strong and organised at the back. Without that, they are nothing, as proved by this abject display. The team looked bereft of ideas, lacked organisation and had no idea in the final third of the pitch. Scoring a goal in this World Cup could prove to be a minor miracle for Greece. Could do better: Angelos Charisteas and Giorgos Karagounis were crucial players when Greece won Euro 2004, but now they look every day of their 30 and 33 years respectively. Ineffectual and off the pace, both players were substituted, Karagouonis at half-time and Charisteas on the hour, and Rehhagel may have to think again ahead of the next game against Nigeria. Stat attack: Excluding Euro 2004, which they won, Greece have lost ten of their last 12 games at international tournaments, scoring only twice and conceding 23 goals. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The result, the first victory of the 2010 finals, extended a miserable World Cup record for Greece, who have yet to score a goal or earn a point in the history of the competition. Huh Jung-moo's side ultimately ran out comfortable winners in front of an army of their delighted fans among a crowd of 31,513 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Coach Otto Rehhagel had warned his players in advance to beware South Korea's panther-like qualities, and by the time he got them back into the dressing room at the break, he will have been relieved they had not been mauled further. It took Korea just seven minutes to get their noses in front in the Group B encounter when Lee met Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng's swinging free-kick unopposed and volleyed it gleefully into the back of the net. Greece's woes might have increased further with Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong astonished not to be awarded a 15th-minute penalty for a clumsy challenge from behind by full back Vasilis Torosidis as referee Michael Hester waved play on. But it would have been 2-0 with 28 minutes gone had defender Avraam Papadopoulos not got in a last-ditch challenge on striker Park Chu-Young as he shot to allow keeper Alexandros Tzorvas to make a vital block. Greece had started the game brightly, Torosidis firing wide when he met skipper Georgios Karagounis' second-minute corner with an instinctive half-volley, but it was largely downhill from there. The anticipated aerial onslaught never materialised as central defenders Lee Jung-Soo and Cho Yong-Hyung coped admirably with front two Theofanis Gekas and Angelos Charisteas. By contrast, Korea were enterprising in their movement and strikers Park Chu-Young and Yeom Ki-Hun, with support from a fluid midfield quartet, kept the Greek defence at full stretch. They increased their lead within seven minutes of the restart when Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung made the most of Loukas Vyntra's woeful control in the middle of the park to race in on goal, leaving the central defender and partner Papadopoulos for dead before sliding a shot across Tzorvas and into the bottom corner. Rehhagel, who had replaced Karagounis with Christos Patsatzoglou at the break, withdrew Charisteas and Georgios Samaras in quick succession and asked Dimitrios Salpingidis and Pantelis Kapetanos to find a way back into the game. However, Park Chu-Young headed just over from full back Cha Du-Ri's 63rd-minute cross as the Koreans threatened to run riot. Gekas acrobatically fired high over after controlling a long ball well on his chest with 68 minutes gone and Salpingidis headed weakly at the keeper two minutes later with time fast running out for Greece. The Hertha Berlin frontman forced a fine one-handed save from Jung with a left-foot shot on the turn with nine minutes remaining, but Yeom, Lee Chung-Yong and Kim Jung-Woo all went close at the other end as time ran down. |
Full-time - 90'
Argentina 1 - 0 Nigeria Group B, 14:00 GMT, June 12, 2010 Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa Diego Maradona's World Cup debut as a coach ended in a victory as Lionel Messi started to demonstrate he could transform his club form at Barcelona to the world stage. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Vincent Enayama - Lionel Messi looked at his scintillating best at times but he was thwarted, along with a number of his team-mates, by the fantastic Enayama. The goalkeeper produced an incredible fingertip stop to deny Messi in the first half and also frustrated Gonzalo Higuain several times during the game. Argentina verdict: Displayed their undeniable attacking talent, creating numerous chances and often cutting through Nigeria like a knife through butter - on another day it may have been 6-0, but the Albiceleste were profligate in front of goal. Argentina also looked defensively frail at times and a team with better counter attacking capabilities than Nigeria could have punished Diego Maradona's side. Nigeria verdict: Surprisingly, given the tactically astute nature of Lars Lagerback, Nigeria failed to demonstrate any real game plan and looked to run out of ideas when they got the ball in the final third. Playing a zonal marking system against a side of Argentina's quality was suicidal and a shaky defence was fortunate not to have conceded more than one goal. Could do better: Gonzalo Higuain. After a stunning season with Real Madrid, in which he scored 27 La Liga goals in 32 games, much had been expected of Higuain. But he flattered to deceive in this one - missing a number of good chances to put the game to bed and failing to justify his selection ahead of Champions League winner Diego Milito. Stat attack: Nigeria have not scored a second half World Cup goal since June 28, 1998, when Tijani Babangida scored in the 78th minute of the Super Eagles' second round defeat to Denmark. Gabriel Heinze headed in the only goal after five minutes but Messi, so often unable to reproduce the Nou Camp sparkle on national team duty, was his team's star. However he and his team-mates were unable to make the margin of victory a more convincing one as Vincent Enyeama in the Nigeria goal denied them time and again. Whether Argentina could waste so many chances against better sides and get away with it remains to be seen, but for now Maradona must be satisfied to have put three points on the board in Group B. Messi made a lively start and one mesmerising run from deep saw him ghost past three Nigeria defenders and pick out Gonzalo Higuain with a low cross, but the Real Madrid striker sidefooted an easy chance wide from close range. The Barcelona forward then had a goalbound curling shot tipped over by Enyeama. But from the resulting corner Argentina went ahead, with five minutes played. Juan Sebastian Veron swung the ball in from the right and Marseille defender Heinze, running towards the penalty spot, sent a powerful diving header into the top left corner. Messi was then allowed to cut in from the right, leaving Chinedu Obasi on his backside and his curling left-footed shot was destined for goal until Enyeama at full stretch parried it away. Messi and Carlos Tevez were causing confusion for the Nigerians by taking turns to drop deep and move forward, and when the Manchester City man received the ball in a deeper position after 20 minutes his through-ball found Higuain bursting into the box but Enyeama dashed out to make the block. Sani Kaita miscued an attempted volley wide for the Africans who stepped up the pressure for a short period. Neat passing from Dickson Etuhu and Ayegbeni Yakubu created an opening for Obasi but his low cross was just too far ahead of Yakubu as the Everton man tried to slot it home. Messi again tested Enyeama to the limit with another curling effort destined for the right-hand corner of the goal but the goalkeeper stretched out his left hand to claw the ball away. Walter Samuel headed a presentable chance over the top from a Veron corner six minutes into the second half and the Inter Milan defender almost released Angel Di Maria with a long ball but the Benfica man could not bring it under control. Messi won a corner after a pacy dribble took him away from the Nigeria defence, with Chidi Odiah blocking his effort. A swift break at the other end saw substitute Obafemi Martins square the ball to Kaita, but his 30-yard shot was far too ambitious and sailed over. The game was becoming more stretched and Tevez strode forward before picking out Messi, whose low left-footed shot was just wide and the Barca man then teed up Higuain, whose shot was again blocked by the ever-alert Enyeama. Argentina's failure to kill the game off almost cost them as Peter Odemwingie played the ball inside to left-back Taye Taiwo, and his thunderous low effort had the beating of Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero but just skidded wide of the right post. Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero then had to punch clear a shot from Martins as the 'Jabulani' World Cup ball threatened to make a mug of him with its changes of movement in the air. It was clearly not going to be Messi's afternoon to score as Enyeama spread himself to block after a wonderful interchange with Di Maria as the game entered its final 10 minutes. Nigeria could have levelled seconds later when Yakubu's cross from the right found substitute Kalu Uche, but the Almeria midfielder struggled to get over the ball and could not keep his left-footed shot down, and Yakubu drilled another shot over the top from long range with three minutes left. But it was Argentina's day as the early Heinze effort proved the difference. |
Full-time - 90'
England 1 - 1 United States Group C, 18:30 GMT, June 12, 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Emile Heskey - With all eyes on Wayne Rooney, Heskey took centre stage. A great lay-off for the opener, his physical strength caused the USA defence problems all night long and, although he should have scored when through one-on-one, his presence was a constant threat before he was subbed. England verdict: After a whirlwind opening in which Steven Gerrard scored, James Milner was hauled off and then Ledley King was injured at half-time. They struggled to assert themselves in the second period and, despite some good chances to get the winner, could not break down the USA defence. USA verdict: Hardly troubled the English defence in the first half, but a lucky goal roused the confidence. Jozy Altidore had a great chance to put them ahead, but they failed to test the defence much after that and will be happy with the point. Could do better: Robert Green. Who else? It's a horrible moment for any goalkeeper when they are culpable for a goal, but Green's howler was inexcusable. His confidence came back a little after a wonderful save to deny Altidore in the second half, but expect him to be replaced for the next game. Stat attack: Robert Green made four errors leading to goals in the 2009-10 Premier League season - more than any other player (and that includes Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski). James Milner made as many fouls as he had touches of the ball before subbed - two. Steven Gerrard had given the Three Lions' World Cup campaign a flying start with a fourth-minute opener in Rustenburg. England were holding that advantage until Green committed the kind of howler David Seaman, Paul Robinson and Scott Carson have all done down the years and allowed Clint Dempsey's harmless shot to slip through his fingers. Capello could only watch on in horror and wonder why fate had dealt him such a shocking hand given he had preferred Green to David James and Joe Hart as his first-choice goalkeeper, dismissing the latter man for fear his inexperience would cost England in a similar manner to that the West Ham man actually did. There was to be no atonement, even though England dominated at the end. And with one of his favourite sons, James Milner, hauled off after half an hour, Ledley King failing to return for the second half and his replacement Jamie Carragher getting himself badly exposed on more than one occasion, it will be an uncomfortable six days for Capello and his players before England try to rebuild their reputation against Algeria in Cape Town next Friday. Capello resolved to start his World Cup campaign with Green in the problematic goalkeeping position and Milner on the left-hand side of midfield. Within three minutes he was wearing the broadest of smiles. Glen Johnson and Frank Lampard were both involved in the initial stages of a move that ended with Emile Heskey doing what he does best, allowing a team-mate to score. Usually it is with brawn. This time it was the silky touch of a delicate through ball for Gerrard, who had motored into the box. The new England skipper steadied himself, then tucked a precise finish under Tim Howard and raced away to the far corner flag pursued by a posse of ecstatic white shirts. Rather than a majority of United States supporters, as had been suggested, the stadium was clearly packed with England fans, who celebrated with natural glee. Unfortunately, it was not long before the smiles turned to worried frowns. England still kept creating chances. Lampard and Wayne Rooney tested Howard with a couple of speculative efforts, Steve Cherundolo turned away a teasing low cross from Aaron Lennon and Heskey almost got on the end of a Lennon ball into the six-yard area. But for all this, the United States were causing England a major headache. They may have won the previous meeting so famously in 1950 but the stars and stripes boast a far more professional outfit these days and they quickly began to show how they reached the Confederations Cup final 12 months ago. As so often, Landon Donovan was the architect of their best work, exposing Milner at the same time. Ill during the week, the Aston Villa man, one of Capello's favourites, was badly exposed and had already been booked for a foul on Cherundolo before he was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips. The move was Capello's ruthless response to a growing number of threatening American attacks, the best of which provided an open goal for Jozy Altidore when he jumped for Donovan's free-kick, yet inexplicably missed the ball completely. Another long-range Donovan effort had Green at full stretch before the moment that will be repeated so often and the West Ham goalkeeper has to live with for the rest of his life arrived. Dempsey turned Gerrard neatly but was still 25 yards when he took aim. The new Jabulani ball made the effort worthwhile. There is no way it should have ended up in the net though. Green could only bury his head in the ground as he came to terms with a fumbled attempt to save that ended with the ball slipping through his grasp and agonisingly out of reach as it bobbled over the line. When England returned from an interval that must have included attempting to raise Green's spirits, King had been replaced by Carragher. But any thought the Liverpool veteran would shore things up at the back was quickly dispelled as first he was booked for a foul on Robbie Findley, then he was left for dead by Altidore, which at least allowed Green to redeem himself with a fine save as he pushed the American's shot on to the post. Prior to that, Heskey had failed to beat Howard having been sent through by Lennon. Heskey also wasted the last of three decent England chances; Lampard and Rooney did much better from much further out with the others as the Three Lions asserted themselves at the end without managing to fashion a winner. |
Algeria v Slovenia
Group C, 11:30 GMT, June 13, 2010 Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa With England and the United States firmly installed as favourites to advance from Group C, both Algeria and Slovenia will see this game as their chance to stake a claim for a place in the top two should one of the others slip up. A point is likely to be no use to either side, which means it may be an open match with both sides on the attack. That said the two teams are very similar in style, though Slovenia can claim to have a more sturdy defence and a better build-up to the finals. Slovenia will look to captain Robert Koren to pull the strings in the centre of the park as their playmaker, with Milivoje Novakovic an effective though unspectacular striker. Novakovic has the ability to hold the ball up, rarely giving away possession. Slovenia are at their second World Cup finals, having lost all three matches and finishing bottom of their group in 2002, while Algeria, who qualified for the finals with a play-off victory against arch-rivals Egypt, previously reached the finals in 1982 and 1986 but have never made it beyond the group stage. The loss of Mourad Meghni, a gifted playmaker, to a knee injury before the tournament was a major blow. Algeria's build-up has been marred by internal squabbling, disciplinary problems and injuries. Coach Rabah Saadane has dropped skipper Yazid Mansouri due to poor form and Antar Yahia will now wear the armband with Hassan Yebda coming into the team. Algeria player in focus: Madjid Bougherra. The Rangers defender was a doubt for the finals due to injury, but has recovered to take his place in the squad and will be a vital player at both ends of the pitch. A cultured, ball-playing defender, do not be surprised to see him bring it out from the back. Many consider Bougherra to be one of the best defenders in Africa. Slovenia player in focus: Robert Koren. Without a club after being released by West Bromwich Albion last month, Koren is in the shop window as much as any player at the World Cup finals. The creative spark in the midfield, Slovenia will look to move the ball through Koren when in attack mode. Being made captain has been the making of the player on the international stage. Key battle: Aleksandar Radosavljevic v Karim Ziani. Radosavljevic has emerged from the shadows to become an important player for Slovenia, acting as the holding presence in the centre to Koren's creativity. Radosavljevic ability to limit the influence of Ziani throughout the match may have a major bearing on this game. With Slovenia having a strong defence, nullifying the attacking impetus of Ziani could set up a vital victory. Trivia: On every national team shirt that Yazid Mansouri wears, he writes a tribute to his father who is the president of an organisation in France that speaks up for those suffering from intolerance to gluten. Stats: Slovenia only conceded 4 goals in 10 games in their qualification for the World Cup. Algeria have never kept a clean sheet at the World Cup finals. Odds: Algeria (3.30), the draw (3.25), Slovenia (2.25) with Bet365. The 1-0 win for Slovenia is priced at 7.50. Prediction: Algeria have been in disarray in the months leading up to the finals, and seldom do teams do well at the World Cup under such circumstances. Slovenia will go into the game with confidence and while goals may be a problem for them, they may just edge this one. |
Serbia v Ghana
Group D, 14:00 GMT, June 13, 2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa At one stage seen as many pundits' tip to be dark horses at this World Cup, the loss of talismanic figure Michael Essien to injury means they are now considered outsiders. Stephen Appiah will now find his role in the side increasingly important but, as in 2006, the forward line looks paper thin. With Germany also in the group, it is expected to be a three-way fight for second and defeat in the opening game could almost end someone's World Cup campaign. Serbia, who suffered in the Group of Death with Argentina, Ivory Coast and Netherlands four years ago when competing as Serbia & Montenegro, have been seen as a defensive team in the past but now have much more in their locker and scored 22 goals in qualifying. Serbia player in focus: Milos Krasic. The attacking force in the Serbia side, Krasic's reputation was enhanced greatly during CSKA Moscow's Champions League campaign in the past season. That form, as he scored four goals in Europe's premier club competition, has led to interest from Juventus and he is set to sign for the Serie A giants after the tournament. He is a speedy and elusive right-winger or attacking midfielder. Ghana player in focus: Kevin Prince-Boateng. This German-born midfielder finds himself in the World Cup finals having only made his international debut for Ghana on June 5. An experienced Germany youth international, where he was once named Young Player of the Year, Boateng is a figure of hate in Germany for his defection which was not helped after his tackle on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final ruled Germany's skipper out of the finals. Boateng reignited his career at Portsmouth last term after a move to Tottenham proved to be a disaster and will be vital in the opposition's half. Key battle: Nemanja Vidic v Richard Kingson. Set pieces are crucial in modern football, and Serbia have a band of towering defenders who join the attack to form a fearsome weapon which leads to most of the country's goals. For Ghana, on the other hand, they have a goalkeeper in Richard Kingson who has come in for much criticism. Despite having played only five games in three seasons with Birmingham and Wigan he remains Ghana's first choice stopper. The likes of Vidic will look to take advantage of his uncertainty on crosses. Trivia: Ghana's Sulley Muntari's former boss at Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho, sparked a wave of protest from the Muslim world when he complained that Muntari's fasting for Ramadan had left him ill-prepared for match days. Stats: Only Burkina Faso had a worse shots-to-goals record than Ghana at the African Nations Cup earlier this year. Odds: Serbia (2.10), the draw (3.25), Ghana (3.75) with Bet365. There could be plenty of goals in this game, a punt on the 2-2 draw, at 19.00, could be a wise investment. Prediction: The loss of Essien is every bit as damaging as you might expect. A confident Serbia side can claim all three points. |
GO THE SOCCEROOS !!!!! AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI
Germany v Australia Group D, 18:30 GMT, June 13, 2010 Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa Germany may have restored some international pride four years ago as they reached the semi-finals on home soil, but the perception of Germany as one of the pre-tournament favourites is a thing of the past. The loss of Michael Ballack to an ankle injury, thanks to a late tackle from the German-born Kevin-Prince Boateng in the FA Cup final last month, meant coach Joachim Low effectively had to rip up his plans for South Africa and start again. The Germany captain was the fulcrum of the team both on and off the pitch, and the loss of such an inspirational figure is hard to cope with at such a late stage. Replacing the experienced 33-year-old Ballack with a 21-year-old international rookie in Mesut Ozil is a risk, but it could be a master-stroke if Ozil adapts to the pace of the World Cup quickly. Much will rest on the shoulders of new captain Phillip Lahm, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will become the lynchpin of the midfield, allowing Ozil to push on in search of goals and become the key to open up Australia's defence. With Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose woefully short of form, Germany may have to rely on their defence performing well to reach the latter stages. There's certainly no reason why Australia should not go into the game with some confidence. Australia's main worry is a lack of depth to their squad and any striker worthy of the name. With Harry Kewell struggling with injury and and Scott McDonald surprisingly left at home, coach Pim Verbeek is left to rely on the untried Nikita Rukavytsya, Brett Holman for Joshua Kennedy goals. With the Australia squad ageing, the athleticism and drive which the side possessed under Guus Hiddink four years ago could be missing, and without that the Socceroos will become a very one-dimensional side. And the threadbare nature of Verbeek's squad also makes any Plan B difficult to execute. Brett Emerton and Mark Bresciano will look to add creativity and width for Australia but without a focal point for the attacks it could be that they too find themselves sitting deeper than they would like. This may especially be the case for Emerton who now plays as a right-back for his club, Blackburn Rovers. Germany player in focus: Mesut Ozil. The loss of Michael Ballack to injury means Ozil will come into the side and get the chance to make his mark on the World Cup earlier than he would have expected. The Werder Bremen midfielder was a central figure in the Germany team which won the European Under-21 Championships last year and, with just 10 international caps to his name, now gets the chance on the biggest of stages. A player with a cultured left foot, his lack of consistency could be Germany's downfall. Australia player in focus: Tim Cahill. While it might be obvious to say that the threat of Cahill from set-pieces will be no surprise to the German defence, his ability to lose his marker time and again in the Premier League proves that even the best prepared teams struggle to deal with his threat. With a dearth of attacking options open to Pim Verbeek, he will rely on Cahill's heading prowess to help power the Socceroos through to the Second Round for the second successive finals. With 20 goals in 40 international appearances, Cahill is more prolific than any of the nation's current strikers. Key battle: Lucas Neill v Miroslav Klose. Klose may only be behind Gerd Muller in goalscoring for Germany, but the 2009-10 season was one to forget for the Bayern Munich striker. After scoring only three goals all season, Klose was woeful in Germany's warm-up games. But coach Joachim Low has thrown his support behind Klose, a proven and dangerous tournament performance. Despite his recent woes, his bustling style will mean Lucas Neill will need to be on his toes at the heart of the Australia defence. An out-of-sorts Klose is still more troublesome than most of the strikers at the World Cup. Trivia: Australia scored the most goals in any World Cup qualifier after beating American Samoa 31-0 in 2001. Stats: Germany's Miroslav Klose has scored 48 goals in 96 games for Germany, but he managed just three in the league for his club this seasaon. Odds: Germany (1.50), the draw (4.20), Australia (7.00) with Bet365. Tim Cahill to score the last goal at 13.00 is a tempting offer. Prediction: Australia may not have strength in depth and little to offer up front, but this Ballack-less Germany side still has plenty of questions to answer. Germany should win, but it won't be as straight forward as the odds suggest. |
Full-time - 90'
Algeria 0 - 1 Slovenia Group C, 11:30 GMT, June 13, 2010 Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi followed Robert Green's lead as he gifted Slovenia a win that sees them go top of Group C. Robert Koren's speculative shot from 25 yards was let into the net by Chaouchi in the 80th minute in a game that offered precious little excitement. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Robert Koren - In truth, he did not have the kind of impact on the game that he has had for West Brom in the past, but he gets the honour for breaking the deadlock in a dreadful game. Slovenia verdict: Despite being able to top the group before the game, Slovenia came out very defensively and did not look to get forward much. Koren's goal provided the breakthrough, but it was a very lucky one. Algeria verdict: Also very defensive, they did show more ambition down the flanks as Nadir Belhadj was a bundle of energy and venom. But ill-discipline cost them once again and they had to play the final stages with ten men. At 1-0 down, they still didn't look capable of breaking Slovenia down. Could do better: Both teams. This is the World Cup finals, not a competition to see who can make a million people fall asleep first. The game didn't come alive until the 80th minute when Faouzi Chaouchi missed Koren's shot and let it into the net and even then it wasn't great. Stat attack: Abdelkader Ghezzal picked up two yellows in just 14 minutes and 19 seconds making him the fastest substitute to pick up two yellow cards in World Cup history. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saadane won't blame keeper Less than 24 hours after England's Green had let Clint Dempsey's shot slip from his grasp in the 1-1 draw in the group's opening, Chaouchi produced a similar howler. Slovenia captain and former West Brom midfielder Koren's 25-yard shot was not particularly venomous but the Algeria goalkeeper allowed it to bounce up off his shoulder and into the net. Only moments before that the Africans had been reduced to ten men when substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal's needless handball resulted in a second yellow card. The win puts Slovenia top of the fledgling table and with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, an unlikely scenario before the tournament kicked off. On this evidence it would seem unlikely either nation will cause Group C's 'big two' any problems but, as has so often been the case in the past, England have an unwelcome habit of stumbling over hard-working and resolute teams. And both Algeria and Slovenia reached the World Cup with play-off victories over Egypt and Russia, countries supposedly superior to them. Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj presented an early threat when he forced Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to tip over a third-minute curling free-kick from the edge of the penalty area. It was a rare moment of quality in a half littered with errors as both sides needlessly gave the ball away. Valter Birsa's inswinging free-kick from the right touchline forced Chaouchi to punch clear Slovenia's first real chance in the 21st minute. Algeria striker Rafik Djebbour was lucky to escape punishment after appearing to deliberately catch centre-back Marko Suler in the face with his shoulder on the half-hour. But Aleksandar Radosavljevic was booked by referee Carlos Batres for barging over Belhadj as he attempted to break down the left. The resulting free kick signalled a few minutes of sustained pressure which ended with centre-back Rafik Halliche heading wide Algeria's best opportunity from Karim Ziani's corner. Just before the interval Karim Matmour's left-foot half-volley flew narrowly over the crossbar at one end while Chaouchi had to acrobatically tip over Birsa's long-range effort at the other. Both teams changed their strikers early in the second half; Slovenia sending on Zlatan Ljubijankic for the ineffective Zlatko Dedic and Algeria replacing Djebbour with Ghezzal. But Belhadj's delivery remained the most likely weapon to create the breakthrough as Halliche had a free-kick snatched off his forehead by Handanovic. Rangers centre-back Madjid Bougherra produced a perfectly-timed tackle to deny Milivoje Novakovic just as he was about to shoot 12 yards out. Algeria's chances of victory diminished considerably in the 73rd minute when Ghezzal, having been booked with seconds of coming on for pulling Suler's shirt, received a second caution for handballing a long punt forward. Six minutes later Slovenia captain Robert Koren punished the north Africans with a little help from Chaouchi. The watching Zinedine Zidane, born in France to Algerian parents and considered a hero in the north African country, was not impressed. |
Full-time - 90'
Serbia 0 - 1 Ghana Group D, 14:00 GMT, June 13, 2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa Zdravko Kuzmanovic's stupid handball gifted Ghana a penalty in the final stages, as Serbia fell 1-0 in Group D. Asamoah Gyan netted from the spot, but Serbia were always struggling once Aleksandar Lukovic had been sent off in the 74th minute. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Andre Ayew - In game of few bright sparks, Ghana forward Ayew was a livewire throughout and was always looking to cause problems. Serbia verdict: Milos Krasic didn't see enough of the ball as Serbia failed to show much adventure in a game they should have been looking to win. Nikola Zigic missed a great chance from a few yards out and new Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic wasted possession far too often. Ghana verdict: This win will go a long way to booking a place in the second round for Ghana. Though they may lack bite up front, Andre Ayew and Prince Tagoe offered enough, in tandem with Asamoah Gyan, to suggest a place in the knockout rounds may be deserved. Could do better: Nikola Zigic - The Birmingham-bound striker, the tallest player at the World Cup finals, was ineffectual up front and was eventually replaced by Danko Lazovic with 20 minutes to go. If Serbia are to get out of this group now then Zigic will have to step up. Stat attack: Ghana will have won all three World Cup matches in which they have scored a goal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The impressive Gyan, who also hit the post twice for Ghana, fired home from the spot in 84th minute after Zdravko Kuzmanovic had been adjudged to have handled a cross in the area. That sealed a closely-fought Group D encounter at Loftus Versfeld stadium and puts Ghana in a promising position to progress through to the knockout phase in their second appearance at the World Cup finals. For Serbia, who were playing with a man less since the 74th minute following the dismissal of Aleksandar Lukovic, they now have a mountain to climb as they face group favourites Germany in their next match. The match pitted old friends and fellow Serbians Radomir Antic and Milovan Rajevac against each other on the respective benches of the two sides, and both seemed keen to take the game to their opponents. Antic's Serbia had the first effort in the first 15 seconds when Marko Pantelic fizzed a 30-yard thunderbolt not too far wide. However, despite the best intentions of both sides, neither goalkeeper was seriously threatened in the first half. Four-time African champions Ghana looked the more dangerous of the two, but they failed to find the target with their two best opportunities. The first saw Gyan curl a free-kick over from a dangerous position on the edge of the box, then captain John Mensah failed to get a decent connection on a header from a free-kick seven yards out. Serbia's main threat before the break came from a couple of well-worked set-piece routines, neither featuring the anticipated high ball into the area looking for the head of giant striker Nikola Zigic. The first saw one training-ground routine pick out the unmarked Pantelic inside the area, but poor control let him down and Ghana could breathe again. The second saw left-back Aleksandar Kolarov opt to go for goal from 30 yards out and the reported Real Madrid target, like Pantelic in the first minute, was not far away from finding the top corner with a well-struck shot. The first opportunity of the second half should have resulted in the game's opening goal - but Andre Ayew headed wide. Prince Tagoe's cross from the right cleared Serbia centre-back Nemanja Vidic and fell perfectly for Ayew at the far post, but his downward header went wide. Moments later at the other end Zigic missed a similarly gilt-edged chance for Serbia. Pantelic's cross into the middle picked out his strike partner but the 6ft 7in forward completely miscued his volley from six yards out. That was probably a better opening than Ayew's, and Ghana almost made Zigic pay for his profligacy by nearly taking the lead in the 60th minute. Gyan climbed above Vidic to reach a long throw-in into the area, and the Rennes player was unfortunate to see his header hit the outside of the near post. The introduction of experienced midfielder Stephen Appiah in the 72nd minute was well received by the noisy and sizeable contingent of Ghana fans, and they were given further cause for hope two minutes later when Serbia lost Lukovic to a red card. Lukovic, who had been booked at the start of the period, was shown a second yellow card after pulling back Gyan. Despite the setback Serbia looked the more dangerous side over the next five minutes. Milos Krasic brought a fine block out of Kingson, Vidic headed over from a corner and Branislav Ivanovic fired over as well. Ghana survived that spell though, and in the 84th minute they were handed the chance to take the game when Kuzmanovic was adjudged to have handled a cross into the area, earning Rajevac's side a penalty. Kuzmanovic protested his innocence but the decision stood and Gyan stepped up to slam his spot-kick past Stojkovic, to the delight of the Ghana fans. Kuzmanovic had a chance to make amends soon after but he blazed over, while man of the match Gyan could have added a second late on but his shot rebounded back off the post. |
Full-time - 90'
Germany 4 - 0 Australia Group D, 18:30 GMT, June 13, 2010 Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Lukas Podolski - He may not have fired for his club this season, but Podolski always turns it on for his country. Playing wide left, he netted a great early goal and provided a constant attacking threat throughout with his pace and vision on the ball. Germany verdict: An attacking line-up, with Bastian Schweinsteiger playing deeper than usual, gave them licence to control the flow of the game. Germany made more passes in one half than South Africa, Uruguay, USA and Nigeria completed in their entire matches and it showed. Total domination. Australia verdict: Without playing a striker, the Socceroos were always going to struggle to peg Germany back. Tim Cahill had a great early chance from a header, but there was precious little possession or space for them to mount any decent attacks. Could do better: Craig Moore - He hasn't had a club since March, and Moore looked way out of his depth. Being screamed at constantly by Lucas Neill, the central defender found himself out of position on more than one occasion and did not have the pace to make amends. Stat attack: Klose scored his 11th World Cup goal, which ties him with Jurgen Klinsmann and Sandor Kocsis for fifth in World Cup history. Klose also becomes sixth German player to score at three straight World Cups. With a young squad and without injured Michael Ballack, the Germans went on a scoring rampage. Lukas Podolski opened their account in the eighth minute before veteran Miroslav Klose doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. Cheered by the green and gold fans at the Durban Stadium, the Socceroos showed more determination after the re-start but saw their challenge take a fatal hit when Tim Cahill was shown a straight red card in the 56th minute following a late tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Thomas Muller added Germany's third in the 68th minute before substitute Cacau got an easy tap-in less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute. The result lifted Joachim Low's side top of Group D above Ghana, who beat Serbia 1-0 earlier in the day. The Germans, who have not lost a group game since 1994, made Australia pay for their sloppy defending. Low handed out-of-form Klose the lone striker's role and it proved a wise move. Australia had the better of the opening stages and came close to taking the lead in the third minute. During a scramble in the area, Richard Garcia's close-range shot was blocked by Philipp Lahm. The Germans responded shortly after, with an unmarked Klose surging inside the area and hitting a right-footed strike towards the centre of goal which the Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer parried away. Podolski made no mistake seconds later. He got behind Muller's pull back from the right and drove the ball in from 15 yards. Schwarzer managed to get a touch on the ball but it went in. Jason Culina could have restored parity in the 17th minute but he nodded high from Brett Emerton's cross. Midway through the first half, Klose missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0. The veteran got behind Podolski's cross and struck the ball wide from the heart of the area. Klose made amends shortly after as he extended his team's lead in the 26th minute after sloppy defending by Australia. Schwarzer came off his line and got to Klose just as the striker headed home from Lahm's cross from the right. On the half-hour mark, captain Lucas Neill managed to clear Mesut Ozil's goalbound shot with Schwarzer already beaten. Germany's Sami Khedira headed high over the crossbar as Germany went into the break after a near-perfect first half. Australia coach Pim Verbeek brought in Brett Holman at half time in the hope of sparking his team into life. Holman tried to make an immediate impact but his diagonal shot went wide of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's far post. Australia's hopes then nose-dived when Cahill was shown a straight red card for a tackle from behind on Schweinsteiger. With one man short, Australia struggled to stop Germany's advances and conceded shortly after the hour mark. Muller got away from his marker before lashing home a shot in off the post. Australia had little time to react as Germany struck again two minutes later. Ozil surged down the left and cut it back for the Brazilian-born striker to hit it past Schwarzer. |
Netherlands v Denmark
Group E, 11:30 GMT, June 14, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Frequently labelled as perennial World Cup underachievers, Bert van Marwijk's Netherlands side take to the 2010 finals looking, once again, to shed that particular monkey off their back. And just as in tournaments gone by, they appear to have a squad possessing enough quality to mount a serious challenge. The Oranje certainly have players capable of turning a game on its head with a moment of creative brilliance. Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder helped guide their respective club sides to the Champions League final, earning widespread praise for their influential displays and the Netherlands have been in fine goalscoring form during their warm-up games, scoring 12 goals in three victories over Mexico, Ghana and Hungary. But their defensive frailties remain and the likes of Joris Mathijsen and Johnny Heitinga do not inspire massive confidence at the back. The 2010 Group E opener pits Van Marwjik's side against the nation they beat 3-0 during the group stage of Euro 2000 but, more famously, lost to in the semi-finals of Euro '92 - Denmark. Since that victory in 1992, Denmark have flattered to deceive at major tournaments - aside from a quarter-final run at the 1998 World Cup that was ended after a narrow 3-2 defeat by Brazil - and missed out on qualification for both the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008. This time round, they will be relishing a return to the global arena and Morten Olsen's side have reason to be optimistic after an impressive qualification campaign, which saw them record away wins against both Sweden and Portugal. Denmark's build-up has been poor, though, with a win against Senegal sandwiched by defeats against Austria, Australia and South Africa - and Olsen, who has been at the helm for ten years, must use all his experience to inspire improved performances from his side at the finals. Netherlands player in focus: Wesley Sneijder. One of the best players in Europe last season, Sneijder was the midfield mastermind behind Inter Milan's Champions League triumph. His career has been resurrected at the San Siro after he struggled to make an impression at Real Madrid - despite starring for Netherlands at Euro 2008. With a keen eye for an incisive pass, Sneijder will be creator-in-chief for the Dutch and opponents should beware his accurate delivery from set-pieces, and superb shooting ability from distance. Denmark player in focus: Christian Poulsen. After enduring a torrid season with Juventus, Poulsen will be relishing playing with a group of players who may actually resemble a team. A tough-tackling midfielder, his presence will be crucial in ensuring the likes of Sneijder and Van der Vaart don't see too much of the ball. Keep an eye on his temper though, he has a rather chequered disciplinary history. Key battle: Robin van Persie v Daniel Agger. Van Persie has looked backed to his clinical best since returning to the national team, bagging four goals in the Oranje's three warm-up games. After missing a large chunk of Arsenal's season, despite an apparent visit to the Serbian placenta clinic, Van Persie now looks fresh and ready to spearhead Van Marwjik's forward line at the finals. Standing in his way for Denmark is Liverpool's Daniel Agger. Injury has kept his profile under the radar, but he has proved a commanding presence at the back for his country when he has played. His aerial ability isn't great, but he's more than capable of matching RVP on the ground. Trivia: Aged just 18 years and three months old when the tournament starts, Denmark's Christian Eriksen will be the youngest player at the 2010 World Cup, narrowly ahead of Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon, and the youngest in his side by almost three years (Simon Kjaer was born on March 26, 1989) Stats: The Netherlands have lost only one of their last 12 group stage matches at World Cup finals (against Belgium in 1994). Odds: Netherlands (1.53), the draw (4.00), Denmark (6.50) with Bet365. Netherlands to lead at half-time, but a draw at full-time is priced attractively at 19.00. Prediction: This could well be the game that decides who wins the group and so could prove to be a tight encounter, despite Netherlands plethora of attacking talent. Having faced Portugal in qualifying, Denmark showed themselves to be adept at handling teams full of forward flair and their organisation will be key again in this one. If the Danes stay disciplined, a draw is on the cards. |
Japan v Cameroon
Group E, 14:00 GMT, June 14, 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa Playing in their fourth successive World Cup, Japan have managed consistent qualification but have yet to assert themselves on the international stage. The Blue Samurai face an uphill task to progress from Group E, if their recent form is anything to go by. In 2010, Takeshi Okada's side have faltered every time they have played a nation possessing any quality. Defeats to rivals South Korea (twice), Serbia, England and Ivory Coast have yielded just one goal and Okada has somehow earned a Raymond Domenech-style finals reprieve despite being lambasted by fans and press alike in Japan. And one must certainly question the logic of the Japanese FA in putting their World Cup hopes in the hands of a coach who lost all three matches when he last guided the national side to the finals in 1998. Japan's opponents in the opening game of Group E will be Africa's most successful World Cup nation, Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions reached the quarter-finals in 1990 - led by the scoring exploits and snaking hips of Roger Milla - and will be playing in an African-record sixth finals. Despite being a national treasure, Milla risked wrecking Cameroon's build-up to the finals after criticising star striker Samuel Eto'o for failing to display his world-class club credentials for the national side. Eto'o did not take too kindly to Milla's comments and threatened to pull out of Paul Le Guen's World Cup squad, though fortunately for the Indomitable Lions, he changed his mind. In Eto'o, Cameroon have an obvious match-winner and can also boast a physically imposing and athletic midfield in Achilles Emana, Alex Song and Jean Makoun. But make no mistake, their midfielder also possess plenty of guile to trouble a Japan side lacking real steel in the middle of the park. Japan player in focus: Keisuke Honda. Undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted players at Okada's disposal, Honda has flourished since moving from Dutch club VVV Venlo to CSKA Moscow in January. He netted the Russian club's winner against Sevilla in the Champions League and has the ability to unlock defences with a dribble or an incisive through ball. Cameroon player in focus: Samuel Eto'o . Quite simply, he is the Indomitable Lions talisman. As his country's captain and leading goalscorer, the hopes of a nation rest on the Inter Milan striker's shoulders. Eto'o made one substitute appearance at the 1998 World Cup, but four years later was Cameroon's match-winner against Saudi Arabia. Having missed out on playing at the 2006 finals, he will be desperate to prove that he is capable of carrying the team forward on the biggest stage of them all. Key battle: Tulio Tanaka v Pierre Webo. Tanaka is comfortable on the ball, and has impressive anticipation when marking his men, with Wayne Rooney's failure to score in a recent friendly testament to his abilities. In Webo, he has a tough opponent - a strong, fearsome frontman who is full of running and provides the perfect foil for Eto'o. The Mallorca striker is an excellent form going into the tournament having scored three goals in the final two warm-up games. Trivia: None of Cameroon's 23-man squad play in the country's national league. Seven players ply their trade in France, four in Germany, three in Turkey, England and Spain, and one each in the Netherlands, Scotland and Italy. Stats: Japan have never won a World Cup game outside of their country, losing five of their six games on foreign soil. Odds: Japan (3.60), the draw (3.30), Cameroon (2.10) with Bet365. Samuel Eto'o for first goalscorer is priced at 5.00 and might be worth a punt. Prediction: Both of these sides have flattered to deceive of late, and their poor recent results would suggest a draw is on the cards. But there will be one truly world class player on the pitch who can make all the difference, and Samuel Eto'o may just give Cameroon the edge. |
Italy v Paraguay
Group F, 18:30 GMT, June 14, 2010 Green Point Stadium , Cape Town, South Africa The 2006 World Cup winners open their title defence against the team predicted to cause them the most problems in Group F. Italy have Marcello Lippi back at the helm and, after an unbeaten qualification campaign, the Azzurri should certainly be considered among the contenders in South Africa, though the phrase "successive wins" is not one that has been uttered too often in relation to their chances. Inter Milan's Champions League success may have boosted Italy's UEFA co-efficient but with substitute Marco Materazzi - who was not even selected in Lippi's final 23 - the only Italian player involved in the final, little can be really taken from the Italian side's continental success. Materazzi is one of several players who played in the 2006 final to have been cut by Lippi this time around, while Andrea Pirlo, Italy's best player in the 2006 final, will miss the start of the tournament with a calf injury, meaning the Azzurri will be increasingly reliant on Daniele De Rossi to pull the strings from midfield. Italy always seem to be a side boasting experience and, with an average squad age of 28.75, they are the fifth oldest in South Africa. Paraguay will be aiming to emulate the success of the likes of Cameroon and Senegal in producing a shock win over the reigning champions in their opening game. Gerardo Martino's side enjoyed an impressive qualification campaign, beating fellow South American qualifiers Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay along the way - and they have also looked good in the build-up to the World Cup, with a 2-1 loss against Republic of Irleland the only blot on their copybook among wins against North Korea and Greece and a draw with Ivory Coast. Top scorer in qualifying, Salvador Cabanas, was shockingly shot in the head earlier this year and Paraguay's players were hit hard, though the incident has certainly served to improve the togetherness of the side, and will be a source of inspiration for La Albirroja heading into the finals. Having exited at the group stage in 2006 Paraguay advanced to the second round, and will need the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and industrious right midfielder Carlos Bonet to be on top form against Italy if they are to get off to a good start and replicate previous progressions. Italy player in focus: Daniele De Rossi: Dynamism personified, De Rossi will be the Azzurri's key man in Pirlo's absence, and with Gennaro Gattuso an option to play behind him, the Roma midfielder should have plenty of room to roam and influence the game. He comes into the tournament on the back of a fantastic season with his club side, and it seems the bigger the occasion, the better he plays. Four years on from his disgraceful sending off against USA at the 2006 finals, De Rossi has matured into a real leader and he will be determined to show the numerous positive aspects of his game this time around. There is a doubt over his fitness for Monday but, given his importance, he seems likely to make the starting XI. Paraguay player in focus: Lucas Barrios. One of the in-form players heading into the finals, Barrios has the potential to make a big impact in South Africa and, wherever he goes, goals are almost certain to follow. Born in Argentina, he decided to represent Paraguay just before the World Cup and promptly accepted a call-up to the side. Three goals in his first three games have seen him explode onto the international scene. A predator with exceptional finishing prowess, Italy should be wary of his presence. Key battle: Paulo Da Silva v Fabio Quagliarella:Da Silva helped keep out the intimidating attacking talents of Brazil and Argentina during qualifying, but after a frustrating season at Sunderland in which he started just 12 games, his lack of game time could prove costly at the World Cup. Waiting to pounce on any mistakes could be Napoli striker Fabio Quagliarella, whose goal against Switzerland in the final warm-up game should have done enough to convince Lippi that he is worth a place in the starting line-up. Trivia: Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar's eighth-minute substitution against England in 2006 was the quickest substitution of a shot-stopper in World Cup history. Stats: In 2006, Italy's 12 goals were scored by ten different players - a record jointly held with France (1982). Odds: Italy (2.10), the draw (3.10), Paraguay (4.00) with Bet365. A 1-0 win for Italy looks promising at 5.50. Prediction: As long as the Azzurri's notoriously tight defence remains that way to stifle the threat of Barrios and Santa Cruz, they will have every chance of succeeding where Argentina and France failed before them - by winning their opening match as defending champions. |
Full-time - 90'
Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark Group E, 11:30 GMT, June 14, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa An own goal by Daniel Agger - thanks to Simon Poulsen's mistimed header - and a late Dirk Kuyt effort helped Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Denmark at Soccer City. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Nigel de Jong - His tackling may be a little robust at times, but the midfielder's presence went a long way to ensuring the Danes were kept at bay. Netherlands verdict: The Dutch were clearly the better team but, unlike at Euro 2008, failed to hit the ground running. Perhaps this time they may grow into the tournament and find top form when it really matters. Denmark verdict: Lacked any real creativity or penetration in the final third of the pitch. It is clear that scoring goals is going to be a real problem for this Danish side. Simply not in the same class as the Dutch at all. Could do better: Nicklas Bendtner - The Arsenal striker missed a glorious chance in the first-half when the score was 0-0. We may say "could do better", but we don't actually know if he can. Stat attack: Denmark conceded the 30th own goal in World Cup finals history. Both goals came in the second half after an assured first period of defending by the Scandinavians, who constantly thwarted a Dutch attack which appeared short of ideas without the injured Arjen Robben. But the resistance was broken less than 60 seconds into the second half, when Robin van Persie's cross from the left was headed in the wrong direction by Simon Poulsen - he tried to head clear and sent it towards his own goal - and it struck the back of Agger and went in. Kuyt doubled Netherlands' advantage five minutes from the end to ensure the highly-fancied Oranje a positive start in Group E. Denmark coach Morten Olsen sprung a major surprise by naming Nicklas Bendtner in his starting line-up despite saying yesterday that the Arsenal striker, who has been nursing a groin problem, "cannot play". But his side, like Netherlands, struggled to find any early rhythm with Wesley Sneijder and Thomas Enevoldsen wastefully firing free-kicks from good positions into the crowd. It took ten minutes for the first shot on target - Kuyt sending a tame effort straight into the arms of Thomas Sorensen from just outside the box. The noise level of the vuvuzelas was suddenly raised after 16 minutes when the lively Liverpool forward's cross was cleared away for a corner, but that came to nothing - much to the disappointment of the Soccer City crowd. Van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart then played a neat one-two, but the latter saw his shot deflected wide by Agger. The Danes had their best opening of the half just after the midway point when Bendtner found himself in space inside the six-yard box, but he could only head wide from Dennis Rommedahl's cross from the right. After another dangerous ball from Kuyt was deflected wide, Rommedahl carved out another good chance when he cut in from the right, only to shoot straight at Maarten Stekelenburg. The Ajax goalkeeper was drawn into his first testing save after 36 minutes when Bendtner released Thomas Kahlenberg, whose shot was acrobatically palmed away. Just before the break, Van Persie seemed unsure which foot to use after making room on the right, before poking his effort wide. The Danes may have been solid at the back for the first 45 minutes, but they slipped up straight after the restart to gift their opponents the lead. The advantage could have been doubled after another mistake - this time from Simon Kjaer - saw Van Persie played in, but indecisiveness from the striker allowed Sorensen to swoop. Coach Olsen then made his first change by introducing Jesper Gronkjaer, but it was the Oranje that continued to look dangerous. Van der Vaart showed good skill in trying to cutely volley Van Persie's pass in, but Sorensen again intercepted. Mikkel Beckmann and Christian Eriksen were also thrown on for Denmark, the former for Bendtner, but they still struggled to carve out any real openings although Agger struck a low shot into the gloves of Stekelenburg. And Bert van Marwijk's team were always a threat going forward, with substitute Eljero Elia causing plenty of problems down the left. Sneijder almost made it 2-0 eight minutes from time, but saw his 25-yard effort deflected onto the crossbar by Agger with Sorensen beaten. However, five minutes from time Kuyt sealed the points. Elia's shot from the left was diverted onto the right-hand post by Stoke goalkeeper Sorensen and the Liverpool forward easily finished. It could have been worse for Denmark, but Simon Poulsen cleared Ibrahim Afellay's shot off the line late on. |
Full-time - 90'
Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon Group E, 14:00 GMT, June 14, 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa Keisuke Honda's 39th minute goal was enough to give Japan a 1-0 victory over Group E rivals Cameroon in Bloemfontein. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Daisuke Matsui - In a match of little excitement, Matsui was one of the few players to offer any attacking impetus. Japan verdict: Japan had two shots on target in the entire game and scored a lucky goal. That said, they still picked up the three points which, with Denmark losing to Netherlands, leaves them second in the group. They must improve on this performance but at least they can look to do that with three points secured. Cameroon verdict: If they showed more composure on the ball in the final third they would have got something from this game. Though they had six shots, only one was on target and they wasted several promising positions. Could do better: Paul le Guen - In opting to leave Alex Song on the bench and playing Samuel Eto'o in a wide position, the Cameroon coach failed to make the most of his best players. And Cameroon will now have to get something against Netherlands to make it through the group. Stat attack: Forty-nine fouls in this match is the highest combined total at this year's World Cup. Le Guen unhappy with attitude Honda's close-range strike was one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable game at the Free State Stadium. The CSKA Moscow forward's goal handed a long-awaited victory to Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who had seen his side lose four and draw one of their warm-up matches, scoring only one goal in the process. While Okada opted for a lone striker in Yoshito Okubo, his Cameroon counterpart Paul Le Guen decided on an adventurous 4-3-3 formation. Despite being one of Africa's brightest hopes Cameroon were toothless, despite having a great deal of possession, although goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a breathtaking save from substitute Mohamadou Idrissou in stoppage time. Much was expected of skipper Samuel Eto'o but the Inter Milan striker was left frustrated as Japan defended in numbers. Le Guen saw his side carve out the first opening of the game in the eighth minute when Eto'o released Pierre Webo. He raced to the byline and played the ball into the middle but Eyong Enoh was unable to get a decent touch. Kawashima then made a good block from Enoh's close range effort before Japan made the breakthrough. The Cameroon defence failed to cut out Daisuke Matsui's cross to the back post and Honda reacted quickly. He got a superb first touch before clipping the ball beyond a stranded Souleymanou Hamidou. Cameroon came out with a purpose at the start of the second half and should have equalised in the 49th minute. Eto'o got the better of two players in a determined run. He played the ball into the path of Eric Choupo-Moting who was clear in front of goal. However the striker failed to test Kawashima, his effort going wide of the post to Japan's relief. Cameroon were enjoying a decent spell and Choupo-Moting cut inside only to drag his shot off target. However, Japan almost added a second goal in the 82nd minute when they launched a swift counter-attack. Makoto Hasebe's shot was parried by the goalkeeper but only landed at the feet of substitute Shinji Ozakaki, who saw the rebound come off the outside of the left post. Cameroon responded and three minutes later Stephane Mbia's instinctive effort rattled the bar. With the crowd urging them, Cameroon kept pushing players forward in search of the equaliser but Japan stood firm. However, they had to rely on Kawashima right at the end to give them the victory they had craved. The Kawasaki Frontale shot-stopper has only recently taken the jersey and it was easy to understand why as Cameroon were left frustrated. Former Lyon, Rangers and Paris St Germain boss Le Guen was hoping Cameroon would make it through to the quarter-finals, but this opening defeat makes that looks an outside bet at the moment, with group rivals Netherlands also chalking up a victory earlier in the day. |
Full-time - 90'
Italy 1 - 1 Paraguay Group F, 18:30 GMT, June 14, 2010 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa Defending champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Gianluca Zambrotta - Ever reliable at the back, Zambrotta most influenced the game going forward with some intelligent runs and consistently good delivery into the box. Italy verdict: Slow and ponderous in the first half they improved markedly in the second after strong half-time words from Marcello Lippi. Will be concerned at conceding from a set-piece and the lack of attacking thrust but then, they are generally slow starters. Paraguay verdict: Will be delighted to have claimed a point from the defending champions, yet it could have been more but for goalkeeper Justo Villar's wild flap. Look reasonably compact but will struggle to prosper if they can't find some cutting edge in the final third. Could do better: Claudio Marchisio - The Juve man's departure sparked Italy's revival in the game as Mauro Camoranesi provided a better balance to midfield. Marchisio struggled to get on the ball and, as a result, failed to influence the game. Stat attack: Eight of Italy's last 13 World Cup goals have come from set-pieces. Having played well in the first half at Green Point Stadium the 2006 winners were shocked when Wigan-bound defender Antolin Alcaraz rose to head home a 39th-minute free-kick. But Italy's blushes were spared as Daniele De Rossi slid in to punish a mistake by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar after 63 minutes and take a point from the match. As expected, Italy coach Marcello Lippi had left Serie A's top goalscorer Antonio Di Natale on the bench, instead selecting Alberto Gilardino with Vincenzo Iaquinta out wide. Gerardo Martino also opted to leave out his two highest-profile forwards in Benfica's Oscar Cardozo and Manchester City man Roque Santa Cruz. Instead, Borussia Dortmund team-mates Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez were deployed in attack. Claudio Morel had to be alert to stop Simone Pepe pouncing on a dangerous ball at the back post in the sixth minute as Italy set the early pace. Despite some neat passing moves, chances were few and far between. Paraguay did exert some form of pressure midway through the half with two corners, before Riccardo Montolivo broke forward for Italy but could only hit a meek shot at Villar. In the 22nd minute Aureliano Torres mis-hit a shot which only just bobbled wide of Gianluigi Buffon's goal. Italy were stunned six minutes before the break when Paraguay went in front from a set-piece. Torres' launched free-kick from deep was perfectly flighted and with Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi flailing, Alcaraz headed past Buffon. Buffon was surprisingly substituted at the break, replaced by Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti having reportedly suffered a back injury. Enrique Vera had two sighters for Paraguay while Pepe missed with a spectacular bicycle kick attempt and Montolivo's weak shot was easily saved. Martino sent on midfielder Jonathan Santana for Torres while Lippi sacrificed Marchisio for Mauro Camoranesi to go 4-4-2 shortly before the hour mark. Victor Caceres was booked for a late slide on Montolivo before Italy finally made the pressure tell to go level. Villar horribly missed Pepe's corner from the left, allowing a delighted De Rossi to simply stab the ball home. Italy had a penalty shout denied by Mexican Benito Archundia when Montolivo went down under a robust shoulder challenge from Paulo Da Silva before, at the other end, Barrios found Santana who dragged his shot off target. Santa Cruz was given his chance in the 68th minute when he came on for Valdez before Camoranesi was booked for a foul on Vera. Di Natale finally got his opportunity in the 72nd minute when he replaced Gilardino while Cardozo also had a taste when he came on for Barrios. Good work from Di Natale set up Udinese team-mate Pepe for a half-decent shot while, at the opposite end, Cannavaro blocked a Santa Cruz header. Montolivo did threaten with an 83rd minute long-range effort which brought out the best in Villar, who sprawled low to his right to save, but Italy were unable to complete the turnaround by snatching a winner. |
New Zealand v Slovakia
Group F, 11:30 GMT, June 15, 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa New Zealand head into their second World Cup campaign as massive underdogs. Competing in their first tournament since 1982, the All Whites are available at 2,000-1 to lift the trophy in South Africa, the longest odds of any of the 32 nations. Although their appearance at the finals may seem an impressive achievement, when you consider they navigated a qualifying zone containing minnows such as New Caledonia, Vainatu and Fiji, it looks a far less creditable accomplishment. Despite the gulf in class that will exist between them and the majority of teams at the finals, New Zealand will believe Tuesday's opener against Slovakia represents their best chance of picking up three points. Ricki Herbert's squad have demonstrated an ability to cope with the big occasion when they defeated Bahrain in a nail-biting World Cup play off, so confidence could be high among the players that they can gain a positive result. Slovakia will be competing in their first finals as an independent nation after topping a qualifying group that included respected campaigners Poland and arch-rivals Czech Republic. Their squad has a good blend of youth and experience, with defenders such as Martin Skrtel and Marek Cech offering a solid foundation for attacking talents such as Vladimir Weiss and Miroslav Stoch, while, in Marek Hamsik, they may have a star in the making. New Zealand player in focus: Shane Smeltz. Playing against superior opposition, goal-scoring chances will be at a premium for New Zealand. It is essential, therefore, that chances are taken when they arrive. Shane Smeltz is likely to be the man those chances will fall to and, if he fails to take them, the All Whites' stay in South Africa will be short. Smeltz does have goalscoring pedigree, having been the leading scorer in Australia's A-League for the last two seasons. If he can take his club form into the World Cup, Ricki Herbert's side might just spring a surprise. Slovakia player in focus: Marek Hamsik. The 22-year-old, who is rumoured to be attracting the attention of Europe's top clubs, will have the perfect platform on which to display his talent in South Africa. With New Zealand likely to adopt a defensive approach to the game, the onus will be on Slovakia to break down their defence. In his role as chief creator in the Slovakia side, Hamsik has the potential to put New Zealand to the sword on Tuesday. Ably assisted by wide men Stoch and Weiss, Hamsik could well be the star of the show in Rustenburg. Key battle: Ryan Nelsen v Stanislav Sestak. Vfl Bochum forward Sestak scored an impressive 28 Bundesliga goals last season, and he will be keen to mark his first World Cup appearance with at least one goal. Ryan Nelsen's Premier League experience is going to be central to New Zealand's hopes of avoiding humiliation in the tournament and, if he can get the better of Sestak, his team might be able to sneak a point, or possibly more. Trivia: Nine of the players in the Czechoslovakia team that defeated West Germany in the 1976 European Championship final were Slovakian. Stats: Slovakia's highest-ranked opponents during qualification were Slovenia, who are ranked 25th in the world. Before facing Bahrain, who are ranked 69th, New Zealand's highest-ranked opponents were Fiji, ranked 132th in the world. Odds: New Zealand (9.00), the draw (4.33), Slovakia (1.40) with Bet365. Nerves may get the better of Slovakia in their first World Cup match, so 1-0 New Zealand at 19.00 could be good value. Prediction: New Zealand will battle bravely but Slovakia should have too much quality for the Kiwis. With Hamsik and Sestak in their team, 2-0 to Slovakia seems a likely outcome. |
Ivory Coast v Portugal
Group G, 14:00 GMT, June 15, 2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa To say that Portugal were unconvincing in qualifying for the World Cup would be an understatement. Their place in South Africa was only secured courtesy of a play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and they failed to even score against lowly Albania in a home qualifying fixture, playing out an embarrassing 0-0 draw in Leiria. Add to that Cristiano Ronaldo's failure to score in their qualification campaign, and a recent 0-0 draw at home to minnows Cape Verde Islands, and it would be fair to say that Carlos Queiroz is under as much pressure as any coach at the finals. For the Ivory Coast's Sven-Goran Eriksson, though, it is an unexpected chance to lead the best equipped of the African nations into the continent's first World Cup finals. The draw may not have been kind to Ivory Coast, but having been grouped with unknown quantity North Korea and under-performing Portugal, Eriksson's men will be confident of progressing alongside probable group winners Brazil. Their success, however, hinges on the fitness of talismanic striker Didier Drogba. Should Drogba recover from a broken arm in time to play a full part in Ivory Coast's campaign, they will be a team to avoid in South Africa. Ivory Coast player in focus: Salomon Kalou. With doubts over the participation of Didier Drogba, following his injury in the friendly against Japan, the onus falls on his Chelsea team-mate Kalou to lead the attack. Quick, agile and with a good eye for goal, Kalou has been unlucky to be sidelined so regularly for his club and has a great chance to prove himself on the world stage. Portugal player in focus: Cristiano Ronaldo. Having failed to score in Portugal's dismal qualifying campaign, Ronaldo has the expectations of the entire world on his shoulders in South Africa. He already talked of feeling under pressure, but he needs to be at his best if a weak Portugal attack is to fire. Without Nani, Ronaldo's trickery on the wings will have to provide a large chunk of the service for Liedson up front, and he will be the focus of all Portugal's moves. Key Battle: Emmanuel Eboue v Simao. With Ronaldo on one side, Simao will have the chance to run at his man and may target Eboue as a weak link in the Ivorian defence. Having burst onto the scene as a full back at Arsenal, Eboue has been moved further up the pitch for his club and Simao will be keen to exploit his lack of defensive nous. Perhaps a spiky confrontation is on the cards as well, as both men have been known to lose their tempers in the past. Trivia: Portugal have six players in their squad born outside of Portugal: Deco, Liedson, Pepe (all Brazil), Daniel Fernandes (Canada), Rolando (Cape Verde) and Danny (Venezuela). Stats: Sven-Goran Eriksson has been knocked out of his last two major tournaments as an international manager at the quarter-final stage, on penalties, by Portugal (Euro 2004, World Cup 2006). Odds: Ivory Coast (3.40), the draw (3.25), Portugal (2.20) with Bet365. With Portugal looking unconvincing in attack, 2-0 to Ivory Coast at 17.00 looks good value. Prediction: A combination of a fit Didier Drogba and passionate African support should see Sven's men through to a narrow win but, if the Chelsea man misses out, a draw looks the more likely outcome. |
Brazil
v North Korea Group G, 18:30 GMT, June 15, 2010 Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa The most successful side in World Cup history, Brazil are revered around the world for their free-flowing, attacking style of football that has allowed them to give the world the gift of players like Pele and Garrincha. But a new breed of Brazilian finds itself at this year's World Cup, under the tutelage of their defensive midfield general turned coach, Dunga. Fitting, perhaps, that Brazil will find themselves up against North Korea in the first game, as the defensive mindset that that has taken over the Samba stars is employed to full effect in Asia as well. Of course, the gap between the two sides is huge. Conventional wisdom dictates that Brazil should walk away with a comfortable win, but they will have to break down some stubborn defending if they are to do so. In Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano, Brazil don't quite have the same attacking platform as the three Rs of Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho from the last time they lifted the trophy in 2002 - but they do possess a very similar midfield with Kleberson and Gilberto Silva employed in the holding roles. For Cafu and Roberto Carlos, read Maicon and Michel Bastos - full backs so impressive that Barcelona star Daniel Alves is left on the bench - but the criticism of their style under Dunga has not lifted despite the players on show. Make no mistake: they may have topped their qualifying group but, to the Brazilian public, they have a lot to prove. Their opposition, North Korea, have already won the favour of their fans simply by qualifying for the tournament. With a pedigree that includes a shock run to the quarter-finals in 1966, beating Italy 1-0 in the process, the Koreans head into South Africa knowing that just a draw in the 'Group of Death' will make them global celebrities. The secret nature of the country, and indeed the team, have many guessing how they will set up, but a 5-4-1 formation looks likely with every man behind the ball. Brazil player in focus: Kaka. After months on the sidelines troubled by injury for his club Real Madrid, Kaka holds the key for the creativity of this Brazil side. This squad is not overly blessed with the usual array of attacking talents, but Kaka stands alone as one of the best in the world on his day. He will be well rested after the season and should be raring to go. North Korea player in focus: Jong Tae-Se. The only North Korean to make himself readily available to the media before the tournament, Jong, who was born in Japan, has talked of his ambition to score a goal a game at the tournament. 'The Asian Wayne Rooney', as he has been dubbed, is basically the only attacking outlet for his side and has proved himself a dangerous finisher in some of the pre-tournament friendlies. Key battle: Robinho v Nam Song-Chul. Robinho has a lot to prove at this World Cup after being shipped off to Santos on loan. His pace and trickery will certainly provide a tough test for the Korean defence, especially with Nam Song-Chul filling in on the left-hand side of defence and attempting to get forward as much as he can. Most likely, Nam will avoid any attacking urges but Robinho's talent as he drifts around the final third could embarrass his opponent. Trivia: Korea means 'Land of the Morning Calm' in Korean and the North Korean football team's nickname is Chollima, a mythical winged-horse popular in central Asian folklore. It is said to be "too swift to be mounted". Stats: North Korea's biggest win came in 2005 when it stomped Guam 21-0. Don't expect the same attacking prowess against Brazil. Odds: Brazil (1.10), the draw (9.00), North Korea (29.00) with Bet365. Jong Tae-Se to score anytime is 7.00 Prediction: No shock here, although the Koreans may win over a few doubters if they can avoiding haemorrhaging goals early. Brazil should put at least three past them. |
Full-time - 90'
New Zealand 1 - 1 Slovakia Group F, 11:30 GMT, June 15, 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Vladimir Weiss - If there were any doubts about whether Weiss Jnr deserved to be in his dad's starting line-up, they were banished by a scintillating display against the All Whites. Pacy and skilful, the winger was a constant threat and his positive, fearless approach to attacking was a breath of fresh air. Deserved to be on the winning side. New Zealand verdict: A gritty performance from the All Whites, Ricki Herbert's side defended bravely, with a number of last-ditch tackles going in, but showed plenty of naivety to let Slovakia get into dangerous positions. Lacked any real attacking threat - Shane Smeltz feeding on scraps - but Winston Reid's injury-time goal gave them a result that rewarded their resilience. Slovakia verdict: After a poor opening, Vladimir Weiss's side picked up the tempo and played some football that was often very easy on the eye. In Marek Hamsik and Weiss Jnr they had a pair of players that provided a dangerous attacking outlet, while Robert Vittek and Stanislav Sestak looked lively up front. Possesed much more quality than the All Whites and were a touch wasteful - their potential should have been converted into more goals and they were punished for not putting the game beyond doubt. Could do better: Mark Paston Yes, that Jabulani moves a lot in the air but it is no excuse for the New Zealand goalkeeper looking consistently shaky throughout the game. He regularly flapped at crosses and an embarrassing mis-kick in the first half could have ended in disaster. Stat attack: The first 19 goals of this World Cup have been scored by 19 different players, breaking the previous record of 18 (1978). It was also New Zealand's first goal in the finals for 28 years and sparked wild celebrations among the All Whites supporters inside the Royal Bafokeng stadium. Reid was booked for his own celebration when he ripped off his shirt and twirled it around his head after bulleting home a header from Shane Smeltz's cross. It was an historic moment in New Zealand football, considering the Kiwis had lost all three of their previous group matches at their only other appearance in the finals in 1982. Reid's late strike cancelled out a 50th-minute goal from Slovakia's Robert Vittek, which was also historic. It was the nation's first-ever goal in their debut match at the World Cup finals. Vittek repaid the faith his manager, Vladimir Weiss, had shown in him after he went through the qualifying campaign without scoring. It was also a flying header, drilled past New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston. Although television replays suggested Vittek, who has been playing his football for Ankaragucu in Turkey on a loan deal from Lille, might have been offside when he met a sweet cross from Stanislas Sestak, it was just reward for Slovakia's superior ambition. They were the better side, outplaying for long periods a New Zealand team whose only previous finals appearance in 1982 ended in three straight defeats, 3-0 to the Soviet Union, 4-0 to Brazil and 5-2 to Scotland. The All Whites are a side comprising five English league players, captain Ryan Nelsen from Blackburn, Chris Killen from Middlesbrough, Ipswich's Tommy Smith, Plymouth's Rory Fallon and substitute Chris Wood from West Brom who replaced Killen in the second-half. They have plenty of guts and pride, but technically they were some way inferior to a Slovak side for whom 20-year-old Vladimir Weiss, the manager's son who played just one game for Manchester City before being loaned out to Bolton last season, was a constant inspiration in midfield. The first half was just about as sterile a 45 minutes as this goal-starved World Cup has witnessed. The most exciting moment came from a mistake from Paston who fluffed his kick-out. Vittek pounced on the mistake and looked like making New Zealand pay but Paston recovered to smother his attempt. The action was so pedestrian it had to improve and it did with Vittek's goal allowing Slovakia to play with more freedom. Until the last five minutes New Zealand's best effort had been when Killen rose highest in the penalty area but dispatched his header straight into the arms of Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha. Yet they mounted a spirited late rally which saw substitute Wood go close with a diving header. Little were we to know an even better one was to come from Reid to leave New Zealand, Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay locked on a point each in Group F. |
Full-time - 90'
Ivory Coast 0 - 0 Portugal Group G, 14:00 GMT, June 15, 2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: One of the commentators on the game said: ''Entertainment was not on the agenda today'' and he was quite right. In truth, no player did enough to merit the award and a match that promised much, delivered little. Ivory Coast verdict: Unable to get to grips with either the ball or the pitch, the Ivorian players constantly gave the ball away by overhitting their passes. No prolonged attacking pressure meant that they didn't threaten much up front and were solid enough at the back to stop what little Portugal offered. Portugal verdict: Apart from the 11th minute shot that hit the post, Portugal hardly troubled the Ivorian defence. Ronaldo drifted in and out of the game and the fluid Portuguese front three were not able to maintain enough possession in the final third to mount a serious attack. Could do better: The pitch. The grass for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was grown, off-site, at St Albans but it didn't seem to help. Large chunks of turf continued to fly up throughout the match and it made controlling or dribbling the ball even harder for the players - perhaps a reason for their dismal showing. The new Wembley? Stat attack: Ivory Coast averaged 3.2 goals per game during qualifying with Drogba, just 1.9 without their captain. It is just the second time in 20 World Cup matches that Portugal has finished 0-0. Ronaldo, who has not scored an international goal in 16 months, rattled a post with a blistering early strike, but that was as close as his side came to snatching victory on a frustrating afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Even Didier Drogba's arrival as a second-half substitute, to the delight of a crowd of 37,034, could not separate the sides as each attempted to gain the upper hand in Group G ahead of their respective encounters with Brazil. Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was boosted ahead of kick-off when he was able to name captain Drogba among his substitutes just 10 days after he had broken a bone in his arm. The Swede could not have failed to be satisfied too by the time he welcomed his players back to the dressing room at half-time with an opening 45 minutes in which they had more than matched their opponents. However, for all that, they could have been behind after Ronaldo saw his spectacular 30-yard strike come back off the upright with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten just 11 minutes in. In a frustrating first half for the European side, Ronaldo was booked along with defender Guy Demel as they went nose to nose after the winger had gone to ground all too easily, with Demel and Didier Zokora, who had himself earlier been cautioned for unceremoniously upending the Real Madrid star, leaving him in little doubt as to their thoughts on the matter. But where he was Portugal's only real outlet with Danny and Liedson largely anonymous in a three-man frontline, Ivory Coast showed real enterprise before the break. Gervinho, leading the line in Drogba's absence, proved a real handful, and with Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou similarly progressive, the Portuguese were repeatedly stretched. That said, keeper Eduardo did not have a single save of any note to make in the opening 45 minutes with speculative efforts from Siaka Tiene and Ismael Tiote requiring only a watching brief. Eduardo finally had to get his hands dirty two minutes after the restart when Gervinho blasted a shot across him, and Paulo Ferreira did just enough to prevent Kalou from reaching Dindane's cross seconds later. The Braga keeper was called upon once again with 54 minutes gone when Yaya Toure cut inside at pace and fed Kalou, although the Chelsea man side-footed straight at Eduardo from the edge of the box. Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz immediately replaced Danny with winger Simao, but it was Deco who provided the 58th-minute cross for Liedson's looping header, which was plucked out of the air by Barry. Drogba's World Cup began in earnest when he replaced Kalou with 66 minutes gone, but with heavy rain falling, it was Portugal who finished the stronger, although crucially, without coming close to making the breakthrough. |
Full-time - 90'
Brazil 2 - 1 North Korea Group G, 18:30 GMT, June 15, 2010 Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Robinho - Some may wish to give it to Maicon after his goal, but, in the absence of any confirmation that he meant to shoot and not drill it across the face of goal, Robinho gets the nod. Robinho was involved in everything that was good about Brazil. Lively, always looking for the ball and a superb slide-rule pass for Elano's clincher, Robinho was the stand-out performer. Brazil verdict: They were most definitely disappointing in the first-half and should have won more comfortably against a side ranked 105th in the world - the lowest in the tournament. Brazil, as expected, lacked the style normally associated with the team and you wonder if simple skill with a football will be enough to emerge as champions on July 11. North Korea verdict: A fine, spirited performance from a side most expected to be thrashed in Ellis Park. They showed far more than Ivory Coast and Portugal in the earlier game and in Jong Tae-Se, who made the consolation, and Hong Yong-Jo they have players of quality in the final third. Could do better: Kaka. Looked off the pace after his recent injury problems and he must offer more as the creative focal point of the Brazil team. There is time yet for Kaka to rediscover his touch and his form, but right now there appears to be a lot of work to be done. Stat attack: So far in the tournament, defenders have outscored forwards by eight goals to six after goals from Maicon and Ji Yun-Nam. The Koreans, ranked 85th in the world, kept Brazil at bay for 55 minutes until Maicon's cross-cum-shot swerved in at the near post and the three points were assured by a rare moment of magic as Robinho laid a second goal on a plate for former Manchester City team-mate Elano, although Ji Yun-nam gave them a late scare by halving the deficit. The win took Brazil top of Group G, above Portugal and the Ivory Coast, but they did not look particularly convincing in living up to their tag of joint World Cup favourites alongside Spain. The North Koreans were the first to have a shot on target after 10 minutes when Japan-born striker Jong Tae-se bustled past two markers and drilled in a left-footed shot which Julio Cesar was able to gather. Brazil were dominating possession but struggling to pick the final pass and the Koreans were not purely sitting back as Cha Jong-hyok got forward to blast a left-footed shot wide after 15 minutes. The South Americans threatened when Luis Fabiano slotted the ball through to Robinho in the box. The forward, on loan at Santos from Manchester City, was able to make room for a shot but North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk got well behind it. The lack of genuine width seemed to be causing Brazil problems as North Korea's five-man defence ganged up on Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Elano in a congested attacking third and Kim Jong-hun's team were content to burst forward in small numbers on the break. Goalkeeper Ri parried away a Maicon drive at his near post in the 28th minute which was Brazil's best effort up to that point. The North Koreans were making a fight of it and, following a corner, Pak Chol-jin cut the ball back from the right to Ri Kwang-chon but the defender scuffed a presentable shooting chance wide from 25 yards. Not much was going Brazil's way as Michel Bastos' shot deflected off Pak Chol-jin and looped over the crossbar with Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai wrongly awarding a goal-kick, and Ri Kwang-chon made a vital header clear under pressure from Luis Fabiano as the half ended goalless, against all the odds. The second half started in much the same vein as the first had ended as North Korea, to borrow Jose Mourinho's phrase, "parked the bus'' on the edge of the box and Brazil struggled to find a way through. Michel Bastos blasted a free-kick wide from just outside the box in the 51st minute after Pak Chol-jin was penalised for a foul on Kaka. The Real Madrid star then chested the ball down for Robinho to shoot from 26 yards but his right-footed effort was again wayward. The goal finally came on 55 minutes when Elano played the ball into the box for the overlapping Maicon and his shot beat Ri at the near post, with the goalkeeper seemingly expecting the Inter Milan full-back to cut the ball back rather than shoot. Ri fisted clear another long-range drive from Michel Bastos and, as North Korea committed more men forward, they left gaps. On one counter-attack Robinho found Luis Fabiano, who beat defender Ri Jun-il in the box but blasted a left-footed shot over. Brazil added a second in the 72nd minute and it was a thing of beauty as Robinho slipped a perfect through-ball to Elano advancing into the box on the right and the Galatasaray man made no mistake with a cool side-footed finish. The goalscorer was immediately substituted, with Dani Alves coming on. Villarreal forward Nilmar, on for Kaka, drove in a right-footed shot which Ri gathered at the second attempt with 12 minutes left and he also had to field a Felipe Melo effort shortly afterwards. Juan had to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Jong a late chance and Ji then burst through to score, sparking a wild celebration, although the points remained with Brazil. |
Honduras v Chile
Group H, 11:30 GMT, June 16, 2010 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Chile cruised through World Cup qualifying, finishing second behind Brazil in the CONMEBOL region, and great things are expected from La Roja in South Africa, including an opening victory against CONCACAF's lowest placed qualifiers Honduras. Argentina-born manager Marcelo Bielsa has been the architect behind Chile's dramatic upturn in fortunes. Since taking control in 2007, El Loco has transformed an underachieving team into an attacking force with self belief and he will be hoping to improve on his performance as manager of Argentina at World Cup 2002, when he failed to reach the knock-out stages. In a group that also features relative minnows Switzerland, Chile are expected to qualify as runners-up behind European champions Spain, but they may have to notch their first result without star striker Humberto Suazo, who is unlikely to be risked for the clash with Honduras as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Suazo smashed in ten goals during qualification to finish as the region's top scorer. Honduras, on the other hand, only pipped Costa Rica for CONCACAF's final automatic qualification place on goal difference and have struggled to find their form in the build-up to only their second World Cup appearance. Coach Reinaldo Rueda will be banned from the touchline after being sent off in their final qualifier and his side have not won a game since beating USA 3-1 in January 2010, losing to Turkey, Venezuela and then Romania in their final warm-up match. Honduras player in focus: Carlos Pavon. With Honduras expected to be on the back foot for much of the game it is vital that they have a release valve and Pavon will provide that. The striker has an exceptional aerial game to outjump his markers and can use his power to hold up the ball when it is pumped forwards. Strong, tall and lethal in the box, he will also provide a goal threat from set pieces. Chile player in focus: Alexis Sanchez. This pacy Udinese forward has already established himself as a "wonderkid'" in his homeland and could do the same on a global stage. Sanchez is a player with great technique, who prefers to play in wide areas but can also get into the box and score goals, which is exactly what his national manager expects him to do. Playing in a front three allows him drift in and out of the box and find space in which to use his pace. Key battle: Hendry Thomas v Matias Fernandez. Sporting Lisbon midfielder Fernandez acts as playmaker-in-chief for Bielsa's side and will see plenty of the ball. Charged with supplying the decisive passes to Chile's attacking trio, there will be huge pressure on him to deliver. Wigan's defensive midfielder Thomas specializes in the breaking up of opposition attacks and will be expected to stifle Fernandez. Trivia: Honduras were in Spain's group during their only previous appearance at the World Cup, in 1982, and held the hosts to a 1-1 draw. the odds of that happening again are 15.00. Stats: With ten World Cup qualifying wins in this campaign, Chile had more victories than in their previous two attempts combined - three wins in 2002 and five wins in 2006. Odds: Honduras (6.00), the draw (3.75), Chile (1.61) with Bet365. Chile are favourites to win this match but there could be value to be found in a 0-0 draw at 9.00. Prediction: Honduras will undoubtedly set their stall out to frustrate Chile, but with Bielsa's team committed to attack, 2-0 seems a likely outcome. |
Spain v Switzerland
Group H, 14:00 GMT, June 16, 2010 Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa There is no way to sugar the pill for poor old Switzerland: they don't stand a chance against Spain. Ottmar Hitzfeld's well-organised side are up against a team that have played with supreme self-belief since shedding their underachiever tag with victory at Euro 2008 and are favourites to win their first ever World Cup. Spain have lost just one game in their last 48 - the Confederations Cup semi-final against USA - and booked their place in South Africa by winning all ten qualifying games with a brand of football so breath-taking that it has been labelled "art". Vicente Del Bosque's side have a midfield of such high quality that Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, who has been linked with a £40 million move to Barcelona, can't even get in it and they are blessed with similar strength in depth all over the pitch. Switzerland have never won a game against Spain, losing 15 of their previous 18 meetings, and this is arguably the best La Furia Roja side there has ever been. Although Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and midfield maestro Andres Iniesta have only recently returned from injury, Del Bosque can simply call on the likes of Xabi Alonso and David Villa to step it up so the relentless Spanish machine is unlikely to miss a beat. Switzerland will rely on a stout defence to stop the Spanish attack and will hope to repeat their feat at World Cup 2006 when they didn't concede a single goal, even if they still went out of the competition. With captain Alexander Frei injured and no other Swiss forward scoring a goal for the past five games, Hitzfeld's men will have to rip up the form book, pass it through a shredder and recycle it as confetti if they are to get a result in Durban. Spain player in focus: David Silva. An outstanding player in his own right, Silva has been overshadowed by the exploits of Barcelona duo Xavi and Iniesta in midfield, but the Valencia star scored a wonder goal in Spain's 6-0 demolition of Poland in their final warm-up game and will be hoping to maintain that form in South Africa. He is almost certainly on the move after the World Cup so the eyes of potential suitors will be on him. Switzerland player in focus: Blaise Nkufo. This Congo-born striker will be buoyed by his unexpected title success with Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente this season and, at 35, the veteran has plenty of experience to call on to try and ruffle the feathers of Spain centre-backs Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. He finished the qualifying campaign as Switzerland's top scorer, with five goals, and will head to new club Seattle Sounders as a hero if he can make his mark. Key battle: David Villa v Philipe Senderos. Barcelona, who know a thing or two about decent strikers, have just spent £34 million to sign Villa, who smashed in 21 Primera Liga goals this season, from Valencia. He finished Euro 2008 as the tournament's top scorer and after netting seven times in qualifying he will have his eyes on the Golden Boot in South Africa. Hoping to stop one of Europe's most fearsome strikers is new Fulham defender Senderos. Unfortunately for Switzerland the centre back has hardly kicked a ball this season and spent the second half of the Premier League campaign on loan at Everton, watching from the stands. Trivia: Switzerland were surprise winners of the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria but none of the triumphant starlets have made it into Hitzfeld's World Cup squad. Stats: Spain have won their last seven group games at the World Cup. Switzerland's five-game winning streak in qualifying was the longest in their history during World Cup qualifying. Odds: Spain (1.25), the draw (5.50), Switzerland (13.00) with Bet365. The odds on Spain to win are terrible, but David Villa to score anytime and Spain to win 4-0 offers 16.00. Prediction: Spain are superior in every department and if La Furia Roja don't win this game it will be the shock of the World Cup. |
South Africa v Uruguay
Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 16, 2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa Both South Africa and Uruguay drew their opening matches in Group A, against Mexico and France respectively, and while the hosts produced the better performance, both sides will be happy to have held supposedly superior opposition. But this now becomes a pivotal game for both teams; the time for sharing points is over and the winner of this clash will have one foot in the next round. Bafana Bafana took a long time to settle into their opening match and were outplayed for swathes of the match, but Siphiwe Tshabalala's blistering strike remains the goal of the tournament so far and although Carlos Alberto Parreira's side conceded a 79th-minute equaliser, South Africa were only denied an injury-time winner by the thickness of a post. With many pundits expecting the hosts to be nothing more than whipping boys, the 1-1 result against Mexico will give them the belief they can compete. Uruguay went with a very defensive formation against France, with five at the back and two holding midfielders, but will surely have to come out and attack against a side they will have earmarked to beat. Ajax striker Luis Suarez was disappointing in Cape Town and with only Atletico Madrid forward Diego Forlan carrying any threat, the forwards in Oscar Tabarez's side will have to really step up their game if the coach switches to an attacking formation. Throw in the fact that young attacking-midfield star Nicolas Lodeiro will be missing after being sent off against France and that Uruguay will have to play at altitude in Pretoria and this looks like an evenly matched bout. South Africa player to watch: Steven Pienaar. The Everton player's form is crucial if South Africa are to get a result. He was the inspiration behind most of Bafana's attacks against Mexico and his creative passing is a key part of their pacy, counter-attacking style. He loves to drift in from the left wing to augment the attack and he may have to if Uruguay once again opt to pack out the defence. Uruguay player to watch: Luis Suarez. Billed as one of the bright new hopes of Uruguayan football, Ajax striker Suarez failed to deliver against France. But his manager is willing to give him another go. "It is not good to change players who didn't give their best performances, then they lose even more confidence," Tabarez said. Suarez needs to deliver with Sebastian Abreu waiting in the wings. Key Battle: Aaron Mokoena v Diego Forlan. Portsmouth's Mokoena usually lines up as a defensive midfielder for his club, but he played as a centre back in South Africa's opening game and was one of the few defenders that put in a solid performance. On Wednesday he will be charged with stopping La Celeste star Forlan. The Atletico Madrid forward, who scored both goals in the Europa League final, has twice won the European Golden Shoe and it only looks matter of time before he scores. Trivia: Never in the history of the World Cup has the host nation been eliminated in the first round. However, in their last two tournaments Bafana Bafana have fallen at the group stage. Stats: The South Africa players only touched the ball eight times in the opposition's penalty area against Mexico, while Uruguay only touched the ball five times in France's 18-yard box. Odds: South Africa (3.20), the draw (3.20), Uruguay (2.40) at Bet365. With both sides fairly evenly matched the score draw looks tempting - 1-1 is at 6.00. Prediction: Home advantage and another match at altitude for South Africa could just give them the decisive edge, so we are backing the hosts to win. |
Full-time - 90'
Honduras 0 - 1 Chile Group H, 11:30 GMT, June 16, 2010 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Jean Beausejour's fortuitous goal earned Chile a 1-0 win over Honduras in the first game in Group H. The ball went in off Beausejour in the 34th minute as a defender attempted to clear. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Alexis Sanchez - Great things were expected of the player nicknamed The Wonder Boy' at this World Cup and in his opening game, Sanchez did not disappoint. Exhibiting his repertoire of tricks on the right wing, Sanchez was the focal point of the Chile attack and supplied a constant stream of enticing deliveries. Still just 21, his use of the ball was superb and it is no surprise that clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid are taking note. Honduras verdict: The nation with a population of less than eight million were always going to struggle at the finals, and Reinaldo Rueda's side lacked a spark in attack with striker David Suazo sidelined due to injury. Honduras looked better at the back, but given they face Spain next, this defeat could prove fatal to their chances of making it out of the group. Chile verdict: Marco Bielsa's side brought some much-needed flair to the finals with a stylish performance. However, they should have put the game beyond doubt having missed a number of excellent chances. Their opening display will have caught the eye though, and their final game of the group against Spain should be an occasion to behold. Imaginative and tricky, they could be dark horses. They should be even better when Humberto Suazo, the top scorer in South American qualifying, is fit again. Could do better: Referee Eddy Maillet. After proving overly card-happy in the first half, Maillet should really have dismissed Wilson Palacios for a second yellow card just before the hour mark, but failed to do so. The official from the Seychelles produced a succession of puzzling decisions. Stat attack: Chile secured their first World Cup victory outside South America. They had previously won games in Uruguay (1930), Brazil (1950) and on home turf (1962). Beausejour rewarded coach Marcelo Bielsa for his attacking approach by claiming the only goal after 34 minutes of an entertaining Group H encounter at Nelspruit's striking Mbombela Stadium. With Alexis Sanchez a constant threat, Chile should have won more convincingly with a number of chances squandered, particularly in the second half. Waldo Ponce had the best of them when he headed straight at Noel Valladares from point-blank range. Honduras struggled to create meaningful chances and may now fear for their chances in a group that also features Spain and Switzerland. Honduras actually suffered a blow before their first World Cup fixture in 28 years as experienced midfielder Cesar de Leon was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Fortunately for coach Reinaldo Rueda, he still had time to replace him in his squad with Jerry Palacios, brother of Tottenham's Wilson and the defender Johnny. That made Honduras the first team to feature three brothers in a World Cup squad but Jerry was not present for the opener. Honduras were without key striker David Suazo due to a leg injury while his namesake Humberto, top scorer in South American qualifiers, similarly failed to make the Chile line-up. Chile made the running from the outset on the part-natural, part-artificial surface and earned a free-kick after two minutes which Matias Fernandez fired narrowly over. Honduras goalkeeper Valladares then had difficulty handling a swerving long-range shot from Arturo Vidal and Jorge Valdivia saw a powerful effort deflected for a corner. With Rueda watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, Honduras did not create a chance of note until 17 minutes when Carlos Pavon dragged a shot wide. Chile continued to attack and pieced together some neat one-touch moves. Honduras managed to repel a series of raids but were finally caught out when Sanchez played in Mauricio Isla and he pulled back across goal for Beausejour to slide in. Sanchez had another opportunity before the break but Valladares parried while Honduras ended the first half with Ramon Nunez forcing Claudio Bravo to tip over a free-kick. Chile threatened again straight from the restart with Sanchez playing in Beausejour after a tricky run but Wigan's Maynor Figueroa produced a fine tackle. Udinese forward Sanchez burst into the box himself after another menacing run but sidefooted wide. Chile should have doubled their lead after 64 minutes when Vidal headed a Fernandez free-kick into a six-yard box free of defenders but Ponce stooped to head straight at Valladares. Valdivia did put the ball in the net 15 minutes from time but Sanchez had clearly handled after Valladares beat out a long-range shot. Chile maintained the pressure up to the final whistle but were unable to find the second goal their enterprising play deserved. |
Full-time - 90'
Spain 0 - 1 Switzerland Group H, 14:00 GMT, June 16, 2010 Durban Stadium Gelson Fernandes' scrappy second-half goal gave Switzerland a shock 1-0 victory over World Cup favourites Spain in their Group H opener in Durban. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Stephan Lichtsteiner - The Lazio defender epitomised everything about this organised, outstanding Switzerland display. Throwing himself in front of everything - none more so than his excellent diving header to clear a corner in injury time - Lichtsteiner was a rock. Spain verdict:Without doubt Spain were brilliant, playing with style and the kind of attacking pace we have seldom seem so far at this World Cup. They would surely have won just about any other match. That doesn't change the result, one which puts them in serious danger of finishing no better than second in the group and a much-feared date with Brazil in the second round. Spain v Chile on the final group day now looks huge. Switzerland verdict: Yes, Spain were good, but Switzerland produced an outstanding defensive performance to keep out one of the most complete attacking line-ups in the World. The Swiss, with Honduras and Chile still to play, appear almost certain to go through now and after this display they will deserve it. Superb. Could do better: David Villa. He fluffed his lines in the first half and then seemed off the pace after that. While he is used to playing as the lone striker in international football, he looked lost at the Durban Stadium. The top scorer at Euro 2008 will have to find his scoring boots to dig Spain out of this hole. Stat attack: Spain created more chances on goal (25) without scoring than any other team in this World Cup. Despite the Spaniards dominating possession, the Swiss took a surprise lead in the 52nd minute with Fernandes firing past goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Spain's Xabi Alonso was denied by the crossbar in the 71st minute as his team wasted a hatful of chances to restore parity. Switzerland's Eren Derdiyok struck the far post in the 75th minute but his hard-working team held on for an historic win against the European champions in front of 62,000 spectators at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The Swiss assured themselves of victory with an efficient performance that relied on making the most of their limited chances. Andres Iniesta passed a late fitness test and started in Spain's midfield line. The Barcelona midfielder was the driving force behind Spain's play while David Villa, in the role of lone striker, was a non-factor in the opening half. The Swiss were forced to play in their own half by a Spain side that controlled the tempo from the start. The Spaniards came closest to scoring, with Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio brilliantly denying Gerard Pique's close-range effort from Iniesta's pass midway through the first half. At the other end, Reto Ziegler's free-kick forced Casillas to dive to his left to clear. With 10 minutes to go before half-time, the Swiss suffered a setback with Steve Von Bergen replacing an injured Philippe Senderos. Spain had the opportunity to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time but Villa's cross-cum-shot from inside the area went wide. Vincente Del Bosque's team picked up where they left off after the re-start and Alonso's strike took a deflection off a defender and went over the bar. Shortly after, Silva fired wide as another opportunity was not taken advantage of by Spain. They were made to pay for their missed chances as Switzerland broke the deadlock soon after. Derdiyok's pass was cleared by Casillas but the ball fell to Fernandes, whose first shot was stopped by Pique but he made no mistake at firing home from close range at the second attempt. Spain reacted and on the hour mark, Sergio Ramos' header from a corner went over the bar. Two minutes later, Spain made a double substitution with Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas entering the pitch. Spain should have equalised in the 67th minute. A fast counter-attack by the Spaniards saw Villa serve Torres but his curled effort went over the bar. Shortly after, Benaglio made a great save from Torres' strike. Spain were then unlucky not to equalise with Alonso seeing his 25-yard drive hit the woodwork. Seconds later, Matas surged inside the area and fired straight into Benaglio's arms. At the other end, Derdiyok got past Pique and Puyol before seeing his close-range effort hit the far post. The Swiss held on as the Spanish players left the pitch stunned. |
Full-time - 90'
South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 16, 2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa Two-goal hero Diego Forlan moved to the top of the goalscoring charts and helped Uruguay to a 3-0 victory over South Africa that leaves the World Cup hosts on the brink of a group-stage exit. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Diego Forlan - A tough call between him and the excellent Luis Suarez. Deployed in a deeper role by Tabarez, Forlan excelled. Dictating play from his withdrawn position, Forlan also coaxed an improved performance out of Luis Suarez. His long-range strike, albeit with the aid of a deflection, opened the scoring, and he showed nerves of steel to convert an 80th minute penalty. South Africa verdict: The hosts were bright before the break, showing energy and enthusiasm, but this wasn't converted into fluent football. Too often they found themselves in good positions only to show inexperience, and possibly nerves, in the final third. Once Forlan gave Uruguay the lead, there was little doubt over the outcome of this one. Uruguay verdict: Tabarez has to be congratulated for getting his tactics spot on for this game. Switching to a 4-3-3 formation for this match, Diego Forlan dictated the game from his deep-lying position. With Forlan anchoring the attack, Luis Suarez was free to roam into a central position, looking far more dangerous than he did in Uruguay's opener. Could do better: Aaron Mokoena. The South Africa captain was exposed by the lively Luis Suarez on a number of occasions, frequently resulting in Mokoena having to bring down the Ajax man. Also at fault for the goal his team conceded against Mexico, he will be bitterly disappointed with how his World Cup has unfolded. The Portsmouth defender will be wanting to make amends in Bafana Bafana's final group game against France. Stat attack: Diego Forlan is the first player to score two goals at this World Cup. The last Uruguay player with a brace was Juan Holberg, in 1954, versus Hungary. Forlan's first goal was a deflected 25-yard effort and the second came from the penalty spot late on after an incident which saw South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off. Alvaro Pereira than wrapped up a deserved victory for dominant Uruguay in stoppage time as the South Americans moved onto four points in Group A and within touching distance of a place in the last 16. For South Africa, who barely troubled Fernando Muslera's goal during the match, the defeat means they have just the one point from their two matches and are now in some trouble. Bafana Bafana's final group game is a potentially tough encounter with 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France next Tuesday, while Uruguay meet Mexico. South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept faith with the majority of the side that started their opening game against the Mexicans, with the only switch seeing defender Tsepo Masiella come in for Lucas Thwala. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that started Friday's goalless draw with France in Cape Town. As expected, Edinson Cavani was brought in to form a three-pronged forward line with Forlan and Luis Suarez, while defender Jorge Fucile was also included, with Mauricio Victoriano and Ignacio Gonzalez the men to make way. Parreira felt that, having got their opening game out of the way, his side would be much more confident and relaxed for their second outing. However, they immediately found themselves on the back foot once again as Uruguay started brightly and they had four early shots on goal, although none of them troubled Khune. Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose thunderous finish gave South Africa the lead against Mexico, briefly tried to mount a fightback with two long-range efforts but neither were on target and in the 25th minute Bafana Bafana found themselves a goal down. Parreira had singled out Forlan as a player his side needed to keep a close eye on, and it was the Atletico Madrid striker who did the damage. Never afraid to shoot when within sight of goal, Forlan let fly from 25 yards and saw his effort loop over Khune with the aid of a slight but crucial deflection off home captain Aaron Mokoena, the ball clipping the crossbar en route to going in. That lead was no more than Uruguay deserved, and they almost doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Suarez's rising shot hit the side-netting. The half-time break probably could not have come quick enough for South Africa, but it was Uruguay who continued to boss the game at the start of the second period. Cavani put a reasonable chance wide early on before the unmarked Uruguay captain Diego Lugano made a mess of trying to turn a Forlan free-kick goalwards. Then, from nowhere, South Africa almost snatched an equaliser in the 66th minute when Mphela got in front of Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera to get on the end of Siboniso Gaxa's cross. However, the big number nine could not direct his glancing header on target. South Africa's hopes of getting anything out of the game were crushed in the 76th minute when they conceded a penalty and lost goalkeeper Khune to a red card. Forlan's mis-hit shot found its way through to the wide-open Suarez inside the area and, as he looked to round Khune, his foot was clipped by the South African and the Ajax forward went tumbling. Khune protested his innocence but there was no swaying referee Massimo Busacca, who pointed to the spot and gave the goalkeeper his marching orders. After a lengthy delay while South Africa reserve custodian Moeneeb Josephs replaced Steven Pienaar, Forlan ensured the maximum punishment from the spot to spark an early exodus for many disappointed home fans. Those who left early missed Uruguay's final goal in stoppage time, when Pereira bundled home Suarez's cross from virtually on the line. |
Argentina v South Korea
Group B, 11:30 GMT, June 17, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Johannesburg's Soccer City is the setting for the summit meeting of the joint leaders of Group B. Diego Maradona's Argentina dazzled in bursts when defeating Nigeria 1-0 in their opening fixture while South Korea top the group on goal difference thanks to a 2-0 victory over Greece. A win for either side on Thursday, coupled with a draw in the later kick-off between Greece and Nigeria, will ensure qualification for the latter stages. There is little doubt that prior to the tournament, the mysterious North Koreans aside, Argentina were the team generating the most intrigue, thanks chiefly to the unpredictable nature of their coach. But Maradona's side produced one of the more memorable performances of a poor first round of games in their victory over Nigeria. With Lionel Messi close to his scintillating best, only a superb performance from goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama prevented them from enjoying a more comfortable margin of victory. Argentina will be deprived of Juan Sebastian Veron after he was removed in the second half of the Nigeria victory due to a muscle injury, with Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez expected to replace him in midfield. Otherwise, Maradona could field the same side - a rare display of consistency from a coach who chopped and changed with alarming regularity during qualification. South Korea could welcome back striker Lee Dong-Gook following a thigh injury and will possibly adopt a more conservative shape against the South Americans. However, in their game against Greece, Huh Jung-Moo's men demonstrated why they are Asia's finest side with a positive, controlled and cultured performance. The iconic Park Ji-Sung scored a memorable goal and more magic will be required if South Korea are to cling on to top spot. Argentina player to watch: Lionel Messi. It is hardly an original choice, but Messi was electric in spells against Greece and was desperately unlucky not to get a goal. The Barcelona star is often said to perform at a superior level for his club than his country, but appears ready to put that particular accusation to bed. Expect fireworks. South Korea player to watch: Park Chu-Young. The Monaco forward was a sprightly presence against Greece and has a sizeable reputation to uphold. As one of South Korea's leading players, much is expected of the 24-year-old and he could cause a suspect Argentina backline some problems. Key battle: Gonzalo Higuain v Jung Sung-Ryong. Higuain saw a succession of chances come and go against Nigeria as he was denied by the inspired Enyeama, and will be looking to make amends on Thursday. He scored 27 goals in 32 league games for Real Madrid last season and Jung will need to be on top form to frustrate him further. Trivia: Argentina beat South Korea 3-1 in the first round of the 1986 World Cup, with Diego Maradona providing all three assists for his side. South Korea coach Huh Jung-Moo was the man assigned to mark Maradona on the day. Stats: Only Maradona, with nine, has produced more World Cup assists for Argentina since 1966 than Juan Sebastian Veron, who has claimed five. Odds: Argentina (1.44), the draw (4.20) and South Korea (8.00) with Bet365. Those odds on a South Korean win look tempting. Prediction: It all depends on Argentina. Do not expect a rout by any means, as South Korea are a fine side in their own right. It will be tight, and a minor shock could be on the cards. |
Greece v Nigeria
Group B, 14:00 GMT, June 17, 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa Nerves will be jangling in Bloemfontein on Thursday as both Greece and Nigeria know that another defeat could be enough to bring an early end to their World Cup campaign. Greece were insipid when losing 2-0 to South Korea in their opening game in Group B while Nigeria fell at the feet of an entertaining Argentina side. A draw is unlikely to suffice; this is very much a must-win game. Greece coach Otto Rehhagel finds himself in the deepest predicament. With Argentina to come in his side's final game, Greece really need to throw off the defensive shackles that inhibited their performance in a 2-0 defeat to South Korea. However, history suggests that Rehhagel's hugely negative side are unlikely to do so. Indeed, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos expected to return to the side and Vangelis Moras fit again, solidity and caution will be their watchwords. Looking to break down the wall of Greek shirts will be a Nigeria attack that, at times, threatened to undo Diego Maradona's Argentina. Coach Lars Lagerback may look to start Obafemi Martins after he made a positive impression from the bench at Ellis Park while talented winger Peter Odemwingie is also pushing for a start in place of Chinedu Ogbuke. This Nigeria side may suffer in comparison with memorable teams from the country's past, but on Thursday they have the chance to take the initiative against Greece. How well they fare may determine their fate in Group B. Greece player in focus: Theofanis Gekas. Greece must win, and if they do manage to create any chances of note then Gekas is the man they will rely on to put the ball away. The Eintracht Frankfurt striker scored ten goals in 11 games in qualifying to top the goalscoring charts on the continent. Nigeria player in focus: Obafemi Martins. The Wolfsburg striker was the only Nigeria player to manage a shot on target against Argentina in their opening game and with his pace, direct style and finishing ability, should represent a real threat against Greece. Key battle: Alexandros Tzorvas v Yakubu. Tzorvas will be the last line of a resolute defence and if the 'keeper is on form, then Yakubu may face a frustrating afternoon in front of goal. The Everton striker scored just five Premier League goals last season and has struggled with his fitness for some time. Trivia: Nigeria are the only team at the World Cup finals that do not have a single squad member playing in the country's domestic league. Stats: Greece have failed to score a goal in four attempts in World Cup games. They have, however, conceded 12 goals. If they do not score again, they will level the record for the most consecutive games without a goal, matching Bolivia. Odds: Greece (4.00), the draw (3.25) and Nigeria (2.00) with Bet365. Draw at HT, Nigeria at FT looks a good bet at 4.33. Prediction: If Greece continue to show no attacking initiative then it must be hoped that Nigeria snatch a late win. There will not be a glut of chances though. |
France v Mexico
Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 17, 2010 Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa It is fair to say that after an opening 0-0 draw with Uruguay, France have substantial room for improvement. Whether Raymond Domenech is the man to affect that change and inspire a victory over Mexico remains to be seen, but if France do fail to secure three points on Thursday, they will be in real danger of departing before the start of the knockout stages. Les Bleus were desperately unconvincing against Uruguay, and questions were asked of Domenech's tactical approach after he left Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry out of the first XI and kept Sidney Govou on until the final five minutes despite a disappointing performance. With France still growing accustomed to an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation, and continuing reports of rifts within the camp, Domenech has his work cut out. Mexico, meanwhile, came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with South Africa on the opening day of the tournament and in this tightest of groups, harbour real ambitions of reaching the last 16. Goalscorer Rafael Marquez should shrug off a calf problem to take his place in a side that favours flowing football and a slick passing game. France player in focus: Florent Malouda. The Chelsea winger was a surprise omission from the starting XI to face Uruguay and France missed his energy and invention down the left. Malouda has dismissed reports that he had a bust-up with Raymond Domenech in training and could be restored to the first team to face Mexico. Mexico player in focus: Giovani dos Santos. The forward was believed to be considering pulling out of the World Cup finals after his brother, Jonathan, was overlooked by coach Javier Aguirre, but performed well in the opening game against South Africa. Giovani is not afraid to let fly and is a danger in and around the box. Key battle: Yoann Gourcuff v Rafael Marquez. Bordeaux star Gourcuff is France's creator-in-chief while Marquez is Mexico's defensive inspiration, so an intriguing battle of wills could develop between the two men. If Gourcuff is given space then he has the ability to unlock the Mexico defence, but Marquez will look to deny him that at every given opportunity. Trivia: If Javier Hernandez scores for Mexico, he will emulate his grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, who netted against les Bleus in the 1954 World Cup. Stats: France's forwards have not scored a goal in international football since Nicolas Anelka netted in the first leg of their play-off win over Republic of Ireland. That is a run of six games. Odds: France (2.30), the draw (3.20) and Mexico (3.25) with Bet365. Mexico to win 2-1 at 12.00 looks decent. Prediction: France are not convincing at all under Raymond Domenech and with Mexico adopting a positive approach, expect them to outplay les Bleus. |
Full-time - 90'
Argentina 4 - 1 South Korea Group B, 11:30 GMT, June 17, 2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Gonzalo Higuain scored the first hat-trick at the World Cup since 2002 as Argentina all but assured themselves a place in the last 16 with an impressive victory over South Korea at Soccer City. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Gonzalo Higuain - The Real Madrid forward missed a succession of chances in Argentina's opening game against Nigeria and his place looked to be in some doubt. However, Higuain responded with a deadly performance when scoring three predatory goals against South Korea, even if he was indebted to some expert service from his team-mates. After scoring 27 goals in Spain last season, he now leads the race for the Golden Boot. Argentina verdict: This was the Albiceleste at their sumptuous best in attack, with Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Higuain a constant threat to a cowering South Korean backline. Defensive concerns remain, particularly given an aberration from Martin Demichelis that allowed Lee Chung-Yong to score, but the lasting image will be a glorious fourth goal that was the best of the tournament so far. Forget those reservations about Diego Maradona as a coach - he appears to be getting the best out of this talented side. South Korea verdict: A fine opening win over Greece looks a long time ago now after a performance that lacked belief. They were overawed by the Argentina attack and restricted to efforts from long range. South Korea remain tidy in possession, but they lacked the nous to exploit any weakness in the Argentina defence, Lee's goal aside. Will need to get this game out of their thoughts before their final game against Nigeria. Could do better: Gabriel Heinze - As Argentina lit up the competition with a fine performance, it was left to Heinze to practice the dark arks as he repeatedly indulged in simulation and even had the audacity to moan at the referee when shown a yellow card for a blatant handball. Stat attack: Higuain's hat-trick was the first in the World Cup since Pauleta scored three for Portugal in 2002 against Poland. It was Argentina's first since Gabriel Batistuta against Jamaica in 1998. Diego Maradona's men were on top from the time they took the lead through a Park Chu-young own goal in the 17th minute. Higuain doubled the advantage after 33 minutes, but a lapse in concentration from Martin Demichelis on the stroke of half-time allowed Lee Chung-yong to give his side hope. After briefly threatening a comeback early in the second half, the Koreans faded thanks to a double from Real Madrid striker Higuain that handed his side maximum points from their opening two fixtures in Group B. The first real chance of the match fell to Higuain on the right after good build-up play involving Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi, but the shot was lashed over. It did not take much longer, though, for the first goal to arrive, a nicely flighted free-kick from Barcelona forward Messi on the left caught out Park Chu-young as he deflected the ball into his own net. Almost immediately after the restart, another direct run from Messi saw the ball fall into the path of Maxi Rodriguez, who pulled his 20-yard strike wide. Ki Sung-yong tried to hit back for the Koreans, sending a dipping long-range strike narrowly over the crossbar. Walter Samuel, who hardly broke sweat in the opening quarter, was then forced off with what looked like a hamstring problem - the Inter Milan defender replaced by Nicolas Burdisso. Tevez almost doubled the advantage shortly before the half-hour mark when his fizzing 20-yard free-kick continued to rise and ended up in the north stand at Soccer City. But that lead was extended when a short free-kick on the left came to Rodriguez, whose ball into the box was flicked on by Burdisso to Higuain, who put his free header beyond the helpless Jung Sung-ryong. The Korean goalkeeper prevented his side from falling further behind in the 40th minute - first coming off his line to punch away a cross-shot from the right by Higuain. He then made a flying save to tip over Angel di Maria's shot from the edge of the box, but was beaten minutes before the break when Messi's enterprising skill ended with a curling shot beyond the right-hand post. As the seconds wound down, Demichelis took his eye off a header from Park Chu-young, allowing Bolton midfielder Lee to nip in and score. Argentina again looked threatening at the start of the second half, with Tevez and Di Maria combining to set up Higuain for a free header six yards out that was excellently tipped away by Jung. Tevez then cut in from the left, before unleashing a low dipping shot that was well dealt with by the Korean keeper. Yeom Ki-hun should have drawn his side level after 55 minutes when he was put clean through on the right following a quick break, but found the side netting after opting to use his left foot instead of the right. The big chances dried up for the South Americans thereafter - Messi and Higuain firing straight at Jung - and Maradona threw in Sergio Aguero for Tevez. The moved proved an instant hit with the Atletico Madrid forward playing in Messi on the left - his initial shot was blocked by Jung and the rebound shot hit the base of the left upright and fell to Higuain for a simple tap-in. That was in the 76th minute and four minutes later the Real Madrid star completed his hat-trick after nodding in Aguero's cross at the back post. Messi, desperate to open his account in South Africa, and Aguero missed late chances to add to Korea's woes as the Albiceleste completed a commanding win. |
Full-time - 90'
Greece 2 - 1 Nigeria Group B, 14:00 GMT, June 17, 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa A blunder by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama handed Greece their first victory at the fifth attempt in two World Cup finals. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Dimitrios Salpingidis - His goal may have been indebted to a large slice of luck, but Salpingidis deserved the credit it will bring him thanks to a purposeful display. A constant menace down the right flank, he was the most lively player in Otto Rehhagel's ranks.. Greece verdict: With Argentina to come in their final game, Greece may yet end up disappointed but they will certainly settle for their first ever World Cup win. While they looked as uninspired and unadventurous as usual in the first half hour, Rehhagel showed admirable initiative when quickly bringing on Georgios Samaras after a red card shown to Sani Kaita. Both goals were fortunate, but Greece worked hard for the win. Nigeria verdict: Complete and utter frustration. Leading 1-0, they surrendered control of the game when Kaita received an idiotic red card after 33 minutes. Greece immediately scented blood and adopted an attacking stance, leaving Nigeria firmly on the back foot. That said, Chinedu Ogbuke wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-1 to Nigeria in the second half, but Lars Lagerback's side could not recover from the dismissal. A missed opportunity. Could do better: Sani Kaita - Who else could it be? Your team is leading 1-0 in a World Cup finals match, a result which will take them joint second in the group with one game to play, so what do you do? Apparently Kaita saw fit to give Vasilis Torosidis a kick on the touchline, with the ball out of play, for no reason whatsoever. Madness. Stat attack: Greece finally scored their first ever World Cup goal in their fifth finals match. Their only previous appearance in a World Cup was in 1994 when they lost all three group games, including matches against Nigeria and Argentina. It also maintains their slim hopes of an appearance in the next stage although their final Group B game is against Argentina. Enyeama, whose side were down to ten men following Sani Kaita's red card, failed to deal with a soft shot from Alexandros Tziolis in the 72nd minute. The rebound fell to Vasileios Torosidis, who toe-poked the ball home to give Greece victory. Nigeria now face an early exit. Yet the game had started so well for them. They took the lead after 16 minutes following a defensive howler by their opponents. Greece failed to cut out an inswinging free-kick from Kalu Uche and goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was left rooted to the spot as the ball nestled in the net behind him. While Uche celebrated, Tzorvas was left shaking his head in disbelief. It was an early setback for Greece following their opening-day defeat by South Korea. They responded 13 minutes later when skipper Georgios Karagounis tried to chip Enyeama from distance but the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save. Then Karagounis floated in a corner only for Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos to send his header high over the bar. The match took a dramatic twist in the 34th minute when Nigeria were reduced to ten men. Kaita was handed a straight red card by referee Oscar Ruiz following a tussle with Torosidis. Kaita showed his studs to the defender and was immediately banished to the dressing room. Greece coach Otto Rehhagel reacted by bringing on striker Georgios Samaras instead of defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos two minutes later. And they almost drew level in the 39th minute only for Enyeama to superbly block a shot from Salpingidis. Greece stepped up the pace and Samaras then saw his effort cleared off the line by Lukman Haruna. Nigeria were finally breached a minute before the break when Salpingidis scored the equaliser, his effort deflecting off a defender after Konstantinos Katsouranis had played the ball into his path. It was a historic moment for Greece - their first goal in the finals. Nigeria made a confident start to the second half and Uche saw his clever cross palmed on to the roof of the net by Enyeama in the 48th minute. Greece hit back and Kyrgiakos sent a header at the back post into the arms of Enyeama seven minutes later following a corner from Karagounis. They kept pushing forward and Thefonais Gekas saw his close-range effort parried by the goalkeeper in the 59th minute. Nigeria launched a swift counter attack and Aiyegbeni Yakubu's shot was blocked by Tzorvas. The ball broke to substitute Chinedu Obasi but he somehow managed to find the wrong side of the post when it seemed easier to score. Nigeria were again grateful to Enyeama in the 68th minute when he clawed away a powerful header from Samaras. Then came the mistake by the goalkeeper although he did well to beat away Tziolis's effort in stoppage time to prevent Greece extending their lead. |
Full-time - 90'
France 0 - 2 Mexico Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 17, 2010 Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa New Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez enhanced his burgeoning reputation with the opening goal as Mexico took a significant step towards qualification from Group A and hastened France's early exit at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. MATCH SUMMARY Man of the Match: Carlos Salcido - A dashing performance at left back, full of pace and agility, one may have mistaken him for Patrice Evra at his best. Making penetrating runs up the pitch, Salcido was able to peg back the French attacks and was solid in defence when called upon as well. France verdict: Insipid and lacking ambition once again, the team look completely out of sorts and are not helped by some bizarre decisions from their coach. Playing Franck Ribery behind a lone striker, there was nothing in the final third to suggest that they were ever going to break the deadlock and Mexico were comfortable throughout. Keeping Sidney Govou in the side did not work and talisman Thierry Henry, again, warmed the bench. Mexico verdict: Fluid on the ball and lively up front, their positive attitude embarrassed a French side that many expected to come out on top of the group. El Tri have some tough defenders to win the ball back and attack with gusto when they have possession. Quick, exciting and full of running, they deserve a place in the second round based on their first two performances. Could do better: William Gallas - While his defensive partner Eric Abidal gave away a stonewall penalty in the second half, Gallas contributed to the first goal with a poor attempt at playing offside. However, his crowning moment in the match was when he decided to let Salcido shoot instead of closing him down in the box and he was lucky it was hit straight at Hugo Lloris. Stat attack: Since Zindine Zidane's retirement after the World Cup final in 2006, France are without a win in their five matches at international tournaments and they have not scored a World Cup goal outside Europe since Michel Platini's strike against Brazil in the 1986 quarter-finals. Just nine minutes after coming off the bench the 22-year-old, who will officially move to Old Trafford from Chivas in a £7million deal next month, sprang the offside trap to race on to Rafael Marquez's pass, round goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and coolly slot home. Veteran striker and cult hero Cuauhtemoc Blanco sealed victory with a 79th-minute penalty. It was Mexico's first win over France at senior level and no less than they deserved after a performance full of vigour and attacking invention. For the French, winners on home soil in 1998 and runners-up four years ago, the prospect of ignominious failure looms large - as it did at Euro 2008 when they failed to progress from their group. Captain Patrice Evra may have shed a tear during the playing of La Marseillaise but there would have been many more Frenchman crying into their sauvignon blanc after another disappointing performance from Les Bleus. The Manchester United defender had dismissed claims of disharmony within the camp at the pre-match press conference. But everything about the team's demeanour spoke volumes: from the substitutes with what appeared to be tartan picnic rugs over their legs like a geriatrics' outing to coach Raymond Domenech's return to the dug-out a good minute before his players came out of the tunnel for the second half. Most of the fluid, attacking football was played by Mexico, particularly before the interval. Uruguay's win over South Africa last night to go top of the group had increased the pressure on both sides but they responded with some refreshingly open, if not decisive, play. Early on Franck Ribery's 35-yard free-kick bounced in front of Oscar Perez but, unlike Algeria's Faouzi Chaouchi who blundered on this semi-artificial pitch on Sunday, the Mexico goalkeeper collected easily. But whereas France were restricted to set-pieces, Mexico looked dangerous from open play. Marquez's ball over the top saw three team-mates set off in pursuit; Arsenal's Carlos Vela reached it first but could not keep his 12-yard volley down. Former West Ham striker Guillermo Franco was no closer when he all-too-easily turned William Gallas on the edge of the penalty area. Mexico left-back Carlos Salcido twice went close, drilling wide of Lloris' left-hand post and then shooting straight at the goalkeeper. Even the loss of Vela, being watched by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, to injury just after the half-hour did not interrupt the North Americans' fluency as substitute Pablo Barrera was straight into the action when Lloris punched Salcido's cross against him and was fortunate to see the ball bounce wide. Giovani dos Santos flashed a shot wide before Jeremy Toulalan was booked in added time, ruling him out of France's final group match against South Africa. The second half began with Andre Pierre Gignac coming on for Nicolas Anelka and Chelsea team-mate Florent Malouda, restored to the starting line-up at the expense of Yoann Gourcuff, having a shot tipped over by Perez. But the introduction of Hernandez for Efrain Juarez soon after had an almost immediate impact. His pace took him clear of the defence and his talent did the rest. When Abidal brought down Barrera, Blanco side-footed home from the spot to spark wild Mexican celebrations. A draw against Uruguay on Tuesday will put both sides through and send France home, irrespective of their result against the hosts. |
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