June 19.
Battle of Tiny nations.
This was on paper, atleast a snore fest - a seemingly unimportant game betweem two minnows. Well both Togo and Switzerland are probably the 2 of the smallest countries at the World Cup. Togo is about 56,000 sq Km while the Swiss weigh in at about 41,000. Whereas Togo were making their debut, being one of the lesser lights on World Football, The Swiss are seasoned campaigners and belong to the middle tier of European footballing nobility.
This game went completely according to the form book. Despite Togo's eager start and ceaseless running in the first half, the Swiss took control and proved too strong. The Swiss are very well organised in defence, limited but resourceful in the middle of the park and competent when it comes to scoring. Having drawn France in their opener, they played another completely predictable game. Togo may have pushed them initially, but the Swiss eventually had too much experience. The main difference between European football and the rest of the world, is that Euro teams are always very well organised, resourceful and keep their shape. Arguably the best striker on the pitch may have been Emmanuel Adebayor for Togo, but what the Swiss lack in talent, they make up for in organisation and effort. Several times Togo, forwards and midfielders left too gaping a hold in the middle of the park, whereas the swiss were more composed. This side is a tricky one, better than the one featuring Stephane Chapuisat at USA'94, although as a spectacle they lack any glitter.
With 4 points they are in first place in their group and barring a debacle in their last group match may well make it through to the next stage. Once again their crunch game is against the Koreans. As I write this, the Swiss are now one of only 3 teams left who are yet to concede a goal (Brazil and Portugal are the other 2 - England, Spain, Ecuador and Sweden having conceded since the Swiss last played)
Togo have been distracted all tournament with pay disputes and the like. They haven't been bushwacked - yet, France is still to play them - and even though they are down and out, they have maintained some sort of a challenge till the final whistle in both their games.
Switzerland 2 - Frei, Barnetta
Togo 0
Ukraine crush Saudi Arabia.
In a day of predicatability, the Ukrainians bouncd back with a powerful riposte to their critics. They pummelled the defensively inept and tactically void Saudis 4-0. shevckenko finally scoring a World Cup goal.
Ukraine are quiet and efficient and play a simple style, their tactical savvy immense. Against the Saudi's they proved the void between The 2 continents as the Asian powerhouse was demolished by a second tier Euro team. I don't know why Mohammad Al Daeyea did not start this game for the Kingdom but his replacement Al Zaid ws every bit as comical as Al Daeyea was in the 8-0 defeat to Germany at Japorea 2002.
Rebrov looked born again displaying an attacking verve not seen since his Dynamo Kiev days partnering Andriy Shevchenko. The defence was a lot more confident and made fewer errors. Eastern Block teams have alwasy done the simple things well and proficiency at set pieces has always been their strength - they converted 2 goals off set pieces here and could have arguably scored more - such was the danger whenever the ball was floated high.
KSA are still clueless to the intricacies of defending set pieces and are uncomfortable with anything over shoulder height. Rusol and Shevchenko's goal were text book notches off a free kick and corner while Rebrov's goal was a joke. The Saudi goalie slipped trying to get across to palm away a hopeful long shot.
Ukraine's crunch game versus Tunisia should see them through. Not good enough for Spain on their day (few teams are), they are still too good for the likes of Tunisia or Saudi Arabia. The north Africans should give them a game but Ukraine should win that.
Ukraine 4 - Rusol, Shevchenko, Rebrov, Kalichenko
Saudi Arabia 0
Spain put on masterclass.
It's a sign of things when Spain shows as much stomach for a fight as they did in this game. Despite playign well they were down to a well taken Mnari goal within the opening 10 minutes, Zied dribbling past multiple attackers to set the small man up. However Spain responded in ike fashion. Not once sacrificing their attacking style, they turned on the boosters to powere themselves to 3 second half goals and pulverise the Tunisians.
Torres bagged 2, Fabregas set up 2, Raul scored a goal off a deflection and Spain could have had 2 more. Torres came alight in this game, showing us his full repertoire of tricks. Germany 2006 may well be his coming out party. His first touch was exquisite, his ball handling composed and his passing mature in its variety and range. Xabi Alonso and Xavi Fernandez combined well enough but like two medieval alchemists trying out new potions in the lab, they seemed to huff and puff over their cauldron with little end product. Conversely Senna had a bad game while Luis Garcia was strangely off-colour. Cesc came on and immediately showed us what we had been missing when he was on the bench - abel to operate in tight spaces and pass early, he unleashed an offensive campaign of narrow channel passing.
Yet it is a testament to Spain's attacking mentality that they started 3 attackers. and despite going 70 minutes without a goal, they continued to attack.
Spain look excellent, right behind Germany and Argentina as the pick of the first round. On this form they might very well meet continental rivals France in the second round. Prepare yourselves for a Spanish conquest if that ever happens.
The best part is that Spain still have to play the weakest team in the group - Saudi Arabia. Torres to edge out Klose for the golden boot ? It could happen.
Spain 3 - Raul, Torres 2
Tunisia 1- Mnari
Battle of Tiny nations.
This was on paper, atleast a snore fest - a seemingly unimportant game betweem two minnows. Well both Togo and Switzerland are probably the 2 of the smallest countries at the World Cup. Togo is about 56,000 sq Km while the Swiss weigh in at about 41,000. Whereas Togo were making their debut, being one of the lesser lights on World Football, The Swiss are seasoned campaigners and belong to the middle tier of European footballing nobility.
This game went completely according to the form book. Despite Togo's eager start and ceaseless running in the first half, the Swiss took control and proved too strong. The Swiss are very well organised in defence, limited but resourceful in the middle of the park and competent when it comes to scoring. Having drawn France in their opener, they played another completely predictable game. Togo may have pushed them initially, but the Swiss eventually had too much experience. The main difference between European football and the rest of the world, is that Euro teams are always very well organised, resourceful and keep their shape. Arguably the best striker on the pitch may have been Emmanuel Adebayor for Togo, but what the Swiss lack in talent, they make up for in organisation and effort. Several times Togo, forwards and midfielders left too gaping a hold in the middle of the park, whereas the swiss were more composed. This side is a tricky one, better than the one featuring Stephane Chapuisat at USA'94, although as a spectacle they lack any glitter.
With 4 points they are in first place in their group and barring a debacle in their last group match may well make it through to the next stage. Once again their crunch game is against the Koreans. As I write this, the Swiss are now one of only 3 teams left who are yet to concede a goal (Brazil and Portugal are the other 2 - England, Spain, Ecuador and Sweden having conceded since the Swiss last played)
Togo have been distracted all tournament with pay disputes and the like. They haven't been bushwacked - yet, France is still to play them - and even though they are down and out, they have maintained some sort of a challenge till the final whistle in both their games.
Switzerland 2 - Frei, Barnetta
Togo 0
Ukraine crush Saudi Arabia.
In a day of predicatability, the Ukrainians bouncd back with a powerful riposte to their critics. They pummelled the defensively inept and tactically void Saudis 4-0. shevckenko finally scoring a World Cup goal.
Ukraine are quiet and efficient and play a simple style, their tactical savvy immense. Against the Saudi's they proved the void between The 2 continents as the Asian powerhouse was demolished by a second tier Euro team. I don't know why Mohammad Al Daeyea did not start this game for the Kingdom but his replacement Al Zaid ws every bit as comical as Al Daeyea was in the 8-0 defeat to Germany at Japorea 2002.
Rebrov looked born again displaying an attacking verve not seen since his Dynamo Kiev days partnering Andriy Shevchenko. The defence was a lot more confident and made fewer errors. Eastern Block teams have alwasy done the simple things well and proficiency at set pieces has always been their strength - they converted 2 goals off set pieces here and could have arguably scored more - such was the danger whenever the ball was floated high.
KSA are still clueless to the intricacies of defending set pieces and are uncomfortable with anything over shoulder height. Rusol and Shevchenko's goal were text book notches off a free kick and corner while Rebrov's goal was a joke. The Saudi goalie slipped trying to get across to palm away a hopeful long shot.
Ukraine's crunch game versus Tunisia should see them through. Not good enough for Spain on their day (few teams are), they are still too good for the likes of Tunisia or Saudi Arabia. The north Africans should give them a game but Ukraine should win that.
Ukraine 4 - Rusol, Shevchenko, Rebrov, Kalichenko
Saudi Arabia 0
Spain put on masterclass.
It's a sign of things when Spain shows as much stomach for a fight as they did in this game. Despite playign well they were down to a well taken Mnari goal within the opening 10 minutes, Zied dribbling past multiple attackers to set the small man up. However Spain responded in ike fashion. Not once sacrificing their attacking style, they turned on the boosters to powere themselves to 3 second half goals and pulverise the Tunisians.
Torres bagged 2, Fabregas set up 2, Raul scored a goal off a deflection and Spain could have had 2 more. Torres came alight in this game, showing us his full repertoire of tricks. Germany 2006 may well be his coming out party. His first touch was exquisite, his ball handling composed and his passing mature in its variety and range. Xabi Alonso and Xavi Fernandez combined well enough but like two medieval alchemists trying out new potions in the lab, they seemed to huff and puff over their cauldron with little end product. Conversely Senna had a bad game while Luis Garcia was strangely off-colour. Cesc came on and immediately showed us what we had been missing when he was on the bench - abel to operate in tight spaces and pass early, he unleashed an offensive campaign of narrow channel passing.
Yet it is a testament to Spain's attacking mentality that they started 3 attackers. and despite going 70 minutes without a goal, they continued to attack.
Spain look excellent, right behind Germany and Argentina as the pick of the first round. On this form they might very well meet continental rivals France in the second round. Prepare yourselves for a Spanish conquest if that ever happens.
The best part is that Spain still have to play the weakest team in the group - Saudi Arabia. Torres to edge out Klose for the golden boot ? It could happen.
Spain 3 - Raul, Torres 2
Tunisia 1- Mnari
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