June 20.
Group A was one of the more exciting groups this year.
Germany led from the front. the hosts haveing an excellent round-robin start - winning all three games and scoring a fair smattering of goals.
It is nice to see this German team gel and build over the last couple of years and try to show people that their surprise. Last time around with a very young end inexpereinced team they crept their way steadily through the draw. Having lost the few remaining veterans in Jancker, Babbel and Hamann they injected new blood as they continued to build around Ballack. They had a nightmare Euro 2004 - drawing with Latvia - but here have come together in all the right places at seemingly the right time. Their play ir freshingly open, positive and their finishing is competent without being ruthlessly clinical. In Bernd Schnieder, Schweinsteiger they have the perfect foils to the midfield general that is Ballack. Their full backs have outdone themselves in their attacking wraparounds down the flanks - both Lahm and Arne Freidrich marauding horsemen supplementing any attack. Germany always have a knack of slipping through a draw - consistently challenging at all tournaments for as long as I can remember - this time though not bearing the weight that comes with being one of the favourites they have quietly and efficiently dismantled the rest of the group.
Ecuador were always tricky opposition, not bearing any suoperstar names and fielding only one player who plays in the top flight in Europe, Aston Villa's Ulisses de la Cruz, but still playing a counter attacking style designed to trip up any complacency in midefield or defence. They may have been criticised for relying a solid home record, colstered by the altitude of their home ground at Quito, but the fact remains that they got good results away from hom as well and in dismantling Costa Rica and trumping Poland. proved they are no pushovers. Continuity is important and in De la Cruz, Hurtado and Kaviedes have one of the longest playing set of defenders in world football. Add in the clinical finishing of Delgado and Tenorio - and you have a very frightening team who can upset anyone on their day. Both Delgado and Tenorio seem suited to the style of play in Spain or even Italy - expect to see a move for on of them soon. They have exceeded all expectations to get to the second round in some style, they deserved it completely.
I expected this game to be a draw - Ecuador's canny defending to be too much for Germany and since both teams were already through, no point in expending too much trying to engineer a win. I was surprised by the ease with which Germany sliced through Ecuador and by the end of it the 3-0 win was comprehensive. Germany's strikers played exceedingly well, Klose having yet another solid World Cup, Podolski finally getting on the score sheet. Ballack was immense and his replacement Borowski played just like him when he came on.
Germany have so far been solid all round, but more pedigreed teams await in the knockout stages, starting with Sweden.. Ecuador, canny as ever should give England lots of problems and might, just might eke out a win.
It is ironic, that on a day Poland were finally scoring some goals, the only Polish strikers who bagged goals were for host Germany. Defender Bosacki scored Poland's only 2 goals this campaign so in the end the only polish strikers who scored aren't even on the Polish team (for the record Borowski, Klose and Podolski are the 3 Poles on Germany's team). Underachieving campaign this time for Poland - all because their strikers could not put away decent chances. Good but not at the top level. Frankowski's shadow looms large over this team.
Costa Rica were capable on occasion but generally not god enough. Their defending was naive throughout and their midfield ws non existant. Like neighours USA, they are consistently good enough to get here but fall off thereafter.
Germany 3 - Klose 2, Podolski
Ecuador 0
Poland 2 - Bosacki 2
Costa Rica 0
Group B finally ends the torture.
This was one of the most boring groups this year with the standard of football only picking up on the last day with little to play for.
I called the draw between England and Sweden when the draw for the tournament was made. They always cancel each other out. Sweden have better strikers but England have a slightly better midfield. And since the Swedes are always a technical notch above the English anyway this game would be England scoring from open play, Sweden getting back from a set piece or dead ball. And so it was. Good goal from Cole although he may have been a bit lucky - let's see him try it against team which gives him less space.
Sweden were unlucky not to have Zlatan due to injury, England were unlucky to lose Owen - not that he's been very effective anyhow.
Having a choice to put on Walcott, Svennis threw in the white flag and sent on Crouch instead. When he had the option of replacing Rooney with Walcott he sent on Gerrard instead. What's the point of taking him to the tournament if he plays no games.
Sweden replaced Jonsson with the varangian styled Willhelmsson, probably with the intention of letting the latter atone for several missed free kicks against Paraguay with atleast a proper one here. Allback is one of the better 3rd strikers in the world cup, he's always a goal threat when he comes on and he got one here having started for Zlatan. Larsson, so clinical off set pieces, levelled things up off a free throw in the 90th minute. Campbell and Terry missing the bounch of the ball. Mellberg also hit the post of a free kick.
So England win the group, Sweden take second, underachieving football all round.
In the group's other game, Paraguay won an exciting contest with Nelson Cuevas scoring the clincher after a neat one-two with Roque Santa Cruz. Trinidad, try as they might could not find a goal, despite having the desire and effort. Unlucky to concede an own goal they just did not seem to have the skill required to break Paraguay down. They played a little bit more today, as opposed to their first 2 games, and came out on the attack ever so often but in the end Paraguay were too experienced and skilful for them.
Overall Paraguay was rubbish most of the tournament while Trinidad played well above their limits despite being negative.
Sweden 2 - Allback, Larrson
England 2 - J Cole, Gerrard
Paraguay 2 - Sancho (og), Cuevas
Trinidad and Tobago - 0
Final Standings:
England 7
Sweden 5
Paraguay 4
Trinidad 1
I had the same except Sweden pipping England on GD after both were tied on 7 points.
Group A was one of the more exciting groups this year.
Germany led from the front. the hosts haveing an excellent round-robin start - winning all three games and scoring a fair smattering of goals.
It is nice to see this German team gel and build over the last couple of years and try to show people that their surprise. Last time around with a very young end inexpereinced team they crept their way steadily through the draw. Having lost the few remaining veterans in Jancker, Babbel and Hamann they injected new blood as they continued to build around Ballack. They had a nightmare Euro 2004 - drawing with Latvia - but here have come together in all the right places at seemingly the right time. Their play ir freshingly open, positive and their finishing is competent without being ruthlessly clinical. In Bernd Schnieder, Schweinsteiger they have the perfect foils to the midfield general that is Ballack. Their full backs have outdone themselves in their attacking wraparounds down the flanks - both Lahm and Arne Freidrich marauding horsemen supplementing any attack. Germany always have a knack of slipping through a draw - consistently challenging at all tournaments for as long as I can remember - this time though not bearing the weight that comes with being one of the favourites they have quietly and efficiently dismantled the rest of the group.
Ecuador were always tricky opposition, not bearing any suoperstar names and fielding only one player who plays in the top flight in Europe, Aston Villa's Ulisses de la Cruz, but still playing a counter attacking style designed to trip up any complacency in midefield or defence. They may have been criticised for relying a solid home record, colstered by the altitude of their home ground at Quito, but the fact remains that they got good results away from hom as well and in dismantling Costa Rica and trumping Poland. proved they are no pushovers. Continuity is important and in De la Cruz, Hurtado and Kaviedes have one of the longest playing set of defenders in world football. Add in the clinical finishing of Delgado and Tenorio - and you have a very frightening team who can upset anyone on their day. Both Delgado and Tenorio seem suited to the style of play in Spain or even Italy - expect to see a move for on of them soon. They have exceeded all expectations to get to the second round in some style, they deserved it completely.
I expected this game to be a draw - Ecuador's canny defending to be too much for Germany and since both teams were already through, no point in expending too much trying to engineer a win. I was surprised by the ease with which Germany sliced through Ecuador and by the end of it the 3-0 win was comprehensive. Germany's strikers played exceedingly well, Klose having yet another solid World Cup, Podolski finally getting on the score sheet. Ballack was immense and his replacement Borowski played just like him when he came on.
Germany have so far been solid all round, but more pedigreed teams await in the knockout stages, starting with Sweden.. Ecuador, canny as ever should give England lots of problems and might, just might eke out a win.
It is ironic, that on a day Poland were finally scoring some goals, the only Polish strikers who bagged goals were for host Germany. Defender Bosacki scored Poland's only 2 goals this campaign so in the end the only polish strikers who scored aren't even on the Polish team (for the record Borowski, Klose and Podolski are the 3 Poles on Germany's team). Underachieving campaign this time for Poland - all because their strikers could not put away decent chances. Good but not at the top level. Frankowski's shadow looms large over this team.
Costa Rica were capable on occasion but generally not god enough. Their defending was naive throughout and their midfield ws non existant. Like neighours USA, they are consistently good enough to get here but fall off thereafter.
Germany 3 - Klose 2, Podolski
Ecuador 0
Poland 2 - Bosacki 2
Costa Rica 0
Group B finally ends the torture.
This was one of the most boring groups this year with the standard of football only picking up on the last day with little to play for.
I called the draw between England and Sweden when the draw for the tournament was made. They always cancel each other out. Sweden have better strikers but England have a slightly better midfield. And since the Swedes are always a technical notch above the English anyway this game would be England scoring from open play, Sweden getting back from a set piece or dead ball. And so it was. Good goal from Cole although he may have been a bit lucky - let's see him try it against team which gives him less space.
Sweden were unlucky not to have Zlatan due to injury, England were unlucky to lose Owen - not that he's been very effective anyhow.
Having a choice to put on Walcott, Svennis threw in the white flag and sent on Crouch instead. When he had the option of replacing Rooney with Walcott he sent on Gerrard instead. What's the point of taking him to the tournament if he plays no games.
Sweden replaced Jonsson with the varangian styled Willhelmsson, probably with the intention of letting the latter atone for several missed free kicks against Paraguay with atleast a proper one here. Allback is one of the better 3rd strikers in the world cup, he's always a goal threat when he comes on and he got one here having started for Zlatan. Larsson, so clinical off set pieces, levelled things up off a free throw in the 90th minute. Campbell and Terry missing the bounch of the ball. Mellberg also hit the post of a free kick.
So England win the group, Sweden take second, underachieving football all round.
In the group's other game, Paraguay won an exciting contest with Nelson Cuevas scoring the clincher after a neat one-two with Roque Santa Cruz. Trinidad, try as they might could not find a goal, despite having the desire and effort. Unlucky to concede an own goal they just did not seem to have the skill required to break Paraguay down. They played a little bit more today, as opposed to their first 2 games, and came out on the attack ever so often but in the end Paraguay were too experienced and skilful for them.
Overall Paraguay was rubbish most of the tournament while Trinidad played well above their limits despite being negative.
Sweden 2 - Allback, Larrson
England 2 - J Cole, Gerrard
Paraguay 2 - Sancho (og), Cuevas
Trinidad and Tobago - 0
Final Standings:
England 7
Sweden 5
Paraguay 4
Trinidad 1
I had the same except Sweden pipping England on GD after both were tied on 7 points.
No comments:
Post a Comment