June 13.
Debutants versus Team Coorea.
One of the curious aspects of South Korea's progression to the semifinals last time round was the revelation that their country is actually pronouced Cooooooooorea (stress on the 'o' and stretch it out). The other was the presence of several Lee's in their team. They started 7 Lees today, Tottenham's reserve right back Hyung Po one of them.
Now I'll level with you. South Korea aren't bad but they are, in no way, one of the better teams in the world. Their semifinal finish at Japorea was a fluke (yes I said it) based on several dodgy decisions, augmented by home field advantage, in crucial games versus Italy and Spain. It may have done wonders for the spread of the game - always important - but it did not raise the profile of the Koreans as a serious footballing powerhouse. They're okay, nothing special, not going anywhere.
Infact, Togo might be the only team they'll beat this year and even the Togolese wil be proud having scored a good first goal. Debutants maybe, they gave the South Koreans a mighty scare before succumbing to the collective experience of the far easterners. This is Korea's 5th straight World Cup. Eventually you develop a feel for things, eventually you rise above being constant underdogs. But the rest is up to you.
I did not see this game - the first one I have missed so far. But from the commentary I knew I had made the right call. Korea may be a bit behind the front runners of the world game, but they are still miles ahead of Togo. Emmanuel Adebayor and Mohammad Kader had a good game. The combined strength of several Lees proved too much eventually.
Togo should enjoy the moment - I knew I would.
Endnotes:
Khador plays his club football in Kuwait. Remarkable, the spread of the game.
Togo 1 - Kader
South Korea 2 - Chun-soo Lee, Ahn
-------------------------------------------
4 Games 0 Goals French fizzle, Swiss swelter.
Since winning the final game of the 98 WC, France have now played 4 games without conceding a goal. This game versus the Swiss had draw written all over it. The two teams were in the same qualifying group for the WC and drew both games. Though not quite the dour defense-fest one would have imagined, it was still a stalemate. The Swiss, though limited, are always a resourceful an handy outfit replete with midfield lieutentants in Streller and Barnetta and towering centre backs in Senderos and Djorou. The latter were of particular interest to France forward Thierry Henry as they are team-mates with him at Arsenal. Swiss cheese may have holes in it but this defence is water tight.
It seems to me that the French team have gotten lost on the mineyard of the opposing half. They seem unable to create the avenues of space they love to motor in and have seemed strangely out of synch for the better part of the last 2 years. Although having not completely lost their way, their football has lost the zing and exuberance associated with them in their glory years of 1997-2000. The plucky Swiss don't have the raw talent but like most limited teams have the tactical nous to do the simple things right and cause problems. Witness beating the Turks in a playoff for the tournament.
They hit a post and France could have had a penalty but the fact that neither team created a clear cut chance would worry both coaches. Ribery seemed nervous, Wiltord somnambulent, Henry off colour and Viera asleep. This is where coaching comes in. Talent and skill only take ou so far, it is the job of the manager to motivate and recharge.
I doubt this will wreak havoc on both their plans. I still pick France to win the group and second place to be decided when the Swiss edge the Korean Lee foundation in the key match.
Endnotes:
The Swiss probably have the most eclectic blend of names on the team sheet featuring players with Italian, German, Austrian, French, Turkish and Slavic ancestry. Coolest name - Gygax.
France 0
Switzerland 0
----------------------------------------------------
Samba has touched down.
I touched on the breakup of the old Yugoslavian football team in an earlier post, mostly with regards to the Serbia and Montenegro team. This time it's their western cousins - Croatia. Despite having only a marginal advantage in talent over Serbia, Croatia have, however, been significantly more succesfull in the post breakup years. 3rd in 98, they have made successive tournaments on a consistent basis. 5 out of 6 tournaments since USA 94, their only omission came at the hands of ironically, Yugoslavia, in the race for Euro 2000.
Since then they have been solid, tight and efficient. They have no superstars or supremely gifted players, just a strong core who place emphasis on teamwork and tight marking. In Srna and Prso they have competence without much class. The disappearance of Goran Vlaovic and the fading of Milan Rapaic could have crippled their attacking corps but they have proved remarkabely resilient as a team - their players sprinkled around the top leagues in Europe.
Brazil are in a word - sensational. They have one of the best football teams ever assembled and are in devastatingly belligerent form. However Croatia with their tidy marking and tough defence could prove to be a tricky obstacle. The achilles heel of all expressive attacking teams is that they can come undone against a sticky, tough tackling team who close down the spaces. Unluckily for Brazil, they have 2 such teams in their Group in the Croats and Oz. Brazil persisted with the rusty Ronaldo, Croatia have the Kovac brothers.
As expected, Croatia pushed Brazil for the better part of the match before a moment of brilliance from Kaka settled things. 1-0 to the Selecao, Croatia can hold their heads high. Some expected a rout, Croatia are too good for that, this result was fully deserved and fully expected. Brazil may not have won 4-0 (although they played well in the face of a resolute Croatia) but great teams don't always have to crush the opposition, they just have to win. It's one thing to beat a team that tries to attack you, out-football you (Read Argentina beating Ivory Coast). It's completely another to beat one whose sole desire is to prevent you from creating anything. Football is about scoring goals in my book not about keeping clean sheets - however the travails of the modern game leave certain teams with no other option than to shut up shop and snipe.
The crunch game in this group will be Croatia versus Australia on June 22, one of the many final deciders this time around. That will be a real cracker. I still have Brazil and Croatia going through - on this evidence I'm not far off.
Endnotes:
In Bengali, my mother tongue, Kaka means uncle and Dida means grandmother - I doubt however, that either relative could have turned out for Brazil !
Brazil 1 - Kaka
Croatia 0
Debutants versus Team Coorea.
One of the curious aspects of South Korea's progression to the semifinals last time round was the revelation that their country is actually pronouced Cooooooooorea (stress on the 'o' and stretch it out). The other was the presence of several Lee's in their team. They started 7 Lees today, Tottenham's reserve right back Hyung Po one of them.
Now I'll level with you. South Korea aren't bad but they are, in no way, one of the better teams in the world. Their semifinal finish at Japorea was a fluke (yes I said it) based on several dodgy decisions, augmented by home field advantage, in crucial games versus Italy and Spain. It may have done wonders for the spread of the game - always important - but it did not raise the profile of the Koreans as a serious footballing powerhouse. They're okay, nothing special, not going anywhere.
Infact, Togo might be the only team they'll beat this year and even the Togolese wil be proud having scored a good first goal. Debutants maybe, they gave the South Koreans a mighty scare before succumbing to the collective experience of the far easterners. This is Korea's 5th straight World Cup. Eventually you develop a feel for things, eventually you rise above being constant underdogs. But the rest is up to you.
I did not see this game - the first one I have missed so far. But from the commentary I knew I had made the right call. Korea may be a bit behind the front runners of the world game, but they are still miles ahead of Togo. Emmanuel Adebayor and Mohammad Kader had a good game. The combined strength of several Lees proved too much eventually.
Togo should enjoy the moment - I knew I would.
Endnotes:
Khador plays his club football in Kuwait. Remarkable, the spread of the game.
Togo 1 - Kader
South Korea 2 - Chun-soo Lee, Ahn
-------------------------------------------
4 Games 0 Goals French fizzle, Swiss swelter.
Since winning the final game of the 98 WC, France have now played 4 games without conceding a goal. This game versus the Swiss had draw written all over it. The two teams were in the same qualifying group for the WC and drew both games. Though not quite the dour defense-fest one would have imagined, it was still a stalemate. The Swiss, though limited, are always a resourceful an handy outfit replete with midfield lieutentants in Streller and Barnetta and towering centre backs in Senderos and Djorou. The latter were of particular interest to France forward Thierry Henry as they are team-mates with him at Arsenal. Swiss cheese may have holes in it but this defence is water tight.
It seems to me that the French team have gotten lost on the mineyard of the opposing half. They seem unable to create the avenues of space they love to motor in and have seemed strangely out of synch for the better part of the last 2 years. Although having not completely lost their way, their football has lost the zing and exuberance associated with them in their glory years of 1997-2000. The plucky Swiss don't have the raw talent but like most limited teams have the tactical nous to do the simple things right and cause problems. Witness beating the Turks in a playoff for the tournament.
They hit a post and France could have had a penalty but the fact that neither team created a clear cut chance would worry both coaches. Ribery seemed nervous, Wiltord somnambulent, Henry off colour and Viera asleep. This is where coaching comes in. Talent and skill only take ou so far, it is the job of the manager to motivate and recharge.
I doubt this will wreak havoc on both their plans. I still pick France to win the group and second place to be decided when the Swiss edge the Korean Lee foundation in the key match.
Endnotes:
The Swiss probably have the most eclectic blend of names on the team sheet featuring players with Italian, German, Austrian, French, Turkish and Slavic ancestry. Coolest name - Gygax.
France 0
Switzerland 0
----------------------------------------------------
Samba has touched down.
I touched on the breakup of the old Yugoslavian football team in an earlier post, mostly with regards to the Serbia and Montenegro team. This time it's their western cousins - Croatia. Despite having only a marginal advantage in talent over Serbia, Croatia have, however, been significantly more succesfull in the post breakup years. 3rd in 98, they have made successive tournaments on a consistent basis. 5 out of 6 tournaments since USA 94, their only omission came at the hands of ironically, Yugoslavia, in the race for Euro 2000.
Since then they have been solid, tight and efficient. They have no superstars or supremely gifted players, just a strong core who place emphasis on teamwork and tight marking. In Srna and Prso they have competence without much class. The disappearance of Goran Vlaovic and the fading of Milan Rapaic could have crippled their attacking corps but they have proved remarkabely resilient as a team - their players sprinkled around the top leagues in Europe.
Brazil are in a word - sensational. They have one of the best football teams ever assembled and are in devastatingly belligerent form. However Croatia with their tidy marking and tough defence could prove to be a tricky obstacle. The achilles heel of all expressive attacking teams is that they can come undone against a sticky, tough tackling team who close down the spaces. Unluckily for Brazil, they have 2 such teams in their Group in the Croats and Oz. Brazil persisted with the rusty Ronaldo, Croatia have the Kovac brothers.
As expected, Croatia pushed Brazil for the better part of the match before a moment of brilliance from Kaka settled things. 1-0 to the Selecao, Croatia can hold their heads high. Some expected a rout, Croatia are too good for that, this result was fully deserved and fully expected. Brazil may not have won 4-0 (although they played well in the face of a resolute Croatia) but great teams don't always have to crush the opposition, they just have to win. It's one thing to beat a team that tries to attack you, out-football you (Read Argentina beating Ivory Coast). It's completely another to beat one whose sole desire is to prevent you from creating anything. Football is about scoring goals in my book not about keeping clean sheets - however the travails of the modern game leave certain teams with no other option than to shut up shop and snipe.
The crunch game in this group will be Croatia versus Australia on June 22, one of the many final deciders this time around. That will be a real cracker. I still have Brazil and Croatia going through - on this evidence I'm not far off.
Endnotes:
In Bengali, my mother tongue, Kaka means uncle and Dida means grandmother - I doubt however, that either relative could have turned out for Brazil !
Brazil 1 - Kaka
Croatia 0
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