June 14.
Arab Stalemate.
In all the commotion and excitement over the 4 African debutants as well as fellow first timers T & T, Tunisia's inclusion has been overlooked. Solid, rather than spectacular, the Tunisians booked their place by topping a top-heavy group featuring arch rivals Morocco.
Their team is an amalgamation of overseas talent sprinkled around Europe supplemented by some homegrown players and garnished by 2 naturalised Brazilians. In qualifying for their third WC in a row they have set a new standard for Arican consistency.
Boasting a strong defence featuring Radhi Jaidi and Hatem Trabelsi, they would give any team a stern examination with tight marking coupled with accurate passing.
The Saudis on the other hand have now made 4 straight finals, but since their heady USA '94 tournament where they reached the round of 16, they have regressed. Easily one of the worst teams in Japorea 2002 they seem to be stuck in perpetual limbo - too good for Asia, not good enough for the rest of the world. 3 times champions of Asia, they have won 2 matches in 3 World Cups.
I picked Tunisia to win 1-0, courtesy of a headed goal by Radhi Jaidi off a set piece.
As it transpired, Tunisian forward Jaziri, scored the goal of the tournament so far with an acrobatic bicycle kick to give the Tunisians the lead. Having dominated the game till them, one would expect them to close the match out, however Saudi Arabia showed remarkable resilience, digging in to not only equalise but then go ahead off an inspired performance from veteran star, and on the day, super sub, Sami Al Jaber. Eventually though right at the death Tunisia scored, courtesy of my man Jaidi, off a set piece header as I had predicted. The only difference was that this goal was a match saver, not a match winner.
Saudi Arabia showed more steel than their last outing in Japorea 2002, however their collective tactical naivete off set pieces has still not been rectified. Despite the presence of Hussein Sulimani, one of the best defenders in Asia, they defend poorly as a unit.
Tunisia 2 - Jaziri, Jaidi
Saudi Arabia 2 - Al-Kahtani, Al-Jaber
Uke nuked.
Ukraine really let me down. I knew they weren't going to outgun Spain, but I sensed they would have played their usual defensive game and clampled down on the spanish passing jamboree. With Cesc Fabregas on the bench and only Xabi starting, Spain would have to get into their stride early and prevent Ukraine from stifling the play. In the event, Ukraine badly misjudged their game plan, were a little unlucky to have Vaschuk sent off and in the process were torn to shreds by a rampant Spanish side. I have a feeling this year Spain may finally go deep in the draw. They are balanced, have a very deep and experienced squad, good goalkeeping and a tactically astute coach.
I felt this would be a repeat of the France-Switzerland game, Spain attacking, Ukraine repelling, Spain short balls versus Ukrainian long balls to Andriy Shevchenko, the best striker in the world over the last decade. I was hopelessly off the mark. Sheva got no service, didn't get a shot on goal and Ukraine were comprehensively dismantled.
Spain played excellently, displaying their full repertoire of tricks and a rare variety in their passing. Xavi played the archetypical defensive midfield role to perfection, Puyol was a colossus in defence, Xabi, Luis Garcia, Torres and Villa were simply sublime. The 4-0 scoreline was as apt for a fantastic Spanish ensemble, as it was for an inept Ukrainian shambles. Some of the passing by the Spanish was breathtaking in its entirety, refreshing in its playfulness. Villa scored 2, Torres and Xabi got one each and Spain were on their way to topping the group. This was supposed to be their hardest match - eventually it was a stroll.
Endnotes:
Remember, Spain have two X factors in the midfield, XAVI Fernandes and XABI Alonso, they're different players, not a typo !
Spain 4 - Xabi, Villa 2, Torres
Ukraine 0
Pole axed.
The Poles did more damage to themselves by losing their first game than the scoreline would suggest. It meant they would have to chase the game versus the top team in the group, who were coming off a winning start and were playing AT HOME.
Playing counterattack against a team with no choice but to attack you is usually one of the juicier situations in football. At home with 75000 screaming fans, it's virtually a stroll.
However Poland did play extremely well. Signalling their attacking intentions at the outset, they started more attacking options in Jelen. They attacked the whole time and had they had more composure in front of net or in the front of the German penaly area, they may have come away with a share of the spoils or even a win. There in lay the dilemma - Germany would have settled for a draw, Poland had to win. Costa Rica are a tricky quantity to try and beat in your final game.
Germany too, created the odd chance, although, with Ballack anchoring the midfield, their football was classic counterpunching. Of note - Podulski's reverse pass and cross combination with Bastian Schweinsteiger was one of the most artistic plays of this tournament, sadly he missed the far side by a mere couple of inches. Brazil are you watching ?
Magic Zurawski, Smolarek, Sobalewski and Jelen all had chances but their finishing, like in their first game, let them down. When they lost Sobalewski to some ill disciplined play in the second half, you knew they were done. Klinsmann then brought on the ideal player in pacy winger, David Odonker, and it became a question of when rather than if.
Once again Poland held firm but finally in the 93rd minutes, another sub, striker Neuville finally swept home a cross, from Odonker no less, and the German performance was complete.
In reality, it was hard justice on the Poles, if their strikers had taken their chances they may have had 4 points from their first 2 games and not 0. Now they are definitely on the outside looking in. This game reminded me of the Ivory Coast - Argentina game in Group C - even though Argentina had to face some enthusiastic and constant Ivorian pressure, they held firm and finished them off with some classic counterattacking.
Endnotes:
Had Ballack been substituted or had he started on the bench, at one point there would have been 14 Polish origin players on the pitch - Podulski, Klose and Borowski playing against their cousins across the Elbe.
Germany 1 - Neuville
Poland 0
Arab Stalemate.
In all the commotion and excitement over the 4 African debutants as well as fellow first timers T & T, Tunisia's inclusion has been overlooked. Solid, rather than spectacular, the Tunisians booked their place by topping a top-heavy group featuring arch rivals Morocco.
Their team is an amalgamation of overseas talent sprinkled around Europe supplemented by some homegrown players and garnished by 2 naturalised Brazilians. In qualifying for their third WC in a row they have set a new standard for Arican consistency.
Boasting a strong defence featuring Radhi Jaidi and Hatem Trabelsi, they would give any team a stern examination with tight marking coupled with accurate passing.
The Saudis on the other hand have now made 4 straight finals, but since their heady USA '94 tournament where they reached the round of 16, they have regressed. Easily one of the worst teams in Japorea 2002 they seem to be stuck in perpetual limbo - too good for Asia, not good enough for the rest of the world. 3 times champions of Asia, they have won 2 matches in 3 World Cups.
I picked Tunisia to win 1-0, courtesy of a headed goal by Radhi Jaidi off a set piece.
As it transpired, Tunisian forward Jaziri, scored the goal of the tournament so far with an acrobatic bicycle kick to give the Tunisians the lead. Having dominated the game till them, one would expect them to close the match out, however Saudi Arabia showed remarkable resilience, digging in to not only equalise but then go ahead off an inspired performance from veteran star, and on the day, super sub, Sami Al Jaber. Eventually though right at the death Tunisia scored, courtesy of my man Jaidi, off a set piece header as I had predicted. The only difference was that this goal was a match saver, not a match winner.
Saudi Arabia showed more steel than their last outing in Japorea 2002, however their collective tactical naivete off set pieces has still not been rectified. Despite the presence of Hussein Sulimani, one of the best defenders in Asia, they defend poorly as a unit.
Tunisia 2 - Jaziri, Jaidi
Saudi Arabia 2 - Al-Kahtani, Al-Jaber
Uke nuked.
Ukraine really let me down. I knew they weren't going to outgun Spain, but I sensed they would have played their usual defensive game and clampled down on the spanish passing jamboree. With Cesc Fabregas on the bench and only Xabi starting, Spain would have to get into their stride early and prevent Ukraine from stifling the play. In the event, Ukraine badly misjudged their game plan, were a little unlucky to have Vaschuk sent off and in the process were torn to shreds by a rampant Spanish side. I have a feeling this year Spain may finally go deep in the draw. They are balanced, have a very deep and experienced squad, good goalkeeping and a tactically astute coach.
I felt this would be a repeat of the France-Switzerland game, Spain attacking, Ukraine repelling, Spain short balls versus Ukrainian long balls to Andriy Shevchenko, the best striker in the world over the last decade. I was hopelessly off the mark. Sheva got no service, didn't get a shot on goal and Ukraine were comprehensively dismantled.
Spain played excellently, displaying their full repertoire of tricks and a rare variety in their passing. Xavi played the archetypical defensive midfield role to perfection, Puyol was a colossus in defence, Xabi, Luis Garcia, Torres and Villa were simply sublime. The 4-0 scoreline was as apt for a fantastic Spanish ensemble, as it was for an inept Ukrainian shambles. Some of the passing by the Spanish was breathtaking in its entirety, refreshing in its playfulness. Villa scored 2, Torres and Xabi got one each and Spain were on their way to topping the group. This was supposed to be their hardest match - eventually it was a stroll.
Endnotes:
Remember, Spain have two X factors in the midfield, XAVI Fernandes and XABI Alonso, they're different players, not a typo !
Spain 4 - Xabi, Villa 2, Torres
Ukraine 0
Pole axed.
The Poles did more damage to themselves by losing their first game than the scoreline would suggest. It meant they would have to chase the game versus the top team in the group, who were coming off a winning start and were playing AT HOME.
Playing counterattack against a team with no choice but to attack you is usually one of the juicier situations in football. At home with 75000 screaming fans, it's virtually a stroll.
However Poland did play extremely well. Signalling their attacking intentions at the outset, they started more attacking options in Jelen. They attacked the whole time and had they had more composure in front of net or in the front of the German penaly area, they may have come away with a share of the spoils or even a win. There in lay the dilemma - Germany would have settled for a draw, Poland had to win. Costa Rica are a tricky quantity to try and beat in your final game.
Germany too, created the odd chance, although, with Ballack anchoring the midfield, their football was classic counterpunching. Of note - Podulski's reverse pass and cross combination with Bastian Schweinsteiger was one of the most artistic plays of this tournament, sadly he missed the far side by a mere couple of inches. Brazil are you watching ?
Magic Zurawski, Smolarek, Sobalewski and Jelen all had chances but their finishing, like in their first game, let them down. When they lost Sobalewski to some ill disciplined play in the second half, you knew they were done. Klinsmann then brought on the ideal player in pacy winger, David Odonker, and it became a question of when rather than if.
Once again Poland held firm but finally in the 93rd minutes, another sub, striker Neuville finally swept home a cross, from Odonker no less, and the German performance was complete.
In reality, it was hard justice on the Poles, if their strikers had taken their chances they may have had 4 points from their first 2 games and not 0. Now they are definitely on the outside looking in. This game reminded me of the Ivory Coast - Argentina game in Group C - even though Argentina had to face some enthusiastic and constant Ivorian pressure, they held firm and finished them off with some classic counterattacking.
Endnotes:
Had Ballack been substituted or had he started on the bench, at one point there would have been 14 Polish origin players on the pitch - Podulski, Klose and Borowski playing against their cousins across the Elbe.
Germany 1 - Neuville
Poland 0
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