June 16.
Mexico mangle qualification.
I've always struggled to understand Mexico. They play well against the top teams and come strangely undone against the lesser lights of world football. Perennial powerhouses of the CONCACAF region, they have a penchant for struggling against teams they should be putting away with relative ease. They always have strong showings at the Confederations' Cup, beating teams like Brazil with relative ease, but then they have lost to the likes of USA and Bulgaria at past World Cups - not to mention being beaten by a very poor Germany side at France '98.
After comfortably seeing off Iran in their opening game I expected them to dispatch Angola with similar panache - how wrong I was. Angola seem to have gone from strength to strength since conceding a comical opening goal in the first 5 minutes versus Portugal. They have a relentless midfield, a dogged defence, even my clown of the day Jamba seems to be a different defender, assured, speedier and tactically proficient. In Mateus and Ze Kalenga they have tireless running in the space behind the strikers and although their final delivery leaves a little to be desired, they cannot be faulted for effort. Up front, Julius Akwa is still a little immature in his shot selection and passing, but has a knack for getting into good positions.
I thought Mexico would systematically carve open the Angolans, but they failed miserably. Zinha was sloppy, Branco, Bravo and Osorio kept getting beat to balls by the Angolans and you got the impression that the physical might of Angola would keep the smaller but technically giften Mexicans at bay, and so it happened.
The opening 20 minutes was all Mexico, but inexplicably Angola did not concede. Thereafter, like against Portugal, Angola grew into the game and started to give as good as they got. That is till Andre was sent off with 10 minutes to go.
I thought the Mexicans would finally break through, but sensationally, Joao Ricardo saved first from Bravo and then Mexican captain Rafael Marquez, before Marquez also hit the post with a deflected free kick.
This result has serious ramifications for the Mexicans, if they lose to Portugal and Angola beat Iran by a sizeable margin, they could go out. However, I don't see that happening, atleast not yet.
Mexico 0
Angola 0
Holland go through.
So the expected happened. Holland, like Argentina, also won their first 2 games by beating Ivory Coast and have qualified for the round of 16. While their top-of-the-table clash with the Argentinians is going to be a heady affair that yours truly will be hoping to take in at the first attempt; Ivory Coast's next match with the Serbians will be little more than academic - with perhaps only pride to play for.
But what a match.
Holland scored first with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie scoring a scorcher of a free kick around the wall into the top left corner. Struck with venom not seen since he strucka lstminute equalizer against Southampton, it sailed through goalie Jean-Jaque Tizie's flailing arms to ripple the back of the net. Brilliant free kick - set piece of the tournament. However, I felt that Tizie should have blocked or atleast deflected it. He got in position but his arms were too wide apart and the ball went in between them. If the Ivorians have one weak spot it has to be their goalie. Tizie hasn't been directly at fault for any goal but he lacks the positioning and assurance needed to be competent at this level.
Then Holland, against the run of play, like Saviola's goal in Argentina's game against the Ivorians, scored a classic poacher's goal. Repelling an attack they broke down the centre before Van Bommel hoisted it left to van Nistelrooy who hoofed it from within the box into the top right corner. Meite was flatfooted, Tizie was stranded. It wasn't terribly pretty but it was deadly and accurate. All of a sudden Holland were 2 goals up.
The Ivorians then came back with a vengeance though, first Drogba rifling one in that just missed the right post before Aruna Kone sent one flying over from the right channel. Finally though, a quick through ball from the impressive Yaya Toure found Bakari Kone and he dribbled around 4 players at the top of the box before unleashing a rocket from the right corner of the penalty area, that sailed into the top left corner of the goal. Van der Saar stood no chance. Powerful and emblematic, it rocked the Dutch who were beginning to feel that they would be able to soak up pressure and then hit back on the break.
The Ivorians could have drawn level when they were on a 2 on 1 break, but Drogba mishit the pass square to Aruna Kone and the ball rebounded off a stranded Heitinga. There after the match was mostly Ivory Coast. They attacked, attacked and then attacked some more. Giovanni van Bronkhorst twice had to deny Eboue and bakary Kone from slipping around them while Van Bommel and Robben had to rely on diving to win free kicks - the latter getting booked for his troubles. Van persie cleared off the line while van der Saar had to make saves from Toure, Zokora and turned a Drogba header around the post. It was heady stuff and while Holladn had their chances in between - a peach of a shot from van Persie saved by Tizie midway through the second half - it was mostly the Africans who made all the running.
For a 20 minute period in the second half the ball didn't leave the Dutch half save for a goal kick, such was the Ivorian pressure. Once again Dutch defending proved remakable resilient and Ivorian finishing was a tad bit underwhelming. But that was the only part of their performance that guts and thunder.
Eventually they lost 2-1, Drogba picking up a yellow card which will rule him out of the cellar match against Ivory coast, but they really really really tried hard.
They may be going out, but they will be missed, easily one of the better sides in teh whole tournament, it is an eternal injustice that they were drawn in the same group as 2 of the favourites and form sides of the tournament. They pushed both all the way though. On this form Serbia should be quaking in their boots, a distant African thunder drawing to pound on Balkan shores.
Ivory Coast would have qualified from any other group save this one, being easily better that the pick of most teams in most of the groups. Give this side a year together, and they will be a fearsome footballing force to be reckoned with.
Henri Michel, your team may be going out but they've done you proud and will be missed.
Endnotes:
The Serbs won't have Kezman for their next match - a move that can only make them better. Ivory Coast won't have their only pedigreed striker, a move that weakens them significantly. That match should be another belter. Just my luck, both the teams I support are in the same group and get eliminated at the first hurdle.
Holland 2 - van Persie, van Nistelrooj
Ivory Coast 1 - Bakari Kone
Mexico mangle qualification.
I've always struggled to understand Mexico. They play well against the top teams and come strangely undone against the lesser lights of world football. Perennial powerhouses of the CONCACAF region, they have a penchant for struggling against teams they should be putting away with relative ease. They always have strong showings at the Confederations' Cup, beating teams like Brazil with relative ease, but then they have lost to the likes of USA and Bulgaria at past World Cups - not to mention being beaten by a very poor Germany side at France '98.
After comfortably seeing off Iran in their opening game I expected them to dispatch Angola with similar panache - how wrong I was. Angola seem to have gone from strength to strength since conceding a comical opening goal in the first 5 minutes versus Portugal. They have a relentless midfield, a dogged defence, even my clown of the day Jamba seems to be a different defender, assured, speedier and tactically proficient. In Mateus and Ze Kalenga they have tireless running in the space behind the strikers and although their final delivery leaves a little to be desired, they cannot be faulted for effort. Up front, Julius Akwa is still a little immature in his shot selection and passing, but has a knack for getting into good positions.
I thought Mexico would systematically carve open the Angolans, but they failed miserably. Zinha was sloppy, Branco, Bravo and Osorio kept getting beat to balls by the Angolans and you got the impression that the physical might of Angola would keep the smaller but technically giften Mexicans at bay, and so it happened.
The opening 20 minutes was all Mexico, but inexplicably Angola did not concede. Thereafter, like against Portugal, Angola grew into the game and started to give as good as they got. That is till Andre was sent off with 10 minutes to go.
I thought the Mexicans would finally break through, but sensationally, Joao Ricardo saved first from Bravo and then Mexican captain Rafael Marquez, before Marquez also hit the post with a deflected free kick.
This result has serious ramifications for the Mexicans, if they lose to Portugal and Angola beat Iran by a sizeable margin, they could go out. However, I don't see that happening, atleast not yet.
Mexico 0
Angola 0
Holland go through.
So the expected happened. Holland, like Argentina, also won their first 2 games by beating Ivory Coast and have qualified for the round of 16. While their top-of-the-table clash with the Argentinians is going to be a heady affair that yours truly will be hoping to take in at the first attempt; Ivory Coast's next match with the Serbians will be little more than academic - with perhaps only pride to play for.
But what a match.
Holland scored first with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie scoring a scorcher of a free kick around the wall into the top left corner. Struck with venom not seen since he strucka lstminute equalizer against Southampton, it sailed through goalie Jean-Jaque Tizie's flailing arms to ripple the back of the net. Brilliant free kick - set piece of the tournament. However, I felt that Tizie should have blocked or atleast deflected it. He got in position but his arms were too wide apart and the ball went in between them. If the Ivorians have one weak spot it has to be their goalie. Tizie hasn't been directly at fault for any goal but he lacks the positioning and assurance needed to be competent at this level.
Then Holland, against the run of play, like Saviola's goal in Argentina's game against the Ivorians, scored a classic poacher's goal. Repelling an attack they broke down the centre before Van Bommel hoisted it left to van Nistelrooy who hoofed it from within the box into the top right corner. Meite was flatfooted, Tizie was stranded. It wasn't terribly pretty but it was deadly and accurate. All of a sudden Holland were 2 goals up.
The Ivorians then came back with a vengeance though, first Drogba rifling one in that just missed the right post before Aruna Kone sent one flying over from the right channel. Finally though, a quick through ball from the impressive Yaya Toure found Bakari Kone and he dribbled around 4 players at the top of the box before unleashing a rocket from the right corner of the penalty area, that sailed into the top left corner of the goal. Van der Saar stood no chance. Powerful and emblematic, it rocked the Dutch who were beginning to feel that they would be able to soak up pressure and then hit back on the break.
The Ivorians could have drawn level when they were on a 2 on 1 break, but Drogba mishit the pass square to Aruna Kone and the ball rebounded off a stranded Heitinga. There after the match was mostly Ivory Coast. They attacked, attacked and then attacked some more. Giovanni van Bronkhorst twice had to deny Eboue and bakary Kone from slipping around them while Van Bommel and Robben had to rely on diving to win free kicks - the latter getting booked for his troubles. Van persie cleared off the line while van der Saar had to make saves from Toure, Zokora and turned a Drogba header around the post. It was heady stuff and while Holladn had their chances in between - a peach of a shot from van Persie saved by Tizie midway through the second half - it was mostly the Africans who made all the running.
For a 20 minute period in the second half the ball didn't leave the Dutch half save for a goal kick, such was the Ivorian pressure. Once again Dutch defending proved remakable resilient and Ivorian finishing was a tad bit underwhelming. But that was the only part of their performance that guts and thunder.
Eventually they lost 2-1, Drogba picking up a yellow card which will rule him out of the cellar match against Ivory coast, but they really really really tried hard.
They may be going out, but they will be missed, easily one of the better sides in teh whole tournament, it is an eternal injustice that they were drawn in the same group as 2 of the favourites and form sides of the tournament. They pushed both all the way though. On this form Serbia should be quaking in their boots, a distant African thunder drawing to pound on Balkan shores.
Ivory Coast would have qualified from any other group save this one, being easily better that the pick of most teams in most of the groups. Give this side a year together, and they will be a fearsome footballing force to be reckoned with.
Henri Michel, your team may be going out but they've done you proud and will be missed.
Endnotes:
The Serbs won't have Kezman for their next match - a move that can only make them better. Ivory Coast won't have their only pedigreed striker, a move that weakens them significantly. That match should be another belter. Just my luck, both the teams I support are in the same group and get eliminated at the first hurdle.
Holland 2 - van Persie, van Nistelrooj
Ivory Coast 1 - Bakari Kone
No comments:
Post a Comment