Day 3 thoughts
Day 4 thoughts
Group D preview
Group E preview
Portugal-Iran
Oh, and apparently Iran's presence in Germany is not going unnoticed.
Portugal 2-0 Iran.
Not the most exciting match of the cup but not the most boring either. Portugal played a bit better thanthey did against Angola, and created lots of chances, but still don't seem to be clicking on all cylinders just yet. They do have 2 wins and are going through, so if you are supporting them the cylinder sync is no problem - they won't need to be "on song" as the Brits say until their round of 16 match.
Deco played well - didn't boss the game like I thought he would, but he did score Portugal's first goal, and it was a beauty. I will say that it seemed to me that he was a bit fortunate to only get a yellow card for his studs up face high challenge earlier. It's wasn't dirty, as he was going for the ball, but I have seen referees give straight reds for less. The only reason I mention it is that if he had been sent off then he wouldn't have been on the park to score that goal. And to be fair, Figo did get kicked int he face in the first half.
The GOLASO was faster than a speeding bullet.
I have to say that although Portugal is clearly the better side, I have been impressed with Iran (in both games really). They created a few really good chances but just could not finish, but they can play a bit and are not the complete joke that many teams from their part of the world have been in the past.
Hey Dubya: if you won't talk to Ahmadinejad,
can I talk to her instead? World peace in 20 minutes, dude.
Does Christine Ronaldo always take the penalties for POR? I was a little suprised that it wasn't Figo or even Deco. CR seems known more for his pace, stepovers and tricks and flicks then having a deadly precise shot. Just struck me as interesting...
Czech Republic-Ghana
Before the tournament I said don't sleep on Ghana. After their first match I said don't sleep on Ghana. This morning I am saying don't sleep on Ghana. I think that they are going to beat the Czechs and then stomp the US and go through. No disrespect to the Czechs, who are very good, but they just are not as freaking amazing as all the lazy analysis after their first match would have you believe. Plus, striker Jan Koller is probably not playing with his injury, so that is a big aerial threat that will not be a factor in this match.
Stop sleeping: this is your wakeup call song
Anyhow, CZE is being overhyped and Ghana underhyped. The Black Stars come out, shock the world, and finally get the big win for Africa. Either way, it should be a back & forth, free-flowing offensive game with lots of good chances for both teams.
9.01 a.m. - Wake up Czech Republic - you overslept. GOLASO!
9.19 - Appiah is rocking the Genie look, a la KG and Ronny Turiaf when he was at Gonzaga. Sweet.
Appiah rocking the
9.21 - I would take this team in a streetfight against any other in the World Cup. Dudes pretty much all look like total badasses that are to be messed with at your own peril.
9.33 - Good save by Cech, but Amoah should have done better with only the keeper to beat. Should be 0-2.
9.48 - HT. CZE 0-1 Ghana. Both teams creating good chances.
10.02 - Patrick Swayze rides a nice wave into the Ghana net, but
10.08 - Cech makes a world class save of Asamoah's rocket shot. Another great opportunity to make it 0-2 goes wanting.
10.21 - PENAL! Ghana dude hacked down in the box when through alone on the goalkeeper. Czech defender sent off- straight red. HUGE moment in this match...
10.22 - Asamoah's rocket penalty smashes off the inside of the post. That would have killed the match. Now they have to work their man advantage to get the 2nd goal and kill the match off. CZE just dodged a massive bullet.
10.28 - Another great Cech save from a Ghana rocket shot. He (and his best friend the ppst) are keeping CZE in the match - a lesser goalkeeper and this is 0-3.
10.30 - Yet another point blank save by Cech. USA fans better hope that Jim Furyk is watching and channeling this shit.
10.35 - The last two posts about Cech? Rinse and repeat.
10.36 - Rinse and repeat again. He is without question CZE's man of the match, and may even be the overall MOTM as well. Certainly living up to the "best keeper in the world" hype.
10.38 - GOOOOLLL! Muntari. Totally deserved. Dude was onside by the way (even is on). 0-2 with 7 minutes left and a man advantage: should be game set match. In the most bizarre goal celebration thusfar, one of the Ghana players whips an Isreal flag out of his shorts and starts waving it around. Ugggh, ok.
10.42 - Some dude named Pimpong comes on for probably MOTM Asamoah. SWEET name, looks like a total badass, and certainly a contender for wackiest hair, non-mullet category.
10.45 - Ghana score again, but it was offside. Pimpong needed to shoot it, as soon as he passed it the receipient was offsides because dude was in an offside position when it was played through to Pimpong.
10.50 - World class, point blank save by the Ghana goalkeeper.
10.51 - Make that two.
Ghana to world: now that we have your attention,
allow us to comment on Israeli politics.
10.51 - A
Czech Republic 0-2 Ghana.
I must know the backstory on the Ghana dude with the Israel flag. If you catch word of it please let me know.
I'm off to North Beach to take in the Italy-USA match and the surrounding spectacle.
By the way, this result is a massive gift to the US of A. USA can now go through even in they only draw today, provided that 1) they beat Ghana and 2) Italy beat Czech. The best possible result for Sam's Army. Hope renewed.
Italy-United States
I just want to say that the behavior of the US coach and players has been , frankly, embarrassing. They have been bitching about each other and pointing the finger at others like a bunch of bratty, wealthy, sorority girls. I am talking to you rush chairman Landon Donovan, treasurer Bobby Convery, social cahirman Donovan Beasley, and you House mother Bruce Arena. Now stop acting like girls and go out and play like men.
Only want to see ladies in the stands today, please.
Everyone is writing the US off, and saying Italy will roll, but you just never know in soccer. Red cards, penalties, and other wacky happenings are always possible. I think the US teams mentality will be important in this match. They believe that they can get a result, and if Italy get the first goal it will be interesting to see how they respond. I do feel like if Italy get up 2 goals, the US may very well roll over and the final might be Italy winning by 5.
If the US has any chance, then Jim Furyk needs to have an amazing game in goal. He is certainly capable playing a blinder, and he has before, but it is absolutely essential the he have an outstanding match tomorrow for the US to have any chance to win.
I can't really see the US getting a result here, though, so I'll just join the ranks on this one. The team chemistry and infighting I think is significant and can only hurt the US - seems like this can only hurt them and keep them from focusing on the task at hand. FWIW I also think they get handled by Ghana in their 3rd match.
Italy 1-1 United States.
Holy Christ, where to begin?
I made it down to North Beach jsut in time for kickoff and ducked into a bar that was packed tot he gills and was 99% US fans. Just befor the match A7 called me saying as an Italy fan he was nervous. I told him that I thought the only way that the US would have a chance is if Italy conceded a penalty or had a man sent off...
It was apparent from the start that the US were totally up for it. They attacked and frankly dominated the first 15 mintes of the match, leaving me to think - "where the hell was this on Monday against CZE?" Was it the players? DId Arena just totally fuck up the team selection/formation last time? It was pretty amazing to see how night and day different the US played all day. Anyways, Italy scored of a free kick cross and brilliant diving header in I think the 16th minute, and as the Brits say it was very much "against the run of play". I dare say it was their first scoring opportunity of the match.
Bellissimo.
I thought at this point that the US might fade or fold mentally, but they didn't and amazingly a little while later they got an equaliser to make it 1-1. It was an own goal, but to this point in the match you had to say that the tie score di not flatter the US - they were giving Italy all they could handle.
About a minute later, De Rossi blatantly elbowed Brian McBride in the face. Replays showed that is was sneaky dirty, and he was rightfully given a straight red and sent off. McBride's face is bloodcovered mess, but in typical
Shameful.
Real life Rocky. Oh, sorry, I forgot the narrative:
Soccer is a sissy sport, and soccer players are fairies.
An hour to go, the US are tied, and now have a man advantage. Holy shit the US can win this thing! A few minutes later the Italian coach makes a strategic move which shows that he is playing for a draw: he takes off striker Totti and puts on defensive midfielder Gattuso, his strategy being to try to prevent the US from getting a second goal. Makes sense, and would become more relevant later in the match.
US control the match, as any team playing 11 against 10 should. Pablo Mastroeni comes aganozingly close with a long curling shot, that had is gone in may very well have been the goal of the tournament thusfar. Just before halftime Mastroeni makes a bad, bad taclke and the red mist descends again. In my opinion this call was justified and correct. Although Pablo was not trying be be dirty and his intent was to get the ball, he went in two footed with "studs up", missed the ball, and caught the Italian squarely and really hard just above the ankle with the studs of his left foot. It was the kind of tackle that breaks ankles, and for me it merited a straight red. This is Holy Shit! moment #2 of the match. Now it is 10 v 10, aso anything can happen. 1-1 at halftime and the 2nd half should be amazing. At half I run out of the bar and over to GoldenBoy pizza, grab 2 slices, chow them on a bench, then duck into another sportsbar that is packed like sardines to the point of sweaty uncomfortableness. If I was claustrophobic then I would have passed out.
The 2nd half starts and within the first minute the unthinkable happens: Eddie Pope, already "on a yellow card" (a first half call that was a foul but not a card, but of course Luca Toni rolled over 3 times and "sold it", and Pope was given a card) makes a tackle and the ref blows his whitle. Then he astonishingly gives Pope a 2nd yellow and the red mist descends for a third time! Absolutely amazing: the US have gone from 11 on 10 to 9 on 10 , and must now play this was for the last 44 minutes. For me this call was absolutely horrible, and of the 3 cards was the competely illegitimate one. Replays confirmed my feelings that Pope committed a foul and nothing more. The referee had turned tha match into a farce, yet at the same time it has become even more exciting and intriguing. Holy Shit moment #3.
Unjust and unfair, in my opinion.
The US play valiantly 9 against 10, and even try to go forward when possible. The Italians do not manage to dominate as much as they should have, and I think of their decision to take Totti off and put on Gattuso when down a man: now that they are up a aman, the coach does not have the team he wants on the field, and he certainly wishes he could reverse the substitution at this point.
Holy shit moment #4: a header off Kasey Keller's crossbar that turns out to be off a US defender's head. Bullet dodged.
Holy shit moment #5: a clear handling of the ball by an Italian defender in theie penalty box. My clear I mean crystal fucking clear. Not called.
This is staring to look like a cheesy, against all odds sports movie, but 1) it is very real, and 2) there's still more to come.
A moment which completely encapsullates my disgust for Italian football: Zambrotta pushes an US attacker twice, the 2nd one sending him to the ground. It was obvios that he did it in real time, and the replays show that is was even more obvious than you first thought. The Italian knows exactly what he did. The ref blows his whitsle to call a foul, and Zambrotta immediately turns to the referee and does the quintessential Italian thing: puts is hands together in a prayer like formation and wves them from right in front of his face to down in front of his chest, pleasing to the referee that he was innocent. I am outraged and disgusted at this, but the referee gives his a yellow for his transgression and rightfully so.
Holy shit moment #6: against all odds, uber-herioc US become the first team in World Cup history to score a goal with only 9 men on the field. Ecstasy - the bar almost burst at the seams from everyone going completely crazy. But the Lee Corso swooped down and said "not so fast my friends". Amazingly, the goal is disallowed and called off.
If a player is in an offisedes position but is not involved int he play, and a goal occurs, then by rule there is no offsides and the goal stands. But if the player is involved in said play and a goal occurs, then by rule the play is offsides and the goal does not count. This "involvement" usually involves touching the ball, and initially this is what I thought the referee had decided. There was only 1 replay shown, from 1 angle, and in the bar it sure looked to my like McBride got out of the way and did not touch the ball. I was thinking that the referee made a wrong decision and that the goal was legit. Once I got home I found out that the referee ruled that McBride's "involvement" was that he was standing between the shooter and the goalkeeper, so he was part of the play in that he screened the goalkeeper (think hockey), and that is why the goal was disallowed. This is one of those subjective calls that each sets of fans see differently. I cannot say that I accept one side's argument to the point of dismissing the other. So it is what it is: no goal.
By the 80th minute it was clear that the US team, having already played 35 minutes of 9-on-10, were completely exhausted and out of gas. It seemed obvious that they would likely not create and more great chances going forward, so the last 10 minutes were going to all be down to heart, pride, digging deep, holding on, and all the rest.
And damn if they didn't make it. I was so impressed with their heart, tenacity, and refusal go give in to their exhaustion at the end. I have never seen that from the US team before, at least in that magnitude in such a big situation.
So the final was 1-1, and it was the ultimate Rosie Perez scenario.
"Sometimes when you tie, you really win."
The US came away feeling like they had won, and knowing that they "got a result", combined with Ghana's destruction of the Czech Republic, means that they are very much alive to go through. What they need is simple: they must beat Ghana and Italy must beat the Czechs. If this happens, then the US advance to the knockout stage as the 2nd placed team from group E, and are rewarded with a matchup against the winner of group F in the round of 16, which looks like a little outfit that goes by the name Brasil. That being said, getting out of the real group of death (S&M are not that great after all) would be a massive accomplishment.
"Sometimes when you tie, you really lose."
Italy on the other hand felt like they lost and lost badly. They played the entire 2nd half 10 men gainst 9, against what is still regarded in Europe as a 2nd class citizen of world football, and could not manage to win or even score. All if Italy will feel like there is not excuse or reason for them not to have won against such a perceived inferior opponent. Furthermore, this expected win would have qualified them for the knockout stage automatically. As it stands now, it is entirely possible that as group favorites they will not even get out of the group, which would be the 2nd time in a row that this happened (Euro2004). More outrage. Without looking online at all, I can guarantee you that there is a massive media shitstorm going on in Italy right now, and I wouldn't even be suprised if they are calling for the manager's head (who was already smack in the middle of the referee arranging/gambling scandal before the Cup even started). I am going on record as saying that anything short of winning this World Cup, and Lippi is fired immediately after this tournament.
This match was the complete opposite of the Czech match, whch would have turned off all of the casual fans who watched it. This match was really compelling and I am sure that it swelled the number of ranks within Sam's Army. If that goal had stood and they had won the match in made-for-TV-movie fashion, it may very well have been a turning point for supportof US soccer in this nation. As it is it proabably just drew in a number of people about equal to those who were run off by the Czech game performance.
Which leads to one final question: Where the hell was that performance, desire, heart, and effort on Monday against the Czechs?
10 comments:
Ow! Did anyone see the boot that Luis "Alec Baldwin" Figo took to the face? The ref has been very lenient on the Iranians, who have done little else than foul. But studs up on the cheek is just horrible. I'm not wild about Figo, but credit to him for coming back -- that was awful.
And what exactly did Pauleta get carded for - breathing on his opponent? Even though Portugal v Mexico will determine which nation is the greatest on earth, between injuries (Deco) and cards (Pauleta), I think we'll see some healthy scratches for Portugal at least... although Mexico is still technically in the danger-zone.
And we have are first "what the fuck was that?" game of this tournament. Craziness.
First thing is first, Mastroeni's Red Card was undeserved. That should have definitely been a yellow, but unless the ref has warned him before said incident, it should not have been a Red. De Rossi and Pope's reds, however, were deserved. I thought the McBride offside call was right, and Italy had a ball into the net waved off dubiously for offsides. VERY annoyingly, the US has chosen to defend via the offside trap. It annoys me greatly, to say the least.
I save this word for special occasions because I don't think it should be thrown around lightly, but referee Jorge Larrionda is a cunt.
I might also add that I wish I had two TVs for Thursday. There's going to be some insanity in our group since everyone's alive.
Though I wish we already had our ticket to round 2 booked, it's going to be an exciting group finish unlike some of the other groups. Two are 100% locked and two are 50% locked. Even those two that aren't fully decided are pretty much decided looking at the matchups and what would have to happen mathematically for the teams with 1 point to advance.
Hmm, according to the Guardian match report, Mastroeni's tackle was precisely one of the things that FIFA has asked the officials to clamp down on and, according to them, the ref, Larrionda, was "left with no options with either sending-off".
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/matchreport/0,,1800462,00.html
The BBC report said:
"Moments later, Mastroeni was off too. His two-footed, reckless lunge on Pirlo was deserving of a red card and left referee Jorge Larrionda with little option."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853182.stm
I still think it was a poor performance on the official's part, based on the inconsistencies of his foul calling. But it does surprise me that the British papers have agreed with his decisions to send off the players.
Donovan Beasley?
The problem was that the game was officiated so inconsistently.
A similar tackle against Convey didn't even result in a card. He got both legs taken out from behind. Cherundolo was pushed in the back after he beat a defender and no card.
The guy couldn't blow his whistle enough in the first 60 minutes and then for the last half hour everyone was getting away with murder.
It was just horribly inconsistent.
I don't think many ref's would have called that US goal back for offsides, yes there is a case for it but it is a judgement call all the way. I think rbr hit the nail on the head by pointing out how the ref went from too tight to not calling anything.
I'm interested to learn about the guy's history regarding "irregularities" that was brought up by the ESPN crew at the end of the game.
Looks like Kanu's crystal ball was at 50% today. Kudos for the Ghana call and I'm glad the USA surpassed expectations (they really did look like the better side for most of the game, though it would be nice if they could finish better).
Yeah, I agree with ya. Zambrotta got a yellow for running along Cherundolo while Cherundolo tripped. It is quite inconsistent. But I think part of it comes from the fact that he didn't want to blow too many more fouls on the account of the 3 red cards. A couple more cards and we might get a forfeiture.
Phil, if that goal wasn't called offsides, it'd be alot more egregious than any of the cards he handed out. The ball would have hit McBride had he not lifted his leg at the last second. It is interpretive, but I don't think fair minded person wouldn't say he was gaining an advantage by standing in that position. If Beasley shot went anywhere else and went in, the goal should have stood, but it went right at McBride.
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