So now we’ve seen every team twice and the tournament is beginning to take shape. The first round of matches was a bit of a damp squib but the tournament is definitely improving.
We are seeing more goals now, always a good thing. And the pressure to pick up the three points has definitely meant some teams have been forced into playing in a more attacking manner.
Uruguay got things off to a good start last Wednesday with a 3 – 0 defeat of hosts South Africa. Argentina followed that up with a fine 4 -1 win against South Korea, with Higuain helping himself to a hat trick.
Greece came from behind to beat Nigeria, after a stupid sending off reduced the Africans to ten men. And Mexico piled the pressure on a very poor French side with a well-deserved 2 -0 win.
Friday featured two games bucking the trend of good refereeing. The Germany v Serbia game hardly featured a bad tackle, yet the Spanish referee managed to show nine yellow cards. Two of these were waved at Germany’s Klose giving the Serbs a numerical advantage. They scored an early goal, but even with ten men Germany should have levelled. Podolski was the main sinner with a string of misses, one from the penalty spot.
And in the next match the USA were robbed of a victory against Slovenia by a referee from Mali who saw an offence that no one else did. The Slovenians dominated the first half and scored twice to lead comfortably. But the Americans produced a stirring comeback to draw level before a late winner was controversially ruled out.
England then stuttered to a 0 – 0 draw with Algeria. Enough said already about that abject performance.
Holland picked up a second win by a single goal against Japan. The Dutch have not hit their true form yet, but with six points in the bag and no goals conceded there cannot be any complaints. And they will get stronger.
Australia then salvaged a point against Ghana. The Aussies took an early lead but Kewell’s sending off for handling on the line reduced them to 10 men. Ghana equalised from the spot but were then unable to create chances to win, often shooting waywardly from long distance.
Cameroon took an early lead against Denmark in a thrilling game. Both teams needed a win and both seemed much better going forward than defending. The Danes levelled before half time and went on to score a winner in an exhilarating second half. Cameroon’s second defeat made them the first team to be eliminated from the competition.
Paraguay beat Slovakia 2 – 0 in a game where the goals were both of high quality. And then there was another shook as unfancied New Zealand drew with defending champions Italy. Brazil then cruised to a three goal lead in fine style against the Ivory Coast before a late consolation made the final score 3 – 1.
The final matches of the round saw Portugal demolish North Korea by 7 – 0 before Chile beat ten man Switzerland 1 – 0 although it should have been more. Spain closed the round with a win against Honduras, but again could end up wishing they had secured a more convincing win. Villa scored twice before missing a hat trick chance from the spot and a host of chances were missed in an eventual 2 – 0 win.
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There has been a great deal of action off the field in the last couple of days. Disquiet in the England camp led to John Terry publically criticising his manager’s selections. The clear inference was that many of the squad agree with him. Capello will make changes for the final match, but can his team raise their game?
And France have managed to get themselves into a real mess, with Anelka already sent home after falling out with the manager. In extraordinary scenes the rest of the squad refused to train, and it remains to be seen what effect the ongoing dispute will have come their next game.
What will the final round of games in the opening group stage bring us?
Only Brazil and Holland have secured their places in the knock out stages, with Argentina almost, but not mathematically, certain to join them. But some of the big names still have work to do.
Italy and England are both struggling after two draws and will need wins to avoid an early exit. France have to beat South Africa to have any chance, although a convenient draw between Mexico and Uruguay would make their task impossible. And Germany can win their group with a win over Ghana, while Spain could end up in a three way tie with Chile and Switzerland with goal difference to decide which two qualify.
Other likely qualifiers include South Korea, Serbia, Paraguay, the USA and Portugal while the winners of Japan’s game with Denmark will also progress.
It is the South Americans who look best so far in the tournament. Brazil and Argentina have both played some good football in securing two wins. Holland look the best of the Europeans so far, although their victories have come without the same flair.
Over the next four days we will find out the line-up for the last 16.
With several of the group favourites likely to finish in second place there could be some very big clashes ahead.
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