Ronaldo keeps on confounding his critics, and his goal after five minutes set the stage for things to come. Brazil moved up a gear, and although not yet fully primed, were too good for their able but relatively inexperienced opponents.
Just on half time Brazil scored again from an Adriano slammer, and it looked as though Ghana were cooked. Gyan was sent off, and Ghana played the last ten minutes with only ten men, so it seemed inevitable that Brazil would score again, as they did in the 84th minute.
So it's forward and onward for Brazil, to meet France in the quarter finals, which has all the promise of an exciting game.
Spain 1 - 3 France
France finally got it together, and won a hard fought game in Hannover. The first half finished all square, with a goal each, and reflected a more or less equal contest. Spain had gone ahead with a penalty in the 26th minute, but Ribery scored a beauty for France to equalise in the 42nd minute.
France went ahead through Patrick Viera, who netted a Zidane free kick in the 84th minute, as a result of a disputed foul on Thierry Henry. Time was running out and Spain necessarily pushed forward, but it was France who were to score again, in extra time, when the brilliant Zidane took advantage.
It was all over bar the shouting!
Tags:
soccer and football
soccer and football
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
We W-Aus Robbed
Italy 1 - 0 Australia
Just a few seconds before the final whistle, after nearly 3 minutes of extra time, the ten men of Italy were awarded a penalty. In the last kick of the match it was converted by Francesco Totti.
The beautiful game can't get any more cruel than this, but you would have to question just why, Aussie defender Lucas Neil sprawled over in tackling Fabia Grosso. It was surely asking for trouble, and when Grosso went down, the referee reasonably/questionably awarded a spot kick. Totti slammed the ball into the back of the net and that - as they say - was that!
Portugal 1 - 0 Holland
This game, the evening before Australia's demise was cruel for different reasons - twenty of them to be exact. Russian referee, Valentin Ivanov, issued 16 yellow cards and 4 reds, and may in future be known as Avemallov!
Although the actual football was pretty good, the game will be remembered more for its many cautions and dismissals. There were nasty fouls a plenty including, elbows in the face, a head butt and a horrible kick to Ronaldo's thigh because of which he had to retire.
So, high drama, but more like the Gunfight at OK Corral, than a football match. Italy will now meet Ukraine in the quarter finals, with what's left of Portugal lining up against England.
Tags:
soccer and football
Just a few seconds before the final whistle, after nearly 3 minutes of extra time, the ten men of Italy were awarded a penalty. In the last kick of the match it was converted by Francesco Totti.
The beautiful game can't get any more cruel than this, but you would have to question just why, Aussie defender Lucas Neil sprawled over in tackling Fabia Grosso. It was surely asking for trouble, and when Grosso went down, the referee reasonably/questionably awarded a spot kick. Totti slammed the ball into the back of the net and that - as they say - was that!
Portugal 1 - 0 Holland
This game, the evening before Australia's demise was cruel for different reasons - twenty of them to be exact. Russian referee, Valentin Ivanov, issued 16 yellow cards and 4 reds, and may in future be known as Avemallov!
Although the actual football was pretty good, the game will be remembered more for its many cautions and dismissals. There were nasty fouls a plenty including, elbows in the face, a head butt and a horrible kick to Ronaldo's thigh because of which he had to retire.
So, high drama, but more like the Gunfight at OK Corral, than a football match. Italy will now meet Ukraine in the quarter finals, with what's left of Portugal lining up against England.
Tags:
soccer and football
Monday, June 26, 2006
Bend it Like Beckham!
England 1 - 0 Ecuador
Let's be honest this was a match England struggled to win. It was hardly World Cup standard, particularly in the first half, when Ecuador threatened to go ahead through Carlos Tenorio. They were only thwarted by the timely dash of Ashley Cole, whose intervention ensured that the shot hit the crossbar, otherwise we can only speculate on what might have been.
In the second half, after about one hours play, England were awarded a free kick from about twenty five yards. In these situations Beckham does not mess about, and is possibly the best in the world is such cases. He bent the ball around the Ecuador wall, into the corner of the net and England were in front. From thereon they started to dominate the game, and were not about to surrender their hard won lead. There was no further serious threat from Ecuador.
Interviewed after the game, Captain Beckham suggested that they had triumphed over an ugly performance. Well! Ugly is not a word we normally associate with David. Sure, he may have been a bit off form, but he is surely one of the best passers of the ball in the business, and yet again proved to be a match winner.
Tags:
soccer and football
soccer and football
soccer and football
Let's be honest this was a match England struggled to win. It was hardly World Cup standard, particularly in the first half, when Ecuador threatened to go ahead through Carlos Tenorio. They were only thwarted by the timely dash of Ashley Cole, whose intervention ensured that the shot hit the crossbar, otherwise we can only speculate on what might have been.
In the second half, after about one hours play, England were awarded a free kick from about twenty five yards. In these situations Beckham does not mess about, and is possibly the best in the world is such cases. He bent the ball around the Ecuador wall, into the corner of the net and England were in front. From thereon they started to dominate the game, and were not about to surrender their hard won lead. There was no further serious threat from Ecuador.
Interviewed after the game, Captain Beckham suggested that they had triumphed over an ugly performance. Well! Ugly is not a word we normally associate with David. Sure, he may have been a bit off form, but he is surely one of the best passers of the ball in the business, and yet again proved to be a match winner.
Tags:
soccer and football
soccer and football
soccer and football
Thursday, June 22, 2006
England 2 - 2 Sweden
There'll Always be an England - but not if they don't pull their socks up, although it does seem fashionable to have them up above their knees these days!
England had the better of the first session, with the excellent Joe Cole, scoring a magnificent goal, in the 34th minute, resulting in a half time lead. Unfortunately, Michael Owen had injured himself when he fell awkwardly in the first minute, and had to be stretchered off. He does seem to be having a hard time of it, and can only hope the injury is not as serious as it appeared to be. He was substituted by Peter Crouch, who was the only proven striker remaining on the bench.
Sweden equalised through Marcus Allbank early in the second half. They came out stronger and were unlucky not to go ahead when Gerrard, who substituted Rooney in the 67th minute, cleared off the line. The game seemed over when the reliable Gerrard headed in, from a Joe Cole pass in the 85th minute. But it was not to be and Sweden equalised on 90 minutes.
All square, seemed a fair result in the circumstances. England escape Germany and play Ecuador next. They must train hard, and not take anything for granted, because so far, considering the wealth of individual talent in the team, they have not been entirely convincing.
soccer and football
England had the better of the first session, with the excellent Joe Cole, scoring a magnificent goal, in the 34th minute, resulting in a half time lead. Unfortunately, Michael Owen had injured himself when he fell awkwardly in the first minute, and had to be stretchered off. He does seem to be having a hard time of it, and can only hope the injury is not as serious as it appeared to be. He was substituted by Peter Crouch, who was the only proven striker remaining on the bench.
Sweden equalised through Marcus Allbank early in the second half. They came out stronger and were unlucky not to go ahead when Gerrard, who substituted Rooney in the 67th minute, cleared off the line. The game seemed over when the reliable Gerrard headed in, from a Joe Cole pass in the 85th minute. But it was not to be and Sweden equalised on 90 minutes.
All square, seemed a fair result in the circumstances. England escape Germany and play Ecuador next. They must train hard, and not take anything for granted, because so far, considering the wealth of individual talent in the team, they have not been entirely convincing.
soccer and football
Friday, June 16, 2006
England 2 - 0 Trinidad & Tobago
Although England dominated, again this was no pushover. Trinidad and Tobago worked hard, and there would be many who considered they deserved a draw.
It was not until the 83rd minute that England asserted, when skipper Beckham, who else, floated a perfect ball across the goal. Crouch, was ideally placed to head the ball home, and justify his inclusion. The game was essentially over, when Gerrard made it 2 - 0 with a fine left footer, on 90 minutes.
At the end the score line, flattered by England's late surge, looked respectable. Rooney, who came on as a substitute after 58 minutes, understandably had a quiet game. His presence seemed to lift England, but they may need him at full strength, when they come up against other big guns, in the more competitive second round.
It was not until the 83rd minute that England asserted, when skipper Beckham, who else, floated a perfect ball across the goal. Crouch, was ideally placed to head the ball home, and justify his inclusion. The game was essentially over, when Gerrard made it 2 - 0 with a fine left footer, on 90 minutes.
At the end the score line, flattered by England's late surge, looked respectable. Rooney, who came on as a substitute after 58 minutes, understandably had a quiet game. His presence seemed to lift England, but they may need him at full strength, when they come up against other big guns, in the more competitive second round.
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