Day 3 of the World Cup and already a certain numbers of kept promises. The referees respect the rules, English goalkeepers suck, Greece is dying and Messi is the best player in the world. All things the Fourth Official won’t come back on because, being the avid soccer readers you are, you’ve probably heard it all. So what was the perfect way to get over the “Hand of Clod” and God’s second son on the soccer field?
How about some Algeria-Slovenia? A real classic of the World Cup, of course. 7:30am, a tall glass of water, a peach and the beautiful sound of the Vuvuzelas make a perfect morning. It’s finally hot in South Africa as the giant Slovenes feel the heat. Almost nothing happens. Once again, the set pieces bring the danger. To the Slovenes’ massive height advantage comes Chaouchi’s crazy aerial exits. The Algerian keeper further saves his teammates with a Barthez-save on Birsa’s shot (43’). The Algerian forwards seem too lightweight to disturb the Central European backline and their beautiful green jerseys, so the African wingers Belhadj and Kadir bring their support, well orchestrated by Ziani. But no can do, the only one to bring the doubt in the Slovene box is Halliche (probably the biggest Algerian on the field) with a well-placed header that flees Handanovic’s post (36’). The halftime approaches and so does the need for a nap. Images of Robert Green on repeat, Klinsman and Gullit sharing an inside joke, priceless. The second half starts and the vuvuzelas slowly wake an already joyous Fourth Official again, more by annoyance than anything else. In an artificial coma until the 58th minute and Ghezzal’s entrance on the pitch. Within a minute, the Algerian striker finds himself sanctioned with a yellow card for (rightfully) trying to destroy one of the Slovene’s jersey. By the 73rd, Ghezzal doubles the personal score and receives a second yellow card for an outrageous, obscene and, of course, unnecessary handball. The referees are undeniably doing their job in South African. After a good five minute laughter/crying session with myself because of the bleak spectacle, Chaouchi pulls out the second most inexistent save of this World Cup, after Green’s, by letting Koren’s until then harmless shot hit the back of the net (78’). 1-0. The Fourth Official did not think he was speaking so well, when, a couple of days back (aka, a couple of clicks down the page), he had spotted Chaouchi as a probable source of good saves and equally impressive mistakes. Needless to say the rest of the game is as flat as the beginning. Algeria pushes with 10 men, but the European’s strength disallows any hope. Slovenia therefore take the head of group C which already smells suprisish.
It was therefore with a lot of hope that the Fourth Official was waiting for Serbia-Ghana. The writer’s pick of the year against the African hope. No need to wait, about ten seconds into the game Pantelic fires a bullet toward Kigson for the cameras’ sake. As any good first half of any opening game, the spirits are tense and the chances few. Annan (9’) and Gyan (13’) both slightly mishit their chances. Ghana start to take over the game, thanks in part to their physical presence in the midfield. The game is pushy and the rhythm sacked by technical mistakes, just watch Pantelic’s miss his easy-peasy-training control. The game resembles a handball match, with very evident combinations being tested out on both sides. Half-time. And finally we have it. Yes, that’s it, the World Cup has given us at least 15 minutes of high-intensity and fair soccer. One touch passing, advantages played, a lot of running, and (un?)fortunately many, many misses in front of goal. From the 45’ to the 60’, both Serbia and Ghana miss the finishing that might reveal temselves so lethal later on in the tournament. Kolarov (49’), Ayew (53’), Boateng (55’), Zigic (57’) Pantelic (59’) and Gyan (60’) all miss the target. Thank you. The rhythm then logically slows down. The Ghanaians remain tactically disciplined and Stankovic finally grows into the game. By now unsurprisingly, Lukovic sees red after a second yellow (73’). No need to say it twice, this is the time the Serbs decide to step up and dominate the game. Serbia has always had a somewhat irrational feel to it (maybe why the Fourth Official likes them so much after all). Krasic is at the end of a good movement, but his shot from inside the box is only blocked by Kingson (78’). Next, Vidic tries his usual winning header on a corner kick, to no avail, the ball hopefully smashed a vuvuzela deep into a fan’s throat (80’). The vuvuzelas, a health hazard. The drama continued when, at the 82nd, Kuzmanovic pulls out yet another handball, to which all the adjectives to Ghezzal’s also apply. This time though it’s in the box. Gyan beats Stojkovic, 1-0, 82’. Kumzanovic later misses redemption (87’) and Gyan gets no love from the post (90’). The disappointment is heavy in the Fourth Official’s heart, as Serbia showed promising signs of competence and coherence, but no other African team deserved a first win more than Ghana today. Mickael who? Serbia might have already lost their joker in this World Cup whereas Ghana seem well launch to repeat last World Cup’s success story.
Now fully awake and comfortably seated in his couch, your favourite sports, what am I saying, soccer writer was anxious to watch Germany score a thousand goals in their opening game as they usually do. A very sweet desert after a somewhat bitter main course. With a line up that spelled an unusual fantasy (Müller, Özil in mind), Germany aligned their youngest averaged team since 1930! After four minutes and the first scare in the German box, Cahill’s shot blocked near the line by Lahm, we think this might be a different story. It only takes four other minutes to think otherwise. Klose aims at Schwarzer (7’) and Özil gets the corner kick. A mere minute later and I-only-play-well-with-my-national-team-Podolski delivers his two year special: a furious volley that every goalkeeper touches but never keeps out. 1-0, 8’. After getting a yellow card for an obvious simulation (shall I repeat that referees are getting repect nowadays?), Özil starts to grow and his impulsive left foot brings a whiff of fresh air among the austere right footers of the Nationalmannschaft. The Australians find themselves completely outplayed, outmuscled (rare enough to be mentioned) and fundamentally clueless. The German V12 finds no match and destroys just about everything that dares to stand up. After a horrible miss (24’), Klose focuses on the more gifted parts of his body and heads in a perfect cross that only Lahm can claim to produce so constantly (28’). Germany leaves no respite, 60% of possession for them, or how to spend an scandal-free Sunday night (tell the Brits). Özil pushes his ball too far from Schwarzer (41’). Halftime and the tanned Klinsman wears the biggest smile while the rest of the world starts to tremble. The second half can be a copy-paste of the first. Müller waists a beautiful fake (54’), Cahill gets a severe red card (56’), Khedira eats himself on a rebound (60’), “Poldi” tries his luck again (62) and the Australian defence still refuses to close down open spaces. A real Autobahn. Schweinsteiger also puts his print on the game with an assist to Müller who brings the bill to 3-0 (68’) and the newly entered Cacau closes the celebration with a tap in from yet another caviar pass from Özil (70’). The Turkish born midfielder gets a standing ovation a couple of minutes later (when the vuvuzelas kind of fade) and Germany finishes the game in its half, far from any danger. As predicted the Germans do not fail to amass the points and goals where it is easy (aka in the Australian defence), and in a group like this, they are bound to be precious. To be continued.
TFO
No comments:
Post a Comment