Nervous Germnay Exit World Cup

In their semifinals game, Spain swept aside Germany to book a place to their first Word Cup finals appearance. It was a dominating display from La Furia Roja, who once again got the best of their European opponents. Th game ended in very much the same way it had two years ago, at the European Championships, as Spain won the game thanks to a solitary goal from the unlikely Carles Puyol.

The biggest disappointment for the Germans will have to be their tentative approach to the game. The Germans seemed nervous. They also looked to have afforded too much respect to their opponents. In effect they failed to play with the same energy and abandon as they had in previous games. In fact this young German side seemed to have struggled to cope with the pressure of the situation. tactically speaking, Spain always had the edge over Germany. The Spanish midfield was always going to be too much for the Schweinsteiger and Khedira duo, and this is how it played out. Xavi had his best performance of the tournament, finding spaces in between the lines as Pedro, who had come in for the misfiring Torres, had a very positive impact on the game and gave a torrid time to Jerome Boateng. As a matter of fact, the Hamburg defender was the first to be substituted in the second half. David Villa was a little isolated and struggled to find spaces behind the ever vigilant Friedrich, but it was the constant pressure of the Spain midfield which did all the damage. In fact Germany created very little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities as they were pinned back for large spells and had to repel attack after attack throughout the game. The goal itself came late and from an unlikely corner-kick. Xavi delivered the cross and Puyol charged into the penalty box unmarked as he rose above everyone and pounced on the ball to deliver in a fearsome header past Neuer. A somewhat un-Spanish goal but one which proved decisive nonetheless.

All the questions will be how would the game have gone had the harshly suspended Thomas Muller played a part in this contest? I don't believe it would actually have made too much of a difference. The passing channels from Schweinsteiger to the front men were well cut out by Xabi Alonso and Busquets. The German midfielder struggled for space and time and failed to make any positive plays, usually forced to pass backwards. Even the marauding Lahm struggled, as he was pinned back in his own half and rarely made any runs upfield. As for Ozil, his inexperience seemed to have gotten the best of him as nerves affected his performance. His touch was poor and his passing errant, he did not seem to be on the same page as most of his teammates. All in all, Germany were soundly beaten by Spain but they will certainly look back at this game with some regrets for having failed to force the issue more and for affording too much respect to the Spanish.

The Germans ultimately fell prey to their own tactical setup. Germany is a team that has operated on the counter-attack throughout this tournament. Unfortunately, against Spain, this strategy failed as the the Spanish monopolized possession of the ball and rarely gave it away. The problem was that the Germans also lacked a plan B. It was not through lack of invention however that this was the case, but more so due to lack of resources. This was the glaring weakness in this German side as it simply lacks the personnel to change the way it plays. The loss of Ballack has in fact affected the tactical setup, as well as had the absences of Thomas Hitzlsperger and Kevin Kuranyi in the squad. Both these players could have allowed for a change of shape and focus in the squad's tactics. Of course in the end, it was more an issue of lacking experience than tactics that saw the Germans fall. In that regard the loss of Ballack and his non-replacement by the likes of Torsten Frings have been key factors in Germany's somewhat tame exit.

Dutch Delight as the Oranje Reach Finals

Holland reached their third World Cup final by beating Uruguay. The Oranje will certainly be hoping for a different script as they look to win their first World Cup in the country's history. This is a Holland team that has somewhat flown under the radar throughout this tournament however, not bringing too much attention towards itself as some other previous squads may have had.

Indeed coach Bert van Marwijk put together a very blue-collar squad for this World Cup. In effect, looking through the 23-man squad, the squad does not boast of the same star power as some other teams in previous tournaments. But it seems to have all gone right for Marwijk as the Oranje find themselves in this summer's finals. Actually the past underachievement of many Dutch squads before has been due to the number of high-profile players and big egoes in the dressing room. It was never an issue of lack of quality, but indeed of too much quality for the Dutch. The likes of Edgar Davids, Seedorf, Van Bommel, and Ruud van Nistelrooy have been the big personalities of past squads as well as the source of some dressing room unrest.

Marwijk's squad is different however. It contains many more workers than it does flair player. Still he included important impact players like Sneijder, Robben and van Persie. Like we have seen it with many teams in this tournament, this Dutch squad plays with two holding midfielders. This is a change from the expansive and free-flowing Totaalvoetbal (Total Football) the Oranje is known for, which is sacrificed for tactical discipline and defensive stability. To this effect Van Bommel and De Jong have been two of the most important players for Holland. After all Holland qualified from the group stages having conceded only a single goal.

Holland were the first team to qualify out of the group stages. They were neither flashy nor particularly dominant in their opening games. They seemed to play reserved and did not come up with particularly challenging opposition. Of course this all changed when the quarterfinal draw was made against Brazil. The Dutch beat their South American foes and largely dominated play in the second half. This was a significant moment as it begged the question if Holland would be able to kick into the next gear should they have come up against more testing opposition. Marwijk's men passed this test with flying colors.

As one might have expected, despite this new look Dutch squad, the likes of Sneijder and Robben are still the difference makers of this squad. Sneijder is the orchestrator and main danger-man. The play goes through him as he pulls all the strings from midfield and sets up the attack. Robben is very much the gamebreaker and Marwijk will consider himself a genius for having gambled on him. After all, Robben had injured himself mere days before Holland's opener. Marwijk decided to keep the Bayern Munchen winger however, and this decision has paid great dividends.

Marwijk's men have quietly snuck into the World Cup finals. Of course their first challenge came in the quarterfinals, when they faced Brazil. But the real test is after the quarterfinals and dealing with the added spotlight and pressure of expectations. After all, it would have been difficult to remain under the radar after defeating the five-time World Cup champions. But the Dutch dealt with the pressure and delivered an impressive performance to beat Uruguay in the semifinals. They have now reached the final frontier and will look to move one step better and lift the coveted World Cup trophy.

History Makers Spain Edge Past Paraguay

Spain have made it to their first World Cup semifinals in the country's history. A shocking statistic really, especially considering the talent that the Iberian nation has produced over the decades. In effect it has always come to as a surprise when we look back at Spain's inability to progress far in World Cup tournaments, and indeed to have never won a World Cup at all. Holland are always said to be the best nation to have never won the World Cup, especially after the near-misses of 1974 and 1978, but Spain must surely be put in that category as well.

It was not a particularly convincing performance which saw Spain overcome the stubborn Paraguay defense. In effect they did not sweep their South American opponents as many may have had predicted it. Of course Spain dominated most of the play and possession however, as Paraguay was content to just sit deep and absorb pressure, but they struggled to create too many clear-cut chances. Outstandingly, it was Paraguay who came close to breaking the deadlock in the final minutes of the first half, had Nelson Valdez's back-post cross been converted. Valdez was again the dangerous moments later as he latched on to a long cross, controlled, and smashed in a shot past Casillas. It was the linesman who would come to Spain's rescue however as the Paraguay striker was flagged offside. Spain came back in the first half and quickly made the change as the misfiring Torres was substituted by Fabregas. The real drama came at the hour mark as Paraguay was awarded a penalty when Pique pulled down Oscar Cardozo in the box after an ensuing corner-kick. Cardozo stepped up to take the penalty and fired low and hard. Casillas would pull Spain out of the fire this time around, as the Real Madrid stopper dove to his right to save and smother the shot. And mere seconds later it was David Villa who was taken down in the box by the then flawless Alcaraz. Xabi Alonso took responsibility and smashed in the penalty. The play was called back for encroaching however and Alonso was made to re-take the penalty. Villar came up with the save this time and the ensuing scramble gave way to a corner-kick, as Paraguay rushed to the ball to clear it. There was one piece of controversy as Fabregas seemed to have been pulled down by Villar after he had latched onto the rebound. The call was not given however and play resumed.

The Breakthrough would come at the 83rd minute of a very tense game. It was no surprise that David Villa would save Spain yet again as his solitary strike turned out to be the decisive one. It is unquestionable that David Villa has been the most important player for Spain. In fact, in terms of the national team, it has always been the case. Torres, for the most part, fails to come up with the goods at this stage. Doubtlessly Xavi is the engine which makes the whole operation run smoothly, but David Villa is incontestably the X factor of this team. This was his fifth goal of the tournament, and all his strikes have thus far proven decisive. Certainly Vincente Del Bosque will be hoping for more of the same from the Spain hitman.

Spain are thus poised to become heroes, should they overcome the impressive German unit in their semifinals clash. It will be a bit of a case of unknown territory for La Furia Roja, but they unquestionably possess all the weapons to reach the final of the World Cup. As we look at the squad on paper, player for player, it is self-evident that the Spanish are superior to the Germans. As such they come into this clash with the added burden of being the favorites to advance. Indeed this is a tag that the Spanish have tried very hard to rid themselves of, especially after their recent triumph at the European Championship. Tactically speaking, this Spanish team may hold much of the same personnel which featured at EURO '08, but it plays differently. Unlike the EURO '08 squad, Vincente Del Bosque plays with two holding midfielders: Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets. As a result the play does not go through Xavi as much since he does not play as centrally anymore. Consequently he does not orchestrate from the midfield as much and plays in a much more advanced position. This team, although it plays the same possession style of football, is much more forceful and direct. The only problem with this is that it plays narrow and usually tries to break through the middle. This lack of width has seen them struggle a lot during some of their games. Conversely, the additional holding midfielders offers extra cover to the back-line and allows Sergio Ramos and Capdevilla to bomb forward and join in on the attack.

It will surely be a gripping contest between these two teams. The impressive Spanish midfield will most likely get the best of the German midfield. Considering the pairing of Khedira and Schweinsteiger, Spain should be able to over-flood them and dominate midfield. however Germany is a team that has proven to operate very effectively on the counter. With the Marauding runs of Ramos and Capdevilla on the right and left flanks respectively, Spain could play right into the Germans' hands. The absence of the impressive Thomas Muller on the right hand side will be crucial for the Germans however. As such we might see the inclusion of either Cacau, Marin, or Trochowski. Trochowski, a very potent attacker and skillful player he might be, is unlikely to get the nod from Low due to his lack of pace. Marin possesses both the pace and dribbling ability but operates mostly on the left-hand side. By process of elimination, we are left with Cacau whose natural position is as a right-sided forward. His defensive ability is the only question mark however.

It will definitely be a game to be decided by the smallest of margins. Not necessarily referring to the score line but more so in terms of the defining moments of the games. The individual battles on offer are all tantalizing propositions as well: Xavi against Schweinsteiger, Villa against Lahm, Sergio Ramos against Podolski, Puyol against Klose. The winners of these key battles will most likely see their side going through to the finals.

Africa's Hopes Dashed As Ghana Bow Out

It was a truly emotional moment in South Africa as the Uruguay substitute striker Abreu cooly chipped in the winning penalty to seal his country's progress to the semifinals. It was indeed not the first time that the South Americans had torn all of Africa's hopes asunder. Their first victim was South Africa, and now it was Ghana's turn to fall.

It however seemed like Gyan would have made history as he stepped up to take the spot kick in the dying moments of extra time. It was the last kick of the game and Gyan could have entered in the annals of World Cup history as the one to have sent the first African team to the semifinals of a World Cup. The Rennes striker ultimately contrived to miss as he saw his shot crash against the crossbar. The ensuing penalty shootout did not prove any better for Ghana as captain John Mensah and substitute Adiyiah were both denied by Muslera. The game itself was a gripping contest. Ghana struggled in the opening minutes but quickly took control of the game as Muntari grabbed the opener. The Internazionale midfielder fired from a long, long way out. Muslera hopelessly scrambled across his line but could do nothing to reach Muntari's ferocious shot. It would all come undone in the second half however as Uruguay gained the ascendancy and Forlan fired in a vicious free-kick to equalize. The game proceeded with both teams creating lots of chances but ultimately failing to find the breakthrough. Ghana had the upper hand and pushed hard for the winner. After a goal line scramble in the dying minutes of extra time, which saw Adiyiah's header illegally blocked from going in by Luis Suarez's handball. The Ajax hitman was succinctly given his marching orders as Gyan lined up the penalty. The rest, as we say, is ancient history.

Ghana's great adventure thus ended at the quarterfinal stage. It is well known that football matches, especially in the World Cup, are decided on the smallest of margins. Ghana's, tragically, is a tale of inches. Indeed, a couple or so lower and Gyan would have smashed in the winning goal to secure his country's passage to the next stage. Bu the Black Stars should not despair. They fought bravely and were one of the sensations of the competition. The Black Stars put in magnificent performances throughout this tournament. What was most admirable about this Ghana side was the joy with which they played the game. Always with a smile on their faces, they played loose and without the weight of pressure, enjoying the moment and the occasion. It would be too easy to say that everyone loves a cinderella story. But such a statement would not do justice to the fantastic performances of this Ghana team, which represented so much more. The Black Stars very literally carried the hopes of the entire continent on their shoulders. Never did it seem too heavy a burden for them however, as they played valiantly and stood bravely before all opposition.

It was a heart-wrenching moment for Ghana, for Africa, and especially for Gyan. The striker could do nothing to hold back the tears after the final whistle was blown. After having been the hero for his country, being so decisive in every game before, he had now failed to send Ghana through. But Gyan fearlessly stepped up, mere moments later from his miss, to take the first penalty of the shootout. He struck it flawlessly, guiding the ball into the top-corner and out of Muslera's reach. Despite the disappointment, there are many positives to be taken. The biggest of which is that this is a very young squad. In fact Ghana were the youngest squad of the World Cup, with an average age of about 23 years old. It is a team full of talent and promise, and as such they should only progress further from here on out. All its squad members show much potential indeed. Kevin Prince Boateng was the standout player of the team for Ghana, while other such as Andre Ayew and of course Asamoah Gyan also shone for the Black Stars. The one fear would however be if this team were to disappear into anonymity as the talented Senegal side of 2002 had contrived to do. These young Black Stars should be able to avoid this fate however, and will surely push on to even more success. As for myself, I will anxiously be awaiting for Ghana 2014.

Maradona's Midas Touch

Argentina swept aside Mexico without a moment's second though in their round of 16 clash against El Tri. Never mind the offside goal Tevez scored, it was an overwhelming and dominating performance from Maradona's men. But it was not the Argentine display that was the highlight of the encounter but their coach himself.

Maradona has come under much criticism - from myself as well in fairness - throughout his tenure as Argentina coach. The Albiceleste idol has strung up 4 wins on the bounce in which his men have scored 10 goals thus far in the tournament. Maradona's greatest achievement thus far is that he has managed to unite the squad. It is indeed no small feat, especially considering all the high profile players on the team. The Argentina squad seems to be playing without pressure and with a lot of joy. All this is down to the coach and Maradona deserves all the plaudits for it. Maradona seems to have put his arm around each players' shoulders and made them all feel like giants. Nothing seems to be able to scare this team and they play liberated and free of pressure against all their opponents. Even Messi, who seems to be struggling for goals, still performs at a very high level. Indeed it is very different from the likes of Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo who seemed to be struggling for form and failed to perform for their respective countries. In contrast Maradona has managed to keep Messi confident and performing for Argentina, and such man-management skills are the mark of a great manager.

Yes Maradona may not be known as an astute tactician, but he certainly hasn't made any blunders as of yet. I myself heavily criticized Maradona for his squad selection and tactics. The omission of Zanetti and Cambiasso were the main issues of Maradona's World Cup squad. It had also seemed that Maradona did not know his formation or best starting 11 throughout the qualifying campaign. This issue has been settled however and the results are incontestable. Tevez, Higuain, and Messi have linked up effectively. The issue of width in the team has been solved with the inclusions of either [or both] Maxi Rodriguez and Di Maria, and Mascherano seems to do fine by himself in protecting the back-four. This is possible thanks to the high pressing defense Maradona's team applies where Tevez. Higuain, and Messi are the first line of defense. That very same high press was responsible for Osorio's mistake in Argentina's second goal when Higuain pounced on his errant pass and rounded the goalkeeper before firing into an empty net. As a matter of fact this tactical setup is probably the reason why the less mobile Diego Milito has thus far been relegated to the bench.

The most crucial point is that Maradona has kept his squad happy. He has been able to use most of his squad during the three qualification games, something that very few teams have managed. As such all but a few players on the Argentina squad have had an outing in this summer's tournament. This has helped a lot in keeping the squad's overall morale high. Even though Maradona has very little coaching experience, being such a great player, he knows what it is like to be at a World Cup. His past experience is important indeed as he can imparts this onto his player and knows how to manage certain situations better than other coaches. Also the team takes advantage of his charismatic persona which attracts all attention towards him and away from his players. As such the Argentine players can fully focus on their football without the added pressure that the world press and various football audiences may bring. In addition, Maradona seems to have created a sort of siege mentality of "us against them" after most of the Argentine press called for his head during the qualification campaign.

Argentina always possessed the talent and ability to go far in the tournament and indeed to win it all. The question was always: will Maradona be able to bring this group together? It would seem as though Maradona has silenced his critics - me included - and drawn out his squad's immense potential. We questioned his selection, his choices, his tactics and his very appointment as Argentina boss, but Maradona has answered all. Everything is going well for Argentina as of now of course. Consequently Maradona can do no wrong as far as observers are concerned. It will take some time to see how the situation develops but for now, Maradona's Argentina has been in great form. Indeed Maradona seems to have had the golden touch when no one expected it.

Premiere League Stars Humbled as England Crash Out

England crashed out of the World Cup in their round of 16 encounter against Germany. While the English will be crying out for injustice at Lampard's goal that was denied by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant Mauricio Espinosa, the rest of most observers will recognize the fact that Germany largely outplayed Capello's men.

It was yet another uninspiring England performance to match what has been an altogether uninspiring World Cup campaign. The Three Lions were unimpressive during group play, and once again looked ponderous and uninterested. It took the second German goal to spark England into life as Upson got at the end of Gerrard's cross to nod in England's first. Momentum was firmly in England's hands as they put the German defense under all kinds of pressure in the final moments of the first half. The problem was that England failed to come out in the second half with the same energy and intent. Thus Germany was able to settle back into the game as they hit the English on two quick counters to put the game beyond reach and decide the contest. Would England have gone on to win the match had Lampard's goal stood? The answer is we don't know. But the painful moral of this story is that it is be far too naive to think that the World Cup could be played on if's and but's.

The biggest question will be how did England contrive to exit so early from the World Cup? Indeed how is it that such a star-studded lineup failed to perform in South Africa? The reasons are many and both simple yet complicated. England showed that they were truly lacking, only managing a draw against the US, being out-performed by Algeria, and unconvincingly shading past Slovenia. It was only logical that England would lose out to the superior unit that was the German team when the round of 16 came rolling in. And so we reach the crux of the issue. The Three Lions may be great players but great team they are certainly not. The team played with neither cohesion nor joy. Although players and manager insisted that all was fine at the camp, outside observers could sense that something had gone amiss and their performances reflected that. Strictly in terms of their play, England played like the "kick and rush" team that Franz Beckenbauer had labeled them after the Algeria game. Yet it seemed like Der Kaiser had hit the nail on the head. England failed to apply any semblance of a passing game, instead relying on long diagonal balls towards the flanks or down the middle and hoping for one of their forwards to latch on to them. They were wasteful in possession as even Algeria looked a better side in their ability to keep possession and move the ball. In effect, even the fundamentals of football seemed to elude the English.

It might be painful to admit for most England fans but the collective failure that was the England performance in South Africa only highlights the shortcomings of their representatives. The cadres of the team such as Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, and the likes of Terry failed perform during this summer's World Cup. In fact they were all made to look ordinary and severely lacking in ability. The so-called "Golden Generation", as the 2001 English FA advertising campaign had dubbed them, failed to leave up to expectations. But were those expectations realistic? The answer is: possibly not. Indeed with players who play in a league called the most competitive in the world, the England fans may have been entitled to hope for something more than a round of 16 exit. They certainly should have but when did "most competitive league in the world" equate to "best league int the world"? These players are showered with praise week in and week out by English newspapers comparing them to the true elite of the sport. The painful fact is that most of these players are not part of that elite. Rooney, a great player he might be, does not rank at the same level of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. The impotent midfield pairing that is Lampard and Gerrard should never be mentioned in the same breath as Spanish duo Xavi and Iniesta, and John Terry is no world class defender by any stretch of the imagination. In a league and football culture that praises athleticism more than technical ability and through a meteoric bringing down to Earth, the English Premiere League's greatest exponents have been shown that they truly lack the level for the World Cup.

The next step now is of course to find the solution. But where do the English really go from here? The Players blame the system and the manager's draconian regime at the camp. Capello blames the disallowed goal and player fatigue due to the long season. Some Blame the unrealistic expectations and pressure put on the team. Others blame the lack of young English talent coming through. The first three are but excuses, as England were put to the sword by the Germans, and all English clubs were knocked out of the Champions League by the semifinal phase. Thus they had more time to rest than those players whose clubs progressed further in the competition. As for pressure, true professionals should be able to play under and deal with the pressures of international football. Finally comes the issue of youth and the grassroots in England. Yes it is lacking but these things are cyclic in nature and the England cycle has simply come to an end. However, it is undeniable that the massive influx of foreigners in the EPL has somewhat crippled the coming through of promising youngsters. After all the English only realized, after callously discounting the Germans they deemed an inferior side to them, that they were beaten by the same U-21 side which hammered England 4-0 at the 2007 European Championships. In the end however it was England's arrogance and their self-proclaimed sense of entitlement to success which were ultimately their undoing here. In effect England's record speaks for itself: in the last 20 years, England has achieved 2 quarterfinals, 2 rounds of 16, and a qualifier. Certainly the Three Lions, the English FA, and England fans would do better to stop looking for excuses and instead search for solutions and answers to the massive inquest to come in these upcoming weeks.

Black Stars Rise Above USA

Ghana overcame the USA team today to book their place in the quarterfinals. It was a gripping tie, requiring extra time for a winner to be decided. The US team once again conceded early in the first half, but were this time unable to overturn the game. There was a glimmer of hope when Donovan smashed in the penalty to restore parity but it all came crashing down after Gyan's extra time winning strike.

Ghana flew out of the traps in the opening minutes of the game and quickly found the goal through a wonderful solo effort from Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose left-footed drive at the 5th minute beat Howard at his near-post. Ghana were the better team of the first half, imposing themselves both through their passing game and movement on and off the ball. Indeed, with and without possession, Ghana seemed the hungrier of the two sides and this translated in their first half domination. The second half was a different story however as the USA gained the ascendancy. The USA team created a host of chances but were unable to fire past Kingson. Ghana, like it had been the case against Germany in their last group game, pulled off and did not apply the kind of pressure they had in the first half. They were punished for it in the Germany game but were let off the hook against the USA who were unable to convert their chances.

The Ghana team is one of the youngest of the tournament and it showed in the game against the US and Germany. Ghana is a team full of ability but they do seem to struggle to see out games. Especially considering that they have often come out dominating the opening moments of their games. They pass the ball well, keep possession, are fluid in their build-up play, and tackle determinately in midfield. The problem of this team is that they seem to suffer of a Jekyll-and-Hyde complex where they simply don't come out in the second half with the same energy and verve that they start out with. In fact it was only after the USA scored the equalizing goal that Ghana came out again to play. It is as if they are caught in between two minds when with the lead as to whether they should attack or hold back. This type of inconsistency can end up costing them in the next round.

Ghana came into this game as a team that was heavily criticized for their lack of a killer instinct. In effect, through their fluid, fast, powerful play, Ghana is a team which has created many chances during each of their games. The problem is that they fail to convert the majority of those chances. Inexperience and youth can both be to blame for this. Ghana had in fact entered their round of 16 encounter against the USA without having scored a goal in open play. Two goals came from open play this time however, with Gyan's being the winner. It all looked like a rather innocuous ball coming in high at the 93rd minute, but Gyan chested it down and drove forward towards goal. He muscled off his Rennes teammate Carlos Bocanegra and rifled in a venomous left-footed drive past Tim Howard. The big change for the Ghana team came about at the inclusion of veteran midfielder Stephen Appiah, as Kevin-Prince Boateng had to come off due to injury. The Black Stars seemed to have regained their composure once he entered the pitch and recovered their passing game to great effect. Thus, in the absence of Essien, Stephen Appiah emerges as a very important element in this Ghana team.

Ghana has thus booked a quarterfinals date with Uruguay. It will be a tough match for the Black Stars, but a winnable one nonetheless. Uruguay's attacking trident will be the threat to Ghana progress. Ghana's midfield play has been very good and they should still have the lion-share of possession as Uruguay is a team that prefers playing on the counter. Ghana will have to be careful playing their usual high press as Suarez and Cavani like to run in behind defenses. Indeed their midfield press strategy was effective in their previous games as they played teams that enjoy building from the back and most of the dangerous playmakers they encountered (Dempsey, Schweinsteiger, Stankovic) enjoy dropping deep and orchestrating from those positions. But Suarez and Cavani both enjoy width and will be making calls for more direct and long passes in behind the Ghana defense. As such we might see Uruguay play less on the ground and with Forlan playing a more advanced and center role than he usually has (like in the opening game against France).

The advantage of this youthful Ghana team however is that it boasts of very dynamic and powerful players on the wings. So If they can attack while keeping their defensive shape, Ghana can avoid being hit on the counter and will have every chance to progress to the semifinals. Forlan might struggle for his usual spaces as the Ghana midfield will be focusing on shutting him down. After all the Atletico Madrid hitman is the main connection from defense to offense and if Ghana can curb his influence on the game they could effectively starve off Suarez and Cavani from good service. The crucial factor though will undoubtedly have to be the inclusion of Appiah in the starting 11. With a place in the semifinals on the line, his experience will prove invaluable for this young side in helping them make World Cup history.

Suarez Stunner Sees off South Korea

They say goals change games. A seemingly obvious and straightforward statement but one that was evident after Uruguay defeated South Korea in the first of the Round of 16 confrontations. It was very much a tale of two halves where dominance seesawed throughout the match. The defining factor today however was Ajax star Luis Suarez, whose goals were the difference in getting Uruguay through to the quarterfinals.

Uruguay started the livelier of the two teams. The goal did not take long to come either as Forlan crossed the ball in and Suarez finished from an acute angle. It was a combination of good finishing and bad defending, as the goalkeeper should have done better with the cross and Suarez's run should have surely been tracked by one of the defenders. Uruguay were the dominant force in the first half, and South Korea struggled to make any headway towards Muslera's goal. South Korea came close to play themselves back in the game through Park Chu-Yong's free-kick, but unfortunately failed to do so as his shot smashed against the upright. All this changed however as the second half whistle was blown. South Korea began enjoying their football and playing their way into the Uruguayan penalty box. South Korea added more and more pressure and turned the screws on Uruguay, whose defense looked shakier after each attacked they narrowly repelled. The goal ultimately came at the 68th minute from an unlikely free-kick as Godin failed to effectively clear the ball which Lee Chung-Yong headed into the back of the net.

The game changed again at this moment as South Korea sat back and allowed more and more space to Uruguay's forwards. Uruguay had all of a sudden regained the upper hand. Just like with South Korea's goal, Uruguay's goal also came off a set piece. The ball was whipped in by Forlan only to meet a South Korean defender who cleared it behind towards the sideline and towards what seemed like safety. The ball however fell to Luis Suarez who skipped past two defenders and, from the top of the box, curled in a stunning effort past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net at the far post. In pouring rain, poor pitch conditions, and under the pressure of the situation, it was what has to be considered the strikes of the tournament. South Korea quickly regained the initiative in the remaining ten minutes of the game. Two more chances fell to them as Park Chu-Young and Lee Chung-Yong found themselves through on goal and in 1-on-1 situations, but both failed to fire past Muslera. The Best chance fell to substitute Lee Dong-gook whose shot Muslera was unable to hold and slowly rolled behind towards the line, until Lugano cooly intervened to clear the danger. An earlier chance had also come as Park Ji-Sung rose above the Uruguayan defense to head in a cross towards goal, but Muslera was again equal to it as he pulled out a great save to safely stop the shot and diffuse the danger.

Thus, with history against them, Suarez's 80th minute strike proved to be the winning goal as the Uruguay held on to move to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1970. Overall, South Korea were the better team of the encounter however. They enjoyed the most of the possession and moved the ball well when they attacked. In contrast, Uruguay operated mostly on the counter, especially in the second half. As they had shown it in the group stages, Uruguay were solid in defense and broke forward through their attacking trio of Forlan, Suarez and Cavani. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez once again had his tactics spot on in this encounter. The player who stood out, in spite of Suarez's great performance, was central midfielder Diego Perez. This is not the first time Perez has played well. He however seems to be an unsung hero of this Uruguayan side. Perez is the archetypical "water-carrier" as it is known in most football circles. A label that is seen very negatively as of late by most football pundits and audiences. But Perez's role has been key to Tabarez's tactical set up, with his tough-tackilng and uncompromising approach to the game.

The danger of this Uruguayan side is that they not only boast of a great defense (comprising of experienced center-backs Godin and Lugano) protected by the dogged Diego Perez, but also an extremely potent attacking trident. Luis Suarez has been banging in the goals for Ajax, scoring 74 goals in 97 appearances since his 2007 switch, and netted 35 times in 33 games this season for the Dutch giants. Cavani has also enjoyed a great season for Serie A club Palermo and his turn of pace makes him particularly dangerous on counters. Diego Forlan saw off a difficult start to the season with Atletico Madrid but the appointment of former Valencia and Benefica coach, Quique Sanchez Flores, saw him help his side reach the final of the Copa del Rey and the Europa League where the club lifted the European trophy. In other words, all of Oscar Tabarez's forwards come into this tournament in great form. with an able and disciplined defense behind them, Uruguay could prove to be one of the surprise packages of this World Cup as they take up their place amongst football's elite once again.

Brazil Victory Highlights Weaknesses

Brazil overcame Ivory Coast in their group G clash to secure safe passage into the round of 16. However Dunga will be left livid after the reaction of Kaka who got himself sent off for an off-the-ball altercation with Kader Keita. Of course it is not the Brazilian's lack of discipline that is the issue here, as his dismissal highlights some cracks in Dunga's side.

Dunga's Brazil have been the sensation of the tournament so far, and deservedly so. The team is solid in defense, quick on the break, and lethal in front of goal. However all this is made possible through the work of a single player. The Brazil team's play is very much centered on the playmaking ability of Kaka. Everything runs through him, as he is the link between the defense and the offense. With Kaka, missing due to his red card suspension, we might see a much more imbalanced Brazil side in the upcoming game. This is further compounded by the injury to Elano, who could have deputized for the Real Madrid ace. The immediate thought will be to play Robinho through the middle, but past experiments of this have shown that he is a player who far more enjoys playing on the wing. Consequently, we will probably be seeing Nilmar in that spot, as he has done so in many of his substitute appearances for Brazil.

Of course Nilmar is a striker and thus will be made to play a most unorthodox position. This will result in a possible lack of cohesion and fluidity in Brazil's game. In effect the play might be split in two halves: the defending half, extending from the Julio Cesar and the two defensive midfielders, and the attacking half extending from Nilmar all the way up to Fabiano. Thus if the Portuguese midfield is able to recognize this, they might be able to starve Brazil's forwards of service throughout large portions of the game and thus limit their chances on goal.

An alternative to this scenario is of course a stellar performance from Robinho. He can and indeed will have to shoulder the playmaking responsibilities in the absence of Kaka. Robinho was very bright during the first game against North Korea but drifted out of the game against Ivory Coast. This inconsistency could prove problematic for Brazil. Indeed with their entire play so heavily focused on Kaka, opposition could very easily focus their defense on the Real Madrid playmaker and effectively seal off most of Brazil's attacking threat. Thus Robinho needs to be at his best throughout this tournament to help counter-balance this.

What this shows more importantly is that all the clamor for the inclusion Ronaldinho in Dunga's side were not completely unfounded. The AC Milan ace could have offered Dunga the type of playmaker the side lacks in the absence of Kaka. Indeed Ronaldinho could have at least made for a good substitute to bring off the bench, and on his performance this season, we could make a case that he had deserved at least that much. Dunga opted to stand by his decision however, and in very much the same manner that Fabio Capello had snubbed Michael Owen from his England squad, left out Ronaldinho. The absence of Kaka will certainly be felt, but Brazil, if they are true contenders, will have to learn to do without when the time calls. After all in a team full of such attacking talent, they should certainly be able to cope with the absence of their gifted playmaker.

Stuttering Italy Fail to Overcome Dogged New Zealand

Just as familiarity breeds contempt, so does parity in Italy's case. This is exactly the issue faced by Marcello Lippi and the Azzurri squad. Italy have registered yet another draw in World Cup play, as the team has failed to record a win in this calendar year. Once again, and this time against World Cup minnows New Zealand, Italy could only manage a 1-1 draw.

What exactly is the problem of the Azzurri squad? The main issue raised is the age of the squad, especially of the defense. World Cup winning captain and 2006 World Player of the Year, Fabio Cannavaro, has been a shadow of his former self. Indeed the Italy captain, in the last few years, has had his legs go from under him. He struggles to cope with the demands and pace of the modern game. His diminishing powers have been exposed numerous times this season, none more memorable than when Fulham striker Bobby Zamora got the best of him to help his team progress to this year's Europa League semi-finals. Another issue voiced by many Azzurri fans is the number of Juventus players in the team. Juventus have had a poor season, failing to even qualify for Champions League football. In regards to this however, it would seem that Italy has shot itself in the foot with this year's Champions League winning Internazionale squad not containing a single Italian player in its starting 11. As a result the Italian squad is comprised of out of form and aging players from Juventus, AC Milan, and AS Roma, despite the last group having a relatively better season under the stewardship of Claudio Ranieri.

Marcello Lippi already faced problems as early as May when he was still trimming down his 30-men squad. The Italian fans made their opinions known about Lippi's squad choices, calling for the World Cup winning coach to include the likes of Giuseppe Rossi, Francesco Totti, and especially Antonio Cassano. Lippi stood by his decision however and kept a firm stance on his squad choices. In effect Lippi's choices of forwards very much shows this. Iaquinta, despite missing most of the season through injury, made the plane. New Napoli striker Quagliarella is mostly untested at this level. Pazzini, a promising U-21 striker some years ago, has gone on to enjoy very successful spells at Sampdoria since leaving Fiorentina and scored 19 goals this season. Like Quagliarella however, he lacks real World Cup experience. As for Gilardino, the ex-Parma golden boy, he has seen his career re-ignited since linking up once again with Cesare Prandelli at Fiorentina. Finally comes the strange case of Antonio Di Natale, this season's capocannoniere (Serie A top-scorer) with 29 goals to his name, who has always fallen short of making his mark at international level and replicate his club form. Indeed this Azzurri squad contains the least impressive assortment of forwards Italy has ever brought to the World Cup, and their opening game results have shown this.

Italy's strikers have yet to score a goal in open play. Iaquinta scored his goal from the penalty spot against New Zealand and De Rossi scored their first on a corner kick in the opening game against Paraguay. Of course this should not be particular cause for alarm. After all, we should remember that Italy won the 2006 World Cup scoring the majority of their goals through set pieces and the strikers accounting for a very small portion of the goal-haul. But this squad is missing a very important element: the playmaking abilities of the Andrea Pirlo. Although Pirlo's performances have not been the best in recent seasons, the new entourage of the Italian midfield will surely help him express himself more easily than he does at AC Milan.

Therefore, once Pirlo recovers from his injury, Italy should slowly but surely return to enjoy better form... or will they? Although Pirlo's return will have a big impact in the squad, it is widely agreed by various football schools of thought that three types of players win World Cups: goalkeepers, playmakers (the iconic #10's), and strikers. Italy have recently lost Buffon in their opening game. Marchetti is of undoubted ability but lacks the experience of the Juventus custodian. As for the aforementioned striker situation, it goes without say that Italy is lacking in that department, especially considering the great Italian strikers of the last decade (Christian Vieri, Roberto Baggio, Filippo Inzaghi, Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli). Thus in spite of Pirlo's imminent return, Italy will still be struggling. The age of the squad will, this time around, be their ultimate undoing. Paolo Cannavaro no longer at the summit of his powers, team morale being down, and with the whole of the nation not backing the group, Italy will be struggling to defend their title. Their so-acclaimed defensive solidity has even come under question as Italy have already conceded two goals off of set pieces. Taking all this into account, it should certainly prove to be an arduous title-defense for the Azzurri. But Italy has a knack for performing under pressure and when everyone has them counted down and out, so there's is still hope for defiant Marcello Lippi.

Indomitable Lions Tamed in Another Eto'o No-show

Cameroon were unceremoniously bounced out of the World Cup, having failed to register a single point in either of their group E encounters. In fairness, Cameroon were poor in both games and showed very little in terms of ability. The team seemed to be lacking on the pitch and out of its depth. It didn't help any further that Eto'o has had a very poor tournament, unable to shoulder the burden of captaincy possibly and carry the team forward.

The Cameroon vs Denmark encounter was not a particularly brilliant game, and Cameroon was not the only bad team on the pitch by any stretch of the imagination. The defending on both ends was shambolic at times. The experienced Sorensen made numerous errors, passing the ball from the back playing his team into trouble. Midfield was not tight and numerous players were simply allowed to run right through to the opposition penalty area. The only saving grace for both teams was the lack of a finish as both sides missed a number of chances to put the game to bed, or at the very least make it into a shootout. Despite it, Cameroon scored the opener through Eto'o but were eventually undone by a man-of-the-match performance by Rommedahl who set up the first for Bendtner and helped himself to a second.

Paul Le Guen had come into the game with much promise where, despite sticking with his favored 4-3-3 system, he included both Emana and Alex Song in the starting 11. The team started brightly, showing much more hunger and intent than they had in their opener against Japan. Conversely, Denmark were poor in the opening minutes, struggling to hold on to possession and barely making it past the halfway line. The goal seemed to have settled them however as they sat back to soak up pressure to prevent a quick second. As Denmark allowed Cameroon more space, the latter slowly but surely took their foot off the gas. Consequently Denmark slowly crept in more into the game, building well through the excellent Rommedahl as Bendtner led the line effectively. Cameroon struggled to get back in the game. Their midfield play all but completely broke down as they sunk back to the long-ball strategy and long-distance shooting that had so utterly failed in their opener against Japan. In the chances they managed to craft, it all went horribly wrong for them due to poor decision-making and/or wayward shooting. Emana was the main culprit in this, missing a host of chances to get his team back into the game.

As aforementioned, just like in the first game against Japan, star striker Eto'o failed to have the necessary impact on the game. Even with Emana on the pitch, he failed to put himself in good positions and rarely threatened, apart from his 10th minute goal and another shot he smashed against the upright. A disappointing performance by his own high standards. Indeed we would have expected better from the Internazionale and Champions League winning striker. A lot has always been made about Eto'o and his performances once he dons the national shirt of the Indomitable Lions. Some say that he lacks the true drive and national pride to perform at the top of his ability. Others say that he lacks the support he does when playing for Barcelona and now Inter, and thus struggles to replicate his club form. We could look at the fact remains that Eto'o did not enjoy the most prolific of seasons. Under Mourinho, and due to the presence of Nerazzurri hitman Diego Milito, Eto'o has been made to play on the right wing as opposed to his favored center-forward role. Le Guen replicated this experiment in the first game against Japan, but to no good effect. He was however the focus of the attack in the game against Denmark. Starved of service, he'd be seen drop into midfield but could rarely link up to any good effect.

The issue remains that Eto'o's World Cup performances have been pedestrian at best. He truly seems disinterested and unwilling to put in the effort. Surely Eto'o boasts of the talent and ability to at least have an impact against the likes of Japan and Denmark. One contributor, as much of an excuse as it is, could be the controversial statement made by Cameroon legend Roger Milla. In effect Milla came out before the tournament with a statement in Agence France Presse saying that Eto'o "has not contributed much to the national team compared to his club contributions for Barcelona and Inter Milan." The statement fueled much controversy within Cameroon, polarizing opinions and leading Eto'o to respond in an open letter to Milla and the Cameroonian fans. Indeed the spat between the two may have very well distracted Eto'o as, according to ESPNsoccernet reports, he had even threatened to quit the team in the wake of Milla's statement.

Whatever the reason might be, it was a disappointing performance by Cameroon and even more so from Eto'o. The Cameroon all-time leading top-scorer should have surely been able to muster up more than he has so far. With Cameroon's final game being nothing more than a formality, but nevertheless against Holland, let us hope that Cameroon and Eto'o can sign off with a more inspiring display and leave with some shred of pride.

Disinterested Domenech Throws in the Towel

France once again failed to score a goal in their second World Cup game, this time against Mexico. The French team, very much like it was the case in the first game against Uruguay, lacked a cutting edge and rarely threatened. They started the game brightly but soon sunk back to the leaden-footed pace that had marked their midfield play in their opening game. The midfield was static and the players seemed out of ideas during large spells of the game. France failed to take the game by the scruff of the neck and Mexico took full advantage of their attacking impotency. But does the talented France squad really deserve all the blame for the poor start to their World Cup campaign?

I believe that the answer is ultimately no. Yes the team as a whole is an impressive alignment of players but has Domenech really chosen the best possible squad for this World Cup campaign. The omissions of talented forwards such as Nasri and Benzema were the surprises when Domenech announced his final 23-men squad. Instead Domenech opted for the likes of Valbuena and Andre-Pierre Gignac. The former only got into Deschamps’ squad towards the end of Marseille’s Ligue 1 campaign this year, whilst the latter seems to have been picked for his goal-scoring exploits from a couple seasons ago as he struggled for form this year. The suspicion is that Benzema and Nasri were liabilities and their presence would prove destabilizing to the squad unity. As a result, for the “good” of the team, they were ruthlessly axed from Domenech’s World Cup squad.

Domenech only made one change to his lineup for the game against Mexico. Malouda was included and Gourcuff was left on the bench. Abidal remained Gallas’ partner in defense, as both Anelka and Govou retained their roles in the starting 11. Ribery was played through the middle while Malouda operated on his customary left flank. The former three had mostly been ineffective and sub-par in the opener against Uruguay, and the thought was that the inclusion of Malouda would spark the French into victory. The reality is that it only imbalanced the attack. The inclusion of Malouda, Ribery, and Anelka in the same lineup led to all three getting in each other’s way and not being able to link up effectively as a result. All three enjoy drifting towards the left-hand side and coming inside from it. Ribery plays on the left for Bayern München, same for Malouda at Chelsea, and until his move to Chelsea - where Malouda’s presence has forced him to play on the right – so did Anelka. Thus it begs the question, what was Domenech thinking and even more importantly, why did he not make a change when things were so evidently not working.

The first change came at half-time when André-Pierre Gignac came in for Anelka. The substitution, if reports are indeed true, came not as a tactical reshuffling but because of a spat between Domenech and Anelka. The Chelsea striker had apparently lashed out at his manager after the latter criticized his first half performance. Beyond this however, Domenech made no change, despite Mexico being out in front and dominating the play. Henry, France’s top scorer, never even got his orders to warm up.

Domenech’s refusal to make further substitutions only highlighted the fact that he just no longer cares. The camera often glided over him during the game and the French coach simply looked disinterested and ponderous. True enough, Domenech’s tactical choices were not the best. The French coach seems to show favoritism to the players he coached while he was the France U-21 coach (Anelka, Govou, Gourcuff, Malouda, Abidal, etc to name some), as much of his squad and starting 11 selections might hint at that. Also his penchant for the mystic (does not pick anyone whose astrological sign is Scorpio) undermines the validity of much of his decision-making. Lastly, this France squad – not wanting to get too much into conspiracy theories – is also the product of some lobbying from Michel Platini. But the fact remains that the France Football Federation (FFF) holds some responsibility for this. Announcing Domenech’s sacking and replacement just before the tournament had even started was a foolish decision and nothing short of sabotage. The French fans have thus been let down by not only Domenech’s poor tactical choices but also the FFF’s poor timing and managing of the situation. Now France faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages. At this point though I fear, all we have to look forward to and hope for is a more successful reign under Laurent Blanc.

Hitzfeld Master Stroke Sees Swiss Upset Spaniards

The European Champions Spain were stunned in their Group H opener as they were undone by Switzerland. It was a great performance from Ottman Hitzfeld’s men who gave it their all and registered an unlikely 3 points. Switzerland were organized at the back and dangerous on the counter. Ottman Hitzfeld is to be singled out for his brilliant and brave tactics.

Indeed it was impressive rear-guard action from Switzerland as they held and rebuffed Spain’s attacks throughout large spells of the game. Ottman Hitzfeld however played with two strikers up to for most of the game, only withdrawing Derdiyok in the last ten minutes of the game. The two holding midfielders, Gelson Fernandes and Gokhan Inler, exceeded in their duties to break Spanish attacks an put pressure on the midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta. Center-back Stephane Grichting also deserves praise, as he was the rock at the back of the Switzerland defense. The two forwards did magnificently as well. Nkufo led the line well and played in his teammates every time Switzerland enjoyed a countering chance. Derdiyok was especially positive as he showed a brilliant piece of individual skill, beating both Pique and Puyol and firing a shot but only to hit the upright. It would not matter however as Switzerland were able to hold on to their one goal and go away with the three points.

Most observers will go on to wonder how Spain could have possibly slipped up on Switzerland. After all it is unquestionable that, on paper, Spain is incommensurably superior to Switzerland. Furthermore, Spain played well. They created numerous goal-scoring opportunities. Their ball movement was a smooth, accurate and as crisp as usual. One of the reasons Spain struggled to break through the Swiss defense was their lack of width. They played very narrow, which played directly into the Swiss’ hands. David Silva and Iniesta, great players they may be, play a very narrow game. As a result Spain struggled to stretch the Swiss defense. Instead it pushed Sergio Ramos and Capdevilla very far up the midfield, and thus leaving them vulnerable to the counterattacks Switzerland took advantage of during the game. The earlier inclusion of Jesus Navas would have solved this dilemma. As a matter of fact his substitution immediately gave way to dangerous cross in the box, which the Spanish forwards were unable to convert. Secondly the midfield lacked real probing and intent. Former Spain coach Luis Aragones also recognized this in a post-match comment where he mentioned the overly precautious pairing of both Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets. Indeed the Spain midfield seemed to be crying for the inclusion of Fabregas, whose directness and probing runs could have forced an opening. The real problem for Spain however was that they simply lacked the finishing touch. Pique, Villa, and Torres found themselves in goal-scoring positions but unable to convert. Xabi Alonso himself could only find the woodwork with a thunderous drive from range. Unfortunately Spain were never managed the equalizer.

Of course all this must be put back in perspective. An unfortunate result, Spain were handily beaten, but it is only a small hiccup. They are still within the chance to finish first of their group. At the very least they will be qualifying. My greatest criticism of this Spanish team is actually what they are praised the most about: their passing. The possession style of passing Spain employs is both their strength and weakness. It is only a weakness when they play against sides that sit deep against them or especially when they go a goal behind. The passing is simply too intricate an convoluted at times, moving it from side to side, back and forth until the killer ball is made to play a teammate in. The problem is that this happens after about ten or so passes. Most goals in football are scored after a quick exchange of up to three passes. Switzerland showed this with goal as it came from a goal kick which Nkufo knocked down to Derdiyok, who then broke through and squared it to Gelson Fernandes for the finish. With Spain's - too often - excessive and altogether conservative passing, it gives teams that sit deep against them time to set up and assume their defensive shape. In the mean time, the astute Ottman Hitzfeld will be going on from this level-headed, and make sure his team progress to the knockout rounds.

North Koreans Spring Surprise in South Africa

When group G was announced and the likes of Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast were named, no one really gave North Korea a ghost of a chance to register even a point or a goal during the group stages. However, in their opening game against the 5-time World Cup champions Brazil, North Korea put forth a display to show that they are no push-overs.

North Korea, as it would have been expected, defended and were pinned back and happy to soak up the pressure for large spells of the game. Defended they did and with great effect at that. The North Korean team was solid and disciplined, holding the Brazilians at bay for the first half. They set up in well organized defensive lines, and allowing very little space to the Brazilian forwards. During the whole of the first half, Brazil were relegated to long range efforts and the threats of Kaka and Luis Fabiano were thoroughly neutralized. The North Koreans did not simply sit back though, they pressed high in midfield and did not allow Brazil to impose themselves on the game. In fact Robinho was the only one who really threatened, showing quick feet and clever touches to try to break through the Korean back-line. It would only be ten minutes into the second half when Maicon found the back of the net. Indeed whether it was by design or good fortune, Maicon's shot - which looked an awful lot like he had meant to cross in my opinion - fizzed past the North Korean keeper at his near-post. The Brazilians would find the back of the net once more at the 72nd minute when Elano one-timed Robinho's lovely threaded ball in the back of the net. It put an end to a spirited and defiant performance from the tournament's mystery team and showed all that they are not to be underestimated.

The most impressive aspect of this North Korean side is not simply its defensive solidity however. The ball movement of the North Korean team was quite good. Their passing was accurate, crisp, and full of intent. In truth they kept the ball quite well and moved it forward with some good effect. The two forwards were very impressive as well, holding the ball well and giving their teammates time to move up and then play them in. The movement of the team as a whole was impressive, always playing as a unit. They attacked effectively and intently on the counter, albeit lacked a bit of a cutting edge, and quickly recovered their defensive shape as soon as they lost the ball. All this culminated in a well worked goal - taking advantage of Brazil's defensive enfeeblement after Dunga withdrew Felipe Melo for Ramires late in the game - as North Korea stunned the World Cup giants.

North Korea showed real quality and interesting potential in their World Cup opener. Maicon's opener was a heart-wrencher which put an end to North Korea's brave defensive display. Although it is still a long shot for them to earn qualification, the World Cup minnows have shown that they are not to be brushed aside easily. Portugal and Ivory Coast will need to take their game against North Korea very seriously after their opening game draw, as they will make it very difficult for both of them. This so-called group of death has indeed only become all the more interesting. After all, the most dangerous thing is to play a team that has nothing to lose.

Japan Stun Sub-par Cameroon

The Blue Samurai came into their World Cup opener and managed their first win on foreign soil. The goal came from starlet Keisuke Honda as Cameroon found themselves a goal behind in the first half and with the uphill task of trying to get something out of the game.

An uphill task it was. The Indomitable Lions' play was poor throughout large spells of the game, despite enjoying the most of the possession. The Cameroon team showed a lack of invention and percussion in their play, relying too much on the physical dimension of their game to take the game to the Japanese. Consequently they pumped balls over the top as opposed to trying to pass their way through midfield. Eto'o was disappointingly absent and contributed very little to the game. Paul Le Guen's favored 4-3-3 system seemed unsuited for the Cameroon team. In fact it was far too tentative against, what has to be said, relatively toothless opposition. The lack of a midfield maestro in the middle of the park resulted in the long-ball strategy employed by Cameroon. Indeed Achille Emana should have certainly started the game, while most Arsenal supporters will be raising an eyebrow at the omission of Alex Song in the starting 11. Playing Eto'o in a withdrawn role as opposed to his favored center-forward position was yet another tactical blunder from Le Guen.

Conversely, the Japanese side was well organized throughout the game. In a game where both Morimoto and the experienced Shunsuke Nakamura were absent from the starting 11 it was all going to be up to young CSKA Moscow forward Keisuke Honda, whose stratospheric rise to fame had seen him a late addition to Takeshi Okada's World Cup squad. It was at the 39th minute that Honda collected Matsui's measured cross, controlled, and lashed in a venomous left-footed shot to put Japan up. It was a goal he'll be sure to never forget as Japan held on to win the game. Japan showed few flashes of attacking potency during the second half but a lack of a real cutting edge ultimately cost them. In effect the team seems to lack goals and reliance on the raw talent of young Honda might prove costly on the long run. Surely Okada will think to involve Morimoto and Nakamura in Japan's coming games.

It was a really disappointing performance from Cameroon, who failed to show quality in their play. Le Guen should certainly consider switching the system to a 4-4-2 or a variation of this formation. The team has real potential, possessing the talent, athleticism and personality to make a real impact. This loss sets them back some ways unfortunately and qualification will prove difficult against the likes of Netherlands and Denmark. Adding a creative midfielder in front of the steel that their midfield possesses can only hope to help a side which lacked invention and seemed content to play long-ball football. The tactic was largely ineffective against Japan and thus would prove even less so against the more robust and tactically sound opposition to come. Idrissou and Geremi, two figures consitantly present in the Cameroon setup, should also return to the lineup. The inclusion of the former would allow Eto'o to return as the main focal point of the attack, whilst Geremi would allow M'bia to play in the center of midfield alongside Makoun, shield the back-four, and free Emana to orchestrate the attack. As for the Blue Samurai it was a historic victory and a great start to their World Cup campaign. They will certainly have to sharpen up in front of goal but with their determined, disciplined, and organized display, something interesting could come out of it.

A Word from Rossonerogo

Dear readers and followers,

I had very early on predicted that this summer's World Cup finals would be disputed between Brazil and Germany, and that Germany would emerge as the eventual winners. As expected - albeit I was a bit surprised - I got a lot of stick for my seemingly outrageous prediction. Mind you this was a prediction I had made before Joachim Low had even announced his 30-man squad. Since then Germany has lost a host of player to injury, namely their iconic captain: Michael Ballack. I'll admit all these losses did worry me and I started second-guessing myself about the plausibility of my World Cup pick. Indeed Low refused to call up the experienced Torsten Frings and Shalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi in light of the injury crisis Germany faced. Frings could have been the appropriate figure head to replace the injured Ballack. Kuranyi could have alleviated a goal concern I had considering the poor seasons that both Germany's strikers, Podolski and Klose, have had. Even Gomez did not enjoy his best of seasons, mostly due to injury. Cacau, Kiessling, and Muller are thus the only in-form strikers in Low's side, but are all untested at this level.

Even so, Germany performed very well in their Group D opener against Australia. Yes it was against weaker opposition but the Germans' performance showed many positives however. The team moved well on and off the ball, passed crisply and incisively in midfield and crafted a number of dangerous chances on goal throughout the game. The team were methodical in their approach play, the interplay was good, and the passing almost telepathic in their ability to pick out each other's runs. It really was a true masterclass showcased by Die Mannschaft. Schweinsteiger dictated well the pace of the game, Ozil was a danger throughout, Lahm was his usual marauding self on the right flank, Neuer looked confident, and the defenders were solid throughout. The other positive were the goals for Podolski and Klose, despite the latter missing a host of early chances before heading the ball in from Lahm's cross at the 26th minute.

The red card to Cahill, it has to be said, somewhat marred our analysis of the true qualities and potential of this German side but it was an altogether comfortable and positive display. This team may be the youngest ever fielded in Germany's World Cup history (since 1930), but they showed real quality and composure. Their play was expansive, making great use of their width. There was plenty of power, pace, guile and trickery on display from this German team as well. Indeed it retains many of the battling qualities that German sides are known for and added much technical abilty from the new young additions that may have been lacking from recent German sides. In effect they played with great inventiveness in midfield and, as iconic German striker Jurgen Klinsmann stated, with great joy as well.

I look forward to seeing how this German team proceeds in their coming games and hope that they can secure qualification to the knockout phase with minimum fuss. In the mean time, as I had warned many beforehand, watch out for Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil who I am touting to be the star player of this German side and one of the great youngsters on exhibition in this summer's tournament.

Green Gaffe Let's the Points Slip

Robert Green made a high profile mistake which saw England only able to muster a point against the USA. It looked a routine save when Green put himself in front of Dempsey's long range effort but he then contrived to let the ball slip out of his hands and spill into the goal. As expected the English press came out like sharks smelling blood, plastering the front pages of the Daily News with the headline: "Hand of Clod." Capello kept him on for the second half and Green slowly regained his composure, coming up with a good save at his near-post against Altidore's shot in the second half.

Green's mistake however hides the fact that the England performance was altogether an uninspiring one. Apart from the opening minutes when the Three Lions crafted a good move which gave way to a Steven Gerrard goal, they failed to really threaten after that. England looked flat all over the pitch. Lampard was absent through large spells of the game with his only contribution coming from an outside shot which sailed wide of the goal. Rooney was kept quite by the US defense as well and barely threatened. It has to be said, a series of early substitutions to the injured James Milner and Ledley King may have played a role in unbalancing and destabilizing Capello's side. However, with all the quality and personality in the England squad, they should have been able to regain their shape.

As expected Lennon was poor in the game. His final ball was lacking and thus could not create any real danger from the flank. The Tottenham winger found himself clean through on goal and could have made it 2-0 but chose to square the ball instead. His pass was however inaccurate and the chance went begging. This is in fact a real problem in Lennon's game, as he seems very hesitant to shoot whenever the opportunity presents itself. Gerrard started lively but ultimately faded out of the game. As it has always been the case, the midfield combination of Lampard and Gerrard could not bear fruit.

Unfortunately Capello made a couple gambles which simply did not work out for him. he picked James Milner over Joe Cole, but had to quickly substitute him after he suffered an injury. In fairness Milner did not start very well, seemingly struggling for pace against Cherundolo. The other was gambling on the fitness of Ledley King, when he had the experienced Carragher available. Indeed it says a lot about how much the Italian rates the Liverpool center-half and the Chelsea playmaker. In effect Joe Cole did not even get the nod to come on after the injury to Milner, as Capello opted to put in Shaun Wright-Phillips instead.

The England team will have to take a long hard look at themselves once again. After a very successful qualifying campaign, England's old problems re-surfaced in their opening match. Green's mistake certainly did not help the situation but the Three Lions' biggest personalities failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Rooney, on whose shoulders many of England's hopes rest, failed to show up in this opening game. Gareth Barry was greatly missed as the Lampard-Gerrard conundrum still remains unresolved. Lennon seems out of his depth and his lack of a final ball and shot-shyness will certainly see him dropped from the starting eleven in the upcoming games. Jamie Carragher certainly deserves a starting berth in the center of defense as opposed to just cover for Glen Johnson on the right. Especially considering the absence of Ferdinand and King's fitness issues.

It's unfortunately very much back to the drawing board for Capello. It was a disappointing performance by England's own high standards. Of course we cannot discount a very good performance from Bob Bradley's side, who showed some real quality about them. They fought hard and certainly deserved a point out of the game. Cherundolo was very positive on the right flank and the defense smothered the threat of Rooney with great effect. The USA team can take good positives from this game and they need to now build on it to secure safe passage to the knockout rounds.

Black Stars Shine In South Africa

In their group opener, the Black Stars faced Serbia and showcased what was arguably the best performance of the tournament thus far. Ghana showed confidence, composure, and a real positive attitude in their approach to the game. They were the deserved winners of the encounter as they dominated Serbia throughout the match.

Against a team who had wrapped up their qualifying campaign undefeated and were known for their defensive solidity, Ghana was always going to have a tough match on their hands. Despite this, they fearlessly attacked from the kick-off and did not shy away from their European opponents. In terms of tactics and and general play, Ghana proved far superior than Serbia. They were stronger in the tackle, they pressed determinately in midfield, and defended doggedly at the back. Paintsil and Mensah had particularly good games, keeping Pantellic and Zigic quiet for the majority of the game. It was Ghana's expansive and attacking play which caught the eye however. The Black Stars passed crisply and confidently, looking lively and dangerous whenever they went forward. The two holding midfielders, Annan and Asamoah, did well in shielding the back-four with the latter making effective runs forward. But it was Kevin-Prince Boateng who stood out as his link-up play helped Ghana achieve cohesiveness and fluidity in their approach. He performed admirably well in his midfield duties, playing in his teammates and making himself an attacking threat with deep-lying runs. Left winger Andre Ayew also enjoyed a great game as he showed good pace and guile, getting the best of Ivanovic on numerous occasions. Asamoah Gyan also performed well, leading the line superbly and making a handful of himself against Vidic.

Ghana dominated the play and crafted a number of opportunities throughout the game. Indeed Serbia found itself on the back-foot for large spells of the game and unable to deal with the pace and power of the Ghana attackers. The midfield battle was comprehensively won by Ghana, as Serbia seemed to lack invention and ideas. Their main attacking threats came from set-pieces and the dangerous Jovanovic, who looked lively on the left. Highly-rated CSKA Moskow winger, Milos Krasic, seemed to struggle to keep up with the pace of the play and had an altogether poor game with his only good contribution coming in the second half as his shot was pushed up and away by Kingson. Certainly Serbian coach Radomir Antic will be hoping for a much better showing from his star player in the upcoming games. Despite fashioning a host of chances however it was only in the final moments of the game, after a handball from substitute Kuzmanovic, that Ghana would break the deadlock through the ensuing penalty. Gyan took charge of the spot kick and with a confident strike, emphatically put his team in front at the 85th minute. Gyan almost went on to score a second in the dying embers of the game, bursting past Vidic and fighting him off to let loose a right-footed shot that unfortunately hit the inside of the post only to bounce back out. Serbia responded by bringing in Lazovic and pumping long balls into the box. It was all in vein though as Ghana valiantly held on to secure the three points.

Even though Serbia found itself playing with 10 men after defender Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off at the 74th minute following a second bookable offense, it would be a discredit to Ghana's performance if we were to award their victory over Serbia on the sending off. Ghana always looked the more likely side to take the three points, and coach Milovan Rajevac got his tactics spot on. The energetic K. Asamoah, who enjoyed a break out season for Seria A side Udinese, relentlessly put pressure on Serbia midfield veteran Dejan Stankovic and prevented him from exposing the defense. Wingers, Ayew and Tagoe, worked hard at both ends of the pitch, offering great runs and delivery on the counter and minding their defensive duties when not in possession. Midfieder Kevin-Prince Boateng kept a close eye on danger-man Krasic, who consequently had a rather pedestrian game and looked out of ideas for most of the game. Mensah and Vorsah didn't put a foot wrong all game as they sealed off the threat of Serbia's 6'8'' giant, Nikola Zigic.

It truly was a masterclass from Ghana, who made their opponents look out of their depth. It was indeed a very promising performance from the Black Stars who will surely built from this and go on to do even better in their upcoming games. Despite some difficulties in front of goal and the lack of depth in terms of their strike force, they can take many positives from their opening game. Ghana were positive going forward and always looked dangerous in and around the last third of the pitch. Their delivery from crosses both in open-play and from set-pieces was good and their passing was crisp, confident, and composed. They remained solid at the back and Kingson came up with crucial saves at important moments of the match, despite not having to do much for large portions of the game.

Ghana have now become the first African team to register a win at this summer's World Cup. On the other hand, Europe's goal drought keeps on with only Slovenia and England registering a goal each thus far. Ghana's play was really different class at times against Serbia, in spite of the absence of their inspirational midfielder Michael Essien. Indeed the Chelsea midfielder's late injury had many observers thinking the team was weakened beyond repair. However it must be pointed out that Ghana reached the final of this year's African Cup of Nations without Essien and a host of other cadres (such as Muntari and Appiah to name a couple). Indeed the ACN Ghana squad was one comprised of a group of many youngsters, some of which had been integrated from the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup winning side that triumphed over Brazil. With them, an experienced core of players to surround them, and the impressive Kevin-Prince Boateng to deputize for the injured Essien, Ghana seems to boast of all the necessary tools to become the shining hopes of Africa in this year's tournament.

Lackluster Nigeria Fold Against Argentina

Most observers would have expected Nigeria to suffer defeat today in their group B matchup against Argentina. It was the Nigerian performance which was most deplorable however. The Nigeria team barely threatened and seemed content sitting back and absorbing pressure from the Argentina team. They crafted few chances on the counter but all were ultimately wasted due to a lacking final ball or wayward shooting.

The whole of the Nigeria team was pedestrian in their approach. The Super Eagles were not present in their tackles and failed to fight for the second ball. They relinquished midfield in their refusal to press Argentina and were tentative when going forward. Consequently Lars Lagerback's team fell behind early on, when Gabriel Heinze delivered the goal with a powerful diving header from Veron's corner in the 6th minute. The defending was poor during the set-play as the Argentine defender was granted a free header from the Nigerian defense. Nigeria looked like they were in for a long day as two more chances fell to Real Madrid striker, Gonzalo Higuain. The first came from good work down the right flank when the Messi squared a ball for his teammate, but which he failed to convert as his side-footed attempt missed the target. The other came as Higuain broke towards goal but could not fire past Nigerian keeper, Vincent Enyeama. It was going to be one of a string of saves from Enyeama who kept his team within a chance throughout the match. Indeed he twice denied Messi's curling efforts, with a particularly impressive fingertip save at the 37th minute mark. The first half ended with Argentina up and the more positive of the two teams. Nigeria had only managed one good attack when Obasi latched on to Victor Obinna's cross, but poor control led him to drag his left-footed shot wide of goal.

The second half resumed in much of the same manner that the first had ended. It was only after the introduction of attacking duo Obafemi Martins and Peter Odemwingie that Nigeria sparked into life. They enjoyed good chances on the counter, the best of which came at the 70th minute after Odemwingie pick-pocketed Veron and squared a ball at the edge of the box for the onrushing Taiwo, whose powerful low drive flew agonizingly wide of the post. Another opportunity presented itself at the 82nd minute when Yakubu dinked a cross in the box but the chance ultimately went begging as halftime substitute Uche failed to find the target. It was an equally frustrating afternoon for Messi as well however, who found himself unable to get the beating of Enyeama after being played through on goal numerous times.

It was an altogether disappointing performance from Nigeria. The Super Eagles will have to considerably up their game if they wish to qualify for the knockout phases of the competition. They were outplayed for large spells of the game and were certainly found out against some of Argentina's attacks. They offered Maradona's men far too much space and respect, and were ultimately made to pay for their pedestrian approach. Yakubu failed to really get in the game, only showing up in flashes. Obasi started off well but ultimately struggled as Gutierrez got the best of him. Martins and Odemwingie were the most positive antagonists and the main attacking threats for Nigeria. Given their performances, Lars Lagerback would certainly think to start them in the coming matches. The defense performed satisfactorily, although they struggled to contain the threat of Messi during large spells of the game. Indeed, if it had not been for the man-of-the-match performance of goalkeeper Enyeama, the score line could have been much worse for Nigeria.

In general, Nigeria failed to change the tempo of their play, both on and off the ball. They showed quality only in glimpses on the counter-attack, managing only one shot on goal and 35% of the possession throughout the match. for now we can only hope that former Sweden coach, Lars Lagerback, can learn from this and that the Super Eagles can fulfill the potential we know they possess.