06-12-2010, 06:15 AM
It's good to know there are people over your way that follow football! My friends I have over Chicago way that I met when I studied at U of I couldn't care less, and I just don't understand why. It's like there's a stigma against football, and I just don't understand why. Almost like some people are scared that a sport might break into the 'Big Three' and so decide to hate it vehemently? I just don't know.
Anyway, onto yesterdays games. I watched the first one at work, and had predicted a 1-1 draw before the match (I got my second prediction wrong, so I can't boast!). England played Mexico a couple of weeks ago in a warm-up and match, and to be honest they out-played us for most of the match, but we won 3-1. While Mexico can play some nice, attractive football, they have no 'bite' when it comes to the final third of the pitch, something England have really improved on in the last couple of years. So it really didn't surprise me that Mexico were pretty much all over the Saffers for the first half, but there was no end product. I think in the end a draw was a fair result, shame South Africa hit the post right at the death, would've been a dream start for them.
The second game was, quite frankly, crap. No real surprise considering the French were involved in it. They shouldn't even be at the World Cup, in their play-off against Ireland, they scored a last minute goal after Thierry Henry had clearly handled the ball to keep it from going out. Add to that the fact that none of their squad get on and their coach is a bloody lunatic, and you get last night's performance. Why you would start with Henry and Malouda on the bench is beyond me, and why you'd take Anelka off when you're looking to win the game is even further beyond me. I expected more from Uruguay, I actually picked them in my work sweep-stake to get out of this group as winners. With Forlan and Suarez up front you would expect goals, but while Forlan showed flashes of what he can do, Suarez was a disappointment.
The group as a whole is looking very exciting though, anybody could get out of it looking at the opening games (Personally I'm hoping for Uruguay and S.A. to go through, and France to finish bottom).
Today's games should be good, South Korea v Greece should be a tight game, fancy South Korea to get out of that group though. Argentina v Nigeria on paper should be a walk-over for the Argies, but Nigeria are notoriously unpredictable and Diego Maradonna, the Argie manager, is a complete nutter so you just don't know what team he's going to put out.
Then obviously the big game is this evening. I'm predicting it to be very close, like I said earlier we always start very slowly at tournaments, and your guys will be up for this, because if you get a result against us you're sorted for the rest of the tournament basically. Whatever happens, both teams should progress from the group, because Slovenia and Algeria are rubbish (comparatively).
Can't wait, really can't wait, I'm on the beers already!
Anyway, onto yesterdays games. I watched the first one at work, and had predicted a 1-1 draw before the match (I got my second prediction wrong, so I can't boast!). England played Mexico a couple of weeks ago in a warm-up and match, and to be honest they out-played us for most of the match, but we won 3-1. While Mexico can play some nice, attractive football, they have no 'bite' when it comes to the final third of the pitch, something England have really improved on in the last couple of years. So it really didn't surprise me that Mexico were pretty much all over the Saffers for the first half, but there was no end product. I think in the end a draw was a fair result, shame South Africa hit the post right at the death, would've been a dream start for them.
The second game was, quite frankly, crap. No real surprise considering the French were involved in it. They shouldn't even be at the World Cup, in their play-off against Ireland, they scored a last minute goal after Thierry Henry had clearly handled the ball to keep it from going out. Add to that the fact that none of their squad get on and their coach is a bloody lunatic, and you get last night's performance. Why you would start with Henry and Malouda on the bench is beyond me, and why you'd take Anelka off when you're looking to win the game is even further beyond me. I expected more from Uruguay, I actually picked them in my work sweep-stake to get out of this group as winners. With Forlan and Suarez up front you would expect goals, but while Forlan showed flashes of what he can do, Suarez was a disappointment.
The group as a whole is looking very exciting though, anybody could get out of it looking at the opening games (Personally I'm hoping for Uruguay and S.A. to go through, and France to finish bottom).
Today's games should be good, South Korea v Greece should be a tight game, fancy South Korea to get out of that group though. Argentina v Nigeria on paper should be a walk-over for the Argies, but Nigeria are notoriously unpredictable and Diego Maradonna, the Argie manager, is a complete nutter so you just don't know what team he's going to put out.
Then obviously the big game is this evening. I'm predicting it to be very close, like I said earlier we always start very slowly at tournaments, and your guys will be up for this, because if you get a result against us you're sorted for the rest of the tournament basically. Whatever happens, both teams should progress from the group, because Slovenia and Algeria are rubbish (comparatively).
Can't wait, really can't wait, I'm on the beers already!