One Call Changes Everything

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Due to LBF business and staying up late the night before I managed to miss all three World Cup games today.  However, thanks to the magic of the wonderful world wide web and a World Cup app on my phone I was able to catch highlights and find out the outcome of the games.  Here's my take on what happened.

Germany v Serbia

After scoring 4 goals against Australia in the first round of group matches a few days ago everyone expected the Germans to continue their fine form against Serbia and comfortably sit atop Group D with 6 points. But if the past week of play has told us anything, it is that a "guaranteed win" is anything but. Klose gets sent off after receiving his second yellow card and shortly after, the Serbians take the lead with a very composed goal by Milan Jovanovic.  After a handball in the box, the Germans are awarded a penalty in the 60th minute which Podolski misses.  All the credit goes to Stojkovic for reading Podolski's mind, but when you are down 1-0 you just don't miss. With the way refs have been letting a lot slide so far in the World Cup, a penalty is a rare gift and we all expected Podolski to tuck the penalty away neatly, but it happens.

USA v Slovenia

I have a lot to say about this game, but it's 3:42am and I don't remember everything that was running through my mind when I caught the last few minutes of the game and recapped what happened. Side note: maybe I should start jotting notes down for these posts, might make my life easier.  Anyway, if the U.S. is to do well in this tournament (if they advance) they will have to tighten up their defense and stop conceding the early goals.  In this game they gave up two.  Anyone who has ever played a soccer match knows that a 1-0 deficit is not the end of the world and neither is a 2-0 deficit, but it is exponentially more difficult to overcome.  However, the "Yanks" (what's the "official" name for the US Men's National Team?) found a way to get themselves back in with a goal from Landon Donovan and Bob Bradley's son.

Now comes the biggest bull-feces call I have seen thus far in the World Cup.  Maurice Edu scores a beautiful goal off a corner kick and the referee disallows the goal.  I don't know what the call was; I don't think anybody knows why the goal was disallowed.  If you know the referee or are related to him somehow, please do the entire world (at least the United States) a huge favor and ask us what the hell he was thinking when he made that call.  He ruined what would have been the greatest comeback in U.S. soccer history and would certainly have put the U.S. at the top of the group with four points and England desperately searching for answers.

England v Algeria

Speaking of which, I'm sure we have all seen Nike's "Write The Future" advert.  Who wants to start placing bets that Rooney's worst nightmare in the advert might actually come true? (Save, of course, for the Ribery/ Nike advert because he has played like complete crap thus far so I doubt Nike will give him a giant billboard).  I am thoroughly disappointed with England's showing so far in these games.  On paper they have a ton of quality players, but have managed to score only one goal.  I expected Wayne Rooney to bring some of the firepower he brings to Manchester United, but so far all we've seen from him is the equivalent of a water pistol.

I wasn't one of those who hailed Fabio Capello as the second coming of Christ, but I'm sure those who did are beginning to question his ability to bring salvation to the English side.  There is no doubt that Capello is a good coach, but great coaches find a way to win and England have not yet done that.  In the event that England does advance they'll need to score a lot more goals and against tougher opponents than they have faced thus far.

On a final note, with Spain, Germany and France having lost to "lesser" teams wouldn't it be more interesting to see a new set of nations in the knockout rounds of the World Cup?  I think it certainly will. Let me know what you guys think in the comments! Adieu!

Twitter: @LiveBrtheFutbol

Labels: