USA is a growing force in international soccer

Let there be no doubts - the USA is now a force in international soccer, is a growing force and is here to stay. Maybe this will not be the tournament that the USA reaches the semi-final stage, but the next one might. Klinnsmann has turned the team from a solid and useful group to a talented one.

Portugal on the other hand is hugely disappointing - lackluster, obviously struggling with the climate, and half the squad looking as if it is fighting against injury after spending the season out of the first team in their clubs. In which case, why did Paulo Bento display such crass conservatism in taking his squad, why didn't he choose fresher players with something to prove?

The answer may not lie only with Paulo Bento but with the agents which surround the team and the famous lobbies which feather their own nests and stop development at every level in Portugal, not just in sport.

  

USA 2 Portugal 2

            Nani 5, Varela 90

Jones 64

Dempsey 81

  

USA

Howard, Johnson, Beasley, Jones, Cameron, Besler, Bedoya (Yedlin), Beckerman, Dempsey (Wondolowski), Bradley, Zusi (González)

Coach: Juergen KLINNSMANN

Yellow card: Jones

  

Portugal

Beto, João Pereira, Almeida (Carvalho), Miguel Veloso, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Costa, João Moutinho, Meireles (Varela), Postiga (Eder), Nani, Ronaldo

Coach: Paulo BENTO

Yellow card: -

  

Ball possession: USA 48% Portugal 52%

Shots/on target: USA 15/5 Portugal 21/7

Corners: USA 6 Portugal 4

Fouls committed: USA 11 Portugal 14

 

Group G

  

Germany 1 1 0 6 2 +4 4

USA 1 1 0 4 3 +1 4

Ghana 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1

Portugal 0 1 1 2 6 -4 1

  

Goal scorers

Germany: T. Müller (3), Hummels. Götze, Klose

USA: Dempsey (2), Brooks, Jones

Ghana: A. Ayew (2), Gyan

Portugal: Nani, Valera

 

 

 

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 

Group A: Second round

  

Cameroon 0 Croatia 4

                      Olic 11, Perisic 48, Mandzukic 61, 73

 

Croatia started well, in a first half which was balanced. Both teams managed seven shots (Croatia had 4 on target to Cameroon's nil) Cameroon had 2 corners to Croatia's 3... Croatia scored...and Cameroon had a player sent off (Alexandre Song).In the second half, Croatia turned on the pressure, scored three more goals...and Cameroon is out of the World Cup.

  

  

Match statistics

Cameroon

Itandje,  Matip, Assou-Ekotto, Song, N'Koulou, Chedjou (Nounkeu), Moukandjo, Mbia, Aboubakar (Webó), Enoh, Choupo-Moting (Salli)

Coach: Volker FINKE

Yellow card: -

Red card: Song (Misses next match)

  

Croatia

Pletikosa, Srna, Pranjic, Rakitic, Corluka, Lovren, Perisic (Rebic), Modric, Mandzukic, Cruz Campos (Kovacic), Olic (Eduardo)

Coach: Niko KOVAC

Yellow card: Eduardo

 

Ball possession: Cameroon 42% Croatia 58%

Shots/on target: Cameroon 17/2 Croatia 18/2

Corners: Cameroon 4 Croatia 7

Fouls committed: Cameroon 11 Croatia 9

  

  

  

Brazil 0 Mexico 0

  

Match statistics

  

Brazil

Julio César, Dani Alves, Marcelo, Luiz Gustavo, Thiago Silva, David Luiz,  Ramires, (Bernard), Paulinho, Fred (Jô), Neymar, Oscar (Willian)

Coach: Luiz Felipe SCOLARI

Yellow cards: Thiago Silva, Ramires

  

Mexico

Ochoa,  Aguilar, Layún,  Moreno, Márquez, Rodríguez, Herrera (Fabián), Vázquez, dos Santos (Jiménez), Peralta (Hernández), Guardado

Coach: Miguel HERRERA

Yellow card: Aguilar, Vázquez

 

Ball possession: Brazil 53% Mexico 47%

Shots/on target: Brazil 15/6 Mexico 13/2

Corners: Brazil 4 Mexico 3

Fouls committed: Brazil 13 Mexico 18

  

  

  

First round

  

Mexico 1 Cameroon 0

O. Peralta 61

 

Cameroon can say that they could have come away from this match with a point, and this is backed up by the match statistics: 10 shots for Cameroon, 4 on target, against nine shots from Mexico, 5 on. Cameroon had five corners to the Aztecs' two. Mexico, however, had two goals ruled out before Cameroon had a chance right at the end of the game when Ochoa somehow managed to save Benjamin Moukandjo's header in the top left corner of the goal.

 

Match statistics

  

Mexico

Ochoa, F. Rodriguez, Marquez (Capt), Herrera (Salcido), Layun, Dos Santos, Moreno, Guardado (Fabian), O. Peralta (Hernandez), Aguilar, Vazquez

Coach: Miguel HERRERA

Yellow card: Moreno

 

Cameroon

Itanjde, Assou Eketto, Nkoulou, Djeugoue (Mounkeu), Song (Webo), Moukandjo, Eto'o (Capt), Choupo-Moting, Chedjou, Mbia, Enoh

Coach: Volker FINKE

Yellow card: Nounkeu

 

Ball possession: Mexico 62% Cameroon 38%

Shots/on target: Mexico 9/5 Cameroon 10/4

Corners Mexico 2 Cameroon 5

Fouls committed Mexico 11 Cameroon 12

 

 

Brazil 3        Croatia 1

Neymar 29   Marcelo (own goal, o.g. 11)

Neymar 71 (pen)

Oscar 90

 

Hrvatska! This was the first roar the Arena Corinthians Stadium heard this evening as the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicked off with the Group A game between hosts Brazil and Croatia, when after ten minutes Marcelo poked a loose ball into his own net, the sequence of a Croatia counter-attack from Brazil's first corner of five on nine minutes.

 

Brazil kept pressing, despite the setback and after 29 minutes, the amazing Neymar equalized, three minutes after getting a yellow card for elbowing. His left-footed shot rebounded off the woodwork, leaving Croatia's solid keeper, Pletikosa, beaten.

 

In the second half, Neymar (penalty) and Oscar added two more goals for Brazil on 71 and 90 minutes, the last coming seconds after Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar made a crucial save.

 

Croatia will certainly prove a difficult opponent for Cameroon and Mexico in the same group but can hardly complain about this result, such was the dominance of Brazil's attacking display.

 

Match statistics

 

Brazil

Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, T. Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Hulk (Bernard), Paulinho (Hernanes), Fred, Neymar (Ramires), Oscar, L. Gustavo 

Coach: Luiz Felipe SCOLARI

Yellow cards: Neymar, L. Gustavo

 

Croatia

Pletikosa, Vrsaljko, Perisic, Corluka, Lovren, Rakitic, Jelavic (Rebic), Modric, Srna, Olic, Kovacic (Brozovic)

Coach: Niko KOVAC

Yellow cards: Corluka, Lovren

 

Ball possession: Brazil 61% Croatia 39%

Shots/on target: Brazil 14/6 Croatia   11/3

Corners Brazil 7 Croatia 3

Fouls committed Brazil 5 Croatia 20

 

Groups

Group

Country Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against Goal difference Points

 

Group A After two games                                                 

Brazil Cameroon Croatia Mexico                 

 

Brazil 1 1 0 3 1 + 2 4

Mexico 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4

Croatia 1 0 1 5 3 +2 3

Cameroon 0 0 2 0 5 -5 0

 

 

Goal scorers:

Brazil: Neymar (2)  Oscar 1 

Mexico: O.Peralta

Own goals: Marcelo 1 Brazil (for Croatia)

Croatia: Olic, Perisic, Mandzukic (2)

 

Scenarios:

Mexico v. Croatia. A draw or a win is enough to put Mexico through, a Croatia win is enough to put Croatia through. A draw or a win against Cameroon puts Brazil through. The complication is if Brazil loses and Mexico draws or wins, in which case, in which case goal difference kicks in.

 

Group B After 2 games

Australia Chile Netherlands Spain

 

Spain 0 Chile 2

              Vargas 19, Aránguiz, 43

  

Spain's Vicente del Bosque and his tiki-taka pupils had no answer for Chile today. The result is two games, seven goals against, one for (penalty), and an early exit from the World Cup. Spain has some serious introspection to do and one good idea would be to contract Portugal's José Mourinho to coach the side to their former glory. This would begin by retiring Iker Casillas.

  

Match statistics

  

Spain

Casillas, Azpilicueta, Alba, Alonso (Koke), Javi Martínez, Ramos, Pedro (Cazorla), Busquets, Diego Costa (Torres), Silva, Iniesta

Coach: Vicente DEL BOSQUE

Yellow card: Alonso

  

Chile

Bravo,  Isla, Mena, Jara, Medel, Silva, Aránguiz (Gutierrez), Díaz,Vidal (Carmona), Sánchez, Vargas (Valdívia)

Coach: Jorge SAMPAOLI

Yellow card: Mena, Vidal

 

 

Ball possession: Spain 63% Chile 37%

Shots/on target: Spain 16/6 Chile 8/4

Corners: Spain 7 Chile 1

Fouls committed: Spain 14 Chile 15

  

Australia 2 Netherlands 3

Cahill 21     Robben 20

Jedinak 54  Van Persie 58, Depay 68

(pen)

  

Group B

Australia had a fantastic first half, playing as equals with the Netherlands and blocking the Dutch midfield. It was the Netherlands however that opened the score when Robben latched on to a ball that was intercepted from the left, ran from the halfway line and fired with his left foot to the left of the keeper.

Australia's reaction was as immediate as it was amazing. Cahill made contact with his left foot, volleying home a cross from the right near the half-way line leaving Cillesen no chance. On 30' and 31' Bresciano and Spiranovic could have put Australia ahead with good chances but the first half ended badly, with Bruno Martins (Netherlands) behind stretchered off after a foul from Cahill, which earns him a one-match band for round 3.

  

In the second half, Australia went ahead, through a penalty from Jedinak on 54' but the Netherlands came back, with an equalizer from Van Persie on 58' and the winner, ten minutes later (Depay). Australia has lost two games but leaves a very positive impression for the future after this game, which it was unlucky to lose.

 

For the Netherlands, 2 games, 6 points, 8 goals scored... what more could one ask for? Is this the Year of the Orange?

  

  

Match statistics

  

Australia

Ryan, McGowan, Davidson, McKay, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Leckie, Jedinak, Cahill (Halloran), Bresciano (Bozanic), Oar (Taggart)

Coach: Ange POSTECOGLOU

Yellow cards: Cahill (Misses next match)

  

  

Netherlands

Cillessen, Janmaat, Blind, Martins Indi (Depay), Vlaar, de Vrij, de Guzmán (Vijnaldum), de Jong, Sneijder, van Persie (Lens), Robben

Coach: Louis VAN GAAL

Yellow card: Van Persie

  

Ball possession: Australia 50% Netherlands 50%

Shots/on target: Australia 10/4 Netherlands 14/9

Corners: Australia 3 Netherlands 2

Fouls committed: Australia 18 Netherlands 25

 

 

  

First round

Spain 1                     Netherlands 5

Xavi Alonso             Van Persie 44, 72; Robben 53, 80; de Vrij 64

(pen) 27  

 

The Netherlands has the first candidate for the goal of the tournament: Van Persie's equalizing header from the middle of the area, following an inch-perfect pass from the left (Daley Blind). Spain had edged ahead, through a penalty (Xabi Alonso) after Diego Costa was brought down in the area by de Vrij, after a wonderful move from Iniesta, David Silva and Xavi Alonso.

 

After the break, an avalanche buried Spain and their tiki-taka short-passing game (Brazil had already shown how to play against this system in the Confederations Cup, which they won 3-0. The answer is the application of the WM formation, massing the midfield).

 

The second Dutch goal came on 52'. Arjen Robben shot past Casillas in the centre of the area (assist from Daley Blind) after holding the ball, skipping past two defenders and finding a shooting position. Goal 3 came after a foul by Robben on Casillas and shines a light on what the media has started calling bad refereeing (dubiously, because Brazil's penalty was legitimate, and Cameroon gave Mexico a scare). De Vrij converted the goal from a set piece.

 

After this, Spain pressed and the Netherlands acted like poisoned arrows in a classic counter-attack game. On 72', Casillas went out of his goal to counter Van Persie, who controlled the ball, skipped past the fallen keeper and rifled the shot between two desperate Spanish defenders. Spain's miserable night was compounded on 80', when Arjen Robben fired his shot past Casillas' left hand into the right-hand corner of the goal, after a perfect assist from Wesley Sneijder.

 

Match statistics

Spain

Casillas, Azpilicueta, Alba, Alonso (Pedro), Piqué, Ramos, Silva (Fabregas), Busquets, Diego Costa (Torres), Xavi, Iniesta

Coach: Vicente DEL BOSQUE

Yellow card: Casillas

 

Netherlands

Cillessen, Janmaat, Blind, Martins Indi, Vlaar, de Vrij (Veltman), de Guzman (Wijnaldum), de Jong, Sneijder, van Persie (Lens) Robben

Coach:  Louis VAN GAAL

Yellow cards: De Vrij, de Guzman, Van Persie

 

Ball possession: Spain 64% Netherlands 36%

Shots/on target: Spain 10/4; Netherlands 14/10

Corners: Spain 4 Netherlands 1

Fouls committed: Spain 5 Netherlands 18

 

Chile 3           Australia 1

Sanchez 12    Tim Cahill 35

Valdivia 14

Beausejour 90

 

  

Match statistics

 

Chile

Bravo, Isla, Mena, Diaz, Medel, Jara, Aránguiz, Valdívia (Beausejour), Vargas (Pinilla), Sánchez, Vidal (Gutierrez)

Coach: Jorge SAMPAOLI

Yellow card: Aránguiz

 

  

Australia

Ryan, Franjic (McGowan), Davidson, Milligan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Leckie, Jedinak, Cahill, Bresciano (Troisi), Oar (Halloran)

Coach: Ange POSTECOGLOU

Yellow cards: Cahill, Milligan, Jedinak

 

 

Ball possession: Chile 65% Australia 35%

Shots/on target: Chile 10/5 Australia 13/4

Corners: Chile 3 Australia 1

Fouls committed: Chile 9 Australia 18

 

Group B

Netherlands 2 0 0 8 3 +5 6

Chile 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6

Australia 0 0 2 3 6 -3 0

Spain 0 0 2 1 7 -6 0

 

Goal scorers:

 

Spain: Xabi Alonso

Netherlands: Van Persie (3), Robben (3), de Vrij, Depay

Chile: Alexis Sanchez, Valdivia, Beausejour, Vargas, Aránguiz

Australia: Cahill (2), Jedinak

 

Scenarios:

There aren't any. Australia and Spain are out of the World Cup. Netherlands and Chile will play against either Brazil, Mexico or Croatia.

 

 

Group C                                                      

Colombia Greece Ivory Coast Japan

 

Second round

  

Japan 0 Greece 0

  

  

Match statistics

  

Japan

Kawashima, Uchida,  Nagatomo,  Yamaguchi,  Yoshida,  Konno,  Okubo, Hasebe (Endo),  Osako (Kagawa),  Honda,  Okazaki

Coach: Alberto ZACCHERONI

Yellow card: Hasebe

  

Greece

Karnezis, Torosidis,  Holebas, Katsouranis, Manolas,  Papastathopoulos,  Maniatis,  Kone (Salpingidis),  Mitroglou (Gekas),  Fetfatzidis (Karagounis), Samaras

Coach: Fernando SANTOS

Yellow card: Katsouranis, Torosidis, Samaras

Red card: Katsouranis

  

Ball possession: Japan 74% Greece 26%

Shots/on target: Japan 18/4 Greece 9/4

Corners: Japan 5 Greece 7

Fouls committed: Japan 23 Greece 18

 

Goal scorers Colombia: Armero, Gutiérrez, James Rodríguez (2), Quintero Ivory Coast: Bony, Gervinho (2) Japan: Honda

  

Group C After 2 games

  

Colombia 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6

Ivory Coast 1 0 1 3 3 0 3

Japan 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1

Greece 0 1 1 0 3 -3 1

 

Scenarios: Colombia is qualified. Greece must beat Ivory Coast to qualify and if Japan does not beat Colombia, Greece goes through. If Japan beats Colombia, it is a question of goal difference.

  

  

  

Colombia 2     Ivory Coast 1

Rodriguez 64  Gervinho 73

Quintero 70

 

The statistics say it all: another African team dominates the game, has more ball possession, has more shots but less on target, has the same number of corners, commits less fouls, and loses the game.

  

Match statistics

Colombia

Ospina,  Zuñiga,  Armero (Arias),  Sánchez,  Zapata,  Yepes,  Cuadrado,  Aguilar (Mejía),  Gutiérrez, Rodríguez,  Ibarbo (Quintero)

Coach: José PEKERMAN

Yellow card: -

  

Ivory Coast

Barry,  Aurier,  Boka,  Gonzaroua Die (Bolly), Zokora,  Bamba,  Gradel (Kalou),  Tioté,  Bony (Drogba),Y Touré,  Gervinho

Coach: Sabri LAMOUCHI

Yellow card: Zokora (misses next match), Tioté

 

 

Ball possession: Colombia 45% Ivory Coast 55%

Shots/on target: Colombia 11/6 Ivory Coast 13/3

Corners: Colombia 5 Ivory Coast 5

Fouls committed: Colombia 11 Ivory Coast 14

 

 

 

First round

 

 

Colombia 3 Greece 0

Armero 5

Gutiérrez 58

James Rodríguez 90

  

Colombia got off to the best start possible, putting the ball away on 5 minutes, when Armero shot through a crowded area, blinding Greek goalkeeper Karnezis to the shot. When he saw it, it was in his net. 1-0 to Colombia, which then sat back and gave possession to Greece.

 

On 6', Kone shot just wide, Torosidis headed just wide on 28', two corners ensued on 34' and 39' and on 44', Kone forced Ospina to make a great save, conceding another corner.

 

However, after 45 minutes, the score remained at 1-0 to Colombia. After the break, James Rodriguez tested Karnezis. Greece did noit take advantage of the ball possession, and things got worse after 58' when Gutiérrez fired home his shot after a corner. Greece's misery and ineffective attack, which made the team look as miserable as its coach, the Portuguese Fernando Santos looking on as if he was attending a tragedy, was compounded as the game ended, when James Rodríguez fired in the third.

 

Greece distributed the ball around the park but has to do far better in the remaining games.

  

  

Match statistics

  

Colombia

Ospina, Zapata, Yepes (Capt), C. Sanchez, Armero (Arias), Aguilar T. (Mejia), Teo (Jackson Martínez), James Rodríguez, Cuadrado, Ibarbo, Zuñiga

Coach: Jose PEKERMAN

Yellow cards: Sanchez

  

Greece

Karnezis, Maniatis, Manolas, Samaras, Kone (Karagounis), Salpingidis (Fetfatzidis), Torosidis, Gekas (Mitroglou), Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Cholevas, Katsouranis (Capt)

 

Coach: Fernando SANTOS

Yellow card: Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Salpingidis

  

Ball possession: Colombia 48% Greece 52%

Shots/on target: Colombia 13/6 Greece 11/2

Corners: Colombia 4 Greece 4

Fouls committed: Colombia 19 Greece 14

Ivory Coast 2 Japan 1 Bony 64         Honda 16 Gervinho 66       Ivory Coast Barry, Aurier , Boka (Djakpa), Gonzaroua Die (Drogba), Zokora, Bamba, Kalou, Tioté, Bony (Ya Konan), Y Touré, Gervinho Coach: Sabri LAMOUCHI Yellow cards: Zokora, Bamba    Japan Kawashima, Uchida, Nagatomo, Hasebe (Endo), Morishige, Yoshida, Okazaki, Yamaguchi, Osako (Okubo), Honda,  Kagawa (Kakitani) Coach: Alberto ZACCHERONI Yellow card: Morishige, Yoshida   Ball possession: Ivory Coast 58% Japan 42% Shots/on target: Ivory Coast 21/5  Japan 7/2 Corners: Ivory Coast 8 Japan 5 Fouls committed: Ivory Coast 12 Japan 13
Goal scorers Colombia: Armero, Gutiérrez, James Rodríguez (2), Quintero Ivory Coast: Bony, Gervinho (2) Japan: Honda

Group C After 2 games

 

Colombia 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6

Ivory Coast 1 0 1 3 3 0 3

Japan 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1

Greece 0 1 1 0 3 -3 1

 

  

Group D

Costa Rica England Italy Uruguay

 

Group D

  

Second round

Group D

  

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

             Ruiz 44

  

Match statistics

  

Italy

Buffon,  Abate,  Darmian, De Rossi, Barzagli, Chiellini, Candreva (Insigne), Motta (Cassano), Balotelli, Pirlo, Marchisio (Cerci)

Coach: Cesare PRANDELLI
Yellow cards: Balotelli

  

Costa Rica

Navas, Gamboa, Díaz Campbell, Umaña, Gonzalez, Duarte, Ruiz (Brenes), Borges, Campbell (Ureña), Tejeda Valverde (Cubero), Bolaños

Coach: Jorge Luís PINTO

Yellow cards: Cubero

  

Ball possession: Italy 61% Costa Rica 39%

Shots/on target: Italy 10/4 Costa Rica 11/5

Corners: Italy 4 Costa Rica 5

Fouls committed: Italy 10 Costa Rica 23

  

  

  

  

  

Uruguay 2 England 1

Suarez       Rooney 75

39, 84

  

Match statistics

Uruguay

Muslera, Cáceres, Pereira, Arévalo Rios, Giménez, Godín,  González (Fucile), Lodeiro (Stuani),Suarez (Coates), Cavani, Rodríguez

Coach: Oscar Washington TABAREZ

Yellow card: Godín

  

England

Hart, Johnson, Baines, Henderson (Lambert), Cahill, Jagielka, Sterling (Barkley), Gerrard,  Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck (Lallana)

Coach: Roy HODGSON

Yellow card: Gerrard

  

Ball possession: Uruguay 37% England 63%

Shots/On target: Uruguay 8/2 England 12/6

Corners: Uruguay 7 England 6

Fouls committed: Uruguay 17 England 12

  

First round

  

Uruguay 1 Costa Rica 3

Cavani 24 Campbell 54, Duarte 57 Ureña 84

(pen)

  

Match statistics

  

Uruguay

Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Cáceres, Gargano (González), Lugano, Godín, Stuani, Arévalo Rios, Forlán (Lodeiro), Cavani, Rodríguez (Hernández)

  

Coach: Oscar Washington TABAREZ

Yellow cards: Gargano, Lugano, Cáceres

Red Card: Maxi Pereira

  

Costa Rica

Navas, Gamboa, Díaz Campbell, Umaña, Gonzalez, Duarte, Ruiz (Ureña), Tejeda Valverde (Cubero), Campbell, Borges, Bolaños (Barrantes)

Coach: Jorge Luis PINTO

 

Ball possession: Uruguay 56% Costa Rica 44%

Shots/on target: Uruguay 9/3 Costa Rica 13/4

Corners: Uruguay 5 Costa Rica 6

Fouls committed: Uruguay 20 Costa Rica 18

  

England 1      Italy 2

Sturridge 37   Marchisio 35, Balotelli 50

  

Despite losing the match and despite the fact that Italy looked like a team of men playing against boys, a team which if necessary would put another ball in the net, there can be no doubt that the experience and intelligence of team coach Roy Hodgson has taken England to another dimension.

 

It is a pity for England that key players, such as Wayne Rooney, despite being an excellent supporting strike force, whose passing and vision is second to none when he is on form, fail to put the ball away in situations which would see any boy in any park celebrate a goal. This underlines the notion that football players can systematically fail to display what would be basic skills in any other profession and yet still keep their jobs, the notion that football players can commit massive mistakes and go unpunished, when any executive, for ten times less, would lose his job.

 

For those who state that a footballer's lot is not an easy one, then when one takes into account that the players have been practicing their art daily since they were knee-high to a grasshopper, the argument falls flat.

 

That said, England showed too much skill and collective will to leave the competition in the group phase and should prove too hot to handle for the Group C rivals in the last 16. Hodgson seems to have booked his team's place in the last 8, together inevitably with Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, probably Croatia and Spain if they can pick themselves up and learn how to play tiki without taka.

  

  

Match statistics

England

Hart, Johnson, Baines, Henderson (Wilshere), Cahill, Jagielka, Welbeck (Barkley), Gerrard (Capt), Sturridge (Lallana), Sterling, Rooney

 

Coach: Roy HODGSON

Yellow card: Sterling

  

Italy

Sirigu, Darmian, Chiellini, De Rossi, Barzagli, Paletta, Candreva (Parolo), Verratti (Motta), Balotelli (Immobile), Pirlo, Marchisio,

Coach: Cesare PRANDELLI

Yellow card: -

  

Ball possession: England 44% Italy 56%

Shots/on target: England 18/5 Italy 13/4

Corners: England 9 Italy 2

Fouls committed: England 8 Italy 11

  

  

Group D

Costa Rica 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6

Italy 1 0 1 2 2 0 3

Uruguay 1 0 1 3 4 -1 3

England 0 0 2 2 3 -1 0

 

Goal scorers

Costa Rica: Campbell, Duarte, Ureña, Ruiz

Uruguay: Cavani (pen), Suarez (2)

England: Sturridge, Rooney

Italy: Marchisio, Balotelli

 

Group E                                                        

Ecuador France Honduras Switzerland       

  

Second round

 

Honduras 1 Ecuador 2

Costly 31  E. Valencia 34, 65

 

Honduras

Valladares, Beckeles, Izaguirre (Garcia), Garrido (Martínez), Bernárdez, Figueroa, García (Chávez), Claros, Costly, Bengtson, Espinoza

Coach: Luis SUAREZ

Yellow card: Bernárdez, Bengston

 

Ecuador

Domínguez, Paredes, Ayoví, Minda (Gruezo), Guagua, Erazo, A Valencia, Noboa, E Valencia, Caicedo (Méndez), Montero (Achilier)

Coach: Reinaldo RUEDA (photo)

Yellow card: A. Valencia, E. Valencia, Montero

 

Ball possession: Honduras 50% Ecuador 50%

Shots/on target: Honduras 17/5 Ecuador 10/4

Corners: Honduras 4 Ecuador 12

Fouls committed: Honduras 15 Ecuador 16

 

  

France can celebrate early, because the goal difference is so high that Switzerland would need to thrash Honduras, and France get thrashed by Ecuador, to lose out. Despite a thumping 5-2 defeat, Switzerland can be expected to beat Honduras, leap-frogging over Ecuador unless it beats Deschamps' promising-looking side.

 

 

 

 

Switzerland 2 France 5

                       Giroud 17, Matuidi 18, Valbuena 40, Benzema 67, Sissoko 73

Dzemaili 81

Xhaka 87

 

Switzerland

Benaglio,  Lichtsteiner,  Rodriguez,  Inler,  Djourou,  Von Bergen (Senderos),  Shaqiri,  Behrami (Dzemaili),  Seferovic (Drmic),  Xhaka,  Mehmedi

Coach: Ottmar HITZFELD

Yellow card: -

 

France

Lloris, Debuchy, Evra,  Cabaye,  Varane,  Sakho (Koscielny), Sissoko,  Matuidi,  Giroud (Pogba),  Valbuena (Griezmann), Benzema

Coach: Didier DESCHAMPS

Yellow card: Cabaye

 

Ball possession: Switzerland 58% France 42%

Shots/on target: Switzerland 17/4 France 22/12

Corners: Switzerland 5 France 3

Fouls committed: Switzerland 12 France 15

 

 

First round

Switzerland 2 Ecuador 1

Mehmedi 48    Valencia 22

Seferovic 90

                        

 

It was Ecuador that scored the first goal against the run of play. Valencia, 22 minutes. Following a free kick from the left, the Swiss defence allowed three Ecuadorian players into the penalty area, outnumbering the defending team and Valencia fired home. 1-0. Switzerland had far more of the ball in the first half, but the result remained at the interval.

 

In the second half, Mehmedi scored the equalizer, heading into the goal in front of Domínguez, after a corner. Switzerland, well organized, soaked up attacks from Ecuador and had the ball in the net on 69', but it was clearly offside. However, Ecuador did enough to deserve the draw and Switzerland's winner (Seferovic, 90) seemed to be a little flattering for a good, organized European side, but equalled by Ecuador, 20 places below at 26 in the FIFA ranking, on the field.

  

  

  

  

Match statistics

  

Switzerland

Benaglio, Lichtsteiner,  Rodriguez,  Inler,  Djourou,  Von Bergen,  Shaqiri,  Behrami,  Drmic (Seferovic),  Xhaka,  Stocker (Mehmedi)

Coach: Ottmar HITZFELD

Yellow card: Djourou

  

  

Ecuador

Domínguez, Paredes,  Ayoví,  Gruezo,  Guagua,  Erazo,  A. Valencia,  Noboa,  Caicedo (Arroyo),  E. Valencia, Montero (Rojas)

Coach: Reinaldo RUEDA

Yellow card: Paredes

  

Ball possession: Switzerland 62% Ecuador 38%

Shots/on target: Switzerland 17/6 Ecuador 10/4

Corners: Switzerland 8 Ecuador 5

Fouls committed: Switzerland 9 Ecuador 15

  

France 3 Honduras 0

Benzema 45′ (pen),

72′

Valladares 48′ (og)

  

France

Lloris, Debuchy, Evra, Cabaye (Mavuba), Varane,  Sakho, Pogba, (Sissoko), Matuidi, Benzema, Valbuena (Giroud), Griezmann

Coach: Didier DESCHAMPS

Yellow card: Cabaye, Pogba

  

Honduras

Valladares, Beckeles, Izaguirre, Palacios, Bernárdez (Chávez), Figueroa, Najar (Claros), Garrido, Costly, Bengtson (García), Espinoza,

Coach: Luis SUAREZ

Yellow card: Palacios, Garrido, Garcia

Red card: Palacios

  

  

Match statistics

Ball possession: France 71% Honduras 29%

Shots/on target: France 20/5 Honduras 4/1

Corners: France 8 Honduras 0

Fouls committed: France 13 Honduras 14

  

Group E

France 2 0 0 8 2 +6 6

Ecuador 1 0 1 3 3 0 3

Switzerland 1 0 1 4 6 -2 3

Honduras 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

 

Goal scorers

Ecuador: E. Valencia (3)

Switzerland: Mehmedi, Seferovic, Dzemaili, Xhaka

France: Benzema (3) Valladares (og), Giroud, Matuidi, Valbuena, Sissoko

Honduras: Costly

  

  

  

 

Group F

Argentina Bosnia-Herzegovina Iran Nigeria

 

Round 2

Nigeria 1              Bosnia-Herzegovina 0

Odemwingie 29

  

Nigeria

Enyeama, Ambrose Emuobo, Oshaniwa, Mikel, Yobo, Omeruo, Odemwingie, Onazi, Emenike, Babatunde (Uzoenyi), Musa (Ameobi)

Coach: Stephen KESHI

Yellow card: Mikel

  

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Begovic,  Mujdza,  Lulic (Salihovic),  Besic,  Sunjic,  Spahic,  Hajrovic (Ibisevic),  Medunjanin (Susic), Dzeko,  Pjanic, Misimovic

Coach: Safet SUSIC

Yellow card: Medunjanin

 

Ball possession: Nigeria 40% Bosnia-Herzegovina 60%

Shots/on target: Nigeria 20/9 Bosnia-Herzegovina 20/7

Corners: Nigeria 4 Bosnia-Herzegovina 4

Fouls committed: Nigeria 9 Bosnia-Herzegovina 7

  

Argentina 1 Iran 0

Messi

 

Iran robbed!

 

Brave Iran... unlucky, noble, brave, courageous, talented, determined and dignified Iran went down to a Messi goal almost at the end of the game, after holding the world's number 5, after having several clear chances and a penalty denied by a referee who appeared to be clearly compromised. Congratulations, Iran!

 

 

Brave Iran... unlucky, noble, brave, courageous, talented, determined and dignified Iran went down to a Messi goal almost at the end of the game, after holding the world's number 5, after having several clear chances and a penalty denied by a referee who appeared to be clearly compromised. Congratulations, Iran!

 

Nobody who knows anything about football would deny that Iran was denied a penalty by a referee who is either biased, or incompetent. Milorad Mazic is his name, and he will live to the end of his days knowing he robbed Iran of a penalty. What a disgusting comment on football, what a disgusting comment on the quality of referees chosen to manage the games of the FIFA World Cup.

 

Milorad Mazic will without doubt be the reason why many people, including myself, give up believing in football as a sport and start moving to other modalities where the refereeing is transparent. If Mazic looks at the replay of that penalty and still says there wasn't one, then he needs to take his meds.

 

 

Match statistics

Argentina

Romero, Zabaleta, Rojo, Mascherano, Fernández, Garay, Gago, Messi, Agüero (Lavezzi), Higuaín (Palacio), Di María (Biglia)

Coach: Alejandro SABELLA

Yellow card:

 

Iran

Haghighi, Montazeri, Pooladi, Nekounam, Hosseini, Sadeqi, Shojaei (Heydari), Teymourian, Ghoochanneijhad, Hajsafi (Haghighi), Dejagah (Jahanbakhsh)

Coach: Carlos QUEIROZ

Yellow card: Nekounam, Shojaei

 

Ball possession: Argentina 77% Iran 23%

Shots/on target: Argentina 21/4 Iran 8/3

Corners: Argentina 10 Iran 6

Fouls committed: Argentina 7 Iran 14

 

 

Round 1

 

Argentina 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1

Kolasinac 3 (og)    Ibisevic 85

Messi 65

 

Match statistics

  

Argentina

Romero, Garay, Campagnaro (Gago), Zabaleta, Di Maria, Messi (Capt), M. Rodríguez (Higuain), Mascherano, Rojo, F. Fernandez, Aguero (Biglia)

 

Coach: Alejandro SABELLA

Yellow card: Rojo

  

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Begovic, Bicakcic, Spahic (Capt), Kolasinac, Besic, Pjanic, Misimovic (Medunjanin), Dzeko, Mujdza (Ibisevic), Lulic, Hajrovic (Visca)

Coach: Safet SUSIC

Yellow card: Spahic

 

Ball possession: Argentina 59%  Bosnia-Herzegovina 41%

Shots/on target: Argentina 12/2  Bosnia-Herzegovina 16/6

Corners: Argentina 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 6

Fouls committed: Argentina 10 Bosnia-Herzegovina 14

  

Iran 0 Nigeria 0

  

  

Match statistics

  

Iran

Haghighi, Montazeri, Pooladi, Nekounam, Hosseini, Sadeqi, Heydari (Shojaei), Teymourian, Ghoochanneijhad, Hajsafi,  Dejagah (Jahanbakhsh)

Coach: Carlos QUEIRÓZ

Yellow cards: Teymourian

  

Nigeria

Enyeama, Ambrose Emuobo, Oshaniwa, Mikel, Omeruo, Oboabona (Yobo), Musa,  Onazi, Emenike, Azeez (Odemwingie), Moses (Ameobi)

 

Coach: Stephen KESHI

Yellow cards: -

 

Ball possession: Iran 36% Nigeria 64%

Shots/on target: Iran 7/3 Nigeria 10/6

Corners: Iran 2 Nigeria 7

Fouls committed: Iran 18 Nigeria 16

  

  

  

  

Group F

  

Argentina 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6

Nigeria 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4

Iran 0 1 1 0 1-1 1

Bosnia-H 0 0 3 1 3 -2 0

  

Goal scorers

Argentina: Messi (2)  Kolasinac (own goal)

Bosnia-H.: Ibisevic

Nigeria: Odemwingie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group G                                                       

Germany Ghana Portugal USA

 

Group G

  

Let there be no doubts - the USA is now a force in international soccer, is a growing force and is here to stay. Maybe this will not be the tournament that the USA reaches the semi-final stage, but the next one might. Klinnsmann has turned the team from a solid and useful group to a talented one.

  

Portugal on the other hand is hugely disappointing - lackluster, obviously struggling with the climate, and half the squad looking as if it is fighting against injury after spending the season out of the first team in their clubs. In which case, why did Paulo Bento display such crass conservatism in taking his squad, why didn't he choose fresher players with something to prove?

  

The answer may not lie only with Paulo Bento but with the agents which surround the team and the famous lobbies which feather their own nests and stop development at every level in Portugal, not just in sport.

  

USA 2 Portugal 2

            Nani 5, Varela 90

Jones 64

Dempsey 81

  

USA

Howard, Johnson, Beasley, Jones, Cameron, Besler, Bedoya (Yedlin), Beckerman, Dempsey (Wondolowski), Bradley, Zusi (González)

Coach: Juergen KLINNSMANN

Yellow card: Jones

  

Portugal

Beto, João Pereira, Almeida (Carvalho), Miguel Veloso, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Costa, João Moutinho, Meireles (Varela), Postiga (Eder), Nani, Ronaldo

Coach: Paulo BENTO

Yellow card: -

  

Ball possession: USA 48% Portugal 52%

Shots/on target: USA 15/5 Portugal 21/7

Corners: USA 6 Portugal 4

Fouls committed: USA 11 Portugal 14

  

  

  

Round 2

Germany 2 Ghana 2

Götze, 51    A. Ayew, 54

Klose, 71    Gyan, 63

  

Match statistics

  

Germany

Neuer, Boateng (Mustafi),  Höwedes,  Lahm,  Mertesacker,  Hummels,  Khedira (Schweinsteiger),  Kroos,  Müller,  Özil,  Götze (Klose )

Coach: Joachim LOEW

Yellow card:

  

Ghana

Dauda,  Afful,  Asamoah,  Muntari,  Boye,  Mensah, Atsu (Wakaso), Rabiu (Badu), Gyan, Boateng (J.Ayew), A.Ayew

Coach: James APPIAH

Yellow card: Muntari

  

  

Ball possession: Germany 62% Ghana 38%

Shots/on target: Germany 12/4 Ghana 18/6

Corners: Germany 7 Ghana 3

Fouls committed: Germany 11 Ghana 17

  

  

  

  

Round 1

Germany 4 Portugal 0

Müller

12, 45, 78

Hummels 32

 

A disaster for Portugal, not only in the result, but also in its magnitude and the trail the game leaves: injuries to Hugo Almeida and Fábio Coentrão, and possibly Patrício, the goalkeeper. What marked the game for Portugal, also, was the idiotic display of childishness by central defender Pepe, sent off for placing his head aggressively against Müller, who was sitting on the ground. Germany was far more effective and efficient, Ronaldo did not seem 100% match fit as he claimed, the choice of Paulo Bento for his squad is dubious in terms of fitness and one questions what is going on in the heart of the Portuguese management and medical teams.

 

However, Portugal has two games (USA and Ghana) to get it right.

  

  

Match statistics

Germany

Neuer, Höwedes, Hummels (Mustafi), Khedira, Özil (Schürrle), Müller (Podolski), Lahm (Capt), Mertesacker, Kroos, Götze, Boateng

Coach: Joachim LOEW

Yellow cards: -

  

Portugal

Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Miguel Veloso (Ricardo Costa), Fábio Coentrão (Almeida), Cristiano Ronaldo, João Moutinho, Hugo Almeida (Éder), Raul Meireles, Nani

Coach: Paulo BENTO

Yellow card: João Pereira

Red card: Pepe

 

Ball possession: Germany 57% Portugal 43%

Shots/on target: Germany 13/6 Portugal 13/4

Corners: Germany 4 Portugal 6

Fouls committed: Germany 8 Portugal 12

 

 

Ghana 1          USA 2

A. Ayew 82     Dempsey 1, Brooks 86

 

If ever there was a snatched result, this was it. Ghana was all over the USA, but what matters is the result. The USA took their chances, Ghana arrived at the area, but the USA had already parked the bus in front of goal,so was reduced to long shots.

  

  

Match statistics

  

Ghana

Larsen Kwarasey, Opare, Asamoah, Muntari,  Boye, Mensah,  Atsu (Adomah), Rabiu (Essien),  Gyan, J.Ayew (Boateng), A.Ayew

Coach: James APPIAH

Yellow cards: Muntari, Rabiu

  

USA

Howard, Johnson, Beasley, Beckerman, Cameron, Besler (Brooks), Bedoya (Zusi), Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore (Jóhannsson), Jones

Coach: Juergen KLINNSMANN

Yellow cards: -

  

Ball possession: Ghana 62 USA 38

Shots/on target: Ghana 21/3 USA 8/4

Corners: Ghana 7 USA 3

Fouls committed: Ghana 10 USA 12

  

Group G

  

Germany 1 1 0 6 2 +4 4

USA 1 1 0 4 3 +1 4

Ghana 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1

Portugal 0 1 1 2 6 -4 1

  

Goal scorers

Germany: T. Müller (3), Hummels. Götze, Klose

USA: Dempsey (2), Brooks, Jones

Ghana: A. Ayew (2), Gyan

Portugal: Nani, Valera

 

 

 

Group H

Algeria Belgium Rep. Korea Russia

  

Round 2

  

Rep. Korea 2 Algeria 4

                       Slimani 26, Halliche 28, Djabou 38, Brahimi 62

Son Heung-min 50

Koo Ja-cheol 72

  

Rep. Korea

Jung Sung-ryong, Lee Yong, Yun Suk-young, Ki Sung-yueng, Hong Jeong-ho, Kim Young-gwon, Lee Chung-yong (Lee Keun-ho), Han Kook-young (Ji Dong-won), Park Chu-young (Kim Shin-wook), Koo Ja-cheol, Son Heung-min

Coach: HONG Myungbo

Yellow card: Lee Yong, Han Kook-young

  

Algeria

M'Bolhi, Mandi, Mesbah, Bentaleb, Bougherra (Belkalem), Halliche, Feghouli, Medjani, Slimani, Brahimi (Lacen), Djabou (Ghilas)

Coach: Vahid HALILHODZIC

Yellow card: Bougherra

  

  

Ball possession: Rep. Korea 52% Algeria 48%

Shots/on target: Rep. Korea 8/4  Algeria 15/5

Corners: Rep. Korea 7 Algeria 5

Fouls committed: Rep. Korea 13 Algeria 16

  

  

  

  

  

Belgium 1 Russia 0

Origi, 88

Welcome to FIFAland!

 

Let us see... Belgium versus Russia... Ball possession almost the same...same number of shots, Russia had more oi target, Russia had more corners, committed fewer fouls but Oh...wait for it, at the end of the game, yep! There you go, Belgium gets a goal. Welcome to FIFA land!

  

Match statistics

  

Belgium

Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen (Vertonghen), Fellaini, van Buyten, Kompany, Mertens (Mirallas), Witsel, Lukaku (Origi), De Bruyne,  Hazard

Coach: Marc WILMOTS

Yellow card: Witsel, Alderweireld

  

  

Russia

Akinfeev,  Kozlov (Eshchenko),  Kombarov,  Faizulin,  Berezoutski,  Ignashevitch,  Samedov (Kerzhakov),  Glushakov, Kokorin,  Shatov (Dzagoev), Kanunnikov

Coach: Fábio CAPELLO

Yellow card: Glushakov

 

Ball possession: Belgium 51% Russia 49%

Shots/on target: Belgium 12/2 Russia 12/3

Corners: Belgium 5 Russia 8

Fouls committed: Belgium 14 Russia 9

 

 

 

Round 1

Group H

  

Belgium 2 Algeria 1

Fellaini 70 Feghouli 24 (pen)

Mertens 80

  

  

Match statistics

  

Belgium

  

Courtois, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dembélé (Fellaini), Van Buyten, Kompany,  De Bruyne, Witsel, Lukaku (Origi), Chadli (Mertens), Hazard

Coach: Marc WILMOTS

Yellow card: Vertonghen

  

Algeria

  

M'Bolhi, Mostefa, Ghoulam, Medjani (Ghilas), Bougherra, Halliche, Feghouli,  Taïder,Soudani (Slimani), Bentaleb, Mahrez (Lacen)

Coach: Vahid HALILHODZIC

Yellow card: Bentaleb

  

  

Ball possession: Belgium 67% Algeria 33%

Shots/on target: Belgium 17/8 Algeria 3/1

Corners: Belgium 7 Algeria 2

Fouls committed: Belgium 20 Algeria 18

  

Group H

  

Russia 1             Republic of Korea 1

Kerzhakov 74  Lee Keun-ho 68

Match statistics

  

Russia

Akinfeev, Eshchenko, Kombarov, Faizulin, Berezoutski, Ignashevitch, Samedov, Glushakov, Kokorin, Shatov, Zhirkov

Coach: Fábio CAPELLO

Yellow card: Shatov

  

Republic of Korea

Jung Sung-ryong, Lee Yong, Yun Suk-young, Ki Sung-yueng, Hong Jeong-ho, Kim Young-gwon, Lee Chung-yong, Han Kook-young, Park Chu-young, Koo Ja-cheol, Son Heung-min

Coach: HONG Myungbo

Yellow cards: Ki Sung-yueng, Son Heung-min

 

Ball possession: Russia 49% Republic of Korea 51%

Shots/on target: Russia 18/5 Republic of Korea 10/5

Corner: Russia 4 Republic of Korea 4

Fouls committed: Russia 15 Republic of Korea 7

  

Group H

  

Belgium 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6

Algeria 1 0 1 5 4 +1 3

Russia 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1

Rep. Korea 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1

 

Goal scorers

                      

 

Algeria: Feghouli, Slimani, Halliche, Djabou, Brahimi

Belgium: Fellaini, Mertens, Origi

Russia: Kerzhakov

Rep. Korea: Lee Keun-ho Son Heung-min, Koo Ja-cheol

 

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru

([email protected])