Last night saw the remaining 6 teams play thier second game. Switzerland vs Togo, Spain vs Tunisia and Saudi Arabia vs Ukraine. Both Group G and H was still wide open, and and almost any team from those 2 groups needed victory to make it to the knock-out phase, especially since Korea only managed a draw. What happend while I was sleeping?

TOG : SUI, 19 June 2006, Dortmund, Germany
AGASSA Kossi (TOG), NIBOMBE Dare (TOG)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

Switzerland beat Togo with a score of 2-0. It was a controversial match, even though there was a goal in each half, I feel the referee was not really fair. Both times, I feel that Togo deserved a free kick!! They were brought down by the Swiss players IN the penalty box!! Who payed off the ref?? I am sure he has like a numbered Swiss bank account somewhere with some extra cash deposited after the game. With the Unfair Swiss victory, Korea’s changes of making it into the Second round gets a little harder. They have to keep the Swiss at bay, and hope that the French are not rich enough to buy off yet another ref. Its a No-go for Togo, as they head off home after they meet France.

KSA : UKR, 19 June 2006, Hamburg, Germany
KHATHRAN Abdulaziz (KSA), GUSIN Andriy (UKR)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

Saudi Arabia vs Ukraine? A slaughter that was, 4-0 for Ukraine, who I must admit seemed to score the goals with much ease, sometimes from yards away. A better team would have made it alittle harder for the former soviet state, though they do deserve a pat on the back for a good performace. This I think made up for thier humiliating defeat to Spain 4-0, and makes them a step closer to the second round. Go Ukraine!! The fate of the Saudi’s? Well, if they beat Spain (Highly unlikely), they can proceed, but I am pretty sure they should start packing thier bags right now.

ESP : TUN, 19 June 2006, Stuttgart, Germany
BOUMNIJEL Ali (TUN)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

And then there was the Match of the night. Tunasia got off to a great start, which supprised everybody, especially Spain when Jaouhar Mnari scored at the 8th minute. They also managed to keep the scoreline for most of the game, the equalizer only coming in the 71st minute by Raul. Then the goals kept coming in, including a Penalty shot by Fernando Torres, who is currently the top scorer for the world cup. This victory means Spain is definately going to the second round, and mostly likely to be the winners of thier group, as they played beautifully.

And that brings us to tonights action. Germany will face Ecuador, and what a match that will be. Ecuador, currently top of thier group, will want to stay there, as the winner will most likely meet Sweden or Trinidad N Tabago. Germany will want to win as well, because I think they rather face Sweden than England. The other match in Group A, Poland vs Costa Rica, will be one of National Pride. Both countries have no hope of making it to the second round, and will just want to go home heros.

Group B will see Sweden Vs England. The English have never manage to beat the Viking before, and I think they can’t now. My prediction 1-1 draw. Trinidad n Tabago vs Paraguay, well, the latter is going home no matter what, and former needs a victory if they want to advance. I think the Soca Warriors will be all out this match to score thier first victory in the world cup.

Last night saw 2 of the top Asian football nations compete in thier second match this world cup. Japan (Ranked 18) played Croatia (Ranked 23). Japan went into the game, trying to recover some face after the horrid game againts the Assies, Croatia wanting to win after only loosing to Brazil by 1 goal. Both teams had everything to gain, and only Japan had something to loose. How did it turn out? Well, it was a goaless draw. Not exactly a good thing for Japan, as it still leaves it at the very bottom of Group F, and seals its fate of going home early. The highlight of the game, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi saving Darijo Srna’s penalty shot, but thats about it.

JPN : CRO, 18 June 2006, Nuremberg, Germany
OLIC Ivica (CRO), KAJI Akira (JPN)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

Then there was Korea (Ranked 23) vs France (Ranked 8). Korea has beaten Togo and was top of thier group as France was held back to a goaless draw by Switzerland. Korea wanting to repeat thier last world cup performance reaching all the way to the Semi-Finals, the furthers any Asian nation had ever gone. France, previous World Cup winners, who people say has seen the end of thier Golden Age, wanting to prove to the world they are still a powerhouse. How did it go? Started bad for Korea, when Thierry Henry scored the first goal only 9 minutes into the game. Most of the game put the French ahead until late in the second half when finally Park Ji-Sung equalized leaving Korea still on top of thier group. Will they qualify? It all depends on tonight game between Swiss and Togo.

FRA : KOR, 18 June 2006, Leipzig, Germany
HENRY Thierry (FRA), LEE Woon Jae (KOR)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

And of course the other game, Brazil (Ranked 1st) vs Australia (Ranked 42). Allot of people were dissapointed with Brazil, and they have even lost thier favourites to win status, which now goes to Argentina for thier 6-0 slaughter. The Socceroos, defeating Japan 3-1, are gonna go all out to define themselves as a Football nation. They have to change the name to football if they want to be taken seriously though. The results?? Brazil did win, but only 2-0. Brazil has confirmed thier second round appearance, and most likely Australia will also appear there thanks to Japan’s draw, but Brazil didn’t look as convincing as Argentina, and I think they are no longer the favourites. 5 yellow cards flashed, 3 to Brazil 2 to Australia, on paper, Australia did fight a good fight, and look like a good team.

BRA : AUS, 18 June 2006, Munich, Germany
CULINA Jason (AUS), ADRIANO (BRA)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

In other news, a big thanks to Ruach, who reminded me why England’s Football team sucks. Check out the video :-





I woke up on a Sunday morning, turned on the telly and to my utter joy, Ghana had won its game againts the Czech Republic. If you see the game on paper, there was no way Ghana could win. Czech is ranked the No 2 football nation in the world!! Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari scored the goals that gave Ghana its First victory in the Word Cup stage. They are also the first African nation this cup to get 3 points! This means that all they have to do is defeat the USA, and they qualify for the seconds round. Go Ghana!!!

Ghana’s Sulley Ali Muntari, third from left,, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup, Group E soccer match between Czech Republic and Ghana, at the Cologne stadium, Germany, Saturday, June 17, 2006.
(AP Photo/Murad Sezer). Copyright: AP

The second news that was rather a shock to me was the Italy-USA match, which yielded a 1-1 scoreline, and 3 red cards. At first I was curious how the USA scored against Italy, only to have my questions awnsered when I realized it was an own goal. 3 red cards man!! 3!! I think thats a world cup record, issit it?

ITA : USA, 17 June 2006, Kaiserslautern, Germany
GATTUSO Gennaro (ITA), POPE Eddie (USA)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

The only game last night that actually produced a result that I would have expected was Portugal vs Iran, which was 2-0 to Potugal. They now have confirmed thier spot in the second phase, and sealed Irans trip back home.

POR : IRN, 17 June 2006, Frankfurt, Germany
CRISTIANO RONALDO (POR)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

This world cup is exciting eh? The results are so unpredictable!! I doubt Brazil is gonna bring the cup home, and I think this year we may be totally supprised who wins.

ARG : SCG, 16 June 2006, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
RODRIGUEZ Maxi (ARG)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

Argentina and Holland both confirmed thier place in the second round last night and early this morning. Argentia played an amazing game against Serbia n Montenegro, trashing them 5-0, scoring with the first goal my Rodriguez hitting the back of the net 6 minutes after kick-off. It was clear who was the better team from that point onwards. They actually looked better on the fields than the Brazillians did! The second half saw 1 red card flashed at Kezman, and the 4th,5th and 6th goal from Argentina. Its clear to me Argentina want to finish top of thier group, and in an event they draw with Holland, they want the goal difference to be as high as possible in thier favour. I feel sad for Serbia & Montenegro who had to receive such a slaughter, its gonna be an event they won’t soon forget.

NED : CIV, 16 June 2006, Stuttgart, Germany
MEITE Abdoulaye (CIV), VAN BOMMEL Mark (NED)
Copyright: AFP / afp.com

Holland then joined the winners of Group C, with a scoreline of 2-1, all 3 goal scored in the first half of play. The game saw goals from Van Persie (23rd minute) and Van Nistelrooij (27th minute), both not exactly award winning goals in terms of top 10 goals ever, but good goal, winning goals. Thier oponents Côte d’Ivoire played very well, and manage to rally back to score a single goal by Kone Bakary. It was a hard fought victory for Holland, thier opponents did very well. I think if they were in another group like Group B with England, they would have done much better. No matter, Holland now just have to beat Angentina or at least keep them at a draw.

Printed on a bottle of Tropical Citrus

From the bottles of a product called VitaminWater, comes the cure to your football fever, though they claim its called Soccer. Must be some American moron, who forgets the Whole World calls it football except them, anyhoo, Make sure you have plenty of Vitamin Water handy this World Cup season!