Match 1: Algeria v Slovenia (7 am est/4 am pst)
This match is of great interest to the Americans as their fellow group mates play in their first game. The Slovenians are led by stellar Keeper Samir Handanovic and Midfielder Robert Koren. Algeria is paced by Midfielder Karim Ziani and Forward Abdelkader Ghezzal. I see this game being relatively close as both teams have quality across the board. Algeria has shown the propensity to play somewhat dirty and also very emotionally, so the Slovenians will look to take advantage of that. Algeria is dealing with distraction, as captain Yazid Mansouri was benched for a lack of form and fitness. When told of the news, he left training immediately.
Prediction: Slovenia 2 Algeria 1
Match 2: Serbia v Ghana (9: 30 est/6: 30 pst)
This has the potential to be one of the most exciting and intriguing matches of the first round. The Ghanians is missing captain and best player Michael Essien to injury but still bring loads of class to the pitch in the form of Sulley Muntari, John Paintsil, and Stephen Appiah. Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, and Neven Subotic form a defense for Serbia that is considered one of the most talented in the world, and Midfield maestro Dejan Stankovic is pure class in the midfield. Forwards Nikola Zigic and Danko Lazovic form a very potent tandem up top that cause problems due to their sheer heights (6'7 and 6'1 respectively). The loss of Essien is paramount for The Black Stars, but their overall pace and youth could cause Serbia trouble. I see Serbia edging Ghana in a very up and down game chalk full of excitement and drama.
Prediction: Serbia 3 Ghana 2
Match 3: Germany v Australia (2 pm est/11:00 am pst)
The final match on Sunday pits a very youthful and inexperienced German side against a veteran Aussie squad. The loss of Midfielder and captain Michael Ballack hurts Germany as they've lost 3 starters over the last month to injury, but they still retain some great talent. Twenty-one year old Midfielder Mesut Ozil is an absolute dynamo and terror on the flank and looks to be the next German star at a big club. Along with Ozil, Germany will rely on stalwart Bastian Schweinsteiger and the experienced tandem up top of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Out of the 23 man roster that Coach Joachim Low assembled, an astounding 15 are twenty-five years old or younger. The Kickeroos bring a team that has a nice blend of youth and experience. The team relies on Forward Tim Cahill and Midfielder Harry Kewell. Kewell, when healthy is a very impressive player but he is coming off of an injury and hasn't featured for a while. Australia hopes he will be healthy enough to start come Sunday. Keeper Mark Schwarzer is a very good goalkeeper, but the backline is very susceptible to speed. They were exposed numerous times a week ago by the United States in a friendly. I see the overall class of the Germans shining in this game even if they are an extremely young side. The midfield of the Germans will push the ball forward and I see them attacking the Aussies early and often.
Prediction: Germany 3 Australia 1
JOGA BONITO
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thoughts on match v. England
Players of the match:
TIM HOWARD
This should go without saying, but the Everton keeper was fabulous today, keeping England at bay and stopping point blank shots taken by amongst others English forward Emile Heskey The confidence Howard displayed has got to be encouraging for USMNT fans, and this performance just enhances the notion that Howard is amongst the world's best keepers.
JAY DEMERIT
The backline of the American defense had to play well and namely contain English forward Wayne Rooney if they had any chance at getting a positive result, and that's exactly what happened in large part to the Watford defender. Demerit was his usual self, throwing his body at shots and playing very physical. His smart and physical play annoyed and frustrated Rooney to no end, and by the 70th minute Rooney found himself tracking back up the pitch just to receive the ball. Demerit was just smothering on Rooney, making him invisible for most of the game.
OGUCHI ONYEWU
Coach Bob Bradley took a chance at playing "Gooch" (who hasn't played a full 90 since October) against the three lions, and the gamble paid off. He resembled the player pre-injury and looked very good. He was active in the air, going up for countless headers not only defensively but also on corners. The mental hurdle of actually jumping seems to be gone at this point. Towards the end of the game he had a great sequence where he poked the ball away on a 50/50 challenge from Midfielder Steven Gerrard and proceeded to get up and pass the ball upfield. This is a welcomed sight for the team and USMNT fans, but it remains to be seen how his knee will react tomorrow. Regardless, it was a very positive showing.
STEVE CHERUNDOLO
The fullback from Hannover stole Jonathan Spector's spot in recent friendlies and proved why today. He was downright dangerous on the right flank, skinning Midfielder James Milner more than once. His willingness to take players on was quite refreshing and besides a rash challenge that led to a yellow card against Midfielder Shaun Wright-Philips, Cherundolo was very solid.
This was a great result from the United States going into the match against Slovenia. Bradley has to be very pleased with the overall performance of the defense. There were some shaky moments communication wise, but the back four was very good today, effectively shutting down one of the best players in the world (Rooney). The midfield was a problem yet again as the distribution from Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark was sub par. Clark's ineptness in guarding Gerrard led to the goal, and he was constantly out of position. I look for a switch in the next match, with either Maurice Edu or Jose Torres starting alongside Bradley. Torres would be ideal against Slovenia due to his technical ability and his passing deftness. It would have been nice to see Landon Donovan more involved although he did have some nice crosses and passes. His ability to use his speed and take players on was missing in this game. Clint Dempsey scored on the gaffe by English Keeper Robert Green and was his usual hard-working self. The main point is that the midfield play has to be better if the United States is to advance in the tournament. The distribution and cohesiveness in the centre of the park needs to be more crisp. The tandem up top of Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore was rather quiet. Findley did do some nice things before being subbed out, and Altidore flashed his immense potential when he effectively shouldered off and ran past English Defender Jamie Carragher in the midst of his shot which deflected off Green and then the post. Overall this game was not the prettiest and it wasn't the United State's best effort, but they will take the point and await Slovenia on Friday.
JOGA BONITO
TIM HOWARD
This should go without saying, but the Everton keeper was fabulous today, keeping England at bay and stopping point blank shots taken by amongst others English forward Emile Heskey The confidence Howard displayed has got to be encouraging for USMNT fans, and this performance just enhances the notion that Howard is amongst the world's best keepers.
JAY DEMERIT
The backline of the American defense had to play well and namely contain English forward Wayne Rooney if they had any chance at getting a positive result, and that's exactly what happened in large part to the Watford defender. Demerit was his usual self, throwing his body at shots and playing very physical. His smart and physical play annoyed and frustrated Rooney to no end, and by the 70th minute Rooney found himself tracking back up the pitch just to receive the ball. Demerit was just smothering on Rooney, making him invisible for most of the game.
OGUCHI ONYEWU
Coach Bob Bradley took a chance at playing "Gooch" (who hasn't played a full 90 since October) against the three lions, and the gamble paid off. He resembled the player pre-injury and looked very good. He was active in the air, going up for countless headers not only defensively but also on corners. The mental hurdle of actually jumping seems to be gone at this point. Towards the end of the game he had a great sequence where he poked the ball away on a 50/50 challenge from Midfielder Steven Gerrard and proceeded to get up and pass the ball upfield. This is a welcomed sight for the team and USMNT fans, but it remains to be seen how his knee will react tomorrow. Regardless, it was a very positive showing.
STEVE CHERUNDOLO
The fullback from Hannover stole Jonathan Spector's spot in recent friendlies and proved why today. He was downright dangerous on the right flank, skinning Midfielder James Milner more than once. His willingness to take players on was quite refreshing and besides a rash challenge that led to a yellow card against Midfielder Shaun Wright-Philips, Cherundolo was very solid.
This was a great result from the United States going into the match against Slovenia. Bradley has to be very pleased with the overall performance of the defense. There were some shaky moments communication wise, but the back four was very good today, effectively shutting down one of the best players in the world (Rooney). The midfield was a problem yet again as the distribution from Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark was sub par. Clark's ineptness in guarding Gerrard led to the goal, and he was constantly out of position. I look for a switch in the next match, with either Maurice Edu or Jose Torres starting alongside Bradley. Torres would be ideal against Slovenia due to his technical ability and his passing deftness. It would have been nice to see Landon Donovan more involved although he did have some nice crosses and passes. His ability to use his speed and take players on was missing in this game. Clint Dempsey scored on the gaffe by English Keeper Robert Green and was his usual hard-working self. The main point is that the midfield play has to be better if the United States is to advance in the tournament. The distribution and cohesiveness in the centre of the park needs to be more crisp. The tandem up top of Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore was rather quiet. Findley did do some nice things before being subbed out, and Altidore flashed his immense potential when he effectively shouldered off and ran past English Defender Jamie Carragher in the midst of his shot which deflected off Green and then the post. Overall this game was not the prettiest and it wasn't the United State's best effort, but they will take the point and await Slovenia on Friday.
JOGA BONITO
FINAL: ENGLAND 1 UNITED STATES 1
After withstanding a strong English push in the second half, the USMNT was able to stay tough and get the draw and a point from the match. More to follow...
JOGA BONITO
JOGA BONITO
Halftime: England 1 United States 1
Thanks to a horrific gaffe made by England Keeper Robert Green, the US are level at 1. England scored in the 4th minute thanks to a Steven Gerrard finish. The game has been back and forth with both teams getting great chances. The US distribution in the midfield is lacking and it might cause Coach Bob Bradley to bring in Jose Torres for Ricardo Clark. Oguchi Onyewu looks solid so far, although the communication from the back 4 has been lacking at times. Steve Cherundolo has looked very good taking players on and Robbie Findley has had some deft touches up top. Landon Donovan needs to get involved more, and the same could be said for England forward Wayne Rooney, who has been nonexistent in the first half.
JOGA BONITO
JOGA BONITO
England starting 11
Green
Cole King Terry Johnson
Lennon Gerrard Lampard Milner
Rooney Heskey
JOGA BONITO
Cole King Terry Johnson
Lennon Gerrard Lampard Milner
Rooney Heskey
JOGA BONITO
Starting Lineup v England
Okay folks, the lineup is in from Rustenburg and here is the side Coach Bob Bradley trots out...
Howard
Bocanegra Demerit Onyewu Cherundolo
Dempsey Clark Bradley Donovan
Altidore Findley
Findley gets the nod over Buddle and Clark gets the start in the midfield. What do you guys think of the starting 11?
JOGA BONITO
Howard
Bocanegra Demerit Onyewu Cherundolo
Dempsey Clark Bradley Donovan
Altidore Findley
Findley gets the nod over Buddle and Clark gets the start in the midfield. What do you guys think of the starting 11?
JOGA BONITO
Friday, June 11, 2010
Preview: United States v England
The day all USMNT fans have been waiting for is finally here. The United States will take to the pitch v England tomorrow at 1:30 est/10:30 pst. The opening game of group C will take place at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
It will be quite interesting to see the lineups that Coaches Bob Bradley and Fabio Capello bring out so we'll try to provide a best guess scenario as to the lineups...
USA:
Howard
Bocanegra Demerit Onyewu Cherundolo
Dempsey Bradley Edu Donovan
Findley Altidore
There are many questions that Bob Bradley has to answer. Who does he start alongside Jozy Altidore? Does he go for the speed of Robbie Findley or the recent torrid form that Edson Buddle's been on? Who will start alongside Michael Bradley in the midfield? Will Oguchi Onyewu be able to not only start but be effective?
Ricardo Clark looked horrific against the Australians. The lack of precision and the carlessness of his distribution will cost him a starting spot. If he starts and plays like that against England, the United States will get dominated by the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Maurice Edu brings more size, athleticism, and versatility. He matches up size wise very well with the two starts in the middle for the English. I give Findley the nod up top due the speed he brings. Although Buddle is playing with supreme confidence, he is too similar to Altidore. Both are target forwards that won't open up the field necessarily with their speed. The speed of Findley has made a difference in opening up the pitch for players like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to get forward and create in the final third of the pitch. Onyewu has looked anything but solid since his return from the patella injury, but he has to start against England. He's had enough time and rest and it leads me to believe that Bradley will in fact send him to pair with Jay Demerit.
England's projected lineup:
Green
Cole King Terry Johnson
Lennon Gerrard Lampard Cole
Rooney Crouch
The England possess great talent across the pitch but as of late there's been a cause for concern. Captain and long time central back Rio Ferdinand suffered a freak accident in training which is causing him to miss the world cup. Insert Ledley King, whom has a long history of knee injuries himself. Whilst there is issues in the back, the goalkeeping position is also up in the air. Capello hasn't indicated one way or another as to which goalkeeper will face the Americans. At this point it's anyone's guess, although David James has been suffering from a slight knee injury. The pairing up top of Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch work well together. Rooney is England's best player and shows an inordinate amount of heart, emotion, and grit every time he steps onto the field. This has had the propensity to work against him however, as his temper has costed not only himself but his team as well. While Crouch is likely to start, it would not be a surprise to see Emile Heskey alongside Rooney. In a recent game against a local South African team, England was up only 1-0 at halftime and won the game 3-0. Reports say that England looked pitiful aside from Joe Cole, and this displeased Capello so much that he stayed situated on the sidelines for the whole halftime, not addressing his team at all. The world class midfield pairing of Gerrard and Lampard was said to be knocked around pretty handily.
Prediction: United States 2 England 1
Call it a hunch, but I see the Yanks pulling off the upset. This game is the perfect storm for the Americans. The immense pressure by the English press, the recent teammate turmoil, injuries, and the poor form as of late, not to mention the huge chip on the shoulder that the Americans carry as the underdogs given little chance to win. English outside backs Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson have great speed and attack very well from the flanks, but they have had problems getting caught out of position, especially Johnson. The United States will capitalize on that and Donovan will use his own pace to expose the back 4. The midfield is the key in this game. Can Michael Bradley stay under control and not give away the ball easily against a very solid English midfield? Can the United States prevent the incredibly fast winger Aaron Lennon from cutting in and causing peril? Can the team contain Rooney? I believe they will, as Bradley has this team prepared in an incredible fashion. The team will stay compact, looking to counter. While this style isn't always the most aesthetically pleasing, it has proven to be effective in the Confederations Cup. I see Jose Torres impacting the game in the second half, proving possession and creativity. This game would be a monumental win for the Americans and it would give them a great confidence boost. A win here would obviously drum up memories of the infamous 1950 win. Can lightning strike twice for the United States?
I believe it can.
JOGA BONITO
It will be quite interesting to see the lineups that Coaches Bob Bradley and Fabio Capello bring out so we'll try to provide a best guess scenario as to the lineups...
USA:
Howard
Bocanegra Demerit Onyewu Cherundolo
Dempsey Bradley Edu Donovan
Findley Altidore
There are many questions that Bob Bradley has to answer. Who does he start alongside Jozy Altidore? Does he go for the speed of Robbie Findley or the recent torrid form that Edson Buddle's been on? Who will start alongside Michael Bradley in the midfield? Will Oguchi Onyewu be able to not only start but be effective?
Ricardo Clark looked horrific against the Australians. The lack of precision and the carlessness of his distribution will cost him a starting spot. If he starts and plays like that against England, the United States will get dominated by the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Maurice Edu brings more size, athleticism, and versatility. He matches up size wise very well with the two starts in the middle for the English. I give Findley the nod up top due the speed he brings. Although Buddle is playing with supreme confidence, he is too similar to Altidore. Both are target forwards that won't open up the field necessarily with their speed. The speed of Findley has made a difference in opening up the pitch for players like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to get forward and create in the final third of the pitch. Onyewu has looked anything but solid since his return from the patella injury, but he has to start against England. He's had enough time and rest and it leads me to believe that Bradley will in fact send him to pair with Jay Demerit.
England's projected lineup:
Green
Cole King Terry Johnson
Lennon Gerrard Lampard Cole
Rooney Crouch
The England possess great talent across the pitch but as of late there's been a cause for concern. Captain and long time central back Rio Ferdinand suffered a freak accident in training which is causing him to miss the world cup. Insert Ledley King, whom has a long history of knee injuries himself. Whilst there is issues in the back, the goalkeeping position is also up in the air. Capello hasn't indicated one way or another as to which goalkeeper will face the Americans. At this point it's anyone's guess, although David James has been suffering from a slight knee injury. The pairing up top of Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch work well together. Rooney is England's best player and shows an inordinate amount of heart, emotion, and grit every time he steps onto the field. This has had the propensity to work against him however, as his temper has costed not only himself but his team as well. While Crouch is likely to start, it would not be a surprise to see Emile Heskey alongside Rooney. In a recent game against a local South African team, England was up only 1-0 at halftime and won the game 3-0. Reports say that England looked pitiful aside from Joe Cole, and this displeased Capello so much that he stayed situated on the sidelines for the whole halftime, not addressing his team at all. The world class midfield pairing of Gerrard and Lampard was said to be knocked around pretty handily.
Prediction: United States 2 England 1
Call it a hunch, but I see the Yanks pulling off the upset. This game is the perfect storm for the Americans. The immense pressure by the English press, the recent teammate turmoil, injuries, and the poor form as of late, not to mention the huge chip on the shoulder that the Americans carry as the underdogs given little chance to win. English outside backs Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson have great speed and attack very well from the flanks, but they have had problems getting caught out of position, especially Johnson. The United States will capitalize on that and Donovan will use his own pace to expose the back 4. The midfield is the key in this game. Can Michael Bradley stay under control and not give away the ball easily against a very solid English midfield? Can the United States prevent the incredibly fast winger Aaron Lennon from cutting in and causing peril? Can the team contain Rooney? I believe they will, as Bradley has this team prepared in an incredible fashion. The team will stay compact, looking to counter. While this style isn't always the most aesthetically pleasing, it has proven to be effective in the Confederations Cup. I see Jose Torres impacting the game in the second half, proving possession and creativity. This game would be a monumental win for the Americans and it would give them a great confidence boost. A win here would obviously drum up memories of the infamous 1950 win. Can lightning strike twice for the United States?
I believe it can.
JOGA BONITO
World Cup: Day 2
After an exciting first day which saw all four teams in Group A staying level, we'll have a look at the three games being played tomorrow.
First Game: Greece v. South Korea
Group B starts off pitting the Tigers of Asia v. a veteran Greek side. The Greeks under renowned manager Otto Rehhagel plays a very compact style in the back, and looks to score goals by counterattacking. The South Koreans, led by Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park have not been playing well as of late, but look to make up for their poor form tomorrow. Park is a dynamo in the center of the park and is regarded as possibly the best Asian player ever. His work rate is second to none and as Park goes, South Korea goes. AS Monaco forward Park Chu-Young is also a great threat up top for the Koreans as he uses his size and speed to open up the field. Greece relies heavily on captain Giorgos Karagounis in the midfield. His ability to manipulate the ball and spray it around the park makes him very dangeous, and his service is key if forwards Georgios Samaras and Angelo Charisteas are to be effective.
Predictions: Greece 1 South Korea 0
The heavily minded Greece team will make it tough for Park to play in the midfield due to the physical nature employed by players such as Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis. The Koreans will have limited scoring opportunities and in the end Greece will score in the manner that they usually do: on the counter. The staunch defense will ultimately prevail as will the tactical savvy of Rehhagel, who is considered one of the best coaches in the world.
Game 2: Nigeria v Argentina
This is a very interesting game and it provides the opportunity for many fireworks. The Super Eagles are led by former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback. The dynamic pairing of Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins provide immense pace and a cohesion up top that has the potential to cause the slower Argentina backline many problems. Long term stalwart and captain Nwankwo Kanu will provide depth and leadership for a Nigeria team that has good quality across the roster. A potential big loss to an already weak midfield is Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who was ruled out of the world cup recently due to a knee injury. Players such as Kalu Uche and Dickson Etuhu need to play compact and not allow the lethal attackers of Argentina run roughshod in the middle of the pitch. I don't care what anyone says, there is no other team in the world that possessed the incredible and sublime amount of attacking options that Argentina has. Angel Di Maria, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito, and Sergio 'Kun' Aguero will make any other national side jealous, and that's not even including arguably the worlds best player in Lionel Messi. With that said, Argentina is led by the enigmatic and volatile Diego Maradona. The questionable tactics and national team selections will always hamper the Argentinians under Maradona as they have a history of underachieving greatly.
Prediction: Argentina 4 Nigeria 2
The talent that Argentina throws out onto the pitch will cause any team problems, and with a weakened midfield it will open up passing lanes for Javier Masherano and Juan Sebastian Veron to feed the trio of Messi, Tevez, and Higuain up top. The overall team speed of Nigeria will cause the iffy backline of Argentina issues but in the end the class at the forward position will prove to be the difference.
JOGA BONITO
First Game: Greece v. South Korea
Group B starts off pitting the Tigers of Asia v. a veteran Greek side. The Greeks under renowned manager Otto Rehhagel plays a very compact style in the back, and looks to score goals by counterattacking. The South Koreans, led by Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park have not been playing well as of late, but look to make up for their poor form tomorrow. Park is a dynamo in the center of the park and is regarded as possibly the best Asian player ever. His work rate is second to none and as Park goes, South Korea goes. AS Monaco forward Park Chu-Young is also a great threat up top for the Koreans as he uses his size and speed to open up the field. Greece relies heavily on captain Giorgos Karagounis in the midfield. His ability to manipulate the ball and spray it around the park makes him very dangeous, and his service is key if forwards Georgios Samaras and Angelo Charisteas are to be effective.
Predictions: Greece 1 South Korea 0
The heavily minded Greece team will make it tough for Park to play in the midfield due to the physical nature employed by players such as Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis. The Koreans will have limited scoring opportunities and in the end Greece will score in the manner that they usually do: on the counter. The staunch defense will ultimately prevail as will the tactical savvy of Rehhagel, who is considered one of the best coaches in the world.
Game 2: Nigeria v Argentina
This is a very interesting game and it provides the opportunity for many fireworks. The Super Eagles are led by former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback. The dynamic pairing of Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins provide immense pace and a cohesion up top that has the potential to cause the slower Argentina backline many problems. Long term stalwart and captain Nwankwo Kanu will provide depth and leadership for a Nigeria team that has good quality across the roster. A potential big loss to an already weak midfield is Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who was ruled out of the world cup recently due to a knee injury. Players such as Kalu Uche and Dickson Etuhu need to play compact and not allow the lethal attackers of Argentina run roughshod in the middle of the pitch. I don't care what anyone says, there is no other team in the world that possessed the incredible and sublime amount of attacking options that Argentina has. Angel Di Maria, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito, and Sergio 'Kun' Aguero will make any other national side jealous, and that's not even including arguably the worlds best player in Lionel Messi. With that said, Argentina is led by the enigmatic and volatile Diego Maradona. The questionable tactics and national team selections will always hamper the Argentinians under Maradona as they have a history of underachieving greatly.
Prediction: Argentina 4 Nigeria 2
The talent that Argentina throws out onto the pitch will cause any team problems, and with a weakened midfield it will open up passing lanes for Javier Masherano and Juan Sebastian Veron to feed the trio of Messi, Tevez, and Higuain up top. The overall team speed of Nigeria will cause the iffy backline of Argentina issues but in the end the class at the forward position will prove to be the difference.
JOGA BONITO
Thursday, June 10, 2010
WORLD CUP PREVIEW, DAY 1
We're less than 24 hours away from the world's biggest and most popular event, and the anticipation couldn't be higher. With almost every team missing one or two of their best players, this World Cup has the potential to be one of the most exciting or disappointing ones we'll ever see. These injuries, however, give the opportunity for players who have never gotten an international cap to show they deserve to represent their nation. The first game, Mexico vs. South Africa, is tomorrow at 8:30 AM central time on ESPN and foxsoccer.com has a great article helping anyone who isn't a huge follower but would like to know enough to keep up with the players, teams and past success of the nations (http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/lists/Idiots-guide-to-the-World-Cup#sport=World Cup&photo=11276400).
As for the upcoming game between the United States and England, Saturday at 12:30 PM central time on ABC, tension couldn't be higher. With the recent news coming out that Liverpool fans were actually burning the American flag in protest of their beloved club team's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. Now this has actually been going on a while ago, but with our big game coming up in a few days, American soccer writers made a good choice by deciding to publish this story now to get both non-soccer watchers as well as die hard yank fans more involved and raise the bar for our fan support.
PREVIEW: MEXICO VS. SOUTH AFRICA
The first game is less than a day away, and after seeing the World Cup Kick-Off Concert, there's no doubt that South Africa's supporters will be in full force; win, lose, or draw. Mexico is coming off of a pretty impressive run of pre-World Cup friendlies, and seem to be in great form with such a young team headlining for them. After upsetting losses to England and Netherlands (both games Mexico showed great possession and passing), they rallied back and crushed Gambia 5-1.
They have a young midfield and strike force lead by the seasoned and experienced veteran Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Pretty much a God to them, expect Blanco to give a final "hoorah" to his long international career and show the world that a soccer career doesn't have to end at 34 years old (Blanco is 37).
Like their offense, their man between the posts is only 24. Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa is nothing short but great. He isn't considered to be in the top 10 best keepers in the world, but if he can perform, he can come out as top 10 in the tournament. Mexico looks like a surprising force to be reckoned with and I see them advancing with no problems, and possibly upsetting Argentina if it gets to that match up depending on what result they will get against France and where they finish in their group.
South Africa can really only have the mindset "we're just here to have fun". There aren't a lot of expectations for the host nation outside of the country and for good reason. They've only been in three World Cup finals, were banned by FIFA for 30 years, and only have one win in the tournament (1-0 against Slovenia). This being the first ever World Cup held on the continent of Africa, there has been a lot of skepticism and doubt that this will be successful for the country, the continent, and of course the South African national team. No host nation has ever not made it out of their group stage, until now.
PREDICTION: MEXICO 3, SOUTH AFRICA 1
This game has the potential to go many ways. The host nations fan turnout will undoubtedly overpower that of the Mexican supporters and anyone knows that with a powerful support group in a stadium, a team can perform well beyond their normal standards. Both teams will come out fighting for that win a remain hopeful of getting out of their group. When all is said and done however, Mexico is just too good to lose to a team like South Africa. Although "El Tri" have a shaky record outside of their country, they usually provide good performances in the World Cup. If they can pass the ball and maintain possession, expect them to tear apart and below average defense and net in at least three. South Africa can score a goal though, and when they do, expect to hear a roar from the crowd and a celebration like they just won the final game.
PREVIEW: FRANCE VS. URUGUAY
Any sports fan can tell you that France is a good soccer team that can produce results when they need to. Any sports fan will also tell you that they're recently known for on-field fighting (Zidane's infamous head-butt to Marco Materazzi in the 2006 finals) and questionable hand balls (specifically the obvious hand ball committed by Thierry Henry that handed France a play-off win against the better side Ireland that booked their ticket to the World Cup). Besides these recent controversies, France is always considered to be a force to be reckoned with. There's no taking away from their players; on pen and paper, they have one of the best teams in the competition, with players like Franc Ribery (Bayern Munich), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), and so many others playing for the top clubs in the world. Watch out for their youth to shine like keeper Hugo Lloris (23), and Yoann Gourcuff (23). Their downfall with surely be their questionable and ridiculously unusual coach Raymond Domenech, who should have been sacked multiple times already. He is way past due to be replaced, and it will show if they don't get out of their group.
Uruguay has a surprising successful history that people may not be aware of. They have two World Cup championships, and hosted the first ever World Cup. Although the rules were significantly different then, they still accomplished something twice that most nations will never accomplish once. They are a dark horse in this tournament after barely qualifying for it, but that shouldn't stop them from competing and giving teams like France or Mexico a scare to finish top of their group. Look out for veteran Diego Forlan and Sebastian Abreu to bring experience to a relatively young team. Also, look for young striker Luis Suarez who's been on clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona, and Manchester United's radar in this upcoming transfer window.
PREDICTION: URUGUAY 2, FRANCE 1
France will not get out of this group. They are caught in loads of scandals, bad team chemistry, a crazy coach, and a poor run of form. Uruguay has an offense that can score goals and in great fashion. They can control the ball, bring defenders in which will allow speedy strikers like Suarez to get past a shaky defense and an unexperienced keeper to put some in. France better kick it into high gear after a scare against Uruguay or else their only win, or draw will be against South Africa. If they're lucky.
JOGA BONITO
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