Group of Death finally has its wake.
Today saw the last games in groups C and D, and the first real heavyweight clash of the tournament, between Argentina and Holland. Mexico are a damn fine side, as are Portugal, so the top of the table clash in Group D was hardly much lower down on the billing. It was shaping up to be a good day, the sort of day World Cups are made of. And it’s with the latter match we begin. The winner of the group would, in all likelihood, avoid the form team so far, Argentina, but facing Holland instead was hardly likely to be seen as a “prize” worth winning. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Portugal only needed a point to top the group, but in failing to beat Angola, Mexico ensured that they needed all three.
Simao looked a lot better on the left than the massively overrated Cristiano Ronaldo. The myth that he’s some sort of astoundingly talented prodigy really is exposed at this level, and he’s proven to be no better than Joe Cole or Arjen Robben (average, one-trick pony). They’re all selfish and put themselves before their teams, and with Cronaldo and Joe Cole you’re guaranteed a plethora of useless stepovers. None of them are good enough to beat high-quality full backs, just like the rat-faced Portuguese has never succeeded against Ashley Cole, for club or country. I hate to say it but Maniche was awesome again, and it was he who started and finished the move that lead to Portugal’s first goal. He fed Simao on the left and the Benfica man took on the fullback, slipped the ball into the box and the onrushing Maniche finished into the top corner.
Mexico captain Marquez looked a shadow of his usual self in midfield, and it was he who gave away an obvious (and unnecessarily silly) penalty which Simao put away very well for 2-0. The Barcelona man almost made amends, though, when he got a near-post flick-on to a freekick and Omar Bravo should have scored from the knock down. From the resulting corner, however, Fonseca scored for Mexico, following terrible marking by the Portuguese. 2-1 at half time was probably a fair reflection of the way the game had gone. Zinha came on in the second half and Mexico looked a lot better for it, as Marquez dropped back into the back three where he’s more comfortable, and Zinha’s bloody brilliant; a real schemer in midfield. Mexico won a doubly deserved penalty, as Miguel brought down Perez and handled the ball too. Read more »
Today saw the conclusion of groups A and B and would decide whether the hosts would face England or Sweden in the next round. The Germans took on Ecuador in the game to decide the winner of group A, and the south Americans made 5 changes, fielding a virtual reserve side. This was no doubt to protect players for the second round, but when a draw would have been enough for them to secure top spot in the group, the decision to rest so many suggests that their ambitions do not stretch beyond the next round. For a country whose players have traditionally struggled away from Quito, their high-altitude capital, to be in the second round of a European World Cup is an amazing achievement, and if you’d offered them that before the tournament, they’d have bitten your hand off. Germany, however, made only one change, and that enforced. Despite being criticised in the German media for failing to score in his last four matches for the national side, Podolski kept his place up front. 
The big guns were on show today as Brazil met Australia in what must surely be the biggest match in the history of the Socceroos, while France, desperate for their first win of the tournament, met South Korea, semi-finalists when they co-hosted in 2002. In truth today was all about whether two all-time greats, easily the best players of this generation, would stamp their class on this tournament, or continue to look past it. I’m referring, of course, to Real Madrid teammates Ronaldo, who looks grossly overweight, and Zidane, who looks devoid of ideas. This could be the last chance for either star to shine on the world stage and it would be a shame for either career to go out with a fizzle rather than a bang. 
-a_casting_of_rodins_thinker.small.jpg)
I’m 24 years old and I’m from London. I’m a law graduate who oddly enough finds himself in the wonderful world of telesales. I actually enjoy it, I think I was born to talk a lot, and even more so to be an annoyance and plague upon an unsuspecting public. Don’t worry; I only deal business-to-business so I won’t be calling your home number. Unless you’re this month’s nominated stalking victim, of course. Don’t all clamour at once, you’ll all get a turn to be stalked!