England play terribly for 0-0 draw with Algeria

A truly despressing match, while some might've expected a 3-0 thrashing by England, the game ended with a very sad 0-0 score-line.

Here's how Group C stands with the England - Algeria result:

Slovenia    (4)
USA         (2)
England    (2)
Algeria     (1)

England - Algeria


It was mentioned above, this was a truly depressing, terrible, and uninspiring game by England especially. Algeria started well as they really enjoyed putting pressure on the England back-line, Ziani was inspiring with his flicks and dribbling, but overall the Algerians didn't commit enough players  to the attack, so they were missing options.

England on the other hand had trouble just stringing three or four passes together, Wayne Rooney was the worst player on the field with absolutely no first touch. When Rooney was able to control the ball, he would often lose it because he was just too slow compared to the quick anticipations of the Algerian defenders.

The entire game was laced with few opportunities, and Fabio Capello made some of the strangest substitutions I've seen in a long time. In the 63rd he takes off Lennon for Wright-Phillips who was truly terrible, and then he took of Heskey for Defoe. Heskey was doing a relatively good job compared to the other England players, he tracked back, passed accurately, and was often an option, but Capello obviously didn't like him. So instead of putting on a game-changer like Joe Cole early on, or Crouch (who was put on for the final 5 mintues!), Capello puts on a kid who can run fast but has no ball control (SWP), and takes off probably two of the most inspiring players that were on.

Terrible game, don't waste your time watching it, I'm sorry, but that's the truth... If Capello doesn't begin to inspire this England team, and give them an identity, then they'll be in big trouble come the game against Slovenia.

USA Fight back to draw 2-2 with Slovenia

The USA are truly a team of determination and grit like none other, yet another fantastic come-back to earn an important point which just might be enough for them to pass on to the next stage with some luck.

Slovenia - USA


The first half was Slovenia's, they were able to grab two goals, the first in the 13th minute with Birsa who with a tentative strike from outside the area somehow gets it past Howard who was rooted to the spot. USA then pushed for the equalizer, with Torres trying from the free-kick, and Donovan just short of tapping the ball in from a great build-up. While there was bad defending on the first, the second was even worse with just plain bad marking from the USA defence as Slovenia put Ljubijankic on goal with a simple through ball, and the Slovenian coolly tucked away the second.

After halftime, Bob Bradley changes USA up a bit by taking off Torres and Findley for Edu and Feilhaber, and right away in the 48th minute, Landon Donovan grabs a goal. Slovenian defender misjudges the bounce as Donovan runs towards goal to smash it into the top of the goal. Then the USA really started pushing, and they eventually found the equalizer in the 82nd with Michael Bradley, coach Bob Bradley's son. Donovan plays a high ball for Altidore who flicks it on for an incoming Bradley who then volleys it over Handanovic for the equalizer.

Then the USA thought they got the winner with Maurice Edu tapping it in from a free kick, but the referee disallows the goal for an unseen reason to everyone else, so the match ends 2-2 with the USA players furious with the referee's decision.

Germany lose 1-0 to Serbia with Klose sent off

It's interesting to see the contrast between the Germany which lost 1-0 to Serbia, and the Germany which demolished Australia 4-0 . They're actually relatively similar except with the difference of Klose being sent off, and the other match of this group between Ghana and Australia will be played tomorrow.

Germany - Serbia


It's remarkable the upsets that a World Cup brings, first we almost saw Brazil unable to score against DPR Korea, then we see Spain lose to Switzerland, and today we saw Serbia scrape out a win with plenty of luck.It started just like the Australia game, Germany held possession as Serbia tried to defend fiercely and quickly counter-attack with the likes of speedy Krasic.

Germany found it difficult to pierce Serbia, and they played much more sloppily than they did against Australia with plenty of passes going just wide to be intercepted by a Serbian player. But little by little Germany got into their stride, as Ozil spread passes and created a couple of chances, but nothing too great.

Eventually the big moment came, Miroslav Klose nipped Stankovic from behind got a second yellow card, and therefore a red card. A harsh decision which saw Germany's main striker sent off in the 37th minute, and just a minute later Serbia scored with Jovanovic. Krasic's good cross reached Zigic who headed it down for Jovanovic to volley in at close range for the ultimate upset goal. Then at the end of the first half in a penalty area scrap, Sami Khedira rockets the ball at the crossbar as the goalie was way off of his line, Muller's bicycle kick to follow up and it was blocked off of the line from a Serbian defender.

After the half, Germany released itself on Serbia, putting everything into getting the two goals necessary for the win. Vidic gave away a penalty with an unnecessary handball,  a replica of the handball by Kuzmanovic against Ghana which lost them that game. Podolski stepped up to take the penalty but had it saved by Stojkovic, who celebrated with his teammates.

And although Germany pushed and pushed, Serbia came closest with Zigic scraping the top of the bar with a header. It just wasn't Germany's game as Serbia celebrate their chance of advancing to the next round with a fantastic upset.

France crash and burn with 2-0 loss to Mexico

Mexico have begun to realize their potential, while in my World Cup pools I've got Mexico first and Uruguay second, it seems like it might just happen that way.

Here's how Group A stands after Mexico's 2-0 win:

Uruguay        (4)
Mexico          (4)
France           (1)
South Africa  (1)

France - Mexico


The first half started right away with some action, Giovani Dos Santos hit the inside of the post, tantalizingly close to the opening goal, but the action was called off for offside. However France were also able to build some good chances, but they were nothing compared to what the outstanding left-back was able to do, two great chances for him. And an unfortunate injury for Mexico, Carlos Vela had to be replaced by Pablo Barrera


In the second half, France were able to create a few opportunities with Malouda lashing a shot which Oscar Perez did well to save, but France were still as clueless as ever in the second half. It was substitute Javier Hernandez with the opening goal, he put Mexico in front in the 64th minute after beating the offside trap to perfection. The young 22 year-old then coolly rounded Hugo Lloris before tapping it into the back of the net for the opening goal. 

Mexico doubled their lead in the 79th minute after Eric Abidal slide tackled Pablo Barrera, earning himself a yellow, and Hugo Lloris a penalty to deal with. It was Blanco, the oldest player in the tournament at 37 who took it, a very long run up (and I'm talking very long) led to him slipping the ball just past Lloris's fingers at the bottom left corner. 

The Mexican fans went wild as the entire team celebrated their iconic win, and it's interesting to note how badly France played. Now Mexico and Uruguay just need a draw to both advance out of the group stages, but be sure that that game will be full of action and fire.

Just going to finish with a quote from Raphael Honigstein about France, "It takes an absolute genius to make so many talented players play this badly together"