The world has stopped to look at Africa (for the first time since the Apartheid fell, maybe) in an excited manner. A cold chilly week has past full of whining and the sound of Vuvuzelas. Every team has played one match, this is my analysis.
Apart from complaining, there has been a lot of disappointment and some glorious uproar. So as FIFA already gave me a way to divide, let me start on last Friday. The Hosts played against Mexico to give many contrasts, Khune (Goalkeeper for RSA) played a great match and is, in my view, the man of the match next to Tschabalala, who not only scored, but also gave the Mexican defenders a hard time. Oscar Perez (MEX Goalkeeper) on the other hand was truly dismal, not proving the choice of small goalkeepers on the Mexican side as the right one, and also not showing why he was chosen over Ochoa. All in all RSA exceeded expectations and made a great effort to proving they can go further than expected. The other match of this group was one of the most boring ones I have seen in a long time, as the French ran up against Uruguay’s stone clad defence, who after losing a man to the first red card of the tournament, closed down even better. Domenech hasn’t proven his worth at all, whereas the players he has are some of the most promising in the world. A goalless draw gave that group an equal starting point.
Group B didn’t surprise me at all, as a fresh, fast South Korea pummelled a Greece that is passed its prime to win a convincing 2-0 and propelling them to the provisional first place. Argentina also won, by 1 goal only, against a resistant Nigeria, getting their goal early on, after which Messi, Tevez and Higuain could put the ball past Enyeama (Man of the Match) who had some steady gloves.
Contrary to him, Green had greasy gloves it seems as he let passed the equalizing goal against USA, leaving England with a disappointing 1-1 draw. Even so, England did put on a good match and are likely to go far. Slovenia didn’t waste their chance though, overpowering Algeria for a late 1-0 win, continuing to surpass the odds their doubters set them.
Group D brought back the team that plays well everywhere but in the world cup in Serbia, who lost by 1 goal to Ghana in their opening match, continuing their ‘tradition’. Germany on the other hand surpassed their high expectations to beat a tactically confusing Australia 4-0. I will never understand how the manager could choose to play 6 midfielders and believe he would draw. They couldn’t stop break Germany’s play at all, and brilliant players like Cahill and Emerton had no one to serve a dangerous ball to. Coupled with that was a slow old defence and a German team who, even without their tireless captain Ballack, were lethal in all sectors. They got through Australian holes easily and with speed and dominance got the ball for four strikers to score.
Group E brought another set of hopefuls to victory as Holland gave Denmark a hard time beating them 2-0. Their midfield is still unstoppable and their team-play brilliant, especially comparing to other favourites France. Japan also got their first win against Cameroon in a match where captain Eto’o couldn’t do anything to stop the Asian speed. Both 2002 hosts have shown their worth again up to now.
Going onto Group F one saw two 1-1 draws with Italy disappointing against the powerful Paraguay and New Zealand surprising another of the world cup surprises Slovakia in a match that points to both these teams not being able to go any further. In the European-South American matchup, there was some great football played with Italy earning a lucky corner equalizer so that they wouldn’t end up like France in 2002. This group shouldn’t bring any more surprises though with the only thing still unknown being who will top the group.
The ‘Group of Death’ though seems to have turned into the ‘Group, which will be a toss up between Portugal and Ivory Coast’. It was a strong match between the two aforementioned that ended in another goalless draw, but it showed four things. 1) Portuguese players can’t stop whining, especially Cristiano Ronaldo. 2) Ivory Coast has a solid shadowing defence. 3) Ivory Coast causes heart attacks in the last moments of the match and 4) There is no way to understand what the hell Queiroz is thinking. Brazil played a solid match against North Korea, where they dominated and won by 2-1, with a last minute honour goal to finish the great display of favouritism. It will come down to who will slip up and who will stop Brazil in the fight between the Sailors and the Elephants.
Lastly the biggest surprise yet: In Group H, after Chile convincing in a 1-0 win against Honduras, explaining the world why they got 2nd (in front of Argentina) in the qualifying phase, Spain dominated their match against Switzerland, but lost in a freak play. The 1-0 that the Swiss scored was achieved against the flow of the match, in a time where nothing seemed to be going wrong for Spain, except their “goallessness”. The goal gives Spain a bit of a heart attack, as they will have to fight their way to the top now, instead of soaring as expected.
Lastly I will give my expectations:
Group A: Some freak happening will put Mexico on the plane back home and the Hosts on a Highway to stardom backed by the vuvuzelas. I feel they will give both Uruguay and France a very hard time, especially as both those teams have to set their act straight. Mexico has a lot to change and improve, their only hope laying in Vela, dos Santos and captain Marquez.
Group B: Argentina top it in front of South Korea with a possible surprise by Nigeria, but Greece don’t stand a chance after their first display.
Group C: England and Slovenia should go through, with Algeria not standing a chance and USA giving a good fight, but Slovenia have proven that their qualification was out of merit and not luck.
Group D: Unless somehow Australia gets their act straight without Cahill, they won’t surpass the tireless Ghanaians. Serbia is set to have a 2006 repeat and Germany should continue to dominate.
Group E: Even though Japan have shown heart, Denmark should sneak up into a second place spot behind Holland who should just get better with time.
Group F: As I already said, Slovakia and New Zealand don’t seem to stand a chance, and it’s all down to Paraguay and Italy to show their strength and hunt for the 1st place.
Group G: Brazil top it, Portugal and Ivory Coast have a tug of war. North Korea scores a couple more goals before getting onto the plane to rejoin their leader Kim Jong-Il.
Group H: After this first round I expect one of the two who are right now at the top to top the group, but Spain still to come 2nd. Depends really on who wins between Chile and Switzerland in my view. Honduras shouldn’t surprise.
Please comment, it’s easy to rebut any of the things I said. Plus, please stop complaining about the Vuvuzelas, they’re not going anywhere, and are kind of fun.
