Posted by Yardie Luke on July 11, 2010 under World Cup Football | 
Unfortunately the 2010 FIFA World Cup has ended. The final game was won by Spain which makes them the new World Cup winner, in addition to their European Champion Title in 2008.
The third place game between Germany and Uruguay was much more entertaining and had more goals; Germany won 3-2. This final game will be remembered for 14 yellow cards and 1 red card shown by English referee Howard Webb. It was a sloppy game, a dirty game with a karate kick by Heitinga to the chest of Xabi Alonso. Heitinga was fortunate to stay on the field with a yellow card warning.
In the end the better team won. The Netherlands suffer a 3rd loss at a world cup final. They lost to Germany and Argentina respectively in 1974 and 1978.
The 2014 World Cup will be played in Brazil.
It’s ironic that the “total football” introduced by the Dutch was copied by the Spaniards and used to defeat the Dutch who wanted to make a physical impact rather than a skillful one on the field.
Posted by Yardie Luke on July 3, 2010 under World Cup Football |
When German captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup tournament due to an injury he sustained in the English FA Cup Final, the “experts” said his absence would be a major blow to the German chance of winning the World Cup. Looking back it now seems that was a blessing in disguise.
Ballack is overrated. He is old, slow and not near his best as an influential midfielder. English club Chelsea released him a few weeks ago because he is not worth the £130, 000 per week he was getting.
Germany went younger and faster and it has paid off in impressive fashion. Germany demolished Australia 4 – 0, they made the English players look like school boys when they beat them 4 – 1 and today they ripped Argentina apart 4 – 0 in stunning fashion.
Argentina’s defense was always suspect but you would not believe it after watching their first 4 World Cup games. In reality their defense was not fully tested. Mexico exposed some of the Argentine weaknesses.
Germany put the Argentine defense to the test within the first 3 minutes of today’s game. A freekick from the right was directed into the goal by Müller who escaped his marker. Argentina was exposed again when Klose skied a clear goal chance.
Argentina looked like they would get back in the game but the German keeper kept out all shots on target. Dynamic duo Podolski and Klose struck again in the second half to put Germany up 2 – 0. The defense was craved out again.
The rout was on when German defender scored the 3rd goal and Klose scored his 4th goal of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to complete an impressive victory over Maradona and his men.
WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS
Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 14 goals
Gerd Müller (Germany) – 14 goals
Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals
Pelé (Brazil) – 12 goals
Posted by Yardie Luke on July 2, 2010 under World Cup Football |
Brazil has been dumped out of the World Cup by the Netherlands/Holland. The first half belonged to Brazil. They established a physical presence early as van Persie found out. Robinho and Kaka were very lively and they created problems for the Dutch players.
After seeing his goal ruled out for offside in the 8th minute, Roninho caught the Dutch defense napping a few minutes later as he ran onto a long pass by Melo and tucked the ball past the keeper. “This looks easy,” the Brazilians may have thought. And why not. They are 32-0-2 when taking a lead at the half.
However the second half was a complete turnaround. The Dutch pressed a little harder and Arjen Robben was a menace down the right flank. The deserved equalizer came in the 53rd minute from a wicked looping cross by Man of the Match Wesley Sneijder.
The second goal for the Netherlands came from a corner kick that was probably practiced several times by the Dutch. Dirk Kuyt sneaked in front of a Brazilian defender, headed the ball backwards and towards the center of the box and Sneijder directed the ball to the keeper’s right. Netherlands 2 Brazil 1.
Surely Brazil can fight back to equalize. However Felipe Melo had a moment of insanity as he stamped on Robben and was shown a straight red card. Selfish boy! With a man short the task of equalizing was made a lot more difficult. Additionally, forward Fabiano was not having a good game.
The Netherlands had more than one chance to widen the lead as Brazil pushed men forward in search of a goal. That goal never came and the Netherlands moves on to the semi-finals to face Uruguay or Ghana.
Posted by Yardie Luke on June 12, 2010 under World Cup Football |
WORLD CUP FOOTBALL NEWS SCORES & PLAYERS
Jamaica made its first appearance in a World Cup Football tournament in France in 1998. Jamaica recorded a memorable win against Japan but lost to Croatia and Argentina.
Unfortunately Jamaica failed to reach the 2002, 2006 and now 2010 World Cup Football tournament.
The first 2 days of World Cup Football 2010 have seen 5 games played. On the opening day the final scores were: South Africa 1 Mexico 1 Uruguay 0 France 0.
In the opening game Siphiwe Tshabalala became the first football player to score a World Cup goal on the African continent. And it was a scorcher. It flew into the top left corner of the Mexican goal, beyond the reach of the Mexican keeper. It was a memorable goal for Tshabalala celebrating his 50th cap for South Africa.
The Uruguay v France match was a disappointment. France is a great team on paper but the reality is the game is not played on paper. On the field there seems to be a lack of cohesiveness and a lack of confidence in Raymond Domenech and his selection. Many questioned why Maluda and Henry did not start. However when they were both on the field not much changed.
The Republic of Korea (S. Korea) outplayed Greece on Saturday and deservedly won 2 – 0. Argentina struggled to put Nigeria away and was fortunate to claim a 1 – 0 victory.
The England – USA game did not live up to the hype and England once again had a keeper with “butter fingers” in goal. The goal that rolled off his gloves was one of the luckiest goals most people will ever see.
