POWER HOUSES.....NO MORE

It seems that the perennial powerhouse of World football are being tested.
Not only are they being tested but they are looking like shadows of their former selves. The likes of Italia, England, Germany, France and Spain have had torrid World Cups thus far. In the case of the French it cannot get much worst and with their off field issues this isn't helping their performances. With Anelka already being sent home and the players walking off at training this morning has all but sealed their fate in Group A. Germany looked to take the World Cup by storm with an astonishing demolition of the Aussies in their opening encounter. But a shock defeat to Serbia has abruptly brought the Germans back to earth.
Italy and England are by far the most disappointing bunch, boosting world class players from many of Europe's top leagues the two power houses have been poor for the use of a better word. With two draws each to their names, only victory in their closing group fixtures will see them through. These performances have been torture on the human eye. these 120,000 pound a week footballers should be made to donate their salaries to charity. The likes of New Zealand and Algeria who have part time footballers epitimise the spirit of passion.
For the sake of these big nations they better get it right or their respective governments and media will a field day scrutinizing them.....

SOUTH KOREAN DELIGHT

South Korea saw off a lacklustre Greece side 2-0 in the Group B opener thanks to goals from Lee Jung-Soo and Park Ji-Sung.
The victory was also the first of the tournament, and a very impressive one at that. The Koreans seemed way more fit and were more precise with their movement and passes. Greece were very poor and players like Samaras, Gekas and Karagounis should be shame with their performances. On the other hand Cha Du-Ri the Korean wing back was very instrumental with some impressive runs forward and some very sound defensive work as well. Park Ji-Sung was the energetic pin in the Korean middle and lead from the front scoring a wonderful goal. Korea like the park and are now favourites to make it out the group with tournament favourites Argentina.

FRANCE 0 - 0 URUGUAY

After the excitement of the first game this was a more low and much more boring encounter. The choice of not starting Henry and Malouda may come back to bite Domenech in the ass. The french lack that little bit of creativity in the middle of the park and a shooting happy YG didn't make it any better.
To be honest I fell asleep for 10 minutes during the game and so i wont do match ratings for this one. Hopefully Les Bleu fans have something to shout about form their next encounter. As for the South Americans they got a well deserved point in a very tricky fixture. So group A is over for now after one round and everyone is level on one point. If they are any predictions to take from this opening day we must note:

SOUTH AFRICA are not just here to make up numnbers.

MEXICO are very technically sound and bolster a well rounded team.

FRANCE are lack luster and need to inject some pace n creativity into their play.

URUGUAY are very compact and do not go out of their parameters. They are simple and maybe that can get them through.

MEXICO 1-1 SOUTH AFRICA

Rafa Marquez scored an equalizer to stop the Bafana Bafana party. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a wonderful goal followed with a equally impressive celebration to give the Africans the lead. After this Mphela had opportunities to take the lead due to some poor goal keeping by Oscar Perez. Marquez goal was followed by a thunderbolt by Gio Dos Santos was wonderfully saved by Itumeleng Khune who turned in a masterful performance in the South African goal.

TOP  PLAYERS:
  Itumeleng Khune -8/10- was wonderful in keeping his team in the game with some good saves and plucked all of the crosses out of the air very good performance by the Kieser Chiefs man.

Gio Dos Santos - 7/10 - Industrious the whole evening. Worked very hard to find space and spread the ball was all over the pitch. Might have had a goal not for a spectacular save by Khune.


Siphiwe Tshabalala - 8/10- What a goal, what a goal, what a goal, great finish was very instrumental held up the ball well and tried to spread the ball in space for his teammates.

TOP FLOPS:
Oscar Perez - 3/10- Piss poor in bar was always suspect looked poor on arial threats. Was in no mans land on some on occasions. Suspect on clearances.
  
Efraín Juárez - 4.5/10- Was at fault for the goal and was off the pace giving away foolish fouls and was cared. Very poor game. 

Cuauhtémoc Blanco - 2/10- POOR POOR POOR. Was slow and off the pace this being a sub. Looked out of it after 5minutes. Very poor by Blanco needs to give up on his World Cup quest.

 

PRE GAME NOTES & PREDICTIONS

It's finally hear people the World Cup is finally hear. In our opening game we have the Host South Africa v Mexico. It seems a very straight forward game for EL TRI, but home field advantage can play a very strong part and make this a very competitive game.
Players to watch for Mexico are Vela, Barrera and the one the only Gio Dos Santos. Mexico hold the ball very well and look vewry confident with it to foot.
Players to watch for South Africa Mokoena and a very inspirational playmaker Steven Pienaar will have to will they team and nation to have a victory.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Mexico

INJURY BUG

What the hell is going on????? A number of football superstars have been hit with the injury bug which leads me to ask if coaches are allowing players to be too aggressive in training. I know the World Cup fever has taken over and adrenaline is high but can it also be a cast of players needing to relax abit? Michael Ballack we know was out for a while with an ankel injury during the FA Cup final, Rio Ferdinand knee ligament damage during training from an Emile Heskey challenge (I think). Also Nani shoulder, Essein knee, John Obi Mikel knee and ankle. Pirlo is also a doubt with him being sidelined for 20 days Italy will need to make it out their group for him to see a good amount of playing time. Drogba, Robben, Milito are also carrying knocks as well as Altidore, Milner and Julio Cesar. This injury bug hasnt hit Spain Mexico or France as yet to my recognition. Let us hope it stops......

PORTUGAL LEAVE HOME ZE

Portugal have announced that Deportivo la Coruna defender Ze Castro is the player to be omitted from the final 23-man squad for the World Cup.
  
The Squad reads:  Eduardo, Daniel Fernandes, Beto, Miguel, Ricardo Costa, Paulo Ferreira
Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Duda, Pedro Mendes, Tiago    
Deco, Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso, Simao Sabrosa, Danny, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Liedson, Hugo Almeida  

ITALIA.....NO MARCO NO ROSSI

The very controversial Lippi named his finally 23 man squad today and notables such a Totti, Rossi and Boriello were left out...interesting. Anyways the full squad is as follows:

Gianluigi BuffonMorgan De Sanctis,Federico Marchetti, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Gianluca Zambrotta
Domenico Criscito, Christian Maggio, Salvatore Bocchetti, Leonardi Bonucci, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi, Daniele De Rossi, Angelo Palombo, Simone Pepe   
Riccardo Montolivo, Claudio Marchisio, Alberto Gilardino   
Vincenzo Iaquinta, Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella, Giampaolo Pazzini

SURPRISES GALORE IN ENGLAND SQUAD

Theo Walcott was excluded to no surprise of mine, he had a very poor season and was living on his hat-trick hype a whole two years later. He will never be what England want him to be because he has no football brain.

Sunderland striker Darren Bent, Tottenham duo Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone, Manchester City winger Adam Johnson, Everton defender Leighton Baines and West Ham's Scott Parker also missed out.

Bent finished the season as the second highest scoring English striker in the Premier League, behind Wayne Rooney, but has failed to impress on the international stage during his limited opportunities. To his defence he is hardly given any good opportunities. Well Cabbage Man Capello has chosen his team and its off the AFRICA