catching up
ok. yesterday's matches.
Japan vs. Australia: the japanese played a good strong beginning of the game, taking a 1-0 lead. it was unfortunate for them that australia was able to capitalize opportunities late and win the game. the game was, however, much closer than the 3-1 score would imply. japan should be happy with most of their performance, but giving up three goals in the final 8 minutes of a game is unacceptable. japan need to play better late in the game to avoid going home early.
shame on you team USA. shame on you. saturday's game against italy is now a must-win. a tie isn't going to be good enough.
ghana put up a good fight, especially for their first ever world cup final game. italy, however, proved to be too much for them. the ghanan keeper, however, played poorly, coming off his line way too often. if he doesn't learn to trust his defenders a little bit, he's going to be hurt on corners in the next two games.
today's matches:
togo controlled the first 53 minutes of the game, and a good portion of the latter 35. they took a lead late in the first half, but got a bad break early in the 2nd half. midfielder turned forward Park Ji-Sung took a well placed ball towards the box. Abalo brought him down, denying the scoring opportunity, leaving little choice in the matter. he got his second yellow of the match and was sent off. korea scored the first direct kick goal of the finals on the ensuing free kick. they added the winner in the 72nd minute, despite intense pressure from the 10 remaining men from togo. togo should be happy that they played so well while being a man down, but needs to perform better if they hope to advance.
france and switzerland tied. and you read it here first, folks. that's right. there have been two ties so far. and i called them both. booyah. anyway, france needs to play better. they need to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves. there was a perfect example of one, when henry's cross found nobody in front, and a second when ribery found himself alone in front of goal and, rather than shooting, passed to henry, who had a poor shot. switzerland needs to be happy with their performance. france, while taking solace in the performance of keeper fabien barthez -- the subject of some controversy -- must play better. after winning in 1998, they have yet to score a goal in a final game. or win one.
i love watching brazil play. they are a perfect example of how the game should be played. ronaldinho is amazing. in the 44th minute, the announcers were saying "kaka." any croats who speak spanish were saying "caca" as kaka scored, giving brazil the lead, and getting the only goal of the game.
how I did: for the second time, i went 3-0 courtesy of a tie in the noon game. i'm now 11-3 overall
tomorrow:
Spain vs. Ukraine 9am on ESPN2
Saudi Arabia vs. Tunisia, the last opener, at NOON on ESPN2
Germany vs. Poland 3pm on ESPN2
Japan vs. Australia: the japanese played a good strong beginning of the game, taking a 1-0 lead. it was unfortunate for them that australia was able to capitalize opportunities late and win the game. the game was, however, much closer than the 3-1 score would imply. japan should be happy with most of their performance, but giving up three goals in the final 8 minutes of a game is unacceptable. japan need to play better late in the game to avoid going home early.
shame on you team USA. shame on you. saturday's game against italy is now a must-win. a tie isn't going to be good enough.
ghana put up a good fight, especially for their first ever world cup final game. italy, however, proved to be too much for them. the ghanan keeper, however, played poorly, coming off his line way too often. if he doesn't learn to trust his defenders a little bit, he's going to be hurt on corners in the next two games.
today's matches:
togo controlled the first 53 minutes of the game, and a good portion of the latter 35. they took a lead late in the first half, but got a bad break early in the 2nd half. midfielder turned forward Park Ji-Sung took a well placed ball towards the box. Abalo brought him down, denying the scoring opportunity, leaving little choice in the matter. he got his second yellow of the match and was sent off. korea scored the first direct kick goal of the finals on the ensuing free kick. they added the winner in the 72nd minute, despite intense pressure from the 10 remaining men from togo. togo should be happy that they played so well while being a man down, but needs to perform better if they hope to advance.
france and switzerland tied. and you read it here first, folks. that's right. there have been two ties so far. and i called them both. booyah. anyway, france needs to play better. they need to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves. there was a perfect example of one, when henry's cross found nobody in front, and a second when ribery found himself alone in front of goal and, rather than shooting, passed to henry, who had a poor shot. switzerland needs to be happy with their performance. france, while taking solace in the performance of keeper fabien barthez -- the subject of some controversy -- must play better. after winning in 1998, they have yet to score a goal in a final game. or win one.
i love watching brazil play. they are a perfect example of how the game should be played. ronaldinho is amazing. in the 44th minute, the announcers were saying "kaka." any croats who speak spanish were saying "caca" as kaka scored, giving brazil the lead, and getting the only goal of the game.
how I did: for the second time, i went 3-0 courtesy of a tie in the noon game. i'm now 11-3 overall
tomorrow:
Spain vs. Ukraine 9am on ESPN2
Saudi Arabia vs. Tunisia, the last opener, at NOON on ESPN2
Germany vs. Poland 3pm on ESPN2