FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

[Mr. Japan]

Alberto why you don't write about Italy :-)

Ciao from Tokyo!

[MIKA27]

Sitting back with my iPad, watching Nederlands vs Denmark. It's 23mins into the game and not much exciting happening.

Perhaps both teams should use the goalkeepers as players on the field seeing that neither are getting anywhere near the nets!

Does anyone have a decent striker?! Anyone!

[brutusthebuckeye]

Typical start by the Azzurri!!!!

[gersonmorelli]

Overall I think the games in this World Cup are terrible so far. So freaking boring... And to my surprise the only good game so far was the German's great performance, weirdly enough. Well, Argentina and Nigeria wasn't so bad either. But that's about it.

If I had to watch another game such as France and Uruguay I'd rather put a bullet in my head!

[Mr. Japan]

Typical start by the Azzurri!!!!

Thats what we all hope.

[ZinZan]

What's your opinion of the vuvuzela? Personally i think it's bloody irritating, it creates such a false atmosphere. What happened to the singing and chanting. I cant hear anything but the horns blaring, that's watching from the TV imagine in the stadium.

[First Lady]

So true Gino..... I hope the Aussie and the Italians start to play better as I will start to question why I get up at 4am to watch the games....

[OZCUBAN]

At the moment the games are enough to sent the most hardened insomniac to sleep

Give me a F.O.H Cigar event any day

cheers Oz

P.S I think Cahill was a bit hard done by there talking two match ban now WTF

Cheers OZ

[SandmanTR]

What's your opinion of the vuvuzela? Personally i think it's bloody irritating, it creates such a false atmosphere. What happened to the singing and chanting. I cant hear anything but the horns blaring, that's watching from the TV imagine in the stadium.

I hate them. I don't know how the players can hear anything on the pitch. It's got to be hard.

EDIT:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/sto...;cc=5901?ver=us

[Habanos2000]

I hate them. I don't know how the players can hear anything on the pitch. It's got to be hard.

I only wish I had a stand at the games selling those things

[Bartolomeo]

Lets hope the Azzurri step up on Sunday, I was really worried for most of the game

Bart

[khomeinist]

Italy's group is a joke. I am sure they will be fine. Quite the boring side though.

The horns? The sound doesn't bother me but the fact that they drown out the crowd is really bad. Goals are scored and you can't detect crowd emotion. Kills the ambiance.

Boring World Cup? Not really. First matches often poor. Don't forget that only about half the sides are really up to much. Too many international sides have little or no ability to consistently score at the highest level. Makes for boring defensive matches. Things will improve as the crap squads get desperate and much better after the group stage has completed.

[MIKA27]

England cry foul over ball

Source: ninemsn.com.au

Germany's Thomas Mueller and his team-mates had no trouble controlling the ball in their 4-0 victory against Australia.

England's Jamie Carragher believes Germany gained a huge World Cup advantage by ensuring their players had four months to get used to the ball they banged into the net four times against Australia.

The controversial Jabulani balls were introduced by Bundesliga clubs sponsored by their German-based manufacturer adidas in February and Carragher believes that has given England's biggest rivals an edge that was apparent in their impressive 4-0 win over the Socceroos in their opening match on Sunday.

"That is exactly what we were saying as we were watching," Carragher said.

"It gives them an advantage anyway. Certainly, that is true. It is obvious. The ball is very different. Every training session we do we always start with a ball between two, passing 30 or 40 yards to each other just for that reason alone. I am sure it has helped them."

FIFA and adidas insist that any difficulty players have encountered with the balls here is down to the effect of altitude, not anything to do with the design.

That stance has been disputed by numerous players and Carragher believes designers will always try to tweak the specifications of balls to generate more goals.

"When you are making a ball for the World Cup the idea is to create more goals I think and get it to do strange things to make it a more exciting tournament.

"But every cross I have seen has been overhit. It goes over the back post. I haven't seen anyone get a free-kick over the wall yet.

"It just seems to sail straight over the bar. Looking at the start, maybe it is not doing what people expected. People thought there would be more goals but apart from Germany I don't think there have been too many goals in the tournament."

Despite his criticism of the ball, Carragher said nothing should be taken away from an impressive performance that underlined that Germany will once again be a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup.

"They played so well. I am not looking for an excuse. You are trying not to hype them up too much because of how well they played. It is something to cling to, that they might have been playing with the ball (for longer). I have had two or three texts about it."

Carragher added: "If you watch Germany and the teams come up, you wouldn't say the names roll off the tongue. But then when you see them in action and how they played against Australia it was very impressive.

"The manager, Joachim Loew has done a great job. He was number two to (Juergen) Klinsmann and had a bit of an impact at the last World Cup."

England's players, who could face Germany as early as the second round, were impressed by the creative quality of 21-year-old Mesut Ozil, the chief engineer of the demolition job on Australia.

"Right from the first two touches you could tell he had a bit of class with his left foot," Carragher said. "You could tell straightaway he is a talented player."

Germany's positive start with what was supposed to be a squad of modestly talented, inexperienced players is in sharp contrast to the stumbling entrance to the tournament of England's star-studded squad, who were held to a 1-1 draw by the United States on Saturday.

Carragher admits that the German mindset may be more geared to delivering success in football's biggest tournaments.

"What they may have is a belief of always being there at the end. Maybe that continues," he said.

"It is similar to what we have at Liverpool where you are known for getting late goals no matter who is on the pitch. You believe you are going to do it.

"Because we have not done very well in tournaments maybe that is something. But if you look at the players we have got I am still pretty confident we can do well in this tournament."

[MIKA27]

Netherlands defeat Denmark

The Netherlands got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start on Monday with a 2-0 victory over Denmark thanks to an own-goal and a late tap-in from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt.

The star-studded Dutch are among the favourites to win the World Cup in the final at Soccer City on July 11 but Bert van Marwijk's side failed to impress at the same venue as the pragmatic Danes defended well.

An own-goal by Danish defender Simon Poulsen at the start of the second-half and Kuyt's 85th-minute effort was enough to give the Netherlands the three points.

Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst joined the centurion's club as he won his 100th cap and coach Bert van Marwijk left out Arjen Robben to give the winger more time to recover from a torn thigh.

Despite the Dutch boasting a forward line including Arsenal striker Robin van Persie supported by midfielders Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder, Kuyt and Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart, the Danish defence held firm.

Kuyt had the first shot of the game on ten minutes when he fired his shot at Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen who controlled the ball after an initial fumble.

Just as the Dutch attacked relentlessly, so the Danes soaked up the pressure in front of a 83,465-strong crowd.

Denmark created a chance of their own on 27 minutes when Ajax winger Dennis Rommedahl's pass found Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner at the far post but he headed wide.

The Dutch kept up the pressure but the Danes were quick on the counter-attack.

With the second-half barely begun, the Danes got the worst possible start when Poulsen headed away a van Persie cross but watched in horror as the ball rolled across the line off the shoulder of Daniel Agger on 46 minutes.

The Dutch were rarely tested with Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel bossing the midfield, but neither did the Netherlands pose much of a threat to the Danish defence until the game's last quarter.

Bendtner, who had not been expected to be fit enough to play, made way for Copenhagen's veteran Jesper Gronkjaer, while van der Vaart came off for Eljero Elia, who created the second goal.

The Dutch upped the ante in the last 15 minutes and after Elia hit the post, Kuyt was on hand to tap the ball past Sorensen.

The Dutch next face Japan in Durban on Saturday, the same day Denmark play Cameroon in Tshwane.

[MIKA27]

Italy stutters to draw with Paraguay

Italy got their title defence off to a stuttering start on Monday when they needed to come from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Paraguay in their World Cup opener.

The four-time champions came into the match at Green Point Stadium under pressure after a underwhelming build-up and they had to dig deep to salvage a point.

On a cold and wet night, the South Americans stunned Marcello Lippi's men by taking the lead on 39 minutes when Antolin Alcaraz outjumped ageing Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi to head home a cross.

De Rossi redeemed himself by grabbing the equaliser eight minutes into the second half, making the most of goalkeeper Justo Villar's failure to clear a corner to put the Italians back into the game.

Italy, who are often slow to start at big tournaments, turned up the heat after their goal and they could have had more, but Paraguay clung on to share the Group F spoils.

Lippi, who led them to the World Cup trophy in 2006, said he was disappointed not to take all three points, but felt his team proved their credentials.

"Italy is right here. We're here tactically, physically, with our hearts, we're here full stop," he said.

"I just regret that we did not get the points we deserved, but sometimes that's what happens, you get less than you deserve.

"The important thing is this was not a decisive game. What is important is that people now realise we are here and have got our act together."

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martini was pleased to hold the reigning champions to a draw.

"We played this game equally against the current world champions," he said.

"To play against such a rival with such skills is a very good sign for us. It gives is a lot of confidence going ahead in this tournament."

Italy had the first sniff of goal after five minutes when the ball bounced kindly for Riccardo Montolivo who shot on the half-volley but it was charged down by Paraguayan defenders.

Lippi's team were in charge early on, making all the running and looking dangerous on the break as the rain poured down.

Vincenzo Iaquinta sent in a teasing cross but Alberto Gilardino couldn't get his head on the end of it as they ramped up the pressure.

Paraguay only started to come alive on 20 minutes, and some good build-up saw Torres have a punt from distance only to see the ball squirm well wide.

At the other end Montolivo, playing in place of injured AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo, broke free down the middle but could only deliver a weak shot that went straight at the Paraguay keeper.

Iaquinta was in the action again soon after and should have done better from inside the six yard box but was hounded off the ball before Alcaraz got the breakthrough by getting on the end of a Aureliano Torres cross.

Italy came out for the second-half without veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who apparently had a lower back problem.

Federico Marchetti replaced him and he was busy early on with Enrique Vera going close on 53 minutes.

Italy though started to take charge and Montolivo got a shot on target before they won the corner that led to the goal.

Simone Pepe curled the ball into the box and Villar failed to connect with his punch, leaving the unmarked Di Rossi to bury it in the back of the net.

The goal proved a tonic and they went close as they pressed for the winner, with Pepe having the best chance, only to see his powerful long range drive kept out by Villar.

[MIKA27]

Honda helps Japan beat Cameroon 1-0

Keisuke Honda scored in the first half Monday to lead Japan to a 1-0 win over an uninspired Cameroon in Group E of the World Cup.

The win is Japan's first at the World Cup on foreign soil, and puts the Japanese at the top of Group E along with the Netherlands, which beat Denmark 2-0 earlier Monday.

After a sloppy opening 30 minutes at the Free State Stadium, Japan broke the deadlock in the 39th when Daisuke Matsui's curling cross from the right drifted over Cameroon defenders Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephane Mbia and fell to Honda at the back post. The striker neatly controlled the ball and slotted it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

"As a team we had very little good luck in our warm-up games going into this match," Honda said. "But as a team we were thinking: 'Don't be down. Be positive. Go for it."'

Despite an attack led by Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon never really challenged Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima. The Africans struggled to control the ball and generate any rhythm up front, and even when they managed to put a few passes together, the buildup was usually wasted by poor crosses.

"When the game was over I felt great relief," Kawashima said. "Cameroon has powerful players and we managed to hold them off. In the last 20 minutes I knew I would be under tremendous pressure. Something was going to happen."

Cameroon's first shot on goal came in the 37th minute, when Eric Choupo-Moting dropped the ball at the top of the box for Eyong Enoh, but Kawashima easily handled the midfielder's low drive.

Japan's stiff defense frustrated Cameroon and kept Eto'o in check. Cameroon looked lost in the midfield, and clearly missed the creativity of Arsenal midfielder Alex Song, who coach Paul Le Guen opted to keep on the bench.

Eto'o tried to played a more active role in the second half. Just after the break, the Inter Milan striker deftly skipped through three defenders near the touch line before drawing the ball back for Choupo-Moting. But Coupo-Moting's right-footed shot drifted past the left post.

Le Guen brought on two strikers - Achille Emana and Mohamadou Idrissou - midway into the second half, but to little effect. Cameroon only began to push forward in search of an equaliser in the closing minutes, and they nearly got it in the 87th when defender Stephane Mbia's powerful left-footed drive struck the crossbar.

The Japanese win comes eight years to the day since its last victory at the World Cup, when it beat Tunisia 2-0 in Osaka. Japan also beat Russia at the 2002 World Cup.

[Alberto_Magnus]

Alberto why you don't write about Italy :-)

Ciao from Tokyo!

I'm superstitious

[donkeyB]

Do anyone here think that Italian will be the champions again? I doubt that.

I love England, but they have no chance to get the cup this year, poor team!

[Chaki]

The idea is to peak on July 11th, not during the group phase.

England and Italy are right where they want to be

[Smooth]

Can they ban trumpets in the venues already??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

I havent been able to get through watching an entire match yet. Its sounds like a swarm of a billion bees has descended for the entirety of every single game. Chanting/singing at football is good, but the trumpets are mind frying!

PS: FFS it's annoying!

[SandmanTR]

Can they ban trumpets in the venues already??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

I havent been able to get through watching an entire match yet. Its sounds like a swarm of a billion bees has descended for the entirety of every single game. Chanting/singing at football is good, but the trumpets are mind frying!

PS: FFS it's annoying!

Latest update...

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37703564/ns/sports-world_cup/

...if FIFA isn't going to do it, the broadcasters are...

[partagasd4]

[khomeinist]

Latest update...

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37703564/ns/sports-world_cup/

...if FIFA isn't going to do it, the broadcasters are...

Fascinating. I was watching the Ivory Coast/Portugal match today (zzz) and thinking how easy it would be to implement an audio filter for the horns. Am glad somebody was of the same mind. I want to hear crowd reactions! To all these nil-nil contests! Lol.

[khomeinist]

ok. Thank you Switzerland for making this tournament a bit more interesting. Chile/Spain should be epic on the 25th.

[Alberto_Magnus]

ok. Thank you Switzerland for making this tournament a bit more interesting. Chile/Spain should be epic on the 25th.

You can say that again! Stratospheric Switzerland.