2010 World Cup

[shantanu_rooney]

Good start to the campaign for Italy, 3-1 win against Ghana looks really flattery..

 

[hedger_14]

Because I can only see previews/reviews of each match, I will only post that for the most important match on each matchday.

Mellberg Own Goal Saves Uruguay​

Uruguay Squad:

4-4-2 Diamond formation

1. Gustavo Munua (GK)
5. Alejandro Lembo (RB)
12. Martin Caceres (LB)
3. Diego Godin (RCB)
2. Diego Lugano (LCB)
4. Carlos Diogo (CDM)
8. Pablo Garcia (c) (RCM)
7. Fabian Canobbio (LCM)
11. Fernando Pereira (CAM)
10. Alberto Vareia (RS)
6. Luis Suarez (LS)

Subs:

13. Rafael Mendez
14. Washington Rosa
15. Wilson Alonso
16. Pablo Fernandez
17. Martin Perez
18. Gustavo Alonso
19. Jose Valenzuela
20. Nicolas Alonso
21. Pablo Gimenez
22. Matias Mieres
23. Juan Manuel Vega

Sweden Squad:

4-4-2 formation

20. Fredrik Hedin (GK)
3. Sebastian Larsson (RB)
5. Erik Edman (LB)
4. Daniel Majstorovic (RCB)
17. Olof Mellberg (LCB)
18. Fredrik Ljungberg (RM)
7. Anders Svensson (LM)
6. Tobias Linderoth (c) (RCM)
14. Kim Kallstrom (LCM)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (RS)
10. Johan Elmander (LS)

Subs:

21. Erik Ohman
15. Andreas Johansson
16. Daniel Andersson
9. Markus Rosenberg
22. Martin Olsson
2. Rasmus Lindgren
12. Kennedy Bakircioglu
13. Henok Goltom
11. Marcus Berg
19. Petter Andersson
23. Erik Henriksson


1st Half

Uruguay had the first chance of the game in the 9th minute but Hedin managed to get to the ball before Suarez did and no result came of it. Hedin made a fantastic save 5 minutes later when he tipped Pereira's powerful free kick over the bar. Fabian Cannobio made a big error in the 18th minute when stopping Svensson's cross with his hands and the referee saw it and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ibrahimovic was most likely to take it but for some reason, Majstorovic took it but put it home with a nice shot into the bottom right corner. Sweden had a few chances in the next 8 or so minutes but couldn't score. Larson was lucky to escape a yellow when bringing down Vareia on the counter attack. Vareia took a shot at goal a few minutes later but a upwards deflection by Mellberg sent it over the keeper's heads into the back of the nets and the Swedish looked in disbelief. The referee signalled it to be an own goal but it didn't make much difference either way. The only chance between then and half time was a ambitious attempt from Svensson from wide out went well wide of the target and at half time, it was 1-1.

Second Half

Ibrahimovic could have had a good chance 6 minutes in but Ibrahimovic was tripped by Godin without the ball as Zlatan was running on which would have made it one-on-one with the keeper. Godin was let off with a warning fortunately for Uruguay. The next ten minutes brought not much but a Lindgen free kick in the 62nd minute was deflected off the wall for a Swedish corner. Diogo had a great chance for Uruguay a few minutes later with heaps of space and time but couldn't put the shot on target and it was still 1-1. Pereira couldn't hit the target one-on-one with the keeper when he curved it around the keeper but hit the post and was cleared by Edman getting back. Uruguay were missing important chances when Rosa hit it well wide from just outside the 6 yard box. Nicolas Alonso was brought on for Cannobio trying to get a result. Linderoth got a yellow card for a challenge on Garcia. Sweden had most of the attacking opportunities for the next 20 minutes but also couldn't score. Nicolas Alonso went in hard on Linderoth and the referee pulled out a yellow. Frustration was in both sides as they couldn't manage to break the deadlock. Lembo recieved a yellow for landing on Ibrahimovic and it was the third booking of the match. A 1-1 draw in the end but both teams could of won it. A pretty even game though, with both teams dominating at different periods of time. Kallstrom was given man of the match for a decent effort travelling the longest distance on the park with a total distance of 9.0km. He also completed 29 passes and 6 tackles. A draw was probably a fair result in the end and both teams will have to work extra hard to gain a spot in the World Cup knockout stages.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Blad luck for Sweden..cant wait to see England in action..

 

[hedger_14]

Match Day 2 ~ England vs South Korea​

Match Odds: England: Evens(Fav), Draw: 9-4, South Korea: 9-4

Key Men:
England: John Terry - England have only conceded 33 goals in 41 games that the Man City captain has played in
South Korea: Park Ji-Sung

Sportinglife.com's Prediction: I believe England have enough quality to see off South Korea.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli will officiate the match.


England Squad:

4-2-3-1 formation

1. Paul Robinson (GK)
5. Glen Johnson (RB)
18. Wayne Bridge (LB)
3. John Terry (RCB)
4. Joleon Lescott (LCB)
13. Owen Hargreaves (RCDM)
14. Michael Carrick (LCDM)
12. David Bentley (RAM)
16. Joe Cole (LAM)
7. Frank Lampard (c) (CAM)
9. Wayne Rooney (ST)

Subs:

23. Joe Hart
19. Jonathan Woodgate
17. Micahel Dawson
15. Shaun Wright-Phillips
11. Leroy Neville
20. Wes Brown
8. Gareth Barry
10. Michael Owen
22. Chris Kirkland


South Korea Squad:

3-5-2 formation

12. Shin Sang-Joon (GK)
13. Chun Ji-Sung (RCB)
14. Lee Ki-Tae (CB)
15. Min Dae-Kun (LCB)
6. Park Ji-Sung (RM)
2. Kim Dong-Jin (LM)
4. Song Chong-Goog (c) (RCM)
3. Lee Young-Pyo (CM)
8. Kim Doo-Hyun (LCM)
7. Lee Chun-Soo (RS)
16. Lee Myung-Hoon (LS)

Subs:

17. Chol Chang-Keun
18. Baek Sang-Hoon
19. Park Kwang-Hwan
20. Lee Jae-Hee
21. Jeon Suk
22. Nam Seung-Jin
23. Kwon Young-II
24. Ko Dong-Keun
25. Hwang Jung-Kook
26. Ko Young-Jae
27. Song Sung-Hwa
28. Kwon Sung-Chan


1st Half

90 seconds in and England already had their first attacking opportunity but Joe Cole shot wide of the target and it was a goal kick. Lampard was fouled just outside the box in the 5th minute and Hargreaves stepped up to take it. He decided to go short to Lampard who was standing beside him who took a powerful attempt at goal and it flew into the back of the net. What a shot from the captain. Sang-Joon was beaten by the pace on the ball. A flying start for England. Dong-Jin was brought off after the goal early on for Suk. No signs of injury though. He hasn't even touched the ball yet. South Korea were just trying to keep the ball but a mistake put Lampard on the ball who put it to Rooney who ran around 3 defenders but couldn't get it past the keeper as Sang-Joon pushed it away and it was cleared by Ji-Sung. Lampard drew another free kick near the edge of the box and this time, Lampard took it quickly himself but blasted it wide to the left of goal. After 13 minutes, South Korea were playing possession football which was shown through having 70% of the ball. England needed more of the ball. South Korea playing for possession worked for them as Carrick fouled Lee Chun-Soo who was badly injured in the tackle and Seung-Jin was immediately brought on. They decided to pass to the left though and the attack was quickly shut down. Lee Myung-Hoon put the ball in the back of the net soon after but the referee had raised his flag. Possession was still heavily in favour of South Korea after 30 minutes but they had to make something happen and Lee Young-Pyo nearly did that but hit it over the bar. A corner with 5 minutes left in the half for South Korea. This might have been their last attacking opportunity of the half. It came to nothing though and out for a goal kick. Lee Ki-Tae made a mistake kicking it behind for a corner when meaning to pass back to the keeper. Bentley took the corner and hit it across very low and Lescott on the volley hit it hard and it beat all the defenders and keeper but it came off the post and Park Ji-Sung cleared it out of harms way. A cross right on half time could have resulted in a goal but Rooney couldn't make contact with the ball and the half time whistle was blown. 1-0 at half time to England but it but Korea still had over 60% of the possession. Player of the half would have had to have been Frank Lampard for his goal, drawing 4 fouls and having a few shots go on target. England would need to be able to hold on in the second half and would have to stop giving the ball away.

2nd Half

A fast tempo to start the second half with England having the ball in the opposition box a few times and Lampard scored but it was ruled to be offside and the replay showed that. Carrick recieved a yellow for a challenge on Doo-Hyun just outside the box. Doo-Hyun stepped up to take it and a deflection off the wall sent it out for a corner. It was swung in towards the 6 yard box but was punched out from Robinson. Chong-Goog won a free kick in the 56th minute right on the edge of the box, that's the edge furthest away from goal but it still was a dangerous position to be in. He decided to go back to the back though and the attack soon was brought down. It has been such a boring game so far. No action at all really. All attacks have been broken down quickly and South Korea must be the most boring side to watch in the world at the moment and England weren't good enough to get the ball and keep it. Myung-Hoon suffered an injury in the 68th minute and Jung-Kook was brought on for him once the ball went behind for an England corner. Goal for England. Bridge drew in the 2 defenders leaving Lampard unmarked a few metres away from him and passed it through for Lampard to run onto and have a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box and Sang-Joon tried to save but could only manage to hit it into the back of the net. 2-0 to England and Lampard's second goal as well. Bentley and Rooney were then brought off for Barry and Owen to try and keep them well in front. Rooney was pretty dissapointing today losing the ball often upfront. Chun Ji-Sung injured Gareth Barry who had just come on and immediately had to be taken off the field for treatment but despite Gareth Barry being in a lot of pain, England's third sub was Jonathan Woodgate on for John Terry and I don't think Barry wanted to stay on the field. In the 87th minute, South Korea had a free kick in a promising area. The one thing the Korean's lacked in the game was confidence and the free kicks showed this. Not one free kick had been put into the box but instead passed backwards. Doo-Hyun went for it though but put it over the bar. 2 minutes into the total 4 minutes of stoppage time and Owen won his team a free kick in a dangerous area but Lampard did not take it and Hargreaves was and he hit it well wide of the mark. 2-0 was the final score. The result England would have wanted. Korea should now have learned a valuable lesson in international football. Lampard was man of the match for a sensational performance. Dae-Kun was South Korea's best player making vital intercepts at the back as well as completing his passes, tackles and headers. South Korea will have to come away with 0 points from this match.


Match Analysis

Post-Match Analysis - I predicted a home win today and England duly delivered. Their fans will undoubtedly be pleased with this victory and the performance to go with it

Key Man Watch (England) - John Terry played fairly well before being substitued in the 81st minute during England's 2-0 World Cup Group B victory over South Korea. He had a decent game, not particularly outstanding, but he did make some good and important tackles

Key Man Watch (South Korea) - Park Ji-Sung played fairly well during South Korea's 0-2 World Cup Group B defeat against England. He had a good game. His passing was accurate and precise, and he always wanted the ball.

Man Of The Match - Frank Lampard was one of the players to make a real difference during England's 2-0 World Cup Group B victory over South Korea. It's obvious to me that Lampard is in top form. He was absolutely clinical today, finishing with two goals for his team.

Referee - Nicola Rizzoli had a good game

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Great win for the Three Lions, great start to the World Cup against Korea. Terry went for money in Man CIty.

 

[hedger_14]

Instead of posting each match separately, I'll just post each match day.

Match Day 2

Slovakia vs Senegal


Slovakia Squad:

4-4-2 formation

12. Anton Kralovic (GK)
13. Dalibor Ondras (RB)
14. Radoban Toth (LB)
15. Michal Novota (RCB)
16. Jozef Goga (LCB)
17. Robert Guldan (RM)
18. Pavol Kovac (LM)
6. Marek Sapara (c) (RCM)
7. Marek Hamsik (LCM)
19. Marian Novota (RS)
20. Juraj Pernis (LS)

Subs:

21. Ondrej Kopacka
22. Ladislav Bakos
23. Lukas Kovac
24. Peter Michalik
25. Jozef Majernik
26. Pavol Kovac
27. Robert Petrik
28. Miroslav Benko
29. Vladimir Obert
30. Marian Kollar
31. Tomas Sernan
32. Ivan Bajan


Senegal Squad

4-4-2 formation

12. Papa Okafor (GK)
2. Habib Beye (c) (RB)
3. Armand Traore (LB)
13. Lamine Garba (RCB)
14. Abdoulaye Sama (LCB)
7. Papa Bouba Diop (RM)
15. Ousmane Keita (LM)
16. Babacar Bala (RCM)
17. Salif Diallo (LCM)
6. Mamadou Niang (RS)
18. Pape Kouakou (LS)

Subs:

19. Ibrahima Udeze
20. Pape Traore
21. Lamine Samb
22. Abdoulaye Mendes
23. Alioune Gomes
24. Oumar Kante
25. Mouhamadou Quartey
26. Saliou Haidara
27. Souleymane Kallon
28. Moussa Turkson
29. Mamadou Doumbouya


The Match:

This match was always going to be tight. In the first half, no goals were scored despite a few good chances during the half that could have broken the deadlock. So it was 0-0 at half time with the game in the balance. The first chance in the second half was with Slovakia but a good save from Okafor kept the ball out of the net. A 53rd minute free kick from Sapara however went across the face of goal and Guldon put it in the back of the net to make it 1-0. Both teams could have scored but it remained 1-0 at full time. Guldan got man of the match for his goal as well as travelling over 10 km. Both teams will have lost a player. Slovakia's Pernis sustained an injury and Armand Traore also was injured during this clash. Slovakia come away with an important result which could have gone either way.



Brazil vs Czech Republic

The Match:
It was a dream start for Brazil as Robinho was taken down by Dubsky in the penalty area and it was a penalty. Kaka stepped up and put it past the keeper and it was 1-0 to Brazil after 4 minutes. Fred had a good chance to score in the 15th minute but a good save denied him. Plasil was given a yellow card for a bad challenge on Maicon. Brazil dominated the first half and was up 1-0 at the break. Jarolim was awarded a yellow just after the half time break. It went worse for Czech though when Plasil was given a second yellow and was sent off and Czech Republic were down to 10 men. Brazil sealed the win in the 75th minute when Kaka had a long ranged attempt at goal which beat the keeper and Kaka had his second and Brazil were 2-0 up. Nothing really happened over the next 10 minutes and Czech Republic's chances of winning were down to nil. The final score was 2-0. Despite Czech Republic having more of the ball, they only put 1 shot on goal which was tiny compared to Brazil's 18 shots on goal. Kaka was given the Man of the match award for his 2 goals as well as being Brazil's top passer. Czech Republic will need to win their next 2 matches, you would think to go through now.

 

[TheGreemSim]

Unlucky Czech Republic.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Good presentation

 

[hedger_14]

Thanks for that. I don't know what's going to happen to this. My hard drive is blown so I'm using safe mode at the moment which doesn't let me have the graphics card enabled. I'm getting it replaced tomorrow but I don't know whether I'll lose my data so I guess we'll find out then.