World Cup - Day fifteen

Day fifteen at the World Cup and Germany beat the USA by a goal to nil, however curtesy to other group results going their way USA where able to qualify for the knock out stages. 

In the other group game Portugal beat Ghana by two goals to one. This was tough match for both countries because result could have gone either way. 

However I was disappointed with the way the World Cup ended for Ghana. Two players sent home in disgrace and the others demanding their bonus. 

It has embarrassed Ghana and the focus should have been on how to beat Portugual. Hopefully these discpline and financial issues will not be repeated at the next World Cup. 

Elsewhere Algeria drew one all with Russia and with this win, Algeria qualified for the knock out stages.

Algeria where two of the only African countries to make it through to the knock out stages. Which is an amazing accomplishment for them. 

Now they face Germany in the knock out stages and this will probably see them bow out but it does not take away from there amazing achievements and they certainly have made Africa proud.  

World Cup - Day eleven

Day eleven of the World Cup and USA drew two all with Portugual and this result was a cruel blow to the USA. 

As the USA were leading the matching by two goals to one and it was only in the last thirty seconds that Portugual got there gut wrenching equaliser. 

However both USA and Portugual can still qualify if both win their last games by high margins then this could both progress on to the knock out stages. 

Elsewhere Algeria beat South Korea by four goals to nil and this was an excellent victory for Algeria and they only need a point to qualify for the knock out stages. 

World Cup - Day five

Day five at the World Cup and USA beat Ghana by two goals to one and Ghana had an awful start as the USA scored in the first thirty seconds. 

Ghanaian team where on the back foot and finally equalised only for the USA to score from a corner four minutes later. 

For many Ghanaians this result would be hard to take and it is compounded by the fact that the team played well but could not win. 

The USA where very clinical and they did enough to win the match. They played exactly how there manager Jurgen Klinsman would them have wanted to play. 

Only the problem for the USA will be that they suffered injuries with key players and  this might affect them in their next game. 

Elsewhere Nigeria drew nil nil with Iran and it was a lacklustre match with both team not really going for it. 

However Iran will be very pleased with there one point and will be hoping they can build on this draw. 

Midland, USA - Final review

For those of you who regularly follow my blog you will know that Britain's Heather Watson is one my favourite players. 

Last year was a very tough year for Heather and she went from being top fifty to being top one hundred and fifty. This was primarily due to the bout of glandular fever she suffered early 2013. 

This affected her confidence and she  kept getting knocked out in the first round of tournaments. This carried on for most of 2013. 

However in the Australian Open Heather  got knocked out in the first round but only after winning three tough qualifying matches. 

Heather did well in her Fed Cup matches and won all her singles matches. So her confidence was slowly coming back. 

Once Heather entered this  ITF Midland  tournament although I was rooting for her. I was waiting for her to at least reach the semi finals before I blogged.

But fortunately Heather did even better than I expected she reached the final and  beat Ksenia Pervak in straight sets.

Then about an hour later she played doubles with Anna Tatishvili and managed to win in three sets beating Maria Sanchez, Sharon Fichman. 

Both wins have improved Heather's singles and doubles ranking and the confidence and her fitness levels have returned which is great for Heather and for UK tennis. 

Davis Cup - USA v Great Britain - Day Three

Day three of the Davis Cup and Andy Murray beat Sam Querrey in four sets to win the tie. 

Sam Querrey played reasonable well but after winning the second the set on the tie break he was unable to build on it. 

Andy started off quite slowly and it wasn't till the third set that I thought he was going to win the match. 

This win broke two notable record it was first time that Great Britain had beaten USA since 1935. 

It was also first time that Great Britain have made it to the quarter finals since 1986. 

So hopefully this win against the USA team will  encourage the team to do even better in the quarter finals. 

Davis Cup - USA v Great Britain - Day Two

Day two of the Davis Cup between USA and Great Britain and it was all about the doubles. 

USA's Bob and Mike Bryan beat the Great Britain duo of Colin Fleming and Dom Inglot in four sets. 

Colin and Dom played well but the Bryan brothers are formidable paternership and they have won over fifteen grand slams. So Colin and Dom did well to at least get a set. 

Overall Great Britain is still leading two to one so the tie still very much in the balance. 

International friendlies review 15 November 2013

England lost two nil to Chile and at home. At first I was surprised that the convincing way in which Chile beat England.

But after seeing the England line up and I was no longer surprised. The some of players that Roy Hodgson chose for this friendly.  Where mainly players who would struggle to get into their premiership team. 

 

This meant that it would have been unrealistic for England to beat Chile who had brought a much better team. 

England would have needed all their first team players to have any chance of winning this match.

Please check out the highlights to this match below. (commentating is in Russian)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPbIjD8nhVI
 

Scotland drew nil nil with the USA and this result was a surprise. I thought there was going to be lots of goals and I also thought that USA where going to win. 

The USA brought a strong team to Scotland and Scotland after previously losing to the USA where determined that they would not be humiliated at home.

So I think the draw must have felt like win for Scotland and for the USA it must have felt like a loss,

 

International Friendlies

So the international friendlies are taking place today and England will take on Chile. Roy Hodgson has decided drop goalkeeper Joe Hart to the bench.

I  have never rated Joe Hart but the reality is, he is the only decent goalkeeper England have got. I think the result will be two goals one in England's  favour.

Scotland are playing the USA tonight and I think it will be a close win for the USA like England, USA  have already qualified for Brazil 2014. 

It should be a good game as Scotland will have nothing to prove and USA will want to be seen as potential champions in Brazil 2014.

World Cup qualifiers- round up

This week's World Cup qualifiers had some interesting results. 

England drew with Ukraine but two other home nations suffered surprising defeats.

Northern Ireland lost to Luxembourg and Wales lost to Serbia. The manner in which both teams lost was surprising to say the least. 

Luxembourg is a lowly ranked team so for Northern Ireland to lose to them was a little embarrassing. 

Although Serbia have a  good team, for Wales to lose to Serbia was surprising. Especially has they have Gareth Bale the new Real Madrid striker in their team. 

Neither Wales or Northern Ireland can qualify for 2014 which must be galling for their supporters.

Other notable European countries to qualify for 2014 are Italy and Holland who can now book their tickets to Brazil. 

The USA have made it again to the World Cup which is always a little surprising as they are not known as a footballing  country. 

However I would that their last two World Cup outings their results have been very similar to England.

So those October qualifiers should be interesting some countries can play their B team. 

Some countries, who have little prospect of qualifying will be playing for pride. Some countries like England still have it all to do but it is in their hands.