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. 

World Cup - day four

Day four of the World Cup and Ivory Coast beat Japan by two goals to one. This was good win for the Ivorians and there is no reason why Ivory Coast do not progress to the knockout stages. 

One of the tournament favourites Argentina beat Bosnia-Hercegovina by two goals to one and to be fair it would have been more of a shock if Bosnia-Hercegovina had beaten Argentina. 

France beat Honduras by three goals to nil and Frances task was made slightly easier by playing ten men Honduran team for most of the match. 

The French are my outside favourites to win this cup as they have the talent and the experience in their squad so I am expecting them to make it to at least the quarter finals. 

World Cup - Day three

Day four at the World Cup and the stand out game today was Italy beating England by two goals to one.  However the scoreline does not really reflect the match. 

England had many chances and in attack they where excellent going forward and Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge both played very well. Contrary to popular opinion I thought Wayne Rooney played well. 

Where England lost the game was in defence and the goalkeeper. What was most surprising and frustrating about Roy Hodgson pick of these players is that three of four have only played domestic games last season and none of them won any silverware. 

A sign of a defence struggling is when they are backing off as opposed to putting in tackles. 

However despite this poor defence England will I think make it to the knock out stages but that is as far as they can go with this ineffective defence. 

Italy did what they needed to do to win the match and I got the impression that they where not fearful of losing to England and going as far as helping English players with cramp. 

So Italy where not tested in this game but I am sure they will make it through the knock stages and beyond.  

World Cup - Day two

Day two of the World Cup and Mexico beat Cameroon by a goal to nil. I was not too surprised as Cameroon do not have the players they once had. 

Mexico have been getting good results recently and plus they have a fantastic fan base which helped to keep them motivated and focused. 

The shock of the day was The Netherlands beating Spain by five goals to one. It was very embarrasing to wach Spain been humiliated on the world

stage.

On top of that they gave away some really bad goals due to poor defending and goalkeeping. What was most surprising is there manager Del Bosque did not play Santi Carzola at all.

I think this loss will hit Spain badly and it will be a real challenge to recover from this. The Netherlands where fantastic and there two stand out players where Robin Van Persie and Arren Roben. 

Elsewhere Chile beat Australia by three goals to one and I think that Australia where poor and too reliant on Tim Cahill. 

The Aussies seem to lack a little bit of pace and creativity. This was a surprise because four years ago they had a strong squad. 

Day two had it's suprises and I hope that teams watching of these matches realise that there is no hiding place and they need to step up. 

World Cup - Day One

The opening game of the World Cup and Brazil beat Croatia by three goals to one. However the scoreline did not reflect the game.

Croatia went ahead in the first ten minutes albeit by an own goal and then Brazil got an equaliser. Then somewhat controversially the refree awarded Brazil a penalty. 

In real time it did not look like a penalty and looking at the replay, Brazil where very fortunate to be given that penalty. 

Up until that point both sides where pretty even and once Brazil converted the penalty, Croatia did not really look like they where going to get an equaliser. 

Then in extra time to add salt to Croatia's wounds Brazil got the third goal and killed of the game. 

So Brazil got a rather fortunate win but Croatia did not really play their free flowing attacking football style that we are used to seeing from them.. 

World Cup preview

Ok I am a little late with my World Cup preview but it is better late than never..I haven't got World Cup fever yet but I am sure I will soon get it. 

The teams to watch this World Cup are Spain, Argentina, Italy, Germany and Brazil. Needless to say that they are all World Cup wiinners. 

These teams will be hard to beat with their experience of winning this plus some unbelievable players. 

Teams that I think have an outside chance of winning it our France and Portugual. France are former winners but I don't think they have the team to win it but I expect them to do reasonably well. 

I also think that realistically Ivory Coast might do reasonably well. I am hoping that both Ghana and England do well but it is going to be incredibly difficult for them. 

So it should a really interesting World Cup with lost of twists and turns, happiness and heartbreak and that is why it's called the beautiful game. 

Au revoir.... French Open 2014

This year French Open had some early surprises but ultimately the expected winners.

In the women's draw early losses of Li Na and Serena Williams was a shock. However meant that previously unknown players like Taylor Towsend Garbine Muguruza where able to flourish. 

 

The final between Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep with Maria as the winner was no real surprise. 

In the men's draw the early loss for Stanislas Wawrinka was a shock and it that players like Ernest Gulbis where able to step up and make a name for himself. 

The match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal with Rafa as the winner was no real surprise but it was a fantastic final that really showcased men's tennis. 

So the French Open is over for another year we now have some new household names but the more established players like Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal did what they do best which is winning grand slams.