Germany v Ghana
MESSI! 1-0 was a harsh result for Iran, who played Argentina to a near-draw and were robbed of a clear penalty. Both goalies were excellent, but one defender just isn't enough to shut down Messi, whose 90th minute goal was the thing of beauty one expects to see from a truly elite international. A very good game, though, and probably the best the Iranians have ever played at the World Cup, their defeat of the USA a few Cups back notwithstanding.
Messi's strike wasn't even his most impressive move of the game. My favorite was when he took on three defenders and went through ALL THREE of them before being stymied by the fourth. He may not be at the absolute top of his form that he was when Barca was destroying everything in sight, but this is the best he's ever been at the World Cup. Which is saying something, as only Batigol has scored more goals for Argentina.
I have to admit, though, I do kind of miss watching Unfrozen Caveman Striker.
I can't imagine Germany having any trouble at all with Ghana, and I very much doubt I'll even bother to watch Bosnia-Nigeria.
Messi's strike wasn't even his most impressive move of the game. My favorite was when he took on three defenders and went through ALL THREE of them before being stymied by the fourth. He may not be at the absolute top of his form that he was when Barca was destroying everything in sight, but this is the best he's ever been at the World Cup. Which is saying something, as only Batigol has scored more goals for Argentina.
I have to admit, though, I do kind of miss watching Unfrozen Caveman Striker.
I can't imagine Germany having any trouble at all with Ghana, and I very much doubt I'll even bother to watch Bosnia-Nigeria.
Labels: sports
45 Comments:
Did anyone else notice that only the Aryans sang the German Anthem?
Raggededge: It's pretty much been that way in many of the Germanic European nations since the turn of the millenium.
It was painful. The forwards repeatedly cut through the Persian defense (i.e. the whole team) and just couldn't put the ball in net. I'm getting flashbacks.
The first half was 3:1 possesion for Argentina and 10:1 chances on goal. The Iranians came back strongly in the second half, sensing a chance to grab a goal and ride out the rest of the game, which - unfortunately - I think was the Argie strategy from the outset. Making us wait 92' for the goal was either brilliant theatrics or an indication that the team will be returning home soon.
Funny that most of the support for the Iranians was coming from the Brazilians. Even tho' we can't meet before the semi's, they still want to see us out.
And by all the gods of the game, someone buy di Maria a dress and turn him out on the street.
Making us wait 92' for the goal was either brilliant theatrics or an indication that the team will be returning home soon.
My feeling as well. I thought I heard the announcers say that Argentina was the oldest team (in aggregate) in the tournament. Is this the case?
They did look like they missed a step or two here and there.
Is this the case?
Apparently, but the range isn't all that large (25-29). The SA teams tend to be a little older, and the Africans younger.
Maradona's taking flak now for leaving the game before the end.
Germany goes up by one at 58'. Lovely cross to an uncovered Gotze. No one plays the positional game like the Germans.
How do you say "Ruh Roh" in German??
And Ghana equalizes (ignore the times, the digit quality is so poor...).
And takes the lead...
And Ghana goes ahead on a bad pass, that gives them a long pass to an attacker on the open goal. Lovely piece.
Let's see if German discipline is enough to pull it back in the remaining 30'.
Not looking good, as Germany fall over each other and almost cede Ghana a third.
The Brazzers don't seem to like the Germans any more than the Argies.
I simply cannot believe it. #3 could not hit goal against the US and now this.
Somebody needs to get a headstart on the Hitler parody video in case the score holds.
Now Germany ties
Germany brought in their Klose.
2:2 final score. Great second half. This really is the cup with the best performance from the minor teams that I can remember. Well done, Ghana; not just holding the Krauts to a draw, but looking capable of winning the game repeatedly.
How does a team at this level blow a 5 on 2 break out with an offside?
Buck fever?
Muntari is just incredibly stupid in his choice of when to draw penalties. Anyone notice the chippy teams seem to be the black ones?
Haven't shouted at my TV in anger since Brazil - Croatia.
Ghana turns out to be a bit of trouble.
Very entertaining.
Ghana was amazing. They were playing as if they were being chased by deamons. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, so great game.
"Did anyone else notice that only the Aryans sang the German Anthem?"
I'm used to that now. I was surprised to see that the Ghanesians didn't sing along to their own. At least Kevin did some enthusiastic clapping after the German one, anstandshalber, and didn't sing along to the Ghana one.
If he hadn't been out there, calling the shots for the Africans, we'd have won. They're crazy-fast and tirelessly aggressive, but we have the tactical advantage. Unless one of ours is playing on their team and doing the thinking for them, of course.
They were all over Mueller like velcro. Whole groups of them just hounded him all over the field.
Well, we just have to beat USA now.
"Germany brought in their Klose."
I see what you did there. LOL
Mueller is in awe-inspiring shape. He's all sinew, or something.
Run, Mueller, run!
Run, Mueller, run!
Mueller ended up on the ground with blood all over his head at the final whistle.
Stiches at least, concussion.....maybe.
I know. I saw that mid-air collision. Cringe-worthy. He must have hit his head five times in that game. They were on him so tight that he could barely move without getting injured.
But local boy did good. They kept him from getting his goals, but he was getting atempts in there and wearing them out midfield. They're faster, but they can't keep going for as long as he can. He puts away kilometers like it's nothing and then he slides in to make the clunkiest goals.
"Mueller is in awe-inspiring shape. He's all sinew, or something."
Moist?
And the English finally recognize that playing four teams might not have been the best idea, after the game went global.
Nigeria-BiH a compelling game. Too bad officiating is crap.
I regret not having the time to watch it, given the above.
To be honest, requiring a Scot to not root against the English is laughable.
18 players on the 24 man roster of Bosnia-Herzegovina have a surname ending in "ic" (ich).
Sounds very bizarre during the calling of the game.
I complained earlier about the overuse of single names for players on the Brazil team, but in this case, I think it would be justified.
The Bosnia goal that was disallowed was actually onside. When are the techno-barbarians in the soccer world going to wake up?
Should be 1-1 right now. Good thing there is nothing too important riding on these games.
Morons.
I'm noticing a trend. Whenever Vox says, "I can't imagine," the game generally ends up being a lot more competitive than he could imagine.
To be fair, this isn't just Vox. I wouldn't have imagined Germany having trouble with Ghana either, or Italy losing to Costa Rica. Or a lot of the other results this World Cup. Freak occurrences, or are we seeing more parity in the international game these days?
Freak occurrences, or are we seeing more parity in the international game these days?
Surely more parity, but it is time to take the Costanza option on politics and football. Listen to what Vox says, and expect the opposite.
Nothing personal, just business.
"Mueller is in awe-inspiring shape. He's all sinew, or something."
Moist?
That's just how soccer players/enthusiasts roll.
LOL He does remind me vaguely of my husband.
Vox's prediction was right, but their basis changed last-minute. They didn't start Kevin Boateng in the USA game and he was supposed to be benched this game, as well. The Ghana coach seems to have come to their senses last-minute. He's not any sort of closer, so nobody knows what his coach was thinking.
We were all feeling pretty confident of an easy win, until we saw him standing in line for the anthems. They've got great athletic talent, but without him coordinating and calling passes, they're a bit chaotic.
Germany were awful. Full credit to Ghana, who defended like ... well, like Germans, but Germany were awful. There was no serious intent in their passing, they were just pushing the ball vaguely in each others direction, with rarely enough energy to prevent the defenders taking it away.
The sheer number of times they coughed it up in front of goal, combined with the Gerrard/Suarez goal against England, makes a cynic think about match-fixing.
One of the English commentators was talking about FIFA "staging a tournament". They may not be the only ones ...
Vox's prediction was right, but their basis changed last-minute. They didn't start Kevin Boateng in the USA game and he was supposed to be benched this game, as well.
That's just silly. You're arguing that Ghana with Boateng starting is consistently strong enough to give Germany trouble? I don't care if Boateng starts or not, Germany should have been able to dominate that match. Your argument that the Germans became shrinking violets when they saw Boateng lined up to start is nonsense. Ghana is a capable team, but they're hardly favorites to win the group, let alone win the tournament. I can't speak for Vox, but I think anybody, including the Germans, expected Germany to handle Ghana without much trouble, with or without Boateng starting.
I didn't refer to the German players with the "we;" I was referring to myself and the other people in the room. Germany is obviously the better team and in a league of their own, but Ghana is the top African team and was playing like their lives depended on it. Boateng gave them the boost they needed to give the Germans a run for their money. Not just because he's good enough to play for Germany himself and an excellent midfield tactician, but because he knows the German players well and can make educated guesses about what they're going to do next. This would have even been an advantage against USA, with all the Germans on their team.
The Germans were lackluster, while the Ghanians were like a swarm of bees. We actually got suspicious at one point and started counting players. But this was their last chance and they gave it their all, and that showed. No fixing necessary. The fact is that the team rankings are shifting. This is how the international pro teams undermine the national effort.
Germany should have beat them, but the fact is that they merely tied. They walked out looking like they were going to faint and Mueller limped away covered in bruises and blood.
I also think the hot-climate guys have a big advantage playing in Brazil. They shake off the heat like it's nothing. It'll be even worse in Qatar.
There's definitely more parity. It starts at the little league level, with them closing teams all over the country for lack of players. We're in a soccer-crazy town, but even here they can barely get a full roster together for varsity level. Compare that to poorer countries that are overflowing with children who eat and breathe soccer. And now they've got our coaches and dual-citizen players we've trained up.
The demographic chickens are coming home to roost. They don't have to have any genetic/ethnic advantage if there are a gazillion of them, they've got world-class trainers and world-class experience, and the local populace finally has enough money to pay for their camps.
You know I love my German guys, but I think we can all see where this is heading. This WC, and maybe the next, and then we'll be lucky to make it to the quarters.
Sooner or later an African team will win the World Cup...so said someone after Tunisia beat Mexico in 1978, after Algeria beat West Germany in 1982, after Cameroon made the qf's in 1990, after Nigeria made the second round in 1994, after Senegal made the qf's in 2002, after Ghana made the 2nd round in 2006, after Ghana made the qf's in 2010...
Yeah, okay, but I didn't specify Africa. I mean the second and third-tier teams in general. Maybe Ghana, maybe Costa Rica, whatever. The point is that the old Italy-France-Germany-Spain clique is getting some serious competition.
Germans are still awesome, though, even if St. Mueller hasn't yet produced his second miracle.
The second and third tier competition for the European and South American powerhouses would seem more likely to be coming from second and third tier European and South American teams (eg Chile and Belgium) not the rest of the world. I'm not ready to count Cost Ricas fine start to the tournament as indicative of a greater trend at this point.
On an individual talent level the problem the rest of the world seems to face is the inability to produce midfielders with the elite technical ability of being able to thread a world class defence (VD alluded to this previously re the African nations). World Cup defences tighten up as the stakes get higher and teams get better too. Perhaps the rest of the world will produce these players as more of them move to the European academies at an earlier age. Perhaps we are dealing with a HBD issue.
That's why I think Kevin Boateng was so essential. World-class midfielders are thin on the lower-tier ground because it's the brainiest position.
Boateng has to be the least creative # 10 in world football. Strong, fast and a good finisher yes, a facilitator no.
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