Yesterday's thrilling matches were over. T&T proved that underdog status meant nothing, while Argentina proved that there are 2 ways to a win a match. One is to totally be dominant, creating many chances, the other is to create just a few, but put away the few you created.
I feel for Cote d'Ivoire. I felt they did enough to earn a point. They were the better side while Argentina got the lucky bounce (for Crespo's goal) and the refereeing decision (Saviola's goal). I'm not going to say the second goal was offside. It was very marginal, but on another day, a different referee could have called it off. While the first goal was just right time, right play for the ever-predator Crespo.
Cote d'Ivoire created many more chances than Argentina, and they certainly didn't deserve to lose. It was a good thing they scored the goal in the dying minutes, otherwise a 2-0 scoreline would have done them no justice. Kanga Akale and Abdulkadaer Keita were lively was so was Didier Drogba. I wouldn't be surprised to see Akale in some top European club next season with the performance he put in. I have already been saying long before the first ball was kicked that Ivory Coast would be a good team, and if they weren't pitted in the "Group of Death" I certainly would put my money on them to go far.
Argentina put in a clinical, if not unspectacular, performance. I don't know if it is same commentry beamed around the world, but the commentator I heard was saying how Argentina was sending a message out to the competition and how they won so comfortably. Firstly, they didn't win comfortably and secondly, if not for cool finishing, they were second best in all other departments for the whole game. The only thing they did well was exaggerating a fall. I think it was Saviola who fell like he had been shot when Eboue faintly touched him, earning the latter a yellow card. And I wouldn't be surprised if Sorin had the intention of getting Eboue sent off when he collapsed in his own penalty box, again theatrically, from the latter's challenge. Eboue would have been so hard done if he indeed got sent off then.
The good points of the Argentinian display, other than the cool finishing I already mentioned was their crisp passing. Although it failed to create many opening, their quick movement, one or two touch passing was quite impressive. Unfortunately that was spoilt with every flowing move ending with an Argentine rolling theatrically on the ground.
I may have got the predictions of the previous two matches wrong, but it wouldn't stop me from tipping today's matches. On show we have:
Serbia & Montenegro vs Netherlands.
S&M are like Sweden, unfancied and lack of big names. But that doesn't mean they cannot play football. When you look at the team sheet, you would probably only recognize Dejan Stankovic from Inter and Mateja Kezman, made famous - or infamous - by being a flop in Chelsea. But I would tip this team to go far again if they were in the group with Netherlands and Argentina. Hell, they might even lose to Ivory Coast. The last time I saw Netherlands play, they didn't have the "total football" fluid passing that they were famous for, but when I saw them, it was a friendly, things might be different on the field. Netherlands might not be as strong as the FIFA rankings (they are 3rd) say they are because most of their old guard like Roy Makaay, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids are now deemed too old to play. Honestly I find their exclusion surprising given that they are all still playing in the first-team for their club sides, and all big clubs for that matter! However, I think Holland still have enough strength in depth to oversome S&M. It would probably be a tight game, and Holland might just win it 2-1 or 1-0. But I wouldn't rule out a bore draw.
Mexico vs Iran
The first match of Group D pits Mexico against Iran. Though I'm looking forward to Iran playing, I think Mexico might be too strong for them. But given what has happened so far this world cup - or as other world cups for that matter - favourites are nothing. At 7.00 odds for an Iranian victory, it wouldn't be too bad to go for them.
Angola vs Portugal
This is one where I really see Portugal take home the win. I know that I said that about Sweden and T&T, but in my opinion, Sweden is not as good as Portugal while Angola ain't as good as T&T. Although I do see a frustrating encounter for the Portugese, they have the quality to change such a match with brilliance from one player, say inspiration from Figo, or a brilliant pass by Deco or some surging run by Cristiano Ronaldo or Simao.
It's one more day before Australia plays! And another before we can watch how football should be played - by the kings of Joga Bonito - Brazil. I'm looking very much forward to those games.
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