Once again the United States soccer team defined "late game drama" in their 1-0 heart stopping victory over Algeria that propelled them to the top of Group C and earned them a date with Ghana in the Round of 16. If any team in the World Cup deserved to make it to the knockout round, it was the U.S. team. They battled back from not one, but two, missed calls that cost them crucial goals. I understand that in soccer this kind of thing happens quite frequently as they do not have instant replay to fall back on (I'm not saying that they should institute instant replay into soccer, either). However, you still have to feel for a team that did everything right on two separate occasions and had nothing to show for it. Luckily, it didn't matter in the end, because the important thing is that the U.S. is moving onto the knockout stage, which is where they should be.
Now that they have advanced, it is time for the team to focus on the next game. In winning their group for the first time since 1930, the United States will have a chance to avenge their loss to Ghana in the 2006 World Cup. Obviously, this matchup is much more favorable than a match against Germany would have been. In this World Cup, Ghana has only scored one non-penalty kick goal. As I have said, the teams that want to continue to advance are the teams that are willing to attack instead of sit back and defend. If any of my readers watched the Australia vs. Serbia game this afternoon, you likely agree with me. The bottom line is, Ghana isn't Algeria. What I saw from Algeria today was a team that was going to be satisfied just by preventing the U.S. from advancing. Unlike Algeria, Ghana will be looking to score; to move on. The United States has the talent to beat the Black Stars, but they absolutely need to attack. The Round of 16 is not kind to teams content with sitting back and defending.
While everyone was watching the U.S. soccer game, there was another equally spectacular match going on at Wimbledon. The first round match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut has lasted for over nine hours, has been suspended due to darkness two straight days, and is currently in the fifth set tied at 59 games. Go ahead and read those italicized words again, and remind yourself that what you're reading is true. It's no surprise that this match has shattered the marks for longest match played and most games played in a match. I had a chance to watch a replay of the fifth set at work today, and I watched as the match was halted so that the players could take a bathroom break. Needless to say, this is incredible, and probably won't happen again for a long time, if ever again. The next piece of information may be the craziest of the entire story. You'd think that after a match like this, their next opponent would have a huge advantage over them. This isn't exactly the case though, as the winner will face Thiemo De Bakker, who won 16-14 in the fifth set in his first round match, meaning he'll be very tired as well. Who's to say the winner of Isner vs. Mahut can't pull off another?
- K. Becks
Showing posts with label algeria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label algeria. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Sad Truth For African Teams
As teams prepare for their final game in group play, I have come to the very sad realization that only one African team has a legitimate shot of moving on to the knockout round. This is not only sad due to the fact that I picked three of the six participating African nations to advance, but because they probably feel as if they've underperformed on their home continent. Disappointing play, as well as bad luck, has played a part in this sad showing. To start, South Africa is the first host nation to not advance to the knockout stage. If it weren't for Mexico scoring a goal in a moment of confusion for the South African defense, the Bafana Bafana may very well have advanced. Nigeria didn't have any points coming into today's game against South Korea, but were still in position to advance with a win. They had the perfect opportunity to do so in the 66th minute, but Nigerian striker Yakuba missed possibly the easiest shot ever. Had Yakuba capitalized on the chance and Nigeria gone on to win the game, they would have moved on to the knockout stage because of goal differential. Cameroon, who supposedly had a high octane offense that was sure to produce goals, has only scored one goal in this World Cup. They were the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament, which is obviously a tough pill to swallow for a team that thought they had a legitimate shot at moving on to the knockout stage. The Ivory Coast would have had a shot at advancing if they were to win their final group play game, but didn't receive any help from North Korea. Thanks to the Korean's 7-0 loss to Portugal, the Ivory Coast would have to make up a nine goal differential in order to jump Portugal in the standings and advance.
With all that being said, the hope of the African continent lies with the Black Stars of Ghana. Leading Group D, Ghana can move on with either a win or a draw against Germany. They can also lose and potentially move on, but that situation is much more complicated, and it means that their fate is decided by another team (if you would like to learn exactly what that situation is, send me an email). I think it would be a travesty if not one African team were to move on, because South Africa hosting the World Cup is bigger than just South Africa. It is huge for the entire continent, for all the nations trying to make strides in bettering their countries and becoming respected in the world. So, sorry to all you fans of Deutschland, but along with an entire continent, I will be pulling for the Black Stars tomorrow afternoon.
As for the United States, the message is simple: win and you're in, lose and you're out, and let's not even mention the word tie. Algeria hasn't showed that they are capable of offensive firepower thus far. With that being said, pulling men back to defend would be a poor decision for Bob Bradley to make. The U.S. needs to play like they did in the second half of the Slovenia game if they want to win. This is the final game of group play, and the teams that win their final game are the teams that go out and attack and come away with goals. The U.S. is fortunate enough to be more talented than their opponent, so if they go out and attack, conventional wisdom says they should come away with the win. The entire country will be watching; if the U.S. Soccer Federation wants that to happen ever again, they better hope that the United States delivers and moves on to the Round of 16.
Eventually, I will cover Wimbledon, and although we are still in the early rounds and some big names have already been knocked out (James Blake, Fernando Verdasco, Juan Carlos Ferrero to name a few), I haven't had a chance to watch any matches and thus can't give a educated analysis on the tournament. Friday will be my first chance to watch some of the tournament, so I will likely write something about it then.
- K. Becks
With all that being said, the hope of the African continent lies with the Black Stars of Ghana. Leading Group D, Ghana can move on with either a win or a draw against Germany. They can also lose and potentially move on, but that situation is much more complicated, and it means that their fate is decided by another team (if you would like to learn exactly what that situation is, send me an email). I think it would be a travesty if not one African team were to move on, because South Africa hosting the World Cup is bigger than just South Africa. It is huge for the entire continent, for all the nations trying to make strides in bettering their countries and becoming respected in the world. So, sorry to all you fans of Deutschland, but along with an entire continent, I will be pulling for the Black Stars tomorrow afternoon.
As for the United States, the message is simple: win and you're in, lose and you're out, and let's not even mention the word tie. Algeria hasn't showed that they are capable of offensive firepower thus far. With that being said, pulling men back to defend would be a poor decision for Bob Bradley to make. The U.S. needs to play like they did in the second half of the Slovenia game if they want to win. This is the final game of group play, and the teams that win their final game are the teams that go out and attack and come away with goals. The U.S. is fortunate enough to be more talented than their opponent, so if they go out and attack, conventional wisdom says they should come away with the win. The entire country will be watching; if the U.S. Soccer Federation wants that to happen ever again, they better hope that the United States delivers and moves on to the Round of 16.
Eventually, I will cover Wimbledon, and although we are still in the early rounds and some big names have already been knocked out (James Blake, Fernando Verdasco, Juan Carlos Ferrero to name a few), I haven't had a chance to watch any matches and thus can't give a educated analysis on the tournament. Friday will be my first chance to watch some of the tournament, so I will likely write something about it then.
- K. Becks
Friday, June 18, 2010
Some People Are Missing The Point
Okay, so the United States didn't get the win today, even though it was pretty clear to everyone but Koman Coulibaly that they had scored the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute. However, many people are missing the bigger picture; the U.S. is still in great position to move on to the next round. Sure, they only have two points, but with all the parody in Group C, they still control their own destiny. With a win against Algeria, the U.S. will move on, regardless of what happens in the England vs. Slovenia game. The only reason that a tie was unacceptable going into today's game is because everyone thought England was going to pick up three points against little Algeria. After England's nil-nil snorefest with Algeria, every team but Algeria has the capability of propelling themselves into the knockout round without help from another team. So, before we start grilling Mr. Coulibaly for his mistake (because trust me, I think the rest of the world can pick up the slack for us), let's remember the more important thing; we did enough today to assure ourselves of moving on with a win against Algeria. In the long run, that's all that matters.
While on the topic, here's another thing. The late game foul call was not the sole reason that the U.S. didn't win the game today. Go back to the first half, when Slovenia somehow snuck not one, but two, goals past the U.S. defense, and there lies why they didn't win the game. Here's what I don't understand; if the U.S. has the ability to play like they did in the second half, then why don't they start playing that way...oh...I don't know...when the game starts? Instead of trying to rely on their supposed superior athletic talent to carry them to a win, maybe they should play with the tenacity of a team that is down 2-0 for the entire game. If they did that, then their superior athletic talent would actually show up, and they would run away with games against teams like Slovenia and Algeria.
If the U.S. does manage to move on the knockout round, they may have a better chance of moving on further than most people would have thought when the World Cup started. Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany created as much parody in Group D as there is in Group C, with three teams (Germany, Ghana, Serbia) sitting atop the group lead with three points. My prediction is that after tomorrow, Ghana will be alone at the top with six points (they play Australia tomorrow), but the Germany vs. Ghana game next week will be very important concerning the final standings. If the U.S. finishes second in their group, they may very well have a rematch with the Black Stars of Ghana; a game that is much more winnable for the U.S. than a game against Germany.
I feel that this post was very short, so if you're looking for a little more substance when you sit down to read, I'm am sorry. However, if you would like to converse about U.S. soccer, the World Cup in general, or anything else sports related that is on your mind, leave me a comment in the comments section or shoot me an email at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com. Also, thank you to all of you who joined the fan page on Facebook.
- K. Becks
While on the topic, here's another thing. The late game foul call was not the sole reason that the U.S. didn't win the game today. Go back to the first half, when Slovenia somehow snuck not one, but two, goals past the U.S. defense, and there lies why they didn't win the game. Here's what I don't understand; if the U.S. has the ability to play like they did in the second half, then why don't they start playing that way...oh...I don't know...when the game starts? Instead of trying to rely on their supposed superior athletic talent to carry them to a win, maybe they should play with the tenacity of a team that is down 2-0 for the entire game. If they did that, then their superior athletic talent would actually show up, and they would run away with games against teams like Slovenia and Algeria.
If the U.S. does manage to move on the knockout round, they may have a better chance of moving on further than most people would have thought when the World Cup started. Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany created as much parody in Group D as there is in Group C, with three teams (Germany, Ghana, Serbia) sitting atop the group lead with three points. My prediction is that after tomorrow, Ghana will be alone at the top with six points (they play Australia tomorrow), but the Germany vs. Ghana game next week will be very important concerning the final standings. If the U.S. finishes second in their group, they may very well have a rematch with the Black Stars of Ghana; a game that is much more winnable for the U.S. than a game against Germany.
I feel that this post was very short, so if you're looking for a little more substance when you sit down to read, I'm am sorry. However, if you would like to converse about U.S. soccer, the World Cup in general, or anything else sports related that is on your mind, leave me a comment in the comments section or shoot me an email at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com. Also, thank you to all of you who joined the fan page on Facebook.
- K. Becks
Saturday, June 5, 2010
World Cup Preview: Groups C and D
Yesterday night, one of the ambassadors of college basketball, a mentor and idol to many, passed away. John Wooden was 99 years old. I won't go into too much detail, because ESPNEWS has been covering the story the moment they received word that Wooden had passed away, but I will end this topic with a quote from Wooden himself: "Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters." Mr. Wooden, I think you'll be fine in that regard. Rest in peace, Wizard of Westwood.
In other news, Garret Wittels, who I mentioned yesterday, continued his hitting streak, which now stands at 56 games. Unfortunately, he will have to wait until next year to continue it, as Florida International was defeated by Dartmouth today, and is now out of the tournament.
Now, for my Groups C and D preview.
Group C
Teams: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
Match to Watch
England vs. United States (Saturday, June 12th)
For U.S. fans, this is undoubtedly the biggest game of the World Cup. Not only is England the team to beat in Group C, but this is the first time that the rivalry with the team from "Across the Pond" has been played in 60 years. Supporters will get to see right off the bat how good the young, aggressive U.S. team really is. The game is just as important for England; losing to the United States would not sit well with the English faithful.
Player to Watch
Wayne Rooney, England
Okay, so if he doesn't perform well, he probably won't end up in a trailer park eating baked beans like the Nike commercial suggests. However, England's chances of doing exceptionally well in this year's World Cup do depend heavily on how Rooney plays. England is a serious contender to win their first World Cup in 44 years if Rooney is on his game.
Final Standings
1. England- Barring a colossal meltdown in one of their games, the only team in this group that will give England trouble is the United States.
2. United States- After the England game, they will need to stay focused and take care of business. Even a tie against Algeria or Slovenia could potentially mean that their fate rests in someone else's hands, which is not ideal.
3. Slovenia- This team could sneak up on someone, as they have not really been receiving a lot of attention leading up to the tournament. Although they don't have a lot of flashy players, they are a tough team and not an easy out.
4. Algeria- Algeria's defense is questionable, which will probably hurt them when playing the likes of strikers such as Rooney and Donovan. However, they are also capable of scoring, and if an opposing team's defense slips up, Algeria will capitalize on the mistake.
Group D
Teams: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Match to Watch
Australia vs. Ghana (Saturday, June 19th)
This game will be extremely important, as it will probably determine who finishes second in the group. The crowd will be behind Ghana, playing on their home continent, which will make things difficult for the Socceroos. The last thing either team would want to do is lose this game, as it would put them in a very precarious position heading into the third game of the group stage. However, they will have to be aggressive, because a draw likely won't put them in a much better position.
Player to Watch
Tim Cahill, Australia
On a defensive oriented team, Cahill carries the offensive load for Australia. He will play a significant role in determining how Australia fares, creating offensive chances for other players as well as himself. If he doesn't perform well, it will be hard for Australia to score goals.
Final Standings
1. Germany- They aren't the team that they would have been with Michael Ballack and Rene Adler, but they are still a talented team. They can't take any of the other teams in their group lightly though; this is arguably the second toughest group in the World Cup.
2. Ghana- As mentioned earlier, the game against Australia will likely determine whether or not Ghana moves on. They will miss the leadership of midfielder Michael Essien (out due to a knee injury), but the combination of their aggressive play and the fact that they are on their own continent gives them the edge over Australia to move on to the knockout stage.
3. Australia- Australia is a very good defensive team, but that's only half the battle. You have to be able to score too, and the offense is a question mark for the Socceroos. They must get something working on the offensive end if they want to move on.
4. Serbia- Looking to avenge their poor showing as Serbia and Montenegro in the last World Cup (they went 0-3), Serbia has experienced players such as Dejan Stankovic and will try to surprise someone in their group. No better place to start than their opening game against Ghana, where a win could open the door for them to advance.
- K. Becks
In other news, Garret Wittels, who I mentioned yesterday, continued his hitting streak, which now stands at 56 games. Unfortunately, he will have to wait until next year to continue it, as Florida International was defeated by Dartmouth today, and is now out of the tournament.
Now, for my Groups C and D preview.
Group C
Teams: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
Match to Watch
England vs. United States (Saturday, June 12th)
For U.S. fans, this is undoubtedly the biggest game of the World Cup. Not only is England the team to beat in Group C, but this is the first time that the rivalry with the team from "Across the Pond" has been played in 60 years. Supporters will get to see right off the bat how good the young, aggressive U.S. team really is. The game is just as important for England; losing to the United States would not sit well with the English faithful.
Player to Watch
Wayne Rooney, England
Okay, so if he doesn't perform well, he probably won't end up in a trailer park eating baked beans like the Nike commercial suggests. However, England's chances of doing exceptionally well in this year's World Cup do depend heavily on how Rooney plays. England is a serious contender to win their first World Cup in 44 years if Rooney is on his game.
Final Standings
1. England- Barring a colossal meltdown in one of their games, the only team in this group that will give England trouble is the United States.
2. United States- After the England game, they will need to stay focused and take care of business. Even a tie against Algeria or Slovenia could potentially mean that their fate rests in someone else's hands, which is not ideal.
3. Slovenia- This team could sneak up on someone, as they have not really been receiving a lot of attention leading up to the tournament. Although they don't have a lot of flashy players, they are a tough team and not an easy out.
4. Algeria- Algeria's defense is questionable, which will probably hurt them when playing the likes of strikers such as Rooney and Donovan. However, they are also capable of scoring, and if an opposing team's defense slips up, Algeria will capitalize on the mistake.
Group D
Teams: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Match to Watch
Australia vs. Ghana (Saturday, June 19th)
This game will be extremely important, as it will probably determine who finishes second in the group. The crowd will be behind Ghana, playing on their home continent, which will make things difficult for the Socceroos. The last thing either team would want to do is lose this game, as it would put them in a very precarious position heading into the third game of the group stage. However, they will have to be aggressive, because a draw likely won't put them in a much better position.
Player to Watch
Tim Cahill, Australia
On a defensive oriented team, Cahill carries the offensive load for Australia. He will play a significant role in determining how Australia fares, creating offensive chances for other players as well as himself. If he doesn't perform well, it will be hard for Australia to score goals.
Final Standings
1. Germany- They aren't the team that they would have been with Michael Ballack and Rene Adler, but they are still a talented team. They can't take any of the other teams in their group lightly though; this is arguably the second toughest group in the World Cup.
2. Ghana- As mentioned earlier, the game against Australia will likely determine whether or not Ghana moves on. They will miss the leadership of midfielder Michael Essien (out due to a knee injury), but the combination of their aggressive play and the fact that they are on their own continent gives them the edge over Australia to move on to the knockout stage.
3. Australia- Australia is a very good defensive team, but that's only half the battle. You have to be able to score too, and the offense is a question mark for the Socceroos. They must get something working on the offensive end if they want to move on.
4. Serbia- Looking to avenge their poor showing as Serbia and Montenegro in the last World Cup (they went 0-3), Serbia has experienced players such as Dejan Stankovic and will try to surprise someone in their group. No better place to start than their opening game against Ghana, where a win could open the door for them to advance.
- K. Becks
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