Sunday, July 04, 2010
I must say, all four games of the Quarters has been great to watch.
1. Germany's 4-0 thrashing of Argentina. After Netherlands beat Brazil in a classic "it's a game of two halves" match, where Brazil dominated the first with some magnificent intricate and individual brilliance, rewarded with Robinho's goal but unlucky not to have gone 2-0 up with a Kaka' top-corner curler equalled by a flying Maarten Stekelenburg, then Netherlands came back into the game with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder inspiring them to comeback and score two, helped of course by Felipe Melo's
stupidness. Well enough of that. So Germany, on the back of their 4-1 thrashing of England in the last round, who would have thought would thrash the then-tournament top scorers Argentina, with Leo Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain in their three-pronged attack? Well Germany did so with an early Thomas Muller header, exposing slack defending from Argentina, and with Messi unable to break past the solid German defence, Germany did to Argentina what they did to England, and broke quick, fast and swift (all same meaning, huh?), scoring another three without reply. Two words: Magnificent football.
2. The tale of two penalties in Ellis Park. After Gerard Pique pulled Oscar Cardozo's hand in the box, Cardozo couldn't score the resulting penalty, continuing the trend of crucial penalty misses (Lukas Podolski vs Serbia when Germany were 1-0 down, Asamoah Gyan's crossbar miss against Uruguay in the 121 minute of extra time that would have sent Ghana through). But the controversy came soon after when Spain were awarded a penalty almost immediately after when a Paraguay defender brought David Villa down at the other end. Xabi Alonso emphatically found the net with the resulting penalty, but one Spanish player encroached a second too early, and Alonso had to retake it, with the subsequent retake saved by the 'keeper. But the penalty save earlier by Iker Casillas on Cardozo was brought into question as three Spanish defenders encroached the area more than a second too early, but no retake was given (supposed to as Cardozo didn't score), which would have changed the whole complexion of the game. But oh well both penalties weren't scored, and Spain still went through via a David Villa double post rattler goal, after Pedro hit the post as well!
3. Wonder goals in Uruguay-Ghana game. First it was Sulley Muntari's long range pile-driver that swerved away from the 'keeper at the last moment, magnificent goal. Then Diego Forlan's freekick from around 25 yards out was magnificent as well, deceiving the 'keeper on its way in. Two magnificent goals in one game, and what a way to end it as well with all the drama of A penalty and a penalty shootout.
Hmm it's already the semis! Spain vs Germany, I'm not going to call this one, all I know is one thing, either Germany is gonna grab four goals again, or Spain's gonna nick it by a goal. Haha! Uruguay vs Netherlands... C'mon Dutch! Make it a all-European final.
From 4 South American teams to 1. Europe maintains their pre-Quarters status with 3. Who says South American football is on the rise? The Europeans just proved them otherwise with emphatic wins over their biggest favourites! (:
my thoughts at 10:22 pm