An exciting game to decide the 3rd/4th place play-off with a few incidents that deserve mention - apologies for the lack of detail but it's too hot here in muggy Yorkshire!
The first is the decision by the referee only to caution for an horrendous challenge by a German player in the 4th minute. It looked like casebook serious foul play but the referee, who for my money was too close to the action, went with a caution.
The goals went as follows, Germany scored after a shot was spilled by the Uruguayan goalkeeper, Uruguay equalised before taking the lead. Germany struck back shortly afterwards and then, when I'd wandered off into the kitchen, scored what was to be the winner. The goal scorers tonight took the number of players who have scored five goals during the tournament to four.
Diego Forlan had the opportunity to take the game to extra time but his free kick from around 27 yards struck the crossbar. So Germany finish 3rd, Uruguay 4th and tomorrow it's the big one ... Netherlands vs Spain!
Showing posts with label Uruguay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uruguay. Show all posts
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
A tale of two captains
The first of the two semi-finals is underway and it's no surprise that the early pressure comes from Netherlands as Uruguay rely on counter attacks to push upfield.
The first half had four interesting incidents. The first was an attack deep into the Dutch right back position. As the ball approached the goal line, it was stopped but the momentum of the attacker and defender carried them over the goal line, where they both fell to the ground. As the defender tried to get up and back on to the field of play, the attacker held him, so the referee stopped play and awarded a direct free kick to the defender. The ball was originally positioned about one yard upfield from the goal line but was then pushed 5 yards before the kick was taken. I wonder if the offence had been the other way around, would the referee have given a direct free kick to the attack, if necessary, awarding a kick from the penalty mark???
Shortly after this an overhead kick by a Careces of Uruguay, close to the edge of the Dutch penalty area, saw him kick De Zeeuw hard on the jaw. There was a brief coming together of players from both sides but it dissipated within a handful of seconds. A couple of cautions later, the game settled back into its intriguing contest.
We then had one of the finest goals of the tournament as Von Bronckhorst moved in from the left wing, from an amazing 41 yards from goal and let fly with a vicious shot which the goalkeeper could only stroke with his fingertips as the ball flew into the top corner of his goal (actually striking the inside of the goalpost on the way in).
This rocked Uruguay back on their heels for a few minutes and then they gathered themselves. Diego Forlan, who already had 3 goals from previous games picked up the ball around 30 yards out and hit a dipping, curling drive which deceived the Dutch goalkeeper, who was wrong footed, and he only managed to flap a hand at the ball before it crashed into the goal. So the game is well balanced and we might see more of the same in the second half.
A brief mention of the coverage of the game by ITV ... Adrian Chiles is an absolute gift to ITV and seems to have a cheery quip for every situation, not least when footage was shown of the crowds in Amsterdam and Montevideo celebrating the goals by their respective teams and some large bass drums appeared from nowhere in the middle of the Uruguayan fans. Fantastic to see ... roll on part two.
The second half took a little while to get going but then another four exciting incidents. The first was a through ball which drew the Dutch goalkeeper out of his penalty area meaning his goal was untended when Uruguay took their shot on goal. Fortunately Von Bronckhorst headed the ball clear.
A Forlan free kick was battered away by the Dutch goalkeeper before Netherlands swept back upfield. A clever interchange of passes saw a good attempt on the Uruguayan goal but then a moment of debate ...
Sneijder took control of the ball on the edge of the Uruguayan penalty area and his shot took a deflection from a defender's shin on the way through. It then passed very (and I mean very) close to the foot of Robin Van Persie, who was standing just about in an offside position when Sneijder took his shot. The assistant didn't adjudge him as interfering with an opponent and I tend to agree with that considering how far out from goal he was (about 8 yards), so he wasn't obscuring the goalkeeper's line of sight. The referee was right behind the shot as well so could also make a good call on that.
Then we had the killer blow for Netherlands as just 3 minutes after Sneijder's goal, a cross from the left was met by a cushioned header by Arjen Robben, which saw the ball spin away from the Uruguayan goalkeeper, stroke the base of the goalpost and nestle gently in the back of the net. So at 3-1 you would expect the Dutch to hold the ball and sit back but no, with just 4 minutes of normal time to play, Arjen Robben has just outrun the Uruguayan defence only to hook the ball into the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper from a couple of yards out.
Hmmm, could we have some excitement at the death? In the second minute of three added minutes, Maxi Perreira has just slipped a low left footed shot through a crowded penalty area to take the score to 3-2 and then we had another couple of minutes added by the referee. We had a period of pinball in and around the Dutch penalty area before the referee, Ravshan Irmatov blew the final whistle.
And there we go, we have the first of the finalists as Netherlands
The first half had four interesting incidents. The first was an attack deep into the Dutch right back position. As the ball approached the goal line, it was stopped but the momentum of the attacker and defender carried them over the goal line, where they both fell to the ground. As the defender tried to get up and back on to the field of play, the attacker held him, so the referee stopped play and awarded a direct free kick to the defender. The ball was originally positioned about one yard upfield from the goal line but was then pushed 5 yards before the kick was taken. I wonder if the offence had been the other way around, would the referee have given a direct free kick to the attack, if necessary, awarding a kick from the penalty mark???
Shortly after this an overhead kick by a Careces of Uruguay, close to the edge of the Dutch penalty area, saw him kick De Zeeuw hard on the jaw. There was a brief coming together of players from both sides but it dissipated within a handful of seconds. A couple of cautions later, the game settled back into its intriguing contest.
We then had one of the finest goals of the tournament as Von Bronckhorst moved in from the left wing, from an amazing 41 yards from goal and let fly with a vicious shot which the goalkeeper could only stroke with his fingertips as the ball flew into the top corner of his goal (actually striking the inside of the goalpost on the way in).
This rocked Uruguay back on their heels for a few minutes and then they gathered themselves. Diego Forlan, who already had 3 goals from previous games picked up the ball around 30 yards out and hit a dipping, curling drive which deceived the Dutch goalkeeper, who was wrong footed, and he only managed to flap a hand at the ball before it crashed into the goal. So the game is well balanced and we might see more of the same in the second half.
A brief mention of the coverage of the game by ITV ... Adrian Chiles is an absolute gift to ITV and seems to have a cheery quip for every situation, not least when footage was shown of the crowds in Amsterdam and Montevideo celebrating the goals by their respective teams and some large bass drums appeared from nowhere in the middle of the Uruguayan fans. Fantastic to see ... roll on part two.
The second half took a little while to get going but then another four exciting incidents. The first was a through ball which drew the Dutch goalkeeper out of his penalty area meaning his goal was untended when Uruguay took their shot on goal. Fortunately Von Bronckhorst headed the ball clear.
A Forlan free kick was battered away by the Dutch goalkeeper before Netherlands swept back upfield. A clever interchange of passes saw a good attempt on the Uruguayan goal but then a moment of debate ...
Sneijder took control of the ball on the edge of the Uruguayan penalty area and his shot took a deflection from a defender's shin on the way through. It then passed very (and I mean very) close to the foot of Robin Van Persie, who was standing just about in an offside position when Sneijder took his shot. The assistant didn't adjudge him as interfering with an opponent and I tend to agree with that considering how far out from goal he was (about 8 yards), so he wasn't obscuring the goalkeeper's line of sight. The referee was right behind the shot as well so could also make a good call on that.
Then we had the killer blow for Netherlands as just 3 minutes after Sneijder's goal, a cross from the left was met by a cushioned header by Arjen Robben, which saw the ball spin away from the Uruguayan goalkeeper, stroke the base of the goalpost and nestle gently in the back of the net. So at 3-1 you would expect the Dutch to hold the ball and sit back but no, with just 4 minutes of normal time to play, Arjen Robben has just outrun the Uruguayan defence only to hook the ball into the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper from a couple of yards out.
Hmmm, could we have some excitement at the death? In the second minute of three added minutes, Maxi Perreira has just slipped a low left footed shot through a crowded penalty area to take the score to 3-2 and then we had another couple of minutes added by the referee. We had a period of pinball in and around the Dutch penalty area before the referee, Ravshan Irmatov blew the final whistle.
And there we go, we have the first of the finalists as Netherlands
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Europe Marching On
With the World Cup Quarter Finals drawing to a close this evening, Holland have beaten Brazil, Germany have cruised past Argentina, winning 4-0 this afternoon and Spain have just beaten Paraguay 1-0. This leaves just Uruguay who defeated Ghana last night on kicks from the mark to decide the outcome, to attempt to retain the trophy in South America for another 4 years.
This evening's game between Spain and Paraguay had a few interesting incidents. The first was a long ball played forward towards two Paraguayan attackers, one who was in an offside position and the other was in an onside position. The ball fell to the onside player who controlled the ball and scored. The assistant however had adjudged that the action of the other attacker, in jumping to challenge for the ball, was sufficient to meet the criteria of interfering with an opponent.
Then in an amazing two minutes of play, two kicks from the penalty mark were awarded. The first was for Paraguay who had an attacker held by Pique of Spain. The kick was saved, but at least 3 defenders were encroaching as the ball was kicked. Within 1 minute at the other end of the field Alcaraz fouled Villa of Spain and a kick was awarded to them. The challenge took place 10 yards from goal with only the goalkeeper between the attacker and goal ... so why wasn't the offender dismissed?
The goal was scored but Carlos Batres adjudged that players had encroached and asked for the kick to be re-taken. The re-take was saved but in the ensuing melee another foul was committed on an attacker but was missed by the referee and his assistant.
With 8 minutes to play Spain had a shot at goal which hit the left hand post and rebounded to Villa who again took a shot at goal. The ball hit the right hand post, bounced along the goal line to the left hand post, bounced off that before resting in the back of the net - amazing!
So the second semi final, which will take place on Wednesday will be between Germany and Spain.
This evening's game between Spain and Paraguay had a few interesting incidents. The first was a long ball played forward towards two Paraguayan attackers, one who was in an offside position and the other was in an onside position. The ball fell to the onside player who controlled the ball and scored. The assistant however had adjudged that the action of the other attacker, in jumping to challenge for the ball, was sufficient to meet the criteria of interfering with an opponent.
Then in an amazing two minutes of play, two kicks from the penalty mark were awarded. The first was for Paraguay who had an attacker held by Pique of Spain. The kick was saved, but at least 3 defenders were encroaching as the ball was kicked. Within 1 minute at the other end of the field Alcaraz fouled Villa of Spain and a kick was awarded to them. The challenge took place 10 yards from goal with only the goalkeeper between the attacker and goal ... so why wasn't the offender dismissed?
The goal was scored but Carlos Batres adjudged that players had encroached and asked for the kick to be re-taken. The re-take was saved but in the ensuing melee another foul was committed on an attacker but was missed by the referee and his assistant.
With 8 minutes to play Spain had a shot at goal which hit the left hand post and rebounded to Villa who again took a shot at goal. The ball hit the right hand post, bounced along the goal line to the left hand post, bounced off that before resting in the back of the net - amazing!
So the second semi final, which will take place on Wednesday will be between Germany and Spain.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Go Ghana or not ...
Dramatic end to their game with Uruguay ...
A dismissal for Suarez after the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity by use of the hand saw Ghana awarded a kick from the mark in the second minute of added time at the end of the second half of extra time. Poor Gyan missed the goal and hit the cross bar, the referee blew the whistle and it's going to be kicks from the mark to decide the outcome ... more to follow ...
Tension, tension ... it's 3-2 Uruguay with both sides having missed one penalty ... oh no, they've (Ghana) missed another ... Uruguay can win with this one ... and he's chipped it down the middle ... Uruguay will meet Holland next Tuesday in Cape Town!!!
A dismissal for Suarez after the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity by use of the hand saw Ghana awarded a kick from the mark in the second minute of added time at the end of the second half of extra time. Poor Gyan missed the goal and hit the cross bar, the referee blew the whistle and it's going to be kicks from the mark to decide the outcome ... more to follow ...
Tension, tension ... it's 3-2 Uruguay with both sides having missed one penalty ... oh no, they've (Ghana) missed another ... Uruguay can win with this one ... and he's chipped it down the middle ... Uruguay will meet Holland next Tuesday in Cape Town!!!
Return to civilisation
I spent 5 days last week at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset England. The beard continued to be cultivated ...
While I was there England sneaked into the Round of 16 before being humiliated by Germany at the World Cup. I also managed to see quite a few bands and caught a couple of halves of other games at various venues around the site.
As the quarter finals have kicked off today, there's been a couple of shocks. The first came as Brazil were knocked out by Holland. As things stand at the moment (one hour played), Ghana are taking the game to Uruguay with the score at 1-1 after Muntari put Ghana ahead on the stroke of half time with a wonder strike from 35 yards, before Diego Forlan equalised with a sublime free kick.
My new season is shaping up nicely with a spot booked for me to deliver some training at the 7-6 promotion seminar at County HQ on July 22 followed by the RA-FA Meeting on August 9 at the same venue. Some of my friends have completed their PGMO fitness tests today, so well done to Bob, Andy, Ricky and Ross.
Some of the other lads have had their Supply Leagues confirmed for them and I have to admit, I'm beginning to miss being out on the green bit again. I'm sure pre-season training (starting on July 12) will knock that out of me!
While I was there England sneaked into the Round of 16 before being humiliated by Germany at the World Cup. I also managed to see quite a few bands and caught a couple of halves of other games at various venues around the site.As the quarter finals have kicked off today, there's been a couple of shocks. The first came as Brazil were knocked out by Holland. As things stand at the moment (one hour played), Ghana are taking the game to Uruguay with the score at 1-1 after Muntari put Ghana ahead on the stroke of half time with a wonder strike from 35 yards, before Diego Forlan equalised with a sublime free kick.
My new season is shaping up nicely with a spot booked for me to deliver some training at the 7-6 promotion seminar at County HQ on July 22 followed by the RA-FA Meeting on August 9 at the same venue. Some of my friends have completed their PGMO fitness tests today, so well done to Bob, Andy, Ricky and Ross.
Some of the other lads have had their Supply Leagues confirmed for them and I have to admit, I'm beginning to miss being out on the green bit again. I'm sure pre-season training (starting on July 12) will knock that out of me!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Not quite going to plan
Some of the "big guns" of the World Cup have found the going slightly tougher than anticipated over the last 26 hours.
Firstly Brazil, five time winners of the competition and many a school boys inspiration back in the 70s, nearly came unstuck against North Korea. It took them 55 minutes before scoring their first goal and added a second soon after, which was just as well as Korea scored a late consolation goal.
Fast forward to today's games and Chile were the only team who did what was expected when they beat Honduras 1-0, keeping themselves on course for a showdown in their final group game against pre-tournament favourites, Spain.
And so to Spain ... favourites, a team packed full of highly talented players and expected to steamroller Switzerland. Well the Swiss obviously didn't read the script as they ran out 1-0 winners to turn the group on its head. Howard Webb and his team were in charge of this one and there was nothing in the highlights to suggest anything went seriously wrong.
Finally tonight, the hosts South Africa were taking on Uruguay. It is Youth Day, a national holiday commemorating the events of June 16, 1976 when violence erupted and the South African police killed over 200 Sowetan school children. It is a very special day to the Bafana Bafana. The hopes were high for a victory but they were dashed by 3 goals from Uruguay.
The first was a dipping drive from more than 25 yards by Diego Forlan. His second goal came from the penalty mark in the 80th minute. A deflected pass found Suarez alone in the South African goal area where he was fouled by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune who was dismissed by referee Massimo Busacca.
Forlan turned provider in the very late stages as he passed to Suarez whose cross was met by Alvaro Pereira. The ball glanced off his face, dropped on to his shin and bobbled across the goal line. The hosts are in danger of being the first to go out in the Group stages.
Firstly Brazil, five time winners of the competition and many a school boys inspiration back in the 70s, nearly came unstuck against North Korea. It took them 55 minutes before scoring their first goal and added a second soon after, which was just as well as Korea scored a late consolation goal.
Fast forward to today's games and Chile were the only team who did what was expected when they beat Honduras 1-0, keeping themselves on course for a showdown in their final group game against pre-tournament favourites, Spain.
And so to Spain ... favourites, a team packed full of highly talented players and expected to steamroller Switzerland. Well the Swiss obviously didn't read the script as they ran out 1-0 winners to turn the group on its head. Howard Webb and his team were in charge of this one and there was nothing in the highlights to suggest anything went seriously wrong.
Finally tonight, the hosts South Africa were taking on Uruguay. It is Youth Day, a national holiday commemorating the events of June 16, 1976 when violence erupted and the South African police killed over 200 Sowetan school children. It is a very special day to the Bafana Bafana. The hopes were high for a victory but they were dashed by 3 goals from Uruguay.
The first was a dipping drive from more than 25 yards by Diego Forlan. His second goal came from the penalty mark in the 80th minute. A deflected pass found Suarez alone in the South African goal area where he was fouled by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune who was dismissed by referee Massimo Busacca.
Forlan turned provider in the very late stages as he passed to Suarez whose cross was met by Alvaro Pereira. The ball glanced off his face, dropped on to his shin and bobbled across the goal line. The hosts are in danger of being the first to go out in the Group stages.
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