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Two good teams, perhaps two great teams. Certainly two of the better sides in the tournament. Odds are high that it will be a pretty closed game. Despite Brazil’s fame for flair, Coach Dunga has them playing a very conservative style nowadays, which while it might not be thrilling from a fan’s perspective, gives them a much better chance of winning the tournament. It’s an obvious change after Brazil crashed out against France in 2006.

Wow Netherlands has started by flopping. They must think getting Brazil a man down is their best avenue for success. If you weren’t a Brazil fan already you will be when you see stuff like that.

Brazil offside in the 7th minute on what would have been a goal, but the linesman was correct. The Netherlands defense was picked apart pretty easily, something that should give Netherlands a bit of pause.

GOAL TO BRAZIL! Sliced the Netherlands defense right down the middle. Not even difficult. Looked like a tactical goal. Hard to say from the replay, but looked like the Netherlands’ defense was in a 2-3 with two central backs. One forward flashed across the two, another attacker coming in from the wing filled the space between and behind the two, and a beautiful pass put him straight onto goal. Great stuff! 1-0 Brazil.

Yellow to Heitinga of Netherlands. Looked earned but hard to see as most cameras missed it.

Free kick from 39 meters. Where’s Roberto Carlos when you need him? (Answer: Not on the team. Dunga didn’t pick him to the final 23.)

Fantastic run for Brazil down the left flank with a great dribbling effort, a fine pass and an even better shot from Kaka that was headed upper V before the keeper made a spectacular save. Excellent football!

1-0 at half.

Van Der Wiel gets a yellow for diving. Good.

Goal! Netherlands from distance! I’m not even sure at first look how that got in. Keeper just came out, ran into his own player and missed it. Horrible keeper error. 1-1.

Yellow to Nigel de Jong. He’ll miss the next game if Netherlands go through. Deserved.

Goal Netherlands! Header off a corner! OMG. 2-1 Netherlands! I didn’t see that coming. Brazil will have to attack now!

Melo is tossed with a straight red! Didn’t see it at first, but he intentionally stepped on a downed player. Sucks for Brazil, but good call, I thought. Brazil now at 10 men. They are falling apart.

Dangerous free kick saved.

Yellow to OOijer for time wasting. Also deserved.

Corners to Brazil, the first of which Lucio volleys and is saved, the second skitters across the goal mouth, the third the keeper saves.

Brazil with a dangerous free kick, but that should have been a yellow card. Can’t believe the ref didn’t give one for that. Off the wall. Nothing.

Three minutes of extra time. Two. One. None!

Netherlands win! Brazil is out! Wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it.

Tags: World Cup soccer

In a battle of floppers, it’s almost like I can’t lose: One of the teams I dislike is headed out.

In the opening 30 minutes, Spain’s had the run of play with occasional chances for Portugal, notably a free kick from Christian Ronaldo that knuckled like crazy. The keeper did an outstanding job just to get in front of it. That’s the Jabulani in the nutshell right there. Other item of note: Not much flopping. I expected everyone on the pitch to fall down instantly and claim a foul as soon as the opening whistle sounded, but perhaps two flopping teams sort of cancel each other out. I dunno. I’m inclined to say the ref, who’s not given Christian Ronaldo the time of day for attempted flops, is calling a pretty good game.

Some good action, but 0-0 at half.

Second sees wild flopping by both sides and to his credit, the ref is having none of it. I love this guy.

Good save of a Spanish pointblank header 15 minutes in. Villa shot just wide seconds later. Spain getting better chances, but it’s still anybody’s game.

Villa scores! Lots of trick exchanges around the edge of the box; Villa breaks free; keeper saves the first, but Villa nets the follow-up. 1-0 Spain.

Portuguese keeper with another great save in the 24th minute of the 2nd. Ramos’ shot was headed in.

Alonso of Spain gets a yellow. Good call.

Villa cranks up another one requiring a nice save.

Yellow to Tiago, but bad call. Villa flopped.

On the brighter side none of Christian Ronaldo’s flops have worked so I still want to marry the ref.

David Villa out for a defender in the 87th minute. Spain better hope this doesn’t go to OT.

Costa of Portugal gets a straight red! Wow! I didn’t see it and I still don’t see it on the replay. Looks like a flop. Call off the wedding. Fitting somehow that Portugal gets nailed by a flop.

Three minutes of extra time. Portugal blows a chance. They’re still yapping at the diving Spaniard.

Spain wins 1-0!

Tags: World Cup soccer

A very closed game in the first half, with Japan getting a couple of chances from range. Paraguay’s trying to loft something in from the wings and head past the smaller defenders, but nothing so far. Given the style of play, we need somebody to score to break this open. Otherwise I fear overtime then penalty kicks.

A better, meaning more attacking second half, but to overtime we go for more of the same. Not much to say here other than neither of these teams will get out of the final 8 no matter who wins.

Oh look: It’s penalties. Who would have guessed?

Paraguay is busy hugging their keeper. They got all kinds of love for him, likely because they know it’s all up to him now. I’ve never been a keeper in a game that’s gone to penalties, but I’ve been in several as a kicker, and it’s relatively nerve-wracking no matter how confident you are in your abilities (and I’m pretty confident). I’ve only missed one of note, and I’m happy to report that we won the game anyway.

One item of note: Keepers should stay in the middle, at least on a few of these shots. Hitting the corners isn’t as easy as it looks, especially after you’ve run for 120 minutes. If it’s going to the corner, you’re probably not saving it anyway. Stay in the middle and you’ll likely save 1 or 2.

Anyway, Paraguay up first. In. Not savable. 1-0. Japan’s shot: In. Also not savable. 1-1. Paraguay’s second: Passed into the corner; keeper guessed right, but it didn’t matter. 2-2. Japan’s 2nd: Goal. 2-2. Blew it into the corner. No chance. Paraguay’s 3rd: In. Keeper guessed wrong. Should have stood in the middle for a better chance. 3-2. Japan’s 3rd: Off the post and out! 3-2 Paraguay! Paraguay’s 4th: In! Rocket down the middle. 4-2. Japan has to make this 4th shot: Goal down the middle! 4-3. Paraguay’s 5th will win it: Takes it slow, waits for the keeper lean and nets it to the other side! Paraguay wins!

Tags: World Cup soccer

[I'm blogging this post-game.]

I doubt there’s anyone out there who’s not a believer in Brazil, but if there is, this game should serve as an example of their greatness. Ironically, if you didn’t see the game but just looked at the stats, you wouldn’t know it: Possession was 50-50, corner kicks, fouls and shots on goal were all roughly equal. Yet Brazil were never threatened. The Dutch, who await Brazil in the quarterfinals, are going to need an incredible game to win.

Tags: World Cup soccer

Clinical finish on the first goal from Netherlands: Fast counterattack so that the defense is off balance with the central runner going wide to draw the defense out of the middle. He probably didn’t draw them more than a step, but the attacker with the ball cut to the middle space just vacated and -boom- shot it in. Superb execution.

The second Netherlands goal was an excellent restart, and I still don’t know what Slovakia’s player was complaining about. His foot was head height and if that’s not dangerous play, I don’t know what is. Horrible keeper error, coming out and being beaten like that, and really unfortunate since he’d done so well up to that point.

Slovakia did well to net a penalty at the end of the game to keep it a respectable 2-1 loss, but the bigger point is the chances they missed. Netherlands’ defense looked vulnerable, and that’s something that ought give them pause as they await the winner of Brazil v. Chile. If not for a stellar job by their keeper and some awful Slovakian finishing, they might be headed home right now.

Tags: World Cup soccer

Adidas creates a new ball for each World Cup. It’s not uncommon for these balls to draw complaint, especially from goalkeepers since each ball seems faster than the one created four years prior. This Cup’s ball, known as the Jabulani, seems poor in several respects and uniquely bad in one critical way.

I don’t mean the 8 panel construction, the rubbery material or the dimples. Those are likely the reasons why the ball behaves as it does, but I don’t care particularly of what it’s made. It can be one big ball of yarn for all I care as long as it works consistently in a way that players with years of experience at the highest level of the game and in a way that fans of the game all expect. Jabulani fails badly in this crucial test.

Thanks to a wealthy benefactor in our local soccer group—these things cost $150 each and a perfectly adequate ball can be had for $30—I’ve played with a Jabulani “Match Ball” twice. On the ground, it’s excellent. As long as you keep it on the carpet, I don’t think you can have many complaints. Where it really gets into trouble is in the air.

It flies easily, perhaps more than any other ball I’ve used. All the overhitting from the wings and keepers missing crosses likely spring at least somewhat from this. The ball just travels further. This isn’t terrible by itself since players can adjust and just not hit the ball as hard. It’s not a great or useful change, but it’s not show-stopping.

The ball is also faster, more lively, than most. FIFA and fans generally like this sort of change since lively balls usually mean more scoring. It’s hell for goalkeepers, of course, but given FIFA’s (and Adidas’) history, one really can’t think that goalkeepers are consulted when it comes to what happens with new balls. FIFA (and fans) have a preference, again generally, that the ball end up in the back of the net, and keepers stand in the way of that (obviously). As much as keepers dislike the speed, even a faster ball isn’t a disqualifying factor for a new ball.

But what is show-stopping and is disqualifying is the inability of anyone to firmly control the Jabulani in the air, particularly over a distance of 20 yards or more. It may—and I want to emphasize may—go exactly where it’s hit, or it may move around like a Belly dancer just given a $100 tip. In other words, it is a ball that has no consistency in the air, and that is show-stopping. Dunga, Brazil’s coach, rather famously argued with FIFA before the tournament that they should come out to the pitch and try for themselves to control the Jabulani. FIFA officials wisely declined. Because if Team Brazil, who house some of the most technically accurate ball control specialists in the world of soccer, can’t control the damn thing and you can be sure that nobody can.

I wasn’t much on the receiving end of long, in the air passes the first time I played with the Jabulani. What I noticed was that it was good on the ground, fast, and flew long when I hit it. I didn’t understand the hubbub. I was, however, on the receiving end a couple of times during the second occasion I had to play with the ball, and it was impossible to predict where the thing would end up. It knuckled in the air, moving toward me while shifting a foot or more right, left, up and down as it came. There was no predictability to the thing, making it impossible to trap or shoot. Keepers, who already have things to dislike about it, had one more. Strikers and midfielders, who might adjust to the lightness or enjoy the pace of the ball, rightly complained as well. The chaos Jabulani brings is why, and why it should not have been used in World Cup 2010 or be used in any future tournaments.

Tags: World Cup soccer

[I'm blogging this after the game.]

Argentina had its attacking chance to be sure, but fans of the white and blue shouldn’t rest easy at the 3-1 final score line. Offside should have been the call on the first score and the second was a miserable defensive error that was rightly punished. (Notice how good teams almost always make teams pay for their mistakes. The US should take notes.)

Argentina was still the better of the two, but they ought be nervous about next week’s match against Germany.

Tags: World Cup soccer

[I watched the game live, but I'm blogging this afterward.]

England were tactically outmatched and outplayed virtually the entire game. Their 4-4-2 proved almost wholly unworkable in the midfield and it’s hard to believe their coach didn’t see it by half time. Disputed non-goal aside, Germany were still the far superior team today, and they continue to dominate teams that give their forwards and midfielders space. Additionally, we saw an incredibly potent counterattack. A poor English free kick was converted to a goal for Germany in roughly 12 seconds. That’s a blazingly fast attack, and it was impressive as anything.

England may lament the botched call that took away a goal, but by no stretch were they the better or equal of Germany today. Next week’s Argentina v. Germany game should be outstanding.

Tags: World Cup soccer

Onyewu out which good news, but why would Clark be back in? Seems nuts to me. Findley back in for Gomez, which is Bradley opting for speed over ball control and finishing.

With Bocanegra moved to the middle to replace Guch, we’ve put Bornstein on the left—hardly a comforting thought. But Guch was clearly not ready for prime time in game 2 and one must think that hasn’t changed in the last week.

Clark is mysterious. He must be showing something in training that we don’t see because I’ve a raft of players I’d rather have.

Early cross from Donovan goes nowhere.

Dempsey from range, on frame but saved.

Ghana score early, 5 minutes in. Honestly: right down the middle of the defense. Clark gives it away in midfield. God bless America! What is Clark doing in the game!? First time Ghana have scored in open play during the World Cup. Replay looks like Howard didn’t do well either. Geez. 1-0 Ghana.

Yellow to Clark. Unbelievable. Stupid. I have a lot I like about Bradley, but his choice of Clark is just plain dumb. His idiotic play is not an aberration.

Cherundolo makes a terrible error and picks up a yellow trying to recover from it. He’ll miss the next game if we go through. Free kick Ghana. Howard punches clear.

We’re having major problems in the central midfield.

At the 30th minute, Edu comes in for Clark. Should have started this way. Props to Bradley, at least, for again attempting to atone for his mistake. I wish he hadn’t made it in the first place, but he’s not so dense or stubborn that he’s unwilling to make the changes necessary.

Findley shot saved at the 34th minute. Good save. Should have scored, but as I’ve long said, Findley is not a finisher.

Howard with a great save after the defense blows it. Ghana player hobbles off.

1-0 Ghana at half. Horrible half from the US.

Findley out; Feilhaber in. Should give us more possession in the midfield. Here we go.

Couldn’t connect on the Cherundolo run, but our first great shot of the 2nd and only our second or third of the game. Feilhaber gave it a good try.

US getting all kinds of chances in the opening 10 minutes. The tactical changes are paying off. This is the difference a strong midfield makes and again shows why Clark in there made no sense.

Another good chance for Feilhaber. Good efforts from the US.

Dempsey down in the box. Well-earned. Penalty! Donovan to take it. Got it off the post and in! 1-1.

65th minute: Harkes is talking about how the chess pieces out there move with the ball. This is nonsensical on several levels and the norm with Harkes.

Altidore just about got through. Great try.

Bocanegra gets an earned yellow. Kick goes to Howard who distributes fast.

Altidore just wide in the 80th. No penalty, I thought. Great effort from Altidore.

Free kick US about 30 yards out. Dempsey to take. Off the wall. Blah.

Extra time. Ayew of Ghana gets a yellow. Great work from Altidore. Phantom trip, though.

And that’s it. We go to overtime. 30 minutes, no golden goal.

Altidore out, Gomez in. Good change, I think. Altidore looked winded.

Ghana splits the defense in the 2nd minute and scores. 2-1 Ghana. Only good news. The ONLY good news is that it’s not a golden goal.

Nice play for US in the 5th minute. Good job by Dempsey to head back, good shot by Feilhaber. Corner.

Harkes has said nothing of intelligence all match.

15 minutes gone; switch of sides.

Nothing of note. Ghana wins 2-1 in overtime.

One would like to rant about something, but the truth is the US is just woefully inconsistent and finished about where they deserved to finish. I would have very much liked to have us do better, but I can’t help feeling like we went as far as our talent could take us. It’s hard to complain about that.

We clearly missed a finishing forward like Charles Davies. Jozy Altidore played his role well, but Robbie Findley could only bring pace when both pace and finishing were needed. Davies would have been the perfect compliment to Alitodore up top and it’s a shame we didn’t get to see it. I think the US would have put a lot more goals in the net.

In the midfield, we paid an enormous price for Ricardo Clark who, simply put, was not ready to play at this level. I think he has the physical ability, but he lacks the tactical understanding and concentration that is required. He may gain that in the future, but he didn’t have it this time, and it killed us. This is all the more vexing because the US otherwise has a strong midfield. Bradley and Dempsey were absolute workhorses and I couldn’t pick between them for US player of the tournament. They were outstanding. I thought the much-touted Donovan did well and clearly has the talent to be dangerous at the highest level of soccer, but he also has a tendency to disappear for long stretches. Feilhaber acquitted himself very well when he was in games, and Clark’s playing time at his expense was Coach Bradley’s biggest error of this Cup.

The defense was about what I expected which is to say not very good. Steve Cherundolo, despite a few problems in the Ghana game, had a solid tournament and, for once, locked down a position in the back four. His attacks forward were notably dangerous and by and large you’d have to say that he had a good tournament. Unfortunately, he’s 31 and unlikely to be on the squad next time around unless he can defy age a bit and maintain his speed. Certainly he’s smart enough to get the job done. Carlos Bocanegra was a mixed bag. He did well out of position at left back despite not making the same type of runs forward as Cherundolo. Surprisingly, I thought he did less well in the middle, his more natural position, and the Ghana goal in overtime was awful. Steve DeMerit played with heart. I don’t know that he would have seen the field that Oguchi Onyewu been fit, but if the US’ game against Slovenia proved anything it was that Guch was nothing close to fit, and Bradley was spot-on in keeping him off the pitch thereafter. Guch will be 32 next time around and presumably fit, so he’s got another Cup in him.

Keeper Tim Howard made some great saves. I thought he got worse after the England game, but even his “B game” is better than most people’s A game. Whether this was due to injury or not, I dunno. But he really never seemed to return to form after he got that whack against England.

Coach Bradley is an enigma. He clear has an excellent tactical mind and reads the game as well as anyone. The changes he makes mid-game are reasonable, thoughtful, and typically successful. I also like him personally. That said, I have no idea what happens game-to-game. His starting 11 for the Ghana game were simply wrong, and the US ultimately paid the price for it as we were forced to substitute far too early in a game that went to overtime.

Tags: World Cup soccer

At long last we’ve arrived to the knockout stages. For this viewer in the USA—one who’s seen every game (which necessitated the use of two screens for those end of first round simulcast games)—this is a great feeling. Not only do I no longer have to wakeup at 5 AM to watch the action, but I also won’t have to try to watch two games at once, a feat that made blogging coherently almost impossible. And of course “knockout” means just that: No draws. If we’re tied at the end of regulation, we’re doing a sudden death overtime. If we’re tied at the end of that, penalty kicks. We will have a winner.

I like Uruguay in this morning’s match up, but once you reach the 16 no team can be discounted, and you know South Korea will be high energy if nothing else.

Early free kick to South Korea. Off the post! Keeper was beaten. South Korea have scored in every qualifying match, and they look dangerous early.

GOAL! Not even 10 minutes in, Forlan crosses and the keeper misses and Suarez, completely unmarked on the back post, finishes with power. The defense had pulled up for an offside trap, but Suarez was easily on and utterly unmarked. Great ball from Forlan! 1-0 Uruguay, but so far South Korea has actually looked the more dangerous. I think that this might be the first of a lot of goals today.

South Korea still threatening, but Uruguay’s counter attack is also formidable and comes with pace.

Uruguay is keeping more possession now, and South Korea’s early energy seems to have waned a bit.

South Korea very lucky to have a linesman call offsides after a horrible giveaway.

South Korea unleashes a shot just wide in the 31st minute. Good shot.

Jungwoo gets a yellow; iffy call if you ask me.

South Korea with another dangerous free kick near the end of the half.

How was that not a handball in the box? Think Uruguay deserved a penalty kick from that, but nothing given.

1-0 at half.

Horrible defensive error—passed the ball straight to the forward—fails to get punished by Uruguay. Should have done a bit better than that.

South Korea over the bar from inside the 18. Should have done better than that as well. Good evidence of pressure, though.

Good attack and header, but SK can’t finish the deal. Keeper saves. Lots of pressure still.

SOUTH KOREA! In the 22nd minute of the 2nd. Free kick headed up, keeper comes out and misses while the ball is headed past and into the net. 1-1!

Du Ri of SK gets a yellow.

Long shot by Uruguay on frame, but easily saved. SK counter leads to a one-on-one but also played straight to the goalie.

Suarez with a couple of opportunities but goes high on both. Uruguay have stepped up their game since the goal.

The rain is really coming down now. I wonder how the footing will be. Corners to Uruguay.

SUAREZ! A bender off the post from the backside! What a great, great shot! 2-1 Uruguay as Suarez gets the brace at the 81st minute.

Yellow for Hyung who missed the ball and fouled the player, intentionally in my view, twice on the same play.

Suarez subbed out, presumably for a defender now that we’ve got about six minutes plus injury time.

SK with a chance, through the keepers legs—how was he not off. No, good call. He was on. Keeper got enough of it to keep it from rolling in. Attacker should have finished better. About two minutes left in regulation.

Three minutes extra time which seems generous.

Uruguay still attacking. Hard to believe they’re not just playing possession.

And that’s it! Uruguay 2-1 over South Korea. Good and entertaining game!

Tags: World Cup soccer