Pie Baby
Pie Baby has left. Good.
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Franks for the memories
Thanks to Frank Barlow, who today moved on to take caretaker control of Hull, with a view to being Phil Parkinson’s number two if/when Hull and Colchester ever sort out his contract.
Frank conducted himself with great dignity in the aftermath of Megson’s departure, and was obviously very popular with the players. Mark Arthur said that they didn’t want him to leave, but I suppose his role was uncertain after the arrival of CC – even if Frank was to remain on the staff, it seems as though Kerslake is CC’s number two. So you cannot really blame him for moving on.
Thanks for your efforts Frank, I can pretty much guarantee that you will get a good reception if and when you return to the City Ground.
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Off-Topic: Loser
I heard a bit of Wimbledon on Radio 5 yesterday. Specifically, Tim Henman is through to the second round, to meet Roger Federer. I know little about tennis, but I do know that Federer is the best in the world at the moment. Henman is one of those who looks like he is going somewhere and then falls when the going gets tough.
But Federer apparently said he was not looking forward to playing Henman as he does not like playing on grass against a grass-court specialist – especially early on in the tournament. The Radio 5 interviewer mentions this to Henman, adding “and you’re the underdog with nothing to lose and you’ve beaten him before – it’s time to go for it”. To which Henman replied along the lines of “that’s an interesting way to look at it. Whether I play him early or late in the tournament, it’s going to be a hard game”.
Well tough. If that’s the way you think, not only do you deserve to lose but you will lose.
Not good enough.
I’m glad that Rio Ferdinand does not think that way.
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Spanish Byes: Spain 1 France 3
We have yet to see an upset in the second round, and it seems strange to be approaching this last match with the underdogs a team who were reigning World and European Champions at the start of the last World Cup, but the formbook shows that France have scraped through while Spain have made the game look easy.
France get at Spain from the start and don’t allow them much time on the ball, but as in their previous matches their final ball is poor. Spain don’t manage anything much better, but 26 minutes in Thuram brings down Pablo in the box. The referee gives the penalty despite French protests, and David Villa converts it with aplomb.
The next ten minutes are scrappy, but after 40 minutes Patrick Vieira plays a great through ball. Franck Ribery runs onto it and beats Iker Casillas, the defenders already taken out by the pass. The goal is wide open before him and France are level.
After a flurry of activity at the end of the first half, in the second half the play is cagey. Neither team can achieve any fluency and there are few chances. Luis Garcia has a header deflected over the bar. Joaquin hits the side netting. Sydney Govou puts one over for France.
On 83 minutes France have a free kick on the right side of the box. Zinedine Zidane pumps it into the box and after a bit of pinball Vieira bundles the ball into the net.
Spain have less than 10 minutes to save their tournament. They throw men forward, but are clearly tired and the pressure comes to nothing. In injury time France get an opportunity to counter-attack. The ball comes to Zidane, who moves into the box and casually steps past a defender before firing in a third.
Once again Spain have failed to live up to potential, but France are improving all the time. Tonight has been a solid, if not spectacular, performance, and they move on to face Brazil.
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Out For Africa: Brazil 3 Ghana 0
On paper the penultimate tie of the second round is the biggest mismatch, but Ghana have played well in beating the Czech Republic and USA in the group stages.
They look like amateurs after five minutes here in Dortmund, however. The defence are nowhere and Ronaldo is gifted a ridiculous amount of space. He takes the easiest of chances to put himself clear at the top of the list of all-time World Cup scorers, having now hit 15 goals in three tournaments.
Ghana look overawed and are finding it difficult to cope, but on 18 minutes they almost equalise when Draman unleashes a shot from distance and forces Dida to make the save. This heralds a good spell for the Africans. Amoah puts one just the wrong side of the post. Mensah’s header is blocked by chance. Brazil have to rely on counter-attack football, and when they do break the Ghana defence is chaotic, but overall Ghana are now looking the better team.
Just before half time, however, one of Brazil’s counter-attacks works out, Cafu crossing for Adriano to tap in. Ghana are hard done by, not only because the goal is against the run of play but because replays show that Adriano is offside.
The second half starts tamely but the action is back soon enough. Ghana don’t look as good this time and although they continue to have the greater part of the possession they don’t often look like scoring. Asamoah Gyan and Amoah both have chances but don’t do as well as they might.
At the other end Brazil are pushing towards Ghana’s goal without any great urgency. Ronaldo and the subsitute Gilberto Silva make inroads but there is a feeling that Brazil are saving their energy for their next opponents.
The final nail in Ghana’s coffin comes when Gyan makes a clumsy challenge and receives his second yellow card. It seems unlikely that Ghana will be able to break down the Brazilians with ten men, and so it proves. Ze Roberto makes it three on 84 minutes when he finds himself with half a pitch of space and only the keeper to beat.
Richard Kingston makes good late saves from Ronaldo, Cafu and Juan to keep the score down, but Ghana are out and the tournament is reduced to European and South American teams.
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Ukraine, You Saw, You Conquered: Switzerland 0 Ukraine 0 AET (Ukraine win 3-0 on penalties)
Neither Switzerland nor Ukraine were particularly impressive in qualification, though it is worth remembering that Switzerland are yet to concede a goal in this competition, and Ukraine have a potentially devastating weapon in Andriy Shevchenko.
The Swiss start the match brightly. Raphael Wicky unleashes a long-range shot after picking up a stray pass, testing Shovkovskiy in the Ukraine goal, and Alexander Frei causes problems for the defenders.
Ukraine comes closer, however, when Shevchenko dives for a low header, but his shot bounces up onto the crossbar and Switzerland survive the attack. Shortly afterwards Frei rattles the bar at the other end with a powerful free kick.
By now the Ukrainians have got over their shaky start and the rest of the half is a closely fought battle based around the midfield. Switzerland are still marginally on top but their opponents resist strongly and at half time there is still no score.
When they come out after the break Ukraine look much better and push the Swiss back. A Shevchenko free kick is deflected by the arm of a defender in the wall, but no penalty is given. Switzerland are fortunate again when Ricardo Cabanas gets away with stamping on Andriy Nesmachniy.
The Ukrainian attacks keep coming, though less frequently. Andriy Gusin heads just wide from a corner, perhaps the best chance of the match. Switzerland’s attacks are rare but Zuberbuehler’s goal remains intact for another 90 minutes and extra time is needed.
The half hour is surprisingly energetic, but the stalemate continues and we see the first penalty shootout of this competition.
Ukraine are first up. Shevchenko takes the kick but it is weak and easily saved by Zuberbuehler. Marco Streller takes the Swiss kick and his is equally poor and also saved. Artem Milevskiy finally gets one with a cheeky punt down the middle, and Ukraine have the advantage when Barnetta hits the bar.
Sergei Rebrov makes it 2-0 and when Cabanas plays another into the keeper’s arms it falls to Gusin to take the kick that could send Ukraine through. He scores.
It has been an uninspiring game, largely thanks to the ultra-defensive Swiss performance, but the more positive side are through to face Italy in the next round.
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Vengeance: Italy 1 Australia 0
Italy have lacked consistency while Australia have impressed, so this match is no foregone conclusion. Thoughts of the 2002 defeat by South Korea, with Guus Hiddink in the dugout, will be prominent in Italian fans’ minds as their nemesis faces them with his latest charges.
The first few minutes are cagey, and Jon Champion is reduced to describing Hiddink’s “ever-so-slightly crumpled” appearance instead of talking about the football. The first real chance comes on 20 minutes when Alberto Gilardino hurls himself into the air, striking the ball well but too close to Mark Schwarzer who pushes it over the bar. Two minutes later Luca Toni turns in the box to blast one in but Schwarzer is again equal to it, saving with his legs.
Australia are having more possession, but it takes half an hour of play before Buffon is made to work in the Italian goal, Scott Chipperfield shooting straight at him from close range. The Australians are let off when Toni heads over in front of the goal.
Italy are starting to take control and are wearing down Australia’s defence, but they can’t yet find a way through. Five minutes into the second half Marco Bresciano makes a run for Australia and is brought down near the box by Marco Materazzi. The red card is brandished and once again we have a match of eleven against ten. Bresciano takes the free kick himself but fires wide.
The difference is not overly apparent. Australia certainly have more of the game but they lack penetration and at the other end the Italian attacks continue to pose a threat. Tim Cahill gets a good chance in the box but heads over the bar, but otherwise Australia find it difficult to get at the Italian goal.
With ten minutes remaining John Aloisi is brought on to strengthen the Australian attack. The Italian challenge is fading as they are forced to defend heavily. In the 90th minute Australia have an optimistic penalty appeal turned down, then in injury time Lucas Neill and Aloisi run into a wall of defenders at the edge of the box.
In the last seconds of the match Fabio Grosso goes down in the area after tripping over Neill’s prostrate body. The referee awards a penalty that will be the last kick of the game. Francesco Totti steps up and places it well.
It is arguably a harsh decision that has defeated Australia, but the Italian defence have been solid throughout the game and this has been the critical factor. The Australians have acquitted themselves well, however, and will no doubt be back for another attempt in the future.
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Chairman of the Board
Everyone’s favourite Chief Executive has been appointed as League One representative on the Football League board. He’s obviously serious about promotion.
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Fair play to Sven
After my predictions of doom, things weren’t too bad on Sunday. Many people are saying it was more of the same, below par stuff from England, but I don’t think so.
Carrick, for me, made all the difference. We held on to the ball. Kept possession. Made Ecuador work for it. The key indicator was that Ecuador tired in the last twenty minutes and we did not. Possession football may be boring to watch but it is a pre-requisite of World Cup football.
Rooney did extremely well – much better than I expected. Especially towards the end, when Ecuador were tiring. Much of the game left him isolated and out of it, but rather than getting frustrated (as he has done in the past) he stuck to his job and brought the midfielders in the game well.
Hargreaves did a good job at right back. I still don’t understand why he was put there, but he seems to be growing into the tournament.
Tactically Sven, surprisingly, did very well. When his defensive instincts kicked in (obviously learnt in Italy), he moved to having two defensive midfielders (with Carragher at right-back), which makes sense in a midfield five. Plus it’s good enough for Brazil. Even more importantly, he put on Lennon (I was screaming for Crouch but young Aaron was just as good) and made us defend high up the pitch. How many times have we seen England try to hold on to a slender lead by sitting deep and tackling in front of their own box? Well, yesterday, England held on to a slender lead by defending high up and tackling in front of Ecuador’s box. As a result, Ecuador couldn’t build up any momentum and we looked the better for it.
There are negatives – Robinson is falling short of his own high standards, as is Terry. Plus there is the yellow card situation – especially for JT. But overall, a good day at the office for England. And, even better, another performance that will make everyone hate us. Wir sind das neues Deutschland!
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Off!: Portugal 1 Holland 0
The evening match will decide England’s next opponents, so the nation watches with interest. Both teams have looked good in the groups, without being in any way outstanding.
Maniche gets the first goal 23 minutes in, a skilful shimmy in the box outwitting the Dutch defenders. Portugal look comfortable in an uneventful half, until just before the break Costinha receives a second yellow card and is sent off.
Holland return to the pitch looking a lot more positive. With the extra man they attack strongly and keep Portugal pinned in their own half. Maniche makes Edwin van der Saar work with a long-range shot, but Holland have nearly all of the chances.
They can’t score, however, and it all changes again when Figo is struck by the flailing arm of Khalid Boulahrouz, who is sent off having received his second yellow of the game. Replays suggest it is a harsh decision, with Figo’s reaction rather over the top, but it is ten against ten.
The referee is dishing out yellow cards without needing much encouragement, so it is a surprise that no-one is sent off when a brawl erupts between the teams. Normal service is resumed when Deco is given his marching orders five minutes later, apparently because of having his shirt pulled by Philip Cocu.
After this third dismissal the match calms down and football is played. It doesn’t last long though, Giovanni van Bronckhorst receiving the 16th yellow card and the 4th red of the match deep into injury time.
Amidst the madness Portugal hold on for the win, but will play England next week with two players missing.
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