Sport Today

24 June 2006

GERMANY                         2-0                     SWEDEN
Podolski 4, 12

Germany were rewarded for an aggressive start with two early goals from 'Das
Wunderkid' Lukas Podolski. Klose headed down a longball out of defence to
Podolski and he laid it back to Ballack, Ballack hit a first time pass to Klose
who brushed aside two Swedish defenders with ridiculous ease but as he was about
to pull the trigger Isaksson dived at his feet to block, the ball broke to
Podolski and he fired at an empty net, via Lucic's hilarious spectacular diving
header. The defending on Germany's second goal was even worse. Three players
tracked Klose as he edged towards the right hand side of the box, Podolski ran
into the space, Klose gave him the ball via a slight deflection and he fired
past Isaksson. The ref blew for a foul against Lucic following a tussle with
Klose, they were both pulling each others shirts. Two German players (Frings and
?) then talked the ref into giving Lucic a second yellow, and Podolski patted
the ref on the back after Lucic walked. An absolute disgrace.

Larsson went down theatrically in the box under minimal contact from Mertesacker
but the ref pointed to the spot. 10 years ago it would be unthinkable to award a
penalty against Germany, how times have changed. Sweden's coach, Lars Lagerback,
then made one the dumbest decisions of all time. With Larsson ready to take the
penalty he decided this would be a good time to make a substitution. Needless to
say after Wilhelmsson came on for Jonson Larsson blazed the penalty into orbit.
Obviously there's not guarantee Larsson would have scored even if the
substitution hadn't been made but we've seen in the past how easily some players
can lose their concentration in the built-up to a spot kick. Isaksson tipped a
stinging drive from Ballack onto a post and there was a major lull in the play
until late chances for Ballack and Schneider.

Attendance : 66,000
Red Card : Lucic 35 (Sweden)
Assists : n/a, n/a

ARGENTINA                       2-1                     MEXICO
Borgetti 10 (og)                                        Marquez 6
Rodriguez 98

Mendez flicked on Pardo's free kick and Marquez slid in at the back post to slam
a volley into the room of the net. Borgetti, under pressure from Crespo, headed
Riquelme's corner against Crespo's high boot, the ball rebounded off his head
and into the net. Crespo should have given Argentina the lead following a lovely
flowing move but having ran onto Cambiasso's pass he lifted the ball over the
advancing Sanchez and wide of a post. Heinze escaped with a yellow card for a
lunging last man foul on Fonseca, having lost possession with a terrible first
touch on a pass from his goalkeeper.

The Argentineans continued to ride their luck, Morales found Borgetti with a
fantastic pass, he controlled the ball on his chest just as he was about to
shoot Sorin leapt in the air and kicked him in the face, catching the ball a
split second before catching Borgetti, clear as day penalty and dangerous play,
nothing given. Argentina immediately broke and Saviola was denied by an
excellent save from Sanchez. Fonseca missed an easy header with a weak leap and
Messi had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside minutes before full time.

Sorin hit a deep crossfield pass over to Maxi Rodriguez who was standing on the
right hand edge of the box, Rodriguez juggled the ball off his chest, took two
steps forward then hit a magnificent left foot volley, the ball flew through the
air before dropping into the left corner of the net. As good as Cole's goal
against Sweden and a goal worthy of winning any match.

I think the refereeing has been of a decent standard in this tournament but
Massimo Busacca and his linesman were terrible. Argentina's quality was the
difference overall but they did get the breaks from the officials, they won't
against Germany.

Attendance : 43,000
Assists : Mendez, n/a, Sorin

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Haven't had a chance to read the game thread yet, but what a fantastic
game.

--
World Cup 2006 spreadsheet:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/
--

If it was dangerous play, an indirect free-kick should have been given, not
a penalty.

Of course it is only as long dangverous play as no contact is made -
once contact is made dangerous play becomes a foul.

Ciao,
        SM
--
http://www.gourockviews.co.uk
Christian Ziege: "Vom HSV lernen hei?t Siegen lernen."
R. Fowler: "Sure, I was an Evertonian, but I wasn't stupid: deep
down [..] I always knew that Liverpool were the better side.

In your parallel universe?

Max

Benny ha escrito:

If this was not disgraceful it would be hilarious.  Podolski patting
the ref as saying:

- "Well done mister, you are a good chap, you stick to the script".

Juan Vazquez

P.S.: I didn't actually see the players asking for the yellow, but I
have proposed elsewhere that "asking for a yellow" should be rewarded
with a yellow to the "asking player".

Did you see the game?

The ref wasn't going to book and send off Lucic until the two Germans
got in his face brandishing imaginary cards.

If he had been going to, he would have done so immediately after
blowing for the foul.

--
James Farrar

You need to watch the scene again. The ref. was nowhere near even thinking
about a yellow card right after the whistle. Not until the Germans approached
the ref. did he decide to bring up the card.

--
/Thomas Michanek
WC on a single sheet: http://web.comhem.se/~u13220996/WC06/
(updated Sunday June 25)

It is one of the most disgraceful,ugly  and unsporting elements to have
emerged in the last few years,not a yellow but a Red! instant cure trust
me..the same for divers and injury feigners...buthave FIFA and the Refs the
courage for such actions????? I rest my case :-(
--
David

"That Damn Butterfly"

I suppse it's ok, but I can't help but wonder about these officials who
are so easily led like children.

I watched it again. The ref clearly was thinking about a yellow card.
As a matter of fact he was quite sure to sent Teddy off. Just watch the
slow motion, please.

Max

Yes it was, and that sort of thing drives me mad. He did the same in a
crucial second league derby with Cologne against my club, Alemannia
Aachen. Nonetheless, I would like to take up the cudgels for Podolski.
He is a good chap but he needs to grow up. Here in Germany, he is famous
for his childish behaviour and his lack of intelligence. (The latter
goes for Frings, too, whom I know very well, since he was bred at
Alemannia Aachen). Poldi is a simple backstreet boy with a head full of
silly ideas. He needs to develop a personality and someone who is
bringing him up to good sportsmanship. Then he will have everything to
become a great player.

Cheers,

Ingo

Fully agree.

Larsson knows he only has himself to blame.

Man of the match was a close call between Klose and Isaksson.

Germany was impressive, they dominated this game, were tremendous moving the ball around
at will and threatened often, but next time they need to pass up a few of the long
range shot opportunities and get into the box. The four or five times they tried that they either
scored a goal or forced a great save from Issakson.

\> advancing Sanchez and wide of a post. Heinze escaped with a yellow card for a

That could have been a red, though the ref pointed to the second Argentinean defender
who was level with Heinz, but in my view probably did not have the angle to prevent
a one-on-one with the goalie.

Both right and left back were the weakest links for Argentina IMO.

Did you see a replay of this? I never did. All I saw was the live shot, and there
it seemed like Sorin kicked the ball into Borgetti's face and it  bounced to Abbondanzieri.
But  I did wonder what really happened there. Did you get to see a shot from behind the goal line?

Yep. This is where Mexico got a break from the officials. In fairness it was a hard call to get right.
Especially since it would have decided the game. The linesman just didn't have the guts.

Better than Cole's goal in my opinion. Cole's goal was a top 5-10 in the WC, but in Maxi R's goal
there is no question about the goalie misplaying it even the slightest bit.

I disagree. There were many games with much worse refereeing. The missed calls
could have gone either way (though, I admit I did not have a good view of the Borgetti incident).

Certainly not. It's an enticing matchup, but it could end up being a tense game without
many chances. I hope it lives up to the billing.

Erdal

Which is exactly why I don't like his move to Bayern. He would make an
excellent ersatz-Rooney for any decent EPL side, in more than one
respect.

Cheers
Roman

Two quick comments on yesterday's games.

Sweden got about as far as it could with its team. Had the whole team
been up to the standards of Larson and Ljundberg (and a fit
Ibrahimovic), it would have been a competitor for the title. Besides,
this Germany seems unforgiving. They are shooting from practically any
opening, they are dangerous. If Ballack had had a better day (inches,
not yards), it could have been a catastrophic result against Sweden. I
can't blame the great Larsson more than any other idiot who misses a
penalty. It was his day to miss, and he did. He joins Baggio, Riquelme,
Figo and other greats, so he's in good company.

Argentina vs. Mexico was, to my mind, a dud of a game. Argentina played
well below its expected standard, moved too slowly, announced passes,
and lacked depth. Crespo, of course, scored his goal. Ultimately,
Argentina did deserve to win, but Mexico did not make it very easy. An
improvisatory Scaloni replacing the awful Coloccini replacing the very
ordinary Burdisso was not pretty to watch: Zanetti could have been
included without hurting this team... The team cannot play  forever at
the pace of Riquelme. If Cambiasso is busy chasing opponents (and he
usually is), somebody else needs to move the ball besides Riquelme.
Yesterday, Argentina looked like an ordinary team. Maxi Rodrguez,
considered until right before the WC as also an ordinary player, is
showing what it takes to become something better. His winning goal was
spectacular. He wants to win, he puts the necessary hormonal component
and he is not so bad technically.

Argentina faces a very difficult ordeal against Germany. I fear for
them. Is Pekerman finally going to include Messi from the beginning?
The kid has to have a real chance. He is a devil with the ball and the
slowish German central defenders might well foul him near or inside the
area. A lighning fast dribbler and short passer like him should not sit
in the bench. The Burdisso-Coloccini-Scaloni situation will remain: I
am sure Klinsmann has noticed the weakness and will direct play to that
wing.

We have an interesting quarter-final game ahead of us.

Best,

SMT