World Cup Day 10 stuff

[Jejima]

For some reason, (maybe having woken up to two upsets today) I have a feeling that today could also be full of upsets, but the pragmatist in me will try to view these matches more rationally.

Japan vs Croatia - This is really a 'must win' for both of these two teams as they both lost their openers, and a draw might not be enough (especially in Japan's case!). I can see Japan wilting again (interesting how Japan has managed to get its matches at a suitable time for their viewers back home.) in the heat. 2-1 to Croatia.

Brazil vs Australia. The Australians are as likely as any other 'non-major' team to cause an upset against the Brazilians, as they have that kind of attitude. A draw would be a great result for them, but I heard rumours that Guus is likely to be resting his yellow carded players from the first game against Japan, to ensure they will be available for the final Croatia match, so it might not be the strongest team going out. Besides Brazil does not do upsets (and they must surely be spurred on by the recent masterclass given by their continental rivals), so 3-0 to Brazil. (I wonder which team will be playing in yellow?)

South Korea vs France.... Tricky, tricky, tricky. France must surely perform better than in their match against the Swiss. But it has been over 360 minutes of competitive WC final matches since France last scored a goal. The jinx seems to have stuck. Korea would be very happy with a draw here. 0-0 then :-P

[Kintamayama]

Japan-Croatia= 0-1

Brazil-Australia=1-1

South Korea-France=0-3

12-9-5 so far.

[Koriyama]

Japan-Croatia= 1-3

Brazil-Australia=4-0

South Korea-France=0-1 :-P

[Gernobono]

Japan-Croatia 0:3

Brazil-Australia 5:0

South Korea-France 1:2

9-5-11 (2*) now

*got the portugal-match with the correct score yesterday

[Jakusotsu]

Japan vs Croatia - only thing I can say is: I'll be there! (Taking a photo...)

The town was already filled with chequered fans yesterday and just a few Nihonjin sprinkled in between. Watching a Croatian and a Japanese guy shaking hands and hugging each other made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Sakana]

Japan - Croatia 2-2

Brazil - Australia 2-1

South Korea - France 0-5 (dreams are allowed in this game ? (Taking a photo...))

Yesterday : 1-2

Overall : 8-9-8 **

[Hakuyobaku]

japan-croatia 1-3

Brazil-Australia 2-0

S.Korea - France 0-3

S.Korea were downright unconvincing and pretty much weak against all but coachless Togo. Who were the better side before the red card. Save for the goalkeeper, indeed, but that goes to all african teams. They simply don't have class goalies. Don't tell me about Joao Ricardo from Angola he simply has no idea whatsoever when the ball is in the air. Ghanese Keeper is ok i guess, but didnt get much play in games against the Italians and Czechs

[Imumaru]

Yesterday

2-1 * (Italy-USA)

Overall

14-12 ****

Today

Japan 1-1 Croatia

Brazil 2-0 Australia

France 2-1 South Korea

Have a good day (Taking a photo...)

[Takamueda]

Japan-Croatia 0:2

Brazil-Australia 1:1

Korea-France 1:0

[Guest iwajima]

ARGENTINA ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Taking a photo...)

[Taka]

I saw plenty of problems for Brazil in their unconvincing victory over Croatia and perhaps not suprisingly, just like he has been at Real Madrid the past few seasons, I find that Ronaldo is in large parts the root of those problems.

Ronaldinho no doubt is the key player, best in the world at the moment and at Barca he enjoys the luxury of having skilled offensive players moving with great energy and intention around him constantly. Eto, Deco, Messi or Larsson consistently provide Ronaldinho with plenty of assistance. For Brazil while on paper it looks similar, I think the situation at the moment is somewhat different.

We have Ronaldo who is going nowhere and looks like dying dinosaur. Adriano his partner up front is certainly better but unlike the forwards at Barca he isn't very good at the wing thus NOT providing any extra space for Ronaldinho. Then there is Kaka who I think, no matter how lethal he definitely is, still is a player who in my opinion often makes the wrong decisions. So what Ronaldinho basically has providing the needed space for him are the two aging all time great backs rushing forward.

Behind him we find Ze Roberto, who does have considerable skill, but is mostly covering for those two (the fullbacks) and while he "one on one" still is a very good player he certainly doesn't have the playmaking skills of neither a Xavi or Iniesta at Barca.

Ronaldinho then was often left with Carlos who when Ronaldinho recieved the ball on the left wing, as he does mostly for Barca as well, would move into the center of the field where he basically can do one thing only which of course is to shoot. The pure speed rushes into the penalty area he used to pull off I personally think he can rarely do anymore. At least not against strong defensive players like Croatia's. Therefore Ronaldinho mostly eventually move in while Carlos move back out (did Ronaldinho even play him once? Does he ever play Van Bronckhorst at Barca? No cause there are better players and not least better PLAYS to make elsewhere, SO Ronaldinho moves IN) and the result as I saw it against Croatia was that it was way too easy for the Croats to concentrate "almost" solely on Ronaldinho, swarm him and largely neutralize him.

I'm not saying all countries will be able to do this. Tudor, Simic and Kovac are all really good defensively but I think it is something that certainly will be possible for a lot of teams unless some changes are made to the brazilian team or of course Ronaldo finally finds his form.

I wonder if Australia can do what Croatia did though. They're certainly well coached but they're also naturally aggressive and I don't think that disciplined. Can even Hiddink get them into a strong 4-5-1 where each and every player remains in HIS zone (if they play pressure football like they did against Japan they could get toyed with) for the entire game, I doubt it.

Edited June 18, 2006 by Taka

[Imumaru]

1ST match

JAPAN 0-0 CROATIA

No goals

2nd match

BRAZIL 2-0 CROATIA

Goals:

Adriano for Brazil (49') 1-0

Fred for Brazil (89') 2-0

3rd match :

FRANCE 1-1 SOUTH KOREA

Goal:

Henry for France (9') 1-0

Park for South Korea (81') 1-1

It's the first goal of France since July 12nd, 1998!, and 369 minutes.

SK's goal is very lucky !!!

France is the first team witch makes two equalizer in two match in this WC.

Edited June 18, 2006 by Imumaru

[Sakana]

South Korea wasn't lucky, they played football from 1st minute to the last... Poor France... How can we reach the second round ?! Go back home before match against Togo would be the best idea. -_-

[ilovesumo]

Poor Japan...

[Kaiomitsuki]

Poor France... How can we reach the second round ?!

France will finish second of this group and will reach the second round

If Tomorrow Switzerland will win against Togo... and will win against South Korea friday...

France will win against Togo next friday...

so the final ranking will be

1 Suisse 7pts

2 France 5 pts (Spain-France in the second round !!!)

3 South Korea 4 pts

4 Togo 0 pt

If tomorrow Switzerland win against Togo and friday tied South Korea... France can reach the second round with a victory against Togo with more than 2 goals...

[Jejima]

Just two correct results for me today, so I am now 17-12**

[Mark Buckton]

France will win against Togo next friday

I remember a Friday 4 years ago with Sierra Leone (was it?) not following the script.

By the way they are playing, the French need to rely on others to take them through and if (another if) they go through, the second round could well be time to once more shrug the Henry shrug. (where the neck disappears into shoulders and the hands go up as if to start praying - perhaps a good idea after all)

[Kintamayama]

All three wrong-12-12-5..

[Gernobono]

South Korea wasn't lucky, they played football from 1st minute to the last... Poor France... How can we reach the second round ?! Go back home before match against Togo would be the best idea. -_-

south korea WAS lucky, i think.....they had 2 !!!! shots on the goal and one luckily was to score a goal.....admittedly france did poorly in scoring goals.....i just remember viera's shot into the clouds....standing alone 18 meters directly in fron tof the goal...somehow i think it is not justified that korea got the equalizer, but on the other hand it might be ok, because france did not do much to score a second goal...

still i think france will advance in one of the "easier" groups....

10-7-11 (2) now

[Jakusotsu]

It was fantastic! Not the game (Japan exhausted again after 60 minutes and Croatia unable to take advantage), but the whole experience with fans from both countries everywhere cheering for each other was just great. A truly global event, and I guess the biggest hugging of Nippon and Hrvatska ever.

And now excuse me, I need to nurse my truly global hangover...

[Sakana]

2-1 for this 10th day

so : overall : 10-10-8 **

Korea scored because they pushed France under pressure. At a moment, Korea had near from 65% of ball's possession ! It's normal if they scored. It was like against Greece in Euro'04 : under pressure and goal against...

French were "dead" : except Ribery who was "fresh"

Ok, referee forgot 1 goal, but, in the first half, there were lots of opportunities to score again and again...

And, now, french people are playing their favourite game : "we have to win with 2 goals against Togo... or to do X or Y and Z..." I like French Team, but I think it's the real end for lots of players. (I sign everything now, eyes closed, if it could push them to second round but... -_-)

Edited June 19, 2006 by Sakana

[Hakuyobaku]

i had one correct, but the score 2-0 was exact. lost count on overall tho, not that i mind

[sekihiryu]

Just two correct results for me today, so I am now 17-12**

I am in a tipping comp. 20-9 at the moment. Not shabby for a once every 4 years soccer watcher, if you cant beat' em join 'em I say.......

[Kintamayama]

Just two correct results for me today, so I am now 17-12**

I am in a tipping comp. 20-9 at the moment. Not shabby for a once every 4 years soccer watcher, if you cant beat' em join 'em I say.......

Where have you been posting your guesses?? I haven't seen many of them here..

[Jakusotsu]

Some pics from last Sunday:

The guy with the headband was actually speaking Japanese fluently.

I was trying to draw some attention with this shirt...

...but not in this sector: