Sunday 13 June 2010

Host Nation's World Cup Armchair Diary: Day Two

After a successful start to the first African World Cup with a compelling opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico (followed by a not so compelling stinker between France and Uruguay), it was time for the tournament to get real good for the armchair spectator: Day Two meant three games throughout a Saturday afternoon and evening, and this writer can confirm that London's West End was absolutely rammed throughout.

You'd have expected crowds to be minimal for the first two games in Group B before hitting fever pitch in the evening for England's bow against international rivals the United States. But the number of Korean, Greek, Argentine and Nigerian fans on hand in the bars of the big smoke was impressive to say the least - not to mention the amount of locals out to take full advantage of the perfect excuse for a boozy all-dayer.




Argentina, even after their least convincing qualification campaign in decades, were perceived as the clear favourites to win Group B prior to the tournament's start. This left the predictors among us choosing between 2004 European champions Greece, 2002 World Cup semi-finalists South Korea and home continent nation Nigeria as to who would be joining them in second place.

We were afforded an insight into the perceived battle for second place as the group got going Saturday lunchtime. We were also given our first goal in the opening 45 minutes as defender Lee Jung Soo converted a corner-like free kick with the headline-making defending skills of 2004 nowhere to be found.

South Korea proceeded to outclass and outfight their European opponents in a watchable encounter, coming close on several occasions to increasing their margin before eventually making it a goal seven minutes into each half when their skipper and by far most renowned player capitalised on woeful Greek defensive passing to surge forward and rubber-stamp what could be a vital three points.

The ball was won, taken forward and converted by the Manchester United midfielder in what was the complete solo goal, and while not as good as Tshabalala's tournament-opening effort and likely to be forgotten after four weeks of hopefully spectacular strikes, this was Park's moment and he took it with both hands.

The day's trend of early goals continued just after 3pm when Argentina, after spending five solid minutes tormenting Nigeria with dangerously smooth approach play, broke the deadlock from a well-devised set piece of all things. Who saw that coming?

Nonetheless, Gabriel Heinze's late dash into the box was both perfectly timed and poorly marked and his powerful tumbling header gave his side a deserved early lead.

While many would have been surprised and a little disappointed that the goals ended right there, it wasn't for the want of chances and entertaining approach play - particularly when Nigeria launched several second half salvos of their own and threatened to rock the boat with an equaliser.

It also begged the question: will Maradona's men be able to get away with as much loose defending as they had here in the event that they progress to the knockout stages as widely expected?

Today's two victorious sides now go on to battle on the next Group B matchday, which will surely benefit the pool's chances of providing an interesting final day battle to remain in SA.

Greece in particular are going to need to improve and fast if they're to rescue their chances of a final 16 berth, with their game against Nigeria on the 17th the only remaining opportunity before having to finish the group against the attacking force of Argentina. The Africans on the other hand can now tackle their remaining two group games knowing they have got the most difficult task of the three out of the way.

And this is a feeling that is no doubt shared by both England and the States after their 1-1 draw in Rustenberg - though after THAT howler by 'keeper Rob Green and plenty of missed opportunities to regain the lead, Fabio Capello's side will find themselves looking back to this fateful night should any catastrophes occur against Algeria or Slovenia.

The game started off well enough from a biased perspective as Capello's chosen XI showed immediate hunger and style, not too dissimilar from the Argentines hours prior, and made it three quick opening goals in three Saturday fixtures when a great team passing move led to newly-appointed skipper Steven Gerrard's cool finish.

The camera switched to Fabio's reaction, which was one of a strict headmaster noticing his class growing more and more boisterous. He wanted the players to calm down and get back to the task at hand. Unfortunately, they didn't - and perhaps couldn't.

Capello's selections since June 1st have raised a few eyebrows. While largely expected, the seven players omitted from the initial squad of thirty led to plenty of disillusion that in-form Scott Parker, Michael Dawson and Darren Bent were cut while the likes of Emile Heskey, Michael Carrick and Jamie Carragher were going.

And while Dawson got a reprieve after Rio's injury, it appears that it will take extreme circumstances for him to earn his first cap on the grandest stage after Ledley King yet again succumbed to injury and was replaced by a painfully off-the-rhythm Carragher.

With experience and name value seemingly overruling league form and youth across the board, it was an even bigger surprise to see James Milner handed a start at the expense of Joe Cole or Shaun Wright-Phillips. To make matters worse, a disappointing display from the Villa winger culminated in an early yellow card and a very early subbing off to make way for SWP.

One area in the side that appeared to have all right with the world was of course in goal. Rob Green had shaken off a lacklustre season at Upton Park to continue to look solid between the sticks for his nation and rightfully retained his place ahead of David James and Joe Hart. But it'll be a massive show of faith if he's kept there for the Algeria game on Friday.

His failure to hang onto Clint Dempsey's speculative long-range drive led to the ball trickling agonisingly over the line - and several delirious American drinkers to be hauled out of my pub of choice for incitement when it seemed like they were doing little more than celebrating their goal much in the way the England fans had with theirs.

But while the result has already punctured many spirits and kicked off the usual English negativity, it has to be emphasized that a draw in their toughest game against a much-improved American outfit should not under any circumstances affect the side's campaign - even if the result could easily have been a better one.

Regardless of the Algeria/Slovenia result, both the English and the Americans will expect to kick on from their first game in the altitude conditions and each collect victories against both of their unfancied remaining opponents.

What it does mean, however, is that if this scenario does indeed unfold then goal difference could see England settle for second place and a last 16 tie against the leaders of Group D.

Speaking of Group D and also of Algeria v Slovenia, I'll have my thoughts on another hat-trick of games here on Host Nation tomorrow! But until then, a recap of Saturday's games and also a listing of the best games and goals so far:

Group B, 12:30 GMT
South Korea 2-0 Greece (Jung-Soo Lee 7, Ji-Sung Park 52) - Host Rating: 6/10

Group B, 15:00 GMT
Argentina 1-0 Nigeria (Heinze 6) - Host Rating: 6.5/10

Group C, 19:30 GMT
England 1-1 United States (Gerrard 4; Dempsey 40) - Host Rating 6/10

THE GAMES SO FAR:

  1. South Africa v Mexico, Group A, June 11 (1-1) - 7.5
  2. Argentina v Nigeria, Group B, June 12 (1-0) - 6.5
  3. England v United States, Group C, June 12 (1-1) - 6
  4. South Korea v Greece, Group B, June 12 (2-0) - 6
  5. France v Uruguay, Group A, June 11 (0-0) - 3
THE GOALS SO FAR:
  1. Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico, June 11) 9
  2. Ji-Sung Park (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 7.5
  3. Gerrard (England v United States, June 12) 7.5
  4. Heinze (Argentina v Nigeria, June 12) 7
  5. Jung-Soo Lee (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 6
  6. Marquez (Mexico v South Africa, June 11) 5
  7. Dempsey (United States v England, June 12) 5

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