- Host Brazil won their opening game against worthy opponents Croatia aided and abetted by a naïve Japanese referee.
- Forty seven goals have been scored in the opening 15 matches, which is the biggest number at this stage since 1958.
- Eight substitutes have made an impact on proceedings by scoring for their countries.
- Five teams- Belgium, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and Holland achieved comeback wins.
- England outwitted by a pragmatic Italy
- Uruguay, semi-finalists in 2010, grabbed the lead against Cost Rica only to succumb to the minnows 1-3.
- Despite ominously taking the lead holders Spain were thrashed 5-1 by Holland with Van Persie and Robben each scoring twice. Spain’s goal keeper Casillas had a nightmare.
- European giants Germany and France trounced their opponents 4-0 and 3-0 respectively.
- USA produced a gutsy performance against technically superior Ghana to win 2-1.
Unless I’m clearly mistaken the current Brazil team is not as powerful or intimidating as some of its predecessors. They appear to have only one world class player in Neymar. Their goal keeper Caesar was playing in the Championship in England last season for QPR, and could prove to be their undoing. They were very lucky to beat Croatia who must be aggrieved by some of the decisions, not least the penalty award, of the theatrical Japanese referee.
USA are arguably in the “group of death,” but got off to a flying start against technically superior opponents Ghana by scoring after 32 seconds. The fact they held onto the lead until the 60th minute speaks volumes for their grit and determination. Even more impressive was coming back to score the winner late on from substitute defender Johnny “football” Brooks. They could take advantage of a vulnerable Portugal team who were thrashed 4-0 by Germany and secure a place in the last sixteen.
Two of the biggest surprises of the opening games involved holders Spain and Uruguay who were semi-finalists in 2010. Spain grabbed an early lead against Holland and were in cruise mode until they conceded an equalizer just before half time. Spanish goal keeper Casillas had a bewildered look about him for most of the second half, and was culpable for at least two of the four goals that Holland scored in that period. Uruguay also scored first against un fancied Costa Rica, but substandard defending (maybe it was arrogance) allowed their opponents to run away with the game 3-1.
I didn’t quite understand the reaction of the English press to England’s defeat to Italy. Most of the newspapers agreed that England played very well and were optimistic about their remaining two matches. To my mind they showed some potential, but they were weak in so many areas. The two fullbacks are so vulnerable defensively that the wide midfielders spend so much time helping them that they are not much of an attacking force. England allowed 37 year old Pirlo to run the game when it cried out for somebody to stand on his toes and nullify his contribution. Rooney provided the cross for England’s goal, but proved once again on the big stage he is steeped in mediocrity. Nineteen year old Raheem Sterling was one of the few bright sparks for England, but the back four, usually England’s strength, worry me. Balotelli scored with a routine header at the back post with neither central defender close to him.
Dark horses, Belgium, made heavy weather against Algeria, who scored first, but the mussels men came through with two late goals from substitutes Fellaini and Mertens. Belgium were accused of lacking passion and tempo for most of the match by the football pundits, but I thought the lack of width in attack was proving to be an albatross around their neck until the substitutions. They can play a lot better which could be ominous for the other teams.
Great post. I will be going through a few of these issues as well..