Live The Pitch

With fair play always at the forefront of any FIFA competition, today’s Group A games were played simultaneously. We had Mexico and Uruguay on one channel and France and South Africa on another.For those of us who want to take in every minute of World Cup action as possible it’s a hectic time. Just as the teams on the field I am constantly trying to get updates from each game to see how group play will end up.

A goal from Luis Suarez allowed Uruguay to win Group A and they will play the runner-up of Group B when the knockout stage games begin June 26. In the other game South Africa Beat a disgruntled French squad 2-1. Both South Africa and Mexico were tied with four points, but Mexico advanced on goal differential to play the winner of Group B.

For the French they stayed true to form by getting a red card in the 25th minute and playing the rest of the game down a man. Then when the match was over French coach Raymond Domenech continued to give South African coach Carlos Parreira a tongue lashing, further embarrassing his country. Just get on the first flight back France and shut the hell up! I for one have heard enough out of this joke of a national soccer team.

In the first match of the day, Diego Maradona’s Argentina squad defeated South Korea 4-1 behind a beautiful hat trick from Gonzalo Higuain.  South Korea scored an own goal in the 16th minute to start the scoring for Argentina before Higuain would take over.  The Real Madrid striker would score in the 33rd , 76th, and 80th minute to lead his country to victory.  Higuain is the first player to net a hat trick since 2002.

South Korea scored their only goal in the 45th minute when Lee Chung-yong punished Martin Demechelis for his huge mistake in front of his own goal.  Argentina dominated the match in all aspects and only allowed South Korea 2 shots on goal.  Argentina look like a major contender to win the tournament.

In the second match of the day, Greece defeated Nigeria 2-1.  Nigeria took the lead in the 16th minute when Kalu Uche struck a great free kick from about 40 yards out that confused the Greek goalkeeper and went into the net untouched.  With Nigeria controlling the match throughout the first half  things turned to the worse when Sani Kaita idiotically kicked a Greek player to recieve a straight red card in the 33rd minute.  It was the right decision by the referee to issue the red after seeing that Kaita deliberately kicked him.

Greece would then take over the match with their man advantage and score their first ever World Cup goal in the 44th minute when Dimitrios Salpingidis found the back of the net after his shot deflected off a Nigerian defender.

Vasilis Torosidis pounced on a terrible mistake by Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to get the match winner in the 71st minute.  Enyeama had a great performance in the match but couldn’t handle the weak shot from distance that he fumbled to Torosidis.

Nigeria have been eliminated from the tournament with two losses now.  Greece will need some help to advance, but are surely still in the mix for a spot in the knockout stage.

In the final match, underdogs Mexico defeated France 2-0.  Mexico dominated a lifeless French team in all facets of the game.  France failed to combine together and looked like they did not want to be there.  Mexico got both goals in the second half by two substitutes.

The first goal was scored by Javier Hernandez in the 64th minute when he found himself in behind the French defense as he beat the offside trap.  Hernandez would take a few touches around French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to pass it into a wide open net.

The game was put out of reach by Mexico in the 79th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick that Cuauhtemoc Blanco slotted in.  It was a good call by the referee as Eric Albidal clearly took out Pablo Berrera inside the box.

This is a monumental victory for Mexico on this great stage.  Mexico now have the inside track to get to the next round and if they continue to perform this way they can go a long way.  France on the other hand will need a lot of help to make the knockout stage.

In the opening match of the 2010 World Cup the South Africans were lucky to get out of the first half in a scoreless tie against Mexico. The host nation could have easily been down 2-0 if not for some solid South African goal tending and several blundered chances by the Mexicans.

The Mexican squad started the game with a lot of pressure and in the 2nd minute Dos Santos missed an opportunity to go ahead when his shot was deflected over the end line. Unfortunately, this was the theme for the first half for the Mexican squad as they just could not find the back of the net.

The second half began with both teams searching for that crucial first goal. South Africa would strike first after some terrific one touch passing in the midfield and a great ball slotted to the left-wing. After receiving the ball in space, Siphiwe Tshabalala sent a left-footed rocket to the right upper 90 in the 54th minute.

In the 60th minute Dos Santos for Mexico responded with a left-footed rocket of his own to the upper 90 but South African keeper Itumeleng Khune was up to the challenge and preserved the lead as well as the momentum in the match.

After a few subs Mexico seemed to get their composure back in the 75th minute. Then in the 80th minute Mexico’s Marques scored on a helpless Khune as the South African defense was nonexistent due to a failed off-side trap.

In the 90th minute Katlego Mphela of South Africa missed the chance of a life time to win the match when his shot was sent off the near post. Khune set an amazing ball 80 yards down the field as was the case several times during the contest, but the home team couldn’t capitalize.

Overall Mexico totally dominated the possession of the ball but South Africa would not just lie down on their home turf. Both teams could have walked away with the victory in this match so a draw and a point for each team seems fair.

In the final match of opening day, France and Uruguay would play to a 0-0 draw.  France definitely were the better team throughout the match but could not break through the Uruguay back line.

The Uruguayan defense led by Diego Godin and Mauricio Victorino were rock solid all match and earned the tie for their country.  The match never opened up and there was rarely space in the opponents half of the pitch for both teams.

Uruguay lost Nicolas Lodeiro to a red card in the 81st minute but France couldn’t capitalize with the advantage.  Overall chances were sparse, but the match still had a decent flow to it.   

Both teams seemed to not take many chances going forward with neither wanting to concede a goal.

France supporters will not be happy with the teams performance and there have to be question marks with the starting 11.  Flourent Malouda was a huge surprise to not be in the starting 11.  Malouda has been one of the best players in the world this year for Chelsea.

With all four teams still in the mix after day one this should turn out to be an excellent group with drama coming down to the last match.

U.S. National Team skipper Bob Bradley announced his roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Mexico.  The match will take place Aug. 12 at El Azteca Stadium.  This will be a tough match for the U.S.  as they have never won in Mexico City.  The squad Bradley has named to play in this epic match-up looks extremely strong.

On the defensive side, Bradley has included Oguchi Onyewu, Johnathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Demerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Johnathan Bornstein and Chad Marshall.  With the U.S. playing a flat-back four we should see Onyewu and Demerit in the middle with Bocanegra and Spector out wide.

In the midfield, Bradley has assembled an extremely strong core of players.  The players are Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Jose Francisco Torres, Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey and Benny Feilhaber.  Landon Donovan is listed as a forward but will probably line up in the midfield.   The U.S. usually takes the field with four midfielders which would almost surely include Bradley in the center-mid alongside Clark with Dempsey and  Donovan on the wings.

Up top, Bradley has his choice of excellent forwards.  Josy Altidore leads the way alongside Brian Ching, Connor Casey and Charlie Davies.  Bradley will almost surely start Altidore and Ching up top against Mexico.  With his excellent speed look for Davies to be a second-half sub if needed.

As a U.S. fan I am excited about the roster Bradley has put together.  It’s about time Bradley realized Demarcus Beasley, Frankie Hedjuk and Heath Pearce don’t belong on the field.  Lets hope the U.S. can at least manage a draw in the frantic atmosphere that is El Azteca.

GO USA!