World Cup Between 19 and 26th of June, 2010

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After the brilliant start by Brazil and Argentina, I had to take a break, as my friend said, to be in suspended animation state, alongside some of other equally loyal followers of Jogo Bonito. Four days of revelry, where the matches were seen, assimilated and debated upon in various stages of self induced comatose, made me less confident on saying about them, and far less on writing. I was seeing Brazil win their second match in a brilliant fashion, and suddenly it is all hush for “any team other than Brazil” fans. Luis Fabiano scored twice - a fine first-half strike, then a second goal which Elano slotted in ahead of Didier Drogba's headed consolation. Kaka was sent off. Brazil missed him in the final match with Portugal. France was showing signs of tension, and suddenly all those broke lose, and national pride was put aside for personal prides. Last editions champions, and still looking like that, Italy was forever finding it difficult to score. They were making my predictions go awry. I should have been more confident about my opinions rather than about the opinions of azzuri fans. Well, I was also wrong. Cote D'Ivoire didn't get through, because I didn't want cocky Ronaldo to have the fun. Biased. And the great chokers, Furio Roja – Spanish team, also failed to impress, barely scrapping through. Anyway, rest of the matches were mainly dysfunctional. Brazil versus Portugal was a drab affair, with Brazil not knowing why they were not being allowed to score a goal in the first half, and going all frustrated in the second half. Portugal did not want to win, neither wanted to lose, they just played on. A boring game from Ronaldo as usual. Why is this guy not making his critics eat their words like Messi. Lionel Messi strives hard, and with captains arm band in the final group match, he was trying to make it right for his countrymen. This is where the glory of world cup comes. If shock exits are there, then their absence will be made up by shock presence of Slovakia. Slovaks played brilliantly to reach final 16. Switzerland after shocking Spain went back to their goggle scorelines, which made them see the door. Spain topped the group on goal difference, while Chile finished 2^nd. A fine line up of matches to come.

South Korea and Uruguay at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, June 26, 2010

The first of Knock out match between Uruguay and South Korea was simply outstanding. The Korean conceded a goal in the first half itself, and from then on started putting pressure on a Uruguayan team which was content with playing for 1-0 win. It started to rain too, heavily, making life difficult for the goalies first, and the players later. Koreans made it 1-1 with twenty minutes to go, with a great set piece and poor goal keeping. A long through ball, missed by a weak finish by Lee Dong-Gook(i guess). A chance missed, which might not come again. Koreans are making fun of Uruguayan defense, making outrageous passes, splitting the defense and even making Homer Simpson in Nike ad look better than the Uruguayan defense. Suddenly Uruguay wakes up, starts attacking again, though they take some time to get into an attacking mode. Ten minutes later, a brilliant right foot shot from Suares(who scored the first goal also) curves into the far post, hits the inside of bar and goes in. 2-1. Korea is one goal behind again, and with another ten minutes to go, they start attacks afresh. Another through ball, Terrible football, Lee Dong-gook is one on one after accepting Kim's pass with a cute first touch, but his shot is scuffed and straight at Muslera. The wet ball slips through, Lugano manages to get back and scramble clear. Final minutes with 3 extra minutes for stoppage time. Koreans scramble for an equaliser. Duri tries everything, his impatience seen in each throw taken. There is no imagination, only plain attack. Forlan controls the center while Lugano holds fort. In the end, Uruguay wins even though heart goes out to the way Koreans played.

Uruguay 2(Suares) – South Korea 1(Lee Chungyong)

Italy V/s Paraguay; June 14, 2010, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

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Italy versus Paraguay. World champions Italy came into this world cup with an aged squad with as many as 9 players from last world cup winning squad playing this year also. They don't have a play maker like Totti. Still, they were supposed to win this match easily.

The match started with Italians raiding the Paraguayan goal post again and again. The Paraguayan defense was up to it, taking the ball from Italians and firing it back in counter attack. Both teams played aggressively, all players played great, even the miss timed passes were over looked because the pass was intersected beautifully and counter attack launched immediately. Around 20 minutes into the game, torrential rain started to pour down in cape town, and immediately, the game changed into different mode. Paraguay started making good attacks into Italian defense. One particular ball which was given to Montevilo was lost due to lack of confidence in the player. Pepe played great. And then Italian opera started. The Italian players started to tumble down on imaginary feet. The Paraguayans rather than worrying about this started playing good football. If Italians got ball, they came on the ball like a pack of wolves, and squeezed the ball from the Italians. Paraguay got a free kick at 40 yards and Torres gave a good curling ball into the penalty area, where the Alcarez out jumped an old Cannavaro, who I remember heading off even more dangerous free kicks in last world cup, and the ball went inside the goal post, and Buffon could only stand like Homer Simpson in Nike ad. Italians started to worry but slowly and surely, Paraguay took the game from Italians. Marcello Lippi started to look dejected in the box. The half time whistle came and Italians needed that break. Paraguayan players got together in a team huddle and looked forward for the win.

After the half time, a charged Italian team started their counter attacks, with Lippi changing Buffon with Marchetti, and getting in Cameronesi, to get a more sweeping attacks along with Zambarotta. A set piece 20 minutes into the second half, taken quickly by Pepe found a glaring hole in penalty box which was taken happily by De Rossi, and Italy equalized. Now it was Paraguay's turn. They decided to bring in experienced striker Roque Santa Cruz to try and get one more inside Italy's bars. Paraguayan defenders especially Valdes, Bonet and Morell had tough time checking Zambarotta and Pepe, while Vera tried the famed Italian defense. Caceres was living dangerously while getting a yellow card, and saving one too many potential goals for Italians. Both coaches wanted a win, bringing in their in form strikers – Di Natale for Italy and Cardozo for Paraguay. The final minutes were going to be exciting. Villar, captain and goal keeper of Paraguay, was not going to make anymore mistakes taking in all the balls firmly in both hands, denying Pepe time and again, both with set piece and run ins. Suddenly Italians were looking dangerous. Di Natale and Iaquinta in right and Pepe and Cameronesi in left started making Paraguay look very pedestrian. The slow starters were fully charged and looking for a win, rather than a draw. Paraguay seemed to look for the long whistle to blow. And it blew, along with a sigh of relief from Paraguayan players and supporters.

The best player of the match was Pepe, though Di Natale would have been equally impressive had he been in the starting eleven. Villar was good, except for that one moment, which denied his country of win, instead of this draw.

Italy 1(De Rossi) – Paraguay 1(Alcarez)