World Cup Game #22

This was never going to be a pretty game with both teams relying on direct, tough, power football but it was certainly exciting. When the Slovenians took a two goal lead, it looked like it was all over but the Americans battled back to draw the game. Indeed, the US should have won it with an injury time equalizer but it was inexplicably disallowed by the referee. This was a hard tough game but enjoyable.

World Cup Game #23

If other top tier teams like Spain, France and Germany had had bad games, England topped them all off with a horror of a game, and yet still managed a draw where those other three had all lost. The Algerians ran and ran all game and came damn close to pulling off a win and yet England some how kept them scoreless whilst themselves failing to send more than a couple of significant shots the way of the Algerians. Every alleged star of the England team rightly walked off the pitch with their heads held low whilst the Algerians could come off knowing they had played some very good football and could certainly claim the honours despite the 0-0 scoreline.

World Cup Game #24

This was another game wrecked by an unjustified sending off but a great game all the same. It finished 1-1 between Australia and Ghana but ten-man Australia recovered some pride with a strong fighting display against a rampant Ghana who raided and raided to no avail. The Australians though came very close on a number of occasions to grabbing a winner but it was not to be. Still, this was an exciting game with both sides throwing everything they had into the game. Who knows how it may have come out it had Kewell not got sent off so early in the game?

World Cup Game #25

The clash between Netherlands and Japan was a game of contrasting halves with the first half full of tight football from both sides, resulting in them cancelling each out to all intents and purposes. In the second half, both sides sprung to life and the Dutch got the jump, getting the solitary goal of the game. Japan then threw everything they had at the Dutch but never got the decisive breakthrough. The Dutch replied with some controlled football that remained low risk without being boring, making a fair few chances of their own. All in all, it ended up being a very attractive attacking display of high quality football that the Dutch won 1-0 over the Japanese.

World Cup Game #26

I think this was the most enjoyable game I have watched of the tournament so far, with Denmark overcoming Cameroon 2-1 after an enthralling game. After gifting Cameroon the opening goal after an appalling defensive blunder, the game turned into Cameroonian flair and creativity versus Danish control and precision. There followed a dramatic, action-packed exciting game that frequently went from one end to another with shot on goal after shot on goal. In the end, the Danes managed to claw back an equalizer and then take the lead half an hour before the end. That last half hour was some of the best and most exciting attacking football by both sides that I have seen in this tournament and probably anywhere for a fair while. Great game but it was just a shame that someone had to lose.