Greece v Nigeria - LIVE

Argentina top Group B and are practically through to the next round. South Korea put up a good fight and will be right in the mix for the second spot. Greece and Nigeria lost their opening games and desperately need a win. Nigeria definitely have more quality than the Greeks, but may find it hard to break Greece down. Greece were awful against South Korea and showed very little attacking wise. Both teams need to go for it, however I suspect the Greeks will defend in numbers and hope to get a goal on the counter. Not pleasing on eye, but a tactic that has served the Greeks well over the years.

Prediction: Greece 1-0 Nigeria. Greece to frustrate Nigeria and grab a goal from a set piece and then park the bus

Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/


Ant Myers

So far, so good

Well, we've now seen every team in action and I have to say I really can't pick a clear favourite yet. Germany were excellent the other night, destroying the Socceroos made compelling viewing. They may have a young side, but with experienced players like Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolksi they have a perfect blend of youth and experience. Argentina also impressed, their attack is frightening, when you can afford to leave Diego Milito on the bench, that speaks volumes. It remains to be seen whether their defence matches their attack, I think South Korea could test them today.

Portugal didn't surprise me at all, an aging side with a few good individuals. I think they will fail to advance further. Ivory Coast will improve, this team has a real chance of success. Well organised, athletic and serious pace are attributes the Ivorians showed. Brazil were patient against North Korea and deserved their opening win. They will be strong contenders.

Spain suffered a shock defeat against a resurgent Switzerland side and will now have to work hard to advance. Chile are a real threat and will give Spain a run for their money. People will say you can never write off Italy, but I just can't see them going far in this tournament. They obviously have a wealth of experience, however their distinct lack of pace is clear for all to see.

I think France will exit early, not because of their squad, it's the coach that will let them down. Cameroon were very dissappointing, they were bereft of creativity against an average Japan side. I really enjoyed watching South Korea, they displayed a great work ethic and created a lot of chances against the drab Greeks. I predicted Uruguay to surprise some people and they showed tonight that they mean business.

Ant Myers

Well that put the cat among the pigeons!

Boring, dier, defensive, slow paced, lacking flair and a goal drought, that was until Gelson Fernandes and his Swiss counterparts made their presence known in South Africa with a stunning result. Yesterday I spent most of the preview talking up Spain and I have to be honest I was fairly certain they would beat Switzerland and comfortably. Today I am eating humble pie and a group that was looking like a foregone conclusion has become intriguing. What I had not accounted for was just how disciplined the Swiss players were and what a tactical mastermind Ottmar Hitzfeld really is. He set up Switzerland with a plan and they followed it to a tee.

This plan was born in the Nou Camp on the 28th April when Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan beat Barcelona with one of the best defensive displays in recent memory. Switzerland allowed Spain to have the ball for most of the game, but Spain only had the ball in areas that could not seriously hurt the Swiss. For all of Spain's triangles and neat passing they lacked a cutting edge and were one dimensional until Jesus Navvas was introduced. In the first half Spain continued to go down the left flank seeking out David Silva, this became all too predicable and without the physical presence of Llorente or Torres Silva's crosses were too easy to defend.

Switzerland's goal came with a huge slice of luck but did back up a popular opinion with Spain. Iker Casillas is not the player that he used to be. Why Casillas came rushing out with his feet rather than his hands is beyond me and i'm sure Gerrard Pique is none too pleased either.

Switzerland's discipline was truly admirable and although it may not have been a performance full of flair or attacking intent it was gripping and produced the best game of the tournament so far.

The early kick off was also an improvement on what had gone before. It was so refreshing to see a team go out to win and win in style. I was hugely impressed with what Chile produced in a great display of attacking vision. Bielsa's side used the width of the pitch and got behind the Hondurian defence with ease and it was this approach that led to the only goal of the game. Alexis Sanchez did not disappoint although he needs to pass more often as his flicks came to nothing too often. The real star of the show for me was the playmaker number 14 Fernandez. Fernandez ran the game for Chile driving them forward and playing with vision that another famous old number 14 would have been proud of. Chile were refreshing to watch and will be dangerous and could be dark horses for the latter stages.

Finally I have to give the last word to one Diego Forlan who was unstoppable against the hosts South Africa. Forlan produced the performance of the tournament so far, a great first goal (no problem with the ball there!) a calmly taken penalty and one of the passes of the game to set up a third goal. Uruguay brutally exposed the limitations of South Africa and showed that unfortunately the first game was a one off performance. South Africa will be the first host nation to not get out of the group stage and the tournament will be poorer for it. That is not to take away from a Uruguayan performance that was full of guile, grit and South American flair.

The World Cup is only going to get better from here in, trust me. Thank you Chile and Switzerland for giving us the impetus that this tournament needed. Forlan has had a brilliant day but for me the star of the show today was Ottmar Hitzfeld and his Mourinho like defence. Catenaccio!

Laurie O'Brien

Spain v Switzerland - LIVE

Much fancied Spain begin their World Cup today against a decent Switzerland side. We've just witnessed Chile beat Honduras convincingly and it's Chile who lead Group H. Switzerland will make it tough for the Spaniards and will be well organised. Spain have a wealth of talent, the whole squad is blessed with immense talent. The depth they have is envied by the world. Switzerland will hope to keep it tight and will try to catch Spain on the break.



Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/

Are You Not Entertained?

“Are you not entertained?” The words of Maximus Decimus Meridius as he finishes entertaining the crowd as a gladiator, note the key word ‘entertaining’. Having watched my fair share of games in the opening stages of the 2010 World Cup I’d have to say that, no I am not entertained.

Just like the gladiators, footballers are there essentially for our entertainment – they just happen to get paid a ridiculous amount of money for doing so. On the other hand, if I suffered from insomnia I would love the World Cup and no doubt doctors everywhere are prescribing a good dose of World Cup football for their patients to help them get some sleep.

Unfortunately for me I don’t have such problems; I can understand teams not wanting to lose their opening games, but have they ever thought of trying to win them? I know it is a crazy suggestion, winning a football game instead of an easy draw.

Fair play to Korea Republic who went out with the intention of beating Greece and they did so quite comfortably, they may not end up lifting the cup but at least they’re entertaining the World.

Some sides actually look as though the concept of football is new to them. Poor control, poor passing and general poor play has been a theme to the World Cup so far. Teams try to play it safe too much; look back through any past World Cup footage and you’ll find outrageous goals or at least attempts for the spectacular but that isn’t the case anymore.

The World Cup has shown how predictable football has become, in some cases at least. Pass it all along the back four, and then let the midfield do the same and if there’s nothing on pass it back to the defence. Obviously teams don’t want to throw away their possession but why not be creative and try an audacious ball or even a 30 yard shot which looks like it has no chance but somehow manages to deceive the ‘keeper and end up in the back of the net.

There is still a long way to go in the World Cup and a lot of football to be played. Hopefully most teams pick it up a level for the second games where pressure begins to build and wins become imperative, though if they perform negatively with less pressure then I suppose they wouldn’t play attacking football when it gets important.

I hope that by this time next week I look like an idiot for suggesting the World Cup is less than entertaining, though if things carry on as they are I could be right.

Carl Leighton

Previewing Group H

Five days into the world cup and boy do we need some entertainment. The world cup has got off to a slow start some games taking place at a pedestrian pace. Many teams have failed to hit the ground running, Holland, England, France and to an extent Argentina have not yet found top gear whilst only Germany have played attractive football, even the mighty Brazil struggled against North Korea. But tomorrow sees the Spanish at last take to the pitch, the last of the teams to start their world cup campaign.

This Spanish side is truly exceptional blessed with world class talent across the pitch in nearly all positions. Torres, Villa, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas would all walk into any side in the world, Spain are blessed with a multitude of riches. A team like this comes around once in generation, Brazil in 1970 and 1982, France in 98, Argentina in 1986 and England in 66. We all know the ability that the Spanish possess and now they have achieved what other talented sides have failed to do and win a major tournament. Euro 2008 was a turning point for Spanish football and that is why they are strong favourites this summer.

Before I start getting carried away and just eulogise about Spain and ramble on about how if only England had a player who could pass like Xavi or a striker that could finish like Villa, its important that I look at the other teams in the group. Switzerland are first up for Spain tomorrow and will certainly not be an easy opponent for the European Champions. Switzerland have tournament pedigree with fourteen of their squad having twenty or more caps. Hakan Yakin and Alexander Frei have been to major tournaments and will certainly be a threat to any defence. The only was that I can see Switzerland causing an upset is if Inler and Barnetta can get in amongst the Spanish midfield and stifle their rhythm. If they can do this which is no mean feat then they could perhaps cause Spain problems. Switzerland have Ottmar Hitzfeld at the helm and they will need all of his tactical nous to pull it off.

The earlier game sees an exciting Chile side take on rank outsiders Honduras. Honduras have players which will be familiar to English fans, Palacios, Figueroa and Thomas all play for premier league clubs and Palacios in particular is an excellent player. Hopefully Honduras will be able to select David Suazo who is still technically an Inter Milan player. He has pace is strong and is an accomplished finisher, Honduras will rely on him to provide a spark that could grab them a result. Honduras scrapped into the world cup through the USA scoring a 94th minute equaliser against Costa Rica. Just being in South Africa is a great success for the country.

Chile on the other hand have higher aspirations for this tournament and could cause a few upsets. Their coach Marcelo Bielsa has crafted a side that can cause damage shown by only finishing a point behind Brazil in Qualifying. They scored an impressive 32 goals in qualification with Humberto Suazo coming out as the top scorer beating the likes of Kaka and Messi, definitely one to watch for. Whilst coming out as top scorers they also leaked the most goals and their defensive record will need to improve in South Africa if they are to make an impact. Alexis Sanchez has made it onto a lot of people's one to watch list and is certainly an emerging talent one that I am looking forward to seeing tomorrow.

This is an intriguing group, I fully expect Spain to finish top and put in some good performances along the way. I also can see Chile progressing as runners up, they have the skill and pace to frighten the Swiss defence and this will see them through. Personally I am hoping that this group will provide a much needed injection of flair to a world cup that has so far fired blanks.

Lastly a word on England. I would want to echo the words of Gavin in terms of the media's over reaction to England's performance against America. In this first round of games some of the performances have been nothing sort of turgid. Portugal Ivory Coast being a real low point where neither side showed much desire to take a risk and try to win the game. England tried to win the game having 18 shots on goal, we were a goal threat throughout. There are problems that need to be ironed for sure but this performance is the start of the tournament and not the end. There is still a long way to go.

But for tomorrow lets hope Spain and Chile provide the entertainment we have all been waiting for...

Laurie O'Brien

England Versus The Press

Over the weekend the inevitable headlines appeared which condemned Robert Green to the history books as a yet another England World Cup calamity. Like many young, aspiring broadcasters, I listen closely to the carefully depicted scripts of TV and Radio presenters as they conjure up an image of doom and gloom around the England camp following a 1-1 draw with a side who less than 12 months ago beat Spain 4-3. It amazes me that we hear Gary Lineker suggest that Italy’s draw with Paraguay is indicative of the Italians in the World Cup because they are, “traditional slow starters, but they will be alright,’ whilst Clive Tydlesy suggests at the end of England’s game that they are ‘rooted at first base.’ The sheer hypocrisy still baffles me an it has led me to change my stanceon many of the England players.

For the next 3 days be prepared for a barrage of press headlines that will speculate as to whether or not Robert Green will line up in goal against Algeria. His one mistake in an England shirt means that he should now be sidelined in favour of David James, a man who has become famous for been erratic and notoriously cost worthy to England. So-called experts and pundits such as Martin Keown, this week on 5LIVE were suggesting that Green should be axed because of his error. Keown lost all credibility for me when in commentary he later went on and said he had never intentionally kicked anyone. Ruud Van Nistelrooy might beg to differ. Truth is Keown has never played for England. He wasn’t good enough. He can pretend to understand the pressures on the England players all he likes but the fact of the matter is he couldn’t.

For many England fans, Joe Hart should be given his chance between the sticks. The trouble is, as we saw on Saturday, playing for England comes with different pressures. Rob Green will forever be remembered as the player who made the most almighty cock-up against America. Everywhere he goes for the rest of his life that is what people will remind him off. Chris Waddle is the same. Waddle’s Italia 90 penalty miss has defined him ever since. Gareth Southgate’s Euro 96 penalty miss, David Beckhams’s red card in 1998 led to a huge amount of death threats, the likes of which lesser men would have caved under. David Seamen and the Ronaldinho goal in World Cup 2002. David James in Euro 2004 with his calamity mistake versus the French. Frank Lampard’s penalty miss and Wayne Rooney’s red card in World Cup 2006. Given the lasting impact such incidents have had on the careers of such players, would you blame them for being pensive when they play for England?

Doesn’t such thought provoke a justification for why England players never transfer club form onto the international stage? You see Frank Lampard was non-existent in England’s opening game, and like many I have argued that Lampard has been non-existent in most games for England over the last 5 years. Because at Chelsea Frank is allowed to bomb forward and score goals for fun with the world best central defensive midfielder sitting behind him. The problem for England is that said player happens to be called Essien and he happens to be Ghanaian.


The truth is Frank Lampard isn’t going to bomb forward when he plays alongside Steven Gerrard in midfield because he knows that if he leaves a gap in behind and the opposition score, the entire press core sitting in the stand with their pens in hand, fingers on the keyboard, microphones at their lips are ready with one fell swoop to destroy their careers. If Lampard and Gerrard don’t work, do you think Fabio will drop his captain? Of course not. Lampard would have to go, so Frank will never play his normal, game for England.

Look even further into the England side and you will see that on Saturday many didn’t perform as we expect. Now Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world. And that pains me to say because I dislike him, a lot. Yet Ashley Cole 4 times gave the ball away needlessly. Wayne Rooney barely touched the ball. Do you really think that this was because Watford’s finest marked him out of the game? Or was it perhaps because the pressure that he was under was too much for him?

Don’t get me wrong, the sight of St George’s crosses plastered to every car window, garage door and bedroom wall is a truly majestic and fills me with a sense of patriotic pride like no other event in the calendar year. The problem is how quickly, and more potently, how cruelly, our footballers efforts go from hero to zero. Rob Green simply does not deserve the press he has received. Yes he made an effort, but given the headlines and attention, do you not think that this will be a plague on his conscience ahead of future England games he is selected? How will he manage to rid the mistake from his mind? Perhaps more worryingly, how will Joe Hart and David James be feeling, stepping into Green’s shoes knowing they cannot make a mistake. It is simply the wrong message and if Fabio does drop Green it is to the detriment of England. Wouldn’t it be nice if England stick with Green and he goes on to make a penalty-shootout winning save versus the Germans in the semi-finals? Destiny or what? Wouldn’t that be a nice U-turn and stuff it to the journalists who instead have to write of a zero to hero story instead?

I feel sorry for Green because he is a class-act. A top-drawer keeper. But for every good save he makes, he will always be THAT goalkeeper. Unless. Unless England do what they have never done before and that is keep faith with him. You see, getting rid of Green is symptomatic of England’s failure in recent years. As my Dad said to me last night, “when you watch England reports, when you watch England play, when you listen to pundits talk of England, does it not all just smack of desperation?”

How true this is. Green makes an error that sees England draw instead of win. So what? He made a world class save n the second half to keep England in the game because there was sure as hell no chance of Wayne Rooney or Emile Heskey scoring was there? Lampard doesn’t do much for England so suddenly the Lampard-Gerrard partnership doesn’t work. Heskey misses two chances so suddenly Fabio got it wrong and should have brought Bent (an argument I agree with incidently!). Lennon’s crossing was frankly rubbish, so perhaps Fabio should have kept faith with Theo. It is a vicious cycle which goes on and on and on but with zero reward. Instead we have to read the papers and listen to the views of ex-players and managers who failed with England in the past tell the world why they got it wrong and Fabio continues to. The bottom line is England should pick a team and bloody well stick to it. A few variations here and there but if Capello seriously doesn’t know what his best formation is by now he doesn’t deserve his wage. I think he does however. And I don’t think he believes in this desparado routine that looms over the England squad like a giant shadow.

England will never win the World Cup based on talent. We are not good enough and we don’t have World Class players. Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Matthew Upson, Ledley King and Frank Lampard are nothing more than average. Emile Heskey is worse. So if we are to win the World Cup we need to rid ourselves of this ridiculous notion in the press that we should be winning every game comfortably. Why can we not win every game 1-0 and play rubbish? I will take that. If only the English press lay off our players and allowed them to go about their England business then perhaps, maybe just maybe they would express themselves on the pitch.

It is the underlying theme of English football and it goes well beyond the 11 players selected and the 90minutes on the pitch. It is the ideology to which England, and only England appear to subscribe to and which has reared its ugly head once more, already at the 2010 World Cup. I am of course talking about simple self-destruction. Greens error was just that. An error. Embarrassing and costly. But was it life threatening? Tournament threatening? Was it even incomprehendable? No. It was a mistake. I have said it before; if England are to win the World Cup they will need divine intervention. We are simply not good enough to turn up to a tournament and win it of our own accord. The sooner the press realize this and starve off their insistent negativity toward England and the men in which we have bestowed the hopes and dreams of a nation, the better.


Gavin Callaghan