The football
World was left mystified on Friday evening when the Netherlands utterly
battered the much fancied Spain in a grudge match. A game the Oranje have been
waiting for since 2010, they stormed out of the blocks in devastating fashion
and knocked the hell out of VDB’s La Roja. All guns blazing, they were
undeterred despite going 1-0 down in controversial circumstance. A Daley Blind
cross was finished with heavenly ruthlessness by Robin Van Persie who stooped
and then flew and later came down when the deed was done. The header was from
17 yards-the farthest in 44 years of World Cup play. The finish never before
seen since Football became the King of Sport. From then on, Louis Van Gaal and
his troops never backed down. Their relentlessness coupled with Arjen Robben’s
blistering pace was too gargantuan a task for the Spanish team. Although they
had ruled the football World with their much talked about and very effective
tiki-taka style of play, the tactical nous of the new Manchester United manager
broke through the very thick bars that had prevented almost every team from
causing havoc. San Iker was within touching distance of eclipsing Walter Zenga’s
proud record number of minutes without conceding a goal. Robin and Robben would
hear none of that and it was no surprise when the left footed wizard put his
team ahead for the first time. Another Daley Blind cross was brought down
expertly by Arjen (A close control even the enigmatic Ibra would be proud of)
and after leaving Pique for absolute dead, he struck a sweet shot past the
hapless Iker. That was just the beginning. Wesley Sneijder who was appearing
for the 100th time as an International footballer, conspired with
Stefan De Vrij and the result was the latter converting the former’s set piece
past Iker again. However untidy it was, it meant a lot to him and the entire
Oranje squad. A first International goal on the biggest stage of all is
something he will never forget. As if it wasn’t humiliating enough, the usually
composed and dependable Casillas gifted RVP his second and Holland’s 4th.
A Sergio Ramos back pass was not handled well by the Spanish keeper. RVP, as
expected, pounced and duly converted. Well, the killer blow was coming soon
after. LVG decided to pull out his captain (RVP) and introduced Jeremain Lens
in his place. The Manchester United man got off to a rousing applause from the packed
Arena Fonte NovaSalvador soon after handing over the baton of Leadership to his
crime partner, Robben. It seemed the armband re-energised the new Captain and
there was no stopping him when he latched onto a fine pass and ran the full
length of the pitch, leaving Sergio Ramos five metres behind, gasping for
breath. Oh! What happened next was perhaps the biggest disgrace of San Iker’s
career. The great custodian was left scampering and swimming on the ground by
the Bayern Munich talisman before he swept the ball past Azpilicueta who tried
in vain to prevent a fifth. Crushing, crippling, condescending, catastrophic,
unreal. It was the best performance of any team against the defending Champions.
The best ever witnessed. A damning washout of epic proportions. VDB was
captured all through the game distraught, flustered and shaken with disbelief.
A thorough show of shame. The Dutch tore the script and wrote their names in
the lights. Sneijder, De Guzman and De Jong were completely dominant in
midfield with Alonso, Xavi and Busquets out of sorts and chasing Oranje
shadows. The mind boggling tactical display of excellence put LVG back on the
World map if there were any doubts that he had lost his groove. The 5-1 blow-out
was a strong message to the rest of the football World that Holland wants to go
one better this time. The agonies of 74, 78 and 2010 have to be wiped out. No
more sitting back and wallowing in self pity. Time for redemption.
Spain face a
marmot task in their next game. Jorge Sampaoli’s Chile are no pushovers and
downed Australia with aplomb. Alexis, Valdivia and Jon Beausajor scored to put
the Socceroos to the sword. A trademark Tim Cahill header halved the deficit in
the first half when they were 2-0 down. Valdivia was at his very best and
strode along the pitch with absolute assurance and confidence. His first goal
in four years was cooked by Alexis. That match will be a real battle. If Spain
don’t win, it is bye bye and the descent from WORLD CHAMPIONS to whipping boys
will be colossal.
Cameroon
came into the tournament looking for a first win in a World Cup tournament
since 2002. The last time the Indomitable Lions won a World Cup match was at
the Korea-Japan edition of the global showpiece and even Samuel Eto’o was a
young man still trying to find his feet in the competitive World of Football.
Miguel Herrera’s EL TRI only just qualified for the World Cup after a dismal
qualification campaign. The once prolific Chicharito, who has always been one
of the first names on the team sheet since he rose into prominence, now finds
himself warming the subs bench with ORIBE ‘LA PARTIDA’ PERALTA taking his place
in the team. The new Club America acquisition was responsible for the gold
medal Mexico won in 2012. With 16 goals in his previous 33 games and 8 in his
last six, he was the automatic choice to lead the attack. Gio Dos Santos ran
rings around the Cameroon defence and scored two legitimate goals that were
incorrectly ruled out by the match Officials. When there is a will, there must
normally be a way. GDS kept on pressing and pressing for the opener until it
finally came. Carlos Idris Kameni spilled a GDS shot that allowed La Partida to
score his 17th goal for his country and 9th in his last
seven appearances. That extended Cameroon’s unenviable losing record to an even
greater number, leaving them with little or no chance of qualifying from the
group.
Italy and
Cesare Prandelli had an appointment to keep with England at Manaus. The Stadium
which has arguably the poorest pitch. But that did little to halt proceedings
as the march went underway. Andrea Pirlo continued from where he stopped for
Juventus in May, bossing things in
midfield, running the show as he so often does. It was his dummy that set up
the first goal for Claudio Marchisio to open scoring. Wayne Rooney wasted no
time in setting up wonder boy, Sturridge for the equaliser before Mario
Balotelli justified his place in the starting line-up ahead of the more
prolific Ciro Immobile with a fine header. Andrea Pirlo almost rubbed salt on
England’s wounds with a Pernambucano-esque free kick that caught Joe Hart
napping…..only for the crossbar to deny the World’s finest DLP from making it
3-1. The introduction of Barkley and Lallana did little to turn the tide in
England’s favour. They have to regroup and ensure that victory is secured v the
Celeste.
The Celeste
had to play Costa Rica without their very best player. The Gunslinger had not
fully recovered from knee surgery and had to be left out of the starting lineup.
The opponents, Costa Rica were without top dog, Alvaro Saborio, but had a team
of players who complemented each other and were ready to give their all.
New
flagbearer, Joel Campbell may be young but he has talent beyond his years and
can shine on the big stage. La Sele fell behind early in the game via a Cavani
spot-kick. El Matador had to joint carry the burden with Corazo Forlan in
Suarez’s absence but that was all he could do throughout the duration of the
match. Costa Rica came out of their shells and dared to dream. When the Arsenal
youngster scored a scorcher of an equaliser in the second half, it was all
TICOS TICOS TICOS. Memories of Italia 90 where they astounded all the
bookmakers came crawling back. La Sele sprang to life and after Keylor Navas pulled
off a spectacular save at the end of the first half, Jorge Luis Pinto knew his
boys could save the sinking ship. The task ahead was daunting because they had
never previously beaten Uruguay. After the equaliser, they were well on top.
Oscar Duarte rose highest to score La Sele’s second and when Marcos Urena came
off the bench to score the third, Oscar Tabarez and La Celeste had seen and
bore enough. Maxi Periera decided Campbell had tormented his side enough. He
swung a furious kick at the lad and straightaway, he was given his marching orders.
Walter Gargano-the South America Gattuso, Diego Lugano and Martin Caceres made
sure their names were taken by the match
Referee and the taste of defeat never felt worse. Whatever happens after the
disastrous outing is left to be seen. But for both England and Uruguay,
Thursday’s game is a must win. La Sele now top a group they were expected to be
basement boys. They lead a group consisting of three holders of the JULES RIMET
trophy who have 7 titles between them. Christian Bolanos, Oscar Duarte and Joel
Campbell were the standout performers in the victory but everyone put in a
great shift to bring glory to the Ticos.
The Ivory
Coast had to leave out Drogba and Kolo Toure from the team set up to play
Zaccheroni’s Samurai. Drogba made the bench and Wilfried Bony was chosen to
lead the line in his absence. Japan didn’t waste any time in making their
presence felt. An Uchida run left him in acres of space behind the CIV defence
but his shot couldn’t go past Buby Barry. There was no stopping Keisuke Honda’s
pile driver though. The head of the Samurai let fly inside the box and Japan
had the early advantage. Bony had earlier tested the Japanese keeper,
Kawashima, to no avail. Sabri Lamouchi introduced the not fully fit but ever
capable Drogba in the second half and it was not long after that Serge Aurier,
rumoured to be the ideal replacement for the now departed Bacary Sagna at
Arsenal, sent in a perfect cross from the right which was met by Swansea’s
Bony-one of the World’s great headers of the ball. 1-1 and game on. Gervinho
had a starring role to play and he scored the winner from yet another Aurier
perfecto. 2-1 it ended and Zaccheroni must now rally the blue Samurai to win
the next two matches v Colombia and Greece.
Jose
Pekerman chose Teo Gutierez and Victor Ibarbo as his front men for the match
against Greece. For the Greeks, it was Gekas in attack and not Mitro-gol. Faryd
Mondragon, the 42 year old Veteran goaltender was left on the bench for David
Ospina. James Rodriguez, the darling of Colombia was chosen to share the
attacking duties with Teo. The match had hardly begun when Pablo Armero struck
a harmless shot that was deflected past Greek keeper, Orestis Karnezis. Greece
fashioned out opportunities of their own but couldn’t covert any. They paid for
their profligacy when Teo scored his team’s second in the second half from a
corner. The game lost its ebb and flow but Greece carved out a glorious chance
that was again wasted until James Rodriguez made it 3 with a deft finish past
the unguarded Karnezis. Belo Horizonte was in delirium at the end. Pekerman
party.
Les Blues
destroyed Honduras and Karim Benzema was the undisputed star of the show. An
own goal by Noel Valladares compounded his team’s woes. Benz drove past every
defender Honduras had and could have scored more. France played with purpose
and finesse. The three pronged attack of Griezmann, Valbuena and Benzema worked
in tandem and the resultant effect was a thumping. Didier Deschamps was in
cloud nine as the referee signalled the end of proceedings.
Ecuador,
driven by the sad demise of Chucho Benitez were determined to start the
tournament well and use a victory or two to pay tribute to their fallen
comrade. It all went according to plan when Erno Valencia headed past Benaglio
in the Swiss goal. Jefferson Montero was giving Juventus’ Lichtsteiner a torrid
time, mesmerising him time after time. General Ottmar’s men shot back and they
didn’t miss. Xherdan Shaqiri missed so
many chances before the equaliser finally came. From a corner, Admir Mehmedi
took advantage of some slack defending to nod in a 48th minute
equalizer. Ricardo Rodriguez the provider. The game went back and forth until
the 90th minute when Valon Behrami won a tackle inside his own box,
then embarked on a mazy run, got tired and fed it to Rodriguez who again put it
on a plate for Harris Seferovic to score from virtually the last kick of the
match. The La Real attacker has lost his place to Drmic but not his abilities.
He may not win his place back but if he can keep producing the goods, he will
always be a useful asset to the General.
Argentina
got off to a good start, seeing off a very gritty Bosnia side complete with
Dzeko and Pjanic. An own goal by Sead Kolasinac from a Marcos Rojo flick on set
Los Albiceleste on the path to victory. Sabella’s men were solid all through
the game but left doubts as to why they were crowned second favourites to lift
the trophy in four weeks. The MARACANA was abuzz with frenzy. Playing there was
a dream come true for every member of the Bosnian team. Appearing in their first
ever World Cup, it was a huge challenge placed in the same group with Argentina
and Nigeria. Missimovic and co played through their skins but Messi made sure
of the victory with a trademark left footed finish that went off the post.
Pipita and Campagnaro were introduced in the second half for Maxi and Gago as
Sabella reverted to his preferred 4-3-3 formation. It didn’t make any major
difference and when Vedad Ibisevic scored Bosnia’s first ever World Cup goal, a
feeling of de javu crept into the Argentinian camp but they held on to secure three
points and provisionally top the group.
In other
news, Gregg Popovich and the Spurs saw off the Heat easily in Game 5.A 104-96
scoreline was all that Tim Duncan needed to win his 5th ring. Kawhi
Leonard switched on the ‘superhuman mode’ in the playoff final to win the MVP
award ahead of Parker, Ginobili and Duncan.
Marc Marquez
also won in cycling. His 7th consecutive victory.
Roger
Federer won Halle for the seventh time. His 79th singles title. The GOAT!
Grigor
Dimitrov came from the jaws of defeat to edge out Feliciano Lopez in Queen’s.
Three tie-breaks and Dimi won the last two to secure his 4th title
and third of 2014.
Ana Ivanovic
won her first ever grass court title in Birmingham.
Martin
Kaymer won the 114th edition of golf’s version of the US OPEN on
Sunday ahead of Rickie Fowler and Eric Compton who has survived two heart
transplants
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ALL THE WINNERS………….ROCKING!
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
