World Cup Round of 16 Day 4
From Benny's Report on the last day of the Round of 16
27 June 2006
SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE
Villa 27 (Pen) Ribery 41
Vieira 83
Zidane 92
France failed to clear a corer and as the ball was played into Pablo, Thuram
stamped on the back of his right ankle, penalty. Barthez guessed right but
Villa's spot kick had too much pace. Spain's naive, high offside trap was bound
to get them in trouble sooner or later especially against a French side
featuring Henry who is an absolute master at using the 'not interfering with
play' nonsense to his advantage. Henry and France's DMs combined for the
equaliser. Makelele turned away from Raul and passed to Ribery, Ribery played
the ball into Vieira and as he turned he skipped away from Pablo's sliding
tackle and looked at Henry, who was standing yards offside on the left, before
playing a disguised pass through to Ribery on the opposite flank, Ribery left
Pernia and Puyol for dead, rounded Casillas and rolled the ball into an empty
net.
Vieira and Zidane combined to create a chance for Malouda, the Lyon midfielder
forcing Casillas into making a spectacular one handed save with an equally
acrobatic volley. Aragones made two early, brave substitutions 10 minutes into
the second half. Joaquin replaced the non event that was Raul (he should never
have started) and that thumb sucker Luis Garcia came on for the static Villa.
Joaquin skinned Abidal on the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of
Barthez's near post. That was as close as Spain got in open play all match.
Henry tried to get Puyol a second yellow card by clutching his face after the
defender's elbow brushed against his chest when they chased down a ball.
He only got a free kick but it enough to win the official, FIFA sanctioned,
Diving Twat of the World Cup (TM) Award. Zidane's delivery was pure evil, just
above head height, an utter nightmare to defend, Xabi Alonso tried but failed
miserably, heading straight to the back post and Vieira thumped a low header
into the bottom corner off Ramos. The hungry French weren't finished, Zidane and
Wiltord mugged Cesc on the half way line, Govou gathered the ball and as Cesc
approached, passed to Wiltord, Wiltord chipped the ball first time out wide to
Zidane on the left, Zidane controlled a high bounding ball with his right thigh,
took two touches as he cut inside Puyol, ran through the defenders outstretched
leg, passing up a stone wall penalty, and fired a low shot past Casillas.
MAGNIFICENT, and I don't even like Zidane.
Premature ejaculation. After handing out a 4-0 thrashing in their opening game
Spain were suddenly among the favourites, despite past history. Doesn't anyone
ever learn? Vieira, Zidane, Ribery and Makelele were off the charts. Vieira, who
was made to look like a tired, old man by Cesc in Juventus' Champions League
clash with Arsenal, turned the tables with an intimidating, imposing
performance. Spain's young pretenders were totally and utterly schooled. It's
taken France 8 years to turn in a performance that made them the best, the most
feared side in the World and on this showing Brazil are in for one hell of a
game. Best match of the World Cup so far and it was an absolute privilege to
watch some of the greats of the modern game rise to the occasion, apart from
Henry whose two notable contributions were standing still and feigning injury.
Attendance : 43,000
Assists : Pablo (won pen), Vieira, n/a, Wiltord
BRAZIL 3-0 GHANA
Ronaldo 5
Adriano 46
Ze Roberto 84
In their three group matches Ghana defended deep and defended hard so I would
love to hear Ratomir Dujkovic's explanation for playing a high offside trap
against of all teams Brazil who in Kaka' have the best counter attacking player
in the World? The only feasible explanation is that he is a complete IDIOT.
Kaka' gathered a pass from Lucio and rarely misses an opportunity to have a run
at a defence only he didn't have a defence to run at, they were all on the
halfway line, so he hit an angled pass through to Ronaldo and he rounded
Kingston and tapped into an empty net to claim himself a piece of history as the
World Cup's all time leading scorer (15). Adriano should have made it 2-0 as
Brazil once again tore through Ghana's shambolic offside trap but dived over
Kingston, earning himself a well deserved yellow card. Slack marking allowed
Mensah a free header in the box but he headed down at Dida's feet and the
'keeper slashed clear. Ghana were sort of threatening before they were suckered
on the break. Gyan played a one-two with Appiah on the edge of the box before
running into Lucio then theatrically falling down, Juan took possession before
Appiah flattened him with a superb tackle, Lucio ran onto the loose ball and
charged to the half way line before flicking the ball out wide to Kaka', who had
an overlapping Cafu in support, Kaka' pushed the ball to Cafu, he swung a cross
to the back post and Adriano, who was offside twice (when Lucio passed and when
Cafu centred) put the ball into an empty net with his knee.
Ghana had Brazil chasing shadows in the second half but despite their pace,
power and excellent technique, everything broke down in the final third.
Gyan got a second yellow for diving. Ze Roberto punished Ghana's offside trap
for a third time to complete a slightly flattering victory.
Ronaldinho was even more useless than Adriano in this match. Still I figure he's
good for at least one blockbuster performance.
Attendance : 65,000
Red Card : Gyan 81 (Ghana)
Assists : Kaka', Cafu, Ronaldinho
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27 June 2006
SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE
Villa 27 (Pen) Ribery 41
Vieira 83
Zidane 92
France failed to clear a corer and as the ball was played into Pablo, Thuram
stamped on the back of his right ankle, penalty. Barthez guessed right but
Villa's spot kick had too much pace. Spain's naive, high offside trap was bound
to get them in trouble sooner or later especially against a French side
featuring Henry who is an absolute master at using the 'not interfering with
play' nonsense to his advantage. Henry and France's DMs combined for the
equaliser. Makelele turned away from Raul and passed to Ribery, Ribery played
the ball into Vieira and as he turned he skipped away from Pablo's sliding
tackle and looked at Henry, who was standing yards offside on the left, before
playing a disguised pass through to Ribery on the opposite flank, Ribery left
Pernia and Puyol for dead, rounded Casillas and rolled the ball into an empty
net.
Vieira and Zidane combined to create a chance for Malouda, the Lyon midfielder
forcing Casillas into making a spectacular one handed save with an equally
acrobatic volley. Aragones made two early, brave substitutions 10 minutes into
the second half. Joaquin replaced the non event that was Raul (he should never
have started) and that thumb sucker Luis Garcia came on for the static Villa.
Joaquin skinned Abidal on the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of
Barthez's near post. That was as close as Spain got in open play all match.
Henry tried to get Puyol a second yellow card by clutching his face after the
defender's elbow brushed against his chest when they chased down a ball.
He only got a free kick but it enough to win the official, FIFA sanctioned,
Diving Twat of the World Cup (TM) Award. Zidane's delivery was pure evil, just
above head height, an utter nightmare to defend, Xabi Alonso tried but failed
miserably, heading straight to the back post and Vieira thumped a low header
into the bottom corner off Ramos. The hungry French weren't finished, Zidane and
Wiltord mugged Cesc on the half way line, Govou gathered the ball and as Cesc
approached, passed to Wiltord, Wiltord chipped the ball first time out wide to
Zidane on the left, Zidane controlled a high bounding ball with his right thigh,
took two touches as he cut inside Puyol, ran through the defenders outstretched
leg, passing up a stone wall penalty, and fired a low shot past Casillas.
MAGNIFICENT, and I don't even like Zidane.
Premature ejaculation. After handing out a 4-0 thrashing in their opening game
Spain were suddenly among the favourites, despite past history. Doesn't anyone
ever learn? Vieira, Zidane, Ribery and Makelele were off the charts. Vieira, who
was made to look like a tired, old man by Cesc in Juventus' Champions League
clash with Arsenal, turned the tables with an intimidating, imposing
performance. Spain's young pretenders were totally and utterly schooled. It's
taken France 8 years to turn in a performance that made them the best, the most
feared side in the World and on this showing Brazil are in for one hell of a
game. Best match of the World Cup so far and it was an absolute privilege to
watch some of the greats of the modern game rise to the occasion, apart from
Henry whose two notable contributions were standing still and feigning injury.
Attendance : 43,000
Assists : Pablo (won pen), Vieira, n/a, Wiltord
BRAZIL 3-0 GHANA
Ronaldo 5
Adriano 46
Ze Roberto 84
In their three group matches Ghana defended deep and defended hard so I would
love to hear Ratomir Dujkovic's explanation for playing a high offside trap
against of all teams Brazil who in Kaka' have the best counter attacking player
in the World? The only feasible explanation is that he is a complete IDIOT.
Kaka' gathered a pass from Lucio and rarely misses an opportunity to have a run
at a defence only he didn't have a defence to run at, they were all on the
halfway line, so he hit an angled pass through to Ronaldo and he rounded
Kingston and tapped into an empty net to claim himself a piece of history as the
World Cup's all time leading scorer (15). Adriano should have made it 2-0 as
Brazil once again tore through Ghana's shambolic offside trap but dived over
Kingston, earning himself a well deserved yellow card. Slack marking allowed
Mensah a free header in the box but he headed down at Dida's feet and the
'keeper slashed clear. Ghana were sort of threatening before they were suckered
on the break. Gyan played a one-two with Appiah on the edge of the box before
running into Lucio then theatrically falling down, Juan took possession before
Appiah flattened him with a superb tackle, Lucio ran onto the loose ball and
charged to the half way line before flicking the ball out wide to Kaka', who had
an overlapping Cafu in support, Kaka' pushed the ball to Cafu, he swung a cross
to the back post and Adriano, who was offside twice (when Lucio passed and when
Cafu centred) put the ball into an empty net with his knee.
Ghana had Brazil chasing shadows in the second half but despite their pace,
power and excellent technique, everything broke down in the final third.
Gyan got a second yellow for diving. Ze Roberto punished Ghana's offside trap
for a third time to complete a slightly flattering victory.
Ronaldinho was even more useless than Adriano in this match. Still I figure he's
good for at least one blockbuster performance.
Attendance : 65,000
Red Card : Gyan 81 (Ghana)
Assists : Kaka', Cafu, Ronaldinho
http://soccer-europe.com
Chat room : http://www.lhcw.net/WorldCup
Rss feed : http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml
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