Welcome to the "Frog," my little piece of cyberspace to talk about my passion - le foot (or soccer for my North American friends) especially anything around French football. Of course I will have some guest contributors that might want to discuss other aspects of footy!
I support Les Bleus, Arsenal and PSG but really just love watching, analyzing and following the beautiful game.
"You have to trust your teammates, always. If not we are lost."
Chelsea's hard tackling midfielder, Michael Essien is back in the mix for Ghana. 18 months ago it was feared that his knee injury would force him to retire from the international game, which would have been bad for the game. Essien who burst on the footballing scene when he made his move to Lyon and subsequently Chelsea. Valued for his unstoppable engine, tough tackling and occasional pile-driver goals his missing the World Cup last summer was ashame for Ghana.
The Black Stars built on their success from the Germany World Cup to get to the 1/4 finals in South Africa...and were one missed penalty kick from becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi final. Imagine what Ghana would have looked like had their #8 been on the pitch.
Glad he is back, I have always regretted that Wenger and Arsenal did not grab him when they could. He would have solved many of the Gunner's problems.
There has been much made about Suarez's hand on the goal line that "saved" Uruguay and sent the game to penalty kicks where the South Americans progressed to the semi finals. There has been much written and spoken about the injustice suffered by Ghana. The main complaint was that due to Suarez's actions and the subsequent penalty miss allowed Uruguay another chance which they took and now they are heading to the semi finals. However the bottom line is the official followed the rules - he red carded Suarez and awarded a penalty kick.
Percentages are in the favor of the penalty kicker - 80% success rate. Therefore, Ghana had the odds in their favor that they would score and win the match. Unfortunately, Gyan after logging back to back 120 minute games smashed his shot on the cross bar. Had the indiscretion occurred in the first 5 minutes of extra time and the result been the same, would there be so much outrage? No. Because it happened in the last minute of extra time the impact of the miss is magnified. Should football adopt the "penalty try" rule from rugby - where if a try was prevented due to an egregious foul the official can still award the try. I would say no as well...Ghana had a similar situation when they played Australia. A Ghanaian shot was saved off the line by a Kewell hand ball. As in the 1/4 game, the official showed the former Liverpool player a straight red card and Ghana were awarded the penalty kick, which this time Gyan converted. Australia had to play the remainder of the match with 10 players, Ghana could not take advantage of this situation and ended drawing with Australia. However there was no outcry that the goal should have been given and there not needing to have a penalty taken. The situation in the 1/4 final match magnified the situation but overall the rule is just - red card & penalty kick.
Now should FIFA have come down with a more severe post game penalty for Suarez? Rather than a one game suspension as the rules dictate...maybe. That will not change the fact that Uruguay have made it to the semifinals and Ghana has to go home when they should be getting ready for a match up with Holland.
A great weekend of football - good goals, heartbreaking games and controversy - what else would one want? So we are set for the first half of the 1/4 finals
Uruguay v Ghana
Argentina v Germany
How did these teams get there:
Uruguay: In the first game of the round of 16, the South Americans played the surprise Asian side South Korea. What was one of the least hyped game turned out to be a good match between two well disciplined and well organized sides. The combo between Suarez and Forlan looks like it is starting to click, which is dangerous for the other nations. Both sides had chances, an early South Korean free kick, from Chu Young Park, smashed into the post having successfully found its way around the wall. But poor defense and inexplicable goalkeeping from South Korea allowed a cross from Forlan bypass at least 3 defenders and the keeper (who mush have thought the ball was destined to go wide) only to see Suarez come in and smash home the shot.
The South Koreans fought back to level but were done in by a wonder strike from Suarez. The Uruguay defense (only 1 goal conceded all tournament) and combination of Suarez - Forlan - Cavani is proving lethal.
Ghana: For the second time in 4 years the Black Stars knock out the Stars and Stripes...yes I stole that from some TV talking head. After the World Cup is over and when the US players get a chance to reflect I think they will rue this missed opportunity. While I think the talk of a semi final run were a but premature, there is no doubt that the way the opponents were being set up, there was a legitimate chance for the Americans. Let us face it, had they finished second in the group does anyone really believe they could have taken out the German team we saw today? Or an Argentina team in the 1/4 finals? However Ghana took their chances and deserve to go through. The first 20 -30 minutes it appeared that Ghana could score another goal or 2 after opening up the score through Boateng after a terrible turn over in the midfield by Clark. However at the half the US brought in Feilhaber and changed the complexion of the match. The US controlled the midfield and put some real pressure on the Ghana back 4 earning a deserved PK that Landycakes banked in.
But the problem that haunted the United States bit again in extra time when a harmless and blind clearance from their own half feel to Gyan who cut between Demerit and Bocanegra and lashed on to a pile driver of a left foot sending Ghana to a 2-1 victory. This encapsulated the problems with the United States team - shoddy central defense. Demerit, Onyewu and Bocanegra all struggled at different stages of this World Cup, the wide players did not cover themselves in glory either. This lack of strong defending forced the United States to chase 3 out 4 games this World Cup, not a formula for success. A second big issue were the strikers. Altidore's touch let him down all tournament. He had some good situations when he was holding up the ball or knocking it on as he did on the second goal against Slovenia. However he had a chance in the second half against Ghana but his heavy touch allowed the keeper to cut him down. He did almost score a spectacular goal with 10 minutes to go, but too often lost possession trying to do his best Messi impersonation. Add to this Findley's first half attempt from 18 yards out when he could have taken another touch or tried to dribble the keeper - not a shot an international level striker needs to settle on. If the US had a striker like Gyan they might still be playing...
Germany: In a much anticipated match up against hated rival England the game turned into a rout exposing England for what it has become - old, slow and without creativity. Of course we had another controversial refereeing decision when a Lampard shot clearly rebounded behind the goal line, at the time it would have made the game 2-2. Instead the Germans headed into the half time with a 2-1 lead. As England pushed in the second half to equalize they were badly caught out gifting Mueller a brace. In the end the better team did win, Germany demonstrated as usual, a great organization and discipline. With World Cup veterans like Klose, Podolozki and Schweinsteiger supported by the youth of Ozil and Mueller it became academic after Germany maintained their 2-1 lead to start the second half.
What was disappointing were the Three Lions. Entering the competition, as it happens every World Cup, the calls for winning the ultimate crown for the first time since 1966 was thought withing reach. With an "EASY" group, many in the notoriously overzealous British press had the English making a serious run, granted I think Sports Illustrated had the English in a semi final as well. Even thought the English had a very positive qualifying campaign and apparently the right man in Capello, they never convinced during their 4 games. They clearly had problems in central defense - Terry looked like a beaten man and they could never figure out who to replace Ferdinand. The Klose goal resembled the Gyan goal a big boot down the park, striker splits the central defenders and slots home... Rooney was completely lost. Even the French scored more goals than Rooney - 1 vs 0! Not sure if the Manchester United striker was still battling the effects of his ankle injury, but he clearly had a tournament to forget. Of course the necessity to have Lampard and Gerrard on the pitch together still does not work...sad part is the world has known this for years yet manager after manager feels the need to shoe horn both into the starting XI. It seems that this side could have used a Theo Walcott at some point during their 4 games. Otherwise there was no apparent width or pace, Joe Cole having been used sparingly...Finally still not sure how a football nation such as England cannot develop any quality holding midfielders. It is shocking. Germany had their way through the midfield, no on wearing a red shirt could even feign being able to check the German attack. England will have to rebuild, the nice thing for the Three Lions is this should mark the end of Terry, Lampard and Gerrard as internationals. All strong players individually, but especially in the case of the two midfielders - cannot coexist on the same pitch.
Argentina: The Albiceleste looked very strong once again. Granted the first goal should have been ruled off side, but it was not...however the Tevez - Messi - Higuain front line is deadly. The fact that Di Maria has not really done much and Messi has not scored a goal should give Germany and any other team that might face Argentina food for thought. Mexico fought hard all match but were over-matched.The goal from Hernandez was a piece of beauty...what I thought was comic was the comment on ABC from John Harkes who criticized Romero, the Argentine keeper, for not "protecting his near post." Um hey John, the shot from Hernandez was unstoppable, even had the keeper anticipated that spot he could never have reached it....just because you could not hit that shot in your best days, give the striker credit for a fantastic first touch and finish. Speaking of goals, the 3rd Argentine goal was also a thing of beauty an absolute pile driver from distance.
The one area of concern for Argentina is the back 4...Maradona keeps playing central defenders as all back 4. And the goalkeeping is very wobbly right now. The key for Argentina moving forward will be how Mascherano holds up the defensive responsibilities in the midfield. However their is no doubting the offensive fire power and creative flair from this team, do not forget that Aguero and Milito are available off the bench. Frightening. Finally, it is clear this team wants to play for the sky blue and white kit as well as for their manager (unlike Les Bleus). This is a very good combination heading into the 1/4 finals.
Finally this weekend was also mired by some terrible refereeing decisions or lack thereof. The least egregious was the Tevez non offside call on the first goal. However the one that will really created debate for years...at least until FIFA wakes up and does something to improve officiating.
I am sure Blatter is breathing somewhat after Germany won 4-1...but had the goal be allowed, which it should have, it could have and most likely would have changed the game. Why? Not sure England is pushing up the pitch so get the equalizer.They probably do not get caught on a break if the game is 2-2. Of course FIFA released some nonsensical statement about video not being usable to determine goals because it would open up the call to use video for other aspects of the game and that there would need to be training for how to use video which is really complicated and television is still to new....blah blah blah. Here is an idea Sepp, you ignorant moron, you already have all the referees wired with headsets. The 4th official is already sitting by a monitor - how else did the Zizou head butt get caught! For plays dealing with a goal, allow the 4th official to give the referee on the field a hand. In this situation it would have taken all of 3 seconds for the 4th official to get on his little telemarketer headset and say "ball crossed line, goal." But instead we have the bureaucratic, useless, profiteer, Sepp Blatter, making some idiotic statement about technology and the beauty if human error and why "technology" cannot be used to call goal or no goal. Grow a brain Sepp wake up to the 21st century!
Of course Sepp has a Twitter account...so I would encourage EVERYONE to tweet @SeppBlatter for as long as it takes to get him to wake up to this need.
Anyways, 4 more games to come. Brazil v Chile will be very interesting, I think Chile can give the Samba Boyz a scare and of course we have the Iberian derby - Portugal v Spain. Hopefully we do not also have more refereeing issues.
This is the "thug" group, no quarter asked and none given in this group! Clearly the favorite to emerge is Germany, how could you not see the Germans getting out of the group stage. I have actually seen one pundit saying they will crash out in the groups...as much as I would love to see that, it is highly unlikely. This team might be one of the favorites and not just because it is Germany, but the bulk of their roster is the "perfect" age - early to mid 20s - if you have read the book Soccernomics it points out that players best years are exactly in that range...something most soccer fans have realized for themselves. With the likes of Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Gomez, Lahm et al in that range one could expect great things from the squad. Also they gained great experience in the last World Cup finishing 3rd as well as the Euros where they made it to the finals...granted they were badly outclassed by Spain but still good experience. However it will be the 30+ players that will determine how far this team will go - Klose and Ballack. The Chelsea man in particular, with this being, most likely, his last World Cup he will be fighting to get his name on a trophy. Unlike other German greats - Muller, Beckenbauer, and Matthaus - Ballack has never been able to receive a winners medal. He will clearly be looking to correct that in South Africa. I think the second place will be fought out by the other 3 sides, each with a legitimate hope of securing the spot. Australia will be looking to build on a good World Cup in Germany where many would argue, they were robbed of a place in the 1/4 finals by a Grosso dive at the end of the match against Italy...something I would agree with!
Australia have slowly developed their national soccer side and moving into the Asian region has been good by forcing them to play a more competitive qualifying campaign. I think that the problem is that the Australian stars are getting older - Cahill and Kewill - I think they had their run in the last World Cup. They will not be a walk over but might be between generations to expect to improve upon Germany 2006. Serbia are the surprise nation, finishing first of their qualifying group - ahead of Les Bleus. They will be a solid squad that I think could surprise. Their back line will be anchored by the Manchester United man - Vidic and could showcase the Serbian/American Subotic (wonder if Bradley would eat his hat to have been able to line him up for the US?) the midfield will be run by the Inter man Stankovic. The main fear I have is the keeper...depending on who they play I have little confidence that the keeper can carry this team far. Just look at what Stojkovic did in the game against France...he was very shaky, even when his team were up 1 player! Finally there are the Black Stars of Ghana and we all know where their strength lies - midfield. With Essein, Muntari and Appiah they have arguably one of the best midfields, I would put them below Spain's but in the same ballpark. As they demonstrated last World Cup, they can ride this strength to the knock out stages and if they can avoid going head to head with a Brazil who knows how much further they can go. The question becomes how will they defend? There is little quality in the goal or on defense. Offensively they do not have a star striker which might limit how far they will go...maybe they would do better had Freddy Adu chosen to represent his native land....joking.
Clearly there will be some physical battles in this group. But in the end I think things will work out as follows: Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia - however the order after Germany could be any combination, I think that Australia is the least likely to finish 2nd. Player to watch - Ballack, the German captain will want to get off to a good start and make sure he can get his World Cup final - some would argue that had he not been suspended in 2002 that Germany would have won against Brazil.
