photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
It has only been three days, but Germany already looks like it will be one of the better teams in this World Cup.
Germany put forth a masterful performance on Sunday, cruising to a 4-0 mauling against Australia to take first place in Group D. Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose each netted in the first half, while Thomas Mueller and substitute Cacau scored in the second.
Silky-smooth passing and well-timed runs were the main undoing for Australia, whose back line always appeared a step too slow. Offensively, Australia struggled to create clear opportunities, although it did almost open the scoring off a corner early in the game.
To make matters worse for Australians, Tim Cahill was lost to a questionable red card in the 56th minute. Cahill attempted a tackle from behind on Bastian Schweinsteiger, but he tried to pull out of the challenge once he realized the ball had been played. His momentum still carried him through, and he was given a straight red, meaning his World Cup is over unless Australia wins an appeal or reaches the knockout stages.
Here are the match's highlights, as well as from the rest of Sunday's games:
Late penalty sees Ghana win, 1-0
Ghana didn't dominate like Germany, but it did become the first African nation to win a game in this World Cup with its 1-0 triumph over Serbia in the Group D opener.
Forward Asamoah Gyan, who scored the opener for Ghana in the 2006 World Cup, took advantage of a puzzling handball by substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic and netted the ensuing penalty kick in the 84th minute.
Both teams had their share of opportunities, but neither was very accurate. Ghana took 15 shots but only got one on goal while Serbia had 14 and two.
Former U.S. youth national team player Neven Subotic made his World Cup debut in the match, coming off the bench to play 14 minutes in Serbia's defeat.
Here are the match highlights:
Slovenia wins off goalkeeper gaffe
It seems like goalkeeping errors might become a theme in Group C.
Less than 24 hours after England's Robert Green handed the United States a 1-1 draw, Slovenia defeated Algeria, 1-0, when goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi misjudged a Robert Koren shot in the 79th minute.
Algeria had its opportunities to get a result, especially when Abdelkader Ghezzal was subbed in during the second half. Ghezzal provided a much-needed spark, but he received two yellow cards in the span of 15 minutes and left Algeria with 10 men in the 73rd.
Slovenia, who like Algeria displayed an organized defense but a lackluster attack, sits atop Group C with three points.
Here are the match highlights:
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What do you think of Sunday's matches? Impressed by Germany, or is Australia just a bad, old team? Celebrating Subotic and Serbia's loss? Think Ghana gets out of the group? Worried by Slovenia or Algeria?
Share your thoughts below.
Would rather have Serbia go through, face the USMNT (if it goes through as well) in the first knockout round and have the US beat Serbia. That would be nice.
If we can’t beat Slovenia, we don’t deserve to advance.
I watched the Confederations Cup so, to be honest, I don’t notice them. It did take me a game or two though, I’ll admit.
Germany were great but before we give the Cup to them. Australia were crappier than Greece, the other bad team I’ve seen so far.
Once Cahill went they lost their will and just flat out quit. It was an utter disgrace. These guys should not be allowed to wear that shirt ever again.
I’ll wait until the next two games to canonize Germany
You’re all crazy dudes, there’s no rule that says it. HE WILL BE JUDGED, and IF FIFA Disciplinary Committee decides that he deserves a 2 matches ban, or a 3 matches ban, he will be banned. IF NOT, he will be able to play the 3rd match.
I thought one game suspension for red card? How is Cahill’s world cup over? They have 2 games left in group stage?
You can tell Robert Green never has played baseball…You gotta get your body behind the ball! Worst case it hits your chest. He should watch the little league world series in August to get some pointers from those 11 and 12 year olds!
Pretty surprised with the straight red on the Aussie, but more disappointed at simple yellows for two embarrassing-to-watch dives by the Germans.
IMHO blatant dives should be straight reds, with repeat “performances” escalating from tournament suspensions to bans.
We can complain that Americans don’t give soccer a chance, but when you grow up watching the NFL it’s painful as a grown man to watch someone flop and pretend to be hurt, then complain to the ref every single time they see another athlete come within 10 feet of them. This is IMHO the biggest obstacle for Americans embracing the Beautiful Game.
Germany: You got the most spectacular passing in the Cup so far; and completely cheapened that perfect synchronicity with wimpy, sissy-boy flopping and crying. Girlie-men, indeed.
#EPICFAIL
You’re hoping for Algeria to tie England? Well, I hope you’re right, but I sure ain’t betting on it.
I love what Lalas said, “The US now must beat Slovenia, and hey, if you can’t beat Slovenia on a neutral pitch, you don’t deserve to be here anyway.”
I figured he meant a 3-way, 5-point tie. That’s still possible … requires Slovenia to tie the USA and England, and for both England and the USA to beat Algeria. That Algerian goalkeeper … GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL!
If we win, and England tie, we progress as long as we dont lose to Algeria or have a better goal diff if we do lose.
US-4
Slov-3
Eng-2
Alg-1
with Alg vs US and Slov vs England, only one of them can have enough points to surpass us or tie us.
Marcello Balboa
Seamus Malin
Anson Dorrance
Brandi Chastain
Lori Walker
Would prefer someone who knew the offside rule and our players.
There’s no way 3 teams could have 6 points. We basically have two paths to the second round:
1. Beat Slovenia, beat Algeria
ENG 7
USA 7
SVN 3
AlG 0
2. Draw Slovenia, beat Algeria, and hope that England does not drop points to either team
ENG 7
USA 5
SVN 4
ALG 0
Hopefully Slovenia won’t be playing us so defensive bc they will probably go for a tie against England so they will want a win against us, or at least for a bit before they hunker down in the 2nd half and settle for a tie. So the USMNT needs to get off to a quick start against Slovenia to open them up for the rest of the game.
Vuvuzelas will be banned for future WC’s for sure. I have a theory that part of the reason Fifa allowed them in SA was so that vendors and relative humble people in SA could make money selling them. Apparently they cost a $1 to make and they are being sold for $10-13.
The biggest annoyance to me is that you can’t hear all the ooohhhs and aaaahhhhs that follow the action of the game. You wonder if the horn blowers are even paying attention to the game or just there to party.
I’m hoping the vuvuzela blowers start to use them as weapons and throw them on the field which would lead to an immediate ban. Maybe a ref will blow a call in the next SA match and the vuvuzelas will start raining down on the field…
what really pisses me off about it is that you can’t hear the crowd’s songs. It gives a monotonous feel as if every game has the same, annoying fans.
I’m fearing a 6 pt. 3-way tie where it all comes down to how bad u beat Algeria…reminds me of the situation with Egypt last summer.
Jack Edwards.
I should shoot myself in the face for being “interested”. First off, a dialogue is what you need friend. You know, an exchange that occurs between two people. It will help with gaining a tone for your writing that isn’t abrasive and self absorbed. Unless you intended to share your internal monologue (which are difficult to use convincingly). Clearly you have a lot of passion and understanding of the game, but it always makes me sick when people can’t just appreciate the subtleties of the game without dwelling on every single perceived mistake that each player makes and their presumed inadequacies. Shut up! Enjoy the game. You know, other cultures call it ‘the beautiful game’. Sure, it’s not always beautiful…but thats what crack, video games, and porn are for. This is real life. As ugly as it is beautiful.
Perhaps the announcer was wrong.
I’m more annoyed with the general lack of quality on the pitch than any noises coming from around it.
The commentary hasn’t been much better.
And PLEASE can we not blame the @)!_&%* ball for atrocious goal keeping and atrocious strikes? It’s sad everyone now has a built-in excuse for howlers, shanks, and even brilliant goals (only brilliant because the crazy movement on the ball!/)
Meh.
^THIS.
So annoying that every.single.game on ESPN this month will be commentated by Brits. But atleast they brought Harkesy along for the US games! /
3 days in I already cannot stand Ekoku (terrible, and his euro-snobbery about “getting in trouble” with a England-US prediction sealed it), not particularly fond of Tyler, and despite not understanding Spanish feel the urge to just watch the games there.
But it’s borderline offensive that, on American television, we’re (or, ESPN) that self-loathing and insecure to think the only way to do soccer is the “Euro way.” Trust me ESPN, this isn’t helping win people over.
so what americans besides JP do you think would do a better play by play job than tyler? Come on…
Big-time viewership, tops for a USA match since 1994. For good reason, it turned out to be a good game.
Wrote up an in-game dialogue on the whole ordeal my website if anyone is interested: http://tinyurl.com/36vrg7a
And that was just ESPN, when you add Univision it will be over 20, easily, right?
I’ve heard some radio highlights from Dellacamera, and they illustrate exactly what made me sick of him. They sound just like he sounded on television. He didn’t have to adjust his style at all going from TV to radio. He talked way too much. We don’t need to know that Dempsey just passed to Donovan out wide, who’s taking two touches then moving inside before laying it off. We can see. If you want an example of how much better Tyler is, he makes John Harkes palatable. The only other person that’s ever accomplished that was my local bartender.
I agree without Cahill Australia is done.
So Germany wins the group as expected, and Ghana has the edge for second. Probably.
I can’t believe FIFA didn’t ban them after the Confed’s cup. They know what was coming… it’s a disgrace.
13 million viewers for the USA – England game
I prefer some one who actually knows our team…which means I would rather have JP than Tyler. I’m also annoyed with ESPN contrinuting to the myth that you have to have a British accent to understnad this game.
Tyler >>> Dellacamera
Harkes = zero
Vuvuzelas = worst annoyance in WC history (Can’t the TV folks just block all sound from the field, and broadcast just the announcers on the audio, plus crowd cheers on goals? Even canned, generic crowd noises would be better than that infernal racket)