By RYAN TOLMICH
While Thursday’s opener officially kicked off the tournament, Day 2 of the World Cup is when the fun truly begins. With a slate of three games on the docket, Friday’s lineup boasts the first full day of World Cup action.
The day’s action will start off with a Group A clash between Mexico and Cameroon in a matchup that will be key for a pair of teams jockeying for position behind yesterday’s winner, Brazil. Both teams limped through qualifying, but Friday’s contest gives both teams a chance to erase any memories of frustration by providing their supporters with three crucial points.
The second contest is the day’s headliner, as defending champion Spain takes on the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 final. Friday’s game is a first in the tournament’s long history, as prior to this contest, there had never been a Group Stage rematch between the last tournament’s finalists. While both sides will be gunning for early points, the 2010 tournament proved that it is possible to succeed after stumbling out of the gate, as Spain became the World Cup’s first team to win it all after losing its opening game.
The day’s action will conclude with the other two teams in Group B, Chile and Australia. The two sides will surely have their backs against the wall in their contests with Spain and the Netherlands, so Friday’s opener will be crucial if either team has hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
If you will be watching today’s matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (TV listings after the jump):
TODAY’S WORLD CUP SOCCER ON TV
11:30am – Mexico vs. Cameroon – ESPN2
2:30pm – Spain vs. Netherlands – ESPN
5:30pm – Chile vs. Australia – ESPN2
Its not a spain game without the diving and faking injuries
hahahahaha so many satchels in madrid
Anyone else noticing the Brazilian fan’s reaction to Costa when he gets the ball? If not, they boo, LOUDLY, when he gets the ball at his feet and cheer when he is fouled or loses the ball. As well, the CBF officially asked the Brazilian government to revoke Costa’s citizenship in Brazil. Think about that for a minute…
That is how they feel about a Brazilian nation playing for any team that isn’t Brazil. So, please stop calling people on here “xenophobic” for wanting our team to be American-based. Yes, they have an American passport but that doesn’t mean we want them playing on the team.
Here comes the rage and rancor in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1……
Brazilian national*…
Not even slightly analogous. You won’t approve of new guys because of their “German roots.” while also failing to complain about the Norwegian and Icelandic guys. The Brazilian fans, on the other hand, are booing a turncoat, a la Rossi. Sorry, but yes, you’re a xenophobe.
Are you a dual national?
I am. When you actually live it, you would understand.
But you don’t, so you can’t.
Slurs make hold with your beer buddies, but not with me.
The comparison holds well. Just think about Chandler or Boyd. How are those guys Americans? They barely speak English, live in Germany, play in German and have very little contact with the country.
But, at the end of the day it matters not. You will think what you want regardless.
The Brazilians are hating on Costa because he turned his back on Brazil. In the case of Chandler or Boyd, it only makes sense for the GERMANS to boo them for turning their backs on GERMANY.
In either case, it’s not xenophobia.
You should’ve stopped with Chandler. Boyd is hands-down the most patriotic of all the German-American players.
this is a flawed analogy. Costa was a NATURALIZED citizen of Spain. he has zero ties to Spain other than living there long enough to get a passport.
each of our German-Americans born outside of the US had passports already because their dad was in the US military…
You’ve got it completely backwards.
Diego Costa is Brazil’s Gio Rossi, not their Timmy Chandler.
wow
I’m going to try the RvP goal in my rec league. Wish me luck
You have health insurance right?
sick goal!
also, for that PK, it is VERY similar to Jozy’s PK against Chelsea. it’s the same thing. the striker steps on the leg of the defender as the defender is sliding which causes him to lose his balance.
Yep, very much similar. The defender was much closer to Jozy but same idea.
super smart play by Costa imo, don’t know that it was a PK tho but he made the play happen and forced the ref to make a decision
THIS.
It was a legit penalty. He sold it but it wasn’t a dive.
You get your breaks where you can.
He stepped on the defender and fell over.
That was gorgeous by RVP. Just amazing. Chip a keeper on a running header.
DAAAAAAAMN
RVP RVP RVP
OMG
great goal
not really saying much but best goal of the tournament so far
RVP! Nice goal from the flying Dutchmen.
The Dutch are being silly here. They don’t need to be getting so getting sooo many Yellow is gunna get people suspended in last group game. That last group game is Chile.
Spain are the woooooorst. Zzzzzzz
Spain players getting all the calls, a simple check an a call or a card…is like watching the them play in La Liga.
the Dutch don’t seem to be finishing their runs or showing much appetite for attack… 3-4 crosses in the box that were dangerous, but no Dutch to pounce on htem… tired?
AND then they do that….wow… two beautiful crosses and finishes
He actually stepped in the other direction of his cut to initiate contact…stepping on the sliding defender. Officials 0-2 on penalty calls so far.
Costa first catches himself then decides to flop
Now I see why Klinsman has selected Green, that kid’s flopping skills are next level.
Dive.
Not a penalty.
Certainly not the defenders fault. I have no idea how Costa managed to get fouled. It was impressive.
With so little reaction time, in the run of play, that was a world class drawing of a foul that should never be called.
It’s pronounced GorDONinho.
watching how Diego Costa Bedoya-ed (verb i.e. to butcher a numbers adnvantage in the final third) makesme think Spain might as well go 4-6-0
Spain have sent over their Olympic diving team by mistake.
NED is in their changes and ESP is wearing their thirds? WTH? Did the officials forget their blacks?
seriously, I want Orange and Red/Blue, not Soviet Union vs Florida Gators
I could understand not wanting Orange vs Red, but if you’re going to put NED in their blue change kits, let ESP wear red and put the officials in yellow.
Roberto Martinez is such a great addition to ESPN. His analysis is so good especially for the casual american audience. More of him please!
Predictions on the Spain Netherlands game? I feel Spain wins 1-0. It seems like that kind of tourney so far
that was my prediction. starting to regret my last minute change to 2-1 Spain…
I don’t understand why ESPN find it necessary to have Moreno and the other idiot calling the game, hate having to watch the game in silent, but just can’t stand them two and all the other idiots they bring to the studio incluidng the one in the last segment.
Mexico really needed 3 goals to help there cause. Now they have to beat both Croatia and Brazil
Anybody else got the live stream app?
Suck it ESPN its free and in English.
Fair win by Mexico. With a different referee this game ends up 3-0 for Mexico.
I will say this. It wasnt actually the ref this time. It was the lineman not knowing what offside is.
That’s not really fair to say. I’m 93.14159% certain that the AR though he saw the flickon come from a Mexican head on the second goal. If that’s what had actually happened, his call would have been right.
Lol this is th e only points Mexico will get
Chicharito sucks so bad. He has missed liked that so much recently.
PS
I really hate those announcers.
The Chicharito miss at least gave me a moment of joy. He’s trash.
Chicharito is phenomenal at missing from the edge of the 6…lol.
so this ref called two BS offside calls and missed a pretty decent PK claim for Cameroon in the first half. then ends up missing a Rafa handball in the box late in the game. nightmare game for him.
The handball would have been a little harsh.
I agree it was off a deflection and it wasnt like the deflection was headed right at the goal. It was just flying off somewhere that might have been the box.
was it deflected? i’m referring to the shot that went straight into rafa’s raised hand inside the box. i agree it wasn’t looking like it was on target, but that is irrelevant.
not deflected…must be commenting on 2 separate incidents
would it? the Cameroon guy shot the ball and Rafa had his hand up away from his side. the dude’s shot nails Rafa’s hand inside the box. it’s a PK, IMO. probably would have been harsh because Cameroon didn’t deserve to tie, but it’s just another poor example from the refs.
Hilarious miss by little green pea.
Wow what a missed sitter
Actually, I’m going to agree with T.Twellman (and that almost never happens). It wasn’t a sitter. He was wide open; it was just outside the 6; but it was not a sitter.
He was running (making a good run by the way), and the service coming in hard, waist high. Keeping that down is not an easy task. That comes in three feet higher or lower, and there is no reason he shouldn’t score it.
He is just lacking form (and confidence) after sitting behind Rooney, Van Persie and Wellbeck for so long. Going through much the same thing that Jozy was. To be honest, the only three players I would worry about when they are in form are Gio, Chicharito, and Layun.
It really just seemed like he didn’t know how alone he was and over-hit it. That ball really just needed to be guided on frame or taken down and slotted home.
Also.. that cross should have been to his feet.
If that cross came in three feet lower, it would have been under the pitch. Lol.
Dempsey slams that in the net 99.9% of the time.
LOL chicharito!
+1 LLOOLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Four minutes is excessive.
Way to much Mexican ass there. White shorts and rain no good.
Cameroon is 3 and out. They are pretty awful.
Referees (linesman in this case) once again taking center stage.
Japanese and Colombian officiating crews out of the World Cup immediately.
This is a horrible start to the tournament, refereeing disaster after another.
I assume that ESP-NED will have a UEFA crew?
wow, Rafa with a clear handball in the box!
looked that way to me too bryan
Mexico benefits once again from being in a group of easy. Have they ever been in a group of death ?
I still don’t see them getting out of this group. They look to weak in the back. I think they need to put in at least one more this game if they want to have a chance at advancing, and it’s still no sure thing Cameroon doesn’t equalize here.
Is this your first WC?
A simple google search would yield an answer.
Not to mention that aside from 2002, they’ve gotten deadly match ups in the round of 16 unlike our boys.
The homerism around here can be unbearable at times.
Is one of the commentators Alejandro Moreno? His voice is annoying,
Who keeps blowing that effing whistle
Can’t stand the announcers on Mexico games, they’re such homers, completely biased. Also, can’t stand Mexico fans when they scream “ole” when they haven’t scored or created a chance like in the first half. Please Cameroon, equalize and shut them up.
Cameroon is the worst World Cup team I have ever seen.
No doubt Kev, they also look gassed out.
They aren’t even the worst team in this year’s cup. Certainly they’re not worse than the 2002 China squad. That’s the worst WC team I can think of.
What about the DPRK in 2010?
0-0-3 with a -11 GD.
Yeah, they’re definitely another candidate. I don’t know why Asia gets so many spots. Sure, a lot of people live there but there aren’t many world cup level national teams.
It’s really kinda funny, because AFC is basically Japan, ROK, AUS (sorta), and then filler, yet AFC is often the beneficiary of schemes to take away CONCACAF’s half spot or even a full spot. If were to give CONACAF’s playoff spot to AFC, you just let the winner of Uzbekistan and Jordan into the WCF at the expense of MEX (OFC will play COMNEBOL in the playoffs). If you give them a full spot (so 5.5 spots for AFC), the Uzbeks probably qualify automatically and Jordan plays Qatar for a shot in the IC playoff.
Lots of people… bad football.
And don’t get me wrong – Cameroon look bad, there’s no denying that.
Are we really surprised that Mexico is pole-axing a side that is more concerned about bonus money than the actual tournament?
Cameroon looked like they didn’t care to even be at the World Cup. Not much togetherness or drive – very flat.
Booooooo Mexico and espn announcers or my I say Mexico fans
That goal remind anyone of the one LD scored against Algeria?
Yup spill by the keep and a simple tap in. Well this was a bit more difficult.
That’s the first thing I thought