World Cup Roundup - Day 1
I’m gonna try to post my thoughts each day during the World Cup. Yeah, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it every day, but ya gotta set goals, right?
South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico
Uruguay 0 - 0 France
Two ties but two very different matches. Is it coincidence that the match between former champions was the boring one?
Bufana Bufana vs. El Tri
I was really in two minds prior to kick off. Do I want those evil cheating divers from the south to win so we’ll have the chance to knock them out later or do I just go with my usual stance and just hope they get the stuffing knocked out of them? About 30 seconds after kick off, I realized how tough it is to break old habits and started pulling for Bufana Bufana.
It’s amusing how much every made such a big deal about South Africa’s home field advantage. Those ‘experts’ I assume haven’t watched many matches Mexico has played at the Azteca.
Mexico started strong going at South Africa. Dos Santos should have scored in the first minute. They kept the pressure up well. However, I always describe Mexico as all form and no function. They look great but can’t finish the deal….score. Mexico had most of the play in the first half but it was still scoreless at the break.
Mexico started the second half much the same as they finished the first and had plenty of opportunities but it was the hosts who found the net first against the run of play with a great goal. Tshabalalalalalalalalala made a great run own the left. Dikgacoi did a great job of finding him with a perfectly weighted pass. The man with a song title for a last name kept his head as he entered the box and coolly slotted it away.
The game woke a bit then. It had been an entertaining match but both teams seemed to open up after the goal. Both sides created several chances and both should have found the net. It wasn’t until 10 minutes from time when Mexico managed to level the score. As much as I hate to admit it, they deserved the goal. They’d played well but just couldn’t score.
We all hate the French, right?
Honestly, I was surprised I stayed awake the entire match though I will admit to looking for other things to do as the match progressed. If it wasn’t for the performance of Diego Forlan, I’d have probably turned the TV off.
The French looked tired and slow. The Uruguayans didn’t seem to have any ideas beyond getting Forlan the ball. I found myself hoping he’d find he net just to open the match up a bit.
Yeah, both teams may have been a bit tight because it was their first match and they were both probably thinking it would be their toughest match. But they’ll need to loosen up a lot and come together better if they are going to make it to the next stage. I can actually see Mexico and South Africa going through based on that performance.
So, six hours of soccer heaven on Saturday highlighted by the huge match against England. I’m thinking soccer fans in the US are much more up for this one than the English. Can’t wait for kickoff.
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