Irene's Weblog

After a two day break, World Cup action is back. The first match today was Brazil v. The Netherlands. I really wanted The Netherlands to win, but the Brazilians are the better team. Still, anything can happen so you have to watch the matches.

Brazil thought they had scored a goal, but they were clearly offside. It didn’t matter much because a couple of minutes later, Robinho scored a goal to put Brazil up 1-0. The Dutch had a chance to score around the the 30th minute, but the Brazilians shut them down. Three Dutchmen vs. nine Brazilians just doesn’t accomplish much. The first half was filled with far too many fouls and a flow to the game just never developed.

In stoppage time, Robben tried to get past seven Brazilians, but he just got no help from anyone else and couldn’t put the ball into the net. If the Dutch had been up in the box, they could have scored. They needed to talk halftime to discuss the fact that Van Persie and Robben can’t do everything. They also need to figure out that one man can’t do it all. It’s a team game.

In the second half, the Dutch scored in the 53rd minute with a goal that came out of nowhere by Felipe Melo of Brazil. It was absolutely beautiful. The second half was much more exciting. In the 68th minute, a corner kick by Arjen Robben was headed by Dirk Kuyt who headed the ball to Wesley Sneijder who put the ball in the back of the net with his own header. It was absolutely insane and I loved every minute of it.

Felipe Melo got a red card for intentionally stomping Robben. It was not a good day for Melo at all. The ref was right on top of everything today. The Dutch pull a gigantic upset and knock Brazil out of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory. Absolutely fantastic and I didn’t think it would happen. I had actually picked Brazil to win the cup.

Uruguay v. Ghana was next and I’m sticking with Ghana. They probably won’t win, but they’re my team today. Fucile had a terrible accident in the 42nd minute and fell to the ground. He lay on the ground, completely limp. Eyes closed, everyone thought he might be dead. It appeared as if he landed on his neck. I don’t know how Fucile isn’t dead, but he’s officially the badass of the match.

Uruguay subbed Lugano, their captain, in the 33rd minute. Just when everyone thought that it would be 0-0 at the end of the first half, Sulley Muntari scored two minutes into stoppage time with a beautiful kick that took a parabolic curve into the net, putting Ghana up 1-0 at the half. Everyone anxiously awaited the second half to see if Ghana could hold out and win.

Uruguay came back in the second half to even the score in the 55th minute with a masterful kick by Diego Forlán. As with the earlier game, there are far too much diving and fouling.

The match went to extra time and, just at the last moment, Luis Suarez got a red card and was sent off. This set up a penalty kick for Ghana and Asamoah Gyan could have won it, but he hit the crossbar. The match went to penalty kicks, where Argentina would prove victorious 4-2.

It was a dramatic game marred by the constant time wasting measures and missed opportunities from both teams. Unfortunately, Ghana are going home, but it was a great match to see.

The first match today was The Netherlands v. Slovakia. Naturally, I root for the Dutch. Robben scored for Holland in the minute. The rest of the first half was relatively uneventful. In the second half, it was mostly a boring match until the minute, when Sneijder put the ball in. The Dutch were up 2-0 at that point. At, literally, the last second, Slovakia got a penalty kick. Vittek converted the goal at which point the ref blew the final whistle. Vittek has now scored more international goals than anyone else in Sloveakia. Final score The Netherlands 2-1 Slovakia. I’m glad the Dutch won, but, wow, that was a boring match.

Here is a picture of The Netherlands’ “sexiest” fan:

In the second match of the day, Brazil took on Chile. It proved to be one of the better matches of the World Cup so far. Brazil won 3-0, sending Chile home. Brazil will next face The Netherlands, which should prove to be another exciting game.

Bleary eyed, I awoke this morning so I could watch the Slovakia v. Paraguay game. It was very difficult to get up today. I didn’t want to, but I am on this quest to watch every single match of the World Cup this year. It will get interesting next week when two games are played at once. I will find a way, however, as I will see every game. I’m particularly tired this morning because we got a hail storm last night and that majorly cut into my sleep time. I collected a few more dings on my car, but the windows are still intact. Now, on to the match.

Paraguay struck first with a goal in the 27th minute by Enrique Vera on the outside of his foot. It was a very enjoyable first half. Hopefully, the second half will be just as good.

Alas, the second half was a bit boring. Much of it consisted of the Slovakian team waiting and waiting for a counter attack. Paraguay controlled the much of the game and Cristian Riveros scored in the 86th minute. Although Paraguay won 2-0, it was a forgettable match.

Next up was was Italy v. New Zealand. The Italians are wearing black armbands today in memory of the former Italian international Roberto Rosato who died yesterday at the age of 66. New Zealand scored first with a short tap by Shane Smeltz in the 7th minute off an accidental pass by Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro. Smeltz was offside by a far distance, but the goal stands. Immediately after this goal, the boards were a twitter with comments about…the hot lady in the stands with the long, black hair. Vincenzo Iaquinta scored an equalizer in the 29th minute on a penalty kick. A thrilling first half.

During half time, we learned that the French are refusing to train and The French Football Federation’s managing director subsequently quit. The players are upset that Anelka was sent home.

The second half consisted of the Italians falling down and/or diving at every opportunity they got. New Zealand held on for a 1-1 draw. Everyone is saying Ryan is the man of the match, but I think the New Zealand goalkeeper should have been picked because of the great defending of the goal today.

Nearly all the European teams, which are some of the best in the world, are simply struggling through their games at this World Cup.

The last match of the day was Brazil v. Côte d’Ivoire. Luis Fabiano made a great strike into the top of the net to put Brazil up 1-0. That’s the score at the half. So far, Brazil have shown flashes of brilliance, but an otherwise boring half.

Fabiano scored again 50th minute. Brazil scored a third time in the 62nd minute when Elano found the back of the net. Drogba scored for Côte d’Ivoire in the 79th minute, the first time in history that an African team has scored against Brazil.

In the 87th minute, Kaka punched Keita in the chest or Keita ran into Kaka, depending on how you look at it. Keita then grabbed his head and dove to the ground. Kaka gets a yellow card, his second, which means a red card and a one match ban for Kaka.

Sure, there’s only 3 minutes left and Brazil are going to win anyway, but Brazil are left with ten men for the rest of the game. Brazil win 3-1. A pretty disgraceful second half. A supposed double handball from Brazil for a goal. Intentional diving. Ugly tackling. Overly aggressive play.