1. Argentina is the best team in the world right now…
There are only three teams left who can still take the full nine points and equal Argentina’s flawless group stage performance. However, it’s really inconceivable that any can do so in such a dominating fashion as Maradona’s bunch. To coast to three consecutive wins is one thing – to do so with the best player in the world yet to score a goal is a thought that will keep opponents from sleeping at night.
A quick portrait of utter domination: According to Opta Sports, Argentina’s 82% time of possession against the Greeks was highest since the 1966 World Cup. Juan Sebastian Veron was both the architect and illustration of this one-sided romp, making an unheard-of 153 passes, also a post-1966 record. On the other side of the pitch was futility incarnate. Greece, a side in desperate need of a win (and therefore, goals) became the first team in this World Cup to be held without a shot in a half.
2. Nigeria has nobody but itself to blame…
If you didn’t know better, you’d think the Super Eagles had money against themselves in this tournament. Their inconsolable faces, however, told a different story – one a team that blew two 1-0 leads, earned a red card that cost them a game, and missed a shot into an open net from three yards out that would have rendered those other failures immaterial and started one of the biggest sport-induced parties a continent had ever seen.
Instead, after coughing up its second 1-0 early lead of the tournament, Yakubu Ayegbeni found himself simply needing to touch a ball into the net to level the score at two. His deflection wide was the howler of the tournament, a golden opportunity that even Peg Leg Pete couldn’t have squandered as poorly. Only minutes later, he earned a small level of redemption by converting a penalty kick to bring the score to 2-2, but it should have been the winner that sent Nigeria into the Round of 16.
3. South Africa can hold its head high…
Today simply confirmed what we all knew was coming – Bafana Bafana became the first host country to be eliminated in the group stage, a feat even more shocking upon realizing that even the United States escaped this sordid fate as hosts in 1994. Yes, it’s unfortunate, but it’s also the fate they accepted the day FIFA chose their bid – with their world ranking usually closer to 100 than 50.
They opened the scoring in Africa’s first Cup with a goal for the ages against Mexico, nearly pulling off an incredible upset before settling for an unexpected tie. Overpowered by a much stronger Uruguay team, they never gave up and finished as proud victors over a French squad in ruins.
Their only fault lies in their unfailing love for the worst sound ever created. BZZZZZZZZZZ.
4. But the French should hang theirs in shame…
The French picked up where they left off in the 2006 Cup – at least in terms of disgrace. The indelible image of that final will always be Zinedane Zidane trudging past the FIFA World Cup Trophy on his way to the locker room after The Headbutt.
The signs were there, especially after a 1-0 loss to China in a recent friendly. But nobody could have fully anticipated the havoc wreaked upon the French soccer program during the past two weeks. Two games came, zero goals went. Nicolas Anelka was sent home for calling (soon to be former) manager Ray Domenech “the son of a whore” at halftime of a 2-0 loss to Mexico. Soon thereafter, a training ground dispute ended with the team refusing to practice. That led to the exclusion of four mainstays from the South Africa starting lineup, including captain Patrice Evra. Ultimately, the humiliation was complete after a first-half red card kick-started a 2-1 win for the hosts and left the 2006 runners-up at the bottom of the standings in Group A.
5. Anything can happen tomorrow…
Tuesday’s matches saw Uruguay and Mexico virtually assured of qualifying in Group A and Argentina almost guaranteed to win Group B. Not Wednesday. With no clear leaders in Groups C and D, almost anything can happen. It’s not unrealistic to imagine Algeria – one of two teams yet to score a goal – advance with a win and a Slovakia win against England. Each of Slovakia, England, and the United States control their own destiny and can finish in the top two with a win Wednesday. The idea situation for the Americans would be a win coupled with an England win, securing first place an likely avoiding a game against Germany.
The Germans are still in good shape despite a shock defeat to Serbia in their second game. Their strong goal differential likely puts them in position to claim first with a win over Ghana, even if Serbia defeats Australia. Just as in Group C, the three best teams each need only a win to advance, while cellar dwellars Australia would most likely need a win while also avoiding a tie between Ghana and Germany. With no clear-cut favorites, it should be an entertaining four games, especially considering England and Germany are far closer to joining France in elimination than they possibly could have fathomed.
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