World Cup Report: Days 1-3

Three days in to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the tournament is well underway now, with half of the thirty-two teams, having started their campaigns for success in South Africa.  Apart from England (who will be covered in separate match reports), here are minor details of the other seven matches to be played over the weekend.

Friday 11^th June: South Africa 1-1 Mexico

After a colourful and spectacular opening ceremony in Soccer City, the hosts won an unlikely and deserving point in the Group A opener in Johannesburg.  Against the talented North Americans Mexico, South Africa overcame the expected early nerves to break the deadlock early in the second half, when neat build-up released Siphiwe Tshabalala, who fired in a thunderbolt of an opening World Cup goal.  Cue massive celebrations for Bafana Bafana.  Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez ruined the party, taking advantage of slack marking to score from close range with 12 minutes left, but South Africa had done a nation proud and kept them believing of an unlikely passage into the knockout stages.

Friday 11^th June: Uruguay 0-0 France

As in the 2002 Group Stages, Uruguay and France played out a dull goalless draw in Cape Town.  Sidney Govou went closest in the early exchanges, failing to connect on a wonderful Patrice Evra cross.  Despite Diego Forlan threatening on occasion, the South Americans failed to capitalise on Raymond Domenach bizarre decision to leave Thierry Henry and Florent Malouda out of his starting eleven.  Substitute Nicolas Loderio picked up two yellows in the last ten minutes, which saw the Uruguay player become the first player to be dismissed in the finals.  It was an awful match, and left the favourites happy to see the French pose absolutely no threat to the probable final outcome in the tournament’s later stages.

Saturday 12^th June: South Korea 2-0 Greece

In Port Elizabeth, South Korea made a confident start with an emphatic 2-0 success over ageing Greece.  The 2004 European champions made little impact on the proceedings, conceding in either half to Lee Jung-Soo and Manchester United winger, Park-Ji Sung.

Saturday 12^th June: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

A dominant Argentina gave Diego Maradona a winning start to World Cup management at Ellis Park.  Africans Nigeria, who beat Argentina to win the Olympic gold in 1996, was no match for Maradona’s superstars, and ended up being lucky to lose this Group B encounter by just the one goal.  This was largely down to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Vincent Enyeama and poor finishing from the South Americans, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi especially guilty.  The only goal came in the sixth minute, with Gabriel Heinze powering home from Juan Sebastian Veron well-executed corner.

Sunday 13^th June: Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

England shouldn’t be too worried about their fellow Group C opponents, if this game has anything to go by.  Slovenia won their first ever World Cup match in a stinking match, settled by Robert Koren’s optimistic drive with ten minutes to go, which slipped through the grasp of Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi.

Sunday 13^th June: Serbia 0-1 Ghana

Africa received its first victory on day three, courtesy of Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty, earning Ghana a hard-fought 1-0 success against Serbia.  Raddy Antic’s side failed to cope with the powerful Ghanaian midfield, which dominated the game and were reduced to ten men, when defender Aleksandar Lukovic was dismissed for two yellow cards in the 74^th minute.  Gyan’s penalty came five minutes from time, when Serbia substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a dangerous cross.

Sunday 13^th June: Germany 4-0 Australia

Germany sent a message to the rest of the global opposition, with an impressive demolition of Australia in Durban last night.  Joachim Low’s gamble to play out-of-form strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose paid off, as the strike duo answered any doubters, with two first-half strikes.  Klose’s goal was his 11^th in three FIFA World Cup tournaments.  Everton Tim Cahill was harshly dismissed for a mistimed challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger early in the second half, which ended outside hope for the Socceroos.  Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller and substitute striker Cacau rounded off the rout midway through the second half, with two classy finishes to quality moves.  Make this note: The Germans must be taken seriously after this performance.