Game on....Day1: Games 1 &2
With the big kick off just a tea break away, we look now at the first two matchups in detail.
First Germany v Costa Rica.
The German's star player, Michael Ballack, the best attacking midfielder in Europe is a doubt. TV in Germany is filled with nothing else. Will he make it? The latest reports from Germany is he might!The man himself is quoted as saying 'I am fit, I want to play' in an Arnie Shwarzenneger accent. The Borg may have their collective but it don't run half as efficiently without it's head man in the middle. However, if he doesn't make it the German's still have more than enogh to defeat the Costa Ricans, but hey, aren't opening games supposed to throw up surprises?
Costa Rica are a bit of an unknown force. Paulo Wanchope's rubber legs can often bend comically out of control when there is no defender within 10 yards. Players used to the more ethereal style of Costa Rican football may find the robuster contact of European opponents uncovers hitherto unrealised jelly in their legs.
With this in mind, and the physicality of the Germans, they really need a very sympathetic referee to force anything other than a resounding defeat. In saying this, Costa Rica are the romantics of the tournament, who subscribe to the Kevin Keegan philosophy of football: however many you score, we'll score one fewer. A 3-2 defeat in France last year, when they were 2-0 up at half-time, showed their strengths and weaknesses, but they are loose cannons who will make some hits in the weakest group in the tournament.
But, my head says Germany.
In the second Match up, Poland take on Ecuador
A draw is written all over this one. Keep a close eye on Euzebiusz Smolarek. The skilful 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker plays in midfield for Poland, having grown up in Holland and risen through the ranks at Feyenoord. Poland are workmanlike and busy about the pitch with no real outstanding flair. They could nail second place in the group when they have their annual grudge match against the Germans end in a draw.
Ecuador? Who? I know absolutely nothing about this crowd except for a montage of footage that lasted 4 minutes on 'Trans World Sport' last week. As mentioned earlier in this blog, Austin Delgado is their main man, and if he's their main man, God help them. I still think they'll force a draw, simply because the Poles aren't that good either.
First Germany v Costa Rica.
The German's star player, Michael Ballack, the best attacking midfielder in Europe is a doubt. TV in Germany is filled with nothing else. Will he make it? The latest reports from Germany is he might!The man himself is quoted as saying 'I am fit, I want to play' in an Arnie Shwarzenneger accent. The Borg may have their collective but it don't run half as efficiently without it's head man in the middle. However, if he doesn't make it the German's still have more than enogh to defeat the Costa Ricans, but hey, aren't opening games supposed to throw up surprises?
Costa Rica are a bit of an unknown force. Paulo Wanchope's rubber legs can often bend comically out of control when there is no defender within 10 yards. Players used to the more ethereal style of Costa Rican football may find the robuster contact of European opponents uncovers hitherto unrealised jelly in their legs.
With this in mind, and the physicality of the Germans, they really need a very sympathetic referee to force anything other than a resounding defeat. In saying this, Costa Rica are the romantics of the tournament, who subscribe to the Kevin Keegan philosophy of football: however many you score, we'll score one fewer. A 3-2 defeat in France last year, when they were 2-0 up at half-time, showed their strengths and weaknesses, but they are loose cannons who will make some hits in the weakest group in the tournament.
But, my head says Germany.
In the second Match up, Poland take on Ecuador
A draw is written all over this one. Keep a close eye on Euzebiusz Smolarek. The skilful 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker plays in midfield for Poland, having grown up in Holland and risen through the ranks at Feyenoord. Poland are workmanlike and busy about the pitch with no real outstanding flair. They could nail second place in the group when they have their annual grudge match against the Germans end in a draw.
Ecuador? Who? I know absolutely nothing about this crowd except for a montage of footage that lasted 4 minutes on 'Trans World Sport' last week. As mentioned earlier in this blog, Austin Delgado is their main man, and if he's their main man, God help them. I still think they'll force a draw, simply because the Poles aren't that good either.
posted by Derek Keogh | 12:55 PM
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