Posts Tagged ‘South America’

The 2010 World Cup is almost in the books.

We have a slight break until the semifinals are played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This World Cup is chalk full of surprises.

Who would thunk it that four South American teams would have made it to the quarterfinals.

The biggest surprise was the ease with which the Germans dismantled Argentina.

Germany flat out took Argentinos to the woodshed.

4-0 was a massacre of enormous proportions.

Maradona was the darling of the press but he can’t coach worth a lick.

Argentina had the best strike force in the world but if the coach doesn’t make adjustments, you lose.

Just ask Maradona.

The Netherlands come from behind win over Brasil.

When Brasil is leading at halftime, they had a perfect record.

Not this time.

Brasil fell apart after scoring the first goal.

This is totally uncharacteristic of Brasil.

The own goal and the leg stomp killed em.

Both sides were chippy from the outset.

Brasil lost its cool.

Brasileiros failed in its first real test.

Dunga won’t be back as manager.

Brasil is at least one player away from being a dominant force in world futebol.

Spain may become the first team to win a World Cup after losing their first match.

Germany-Spain will be a classic.

Talk about classic. How about Spain-Paraguay? Two missed PK’s and the off the left post goal late in the match to send the Spanish to the semifinals.

My hat is off to Paraguay.

Many of the so-called pundits predicated a Spain blowout.

Uruguay is seeking their third World Cup title.

Uruguay hasn’t won the World Cup since 1950.

These are just some of my observations of World Cup.

More to come on Tuesday.

www.palau.org

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The more things change the more things stay the same. This is deja vu all over again. Ghana defeated the USA 2-1 in extra time.

It took 120 minutes to settle this puppy.

Ghana knocked out the USA of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.

Yes, we won Group C  but the USA came up short when it counted.

Two defensive lapses killed the USA.

Kevin Prince Boateng split the seam in the “D”. He flat out beat a defenseless Tim Howard short post left in the 5^th minute.

The USA didn’t quit. We crawled back into the match.

Clint Dempsey took it to the rack. This forced the Ghana defender to foul him.

Up steps the D Man.

Landon Donovan nailed the PK off the right post in the 62^nd minute.

Injury time and it was Déjà vu all over again.

Asamoah Gyan beat two American defenders to the ball.

He flipped the shot over Tim Howard’s out stretched hands in the 93^rd minute.

The USA is now 0-1-14 in matches when they trailed at half.

These goals were not Tim Howard’s fault.

We played crappy “D” on these two plays that were the turning points of the match.

The USA showed promise but we still have a long way to go in futebol.

I am sad but hey this all part of the game.

Go Brasil.

Uruguay defeated South Korea 2-1.

Luis Suarez hit for the daily double.

Uruguay’s super striker Diego Forlan set up Suarez’s first goal with a great centering pass across the goal crease.

The second goal Suarez dribble to his right. He nailed a curling knuckler that went ker plunk off the right post into the twines.

Uruguay and Ghana will meet in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

South America’s strong showing in the World Cup surprises the clowns at ESPN however, I am not.

I have been writing about South American futebol for two years.

The pundits used by ESPN are ex-European futebol players. All these guys know is the EPL, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. They know nothing about South American clubs.

When one thinks about South American futebol only Brasil and Argentina, come to mind. Yet, team like  Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay are flying under the radar.

If you want to get a feel for South American futebol watch the Copa Libertadores. I have been follwing the Copa since 1993.

The teams that win the Copa always give the Champions League titleholder fits. Just ask Manchester United, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Inter Milan.

South American  futebol is for real folks.

Brasil has a ring for the thumb.

We are going for a ring for the other hand.

Italy has four titles.

Uruguay has won two World Cup titles.

Argentina has two titles too.

Many of the top futebolers are from South America.

Up next Argentina-Mexico and England-Germany.

Sunday will be great.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/