Lee Vilenski

Jun 18 2010, 08:51 PM

When on earth did we build an England Squad around that? That's pathetic.

TC Admin

Jun 18 2010, 09:10 PM

It was indeed, but I'm asking what you think the England team is built around?

TC Admin

Jun 17 2010, 09:13 PM

More interesting news regarding Spain and their defeat to Switzerland - there's an alternative explanation:

BBC News

 

Spanish football fans have been speculating that goalkeeper Iker Casillas may have been distracted by his TV reporter girlfriend.

Attention focused on Casillas after Spain's shock 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their first game of the World Cup.

His girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, once voted the world's sexiest journalist, was filming behind the goalmouth before the game.

She then conducted a post-match interview with Casillas.

The wives and girlfriends of Spanish players, known as esposas y novias (wives and girlfriends), are barred from accompanying them to the tournament.

Before the World Cup, when it was announced Carbonero would be in South Africa doing her trademark post-match interviews, she dismissed claims she would be disruptive, saying: "Can I destabilise the team? I think it's nonsense."

In Wednesday's match, Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes bundled the ball into Spain's goal in the 52nd minute of the game.

Casillas had rushed out to tackle a Swiss forward, but failed to grab the ball, which fell luckily for Fernandes.

Later, Spanish football websites carried comments suggesting that the presence of 25-year-old Carbonero could have affected Casillas's performance.

Casillas said in the post-match interview that the players were "annoyed" at the defeat.

Carbonero, who was voted Sexiest Reporter in the World by FHM USA last year, has been dating the Real Madrid goalkeeper since 2009.

Before their opening match, Spain were rated as co-favourites to win the tournament alongside Brazil.

Haha, you're probably reading this wondering what she looks like, so:



Ah, that's why they lost.

BBC Sport

 

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is expected to stick with the same line-up that faced Denmark in their opening game. Arjen Robben has been training on his own this week as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury and is unlikely to be risked.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada opted for an ultra-defensive 4-1-4-1 formation against Cameroon, and is expected to field the same starting XI against the Dutch.

One booking from suspension: De Jong, Van Persie (Netherlands); Abe (Japan).

MATCH PREVIEW

Japan have never gone beyond the group stage of the World Cup outside their own country, but Monday's historic victory over Cameroon has given the Blue Samurai some much-needed self-belief. Takeshi Okada's team are being hailed as heroes in their homeland following their first-ever World Cup win on foreign soil, and they will go into Saturday's encounter against the Netherlands in confident mood.

Japan's hopes will again rest on the shoulders of Keisuke Honda. The 24-year-old was singled out by coach Okada before the tournament as the Blue Samurai's key man, and proved why with the match-winning goal against Cameroon. Japan have won all five matches in which the CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder has scored, keeping a clean sheet in all of them.

Japan may have contained a poor Cameroon side, but stopping the Dutch is a different matter. Bert van Marwijk's talented team may have been underwhelming in their 2-0 victory over Denmark, but the coach put their display down to nerves and has promised a more fluid performance on Saturday. Van Marwijk will again be without Arjen Robben, who continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, but an eye-catching performance from substitute Eljero Elia suggests the Dutch have a more than able deputy for the Bayern Munich winger.

The only previous meeting between these sides was in September last year, when the Dutch ran out 3-0 winners but were outplayed for an hour by Okada's side. "The first hour of that match Japan were in charge," Wesley Sneijder told reporters this week. "Our coach said that was the only match our opponents really made it difficult for us, so let that be the only one."

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- These side have only met once before, in September 2009. The Netherlands won 3-0 thanks to goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
Netherlands

- Van Marwijk's side are unbeaten since September 2008 (a 2-1 defeat to Australia in Eindhoven), a run of 20 fixtures.

- The Dutch have a 100% record against Asian opposition at the World Cup: they beat Iran 3-0 in 1978, Saudi Arabia 2-1 in 1994 and South Korea 5-0 in 1998.

Japan

- Monday's 1-0 win over Denmark was their first ever World Cup victory on foreign soil.

- That victory ended a run of four straight defeats for Okada's men.

- Japan have faced European opposition in their second group game in each of their three previous World Cup finals appearances (losing 1-0 to Croatia in 1998, beating Russia 1-0 in 2002 and drawing 0-0 with Croatia in 2006).

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)

Assistants: Ricardo Casas and Hernan Maidana (Argentina)

Fourth official: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

BBC Sport

 

Australia could make wholesale changes to their side following their 4-0 thrashing by Germany. Tim Cahill is suspended so Harry Kewell is likely to start up front and he may be partnered by Josh Kennedy.

Defensive midfielder Vince Grella has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Ghana have no injury worries and could pick the same XI that impressed in beating Serbia 1-0, which means Kevin-Prince Boateng is set to keep his place and win only his third cap for Ghana.

One booking from suspension: Vorsah, Tagoe (Ghana); Moore, Neill, Valeri (Australia).

MATCH PREVIEW

Fresh from being torn to shreds by Germany's young pups, Australia's Dad's Army now have to face the youngest team in the competition, Ghana, as they desperately try to salvage their World Cup dream.

The Socceroos' defeat to Germany was an unmitigated disaster. Coach Pim Verbeek, hardly a darling of the Australian press, has been absolutely lambasted in the media with one newspaper saying his tactical decisions made him look like a "rabbit in the headlights rather than a magician pulling one out of a hat."

Never a man to take a risk, his decision to play a virtual 4-6-0 formation with midfielders Tim Cahill and Richard Garcia of Hull asked to play as deep-lying attackers was a shambles. Rumours of discontent in the squad have hardly helped matters, with regular starters Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy said to be fuming at being left out.

The Black Stars of Ghana were the first African team to pick up three points at this World Cup and were good value for their win over Serbia. Germany's defeat to the Serbians on Friday has blown Group D wide open, but the Ghanaians would be a step closer to the second round if they beat the Aussies in Rustenberg. This would set up an intriguing final group game against Germany, which could determine who plays England in the last 16.

MATCH STATS
Head-to-head

- This will be the seventh meeting between the sides. Australia have won four of the previous meetings, Ghana two and there has been one draw.

- They have played each other before in South Africa when Australia beat Ghana 1-0 in a friendly in Durban in 1996.

Germany

- This is the 100th match played by an African side at the World Cup.

- Following his goal against Serbia, Asamoah Gyan has now scored in five of Ghana's 10 matches in 2010. He became the first Ghanaian to score in two World Cups.

- Gyan was the first striker to score at the 2010 World Cup. His goal ended a record streak of 10 World Cup goals scored by either a defender or midfielder. Portugal's Nuno Gomes (2006) was the last forward before Gyan to score a World Cup goal.

Ghana

- Five players have been sent off in the last three World Cup matches involving Australia.

- Australia lined up with the fifth-oldest team to play in a World Cup match against Germany. They had an average age of 31 years and 282 days which was the oldest team to play at a World Cup for 12 years.

- Craig Moore debuted for Australia against Ghana in a friendly in June 1995.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Assistants Paolo Calcagno (Italy) and Stefano Ayroldi (Italy)

Fourth official Carlos Simon (Brazil)

BBC Sport

 

Cameroon looked impotent in attack against Japan and coach Paul Le Guen may opt to use Samuel Eto'o in a more central role rather than wide right. Alexandre Song was a surprise omission against Japan and could return in place of 18-year-old Joel Matip.

Danish forwards Jon Dahl Tomasson (thigh) and Mikkel Beckmann (toe) continue to train alone. Defender Simon Kjaer (knee) and midfielder Daniel Jensen (Achilles) have niggling injuries but are expected to be available.

One booking from suspension: Nkoulou (Cameroon); Kjaer (Denmark).

MATCH PREVIEW

Cameroon lost 1-0 to Japan and Denmark were beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands in their opening games and both sides desperately need a win at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium to have a realistic hope of making the second round.

Cameroon's World Cup is in danger of imploding with coach Paul Le Guen refusing to speak to the media and senior players questioning the coach's team selection. Some of the Indomitable Lions are unhappy at the promotion of several cubs to the starting XI at the expense of veteran defenders Rigobert Song and Geremi and Arsenal's Alexandre Song. "The young players cannot withstand the sort of pressure that comes with playing in big tournaments such as the World Cup," midfielder Achille Emana told reporters on Thursday. "That is why we are appealing to the coach to review the line-up for Saturday's game."

Denmark have never lost to an African side at the World Cup, but coach Morten Olsen will be concerned by his side's lack of firepower. The Danes have not scored in their last three matches, and have injury doubts over strikers Jon Dahl Tomasson and Mikkel Beckmann, who have had to train alone. Olsen will be hoping Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner, who played for just over an hour against the Dutch despite a groin problem, is back to full fitness.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- These sides have met twice before (both friendlies) and have one win apiece. Cameroon won the first encounter 2-1 in June 1998, while Denmark reversed the scoreline in May 2002.
Cameroon

- Paul Le Guen's side are on an eight-game winless run. Their last victory was a 2-1 win over Zambia in January's Africa Cup of Nations.

- Cameroon have only made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup once (1990) in five previous appearances.
Denmark

- Only two of Denmark's 14 previous World Cup games have ended in draws, and both were against African opposition: 1-1 with South Africa in 1998 and the same scoreline against Senegal in 2002.

- Morten Olsen's side have lost their last three matches, failing to score in each of them.

- Jon Dahl Tomasson needs one goal to join Poul Nielsen as Denmark's all-time top scorer.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Assistants: Pablo Fandino and Mauricio Espinosa (both Uruguay)

Fourth: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)