The last 16?
Tonight there will be 16 teams left in the World Cup.
Both 2006 finalists are already out : France and Italy.
What stands out from the group stage?
Well, football is about players and several stand out.
MESSI has become the playmaker for Argentina, orchestrating attacks from a deeper position than he has at Barcelona.
Commentators nag on and on, saying, “He hasn’t scored yet.” But, in his three games, Messi has been fabulous. He has already been everything that Ronaldinho wanted to be in 2006. That was supposed to be Ronaldinho’s World Cup, the one that put him up there with Pele and Maradona.
Mezut Ozil of Germany is becoming a great player as we watch him grow up.
XABI ALONSO of Spain is a Rolls Royce player par excellence.
Xabi Alonso is a modern master, a footballer’s footballer who could have played in any World Cup-winning team, from the Brazil of 1970 to the Argentina of 1978 to the France of 1998.
When I used to watch him play for Real Sociedad in 2003, I never realised he would become this good. He was colossal at Liverpool, where he improved and lived next door to Arteta.Those two grew up on the same street in San Sebastian. Xabi has pedigree. His father won two league titles with Real Sociedad and played for Barcelona in the 80s.
When Rafa, a nutcase, fell out with the greatest half-back of the 21st century. Xabi was sold to Real Madrid and Liverpool finished seventh and Rafa got the sack.
Spain play Chile tonight at 7.30. If Chile win, Spain could go out.
Since Torres is not yet match-fit, the controlling intelligence of Xabi Alonso is as important as that of Xavi, who is carrying an injury. Busquets isn’t Senna because Busquets is a kid.
Mark Lawrenson says, “Torres will be back and score.”
Hope he’s right about that. Fernando Torres is my favourite footballer & his mate Cesc Fabregas is my second favourite.
With Cameroon and Holland level at 1-1, Arjen Robben came on for his first 19 minutes in this World Cup and looked like the most magical winger-playmaker in the game.
When Wesley Sneijder’s diagonal pass found space, Robben raced onto the ball from centre to right, and then came back inside veteran sub Rigobert Song and hit a left-foot screamer against the post. The ball rebounded for Huntelaar to make it 2-1.
In the first half, Robin van Persie had a shot straight at the keeper in 19, then scored the first goal in 36 after a one-two with Rafael van der Vaart and run inside left back Assou-Ekotto. His shot went between the legs of keeper Souleymanou.
Second half, when Rafael van der Vaart blocked a Geremi free-kick with his elbow, Eto’o took the penalty and buried it in 65.
HOLLAND have their own way of playing and it’s worked so far. It’s rugged but intelligent. They sit back and let you come forward and then nick the ball off you and explode out of their own half and slice through you, making one pass do the work of three. If Arjen Robben is involved in a counter-attack, it’s always exciting because you always think it could be a goal.
Lawrenson says Holland have the subs to change a game: Robben, Eliah. He didn’t mention Affelay.
Back in 2007, when Engand failed to qualify for Euro 2008, the wise Don Howe said that Lampard and Gerrard were incompatible in the national team.
What has changed? Incredibly, we’re still arguing about whether Gerrard should be on the left wing.