Group B

Austria 0-1 Germany

At the 2006 World Cup Germany threw off the chains of decades of highly effective but mind-numbing play to become one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament. Today they reverted to old habits and produced an uninspiring but all the same, winning performance.

Apart from both coaches being sent to the stands the only memorable moment of the first forty-five minutes was a miss by Gomez of Kanuesque proportions. Klose fed him a pass that put him in front of an open goal and no more than four yards out.

Gomez contrived to sand wedge the ball up in the air and as it spun towards the goal an Austrian defender recovered and headed clear unchallenged. Surely the miss of the tournament.

It is no secret that Gomez is struggling badly but it is to the point that it is cruel and unusual punishment to keep him on the field. Lowe apparently likes a more physical forward up front with Klose and that has been one of the reasons to pull Podolski deeper into midfield.

However, the Podolski move has compounded the problem because the Bayern Munich player has fitted in nicely in midfield while also scoring goals. Sticking with Gomez in the next round would be a vote of confidence bordering on the foolhardy.

Fritz and Frings (sounds like a Vegas lounge act) both had nightmare games and were constantly battling to control passes and to find team mates. Any coordinated threat from Germany in the first half came with Lahm and Podolski linking down the left side. And it was through a surging run from Lahm that Germany took the lead just into the second half.

Ivanschitz sliced down the little full back as he threatened to break into the penalty and set up a free kick 30 yards out. The ball was touched to Ballack who thumped a shot passed Macho and was still rising as it hit the back of the Austrian net. It was the one moment of pure class throughout the entire ninety minutes.

As the game went on a lack of telling passes in the last third of the field allowed both defences to remain comfortably in control through weight of numbers. Although Austria continued to push forward they just did not the conviction or skill to both manufacture and take a chance that might have changed the flow of the game. Germany had a number of chances on the counter but they often looked dazed and confused and nothing came of the numerous opportunities.

Germany win ugly and move on: Austria finishes above Poland but go out albeit having exceeded the low expectations.

Croatia 1-0 Poland

Ivan Klasnic scored what must surely be the most personally emotional goal to maintain Croatia’s 100% record. Klasnic who underwent kidney transplants in the last two years and still fought his way back into the national team scored the only goal. Given that he has also been released by his club Werder Bremen in Germany the goal will not have gone unnoticed by teams looking for a proven striker.

Portugal vs. Germany on Thursday; Croatia vs. Turkey on Friday.

Comment of the Day
“The Austro-Swiss flop is the first in what may be a sequence of poor performances by host nations in European and world tournaments. World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa have slipped down the rankings in African football over the past few years and suffered another embarrassing defeat, away to Sierra Leone, in an African Nations Cup qualifier yesterday.

Even if they get a helpful draw in two years' time they may struggle to advance. In 2012, the European championship will be jointly staged by Ukraine, who have qualified for only one major tournament since gaining independence, and Poland who have disappointed at Euro 2008 just as they did at the last two World Cups.” – When Saturday Comes.


Prediction Update
We have eleven posters with a 100% record (8 points from a possible 8) at the completion of Group A.

Matthew 21110, Anti-Madridista, Sleeper000, Sangria, Soundersfan, SMuAnNuNy, Genuisatwork, TBoone, Willisman, realmadrista123, and Milanfan21 all nailed the exact finishing positions.

However, we already know that no one will have a 100% record once group play is complete.

But given that the winners of Group B, C and D are already decided I can tell you that we have three posters who got all four group winners spot on. LHJS, Soundersfan and frenchies.

Looks as if Soundersfan is the one to beat. I’ll try to update at the conclusion of each group.


Tiebreaker
In Canada TSN and Rogers Sportsnet are sharing the coverage of Euro 2008. It is just as well that they haven't had to pay each viewer a dollar every time they have gotten the tiebreaker rule wrong over the last five days.

The latest faux pas just before the start of Group A play yesterday when we were informed (paraphrased) that if the Czechs won big and Portugal lost big then the Czechs could finish top of Group A on goal difference.


CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying
Yesterday’s later games brought another couple of surprise results. Trinidad and Tobago lost 2-1 at home to Bermuda while Haiti was held scoreless at home by Netherlands Antilles. The ####mp;T score potentially impacts the next round of games for the USA as the qualification format moves to three groups of four.

Canada opposition in the next stage is a mere formality. Honduras has already qualified while Mexico has a 2-0 lead to take home against Belize. Jamaica won 7-0 against the Bahamas and will surely move on. After this weekend’s results the idea that the next stage of qualifying might be prove to the biggest hurdle for Canada to clear has only been reinforced.

The results and the format to the next stage can be found by clicking on the link.

African Cup of Nations
After going four-for-four in the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations it was just too good to last and although both my semi final picks have made it through to a final game it has turned out to be for third place rather than the actual final.

Although Ghana enjoyed an edge in the play a lack of sharpness in the penalty box cost them a place in the final. Cameroon was bound to create and take a chance and sure enough it happened. Apart from the goal an outstanding moment was Geremi's 30+ yard free kick that hit the junction of the bar and the post - an absolute cracking shot.

I thought the Egyptian back four looked a bit perturbed by the physical play on Angola’s Manucho in the quarter finals and felt that Drogba would cause the defense nightmares. As it turned out the defense played exceptionally well and overall I thought the Egyptians were outstanding for ninety minutes.

They got a couple of breaks from deflections but even so they showed as a well drilled and composed side that were worth their 4-1 win. However, I would be amiss not to mention the rocket of a shot from Keita cutting in from the left that looked to have got the Ivory Coast back in the game.

After handling Cameroon in the group stage and then the semi final victory over the Ivory Coast, Egypt will start as favourites to take their 6th African Cup of Nations title. At the risk of hexing Egypt I will take them to win 2-1.

Serie A
One of the best games in prospect in Serie A is Juventus at Udinese. Udinese have only one win in their last six games and are slipping down the table. On the other hand Juventus is unbeaten in their last twelve games but six draws in the run means that although they remain in third position their points total has suffered.

When compared to Inter and Roma Juventus have slipped behind by 8 points and 3 points respectively. If history is a pointer then this game is good news for Juventus. Juventus has only lost three times in 33 visits.


Bundesliga
The Bundesliga may have only been back for one week but the second round of the second half has a thrown up a top of the table clash between leaders Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen. Werder went into the winter break tied on points with Bayern but an unexpected loss to Bochum last week (the first Bochum win at Bremen in 31 tries) means they trail the Munich side by three points.

Bayern defensive home record is impressive with only two goals conceded in eight games. However, three draws means that their home points total does not necessarily reflect their defensive dominance.

On the other hand Werder Bremen’s away form has been poor with only 12 points from 8 games. Diego is Werder Bremen’s leading scorer with 9 to date and he is tied at the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts with Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose. Werder Bremen has also been buoyed by the return of Croatian international striker Ivan Klasnic after a second and this time successful kidney transplant.

La Liga
The top game in Spain would appear to pit Sevilla against Barcelona. Sevilla is up to 7th position but is still making heavy weather of this season. As a precaution they also announced this week that they will take part in the Intertoto Cup if necessary in order to find a route to next season’s UEFA Cup.

Fabiano is having an outstanding season and has more than carried the goal scoring load so far this season with 16 goals to Freddie Kanoute’s 8. Previous to signing for Sevilla in 2005 Fabiano had been a bust at Rennes in France (2000) and then after returning to Brazil he signed for Porto in 2004. With a record of only 5 goals in 20 plus games he was not considered a success in Portugal. But since moving to Sevilla he has now made over 100 appearances and has scored around a goal every two matches.

Barcelona, on the other hand, has spread their scoring around with 13 different players contributing at least a goal so far this season.  


Premiership
What are the chances of getting through the minute of silence at Old Trafford without a Neanderthal contributing to the occasion? Not very good I am guessing. City has not had much success at Old Trafford and you have to go back to 1974 for their last league win.

It was the game decided by Denis Law’s back heeler with only a couple of minutes left. United fans then invaded the field, the game was abandoned, the result stood and six years after winning the European Cup Manchester United was relegated. Law’s goal is often described as one that relegated United but the fact is that United would have gone down anyway.

Although City is winless in 34 years and obviously without a win in ten Premiership visits they have drawn four times when visiting Old Trafford on Premiership business. City’s form has dropped off and when you look at the points they have garnered in blocks of five games it becomes quite clear - (from start of season) 9 pts, 13 pts, 8 pts, 6 pts, 5 pts.

Chelsea is hoping to extend their unbeaten home record and based on Liverpool’s record over the last number of years at Stamford Bridge it is a record that looks like being extended. Liverpool has been blanked on their last seven visits to Stamford Bridge and has only scored two goals in the last 12 visits in all competitions.

The only current Liverpool player to have scored at Stamford Bridge is Sammi Hyypia and Liverpool has only one win in 14 Premierships trips to Stamford Bridge. Over the last six league games Chelsea has picked up 16 points (best in the Premiership) against Liverpool’s record of four draws combined with a loss and a win – only good for 12th in the current form table.

So you have Chelsea riding the crest of a wave in terms of their recent premiership form against a team that they have largely owned in Premiership meetings at Stamford Bridge. Looks like a banker home win but this might just be the match that brings Chelsea’s unbeaten home run to an end.

Rob Hughes on the next Argentine superstar – this one is only eleven years old!

Paul Gardner on the marked absence of star signings post-Beckham.

David Conn on the paradox of Manchester City and Premiership riches.

Robert Philip on former Ipswich great Kevin Beattie.

Trevor Brocking bemoans the lack of investment by Premiership clubs in English youngsters.

Gabriele Marcotti sees similarities between Helen Mirren and Milan – honestly! You read it right - Helen Mirren not St. Mirren.

And Marcotti again, this time on Ivan Klasnic’s need for a second kidney transplant.

The youtube goal - Yuri Zhirkov’s goal for CSKA Moscow against Hamburg wasn’t bad.

The blog was fizzing last week – thank you Flashman!! It was however, getting a bit personal at times and if we can keep it to opinions it would be appreciated.
 
And seeing that we have the Champions League this week here is something to consider. Since the second group stage was scrapped and replaced by a knock out round only 6 out of 24 ties have been won by the team playing at home first.