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World Cup: Matchday 7 Recap and Matchday 8 Previews

Dave Lifton June 17, 2010 9

Argentina 4-1 South Korea

Questions about whether or not Maradona could mold this offense into a cohesive unit were answered with another thrilling display. It helps when you get an early own goal and have Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez to make you look good. But South Korea exposed the weaknesses in Argentina’s defense with their speed,which threatened to make things close until Argentina’s third goal. They’re going to have to tighten up if they’re going to be taken seriously as contenders. Fortunately for the Group A winners, their back line will have plenty of time to regain confidence in their next game against Greece.

Prediction against result: I was all ready to curse Martin Dimichelis for the lapse that led to Korea’s goal. Then, Gonzalo Higuain put on a display of poaching that absolved him.

Greece 2-1 Nigeria

The traditionally defensive-minded Greece were having problems creating chances even after Nigeria’s goal in the 16th minute threatened to eliminate them from the World Cup. Then Sani Kaita had to go Beckham circa 1998 on Vasilis Torosidis and give them a lifeline back into the tournament. Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had another great match until he failed to hold on to the ball that Torosidis put in for the winner. Nigeria aren’t done. A two-goal victory against South Korea can see them through if Argentina doesn’t take it easy on Greece. But it’s not looking good for the Super Eagles’ chances right now.

Prediction against result: The biggest cliche at the World Cup is that a game can change in an instant. Kaita’s lash at Torisidis was just that for my prediction.

France v. Mexico

Even if their first goal should have been called back for offside, there could be no argument with the penalty that killed France. Besides, it was karma for Thierry Henry’s handball back in the playoffs. All game long, the boos directed at France were drowning out the vuvuzelas. Mexico played hard and physical, unafraid to foul, and countered effectively. In other words, they played exactly like the United States did against them in the 2002 World Cup (and criticized us for). All that was missing for William Gallas to play Rafael Marquez to Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s Cobi Jones.

Prediction against result: This is being called an upset, but I had Mexico winning, even if I thought it would only be 1-0.

Matchday 8 Previews

Germany v. Serbia 7:30 AM ET, ESPN

The least-eagerly anticipated matchup between these two nations since World War 1. The victor will be different, but the result – the end of Serbia – will be the same.

Prediction: Germany 2, Serbia 0

United States v. Slovenia, 10:00 AM ET, ESPN

This could be a difficult game for the United States because they don’t match up well against Eastern European teams with lots of size that play tough defense. Thankfully, Slovenia aren’t very good at it.

Prediction: United States 1, Slovenia 0

England v. Algeria, 2:30 AM ET, ESPN2

England need a big win to take control of the group and restore their wounded pride, but England rarely get big wins in tournaments. Thankfully for them, Algeria should be good for a late own goal.

Prediction: England 2, Algeria 0

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About the author: Dave Lifton View all posts by
Dave Lifton produces and co-hosts the Popdose Podcast and contributes an occasional column when he darn well feels like it. Once in a while, he blogs at Wings For Wheels. But mostly he eats Cheetos and yells at kids to get off his lawn, which is strange because he lives in an apartment. He can be found on Twitter at @dslifton.

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  • http://www.popdose.com DwDunphy

    Good on Mexico. I wanted to see France taken out and they did it.

    And boo to South Africa. Keep playing those damned vuvuzelas, folks. You'll never see an international event anywhere near you again for all the noise you refuse to stop making.

  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    The French effort was pathetic, especially given the fact that player for player they have one of the best teams in this thing. You don't start in the EPL, or for Lyon, if you're not a pretty damn good players, and eight of the French starters do just that. That is simply a team in disarray. No doubt the coach will be dismissed before he even gets home.

    I felt bad for Nigeria, though the red card was deserved. They had the game in hand to that point. If Greece gets through, it's a gift to the team that gets them in the round of 16. They're awful.

    Argentina is looking powerful. Consider the fact that Diego Milito, who is a great player for Inter, didn't even get on the field as a sub. There are about four strikers in front of him. That's some crazy depth.

    The Genocide Bowl, Germany vs. Serbia, is the first game I'm going to miss because I'll be on the road. Germany will win, but given the arrogance of the German fans I've encountered, I hope the victory doesn't come easy.

    U.S. should win, and has to win. England should breeze.

  • http://www.popdose.com DwDunphy

    For the sake of soccer respectability in the US, they have to advance. This is a crucial time for the sport in America. While I don't think the US can go all the way, they need to at least pass the second round with head held high.

    England is in, I have no doubts.

    As for France, well like I said, good on Mexico.

  • http://www.wingsforwheels.net dslifton

    Domenech was already planning on stepping down after the tournament, Ken. But France really haven't been very good – or at least consistent – since Euro 2000. Remember that they didn't score a goal in 2002 (looking every bit as indifferent as now). They sucked in the group round of 2006, but got through because of a weak group (South Korea and Togo). Then Zidane put the team on his back before headbutting Materazzi in the Final.

  • http://www.wingsforwheels.net dslifton

    This is the first draw we've had where we have a very good chance of getting out of the group without needing to play beyond our capabilities or help in the other games (see Korea v. Portugal, 2002). If we finish second in the group, we meet Germany in the second round. Losing to them, as long as we play them tight, would not be horrible for the sport.

    The situation is not as crucial as you think. There's an infrastructure for the game here at the corporate level that will continue to see the game grow here for a long time. Look at it this way: Major League Soccer is in its 15th season. The NASL was on its last legs at this age, while MLS has, financially, never been stronger.

  • http://www.popdose.com DwDunphy

    This really depends on who you ask. I have two friends, one Portuguese and the other Chilean who, a little over a decade ago, was about to join the Chile team himself when fate intervened. They agree that the US has to make a presentable showing at the World Cup in order to remain relevant to potential US fans. I've been a fan of soccer since I was a kid and Pele was the man, but there's some truth in it when they tell me that the real driving force for soccer in the US is the fact of so much Latino immigration.

    What a US team really needs is a huge, homegrown star. Importing Beckham is as much a publicity stunt as it is good hiring practice. Now, with all that out there, do you think such a homegrown star would get a fair shake on the world stage or would they be screwed out of a go-ahead goal too?

  • http://www.wingsforwheels.net dslifton

    We had more internationally-known players out there than Slovenia. That had nothing to do with the disallowed goal. It was bad officiating, plain and simple.

    We don't need one homegrown world-class player. To suggest that if we had a Messi or a Ronaldo soccer would be huge in this country is revere-engineering. Guys like that come around for their country every 20-25 years or so. We have to have an infrastructure and culture of the sport to regularly develop and produce talent and hope that one of them is a once-in-a-generation player. Donovan is the closest we've come so far, and for a country whose domestic league is only 15 years old, that's pretty damn impressive. If you look at the changes that have been made to US Soccer's approach to development since Gulati took over, you'll see the progress we've made, but there's still a long way to go.

    To give you an idea of how difficult that it is, look at France right now. They're lost right now because they have no idea how to play without Zidane. Now think of how many young central midfielders there have been called the next Zidane.

    Latino immigration has been a big part of the sport's growth (as has African immigration), but that's a very simplistic answer, especially since we have fewer players of Latino descent on the squad than usual (Bocanegra doesn't speak Spanish, but Bornstein is half-Mexican). Here are a few other factors:

    1) Increased footprint of international soccer on television through FSC and GolTV.

    2) Sponsorship from global corporations like Nike, Disney, Budweiser

    3) MLS succeeding simply by surviving against heavy odds (I'm reviewing Beau Dure's book on that for Popdose) and expanding smartly based on the business plan of the market

    I may never have played the game like your friends, but I've also been heavily active in the growth of the game here, as a fan (attended close to 300 MLS and US games from 1998-08). As a writer, I've interviewed many American players, coaches, front office people, journalists, and MLS Commissioner Garber. They all believe the same thing, that the sport will most likely never supplant the Big Three sports (it's arguably about as big as hockey right now), but there are no signs of it going away. It was touch-and-go in early 2002, but as long as there's money to be made – and there is plenty of that – it will continue to attract new money, which has a greater impact on the sport's popularity than results in the World Cup.

  • http://www.popdose.com DwDunphy

    For myself, I'm glad soccer has made some inroads here. Like I said, I'm a fan from way back, but as a little kid with a nasty bone disease that kept me in a ridiculous metal brace and off the field, my enjoyment of the sport is necessarily as a spectator. My friend's sons, American born, are currently insane for soccer and their dad is teaching them everything he knows. Who's to say if that will continue into their high school years when a whole other type of scoring kicks in.

  • http://www.wingsforwheels.net dslifton

    One of the biggest problems we've faced is creating fans out of youth players. That will only happen as a result of MLS because it's day-in, day-out and in the cities instead of every four years overseas. Over the last few years, we've seen players drafted who have talked about growing up watching MLS, just as you and I watched the NASL. When they, and their friends they played with in leagues, start having kids in youth soccer, then the rest of the world will have to watch out. It's all in place. You just need time for it all to grow.