fifa world cup
THE DAY REPLAYED: A warning has gone round the world that just as Argentina's strongest XI are to be feared, then so are their players who are not guaranteed starting places. Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez came in for their first starts in the FIFA World Cup™ and shone like a beacon in a fixture with the Netherlands that lacked a dynamic edge because both teams were already assured their places in the Round of 16.
The goalless draw was enough to ensure that Argentina end Group C as winners but it also determines that they are in action again on Saturday when they face Mexico in Leipzig. The Dutch have an extra 24 hours' rest before meeting in Nuremberg a Portugal team who made it three wins out of three by beating Mexico 2-1 in Group D. And there was joy at last for Côte d'Ivoire.
On the longest day of the year you could run replays of the Argentine performances at this FIFA World Cup from day until nightfall and not feel as though you had not wasted a single minute. Jose Pekerman made five changes, leaving luminaries like Hernan Crespo, Juan Sorin and Javier Saviola on the bench while giving the young prodigy Messi and the rampaging Tevez their chance.
Player of the Day
Tevez – strength and skill combined
The football particularly in the first half was fast and furious. The way the entire Argentina team combined to unleash a series of quick, accurate passes all over the field was delightful and when things got tough for the Dutch, inevitably Messi and Tevez were at the heart of it.
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Tevez is a young man who enjoys a soaring reputation in Brazil where he stars for Corinthians. He can consider himself unfortunate that, due to the enduring force of Crespo and the return to form of the impish Saviola, he has found himself overlooked for a starting berth since this edition of the FIFA World Cup began. At full power he is an awesome proposition for defenders and he and the elusive Messi are clearly on the same wavelength.
The parallels with this campaign and the last occasion Portugal enjoyed a successful FIFA World Cup are becoming quite marked. In 1966 they made it all the way to the semi-finals having won their first three group fixtures.
This
time they again achieved a clean sweep in the initial phase, adding today's victory over Mexico to those over Angola and Iran in previous games. In 1966 they faced England in the semi-final and it could be that Luiz Felipe Scolari will meet in the quarter-final with the country whose job offer he felt compelled to decline only a few weeks ago.
Portugal had already done the hard work and they arrived at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Gelsenkirchen safely installed among the 16 teams who will continue their Germany 2006 journey. Mexico approached the game with more trepidation as they had to be wary of Angola winning by a handful of goals against Iran. That, coupled with a Mexico defeat, could have seen the west African nation remaining in the competition a little longer.
Portugal, free from the normal match-day pressures, soon carved out a 2-0 lead to put the Angolan supporters in optimistic mood.
Goal of the Day
Maniche: Portugal 1-0
It was a move that was built in Portugal’s own half with Maniche helping to ferry the ball up to the halfway line where Simao Sabrosa broke away at pace. Maniche kept tracks with him and was on hand to turn the cut-back into the net.
Mexico reduced the arrears before half-time and should have drawn level only for Omar Bravo to miss from the penalty spot. When Flavio at last put an Angolan name on the FIFA World Cup scoresheet for the first time, Mexico began to get a little twitchy.
An equaliser for Iran made El Tri feel a whole lot better and allowed Mexico to see out the remaining 15 minutes virtually assured of their safe passage. They faced Argentina in the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup 12 months ago and were unlucky to lose on penalties having taken tead in extra time. But their rivals that day contained only a handful of the stars who are likely to trot out in Leipzig.
Moment of the Day
Bonaventure Kalou ensures Côte d'Ivoire end on a high
Côte d'Ivoire have given their all to this tournament and provided some of its most stirring moments. When Serbia and Montenegro went two goals ahead it looked like their stay was ending on a sour note with a third successive defeat. But Aruna Dindane scored twice - once from the spot - and from a second penalty Bonaventure Kalou gave them their first FIFA World Cup points with four minutes remaining.
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