So it’s finally here; another World Cup, another England – Germany clash. I could barely sleep last night, the anticipation gnawing away at me until I was finally forced to get up at 7am. What the hell is it about these matches that shreds nerves and causes so much general anxiety?
Showing posts with label England v Algeria World Cup 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England v Algeria World Cup 2010. Show all posts
26/06/2010
World Cup 2010: The complete last 16 schedule and predictions for today’s last 16 matches
Glad Chile got through yesterday; the Swiss have hardly played since beating Spain, suggesting they had already exceeded their low expectations and were content to meekly leave, which is exactly what they did.
And Brazil - Portugal?; while this wasn't the classic everyone was hoping for, I saw signs that Portugal could cause Spain some problems in the last 16. The Brazilians are, as might be expected, very good going forward. How their defence copes under pressure we don't yet know.
Sat Jun 26
3pm UK time 1A Uruguay v 2B South Korea (Match 49) Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth)
7.30pm 1C USA v 2D Ghana (Match 50) Royal Bafokeng (Rustenburg)
Sun Jun 27
3pm 1D Germany v 2C England (Match 51) Free State
7.30pm 1B Argentina v 2A Mexico (Match 52) Soccer City (Johannesburg)
Mon Jun 28
3pm 1E Holland v 2F Slovakia (Match 53) Durban (Durban)
7.30pm 1G Brazil v 2H Chile (Match 54) Ellis Park (Johannesburg)
Tues Jun 29
3pm 1F Paraguay v 2E Japan (Match 55) Loftus Versfeld (Tshwane/Pretoria)
7.30pm 1H Spain v 2G Portugal (Match 56) Green Point (Cape Town)
Uruguay has looked good so far, while the South Koreans are capable of a surprise. I fancy an upset here: South Korea to WIN.
The kings of the late goal might need another one to save themselves against an attacking Ghana side which is playing for African pride: Ghana to WIN aet.
The World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 prediction success rate after yesterday’s games: 22/48
And Brazil - Portugal?; while this wasn't the classic everyone was hoping for, I saw signs that Portugal could cause Spain some problems in the last 16. The Brazilians are, as might be expected, very good going forward. How their defence copes under pressure we don't yet know.
Sat Jun 26
3pm UK time 1A Uruguay v 2B South Korea (Match 49) Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth)
7.30pm 1C USA v 2D Ghana (Match 50) Royal Bafokeng (Rustenburg)
Sun Jun 27
3pm 1D Germany v 2C England (Match 51) Free State
7.30pm 1B Argentina v 2A Mexico (Match 52) Soccer City (Johannesburg)
Mon Jun 28
3pm 1E Holland v 2F Slovakia (Match 53) Durban (Durban)
7.30pm 1G Brazil v 2H Chile (Match 54) Ellis Park (Johannesburg)
Tues Jun 29
3pm 1F Paraguay v 2E Japan (Match 55) Loftus Versfeld (Tshwane/Pretoria)
7.30pm 1H Spain v 2G Portugal (Match 56) Green Point (Cape Town)
Uruguay has looked good so far, while the South Koreans are capable of a surprise. I fancy an upset here: South Korea to WIN.
The kings of the late goal might need another one to save themselves against an attacking Ghana side which is playing for African pride: Ghana to WIN aet.
The World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 prediction success rate after yesterday’s games: 22/48
19/06/2010
Reflections on England v Algeria - World Cup 2010
Last night’s performance veered from frustrating to unbearable and, by the end, unwatchable. I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed in an England World Cup side before. So what went wrong and can we take any positives from this match?
The performance
First, I could waste some of my own time and yours by rating players out of 10. Instead, I’ll make it simple. Nobody got over 6 and the majority were 5 or less. For a World Cup game against supposedly inferior opposition, that’s frightening.
Heskey didn’t hold the ball up enough and struggled to play his team mates into promising positions.
Rooney seemed tired, his touch has deserted him, and he’s clearly angry with himself and the position England finds itself in.
Lennon seems unable to make meaningful contributions and is quickly marginalised.
Lampard and Gerrard misplaced way too many passes and only occasionally threatened Algeria enough to look like scoring. Put simply, they are not functioning as a midfield partnership.
Barry earned some valuable match fitness. That’s pretty much all I can say about him.
Johnson and Ashley Cole failed to attack Algeria’s flanks.
That horrifying back pass aside, Terry did OK. Now he has to work alongside another centre half for the Slovenia game.
Carragher got himself booked and never looked completely comfortable.
James did enough to keep his place against Slovenia.
Of the subs, only Defoe made an impact.
Overall, England lacked drive, guile, pace and imagination. It was as dispiriting a performance as I can remember from an England side, and I’ve seen quite a few over the years.
What should England do for the Slovenia game?
Heskey should be replaced by Defoe or Crouch.
Gerrard should be pushed forward into the hole behind Rooney and the other striker.
Joe Cole should start on the left side of midfield.
Barry should hold a position in front of the defence and stay there.
Someone should tell Ashley Cole and Johnson they can get forward to support attacks.
Dawson should play, not Upson. The Tottenham man is quicker than his West Ham counterpart, who could be all too easily turned by nippy Slovenian attackers.
If Rooney isn’t playing well, he should be replaced after an hour or so.
The formation should be 4 (Johnson, Terry, Dawson, Ashley Cole) 1 (Barry) 3 (Joe Cole, Lampard, Gerrard) 2 (Rooney, Defoe or Crouch). 4 – 4 – 2 isn’t working and it’s time to try something different.
Above all else, England need to play as a team, not individuals. Failure to do so will result in an early exit.
The performance
First, I could waste some of my own time and yours by rating players out of 10. Instead, I’ll make it simple. Nobody got over 6 and the majority were 5 or less. For a World Cup game against supposedly inferior opposition, that’s frightening.
Heskey didn’t hold the ball up enough and struggled to play his team mates into promising positions.
Rooney seemed tired, his touch has deserted him, and he’s clearly angry with himself and the position England finds itself in.
Lennon seems unable to make meaningful contributions and is quickly marginalised.
Lampard and Gerrard misplaced way too many passes and only occasionally threatened Algeria enough to look like scoring. Put simply, they are not functioning as a midfield partnership.
Barry earned some valuable match fitness. That’s pretty much all I can say about him.
Johnson and Ashley Cole failed to attack Algeria’s flanks.
That horrifying back pass aside, Terry did OK. Now he has to work alongside another centre half for the Slovenia game.
Carragher got himself booked and never looked completely comfortable.
James did enough to keep his place against Slovenia.
Of the subs, only Defoe made an impact.
Overall, England lacked drive, guile, pace and imagination. It was as dispiriting a performance as I can remember from an England side, and I’ve seen quite a few over the years.
What should England do for the Slovenia game?
Heskey should be replaced by Defoe or Crouch.
Gerrard should be pushed forward into the hole behind Rooney and the other striker.
Joe Cole should start on the left side of midfield.
Barry should hold a position in front of the defence and stay there.
Someone should tell Ashley Cole and Johnson they can get forward to support attacks.
Dawson should play, not Upson. The Tottenham man is quicker than his West Ham counterpart, who could be all too easily turned by nippy Slovenian attackers.
If Rooney isn’t playing well, he should be replaced after an hour or so.
The formation should be 4 (Johnson, Terry, Dawson, Ashley Cole) 1 (Barry) 3 (Joe Cole, Lampard, Gerrard) 2 (Rooney, Defoe or Crouch). 4 – 4 – 2 isn’t working and it’s time to try something different.
Above all else, England need to play as a team, not individuals. Failure to do so will result in an early exit.
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