FIFA World Cup 2014 Week 2
Expected Results
- Spain getting knocked out was expected one for me .. After glory of the Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 , this was bound to happen. Aging players , possession football not helping to score goals saw Spain getting eliminated at the Group stage. In their match against Chile , they held possession for more than 65 % but that did not help as Chile pumped in two goals to send them crashing out. They will play for pride with Australia with no stakes to both teams
- England was the second one to go out on my expectations. They again played so well but just lost the game ( pun intended ). Suarez continued his fine run from the Premier League and that was enough to pack England off
Unexpected one
- Costa Rica is turning out to be the dark horse. When they beat Uruguay, there some stir and many believed it was one off . No --They took on the next top ten ranked team Italy and put them under severe pressure by winning their game . Again Italy played possession football ( in the high 60’s ) and lost. Costa Ricans looked fit , were getting to the ball ahead of the Italians and at no time looked like losing. Their win closed the door on England and now it is up to Italy and Uruguay to battle it out for the second team to qualify. This was never expected .. Costa Rica were supposed to be the number four team in that group and not expected to qualify. Their crowd support also seems to be high . There was enough crowd to yell for this team
- Argentina huffed and puffed for over 90 minutes against Iran before the individual brilliance of Messi came to the fore as a long ranger from him found the net in the extra time and that gave Argentina the win that it needed to move to the next round. Iran did excellently well and deserved a point out of this match
Surprise
France – getting stronger compared to their first round
match and hammering the Swiss… Looks like the team is focused on wiping out its
misery of the 2010 campaign
Some thrilling matches
- Dutch Versus Socceroo’s ( Aussies ) was a block buster . In a match of high intensity , the Socceroo’s lost by the odd goal in three. They were fast and furious on the pitch and shook the Dutch up by surprise and the Dutch had a real game on hand before prevailing . Wish all matches are played in this fashion to keep the adrenalin flowing for the fans.
- E
- The USA and Portugal played out a thrilling draw leaving both the sides the chance to qualify. USA thought it had the match in its pocket and again a goal in the extra time by Portugal through a fantastic cross from the right flank by Ronaldo was buried in the net by Varela . If USA had won , they would have qualified for the next round but alas it was close but not there for them. They still have the opportunity but now have to face up to the Germans in their final group who themselves in an another thrilling match was held to draw by Ghana
So in summary
Group A – Brazil , Croatia and Mexico all have the opportunity to go through
but Brazil has the advantage of playing Cameroon who are already out of the
reckoning
Group B – Netherlands and Chile are through
Group C – Anyone can go through but not biggies to brag
about
Group D – Costa Rica through but will it be Italy or Uruguay
as the second team to qualify is a tough call
Group E – France looks home and dry to qualify
Group F – Argentina through and Nigeria will get through
Group G—Open but Germans will go through
Group H—Belgium and may be Algeria
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