23 June 2006 |
TOGO | 0-2 |
FRANCE |
Vieira 55 |
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Henry 61 |
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A nervous France, minus Zidane, played
considerably better football without him but missed a boatload of chances, Ribery in particular was guilty of Japanese level shooting and Trezeguet, whose movement was outstanding, was continually denied by an inspired Agassa in the Togo goal. Captain for the day Vieira made the breakthrough. He collecting a pass from Ribery, brought the ball under control, turned and swept a right foot shot inside the post. Henry missed an absolute sitter but made amends minutes later by scoring France's second. Vieira took an elbow to the face when heading on a cross, Henry resisted a strong challenge from Tchangai and fired into the bottom corner. People have been complaining about the officiating at this World Cup, claiming that contact is no longer allowed and attacking players receive too much protection. Nonsense. I'll tell you what the problem is the Europeans and to a lesser extent South American's have forgotten how to tackle. Togo, like Ghana put on a World Class display of fast, aggressive, fair tackling. The speed and the precision of the challenges coupled with unreal composure the players showed when playing the ball out of defence after winning possession was breathtaking. I believe there was one passage of play in the first half in which Tchangai ripped the ball off Makelele no less leaving him on his backside. Salifou, who I think is the DM, and Senaya (right sided midfielder) were also outstanding in their tackling. What a shame Togo didn't show up for their first two games. As for France Zidane castrates Henry as an attacking threat. He has to sit on the bench for the match against Spain but I doubt Domenech is brave enough to make that decision. Are Spain pretenders or contenders? We'll find out Tuesday. Attendance : 45,000 Assists : Ribery, Vieira |
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SWITZERLAND | 2-0 |
SOUTH KOREA |
Senderos 23 | ||
Frei 77 | ||
Barnetta was giving the Korean's problems
early, Choi Jin Jul made a phenomenal recovery tackle after a mistake put Barnetta in on goal and he drew the foul which gave the Swiss the lead. Senderos smashed his nose into the back of Jin-Cheul when attacking Yakin's free kick and didn't seem overly concerned with blood streaming down his face as he wheeled away to celebrate his goal. Frei scored a controversial second, the lineman had his flag raised as the Rennes striker ran onto a pass, rounded the 'keeper and tapped into an empty net while the Koreans held their arms aloft waiting for the referee to stop play. The ref let the goal stand because Degen's pass took a deflection off a defender which was a moot point anyway as it appeared as if Frei was onside. Great refereeing but more poor officiating from the linesmen at this World Cup. Attendance : 43,000 Assists : H Yakin (fk), n/a |
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19 June 2006 |
TOGO | 0-2 |
SWITZERLAND |
Frei 16 |
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Barnetta 89 |
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Having brilliantly turned Senderos, Kader,
who has actually only scored one league goal in the last two seasons, failed to trouble Zuberbuhler with a lame finish. Adebayor missed an easy header before the Swiss took the lead with their first attack. Magnin swung a cross over to the back post, Barnetta volleyed the ball down to Frei and his first time shot flew past Agassa. Just past the half hour Togo were furious when the ref waved away what appeared to be a strong penalty appeal when Muller tripped Adebayor however the replays showed Muller stuck out a leg before swinging forward in a kicking motion without making any contact, despite what the idiots at the BBC said. Get your eyes tested. Great spot by the ref but Muller is lucky as hell to get away with it. Frei and Yakin missed easy chances before Barnetta sent Togo out of the competition when he met Lustrinelli's pass with a crisp low drive which flew in off a post. Togo got what they deserved nothing, complaining over bonuses, threatening to boycott this match and player power (that prick Adebayor) forcing out the coach that lead them to the World Cup finals (Keshi) makes African football look so Mickey Mouse. Attendance : 65,000 Assists : Barnetta, Lustrinelli |
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18 June 2006 |
FRANCE | 1-1 |
SOUTH KOREA |
Henry 9 |
Park 81 |
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Henry scored France's first World Cup goal
since Petit's third against Brazil in 1998. Wiltord, who after one great season at Lyon (2004-2005) is back to playing like the Arsenal Wiltord i.e. rubbish hit a shot against Nam-Il the ball bounced at Henry's feet and he controlled with his right before shooting past Woon-Jae with his left. Vieira scored one of those ball crossed the line jobs that we get every tournament and will continue to get until the current crooked regime at FIFA are no longer in charge. He headed a Zidane corner over the line, Woon-Jae quickly punched it out and the ball was cleared. No one protested. France didn't bother to attack in the second half having comfortably dealt with what passed for Korean attacks - longballs into the box. They paid the ultimate price for their complacency when in the 81st minute Park equalised. Ahn volleyed a longball out wide to Ki-Hyeon but having fought off Abidal he overhit a cross, Jae-Jin headed the ball down, Thuram should have cleared but only succeeded in helping the ball forward to Park and shortarse Barthez, who never lets France down, could only tip his volley into his own net to the absolute fury of Gallas. The goal, not surprisingly, brought the French to life. Henry turned onto a rare pass from Zidane (he's never made an assist for Henry) and clean through on goal he hit his usual sissy finish which Woon-Jae, who was off his line like a shot, saved. With two minutes to go Domenech decided it would be a good idea to play Trezeguet. Zidane was booked for pushing over a Korean player which means he will miss his teams final group match against Togo. Attendance : 43,000 Assists : n/a, n/a |
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13 June 2006 |
FRANCE | 0-0 |
SWITZERLAND |
Midway through an excruciating first half
Barnetta lobbed a free kick into the box, Senderos got a touch but the ball came back off a post and instead of heading it the useless Frei waited for it to drop before attempting a volley giving Abidal time to block. A terrible mistake by Senderos gave Ribery a free run on goal instead of shooting, with most of the goal to aim at, he bottled it and overhit a pass to Henry, after digging the ball out from under his feet his shot hit Muller's hand right in front of the ref, no penalty. Substitute Gygax made poor contact with a fabulous right wing cross from Magnin, allowing Barthez to clear. In injury time Saha chested down Zidane's cross to Dhorasoo, who rarely scores, and he did exactly that, volleying wide of the left post. The Germans have a word for matches line this - 'NEIN'. Why ever since Jacquet left have the French national team coaches been such spineless cowards? Attendance : 53,000 Assist : n/a |
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SOUTH KOREA | 2-1 |
TOGO |
Chun-Soo 54 (fk) |
Kader 31 |
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Ahn 72 | ||
A magnificent goal brought this wretched game
to life. Tchangai launched a hopeful ball upfield, Kader burst through two defenders, took the ball on this thigh and struck a right foot shot which went in off a post. Senaya almost made it 2-0 with a free kick. Abalo got a second yellow card for tripping Park as the midfielder ran onto a hospital pass. From the resulting free kick, Chun-Soo who with his ridiculous hair looks like an old women, bent the ball over the wall into the top corner at extreme pace. Fantastic goal and the first free kick to hit the back of the net in this tournament. Ahn turned onto a pass and tried his luck from 25 yards, the ball took a wicked deflection off Dare leaving the impressive Agassa no chance. Awful first half but in the second Korea played a bit like the Korea of 4 years ago. The France game is going to be very interesting. Attendance : 48,000 Red Card : Abalo 53 (Togo) Assists : Tchangai, Park (won fk), n/a |
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