There seems to be something special going on at this World Cup. We've just started the second round of matches and the general feeling is this is shaping up to be something of a golden tournament; very few dull draws, plenty of goals and attacking football and none of that 'grind out a result and see where it gets us' that normally strangulates the group stages.
Take the first match today between the Netherlands and Australia. After the Dutch thumping of Spain in the opening match this would seem to have been a mismatch; It was nothing of the sort. A wonder strike by Tim Cahill - try and catch Robbie Savage wetting himself over it on BBC 5Live - levelled the game up after an early opener by Holland and the Aussies could have been 3-1 up by half-time.
In fact, the Socceroo's did get a lead albeit thanks to a dubious penalty award - another ball to hand that was apparently 'intentional' - but Van Persie pulled it back almost immediately and the Dutch found enough to get a winner eventually. Great stuff though and hard to believe the Australians have lost twice despite playing well in both matches.
Later on though, came the shock. There were obviously serious questions being asked about Spain after their first match, but most of us probably assumed they would have enough to struggle through the group. The champions looked entirely out of sorts though and Chile were worthy winners at 2-0 and Spain followed a recent trend where the defending winners go out in an abject way that doesn't really seem to correspond with their actual status. Not as good as they were? Perhaps. But the European equivalent of Togo? I think not!
In the later game, Alexandre Song managed to send millions off to bed with a big smile on their face after managing to pull off one of the more useless dismissals ever seen in a World Cup, elbowing his Croatian opponent squarely down his back for no apparent reason other than he just felt like it. It was so mindless, so bum-numbingly stupid, all anyone could do is laugh. Sadly, his team mates were unable to show how the game should be played succumbing meakly 4-0 to an impressive Croatian team in which Modric and Rakitic were outstanding.
In fact, the Socceroo's did get a lead albeit thanks to a dubious penalty award - another ball to hand that was apparently 'intentional' - but Van Persie pulled it back almost immediately and the Dutch found enough to get a winner eventually. Great stuff though and hard to believe the Australians have lost twice despite playing well in both matches.
Later on though, came the shock. There were obviously serious questions being asked about Spain after their first match, but most of us probably assumed they would have enough to struggle through the group. The champions looked entirely out of sorts though and Chile were worthy winners at 2-0 and Spain followed a recent trend where the defending winners go out in an abject way that doesn't really seem to correspond with their actual status. Not as good as they were? Perhaps. But the European equivalent of Togo? I think not!
In the later game, Alexandre Song managed to send millions off to bed with a big smile on their face after managing to pull off one of the more useless dismissals ever seen in a World Cup, elbowing his Croatian opponent squarely down his back for no apparent reason other than he just felt like it. It was so mindless, so bum-numbingly stupid, all anyone could do is laugh. Sadly, his team mates were unable to show how the game should be played succumbing meakly 4-0 to an impressive Croatian team in which Modric and Rakitic were outstanding.
Today's World Cup Menu
Spanish Tapas with Parma Ham, Coopers Brewery Australian Pale Ale, Vintage Gouda Cheese, Croatian Sausage and Casillero del Diablo Chilean red
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