Talk about Football

Talk about Football coverage and it would be tough to beat the Malaysians. Astro, the pay channel network here is showing all the matches live and to beat everythign else has come up with this nice interactive mode.


For eg; in the picture below when there are like 2 matches live, I can pick and choose which one to watch. The highlights of the current match and the previous day keep happening and you can choose what to watch. The fixtures, stats and the latest news on the teams and tournament are available at the press of a button.

And when there is only one match live, the functionalities get better and better. Like there are 2 cameras on an individual player from each team (in this case it was the Brazil-Ghana match and the camera was on Ronaldinho and I think Asamaoh/Appaiah). so at any moment you feel like seeing their individual movement/skill it is possible.

There is a Tactical camera which gives you a top view of the whole stadium. you can actually see how the 4-4-2 combination moves in the actual match. very intersting sometimes.

And the highlights of that particular match keeps running. So if you lost out on a goal, you can quickly catch it in the highlights and watch the rest of the match. Pretty good I say.

The Quarters

As the World Cup nears its last 10 matches, there are some mouth-watering encounters in the offing...

Germany vs Argentina - Repeat of 90 WC finals

They are by far the best 2 teams in this edition of the World Cup and this match is the first final of this World Cup. Both the teams have good attacking skills and play to their strengths. I would like to see how Germany will play when they go a goal behind. That scenario is yet to be seen so far so it should bring some really interesting tactics from the experienced Pekerman and energetic Klinsmann. What Argentina have that Germany doesnt are their reserves. Look at Messi (who might start) & Tevez...
Verdict: Toughest one but I will go with Argentina 3:2 or 2:1

Italy vs Ukraine - Easy for Italy

Though I felt bad for Australia as it was not a penalty, the way Australia played for around 40 minutes without even haing good shots on goal, I thought Italy deserved to win. And what a penalty it was...You cannot place it better. It seems Italy is the side in which the substitutes have scored the maximum goals for any country in the WC. Proven yet again by Totti who came in as a sub. I think the Italians who have seen enough and more of Shevchenko will be able to decipher him easily.
Verdict: Easy one for Italy 2:0

England vs Portugal - Scary repeat for the English

Before I say anything about the teams, here is a funny bit from the Guardian
"Now that Portugal have done the World Cup a favour by removing the tournament's most cynical team, many neutrals will be hoping that they can repeat the trick by eliminating a group of players who, alone among the seeded nations, appear to have brought nothing to the party except their wives and girlfriends."

Ok on the match, I think England will again pull in a goal or two and get away with this one. Without Deco, many yellow carded players (incldg Figo) and injured Ronaldo, I dont think this team is good enough to win against England.
Verdict: England should wrap this one 1:0

Brazil vs France - Repeat of 98 WC finals

An improved French team against a slowly improving but lucky Brazil. Well Zidane, Ribery, Viera and gang might find it a little difficult in this match to score the goals. We might not see Zidane and Ronaldo in a World Cup again. Zidane's goal was much much better than any that Ronaldo put in. I think an ageing side like France, however good they are might struggle against the Brazilians.

Verdict: Brazil will win 2:0

Group G & H

Group G

Switzerland - A starless team who play within their limitations have been able to notch up couple of impressive victories on their way to the second round. I expected a draw in the last match with Korea, but they came out trumps.

France - Well a team whose average age is 30 years and 8 months can only do so much. It was left to Viera to come up with a champion performance to put them through to the next round. This team needs a serious revamp and it will surely happen after this world cup.


Group H

Spain - Whatever people say about their performance, I am not all that convinced. I thought Ukraine has performed so inconsistently that they were on a low on the day they lost against Spain. I was surprised that they could keep a player of Fabregas' calibre out of the team. Anyways good going so far for the perennial under-achievers...

Ukraine - They have played the most inconsistent football seen so far. Beaten black and blue by Spain and then giving an absolutely stunning performance against the Saudis. I wonder if they would be able to do well in the next rounds. This is where I feel pity for teams like Czechs and Ivory Coast

Spain vs France verdict France
I think France has been motivated by the Viera performance and we might see an upset here

Switzerland vs Ukraine verdict Swiss
Swiss shud put more than a goal through this Ukraine team

Group E & F

Brazil - Not yet convinced that this is the team that can win this World cup. They will need to improve further and better their finishing and passing to proceed to the next stage. Ronaldinho has not been the given the room by his opposition to display his ball passing skills. Ronaldo is yet to achieve his 2002 form and loses possession quite easily these days. Kaka and the hard working Ze Roberto seesm to be the only ones worth mentioning in this team.

Australia - I thought they would have that fire burning in them to do well and they did just that. Ok so it would be again tata- bye bye for them in the next round. I thought the Cahill strike to equalise the team did the trick for them in this tournament. They were impressive against the Brazilians as well.

Italy - I have not watched a single match of theirs so far in this tournament but you get the idea from the scoreline, how well they have played. Unlike the teams of the past they have not just been defending well, but also attacking and scoring goals.

Ghana - The last African hope. But the absence of Essien and Appiah will be felt in the next round. But they played really well and Essien proved why he is one of the best in the business. There are very few players who can actually cover defence, midfield and go forward for the entire 90 mins like he does. He is one in a million. If it was not for the Chelsea money, he should have been playing for Arsenal!!!

Brazil vs Ghana verdict Brazil
Without Essien and Appiah, this team might not be able to take on the Brazilians, else it would have been really tight.

Italy vs Australia verdict Italy
Well I think Australia has come as far as they can.

Group C & D

Argentina - One of the favourites to go atleast till the finals. They had a very tight match against Netherlands and I thought Tevez played his heart out. Though the score line was 0-0, I dont think the match was a boring one. Messi & Tevez both have speed & skill to maneouvre around any defence.

Netherlands - They played their best match last nite, denying the Argentinians a goal. Robben their man in form was rested and they lacked those penetrative runs through the left flank. Anyways making it from this group was a tough job and so they have accomplished mission impossible 1, now lets see if they can do an MI-2!

Portugal - They are playing well, combining as a team consisting of the Figos and the Christiano Ronaldos. Their last match against Mexico, without Ronaldo and Pauleta, was a bit of a challenge for them considering the fact that the Mexicans wuuld be going for a all-out win.

Mexico - They were the strongest team from Central America. The way they strated off with a win over Iran, I thought they might give a fight to Portugal. But they will go in as the second best team from this group. Tough game ahead

Argentina vs Mexico verdict Argentina
No doubts on this. The score line should be 3-1 or 2-1 in favour of the Argentinians

Netherlands vs Portugal
This should be a very interesting match and I will give the benefit of doubt to Netherlands

Group A & B

Germany - Played like a team that wants to keep the momentum going. The way Sweinsteiger and Lahm played throughout the first round summarises the attacking instincts of this team. They are peaking at the right time and Ballack is on the rise and he will surely start getting into his groove by the next match.

Ecuador - This team was written off even before it started its campaign as one which can play only in the high altitudes at home. But they have played their hearts out and with 5 of their regulars being rested/injured and hence rested, lost to Germany. Delgado and Valencia stand out and I have a feeling that they will progress further.

England - Owen injured. Rooney out of injury. Crouch...well I dont like him at all. So will have to see if Lampard, Gerrard, Cole and Beckham can provide all the thrust from mid-field to Rooney to pump in the goals. Somehow they seem to have lost the plot somewhere in between. Remember that in the match against Trinidad&Tobago if it was not for a highly acrobatic Terru goal-line save, the story could have been different.

Sweden - Another mighty team that had to bite the dust. Ibrahmovic has been completely out of form and Larsson had to take the bulk of the load. They maintained their unbeaten streak against England with a last minute goal.

Germany vs Sweden verdict Germany
I would like to see this side go further...well who wouldnt. They are playing some wonderful football

England vs Ecuador verdict Ecuador
I think Ecuador has the ammunition for this English side

Finally the Beautiful Game!!!

Arrived a week after the World Cup started. And it took Argentina to claim its place as the most serious contender for not just winning the world cup, but winning it in style. The way they passed around the ball was amazing and the commentator said, "they are playing the way Brazil should have played". The beautiful game in display for everyone to see.

Serbia, a team which qualified over Spain in its European group and conceded only one goal in the qualifier had to pick up the ball six times from inside the net. The way they defended with ten men after conceding a goal against Holland was pure quality. But when Argentina put six past them, it was not the difference between Serbia and Argentina that came out, but the difference between Argentina and Holland.
There was Tevez, who plays for Corinthians in Brazil. It is very difficult for a Argentinian player to play in the Brazilian league and be voted as the best player for this year. He has been there and done that. Vicky used to tell me to watch out for this guy. I saw him first in the Argentina-England friendly which England won 3-2. His performance in that match was just too good. He showed his skills again in the match yesterday when he kept the ball in control, while tackling some 3 defenders.
And then the super kid who has grown up to be a complete player and maybe the next Maradona of Argentina!!! When he won the Best player in the World Youth Championship which Argentina won, he made news. Picked up by Barcelona and figuring in their starting line up whenever he was fit was another achievement for this young guy. He came in as a substitute, set up a goal for Crespo and finally hit one himself. Well this team has shown that it has got class, now it has to show consistency. Riquelme, the man of lazy elegance and one of the best back-heels in the world, had a quiet game.
And there was the man himself, shouting and jumping up and down everytime Argentina hit a goal or Messi came in!!! Well this team is surely a favourite to reach the final now.

One last word about Ivory Coast. They lacked the experience of playing in the big cup, else their performance was one which would have got them through to the next round, if they were in any other group. They are the best African team on display. Last nite was the best nite in this World Cup. I wanted to put in a post after the end of the first round, but last nite's performance asks for a post!!!
Argentina - Superlative Performance!

Review of the First Round

This is based on the first match in the first round of the World Cup. Names might get spelt wrongly, kindly adjust...

Group A
Germany is the shining star in this group. Never knew that they could come up with so much of creativity. Lahm and Sweinsteiger are the stars to look out for. Even if they concede couple of goals they will outscore the other team. Should make for an interesting second round match. Well Poland seemed like they had never played a South American nation before. Well the Ecuadorians were far more physical and muscular in their approach than the Brazilians and Argentinians. Looks like Ecuador should coolly make it to the next round with the Germans

Group B
This was the shocker group. England played as badly as they can. Half of Malaysia, maybe more, support this country and the feelings have been hurt of this nation after the first match. I wonder how the British might be taking this. They need a Rooney to come and give them that spark, else it might be an exit too soon and that too could come at the hands of Germany. I expect Sweden to make it to the next round as well. But Trinidad and Tobago made themselves proud by taking a point from the Sweden match.

Group C
The group of death. Argentina played wonderfully well against a hard working Ivory Coast. Riquelme is one laid back guy but when it comes to setting up play he is just too good. I dont like Robben, he is too selfish. I agree that he played superbly in that match, but bugger did not pass to anyone and tried to score himself. He does the same thing with Chelsea as well. Serbia should have played better, to think that they qualified over Spain in their group. Anyway looks like the favourites Argentina and Nederland will make it, though I would want Ivory Coast to make it to the next round.

Group D
I dont like any of the teams in this pool.Portugal did not impress that much. The good thing about this world cup is that none of the first time qualifiers and supposedly weaker teams were pushed around. They gave a very brave display, either holding the stronger team to a goalless draw or not conceding more than one goal. I like the way the African teams play, little physical in their approach but very effective. They dont get fouled that easily, will manage to get up and win the ball again.

Group E
This is going to be a World Cup where two previously boring teams have suddenly started playing attarctive football. One was Germany and the other one being Italy. They are in with a good chance to make some progress in this World Cup. Czechs have played really well with the Arsenal star Rosicky, playing extra-ordinarily well. I think these teams will be able to give the Brazilians a run for their money and glory.

Group F
Brazil everyone's favourite played boring football except for the Kaka goal, which was a class act. But you can never under-estimate a Brazil team. The fact is I would like a South Americn team or an African team (not this year, but maybe in the future) to win the World Cup, as they need it badly. In these countries, they need a cup like this to uplift an otherwise doomed economy and spirit. this would mean a lot to Brazil/Argentina/Ivory Coast much more than it would to Engalnd/Germany. Last word on Australia. Japan thought they had the match in their pocket, until Cahill also came up with that moment of brilliance. Thats the best thing about football. After scoring one goal you cannot sit pretty on your laurels, the other team might not just level in the dying moments, but also outscore you!

Group G
There is something about France and World Cup. They cannot play well as a team. It was Zidane's brilliance that got them the cup. Henry would have scoerd for Arsenal if he had a half-chance as the ones he got in that match, but not in the World Cup, not when he plays for France. They were lucky to escape with a draw. I am sure Korea will give the French team enough trouble. If France doesnt play well, then Korea has a chance to go through to the next round.

Group H
The Ukrainian team was a disaster. Spain was lucky to get a penalty and their luck rode well with the game. Shevchenko got me negative points in my FIFAFantasy game. He was ex[ecting passes like he would get from his AC Milan team. Unfortunately, the crosses were too wide or were in no-mans land. Wonder what they will do now. I dont know if there is any scope of improvement. Why is Fabregas not playing for Spain. I am sure he can only make the proceedings more lively.

Mumbai millls and buildings at nite

This picture was taken by a friend of mine, Ashim Mohanty with his digital SLR...pretty good, isnt it!!!

Some things in football...

Fan Runs Onto Pitch To Embraces Brazilian Striker Ronaldinho During Training Session In Switzerland

Well it seems the Brazilian team had to move to a bigger stadium for their practice sessions as the paying crowd numbered more than 25000...now what can one say about that!!!

FIFA World Cup Defining Moments…

As the World Cup kicked off so did the soaring spirits in this country. My friend, David has got his door all decorated in support of France his home country. And it seems couple of gals, good looking ones, came over to his door to see what he had done to his door and our man had a nice time ogling at them through the peep-hole. Well, its all for France you see.

Was watching the FIFA World Cup Defining Moments on TV the other day. It was awesome stuff. And I am reproducing the last four.

4. The Beautiful Misses of Pele in the 1970 World Cup

This was a wonderful piece of video, showing how Pele missed on couple of occasions in the 1970 World Cup, proving that he was human after all. There was one particular miss in which he is running towards the goal to reach the ball before the goalie. The goalie is fast advancing and in that sma,l fraction of a second Pele just leaves the ball and the goalie is left in no man’s land. But to the astonishment of the whole world Pele’s shot misses the goal by inches. It becomes a great miss rather than a spectacular goal that could have been.

3. The Deadly save by Gordon Banks in the 1966 World Cup match against Brazil

When Pele headed the ball towards the goal, it was almost a goal until the hand came from nowhere lifting the ball above the crossbar. Not that the save mattered, because Brazil went on to win that match by one goal. But if there was a save worth seeing again and again, this is the one.

2. The All-conquering 1970’s Brazil team

Winning the World Cup in style. Carlos Alberto Pereira lifting the cup and keeping it with the Brazilian team for the rest of their life. This cup matters for the entire country like nothing else I guess. What the Cup means and does to the poorer countries in South America and Africa is much much more than what it does to the richer European countries.

1. Of course no denying the Maradona of the 1986 World Cup.

The second goal in the quarterfinal was as the commentator described a goal of undeniable brilliance.