your daily recap

[rone]

For most of the game, Australia lacked individual brilliance; they have a lot of decent players, but not really any excellent ones.  But all of Hiddink's substitutions yielded results; Cahill got two goals (and got lucky on not being called for cleating Komano in the box right after his first goal), Aloisi got the last one, and Kennedy's size gave the Japanese trouble.  Japan played well, got a lucky goal, but had troublewith their finishing.

I missed the US-Czechia game, although from the sound of things i didn't miss much. Rosicky's first goal was a thing of beauty.

Ghana's midfield lived up to its vaunted reputation; unfortunately, its defense was scattered, the goalie turned every corner kick into an adventure by rushing madly off his line, and the forwards lacked creativity. Pirlo's goal threaded its way around people and nestled just inside the far post; it was even better than Rosicky's goal.

Comments

[wisn.livejournal.com]

I watched the first half of Japan/Australia and worked for the second. I should have done the opposite, because it sounds like it took that long for Australia to get the fire under them. The first half hour of US/Czech was boring and it doesn't look like I missed anything by working for the rest of it.

Tomorrow, though, is S.Korea's first match, and even if watching wasn't mandatory, I'd tune in just to see what those wacky Togo players are going to do next.

[damienw]

Yeah, I was zoning out in the last ten minutes when suddenly... goal! Then with two minutes left until full time... goal! And then into extra time and... goal! Aloysi's an Adelaide boy, so the town will be v. excited, even if it was Cahill that did the damage.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Aloisi had a part in Cahill's first goal, because it was his kick that was blocked by the Japanese defender and left it there for Cahill.

[talus21.livejournal.com]

Well all I have to say is the Czech team looked very good. The US looked horrible. Looked like they had all met just that day, and the coach just told them to go play. Hope they can pull it together for the next two games.

[bungo.livejournal.com]

The four-year-old son of a relative was watching AUS-JPN, dressed up in Samurai outfit, and barracking for Japan. He was disappointed with the result, until his dad pointed out "but Pete will be happy". I got a message on our answering machine with them all singing away and a random national anthem in the background. Yay!

[eejitalmuppet.livejournal.com]

Pirlo has a growing reputation for spectacular free kicks and long-range efforts. He scored a beauty against Scotland, and a couple of others during qualifying.

US - CZR

[rotojeff.livejournal.com]

Bummed that we had such a poor showing against the Czechs, but at the same token, they're my "if we can't do it" team. My wife and I spent four awesome days in Prague as part of our honeymoon (Vienna and Budapest being the other two major locations), so I have a soft spot for them. That, and they make kick-ass beer there.

Italy vs. Czech Republic should be one hell of a game.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I would not not be unhappy to see the Czechs do well. My mother taunts me about Czech beer whenever she's there.