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.