|
|
Find Downline, get $5 for each of it.
Free Register
Klik Below Banner
|
Wednesday, June 14 |
|
Kaka the difference as records fall
THE DAY REPLAYED: The winning run now stands at eight victories. It began all the way back in Ulsan 1,471 days ago with a 2-1 success over Turkey and tonight in Berlin it reached a special milestone with a 1-0 defeat of Croatia. No team in the history of the FIFA World Cup™ has put together such a long, victorious streak as Brazil.
It was not the stuff from which legends have been constructed but it was enough and the winning goal from Kaka a minute before the break was a peach. And it was one more goal than France managed. As the 2002 champions carry on their winning ways, so the 1998 winners cannot shake off a sequence of disappointing results. A 0-0 draw with Switzerland - a first ever FIFA World Cup clean sheet for the Swiss - was not the start they were hoping for to banish the blues from four years ago. In the same Group G, Korea Republic turned round a first-half deficit to beat Togo 2-1.
Brazil will be hoping that this year's tournament starts and ends for them in Germany's capital. If they return to Berlin in 26 days' time, the winning run might have grown a good deal more, Ronaldo could have become the greatest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history and Cafu the player with more winning appearances in FIFA World Cup matches than any other. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.
There were too many Croatian chances in the second half for this to be a concern-free zone for coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his team. Three times those wonderfully vivid tablecloth shirts were in position to score; three times they could do no more than aim the ball down Dida's throat.
Player of the Day
Kaka: the winning goal and some sublime touches
At least the goal that carried the day lived up to Brazilian traditions as Kaka found space on the edge of the penalty area to shrug off the threat from three hovering defenders before caressing the ball high into the net. He was the 'Fab Four' member who most lived up to his reputation though there were some promising moments conjured by Ronaldinho.
Moment of the Day
The Croatian fans never lose faith.
Enlarge Photo
Photo Gallery
It was a heart-warming sight, the way the Croatian fans stuck by their team, concocting a red-and-white tidal wave of movement and launching a wall of reverberating noise around the magnificent FIFA World Cup Stadium Berlin.
Remember that day in Paris when France struck three goals past Brazil in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final? Since then they have played four games in the competition and not won a single one. What's more they have failed to score a single goal. For a nation that can boast Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Louis Saha, Sylvain Wiltord plus Zinedine Zidane - who has been known to strike a spectacular goal or two - that's an amazing statistic.
Maybe their lack of sparkle in a 0-0 draw was down to feelings of familiarity. They had met Switzerland home and away in the qualifying campaign and both those games had ended as ties: 1-1 in Berne, 0-0 in Paris. Neither team will await their next encounter with any great excitement.
This stage is Zidane's farewell to a game he has graced with the utmost skill and finesse. Of those lining up to assume the great man’s mantle, Franck Ribery has pressed his claims more than most over the past season. This was his first start for the national team and for the first 15 or 20 minutes he buzzed dangerously before the heat of mid-afternoon applied a brake to his endeavours.
The first game of the day had seen Togo attempt to secure the first points for Africa in this tournament. But surely Togo could not succeed against Korea Republic, surprise semi-finalists four years ago, where the likes of fellow debutants Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana had so narrowly failed? After all their preparations had been particularly chaotic with coach Otto Pfister resigning just days before their first game – before agreeing to return.
Goal of the Day
Mohamed Kader: 1-0 Togo
Football never obeys a logical script, however, and Togo took the lead with a goal of some quality. Mohamed Kader brought the ball down skilfully and then quickly got away his shot which had just the right angle to beat the goalkeeper. It was a fine strike and he almost repeated it on two other occasions.
By the time of his third, the Koreans had turned the game on its head, equalising within a minute of Togo's Jean-Paul Abalo receiving a red card, through Lee Chun-Soo's superb free-kick. They then celebrated a winner from Ahn Jung-Hwan that ensured a first ever FIFA World Cup victory outside of Asia. |
posted by ^%&^
@ 1:46 PM
  |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
