It takes just a moment

A Rose, originally uploaded by Sarfraaz.

Yeah, it takes just a moment to change to course of a match, and thats precisely what was happening all the way long in the first round of the round robin matches going on in the FIFA World Cup 2006 tourney this year.

This was very very evident in the Australia v/s Japan match. Both the teams were really playing very poor quality of football, compared to the standards shown by the other South American and European countries. Japan and Australia should consider themselves lucky to have been pitched in the same pool, since they wont be easy quitters. Well, atleast Australia would consider themselves lucky, with the way they won the match. It definately was a very spirited and persevering approach by the Aussies, and Japan, who should have atleast scored another goal, instead of holding onto their one goal lead. The Aussies got a break through in the dying moments of the match, when Aussies' substitutes, scored 3 goals in a span of 6 minutes, after waiting for 84 minutes to score their first ever world cup goal since 32 years !!! Japan were caught sleeping and didnt know what struck them. Aussies were delighted, to say the least, after winning over their most important rivals in this group, though its a complete uphill task for them to score against either Croatia or Brazil, unless their "never-say-die" approach springs a surprise victory for them, causing a major hickup in this World Cup.

USA were hardly any botheration for the Czech Republic. The match ended as expected with the Czechs winning by 3 goals to 1, and being strong contenders to qualify from Group E. Another team from this group, Italy, had an easy run over their rivals Ghana. This was one match i didnt watch, but the news is that Italy look strong enough to give a strong fight to their opponents to qualify for the semis.

The remaining matches were lacking all the luster of the tourney and getting boring, and predictable at times. The South Koreans, played very selfishly and took undue advantage of the 10 men Togo team. It was sad to see the giant players of Togo running all over the park and gasping for breathe and the South Koreans making fun and keeping the ball to themselves and not allowing Togo to have possession of the ball, even after South Korea were 2 goals ahead. I thought that this was one of the worst matches i saw in this tourney, with the South Koreans showing so bad sportsmanship, but that was not to be.

The worst match I saw was that of France. Pathetic to say the least. The French havent learnt from their disastrous episode of the previous World Cup. They still do not gel as a team. The growing age of the key players should be among the least of the worries for the French Coach. This team lacks the team spirit. There was lack of co-ordination, and they very very badly lacked the killer instinct. Henry was very disappointing. I wonder how he manages to score so great goals for Arsenal. Well, i suppose, its just that Henry doesnt enjoy his game as much while he plays for France, as he enjoys while playing for Arsenal. The Swiss held the French for the second goalless draw of this tournament, and i would not be surprised if France doesnt make it to the second round this time as well !!!

Group H has undoubtedly the least known and least famous teams, with probably only Spain being the strong contenders and it could just be anyone else for the second position from this group. Spain had a very very easy game against the much highly rated Ukrain. The Ukranians had Schevchenko who was being projected as the most happening player of this World Cup , with he being paid quite a huge sum for his transfer to Chelsea in the coming season. Though, he did show some class in the way he played, it was really tough on him, as the ball hardly came to him. The Spanish players made merry and won the match quite easily 4 - 0, with the Ukranians being reduced to 10 players, and also getting the tourney's first penalty kick.


The last match in the first round of the round robin matches was that between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The first half was not so great and Tunisia were leading by a solitary goal. But, the second half saw some very good attacking game from the Saudis and it lifted the whole match to a completely new domain. The tackling, the passes and even the strikes were all good. The match became even more interesting when the Saudis scored a very clean goal, and withing the next 10 minutes even scored their second goal !!! Both the goals were very professional and clinical. The match was almost over and the Saudis would have won this match, but it was not to be. The Tunisians who hardly had any possession in the second half, though they did have some good counter attacks were being pushed back by the Saudi attacks. In the dying moments of the match, infact, in the last couple of minutes of injury time, the tournament witnessed the most late goal, a 93rd minute goal !!! This was so harsh on the Saudis, but Tunisia did deserve this goal, and at the end you could say that this was a more fair result for the great game of football we got see from this almost inconsequential match.

The much hyped Brazil had a very good first match, and supposedly had to fight against their toughest rivals in this group, the Croatians. Every one of the strikers were looking for their piece of glory, and we did see some very good football with the Brazilian samba on the field. Very good quick small passes and wonderful game plays culiminating into very good attacking positions. The Croates were not to be left back. They were the 3rd best seeded team in this tourney, and i guess they really showed how to attack Brazil. Any chance they had for counter attack, they were giving everything to it. This was a great game to watch, but yeah a bit dissappointing to see the Brazilians not showing so much good finishes. Most of this credit should go to the Croatian defenders and even the Brasilian defence for not conceeding a single goal. The Brazilian defence has definately improved. As the commentator was saying, at times you realise that its the defenders who make the match more interesting than the strikers. Strange that one should feel this statement come true when you have more than half of a team full of world class strikers !!! Kaka scored a very good long range shot in the 42nd minute to win the match for Brazil. We also got to see glimpses of the Ronaldhino dribbling, and Ronaldo's shot and Carlos powerful kicks ... hope we get to see more and more of these great players in this tourney.

Now that the first round of games are over and al the teams have played one game each, my choice for the Semis would be Brazil, Argentina, Croatia and either Germany , England or Italy [ in this particular order of preference :p ] making it for the last four. Lets see how the next rounds progress and how many changes i will have to make in this list of probables for the semis. I still am rooting for a Brazil and Argentina final with Brazil bagging the golden trophy :-)