June 22 Games

From Javier...

Sukhdev is on his way to South Africa where tomorrow he will be seeing the England-Slovenia match.

The World Cup returned to normality somewhat yesterday as the favourite teams won and there were no big upsets. Spain defeated Honduras 2-0 but has a tricky match left against Chile on Friday. The Spaniards have an incredible ability to miss chances, but that does not win world cups. Fernando Torres is in poor form and Spain needs his killer instinct intact. Chile beat the horribly boring Swiss 1-0. If the Gods of football are just (they are not) Switzerland will be sent home packing on Friday. Portugal devastated North Korea 7-0. That is as much goals as scored in the famous quarterfinal between both countries in World Cup 1966 (4-3 for Portugal) but on this occasion the goal distribution was lopsided.

The last set of games in each group start today. In Group A, a very interesting Mexico-Uruguay. Will the Mexicans conform with the tie and play Argentina in the next round? I doubt it. An open Mexico-Uruguay games still gives France, or even South Africa, an opportunity. The French should go for it, but are they in the psychological state to do so?; instead of focusing on the opportunity, all they are focused on is on infighting (a reflection of the overall country?). And South Africa will go for the game for their fans. All I can say if that if Uruguay defeats Mexico and France ties or has a short victory over South Africa, the French will rue the lost chance (..... and more infighting and finger pointing). The Simulator with the latest distributions still gives France an 8.6% chance of progressing to second round.

In Group B, the interesting match is Nigeria - South Korea. With the Argentinians going for victory over Greece (Messi will play...... that is really professional and brave by Maradona) the Nigerians can still qualify with a victory over the Koreans. The Nigerians should go for it.





Can the French deliver? In spite of my delight in the fiasco of the northern neighbour of my country (Spain), I have a hunch French pride will make an act of presence today. They have to try because they still have a fighting chance (wow how the media will change if they qualify). On the other hand the bafana bafana are under no pressure and will want to show at least one scalp.

Mexico and Uruguay. Is the temptation to tie to difficult to resist? I think the teams will both go for it. The Uruguayans will look very stupid if they lay back only to be stunned 5 minutes from the final and with the French laying it into South Africa.




















The game of the day for me. I have to admit I have it against South Korea since their scandalous referee-assisted victory over Spain in quarterfinals 2002. The Nigerians still can survive and must go for broke.
















Argentina is under no pressure. With fluid football and a hungry Messi, together with a Greece that needs to go for it may turn this into a bloodbath.