Alhaji Righteous De Ambitious: World Cup 2006 Blog

Friday, April 3, 2009

World Cup 2006 Blog

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Posted: 02 Apr 2009 10:00 AM PDT

And no, this time it has nothing to do with a mascot. At least that we know of, anyway.

Craig Bellamy was left out of the starting lineup for a knee issue. At least that’s what they’re saying publicly. To open up the sans-Bellamy proceedings, Michael Ballack scored a fantastic goal in front of what looked to be precisely no one at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Clearly Bellamy’s ‘defeatism’ has spread. Wales had a real chance to climb back into a game they had no business being in when Serdar Tasci fell down (1:25), watched the ball into his his hand…swatted it away…in the box…all while the Welsh attacker tripped over his body. That’s at least one red card and two penalties. Or vice-versa. And yet no whistle sounded. Then Mario Gomez finally broke his German duck with a positively exquisite finish. From Welsh defender Ashley Williams.

Just wasn’t a Welsh day, was it?

(Oh, and Poldi slapped Ballack.)

The High Price of High Altitude: Bolivia 6 - Argentina 1

Posted: 02 Apr 2009 07:00 AM PDT

No good deed goes unpunished.

“Before becoming Argentina coach, Maradona had backed Bolivia’s campaign against a FIFA ban on matches at high altitude, taking part in a charity match in La Paz alongside President Evo Morales last year. The ban was later overturned.”

After captaining Argentina’s most embarrassing defeat in some time, do you think Maradona might change his mind? Maybe?

And if the sword was bad, the swordsman was worse:

Striker Joaquin Botero, who plays for Mexican second division team Correcaminos (Roadrunners), scored a hat-trick.

A player from the Mexican second division beating the likes of Lionel Messi, Kun Aguero, Esteban Cambiasso and Angel Di Maria - all seven minutes of him. Who’d have thunk it? A Cinderella story if ever there was one, surely, despite Botero’s long history of goal scoring above sea level.

Much of this will be blamed on the 3600m Argentina had to climb - not literally, then it would’ve been 12-1 or so - and that’s certainly a logical and valid reason. But while altitude does make a difference - you’ll hear no argument there - to turn a club which many consider, coach aside, to be a contender in South Africa to become the heavybag for a team which sits second bottom in qualifying is something else entirely. Something beyond environmental factors. Bolivia simply had their day.

Now how will Argentina be compensated for their troubles? With a trip to the thin airs of Quito in the next qualifying round. Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Certainly could be.