World Cup 2010 Blog: “Liveblog: Italy vs New Zealand” plus 9 more

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• Liveblog: Italy vs New Zealand
• Liveblog: Slovakia vs Paraguay
• Round of 16 Qualification Scenarios: Group B
• Round of 16 Qualification Scenarios: Group A
• Podcast: USA 2-2 Slovenia & England 0-0 Algeria Review
• The World Cup Awards: June 19th, 2010.
• Fan of the Day: The Yokozuna.
• Preview: Slovakia vs. Paraguay
• Vuvuzela Files: Poor Blowing Techniques Can Cause Injury
• Match Review & Highlights: Cameroon 1-2 Denmark

Liveblog: Italy vs New Zealand Posted: 20 Jun 2010 06:10 AM PDT Welcome to the liveblog of Italy vs New Zealand in World Cup Group F. Make your comments before, during and after the match in the liveblog window. Below the main liveblog are videos of the goals so far, and then a feed of trusted Twitter accounts either broadcasting from the match or talking about it. Read up on the match with our Italy vs New Zealand preview. Goal videos: Bet on Italy vs. New Zealand Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from carefully selected Twitter accounts: FAN RESOURCES   Italy Italy World Cup Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Italy Soccer Jerseys | Italy World Cup Tickets   New Zealand New Zealand Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter New Zealand Jerseys | New Zealand Football Tickets

Liveblog: Slovakia vs Paraguay Posted: 20 Jun 2010 03:30 AM PDT Welcome to the liveblog of Slovakia vs Paraguay in World Cup Group F. Make your comments before, during and after the match in the liveblog window. Below the main liveblog are videos of the goals so far, and then a feed of trusted Twitter accounts either broadcasting from the match or talking about it. Read up on the match with our Slovakia vs Paraguay preview. Goal videos: Bet on Slovakia vs. Paraguay Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from carefully selected Twitter accounts: FAN RESOURCES   Slovakia Slovakia Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Slovakia Football Jerseys | Slovakia Tickets   Paraguay Paraguay Football Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Paraguay Football Shirts | Paraguay Tickets

Round of 16 Qualification Scenarios: Group B Posted: 20 Jun 2010 01:22 AM PDT Now that the second round of group matches in each of the eight World Cup groups has begun, we are starting to get a clearer picture of who will make up the round of 16 at World Cup 2010. Here at WorldCupBlog, we love both football and numbers (that last part might just be me), so we will be going group by group, and giving you all the scenarios for the last round of games, so you know what your team needs to advance. This time, we focus on Group B: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea Remaining matches: Nigeria vs. South Korea, Greece vs. Argentina Argentina: 6 points from 2 matches, +4 goal differential * A win or draw against Greece will guarantee first place in group B. * If Argentina lose to Greece, and Nigeria draws with South Korea, Argentina will qualify, but it will come to goal difference between Greece and Argentina for first place in the group (Argentina will still win the group unless they lose by 3). * If Argentina lose to Greece, and South Korea beats Nigeria, three teams will be tied on 6 points, and it will come to goal difference between Greece, Argentina and South Korea. South Korea: 3 points from 2 matches, -1 goal differential * A win against Nigeria and a win or draw for Argentina against Greece puts South Korea through in second place. * A win against Nigeria and a Greece win over Argentina puts South Korea through only if they beat Nigeria by more goals than Greece beats Argentina. * If South Korea draws with Nigeria and Greece beats Argentina, South Korea is eliminated. * If South Korea draws with Nigeria and Greece draws with Argentina, qualification between South Korea and Greece will depend on total goals scored, which South Korea leads by 1. * If South Korea loses to Nigeria, and Greece takes any points from Argentina, South Korea is eliminated. * If South Korea loses to Nigeria, and Greece loses to Argentina, South Korea is eliminated on goal difference. Greece: 3 points from 2 matches, -1 goal differential * If Greece beat Argentina, and Nigeria beats or draws with South Korea, Greece qualifies. * If Greece beat Argentina, and South Korea beats Nigeria, it goes to goal difference between Argentina, South Korea, and Greece. * If Greece draw with Argentina, and South Korea beats Nigeria, Greece is eliminated. * If Greece draw with Argentina and South Korea draw with Nigeria, it goes to total goals scored, which Greece leads by 1. * If Greece lose to Argentina and South Korea take any points from Nigeria, Greece is eliminated. * If Greece lose to Argentina and South Korea lose to Nigeria, Greece is eliminated on goal difference. Nigeria: 0 points from 2 matches, -2 goal differential * If Nigeria draws or loses to South Korea, they are eliminated. * If Nigeria beats South Korea, and Greece takes any points from Argentina, Nigeria are eliminated. * If Nigeria beats South Korea and Argentina beats Greece, there will be a three-way tie on points, but this scenario guarantees Nigeria goes through on goal difference. If your team does make it through, check our guide to Group A qualification to see who they might be facing next.

Round of 16 Qualification Scenarios: Group A Posted: 20 Jun 2010 12:42 AM PDT Now that we’re into the second round of group matches in each of the eight World Cup groups, we are starting to get a clearer picture of who will make up the 16 teams in the first knockout round of World Cup 2010. Here at WorldCupBlog, we love both football and math (that last part might just be me), so we will be going group by group, and giving you all the scenarios for the last round of matches, so you know what your team needs to advance. First, Group A: France, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay Remaining matches: France vs. South Africa; Mexico vs. Uruguay Uruguay – 4 points from 2 matches, +3 goal differential In the drivers seat, one point from winning * If Uruguay beat or draw Mexico, they will win group A * If Uruguay lose to Mexico, and there is a winner between France and South Africa, then it will come to goal difference between Uruguay and that winner for second place in the group. Mexico – 4 points from 2 matches, +2 goal differential Master of their own fate * If Mexico beat Uruguay, they will win group A * If Mexico draw with Uruguay, they will finish second in group A * If Mexico loses to Uruguay, and there is a winner between France and South Africa, then it will come to goal difference between Mexico and that winner for second place in the group. France – 1 point from 2 matches, -2 goal differential Needs a win and some help * If Mexico and Uruguay draw, then France is eliminated. * If France draws or loses to South Africa, they are eliminated. * If France beats South Africa, and there is a winner between Uruguay and Mexico, then it will come to goal difference between France and the loser of that match for second place in the group. South Africa – 1 point from 2 matches, -3 goal differential Needs a win and some help * If Mexico and Uruguay draw, then South Africa is eliminated. * If South Africa draws or loses to France, they are eliminated. * If South Africa beats France, and there is a winner between Uruguay and Mexico, then it will come to goal difference between South Africa and the loser of that match for second place in the group. If your team does make it out of Group A, they’ll face whichever teams make it through Group B qualification.

Podcast: USA 2-2 Slovenia & England 0-0 Algeria Review Posted: 19 Jun 2010 11:59 PM PDT Regular readers will know I make up one quarter of the Total Football Soccer Show. With my three co-hosts out of town following the USA’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Slovenia and England’s apparently apocalyptic 0-0 with Algeria, I picked up a phone with some sort of digital recorder thingy attached, and called my co-host Taylor (of USA World Cup Blog and Man Utd Offside fame). We discuss the two results, referee Koman Coulibaly’s decision to disallow Maurice Edu’s goal, and ask whether Wayne Rooney should really have to apologize to grumpy England fans. Best of all, Taylor’s girlfriend’s cousin gets in on the podcast action. Catch her contribution at the 40:00 mark. Subscribe to future episodes of the show via iTunes, or find the Total Football Soccer Show on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The World Cup Awards: June 19th, 2010. Posted: 19 Jun 2010 05:40 PM PDT Teams of the Day: Cameroon & Denmark. Two teams which proudly featured nursery school defending. Bless you. That’s all. Player of the Day: Simon Kjaer. This man was throwing around balls like Xavi, including the long pass to Rommedahl on the first Danish goal. A move so splendidly smooth it’s rough again. Best goal of the tournament thus far. Plus he contributed to that rubbish defense. Top drawer all around. (Unfortunately, he’s also suspended for Japan.) (Oh, and Rommedahl was the real player of the day.) The BP Award/Spill of the Day: African keepers are just going down the tank. [101gg] Future ESPN Broadcaster Award: World Leader prognostication at its finest. Be Careful What You Wish For Award: Aptly Summing Up A Nation Award: Finishing School Valedictorian Runoff: Beer in one hand, vuvuzela in the other full with bikini top v. the double-beer helmet. v. Matchup of the Day: Dutch versus…Denmark again. v.

Fan of the Day: The Yokozuna. Posted: 19 Jun 2010 02:57 PM PDT It’s like Freddie Mercury came back to life and took up sumo. More, sadly, after the jump. More fans at World Cup Blog Photos

Preview: Slovakia vs. Paraguay Posted: 19 Jun 2010 02:07 PM PDT THE BIG PICTURE Paraguay came into the World Cup as maybe the best team that many of us knew little about. They qualified strongly from South America, but they were widely seen as the favorite for a fairly distant second place in Group F. They proved in their first match of this tournament that they are not to be underestimated, drawing 1-1 with holders Italy while controlling large periods of play, especially in the first half. Slovakia also came in with perhaps less respect than they deserved, having won their European qualifying group over Czech Republic and Slovenia. The Slovaks did nothing to put their stamp on the group in the opener with New Zealand, allowing the All Whites their first-ever World Cup point in a 1-1 draw. Both will be looking for full points here with the expectation that Italy will beat New Zealand. WHAT’S AT STAKE Group F is wide open going into its second matchday, with all four teams on 1 point and 1 goal scored and allowed, so we’re basically right where we started in terms of predicting how this group will end up. Paraguay has the advantage of having Italy in their rear-view mirrors, and will have reason to think they can play with anyone. Slovakia is probably in the weakest position, having dropped points to the group’s worst team on paper, New Zealand. If Slovakia loses this, they will go into their final match with Italy on only 1 and will have little hope of moving on, so an argument could be made that this is more of a must-win for them than for Paraguay. Bet on Slovakia vs. Paraguay OUR PREDICTION Paraguay was impressive against Italy. They took a lead and had the holders back on their heels for a while there. Slovakia, on the other hand, drew with New Zealand. As we’ve learned this week, first-match performances aren’t great predictors of the second match, but on form, you have to think Paraguay will take this one. I’m going for 2-0. FAN RESOURCES   Slovakia Slovakia Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Slovakia Football Jerseys | Slovakia Tickets   Paraguay Paraguay Football Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Paraguay Football Shirts | Paraguay Tickets

Vuvuzela Files: Poor Blowing Techniques Can Cause Injury Posted: 19 Jun 2010 01:25 PM PDT They’re taking over the world, these vuvuzelas. Not only have they given a mating insect feel to the games, but now they’re taking down fans. Yvonne Mayer thought she had a cold developing in her throat during a vuvuzela-blowing competition, which was held in the eighth circle of Hell. Nay, she’d just been vuvuzela’d. That “cold” was more “ruptured throat”, but fret not – she’ll be back blowing as hard as she can in a few days time if she can get over the vuvuzela injury jitters. “The doctor was really enjoying it, he just kept laughing at me and said it was his first vuvuzela injury,” said Mayer. Her physician, Scott Barker, said the wound worsened because she kept blowing after the initial tear. Mayer blamed her own poor blowing technique and said she was now “a bit nervous” about trying it again. So all ye blowers remember: perfect your technique, don’t blow too hard and it’s not a competition.

Match Review & Highlights: Cameroon 1-2 Denmark Posted: 19 Jun 2010 10:30 AM PDT Cameroon had more possession (54%) and more shots on goal (23) than Denmark. They even scored the first goal when Samuel Eto’o finally opened his World Cup 2010 account after 10 minutes. But two excellent goals from Denmark and some wasteful finishing from Cameroon mean the Indomitable Lions are the first team to exit World Cup 2010. It all started so well. Samuel Eto’o – happy to be playing centrally again rather than out wide – scored in the 10th minute, after Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen had put too much faith in Christian Poulsen and played him a short ball from a goal kick, which Poulsen could only redirect to Cameroon’s Pierre Webo, who squared to Samuel Eto’o for the easy finish. The Lions looked Indomitable. Especially if Denmark were going to keep defending like that. They weren’t though. Instead they scored a goal in the 33rd that started in the back, with centre back Simon Kjær, who – as Crhs noted – temporarily thought he was Xavi Hernandez. Not that I watch much American football, but Kjær’s deep pass to find Dennis Rommehdahl down the right seemed like a successful hail mary. Rommedahl brought it down, accelerated and squared for Nicklas Bendtner to do what Nicklas Bendtner (sometimes does best). Score. Even the pinkest of boots could not miss that tap in. Best team goal of the World Cup so far? Much goalmouth action followed between that 33rd minute goal and halftime, with Samuel Eto’o coming oh so close to getting a second when he hit the post. Cameroon continued to enjoy a slight edge in the second half until the 61st minute, when Dennis Rommedahl cut inside from the right and curled home with his left: First of all, great ball from Bendtner. Second, the 31 year old Dennis Rommedahl is far too quick to be playing professional football. It’s just not fair on the other players. Cameroon pushed and pushed for an equalizer, but their finishing wasn’t good enough to get past Thomas Sorensen. This good but not good enough 79th minute effort from Achille Emana sums up the game nicely: So 2-1 to Denmark. That leaves Cameroon with no points and bottom of Group E. Netherlands top and through to the last 16 with six points after their 1-0 win over Japan earlier, while Japan and Denmark are level on three points and set to play each other next. All of which means Cameroon are out, because both Netherlands and either Japan or Denmark (or both if they draw) will finish with more points than are available to Cameroon. Sad that the first team out of World Cup 2010 has been Cameroon, but coach Paul Le Guen’s selection in the first game against Japan is what’s done for them here. You can be unlucky in a group game like Cameroon were today, and get away with it. But you can’t be unlucky in one game and plain awful in another game, because after that there aren’t enough games left to make up the difference.

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