World Cup 2010 Blog: “Liveblog: Japan vs Cameroon” plus 9 more

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• Liveblog: Japan vs Cameroon
• Liveblog: Netherlands vs Denmark
• Preview: Italy vs. Paraguay
• Preview: Japan vs. Cameroon
• Preview: Netherlands vs. Denmark
• The World Cup Awards: June 13th, 2010.
• Match Review & Highlights: Germany 4-0 Australia
• Liveblog: Germany 4-0 Australia
• Match Review & Highlights: Serbia 0-1 Ghana
• Vuvuzela or Jabulani – Which Would You Rather FIFA Ban?

Liveblog: Japan vs Cameroon Posted: 14 Jun 2010 06:10 AM PDT Welcome to the WorldCupBlog liveblog of Japan vs Camaeroon in World Cup Group E. 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 Japan vs Cameroon preview or from people who know the teams better at the Japan blog and Cameroon blog. Goal videos: Bet on Japan vs. Cameroon Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from carefully selected Twitter accounts: Fan Resources   Japan Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Japan Jerseys | Japan Tickets   Cameroon Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Cameroon Jerseys | Cameroon Tickets

Liveblog: Netherlands vs Denmark Posted: 14 Jun 2010 03:58 AM PDT Welcome to the WorldCupBlog liveblog of Netherlands v Denmark in Group E. Bit of a special event for this game. Jan from the Netherlands blog and Cerberus from the Denmark blog will be co-piloting, so we’ll be getting witty and well informed commentary from both the Dutch and Danish perspective. Hopefully it all stays friendly. If not then I have the World Cup Blog security team on standby and ready to swarm, swarm, swarm on my order. 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 Netherlands vs Denmark preview or on the Netherlands and Denmark blogs. Goal videos: Bet on Netherlands vs. Denmark Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from carefully selected Twitter accounts: Fan Resources   Netherlands Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Netherlands Jerseys | Netherlands Tickets   Denmark Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Denmark Jerseys | Denmark Tickets

Preview: Italy vs. Paraguay Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:09 AM PDT THE BIG PICTURE The big picture is the final picture from four years in Germany: Fabio Cannavaro hoisting the trophy above his head amidst the confetti as Marcello Lippi’s men celebrated around him. Lippi’s back after a two year sabbatical and so too are the champions, in South Africa to defend their trophy. But the past is the past and they’ll only be defending champions for just under a month, so it’s about creating a future with some old characters while facing Paraguay, a team seemingly very much on the rise itself. Both teams did well in qualifying, with Paraguay the surprise leader in South America for awhile before falling just one solitary point aback of Brazil (a rather decent team). One team still celebrating its past, but both very much looking to the future. WHAT’S AT STAKE Group F: The Azzurri looked rather unconvincing in their final friendlies, and no one’s fancying them, so they’ve got a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They’re also quite peeved Patrick Vieira, on the losing side of the Berlin final, handed the trophy over this past Thursday. A defending champion being given little respect, it’s perceived. Notorious slow starters, they’ll want to take a bevy of stones out with one throw in a group they’re still predicted to win comfortably. For Paraguay it’s an early chance to stake a claim as one of the tournament’s darkhorses, the whispers of which already surround them, and to take advantage of any Italian slow start, or age, or lack of form, and prove Group F is anything but “Italy and the others”. They’ll also have one eye to a striker at home, Salvador Cabanas, shot in a Mexico City bar a few months back and unable to play, and Lucas Barrios, the surprise recipient of a Paraguayan passport and new leader of their strike force with three goals in three caps. A pressing forward to their future with a heavy heart. Bet on Italy vs. Paraguay OUR PREDICTION There’s been a grave disconnect between the Italian midfield and its forwards which sort of hurts that important goal-scoring portion of the games. But there’s something which says they’ll scrap one while Lucas Barrios continues his goal-a-game run for Paraguay: 1-1 draw. FAN RESOURCES   Italy Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Italy Jerseys | Italy Tickets   Paraguay Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Paraguay Jerseys | Paraguay Tickets

Preview: Japan vs. Cameroon Posted: 13 Jun 2010 10:49 PM PDT THE BIG PICTURE Cameroon remain Africa’s most successful World Cup team, having reached the quarter final stage in 1990. Problem is, since then they’ve only won one of their last 10 matches at World cup finals and worse still, they’ve never scored against Japan. In fact, Japan are unbeaten in three meetings with Cameroon, a statistic that won’t sit too kindly with manager Paul Le Guen, who’s made some bold predictions of a big tournament for his team. Those views have been echoed by star striker Samuel Eto’o who offers the real fire power in this game. Seeing as Japan have 1 goal in 5 games (a goalless draw in a warm up game against Zimbabwe just about sums it up) it will most likely be their priority to keep him out, rather than offer any threat themselves. WHAT’S AT STAKE Group E: If we’ve learnt anything from the opening few games in South Africa, it’s that absolutely nobody wants to lose their first game. That may not sit well with the television cameras, but this match will be no different, especially with Cameroon anxious to prove their claims of a successful tournament aren’t flawed. Japan have qualified for 4 World Cups in a row now and they’ll be thinking it’s about time to take a step forward themselves. Trouble is, group E also consists of Denmark and the fancied Netherlands so there won’t be room for any slip ups. Bet on Japan vs. Cameroon OUR PREDICTION If Cameroon can strike early, they could go on to win comfortably. A goal in the first 15 minutes will see a 3-0 win. If nerves get the better of them though, the game will get more and more cagey, and as the time ticks away and they could have to battle for a far less convincing 1-0 late victory. Either way, three points to Cameroon. FAN RESOURCES   Japan Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Japan Soccer Jerseys | Japan Tickets   Cameroon Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Cameroon Jerseys | Cameroon World Cup Tickets

Preview: Netherlands vs. Denmark Posted: 13 Jun 2010 10:10 PM PDT Join our Netherlands v. Denmark Liveblog THE BIG PICTURE First game for both teams in Group E, and – I only just realized this – our first all European clash. Netherlands vs Denmark. Oranje vs Olsen’s Elleve. Netherlands are the fancied team and expected to top the group, and to play some good football while doing it. Denmark aren’t exactly unfancied, but they’ve definitely flown under the radar somewhat. The Dutch are on a 19 game unbeaten run and will have the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart to call on. Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst will win his 100th cap, assuming he plays. The only question mark is the fitness of Arjen Robben and his pingy hamstring. Denmark can rely on rocks like Daniel Agger and Christian Poulsen, but will likely be missing star striker Nicklas Bendtner. WHAT’S AT STAKE Group E Both teams want points, they just differ on how many. Netherlands obviously want to start with a win and maybe even make the sort of statement Germany did against Australia yesterday. Denmark coach Martin Olsen has said he’ll be happy with a draw. Defeat for Denmark would make it that extra bit harder to beat Cameroon or Japan in the expected race for second place. For more, read our Netherlands and Denmark blogs. Bet on Netherlands vs. Denmark OUR PREDICTION With Bendtner out, I’m backing the Dutch. Denmark will be no pushovers, but I predict a 2-0 win for the Netherlands. FAN RESOURCES   Netherlands Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Netherlands Jerseys | Netherlands Tickets   Denmark Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Denmark World Cup Jerseys | Denmark Tickets

The World Cup Awards: June 13th, 2010. Posted: 13 Jun 2010 05:40 PM PDT Team of the Day: Well hallo there Germany. You were good. You were better than good. You were phenomenal. You were so good I just used italics, and that’s something. (Ooh, look at that.) You were also a breath of fresh air in a tournament, until this point, as stale as last month’s pumpernickel. You were vibrant, intelligent and incisive. You’re also very young and have nothing but a promising future ahead of you. But you were also a little premature. Don’t you know the bullseye is now firmly on your back? Ask Holland how well that goes. And while you’re at it, tell Holland – nicely – “your move”. (And tell them to forward that to the Netherlands.) Team of the Day II: Ghana. Be honest: you (the fans, not Ghana) didn’t expect that after Michael Essien went down? The team solidified and played great football. Any chance Sven “accidentally” thwacks Drogba on the arm tomorrow? Stat of the Day: Bundesliga goals this year: Lukas Podolski – 2 Miroslav Klose – 3 We can deduce that is… *****. So if they have ** now, this means they’ll eclipse ***** by the knockouts. ****ing epic. Player of the Day: WÖÖ. The Year of the Umlaut continues. Or has begun. Whichever. (Of course you knew that already.) The Laurie Award (Hurts in the maternal area…if you’ve got one): There’s no crying in football! Wait, yes there is. The Curse of the Substitute continues. DisprovedStereotype of the Day: Oh Faouzi Chaouchi, how could you? African keepers had been so, so brilliant. And he was one of two in the Algerian lineup not born in France. Tragic. Caption of the Day: A Germany fan shows her support prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Germany and Australia at Durban Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Durban, South Africa. – Getty. Why yes, she is showing her support. Fan of the Day: This woman is a soothsayer. Matchup of the Day: Germany v Australia. v. At least this one was close.

Match Review & Highlights: Germany 4-0 Australia Posted: 13 Jun 2010 04:14 PM PDT It was the first real statement of World Cup 2010. The first time a team said: “We are here, and we will crush you.” The first time one team can be said to have utterly destroyed another. OK, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but Germany 4- 0 Australia is a pretty dramatic scoreline, especially because Australia are supposed to be a pretty decent team. This wasn’t New Zealand. This was the team that went to the 2006 World Cup Round of 16 and only lost to that controversial penalty. Though the fact that it was mostly a lot of the same team from four years ago may have been part of Australia’s problem. Either way, Germany has made a statement. It all when Lukas Podolski scored in the 8th minute. A shot so powerful, even the notoriously dancy Jabulani didn’t dare deviate from the path to goal demanded by Podolski’s left foot. Podoloski’s had a rough season for Koeln, but he seems happiest when playing for Germany at World Cups. He may be the greatest quadrennial player in the world. Miroslav Klose was determined to match his 2006 strike partner, and missed a couple he should have scored before finally making it 2-0 in the 26th minute by beating Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer to a high cross. Klose seems much more comfortable getting to a hard to reach cross while under pressure than he does shooting at goal from just yards away. But you can’t argue if the ball eventually goes in the net. Germany continued the onslaught, with Mesut Özil going close when he dribbled around Schwarzer and wisely deciding not to dive. It was only 2-0 at halftime, but it already felt over. The fat lady started clearing her throat in the 56th minute when Tim Cahill – Australia’s best hope of a goal – received a red card of this tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Cahill protested that he’d pulled out last minute, and technically only made contact with his knees (and Schweini maybe overdid the rolling around) but the slo-mo still suggests Chaill’s tackle was a potential bone snapper. Then the floodgates opened. First Thomas Mueller, who couldn’t buy a goal for Bayern in the Champions League final last month- bounced one off the inside of the post in the 68th minute: And then Cacau came off the bench and scored almost immediately: It was all a little too easy for Germany, but that shouldn’t take away from Germany’s excellent performance. I know we’re only halfway through the first set of games in the group stage, but Germany looks like the best team in the tournament so far. Man of the Match: It’s Lukas Podolski, for opening the game in such emphatic fashion, but for being a serious threat down the left for the rest of his time on the field too.

Liveblog: Germany 4-0 Australia Posted: 13 Jun 2010 10:06 AM PDT Welcome to the WorldCupBlog liveblog of Germany vs. Australia in World Cup Group D. 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 Germany v. Australia preview, or at the Germany and Australia blogs. Goal videos: Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from Twitter accounts that we’ve carefully selected for our Twitter list: FAN RESOURCES   Germany Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Germany Jerseys | Germany Tickets   Australia Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Australia Jerseys | Australia Tickets

Match Review & Highlights: Serbia 0-1 Ghana Posted: 13 Jun 2010 10:00 AM PDT Seems like the best tactic for a result at World Cup 2010 is to wait for the other team to screw up. I’m thinking Robert Green vs USA for example. I’m also thinking of both Abdelkader Ghezzal and Faouzi Chaouchi for Algeria earlier today. Ghana and Serbia were fairly evenly matched in today’s Group D (the “D” stands for “Death” by the way) opener today, but Ghana emerged victorious mostly thanks to silly mistakes from Serbia’s Aleksandar Lukovic and Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Though the first was fairly even (read: not all that exciting) Ghana came out for the second half looking ready to score. Dede “son of Abedi Pele” Ayew was just wide with a far post header, and striker Asamoah Gyan twisted his neck to knock a great header against the pos It was the 74th minute when Aleksandar Lukovic received his second yellow and thus red card. For a horror tackle? For getting angry at the ref? Nothing quite so violent. Lukovic was booked for holding hands with Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan. Though not in a friendly way. He was basically trying the old human handcuff trick to prevent Gyan going anywhere. So Serbia went down to 10 men for the last 15 minutes. But even after the sending off, Serbia had a great chance to win with this Milos Krasic effort just a few minutes later. Ghana keeper Richard Kingson kept it at 0-0 with his brilliant reflexes/ability to stand in the way (I haven’t decided). Either way, it stayed out. And then. And then. And then, came Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s moment of madness. For reasons known only to himself, Kuzmanovic batted away an overhit Ghanaian cross with his hand. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the penalty, make it 1-0 and give Ghana what I’d say is a deserved victory. So, we have our first African win in the first African World Cup. More encouragingly for the host continent, several Ghana players impressed. I’m on the last paragraph of this match review and haven’t even mentioned the injured and absent Michael Essien yet. There’s a reason for that, and that reason is that younger players like Anthony Annan and Kwadwo Asamoah stepped up and did the business in his place. Man of the Match: Lots of impressive Ghanaian players today, but I’m going to go with Asamoah Gyan. Not just because he scored the pen, but because he led the line and set the tone by provide a constant menace to the supposedly solid Serbian defence.

Vuvuzela or Jabulani – Which Would You Rather FIFA Ban? Posted: 13 Jun 2010 09:14 AM PDT I’m enjoying World Cup 2010 so far. I hope you are too. But there have been two major complaints: The noise of the vuvuzelas and the flight of the adidas Jabulani ball. For the uninitiated, the vuvuzelas are the plastic horns the fans are blowing at the stadium that sound like a swarm of bees. A very loud swarm of bees. Some fans have complained, many television viewers have complained, and even the players are unhappy. France captain Patrice Evra is not a fan: “We can’t sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas. People start playing them from 6 a.m. We can’t hear one another out on the pitch because of them.” World Cup organizing committee boss Danny Jordaan has admitted that banning the vvuzela is a possibility… “We’ve tried to get some order,” said Jordaan. “We have asked for no vuvuzelas during national anthems or during stadium announcements. I know it’s a difficult question,” he added, saying that “we’re trying to manage the best we can. “We heard from the broadcasters and individuals and it’s something we are evaluating on an on-going base. Jordaan told the BBC in an interview that he had to consider the option of banning the trumpets. “If there are grounds to do so, yes,” he said, asked if a ban was an option. … though it seems very unlikely. Are they going to stop and search every fan for plastic horns? I’d argue it’s not worth turning World Cup 2010 into even more of a police state just to achieve the absence of vuvuzela noise. On the other hand there’s the ball. The adidas Jabulani ball manufactured specially for World Cup 2010. Multiple goalkeepers complained about the odd flight of the ball before the tournament began, and I’ve seen several very talented and experienced players completely mistiming their jump because of the odd movement, several shots go way way over, and more than one goalkeeping disaster which may or may not be the Jabulani’s fault. FIFA hasn’t really addressed the issue, mostly because it’s too late and they wouldn’t upset their contractual relationship with adidas by switching to a nice Nike Total 90 ball or similar halfway through. But since FIFA won’t be banning the vuvuzela either, I present you with a purely hypothetical choice: Which would you rather see baned – Vuvuzela or Jabulani?

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