Friday, January 22, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: Cameroon vs Tunisia: Last Chance For Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Drama

World Cup 2010 Blog: Cameroon vs Tunisia: Last Chance For Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Drama

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Cameroon vs Tunisia: Last Chance For Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Drama

Posted: 21 Jan 2010 07:16 AM PST

CamTun1Speaking as a neutral fan, the final round of group games at of the 2010 African Cup of Nations have been a little disappointing so far. Angola and Algeria played out that goalless draw to go through from Group A, Ghana eked out a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso to join Cote D’Ivoire as qualifiers from Group B, and last night Egypt and Nigeria each recorded expected victories to qualify from Group C. So, if there’s any (on-field) drama to be had from the Africa Cup of Nations, it’s all down to Group D.

If you’ve already read our guide to the group stage finale, then you already know the situation in Group D. If not, then allow me to explain. Because tonight’s games could hold the excitement we’ve been waiting for.

group d

It’s a nice even spread. We’ve got the unfancied (by some) Gabon on top with four points. Cameroon second with three point, Tunisia in third with two points, and Zambia bottom with just the one. But you could tell that from looking at the above image, right?

The big game to watch today is Cameroon vs Tunisia. Two of the bigger CAF teams. West Africa vs North Africa. Only one of them can go through. Tunisia need a win or they’re out. Cameroon need a win to make sure.

The other game is not quite as glamorous, but still pretty interesting. Gabon vs Zambia. Top vs Bottom. Gabon just need a draw to make sure. Zambia need to win. If Zambia do win, and Cameroon and Tunisia draw, then we’ll have a headache inducing three way tie at the top on four points, with Gabon, Cameroon and Zambia’s head to head record all cancelling each other out.

Both games kick off at 5pm local time (that’s 11am US eastern, 4pm UK time).

- For more on Gabon, visit Gabon World Cup Blog where Hull fan Matt is following Daniel Cousin’s progress.
- For more on Cameroon, visit Shane at Cameroon World Cup Blog
- For more on Tunisia, visit Rami at Tunisia World Cup Blog, where you’ll find an excellent and in-depth preview of today’s game. (Which is also where I borrowed the Eagle vs Lion image at the top of this post from. Thanks Rami!)

If you’re going to watch this game online in the United States or Canada, then allow us to suggest our very legal and very reliable online streaming friends at MyAfricanFootball.com:

CAN2010-Cameroon-Tunisie
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Thursday, January 21, 2010

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World Cup 2010 Blog: Soundoff: Greatest World Cup Goal.

World Cup 2010 Blog: Soundoff: Greatest World Cup Goal.

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Soundoff: Greatest World Cup Goal.

Posted: 20 Jan 2010 09:00 PM PST

ITV compiled this little gem of the 50 greatest goals in World Cup history a few years back, which then made it to YouTube and then to our doorstep. Given that ITV is a proper media outlet, this should be rather accurate. However, it’s likely that there a few worthy omissions – notably those when television cameras weren’t quite so abundant. Which those are, it’s impossible to say at the moment (except for that rather stellar Argentine movement 4 years ago).

But it’s still a jumping off point to ask the eternal question: what’s the greatest goal in World Cup history? Some will say Diego, others will say Roberto, and some will say Diego again. Fortunately there’s no right answer. Unless there is.
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NBA midseason report: First-half surprises and awards, plus projecting second-half trades, conference races

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: Angola and (Especially) Algeria Make the Case for Goal Difference Over Head to Head

World Cup 2010 Blog: Angola and (Especially) Algeria Make the Case for Goal Difference Over Head to Head

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Angola and (Especially) Algeria Make the Case for Goal Difference Over Head to Head

Posted: 19 Jan 2010 06:10 AM PST

ANGOLA AFRICAN CUP SOCCER


Angola went into their final Africa Cup of Nations Group A game last night, knowing that a 0-0 draw would send them both through to the quarterfinals. Algeria knew that a 0-0 draw would suffice, provided Mali beat Malawi. So when news filtered through that Mali were beating Malawi… Angola vs Algeria deteriorated into one of the most eye-hurtingly boring games of football I’ve endured a long time. Highlights are above.

The last ten minutes were especially painful, with the Algerian defenders passing the ball along their back four while the Angola stood and watched.

I don’t blame either team. You do what you need to do to go through, right?

I do blame the tie-breaker system at the Africa Cup of Nations, which uses head to heads records to rank teams with the same number of points.

Algeria had beaten Mali 1-0, and so they knew that even if Mali finished level with them on 4 points (which they did) there was absolutely no way Mali were going to climb above them. Hence the boredom, and the fact that Algeria have qualified from Group A by scoring just one and conceding three. Final Group A table looks like this:

group a jan 19


Head to head records sound fairer on paper. It ensures teams will qualify ahead of teams they have beaten. But the big downside is that teams can go into their final group games feeling too safe, and so not really trying to win. It also means that teams like Mali go into the final group game at a serious disadvantage.

If the tie-breaker last night had been goal difference instead, Mali’s much more exciting 3-1 win over Malawi…

…would have been enough to send them through, which would have meant Algeria needing to score against Angola, which would have meant better football for everyone to enjoy.

So you’ll probably be pleased to hear that the first tie-breaker for teams level on points at World Cup 2010 will be goal difference, followed by goals scored, and then head to head.
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For three teams, road to Super Bowl starts with pass rush

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