Some You Win, Some You Draw - Little Boy Blue's World Cup Diary

Last updated : 13 June 2010 By Little Boy Blue

After two draws on the opening day, South Korea and Argentina registered valuable victories to take giant strides towards qualification for the knock-out stages but winners-to-be (?) England were held by the USA's second string (keeping Beasley and Edu fresh for the big games) and God only knows what the Sunday papers will make of this unimpressive start to the campaign.  But don't worry, England fans, Clive Tyldesley couldn't wait to remind everyone that Alf Ramsey's team kicked off with a draw in 1966.  No wonder I sometimes sound like an SNPenis (never!) when I get started on English football.       

 

It was another very enjoyable day in front of the box.  South Korea and Argentina were great to watch - their clash next Thursday is a must-see game - and Algeria and Slovenia will have taken a lot of encouragement from seeing England drop two potentially crucial points.  I hope to see both of them go for it tomorrow, serving up a cracker of a match as they seek to take control of the group.

 

The song over the breakfast table was 'Ha-ha Samaras' but South Korea threw me into something of a quandry by unexpectedly playing RaSellick's Ki Sung-Yueng in midfield.  Maybe I should've Sung another song.  Who pisses me off most, Ki or Samaras?  No contest, c'mon South Korea! 

 

Apart from an early flap when a corner kick was pitched into the goalmouth, the Koreans bossed the game.  The Greeks looked determined to show that they were even more iffy at dealing with balls into the box when everyone stood back to admire Ki Sung-Yueng's cross (maybe they're all closet Septic fans!) and Lee Jung-Soo shot home.  Since Otto Rehhagel took charge and led Greece to glory in Euro2004, their gameplan has been to contain the opposition, nick a goal, then shut up shop.  All of which is great when it works but losing a goal after seven minutes tends to leave you pishing into a pretty strong wind.

 

With Otto relying on the Ha-ha fella to turn things around, the wind quickly developed into a hurricane.  Greece were actually quite lucky to be just one goal down at the interval, thanks mainly to a good save from Tzorvas when Park Chu-Young broke clean through the middle.  Anyone who thought the Greeks couldn't be as bad in the second half would be right.  They were even worse!!!

 

When Vyntra feel asleep on the ball he presented Park Ji-Sung with possession and the ManUre man accepted the gift gratefully and sprinted through to tuck it away cutely.  After 58 minutes Ha-ha Samaras became Ta-ta Samaras when he got the hook.  Rehhagel used his full quota of subs within a short period of time, with Karagounis and Charisteas sharing the taxi with Nacho's pal, but the Koreans always looked likely to add to their lead and they should have done when Park Chu-Young headed over from close range.

 

Greece had a brief flurry of attacks, forcing a few corners and, having seen what dumping Ha-ha had done for the team, Korean coach Huh Jung-Moo decided to sub his loopy hoopy and they were quickly back in control of the game.  They strolled through the remainder of the game, Tzorvas did well to keep the score respectable and now Rehhagel, reputed to be the most secure coach in Greek football, is feeling the heat.

 

I'd been looking forward to Argentina's entry into the fray and they didn't disappoint, looking capable of overrunning Nigeria.  Gabriel Heinze was left all alone on the penalty spot to meet a corner from Juan Sebastian Veron and send a powerful header high into the net after just six minutes and only goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept the Africans in the game with a series of saves, primarily from the impressive Lionel Messi.  Nigeria's only serious threat in the first half came when Chinedu Obasi shot across the face of the goal instead of hitting the target.

 

Failing to extend their lead would have worried a lesser team than Argentina but they were content to let the Nigerians make the running in the second half, then pick them off on the break.  Messi and Higuain were thwarted in quick succession and, after Obafemi Martins was denied the equaliser by a good save from Romero, a neat passing link-up gave Messi a great chance to wrap things up, only for Enyeama to make the save.  Maradona's men played well within themselves in the latter stages, knocking the ball around nonchalently, and they ran the clock down without too much trouble. 

 

And so to the main event, or the only event, if you believed all the hype which has been rammed down our throats of late.  When an excellent Steven Gerrard goal fired England in front inside four minutes, the scene was set for them to horse on and send out a declaration of intent to all their rivals.  But they couldn't build on their perfect start, the Yanks had several opportunities before a speculative shot from Clint Dempsey slithered through Rob Green's hands and into the net.  It was a Calamity James-like error, eat your heart out Rab Douglas and Artur Boruc, it brought so many sweet memories flooding back.  Having spent so long beating the drum for Joe Hart to get the gloves, I couldn't help thinking 'I told you so'.

 

And didn't I say something about Jamie Carragher being a better bet than Ledley King?  Hey, maybe Fabio logs on to FF!!!  Carragher replaced King at the interval, probably to give Green the security of some no-nonsense presence in front of him.  Emile Heskey, whose link-up play had been good in the first half, had a chance to restore England's lead but he shot straight at Tim Howard, then Green went some way towards making amends for his howler when he knocked a powerful Jozy Altidore shot onto the post after the big striker had skinned Carragher on the left.

 

It had developed into the best game of the competition so far.  England had lots of the ball but the Americans defended well and the pace of Altidore and Findlay always posed a threat on the counterattack.  No sooner was Clive Tyldesley prattling on about England being in the ascendancy again than the USA seemed to find fresh energy and, as the clock ticked on, despite Fabio's 'I expect to win' quote, we then got the 'a draw ain't a bad result' mantra.

 

It certainly wasn't a bad result.  The USA are no longer among the also-rans and, having got a draw against the group favourites, they will be confident of seeing off Algeria and Slovenia to progress to the next round, possibly even as group winners.  It certainly adds to the significaance of tomorrow's game in Polokwane.

 

Tomorrow:  Algeria v Slovenia, Serbia v Ghana, Australia v Germany.