The USA Team Did Well

Winners and losers are determined by expectations. The USA team did better than expected. It finished a two hour game, thirty minutes of overtime, with one scored goal to Ghana's two. The team was in the game to the last seconds, trying a come from behind to tie and to win. The USA team did well. It raised the awareness of soccer in the US. It gave its fans moments of good world football. The USA team won and deserves the respect of world football fans. Well done, USA team.

The team from Ghana, the Black Stars, was the better and more experienced team on the field, and the team worked hard for the victory. The USA team pushed them hard in the second half of regular play, and remained a threat until the end. The Black Stars played very well and deserved the win, and to move to the next round of play. I was with the US team during the World Cup, but now that our team is out, I wish the Black Stars luck.

Wild World Cup

The defending champions and the runner-ups in the last World Cup have both been booted out of the games in the first round, because of poor performance. In France's case the players hated the coach, and frankly, the coach is an ass. The players just seemed to have had no enthusiasm or will to play for him. In Italy's case the players were just too old -- so says the coach. The players liked him and played their best -- but youth, in a game of physical strength and endurance, generally has the advantage.

Anyhow, with two past World Cup powerhouses out, how is this going to help the USA team? Well, the USA team is probably the best USA team to compete in the World Cup in recent years. But it is a team of young amateurs whose play is inconsistent. It falls behind weaker teams and struggles to catch up, and to get ahead. It runs the risk of running out of time, or luck, or into bad luck. The two teams favored to move into the second round from their group, did just that, but the play was sloppy. England has played poorly. The USA has played sloppily against weaker teams. The team won the group, but if not for a goal off of a rebound, in injury time, in the last minutes of play, the USA team would have been eliminated from the games in the first round.

France and Italy's early exit, England and Germany's poor performance in the first round, won't be a factor, as to the USA's team chances. The team must improve and perform consistently. It will win or lose on its own.

Go USA and win.

USA Wins Its Group

With enthusiastic US fans in the stands, including former President Bill Clinton, and, as the Associate Press described it, "a pro-American, vuvuzela-blowing crowd," the USA team won a victory over the Algerian team, 1-0,. which meant that the US team moved to the second round of play at the World Cup. The hero of the game was Landon Donovan, who scored in the first minute of stoppage time off a rebound. The USA team finished with the best record in its group. England, which won its match today with Slovenia came in second. Both teams had one win, no loses and two ties. The USA team scored four goals to England's two. Both teams advanced to the next round. USA fans are hopeful. This is the first time since the 1930 that the USA team won a group.

As USA team captain Landon Donovan said , "We're not done yet. We believe, man. We're alive, baby."

Yeah! Go USA! Go, baby! Win!

USA Eying A Win

Today, the USA soccer team faces Algeria in the World Cup. The US is favorite to win and to advance. Algeria hasn't yet scored a goal this World Cup. But the USA team can not take Algeria for granted. Stranger things have happened in these World Cup games. First of all, a goal and a game was stolen from the US team by the dumb call of a referee. I heard that he has since been suspended. Major teams, powerhouses in past World Cup games are either under performing or performing poorly. France has been eliminated and England, Germany, Spain and Italy, the defending champion, are in danger of being booted out. If the USA team wins, the US advances to the next round. A tie may put us into the next round, if England, which has not been performing well, does well against her opponent, Slovenia. What the US needs is a win, not a tie. The USA team should win.

Go USA. Win!

South Africa 2, France 1.

South Africa shocked France, shocked the world. Some will say that the French team imploded. There maybe some truth to that, but the South Africans gave it everything they had and they came out the winner over France, but it wasn't enough for South Africa to advance to the next round.

South African fans are proud of their team. It is an achievement to triumph over a European team that has some of the highest played soccer players in the world. France was the runners up in the last World Cup.games. It came into this year's World Cup ranked the 9th best team in the world, and no one expected South Africa to do as well as she did. She fought Mexico, which has a reputation for championship soccer, to a draw, and she beat France. So what if South Africa will be known as the first host in the history of the World Cup to be eliminated in the first round, she also is known as the team that humbled mighty France.

The Associated Press reports that, "At the final whistle, some fans continued to wave their flags - a tribute to their team's effort - while others stood in silence. Some couples embraced each other in consolation. After some brief reflection, the general mood shifted to boisterous celebration."

As one South African fan said, "They may not have qualified, but they played a good game. "

Alright, South Africa! Alright!

French Team Ends Strike Against Itself

They were crying in France, and screaming, and shouting, hurling insults, threats and pleas at their national football team. Proud France was/is in danger of being booted out of the World Cup competition. Not since the 25th of October 1415 at Agincourt has France faced the possibility of such -- "Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame."

The President of the Republic of France has spoken for all the French, when he warned the team that this fiasco is "unacceptable." French newspaper Le Parisien condemned the team and its coach for tarnishing French soccer in the eyes of the world and referring to the team's mutiny, refusal to train and practice, and its performance on the field as "the Waterloo" of French soccer.

So the team has rallied to the call of their countrymen, to train and to practice, to meet the host national team, the South Africans, on the field today. Both France and South Africa face being booted from the completion. Both teams need a win. France should be the favored to win. South Africa's best hope is that the French continue their internal strife and continue to fall apart.

My hope? Come on. Go South Africa. Win.

Pakistan vs. India, Asia Cup

Subcontinental arch-rivals India and Pakistan added another fascinating encounter to their long cricket history, as their encounter in the 2010 Asia Cup went down to the wire. In the end, it was India who held their nerve and triumphed, securing a place in the finals against Sri Lanka. Pakistan were left to rue basic fielding mistakes which undid all their hard work with the bat and ball and cost them the match.

Winning the toss, Pakistan batted first and openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat established a good partnership for the first wicket. Farhat fell to a great catch at first slip off Harbhajan Singh, but by then Pakistan were already 71 in the 16th over. Butt and Shoaib Malik accelerated nicely until both were dismissed in consecutive overs (Malik bowled by Zaheer Khan for 39 and Butt run out to some great fielding by Ravindra Jadeja for 74). The Indian fielding got even better when Virat Kohli plucked a stunning catch at first slip to remove Umar Amin, and Pakistan were wobbling at 160/4. Shahid Afridi survived a tough return catch to Zaheer Khan, but was cleaned up by Praveen Kumar for a quick 32. At 227/6 in the 45th over, India would have fancied wrapping things up quickly, but Kamral Akmal belted 51 off 41 balls (two 4s and three 6s) to take Pakistan to a competitive 267 all out. Salman Butt was the top scorer with 74, while Praveen Kumar picked up 3 wickets for 53 in 10 overs. 

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Aamer started well for Pakistan, limiting India to just 46 in the first 10 overs. Virender Sehwag developed a hip problem and was caught behind for an uncharacteristic 10 off 32 balls. Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself up the order when Virat Kohli was bowled for just 18, as the Pakistani spinners - Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik - slowed the Indian scoring and raised the required run rate to over 6 an over. The pressure tactics seemed to have paid off, when Gautam Gamhbir (on 69) miscued a lofted shot and was badly dropped by Mohammed Aamer. Gamhbir eventually went for 83, but Rohit Sharma plundered 11 off an Akhtar over to narrow the equation. He fell to Shahid Afridi for 22, Dhoni swept the ball onto his stumps the next over for 56, and Ajmal got Ravindra Jadeja for 6 - India went from 208/3 to 219/6, with 49 required from 29 balls. Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh combined to take the game to the final over, with India needing 7 off 6. Raina was run out trying to steal a bye, but with 3 off 2 to win, Harbhajan Singh who clobbered Mohammed Aamer over the ropes to take India home by the skin of their teeth. 

When the dust settled, Pakistan had only themselves to blame for the loss. Notwithstanding Mohammed Aamer's dropped catch, dozens of fielding errors yielded 2s and 3s from what should have been 1s and 2s, which allowed India to get close enough to their target to accelerate. That said, Pakistan did bat and bowl well, and disappointed as though they will be to leave the Asia Cup before the final, can say that they played some entertaining cricket despite well-publicized infighting and mismanagement. India won't have too many complaints about their day, bar the injury to Virender Sehwag that ruled him out of the rest of the tournament. It's a setback, but they managed well enough without him for this game - they'll hope that they can continue to do that as they face Sri Lanka twice, once in a dead game and again in the final. 

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, Asia Cup

After meekly surrendering to India, Bangladesh were looking to rebound strongly against the 2010 Asia Cup hosts Sri Lanka. Easier said than done, though, as this was a Sri Lankan team coming off a high after holding their nerve against a rampant Shahid Afridi in the game against Pakistan. As it turned out, Sri Lanka's good form continued, and Bangladesh were left to rue not learning any lessons from their defeat to India.

Batting first, Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan looted 12 runs off Mashrafe Mortaza's first over. With Dilshan clearing the ropes in only the 3rd over, the runs came freely, boundaries being scored in every over up to the 12th, as Sri Lanka brought the 100 up in no time. By that time, Dilshan had raced to his 50 from just 30 balls, but fell tamely to Shakib Al Hasan for 71 from 51 (eleven 4s, one 6) with the score on 111. Tharanga was caught behind for 54, and Mahela Jayawardene was looking good for a half-century of his own until he was undone by a smart piece of bowling by Shafiul Islam for 43. Kumar Sangakkara brought his 50 up off 67 balls, but would have been furious at himself for giving away his wicket two balls later, slashing a wide Islam delivery to the Bangladeshi captain at cover point. By that point, the score was already 239, and Chamara Kapugedera and Angelo Mathews put on an unbeaten 73 runs together (37 and 42 respectively) to take Sri Lanka to 312/4, the highest score made at Dambulla.

Tamim Iqbal made the most of his hype when he creamed Nuwan Kulasekera's first three balls for 4, 4 and 4. Fourteen runs came off Bangladesh's first over, but unlike Sri Lanka, they couldn't keep the momentum going, as Kulasekera hit back to have Imrul Kayes caught at second slip. It didn't stop Iqbal, who thrived on the Powerplays and the pace of Kulasekera and Lasith Malinga. Bangladesh were 62/1 at the 10th over, but the introduction of Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilshan's offspin slowed the scoring.

Murali made the breakthrough, when Kulasekera took a textbook diving catch to get Junaid Siddique, and Dilshan's great day got better when the rampant Tamim Iqbal (51 off 53 balls, five 4s and one 6) was stumped off his bowling. From there, it was a familiar tale for Bangladesh, as batsmen came and went. Mohammed Ashraful labored for his 9 off 29 before a poor attempt at a reverse-sweep had him LBW to Dilshan, who picked up Mushfiqur Rahim's wicket as well. Chanaka Welegedera and Lasith Malinga accounted for the tail, as Bangladesh slumped to 186 all out, giving Sri Lanka victory by 126 runs.

So with two losses from two games, Bangladesh are eliminated from the Asia Cup. While this will be disappointing enough, the fact that they failed to cross 200 in either game will give them much food for thought. That their bowlers could only take four wickets in conceding 312 runs will be dessert. Tillekeratne Dilshan was an easy choice for Man of the Match, his bowling figures of 10-0-37-3 complimenting his aggressive 71. Sri Lanka get a few days off before facing their neighbors India (for what, the 25th time in the last two years?), and their good form in the games against Pakistan and Bangladesh will be severely tested. 

France Kicking Self

At the World Cup, France is on the verge of elimination. The French disaster, called its national team, is ssuffering from self-inflicted wounds. France is kicking herself in the pants! She is win-less because she is booting herself in the behind. She is on her way out the door -- Why? The team has issues. The team doesn't like the coach. The coach sent home star striker Nicolas Anelka for the crime criticizing the coach and for being disrespectful. Now, the team won't play for the coach, won't train, won't practice. France, which was considered to have a good team and a good chance of talking home the championship, is looking pretty foolish. What is the solution? Easy -- fire the coach. Kick his ass back to Paris. Why? If a leader loses the respect of the troops, it is time to change the leader.

France has one last chance to keep away the boot, that is to win the game against South Africa. on Tuesday. Well, I'm rooting for South Africa.

Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, Asia Cup

With all the excitement of a football World Cup, cricket did itself proud on Tuesday, as the first game of the 2010 Asia Cup turned out to be a gripping back and forth encounter between hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan. A masterclass from Shahid Afridi, scoring his fifth one-day international hundred, almost took Pakistan home, before some brilliant cricket from Sri Lanka wrestled the game back and gave them victory by the thin margin of 16 runs.

Batting first, the Sri Lankan openers got off to a quick start before Tillekeratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga were dismissed in quick succession; Dilshan to a brilliant catch by debutant Umar Amin, and Tharanga became Shoaib Akhtar's first victim since his return to international cricket. Mahela Jayawardene got off to an iffy start, edging a 4 that fell between Kamral Akmal and first slip, before he and Kumar Sangakkara combined for an 83-run partnership to take Sri Lanka to 119/1 in the 25th over. Sangakkara fell for 42 and Jayawardene was dismissed shortly after bringing up his fifty-third ODI 50. Chamara Kapugedera, Ferveez Maharoof and Thilan Samaraweera came and went in quick succession, before Angelo Mathews steadied the ship with a solid 55. Lasith Malinga hit the only 6 of the Sri Lankan innings, as his innocuous 16 runs would prove vital at the end of the game. Sri Lanka finished on 242/9.

Malinga continued his good form, bowling Salman Butt for 0 after Nuwan Kulasekera's first over maiden. Debutants Shahzaib Hasan and Amin couldn't get going, and when the fourth wicket fell in the 14th over with the score on 32, Pakistan were heading nowhere. After facing six deliveries, Shahid Afridi hit his next two for 6 and 6, but kept his adrenaline under control. He ensured the required run-rate, approaching 6 per over, didn't increase, and saved his aggression for Muttiah Muralitharan, scoring 51 off the 25 deliveries he faced from Murali. Umar and Kamran Akmal were both run out, but Afridi ignored his cramping legs in the heat and humidity of Dambulla to actually put Pakistan ahead of the run-rate. Twice he collapsed, once after a wild swing at a Kulasekera bouncer, and once after cleanly hitting Murali for another 6. He brought up his fifth ODI 100, and his first since 2005, with a boundary. After that 6, Murali (who was conceding almost 8 runs an over from his 8 overs) produced a ripping off-break that took Afridi's gloves, and Kumar Sangakkara took a stunning reflex catch to finally send Afridi back to the pavilion. His 109 came off just 76 balls, with eight 4s and seven 6s at a strike-rate of 143.42, and left his team needing just 38 runs from 54 balls. Pakistan might have stood a chance with Abdul Razzaq at the crease, but Malinga ran through the last three wickets (Mohammed Aamer, Shoahib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif) to clinch his first 5-wicket haul in ODIs and give Sri Lanka victory by 16 runs.

So after a viscous back-and-forth match, heartbreak for Pakistan, who looked like easy winners with Afridi and Razzaq at the crease. It took combined brilliance of Muralitharan and Sangakkara to dismiss Afridi, whose captaincy and maturity at the crease almost single-handedly won the game. Another good story for Pakistan was the return of Shoaib Akhtar, who, while not at his lightning-fast best, delivered excellent figures of 10-1-41-3. For Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews continues to improve, making an unbeaten half-century and taking 2 for 38 from his 10 overs. Both teams will take positives from the opening game of the Asia Cup, but Pakistan know they have their work cut out for them to prevent elimination. 

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