6/14/2006: Spain 4 – Ukraine 0 (Group H)
Spain, one of the big fish in soccer, has never won a major trophy outside of a European Cup and that was eons ago. Perennial underachievers at the highest level, Spain arrives at each and every World Cup with the highest of ambitions and expectations, only to crash out at some stage or another. So were the soccer gods somehow giving Spain a break when they slotted them in what has to be the weakest group ? Paired along with what is at best a second-rate European power Ukraine and third-rate countries such as Saudi Arabia and Tunisia (who always seem to be in the Cup but never do anything), Spain must have been salivating at what could be their best chance in years to actually make a final.
In their debut, Spain did not disappoint. They came out and played high energy, fast-flowing brand of football reminiscent of the Brazilian jogo bonito. They played with a conviction knowing that in order for this to be their time, they and they alone need to make it happen. Always known for its great players and great clubs, Spain finally got off to a great start (in 94 they tied then lowly S. Korea, in 1998 they lost to Nigeria 3-2) and routed Ukraine 4-0.
The goal fest started early with Xavi Alonso heading in from a corner in the 13th minute. Four minutes later, David Villa takes a free kick which deflects off the wall and past the keeper going the other way. Strikers David Villa, Fernando “El Nino” Torres, Xavi Alonso, Luis Garcia et al terrorize the Ukrainian defense. Schevchenko is nowhere to be found, lacking the quality service he’s accustomed to in Milan.
Shortly after the break, the first penalty of the Cup is called and it is a terrible call. The Ukrainian defender gets called for a slight tug of the shorts (at least that’s the only thing I saw) of a streaking David Villa. Red card, penalty kick, and Ukraine reduced to 10 men. David Villa nets the PK and this is game, set, and match. The “Spanish Furia” score a late goal in the 81st minute after a beautiful buildup sparked by one of the world’s greatest defenders, Barcelona’s Puyol. His header pass to “El Nino” is not wasted as Torres buries the shot in the back of the net. Late in the game, Schevchenko has a shot at the “goal of honor” and can’t convert. This is too bad because Ukraine had a good shot of advancing in this group, but now their fortunes are up in the air what with 0 points and a 4 goal against goal differential staring them in the face.
Spain play the best game so far with perhaps the Czech Republic’s trouncing of the US second and Germany’s win over Costa Rica third.
Espana, siempre mas notado por sus grandes futbolistas y clubes que por su equipo a nivel nacional, hace un debut impresionante al golear al equipo de Ucrania por 4-0.
La Furia jugo un futbol rapido, de buena precision y movimiento, y con mucha imaginacion. Terrorizaron a la defensa Ucranense Xavi, David Villa, Fernando “El Nino” Torres, y Luis Garcia mientras que Puyol anclaba una defensa impenetrable. Abrio el marcador Xavi Alonso con cabezaso del tiro de esquina en el minuto 13. Cuatro minutos despues, David Villa marca su primero con un tiro que desvia la pared y elude al arquero. Espana no se conforma con el 2-0 y sigue atacando. Escasos minutos despues del intermedio, David Villa consique un penal muy dudoso por jalon del pantalon. Sale expulsado por tarjeta roja el defensa y David Villa anota el penal para liquidar al partido. “El Nino” Torres marca un gol en jugada iniciado por Puyol desde media campo y donde el mismo asiste con un bonito pase de cabeza.
Desaparecido del partido entero, Schevchenko, que ha carecido de servicio al cual esta acostumbrado en el Milan, dribblea el area entera pero no puede marcar el gol del “honor” y en proceso disminuir una diferencia de gol horrenda que prejudica el paso a Ucrania para la segunda ronda.
Ahora yo he visto Espana golear a un equipo anteriormente (mas notable el Espana de Buitragueno con la goliza por 5 a Dinamarca en el Mundial del 86 in Mexico) asi que no se puede confiar mucho a esta etapa pero el equipo espanol se ve bien configurado para ganar este grupo flojito y avanzar con grandes posibilidades a la proxima ronda.
Arriba Espana !!!
6/14/2006: Germany 1 – Poland 0 (Group A)
Poland had never beaten Germany in the World Cup in 85 years. In this game, they play much better than their first game and hold the Germans to a draw for 91 minutes. The woodwork helps them out twice in the 90th minute. But Germany persistence pays off as their insistence with Odonkor on the right side produces a cross which Oliver Neuville slides in to score the winner. Hearbreaking for Poland. Simply shocking. History proves to be cruel for Poland again.
Played before a spectacularly divided stadium, this game features a lot of back and forth with both teams having plenty of chances. Especially for Germany, Miroslav Klose has what appears to be about 5 shots and is denied on every single one. Lucas Podolski also has his share and can’t score. In the 90th minute, a German cross finds the head of Neuville, who crashes it against the post. Ballack’s toe-poke on the rebound hits the post. Poland is bending and bending but not breaking, until the heart breaker by Neuville.
Germany is now streaking and has to believe it has a real chance. Poland just crashed out of the Cup.
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