The 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread #2/Sports Thread #2 For 6/15/10: Portugal & The Coast Battle To A Group Opening Draw
Photo from Getty Images and FIFA.comThe Final Analysis:
Obvious a loss here for either one of these teams with Brazil in the group would have been utterly disastrous, where fans of both teams are probably at first grateful that they didn't concede a late winner the rest of the match.
For Portugal, they were clearly second best today, and contributing in that was the fault clearly of how conservative Carlos Quieroz was for yet another time. How he thought Danny was a better choice to start than Simao is pure idiocy at its Paul Le Gren or Raymond Domenech (much more on that later) status. Clearly they missed Nani to give Ronaldo some assistance today, and they will need to run up the score on North Korea more than the Ivory Coast may do to advance.
And with how their offense looked today, I just don't think that will happen. North Korea obviously have a lot of pride and will be more stubborn than a lot of people think. Their obstinateness will not only be in these upcoming matches against Ivory Coast and Portugal but even today against co-favorites Brazil (more on that game later of course).
And for the Ivory Coast, a good debut where they were the better side. But they lacked the clinical final ball despite showing some cutting edge to take the victory.
Gervinho, despite his ridiculous haircut, was very good in his World Cup debut match, exhibiting why he is one of the rising talents of the "always stocked of future star league" that is Ligue 1.
Not much from Kalou and Dindane today because of Portugal's backline being sound and wary of their speed, but also not enough service for them despite Gervinho's fine play.
And the other protagonist in this match, Didier Drogba, tried his best considering his difficult ailment. That half-chance he had in the final minute of the game would have been quite the moment if he was able to somehow put that past Eduardo there. But no fairly telling ending there for the Cote D'Ivoire's inspirational figure.
Now we shall see if North Korea will prove as much resistance and quality today as New Zealand has done in Group F's 2nd match against tournament co-favorites Brazil.
The Man of the Match though, even if it certainly wasn't merited in his play, was just in the fact that all the attention was on him. But Gervinho should have gotten the award, leading me to think in a conspiratorial way that his haircut may have cost him that award:
The Full review of the proceedings.
And the march archive:
Photo from Getty and FIFA.comSimao on the bench, Droga on the bench, conservative for Portugal, same as it is for the Coast.
CIV Barry, Kolo Toure, Zokora, Kalou, Tiote, Gervinho, Dindane, Tiene, Yaya Toure, Demel, Eboue
POR: Eduardo, B Alves, P Ferreira, Carvalho, C Ronaldo, P Mendes, Liedson, Danny, R Meireles, Deco, F Coentrao
1st half analysis:
Photo for Getty ImagesIf ever there was a photo to describe Cristiano Ronaldo.
And if ever there was a photo to describe all the world's fans frustration with Portugal and their conservative sometimes clueless over his head coach Carlos Quieroz.
Only Ronaldo's scolding effort from the Coast giving him too much space for the one rare time in the match, and that was it.
For me, the Ivory Coast are more likely to score here, even with Drogba on the bench. They simply have more upfront, where if they don't give away a free kick to "The Cristianos", than they will be okay in this 2nd half.
L
Comments