Category — World Cup

From FIFA’s official site: it’s USA 3-0 Colombia and Korea DPR 0-1 Sweden in the second round of play in Group C. It looks like the US and Sweden are through to the next level.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Japan 4-0 Mexico and New Zealand 1-2 England in the second round of play in Group B. It looks like Japan is through to the next level, but England and Mexico are still in contention for the second spot.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Canada 0-4 France and Germany 1-0 Nigeria in the second round of play in Group A. It looks like Germany and France are through to the next level.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Brazil 1-0 Australia and Norway 1-0 Equatorial Guinea in the first round of play in Group D.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s US 2-0 Korea DPR and Colombia 0-1 Sweden in the first round of play in Group C.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Japan 2-1 New Zealand and Mexico 1-1 England in the first round of play in Group B.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

OK, I’ll try to keep it down, but the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany started today. ESPN is carrying the games on cable and on the ‘Net. It is really good football [soccer for Americans], with more finesse than the male version.

It was Germany 2-1 Canada and Nigeria 0-1 France in Group A today.

There are only 16 teams, so it doesn’t take as long as the Men’s version. There are only four groups, and in the first round each team has to play the other three teams in their group, with the top two teams going on to the next round which is single elimination.

Netherlands [Oranje] versus Spain [La Furia Roja]

The octopus says Spain, while the parakeet says the Netherlands… I’ll wait for the referee at the end of the game.

At the end of the first half the teams have a 0-0 draw, but the Oranje are ahead on yellow cards 3-2. If the players don’t settle down we may see 8-man teams at the end.

Still 0-0 at the end of regulation, but the Oranje are up 6-3 on yellow cards.

Netherlands [Oranje] 0-1 Spain [La Furia Roja]

La Copa del Mundo – La Furia Roja found the net in the second extra time.

Uruguay [La Celeste] versus Germany [Die Mannschaft]

While this is ostensibly a game to determine third and fourth places in the Cup, it is really a test of the ability of both teams to bounce back after losses.

Currently tied 1-1 in the first half.

Uruguay [La Celeste] 2-3 Germany [Die Mannschaft]

Die Mannschaft kept control of the ball and had more opportunities to score. They had control of the ball 58% of the time and scored 60% of the total goals.

Germany [Die Mannschaft] 0-0 Spain [La Furia Roja] at the end of the first half.

Not exactly the sort of high scoring game that has characterized Die Mannschaft, but they tend to wake up for the second half. La Roja definitely has more elegant ball handling, but that isn’t getting anything netted.

More later.

Final: Germany 0-1 Spain

Puyol of Spain headed one past Germany’s goalie, Neuer, off a corner kick and La Roja face the Oranje in the Final.

They were tied 1-1 at the half, but the Oranje have netted two in the second half with no response from La Celeste. The game isn’t over, but it doesn’t look good for “Sky-blue”.

Uruguay found the net again, but couldn’t manage the second one they needed for overtime: Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands.

The Oranje are in the Final with another European team.

Morning:

Argentina [La Albiceleste] 0-4 Germany [Die Mannschaft]

“The Team” was ready to play, but the “The White and Sky-Blue” forgot why they were there. Argentina just couldn’t get anything together other than passing. The German defense worked, and Argentina didn’t have one.

Afternoon:

Paraguay [La Albirroja] 0-1 Spain [La Furia Roja]

“The White and Red” just couldn’t get a break, while “The Red Fury” found an opening late in the game and passed out the clock.

Semi-finals:

Uruguay [La Celeste] – Netherlands [Oranje] July 6^th

Germany [Die Mannschaft] – Spain [La Furia Roja] July 7^th

Today:

Morning

Netherlands [Oranje] 2-1 Brazil [Canarinho]

Twee – Um is unexpected. The “Little Canaries” had been expected to win the Cup, and most expected the semi-finals to look like a replay of the Copa América, with Brazil and Argentina in the finals. The “Orange” pulled it out in the second half. [Note: with the help of Brazil’s Melo own goal, which tied the match.]

Afternoon

Uruguay [La Celeste] 1-1 Ghana [Black Stars]

The “Sky-blue” win on penalties, 4-2, knocking the Black Stars and Africa out of contention.

The last of the qualifiers for the Quarter Finals.

Paraguay wins on penalty shots after both teams failed to score in the game or extra time. Japan’s third penalty shot struck the crossbar while Paraguay netted all five.

Spain – Portugal is later this afternoon.

Spain [La Furia Roja] 1-0 Portugal [Selecção]

This means that the Quarter Finals will be:

July 2^nd
Netherlands [Oranje] – Brazil [Canarinho]
Uruguay [La Celeste] – Ghana [Black Stars]

July 3^rd
Argentina [La Albiceleste] – Germany [Die Mannschaft]
Paraguay [La Albirroja] – Spain [La Furia Roja]