World Cup - Day 3 - (Algeria vs Slovania, Germany vs Aussies, Serbia vs Ghana)

[Sylar]

Algeria vs Slovania has been less than thrilling, but the Algerians have just been reduced to 10 men following a second yellow for their substitute, who is just on the park, for a deliberate hand ball in the box.

I can't say there's anything particularly fearful in either of these 2 sides - both pose very little threat going forward, though both look pretty resolute at the back (perhaps a result of the lack of firepower from each other?).

I'll settle for a draw here, though Algeria winning wouldn't have been a bad outcome. Had Alergia won, then managed to avoid defeat against England, the USA (assuming we managed to dispose of Slovenia) and Algeria would be in a great position to go through.

Serbia vs Ghana is up next, starting at 3pm, followed by Germany vs Australia at 7.30pm

I figured one thread for the day would be better than several match threads...

[Hibernian Verse]

What a ridiculous way to get sent off in a game your nation needs to win.

1-0 Slovenia, Koren. HOWLER!

[Sylar]

Dear God - Robert Green, eat your heart out.

Bugger...

[Sylar]

The one thing I've noted from all of the games so far is that the officials are making some brilliant calls, and have gotten most decisions (even the ones which have looked marginal, or not been obvious on the TV in real-time) correct.

[Hibernian Verse]

Agreed, also noticed that a tug on the shirt when running is a booking, no questions asked. Happy to see that as it's the most frustrating thing when playing football.

[MSK]

2 mins in & 2 shots already ..this Ghana game could be a cracker ..:agree:

[Sylar]

2 mins in & 2 shots already ..this Ghana game could be a cracker ..:agree:

Yep - early potential indeed.

Honest query - has a single direct free-kick within 25 yards been on target in these early games?

[Hibs90]

Don't think so, whether that's because of the ball I don't know. There was an interesting stat floating about somewhere that only 1 in 10 free kicks at the WC actually go in/hit the target I think, which is pretty incredible.

[Sylar]

The Serbia vs Ghana game has been excellent thus far.

Long may it continue.

[Removed]

The Serbia vs Ghana game has been excellent thus far.

Long may it continue.

Just switched on - is Larry Kingston not playing :confused:

[Hibernian Verse]

What's with the amount of handballs and red cards at this WC? :confused:

[Sylar]

Just switched on - is Larry Kingston not playing :confused:

:agree: - he's just so fast, you can't see him.

10 man Serbia 0-1 Ghana, from the penalty spot.

Stupid handball in the 85th minute, shortly after Serbia had been reduced to 10.

This group will provide opposition for England in the last 16, dontcha know :rolleyes:

[Sylar]

Great effort - should have been 0-2.

[MSK]

What's with the amount of handballs and red cards at this WC? :confused:Ref's told to take no **** ..could end up spoiling things though ..ive seen some really needless yellow cards that in other circumstances would not have been given ..:agree:

[Removed]

:agree: - he's just so fast, you can't see him.



:cool2:

Just recorded a bit and watched in slo-mo. He is a class act :thumbsup:

[Sylar]

:cool2:

Just recorded a bit and watched in slo-mo. He is a class act :thumbsup:

He's actually scored a hat-trick already, but nobody saw it.

FT: Serbia 0-1 Ghana

[Hibs90]

Is it just me or is their going to be a real shortage of goals at this WC? Hope Germany pump Australia or something, need more goals!

[CropleyWasGod]

Is it just me or is their going to be a real shortage of goals at this WC? Hope Germany pump Australia or something, need more goals!

Just you.

There will be goals, but the early games are always edgy and tentative. No one wants to lose.

[hibbybrian]

Great effort - should have been 0-2.

Good to see the footballing team beat the team of hammerthrowers :agree:

[Barney McGrew]

Fingers crossed for an entertaining game tonight - the competition could do with one!

[SteveHFC]

1-0 Germany :thumbsup:

[Jim44]

Good. We need a strong German team as a source of irritation and damaging distraction to our English friends.:greengrin

[Greentinted]

Already this is the best game so far. Finally the tournament has some life in it's soul!

[SteveHFC]

2-0 :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[MSK]

Lahm bam thank you mam ..what a cross ..what a finish ..:greengrin

[AFKA5814_Hibs]

Germany look good.

[Wotherspiniesta]

Good game :agree:

Most of my vbuttons resting on Germany finishing top, so a good start :thumbsup:

[Hibs90]

How good is wee Ozil. Poor mans Zemmama though:greengrin

[Barney McGrew]

How good is wee Ozil.

:agree:

Ze Germans are looking ze business so far

[hibsbollah]

Lahm bam thank you mam ..what a cross ..what a finish ..:greengrin

He's the worlds most underrated player IMO. Was in my team of the tournament in 2006 playing left back, and looks just as good playing right back 4 years later. Brilliant going forward, great delivery, great shot, excellent tackler. THE classic full back.

[stokesmessiah]

:agree:

Ze Germans are looking ze business so far

I think the Germans have without shadow of doubt been the best i have seen so far in this WC although its still v v early days.

As for Ozil....Would he get into our first team? I heard Petrie & Yogi were having a look at him!!?

Get it sorted Petrie for FFS:grr: we already know that Vlad the impaler will no doubt be at the WC picking up his next batch of WC stars to parade at the 400,000 seater PBS, i dont want him to beat us too Barr & Ozil !!!!

[Dunbar Hibee]

Never a red card :bitchy:

[stokesmessiah]

Never a red card :bitchy:

Agreed

[SteveHFC]

3-0 :thumbsup:

[Sylar]

More wonderful attacking football from the Germans.

Good finish by Muller.

[Dunbar Hibee]

You have to say the Germans look very good.

[YehButNoBut]

Wow, a black man playing for Germany, must be the first ever?

And he has just scored 4-0

[SteveHFC]

4-0 :thumbsup:

[Sylar]

Scintillating football by the Germans.

They don't look finished either...

[NOLA]

Wow, a black man playing for Germany, must be the first ever?

And he has just scored 4-0
he's not the first black player to play for them, the best team performance so far in this WC:agree:

[YehButNoBut]

he's not the first black player to play for them, the best team performance so far in this WC:agree:

My memory must be sketchy, can't remember any previous to Cacau.

Whilst a superb performance by Germany I've a feeling this is not to great an Australian side.

[Jim44]

Talking about the relative merits of tonight's German performance, the English commentator made the snide remark, 'Das Bild' will have them as World Cup winners in the morning paper. Is that not rich? :rolleyes:

[Dunbar Hibee]

My memory must be sketchy, can't remember any previous to Cacau.

Whilst a superb performance by Germany I've a feeling this is not to great an Australian side.

Asamoah?

[NOLA]

My memory must be sketchy, can't remember any previous to Cacau.

Whilst a superb performance by Germany I've a feeling this is not to great an Australian side.
Pretty sure there was a Dortmund player called okonkor that played for germany, i think

[NOLA]

Asamoah?
he was one defo:agree:

[lapsedhibee]

How good is wee Ozil.
May be good but he was through 1 on 1 against Schwarzenegger in the first half and was about to take a dive for the pen. He had to make a decision to do the dive and risk being sent off (as already booked for diving) or stay on his feet. Looked as if it was the first time in his life he'd ever decided to stay upright, because he seemed not to know how to score from that point and tamely lost the ball.

[patlowe]

Oezil has the kind of composure and ability that England could only dream of but as he doesn't play in the Prem while earning 100k+ a week, he's barely known over here. The comparison between this performance and England's (against very similar opposition) shows the presumed superiority of England/the Premiership to be a complete and utter fallacy.

[The Silver Fox]

Germany are the best passing side I've seen so far, clinicla and can vary the tempo quckly. The sending off of Cahill for what was not even a booking was a disgrace. I think the ref thought it was a two footed tackle and he had actually tucked both away so he wouldn't get into bother.

This decision robbed us of a true look at Germany but even before that moment Germany were looking the part. I make my judgement on the basis of not having seen the Argentina perfomance

[SidBurns]

Germany are the best passing side I've seen so far, clinicla and can vary the tempo quckly. The sending off of Cahill for what was not even a booking was a disgrace. I think the ref thought it was a two footed tackle and he had actually tucked both away so he wouldn't get into bother.

This decision robbed us of a true look at Germany but even before that moment Germany were looking the part. I make my judgement on the basis of not having seen the Argentina perfomance

I'm afraid it was my friend