Dave Yadallee's personal blog

From Benny's Report on Quarterfinals Day 2:



1 July 2006



BRAZIL 0-1 FRANCE

Henry 56



Ronaldo passed up what was by most forwards standards a great chance from a

Ronaldinho free kick but then in the air he's about as useless as Henry. On the

stroke of half time Zidane received possession on the edge of his box and burst

forward, pushing the ball wide of Lucio's despairing sliding tackle and leaping

over Gilberto's dangerous challenge before threading a pass through the heart of

the Brazil defence but Vieira's run was cynically brought to an end by Juan.



Early in the second half another chance went begging for Vieira when he headed

an immaculate Zidane free kick wide of a post. However it seemed only a matter

of time before the French would make their dominance count and in the 56th

minute they broke through. Zidane, standing on the left touchline, floated a

free kick towards the back post and the unmarked Henry slammed the ball into the

roof of the net, Zidane's first ever assist to Henry in a France shirt. Ribery

mugged Lucio on the left touchline, rolling the ball away from the powerful

defender before firing the ball across the face of goal and as Juan tried to

clear he almost sliced into his own net. Dida saved at the feet of Ribery on a

Henry lead counter attack. Govou and Saha wasted chances on the break and it

would have been a travesty had Ze Roberto equalised in injury time but he

volleyed substitute Cicinho's driving low cross well wide of a post.



A magnificent performance from a France side in which Zidane was at his

enchanting best. Vieira and Makelele absolutely massacred the Brazilian midfield

with an awesome display of power. France should have won by a larger margin and

playing football of this quality who would begrudge them a second World Cup?



It's ironic to see Brazil repeat the EXACT same mistake as France did 4 years

ago by continuing to field past it's like Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo

(record of nor record) with better alternatives on the bench (Gilberto, Cicinho

and Fred) and more left at home.



Attendance : 48,000

Assist : Zidane (fk)



ENGLAND 0-0 PORTUGAL



Lennon came on for the injured Beckham on 51 minutes and manufactured the games

first genuine chance. Running inside from the right flank, he skinned Valente,

took the ball past Carvalho and Meira, let it roll to Rooney who miss-kicked

horribly, the ball fell to Cole and he ballooned high over the bar. TWAT. Rooney

stamped on Carvalho's bollocks after the defender wrestled him to the ground. He

appeared to be sent off after Ronaldo had a word with the ref, which was

irrelevant as he deserved to go. The Portuguese, who were even less of an

attacking threat then 10 man England finally drew a good save from Robinson when

Figo almost caught him out with a clever first time shot. A minute later

Portugal's joke of a 'keeper Ricardo (yes he's good on penalties but he's

hopeless at everything else) parried a Lampard free kick up into the air but

substitute Lennon's weak follow-up was easily saved. Miguel made a fantastic

clearance as Crouch, who was climbing all over him, was about to head in a

Gerrard cross.



Penalty Shoot Out



Simao drills the ball low into the bottom corner



Lampard. What did I say about the player most likely to miss a penalty?

Telegraphed, low, right of centre and not hit with enough pace



Viana strikes the outside of a post



Hargreaves strikes a firm penalty low to the left, in off a post



Petit goes to the left and, just like Viana, hits a post



Gerrard. Despite shouts of 'Come on Gerad you bastad' from my 2 year old (don't

let toddlers in the room when watching shoot-outs) Liverpool's captain hits an

awful penalty too centrally and at a poor height, no challenge for a penalty

expert like Ricardo



(Benny teach you children some manners!!)



Postiga sends Robinson the wrong way. Robinson is FAT and needs to go on a diet



Carragher scores but has to re-take as the ref hadn't blown his whistle.

Predictably his second effort is saved



Ronaldo curls the ball over Robinson who finally tries something different by

actually diving but misses completely



Portugal win 3-1 on penalties



England bottled it and despite playing with ten men had the chances to win the

match, well two of them. I was disappointed in Scolari's negative approach but

that isn't going to work against France. What must be galling for England is

that this is a decidedly average Portugal team who were missing their best

player (Deco) and they still couldn't take advantage. Typical of the

limp-wristed performances we have come to expect of England under Eriksson. On

the bright side they've sparred themselves a through thrashing from the French

in the semi-finals and Hargreaves was great.



Attendance : 52,000

Assist : n/a



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End result, France vs Portugal

From Benny's QF Day 1 Report:



30 June 2006



ITALY 3-0 UKRAINE

Zambrotta 6

Toni 58, 69



Camoranesi had already gone close for Italy before Zambrotta hit the back of the

net. He started the move with a ball into Totti, the Roma captain returned it

with an extravagant back heel as Zambrotta cut in from the right flank, he ran

unchallenged towards the centre of the box he let rip with a left foot drive

from 25 yards which found the bottom corner via Shovkovsky’s left hand, he

probably should have done better.



Having failed to show up in the first half Ukraine came out fighting in the

second. Buffon was almost KTFO when he collided with a post when saving Gusin's

point blank header. Milevsky turned onto a miss-hit shot and played in Gusev

with a superbly weighted pass, Gusev hit the ball with everything he had, Buffon

parried and Tymoshchyuk's follow-up was chested off the line by the outstanding

Zambrotta. Less than a minute later Toni broke his duck. Totti worked a short

corner with Grosso before whipping a teasing cross to the back post and despite

Gusin's concerted attempts to concede a penalty for shirt pulling, the giant

striker headed low into the net. Italy had another escape when the unlucky Gusin

headed a free kick against the crossbar. Zambrotta capped off a stunning

performance by laying on the third goal. Grosso volleyed a pass inside Gusev, a

sharp turn took Zambrotta away from Vashchyuk and he poked the ball forward to a

delighted Toni.



Italy have a fantastic record against Germany and won't be too concerned at the

prospect of playing underdogs. They seem to be peaking at the right time of

course if it goes to penalties Italy are doomed.



Attendance : 50,000

Assists : Totti, Totti (ck), Zambrotta



GERMANY 1-1 ARGENTINA

Klose 80 Ayala 49



I'm not sure of the intention of the teams in the first half. Maybe they were

conserving energy for the second half because they did nothing with the ball,

Argentina especially who had most of it. Ballack had the only chance following a

superb counter attack but headed wide.



Ayala, who but for Cannavaro would be this tournaments outstanding defender,

gave Argentina the lead with a spectacular header from a Riquelme corner. The

game began to open up. Crespo intercepted Lahm's hospital pass, Tevez tried to

dribble past the German defence but spotted Rodriguez in a better position free

on the right of the box, the midfielder lashed wide. Germany won a throw in near

goal. Borowski flicked on Ballack's cross and Klose got in front of Sorin to

header into Franco's bottom corner (Abbondanzieri went off with a injury in the

first half). Rodriguez was booked for diving in the box two minutes from time,

with team-mates in the centre waiting for a cross, match point.



Extra time was... thirty minutes of my life I won't get back.



Penalty Shoot-Out



Neuville's kick is at a good height for Franco but hit with too much pace



Cruz smashes the ball into the top left corner



Ballack sends Franco the wrong way



Ayala hits an awful, power puff shot which Lehmann saves with ease



Podolski drills a low shot into the bottom right corner



Rodriguez is only a fingertip away from seeing his penalty saved



Borowski's penalty is almost a carbon copy of Podolski's



Cambiasso's strike the ball wide of centre and at mid-height, Lehmann takes a

step off his line before saving



As the Germans were celebrating Cufre, who was an unused sub, kicked Metzelder

square in the balls, sending him rolling to the ground in agony and a bench

clearing scuffle ensued. Heinze had to be restrained from getting to Bierhoff

and Maxi Rodriguez leapt over a posse of bodies to slap Schweinsteiger in the

back, pussy.



Pekerman's decision to substitute Riquelme and replace him with DM Cambiasso

on 72 minutes is one of the all time moronic and arrogant decisions in World Cup

history, as was taking off Crespo on 78 minutes and replacing him not with Messi

or even Saviola but Cruz. Pekerman resigned in disgrace minutes later, and so he

should.



Germany win 4-2 on penalties



Attendance : 72,000

Red Card : Cufre 120 (Argentina)

Assists : Riquelme (ck), Borowski



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Pekerman closed up shop too early.



Semi-Final Germany vs Italy, and the Italians will fee the German heat.

From Benny's Report on the last day of the Round of 16



27 June 2006



SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE

Villa 27 (Pen) Ribery 41

Vieira 83

Zidane 92



France failed to clear a corer and as the ball was played into Pablo, Thuram

stamped on the back of his right ankle, penalty. Barthez guessed right but

Villa's spot kick had too much pace. Spain's naive, high offside trap was bound

to get them in trouble sooner or later especially against a French side

featuring Henry who is an absolute master at using the 'not interfering with

play' nonsense to his advantage. Henry and France's DMs combined for the

equaliser. Makelele turned away from Raul and passed to Ribery, Ribery played

the ball into Vieira and as he turned he skipped away from Pablo's sliding

tackle and looked at Henry, who was standing yards offside on the left, before

playing a disguised pass through to Ribery on the opposite flank, Ribery left

Pernia and Puyol for dead, rounded Casillas and rolled the ball into an empty

net.



Vieira and Zidane combined to create a chance for Malouda, the Lyon midfielder

forcing Casillas into making a spectacular one handed save with an equally

acrobatic volley. Aragones made two early, brave substitutions 10 minutes into

the second half. Joaquin replaced the non event that was Raul (he should never

have started) and that thumb sucker Luis Garcia came on for the static Villa.

Joaquin skinned Abidal on the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of

Barthez's near post. That was as close as Spain got in open play all match.

Henry tried to get Puyol a second yellow card by clutching his face after the

defender's elbow brushed against his chest when they chased down a ball.

He only got a free kick but it enough to win the official, FIFA sanctioned,

Diving Twat of the World Cup (TM) Award. Zidane's delivery was pure evil, just

above head height, an utter nightmare to defend, Xabi Alonso tried but failed

miserably, heading straight to the back post and Vieira thumped a low header

into the bottom corner off Ramos. The hungry French weren't finished, Zidane and

Wiltord mugged Cesc on the half way line, Govou gathered the ball and as Cesc

approached, passed to Wiltord, Wiltord chipped the ball first time out wide to

Zidane on the left, Zidane controlled a high bounding ball with his right thigh,

took two touches as he cut inside Puyol, ran through the defenders outstretched

leg, passing up a stone wall penalty, and fired a low shot past Casillas.

MAGNIFICENT, and I don't even like Zidane.



Premature ejaculation. After handing out a 4-0 thrashing in their opening game

Spain were suddenly among the favourites, despite past history. Doesn't anyone

ever learn? Vieira, Zidane, Ribery and Makelele were off the charts. Vieira, who

was made to look like a tired, old man by Cesc in Juventus' Champions League

clash with Arsenal, turned the tables with an intimidating, imposing

performance. Spain's young pretenders were totally and utterly schooled. It's

taken France 8 years to turn in a performance that made them the best, the most

feared side in the World and on this showing Brazil are in for one hell of a

game. Best match of the World Cup so far and it was an absolute privilege to

watch some of the greats of the modern game rise to the occasion, apart from

Henry whose two notable contributions were standing still and feigning injury.



Attendance : 43,000

Assists : Pablo (won pen), Vieira, n/a, Wiltord



BRAZIL 3-0 GHANA

Ronaldo 5

Adriano 46

Ze Roberto 84



In their three group matches Ghana defended deep and defended hard so I would

love to hear Ratomir Dujkovic's explanation for playing a high offside trap

against of all teams Brazil who in Kaka' have the best counter attacking player

in the World? The only feasible explanation is that he is a complete IDIOT.

Kaka' gathered a pass from Lucio and rarely misses an opportunity to have a run

at a defence only he didn't have a defence to run at, they were all on the

halfway line, so he hit an angled pass through to Ronaldo and he rounded

Kingston and tapped into an empty net to claim himself a piece of history as the

World Cup's all time leading scorer (15). Adriano should have made it 2-0 as

Brazil once again tore through Ghana's shambolic offside trap but dived over

Kingston, earning himself a well deserved yellow card. Slack marking allowed

Mensah a free header in the box but he headed down at Dida's feet and the

'keeper slashed clear. Ghana were sort of threatening before they were suckered

on the break. Gyan played a one-two with Appiah on the edge of the box before

running into Lucio then theatrically falling down, Juan took possession before

Appiah flattened him with a superb tackle, Lucio ran onto the loose ball and

charged to the half way line before flicking the ball out wide to Kaka', who had

an overlapping Cafu in support, Kaka' pushed the ball to Cafu, he swung a cross

to the back post and Adriano, who was offside twice (when Lucio passed and when

Cafu centred) put the ball into an empty net with his knee.



Ghana had Brazil chasing shadows in the second half but despite their pace,

power and excellent technique, everything broke down in the final third.

Gyan got a second yellow for diving. Ze Roberto punished Ghana's offside trap

for a third time to complete a slightly flattering victory.



Ronaldinho was even more useless than Adriano in this match. Still I figure he's

good for at least one blockbuster performance.



Attendance : 65,000

Red Card : Gyan 81 (Ghana)

Assists : Kaka', Cafu, Ronaldinho



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From Benny's Post Round of 16 Day 3



26 June 2006



ITALY 1-0 AUSTRALIA

Totti 94 (Pen)



In the second minute Toni wasted a superb Del Piero cross, heading wide from

6 yards out. The Fiorentina striker headed down a cross to Gilardino, he took

the ball high off his chest and struck an acrobatic volley which Schwarzer

parried with ease. His save on another Toni effort was considerably more

impressive. Pirlo chipped a ball into the box, Toni rolled his maker, Grella,

and hit a low shot which Schwarzer sliced clear with his left foot, the less

said about Gilardino's 'header' on the rebound the better. It took the Aussies

half an hour to get a shot on target. Chipperfield shot straight at Buffon

following a mix-up in the Italian defence on a set piece. Toni missed another

sitter, Perrotta helped on a Pirlo cross but the giant striker headed over the

bar. Moore was lucky not to be sent off for a lunging foul on Toni, he escaped

without a booking.



Materazzi scythed down Bresciano on the edge of the box and he made sure the ref

noticed by rolling over four times. Materazzi's foul was no different to Moore's

challenge on Toni in the first half, in fact that was arguably worse, but the

ref showed Materazzi a red. Despite their man advantage the Australians failed

to put the Italian's under a great deal of pressure and Hiddink waited until the

80th minute before bringing on Aloisi, Lippi had already introduced Totti and

Iaquinta. In the last minute Iaquinta missed an absolute gift. Perrotta had run

into traffic in a packed penalty area, when attempting to smashed the ball

clear, a defender kicked it against Iaquinta, it bounced off Iaquinta,

against Moore and back to Iaquinta again but he shot straight at Schwarzer.

Grosso burst down the right flank and turned inside Bresciano before running

into the box, Neill went in with a sliding tackled, Grosso turned away from him,

hooked his left foot over the defender and took a dive and the ref pointed to

the spot. Totti smashed the ball into the top left corner. It was hard luck on

Neill who had been outstanding all match but he only has himself to blame.



Attendance : 46,000

Red Card : Materazzi 50 (Italy)

Assist : Grosso (won pen)



SWITZERLAND 0-0 UKRAINE



During a brief spell in the first half this was shaping up to be a decent game,

despite telling a friend this had penalties written all over it. Wicky

intercepted Tymoshchyuk's square pass and let fly with a shot from the edge of

the box which Shovkovsky made an unnecessarily theatrical save. Shevchenko

clipped top of the crossbar with a diving header from Kalinichenko's free kick.

Frei rattled the crossbar with a ferocious free kick.



Gusin shaved a post with an excellent flick header from a corner. The remainder

of the second half was a complete non event. In extra time Gusin made a

fantastic block tackle to deny Streller when the forward was sent in on goal.

There were two notable substitutions in extra time. Milevsky, on for Voronin,

gave an instant spark to the Ukraine attack though I'm not sure what taking off

Frei and bringing on Lustrinelli was supposed to achieve.



Penalty Shoot-Out



Shevchenko sends the ball low to Zuberbuhler's right but it's saved. That's one

thing Milan won't miss.



Streller's kick is delayed by his own goalkeeper Zuberbuhler, who is standing on

the right hand side of the box, the ref tells him to walk off the pitch.

Streller, who looks nervous as hell, hit's a weak shot towards the centre which

Shovkovsky saves with ease.



Milevsky who looks like a cross between a rock star and Thor the God of Thunder,

does a Panenka. He takes a few steps before chipping a gorgeous right foot shot

which starts curling towards the right hand post before dropping towards the

centre of goal, a prostrate Zuberbuhler watches the ball hit the back of the

net. Brilliant penalty, so good I'm putting on DVD.



Barnetta rattles the crossbar with violent shot.



Rebrov with an awful penalty, poor height, poor placement but Zuberbuhler dives

the wrong way.



Cabanas hits the ball just right of centre but Shovkovsky maintains his policy

of diving at the last second and saves.



Match point to Gusev and he doesn't let his team down, slamming the ball

into the bottom left corner.



I've given Shovkovsky hell in the past but he came up big today. The Ukraine

probably deserved to win but in truth neither team showed much ambition.



Milevsky has already been dubbed the new Shevchenko and from what I have

seen at the U21 European Championships and briefly in this match he's got

tremendous potential.



Ukraine win 3-0 on penalties



The weekend football died, yes I know it's Monday. To those who were complaining

about how the first round, are you satisfied now?



Attendance : 45,000

Assist : n/a



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Did Neill impeded the attacker?