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World Cup Round of 16 Day 4

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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