Dramas, upsets, spectacular goals, inspiring performance of unfancied teams – underdog, referees mistakes world cup 2014 has witnessed almost everything over the first 10 days of the very absorbing greatest show on earth.
We are sure no one can complain about the extensive entertainment the World Cup have provided to people of all nations, all ages, all regions and sexes all over the world.
This write up will briefly discuss the performance of favorite teams over the last ten days as most of them have played at least two matches each and the situation of some groups have already become clear.
Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain were tipped in many pre-tournament reviews as strong favorites along with Holland, Uruguay, Chile, Portugal, France, Italy and England were given outside chance of going deep into the tournament.
What now appears after ten days that reigning champions after back to back defeat against Holland and Chile is already out of the context with the last game against Australia becoming a mere formality.
Argentina managed to win both the match against not too strong opposition the debutant Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iran but only just.
Brazil and Germany both have 4 points from 2 matches each.
Brazil beat impressive Croatia in the first match 3-1, but drew the second with Mexico 0-0 mainly due to brilliant efforts of Mexican Goal keeper. He saved at least three – four goal-bound Brazilian strikes of which the save from Neymar header is considered like what English Keeper Gordon Banks did of great Pele in 1966 world cup. But Brazil has to improve a great deal to materialize their hexa dream.
Germany crushed 10 men Portugal in the opening match with Thomas Muller scoring the first and the only hat trick of the tournament. But Germany true to their tradition played very ordinarily in their second match against Ghana. They should consider themselves lucky to salvage a point from the match through a 2-2 draw which they could also loose.
In the Group of death Group D England has already died after two losses by identical margin (1-2) against Italy and Costa Rica. Depending on the outcome of the match between Uruguay and Italy one of the other previous world champions will have to join England in the funeral procession of World Cup 2014 dreams.
France and Chile are the two teams which were did not attain that much pre-tournament attention. But both have already served very strong message to major contenders after two matches.
France started with an impressive 3-0 victory over Honduras in the first match and then destroyed neighbor Switzerland 5-2.
Scoring 8 goals in two matches they have shown their eagerness not to leave early without having a serious crack for the top honor. Chile struggled a bit in the first match in disposing off a never say die Australia 3-1 but in the second match like Red hot Chile they buried the hopes of reigning champion Spain.
Italy looked very organized against England in the first match but looked ordinary against Costa Rica in the second match losing 0-1. Holland rocked the world beating Spain in the first match 5-1 but could very luckily survive Socceroo Scar in the second match 3-2.
African teams Ghana and Nigeria are showing promise for advancing into knock out round. Nigeria managed 4 points from two matches and look a bit assured. After their two unimpressive matches Argentina will have to vastly improve to beat Nigeria. If Nigeria manages to squeeze even a point they may go through as any of Iran and Bosnia will be anyone’s match. However wins of Iran and Nigeria in the last match will bring the teams at level requiring goal difference to decide which team will advance with Argentina from the group.
Two teams among those which are set to leave after first round Australia and Bosnia have impressed most. Although the result may speak otherwise Australia could have won both the matches against Chile and Holland. They played on equal terms but were hard done by the result against two formidable oppositions in another group of death.
The way they fought against red hot Holland after them thrashing the world Champions 5-1 will be remembered for a long time. Tim Cahill scored one of the best goals of the tournament against Holland.
They also brilliant came back against Chile after absorbing two early goals and made them stretch to their limit. Bosnia Harze Govina in the first ever world cup match tried and tested Argentina going down fighting 2-1 with maestro Messie scoring a magical match decider.
In their second match one of their genuine goal was wrongly ruled offside against or otherwise the result could be different than ultimate score of 0-1 against their favor. We are sure that Australia and Bosnia & Haze Govina will grow from strength to strength from now on.
By the look of it we predict the following standing of the two top teams of the group
Group A: Brazil & Croatia.
Group B: Chile & Holland.
Group C: Colombia & Côte d'Ivoire.
Group D: Costa Rica & Uruguay.
Group E: France & Ecuador.
Group F : Argentina & Iran
Group G: Germany & USA.
Group H: Belgium & South Korea
BDST: 1223 HRS, JUNE 22, 2014
