World Football Postulant

At the onset Nigeria made themselves to be Argentina’s toughest Olympics opponent, using their superior athleticism and strength to move their quicker, more skilled opponents off the ball as they tried to dribble into the attack.  But as the game wore on the Nigerians wore down, less able to use their physicality while dealing with an opponent who had adjusted to playing longer, direct balls into the attack, running onto those passes instead of trying to dribble through the defense.  Ultimately, it was a Lionel Messi ball that sprung Angel Di Maria for the match’s only goal, giving the Argentines their second consecutive gold medal.

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Bolton’s three goal outburst against Stoke last week proved to be just that: an outburst. Aside from a desperation surge at the end and a failed penalty kick, the Wanderers never threatened and were outclassed by their hosts. That is not to say Newcastle had an easy time of it, as they generated few quality chances against Bolton. In the seventy-first minute, justice was done, and substitute Michael Owen’s header gave Newcastle their margin of victory in a 1-0 win.

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Jürgen Klinsmann should have anticipated a tough showing on Saturday at Borussia Dortmund.  Dortmund bounced on Bayer Leverkusen last week and left with a 3-2 road victory to open the season.  Their energy level left Bayer looking under-prepared for the opening match.  It was only towards the end of that match that Leverkusen were truly playing with Dortmund.

Against Bayern Munich, Dortmund again showed that energy.  Continue Reading »

Argentina’s impressive quarterfinal performance made them slightly favorites to beat an underwhelming Brazil side in today’s Olympic semifinal, but there still seemed to be something missing from a team that was expected to be much more dominant than they have been. With Sergio Agüero’s two goals today, we were shown what that missing element was. The Atlético Madrid star, voted best player in Spain last season, pushed Argentina into the final, one match away from repeating as goal medalists.

The Argentinians will meet Nigeria in a final that was expected to be an encore to the Argentina-Brazil main event, but with the Screaming Eagles beating Belgium 4-1, the final now looks like the main attraction it is supposed to be. Nigeria needed a win over the United States in its last group match to make the medal round, but once there they beat a strong Ivory Coast team 2-0 before dispatching Belgium. Given the United States was undefeated before running into the Nigerians, the Super Eagles have been the tournament’s most impressive team over the last three matches.

If Agüero can play against Nigeria as he did against Brazil, it may not matter. Whereas Lionel Messi carried the Argentinians over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, Agüero stepped up, scored his first goals of the tournament, and returned the favor against the Brazilians. One (or both) of the two star strikers will need to ascend to similar levels in this weekend’s gold medal match, as Nigeria will be their toughest test of the tournament.

Brazil was not up to that label. Argentina went up 2-0 in the second half on Agüero goals that came six minutes apart, but they were the better team even before breaking through. After the goals, Brazil showed some brief life before becoming frustrated by the Argentinians. That frustration came to a head when Thiago Neves as Lucas Leiva were both sent off for a tackles on Javier Mascherano. For a Brazil side disappointed on again missing out on a gold medal, it was an apt end to their hopes.

Brazil will take on Belgium in the bronze medal game, a rematch of a group phase game the Brazilians won, 1-0.  Their inability to reach the gold medal match will hit Brazil hard, as the team brought the biggest name in the tournament, Ronaldinho, as an overage player in an effort to win their first goal medal.  Although Ronaldinho showed some flashes of his former self, Brazil never played up to their talent.  Dunga’s search for a cohesive lineup over the last two matches failed, and Brazil again missed out on Olympic goal. They not only missed out. They crashed out, losing 3-0 in a match that they rarely contested.

Argentina should not expect such little opposition in the final. Nigeria has come to dub their squad the Dream Team and have high expectations. Their athleticism will keep them in the match, their overage Lokomotiv Moscow star Peter Odemwingie is capable of stealing a winger should the the Nigerians stifle Argentina.

While they should be expected to win their second consecutive gold, the tournament has changed for Argentina. Their toughest match will no long be their semifinal, as was expected three weeks ago. Nigeria will be more than Brazil.

Links
Aguero inspires Brazil demise
Nigeria to meet Argentina
Nigeria reach Olympic final
Argentina routs Brazil to reach another final
Argentina knocks out rivals Brazil
Brazil humiliated by final-bound Argentina
Quick Report: Argentina 3-0 Brazil
Nigeria routs Belgium 4-1 to reach Olympic final
Super Eagles dispatch Belgium
Nigeria 4-1 Belgium: Nigeria reach Olympic final
Nigeria’s four-star show
Nigeria thump Belgium to reach Olympic final
Slick Nigeria crush sorry Belgium
Quick report: Nigeria 4-1 Belgium

Nigeria posted the most impressive result of the quarterfinal, getting and early goal from over-age, Lokomotiv striker Peter Odemwingie to take a lead over Côte d’Ivoire which they never relinquished.  The Screaming Eagles were rarely threatening, controlling a match they put away with an 82nd minute penalty kick goal.

This victory, along with having advanced into the medal round after winning the tournament’s strongest group, has to announce Nigeria as one of the tournaments favorites.  They do not have the talent of either Brazil or Argentina, but they have a history of taking this tournament very seriously, and they have the easier path to the gold medal match.

Belgium’s win over Italy puts them in the semifinals against Nigeria.  Nigeria will be favored, and should they advance will have a puncher’s chance against one of the tournament co-favorites.  If Brazil were to advance to the finals, the Nigerians who face a country that, while wanting their first gold medal, may not have the same hunger for the crown as the Argentina side that won the tournament four years ago.  Argentina, however, looks a bit better at this point in the tournament, and if they advance they will be favored over the Eagles.

For Côte d’Ivoire, it was a well played tournament in which they will get no reward.  They finished second in a group into which they were drawn with Argentina.  They played the co-favorites will, but only finishing second in their group, got matched-up with a strong Nigerian side in the medal round.  Côte d’Ivoire might be one of the top four or five teams in the tournament, but they are out at the round of eight.

Links
Nigeria book last-four date
Nigeria Pop Ivory Coast, To Meet Belgium In Semi-final
Quick Report: Nigeria 2-0 C√¥te d’Ivoire

The Netherlands, of whom so much was expected coming into the tournament, stumbled in the group stage and barley advanced out of their group, garnering themselves a quarterfinal match-up with giants Argentina. That stumble almost turned into Argentina’s bane as the tournament co-favorites were faced with a Dutch side that, playing to their potential, pushed them to the limit. After playing at 1-1 for over seventy minutes, Argentina’s Angel Di Maria scored in extra time to give the favorites their margin of victory.

The win sets up the match all followers have been waiting for. Argentina will face Brazil in one semifinal while the Netherlands goes home medal-less.

Lionel Messi, by reports, was dominant, scoring the Argentina’s first goal and creating numerous chances, including the one for Di Maria’s game winner. His efforts help the Argentines control the match in what might have been their best performance of the tournament. Despite this, the side still needed extra time to dispatch a Dutch team which has to be regretting their not winning Group B.

Messi has the ability to dominate a Brazil team which, while being defensively thrifty in their four matches, has not impressed.  I picked Brazil at the onset, but after overcoming the Netherlands today, Argentina holds the best result out of the two team’s eight matches.  With Dunga now second-guessing his tactic, leaving a lot of his talent on the bench, Argentina looks the better bet for the gold medal.

Links
Quick Report: Argentina 2-1 Netherlands
Messie sets up Brazil semi

Italy, possibly the most impressive side in the Olympics’ group phase, was handed their match with Belgium.  The underdogs went down a man and a goal within twenty minutes, left to chase the lead with ten men in China’s conditions.  But just over five minutes later the underdogs evened the score, showing the fight that would eventually lead to an upset of a team that looked to have a clear path of the final.

Italy were given a draw with neither Brazil nor Argentina on their side of the medal round draw.  They played in the group phase and looked poised to use these next two matches preparing for the winner of the other semifinal.  That they were not able to go through give Belgium going a man down is stunning.  Belgium, for their part, continue the great play that saw them cruise into the second round while giving Brazil a tough match in their group phase loss.

Belgium was the better side.  Both of Italy’s goals came from Giuseppe Rossi penalty kicks.  And each time, the Belgians came back quickly.  After Rossi’s second goal in the 73rd minute (which tied the score), scored against Belgium’s back-up goaltender (who was replacing the injured starter), the Belgians answered within six minutes through Moussa Dembele’s second goal, putting them up for good.

Italy, up a man, could have persisted with their man advantage and relied on extra time and the heat to wear down their opponents, though before the ensuing kick-off Italian goalkeeper Viviano was red-carded after an altercation with a Belgian player who was getting the ball out of the net.  Outplayed while up a man, the Italians would now have to play on an even field.

It is a stunning result, and the Italians should be disappointed.  They were handed the group, matches, and quarterfinal match which helped pave their way to the finals, and they blew it.  Not only did they blow it, but they wouldn’t have come close without some penalty kicks.  They did not score in open play.

Belgium gets a deserved win and advances to play the winner of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.  The Belgians will again be underdogs, but after today’s match, they won’t be underestimated.

Links
Ten man belgium shock Italy in thriller
Brave Belgium roar into last four

Their quarterfinal match-up with Cameroon saw Brazil continue their uninspired Olympics play, needing extra time to beat a team that was reduced to ten men early in the second half.  The sending off came after Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva seemed to simulate an injury, casting a black cloud over a match in which the referee brought out his cards thirteen times.  After a scoreless ninety minutes, Brazil got goals from Rafael Sobis and Marcelo in extra time to put them through to a probable semifinal match-up with Argentina.

Brazil, my pre-tournament pick for gold, looks ripe for the picking, particularly sign Dunga has elected to drop Alexandre Pato from the starting XI while leaving Jô and Thiago Neves out of the lineup.  Neves, who had two goals in Brazil’s final group match (his only start of the tournament), came on in the sixty-sixth minute, though Pato, Jô and Thiago Silva saw no time.

Brazil proved to have the easiest group - with Belgium, China, and New Zealand - and found a way to make some of those matches look close.  In their first real competition, against one of the African sides that have been so impressive (all three, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria advancing), Brazil renders and inconclusive result thanks to the sending off.

The Brazilians have the talent to win this tournament, but like Argentina coming out of group A, they have yet to impress.

Links
Brazil sink battling Cameroon
Brazil sink Cameroon in niggly match
Brazil down Cameroon after extra time

Group A went pretty much to form, with Argentina earning a hard-fought victory over the Ivory Coast, 2-1 on a late goal.  Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the tournament.  Australia and Serbia played to a 1-1 tie.

The Ivory Coast find themselves at the bottom of the table after the first match, but they are still in good shape, being at only -1 on differential and having put a goal on the board.  Still, they will need six points from their next two matches to ensure advancement, though the tie breakers look headed in their direction.

While both of the group’s other teams may have thought a three-point opener within reach, Australia and Serbia’s opening match tie keeps each alive and  in a position to advance should they pull an upset over the Ivory Coast.

Group B finds the United States on top after one round of matches, though thanks to the low-scoring, this group is remains wide-open. The U.S. won what will be their easiest match but  put up only one goal in doing so. Should another team put up a 3-1 (or better) win at any point, the U.S.’s tie-breakers will look weak (especially if that win comes over the U.S.).

That hypothetical aside, the United States is now in a win-and-advance position, with a win over either the Netherlands or Nigeria preventing the loser from getting to the six point the Americans would have.

The Netherlands and Nigeria played to a scoreless draw. Nigeria plays Japan this weekend in what will be a must-win match for the Japanese. Given Japan played decently against the United States, the Nigerians would best not underestimate them. The Netherlands may think their most difficult group match behind them, but moving on to face the United States, they should be concerned about their inability to score goals, given the U.S.’s defense will be at least as good as Nigeria’s.

In Group C, Brazil failed to inspire in their opener, winning 1-0 on a Hernanes goal despite being up two men at the end of the match. The result has to be encouraging for Belgium, who should assume neither China nor New Zealand will be able to better their result. It gives the Belgians the inside track to advancing, though the will have to beat the host nation this weekend to keep their tournament alive.

China blew their opportunity for three points when they could not defeat a New Zealand side that played with ten men for most of the match. Only an eighty-eighth minute goal saved the Chinese from the ignominious distinction of losing at home, up a man. China looks to be in trouble against Belgium.

New Zealand likely loses this weekend’s match-up with Brazil but will still be in position to advance. Their match next week against Belgium will likely determine which of the three teams vying for second place advance move on.  Against Brazil, the Kiwis need to be concerned about the tie-breaker scenarios.  They should try to keep it a one goal match at all costs.

In Group D, Italy put up the most impressive result of the tournament, with Guiseppe Rossi scoring a goal.  While it is not inconceivable they will lose to Cameroon and South Korea, they look in great shape to advance.

Cameroon and South Korea, thanks to their tie, look on a collision course for four group stage points and a tie breaker scenario. With each side having one match against Italy, one match against Honduras remaining, look for each to be opportunistic but conservative against the Italians, aggressive and goal-hungry against the Hondurans.

One of the positives Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan took into this offseason was having a clearly defined mission.  With an established front line of Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, and the now-deeper-playing Michael Owen having proven at the end of last season that the team could score goals, Keegan could focus on improving goal prevention.  But even with that clarity of purpose, the Magpies had been unable to improve this summer beyond the signing of Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez from Mallorca.

Yesterday, however, United took their first step towards improving on last season.  Fabricio Coloccini has moved from La Liga’s Deportivo la Coruña to the Magpies in a deal that could end up being worth €13 million.  Coloccini slots into the center of defense, proving immediate improvement.  For a squad that was performing so well at the end of last season despite such a glaring weakness, this is a big acquisition, even if Coloccini is not necessarily the best center back in the world.  He is still very good, and the marginal improvement he will provide Newcastle is huge.

This was another highly contentious transfer, with Coloccini’s representation describing Coruña’s attempts to hold onto the Argentine international as slavery.  He joins countryman Gutierrez in switching to Toon from La Liga this offseason.  Both should help a side that allowed the most goals of any non-relegated team last season.  Despite the deficiency, Newcastle finished twelfth in the league.  Their two additions plus the hope of improved health from their forwards portend to an improved 2008-09 season.

Coruña, on the other hand, have to feel like they were railroaded.  The agent played every card imaginable to try and get his client to England.  In theory, that is what the agent is supposed to do, but it still leaves the club with an unanticipated hole in the middle of defense.  They have about three weeks to fill the place before their La Liga campaign begins.

At the point of the table in which Coruña would have been expected to lurk, the loss of Coloccini’s loss could have a proportionally large effect.  Coruña finished in ninth, only eight points from qualifying for Europe, but they also finished only ten points above relegation.  That is not to suggest Coruña is now a relegation-battler, but La Liga is tightly packed in the middle, and the loss of an important player like Coloccini could see Coruña drop from ninth to thirteenth or fourteenth, if he is not fully replaced.

Quotes
“Real Club Deportivo and Newcastle have agreed the transfer of Fabricio Coloccini to the English club. The clubs had reached a verbal agreement last week which was today confirmed in writing” - Real Club Deportivo la Coruña
“I still honestly believe that we will get two more players in, maybe three, and then we’ll settle down and work very hard with a quality squad.” - Keegan
“I think we have to look to finish in the top ten, in the top half, and anything beyond that we’ll take our chance.” - Keegan

Links
Depor accept Newcastle’s bid for Coloccini
Newcastle bid for defender Coloccini accepted
Newcastle agree deal for Coloccini
Newcastle Coloccini bid accepted
Depor accept Toon bid for Coloccini
Coloccini to join Newcastle
Newcastle close in on Coloccini
Newcastle sign Argentinian
Coloccini ’seals Magpies move’
Official:  Coloccini To Join Newcastle
Argentine Coloccini to join Newcastle
Depor accused of Coloccini slavery