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World Cup Day 10: Man of the Match

Messi dances the tango in the stoppage time and carries fang-less Argentina to the round of 16 winning over Iran. Africa shows its true colors in Ghana & Nigeria drawing with Germany and defeating Bosina-Herzegovina respectively. Man of Germany vs Ghana match was from New Zealand.

Stu Forster

GROUP F

ARGENTINA 1-0 IRAN

Iran played an astonishing tactical match denying Argentina from playing their style of football. Iran was unlucky in many occasions during the match to take the lead against a tamed Argentinian team. The ball holder from Argentina had at the least two players trying to tackle him while Messi had the honor of having three players on ball and off ball until the 91st minutes when Iran made their only mistake. Messi was left alone with only one player standing off against him and by the time another defender tried to block his view, the ball has already been braced to break the tie. With the win, Argentina ensured qualification to the round of 16 while Iran has to go against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

NIGERIA 1-0 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

The World Cup new comers played against a well-organized Nigerian team. Even though Nigeria was the better side in this match in general I have no intention in analyzing it in anyway. The highlight of the match is its referee. Peter from New Zealand has decided the fate of this match making not one, not two but three crucial mistakes that otherwise could have ended in a different manner. The referee who is probably going to be blacklisted at Bosnia-Herzegovina if he decides to visit at some point in his life, started off the mistakes with not calling a penalty for Nigeria in the 17th minute. The man of the match Peter also wrongly disallowed a Dzeko goal for offside play. The Nigerian goal should not have been counted due to an obvious foul (should be easily spotted by the sideline referee) by Emenike on Spahic.

Iran qualification scenarios:

1)      Win over Bosnia provided that Nigeria loses to Argentina scoring more goals than Nigeria if both matches have the same goal difference

Nigeria qualification scenarios:

1)      Win or draw over Argentina regardless of the other match result.

2)      Lose to Argentina with Iran losing or drawing or winning with a lesser Goal difference or lesser goals scored if the goal difference is the same.

GROUP G

GERMANY 2-2 GHANA

Germany experienced what it feels like playing against an eleven players' team. With this draw against Ghana, Germany seems to be following all the big teams' steps showing weaknesses in their formations. Gotze scored for Germany in the second half. Ghana replied with two goals through Ayew and Gyan but super substitute Klose scored the tie goal not only with Ghana but also with the World Cup history goalscorer Ronaldo at 15 goals. Here is an interesting fact: Ronaldo scored his 15th goal in Germany while Klose scored his 15th goal in Brazil. An African record was also tied in this match when Gyan scored his 5th goal in his World Cup participations with Roger Milla.

STANDINGS

Group A

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Brazil

2

1

1

-

3

1

+2

4

Mexico

2

1

1

-

1

0

+1

4

Croatia

2

1

-

1

4

1

+3

3

Cameron

2

-

-

2

0

5

-5

0

Group B

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Netherlands

2

2

-

-

8

3

+5

6

Chile

2

2

-

-

5

1

+4

6

Australia

2

-

-

2

3

6

-3

0

Spain

2

-

-

2

1

7

-6

0

Group C

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Colombia

2

2

-

-

5

1

+4

6

Ivory Coast

2

1

-

1

3

3

0

3

Japan

2

-

1

1

1

2

-1

1

Greece

2

-

1

1

0

3

-3

1

Group D

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Costa Rica

2

2

-

-

4

1

+3

6

Italy

2

1

-

1

2

2

0

3

Uruguay

2

1

-

1

3

4

-1

3

England

2

-

-

2

2

4

-2

0

Group E

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

France

2

2

-

-

8

2

+6

6

Ecuador

2

1

-

1

3

3

0

3

Switzerland

2

1

-

1

4

6

-2

3

Honduras

2

-

-

2

1

5

-4

0

Group F

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Argentina

2

2

-

-

3

1

+2

6

Nigeria

2

1

1

-

1

0

+1

4

Iran

2

-

1

1

0

1

-1

1

Bosnia-Herzegovina

2

-

-

2

1

3

-2

0

Group G

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Germany

2

1

1

-

6

2

+4

4

USA

1

1

-

-

2

1

+1

3

Ghana

2

-

1

1

3

4

-1

1

Portugal

1

-

-

1

0

4

-4

0

Group H

Team

Played

W

D

L

For

Against

GD

Points

Belgium

1

1

-

-

2

1

+1

3

Russia

1

-

1

-

1

1

0

1

Korea Republic

1

-

1

-

1

1

0

1

Algeria

1

-

-

1

1

2

-1

0

Golden Boot

Name

Team

Goals

Mueller

Germany

3

Robben

Netherlands

3

Van Persie

Netherlands

3

Benzema

France

3

Neymar

Brazil

2

Cahill

Australia

2

Mandzukic

Croatia

2

James

Colombia

2

Suarez

Uruguay

2

Messi

Argentina

2

Peralta

Mexico

1

Alonso

Spain

1

De Vrij

Netherlands

1

Sanchez

Chile

1

Valdivia

Chile

1

Beausejour

Chile

1

Ruiz

Costa Rica

1

Armero

Colombia

1

Gutierrez

Colombia

1

Cavani

Uruguay

1

Campbell

Costa Rica

1

Duarte

Costa Rica

1

Urena

Costa Rica

1

Marchisio

Italy

1

Balotelli

Italy

1

Sturridge

England

1

Bony

Ivory Coast

1

Gervinho

Ivory Coast

1

Honda

Japan

1

Valencia

Ecuador

1

Mehmedi

Switzerland

1

Seferovic

Switzerland

1

Ibisevic

Bosnia-Herzegovina

1

Hummels

Germany

1

Ayew

Ghana

2

Brooks

USA

1

Dempsey

USA

1

Feghouli

Algeria

1

Fellani

Belgium

1

Mertens

Belgium

1

K H Lee

Korea Republic

1

Kerzhakov

Russia

1

Jedinak

Australia

1

Memphis

Netherlands

1

Vargas

Chile

1

Aranguiz

Chile

1

Olic

Croatia

1

Perisic

Croatia

1

Quintero

Colombia

1

Rooney

England

1

Dzemaili

Switzerland

1

Xhaka

Switzerland

1

Matuidi

France

1

Giroud

France

1

Valbuena

France

1

Sissoko

France

1

Gyan

Ghana

1

Odemwingie

Nigeria

1

Qualified Teams to the Round of 16 at the End of Day 10:

1)      Netherlands (Possible opponents: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia)

2)      Chile (Possible opponents: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia)

3)      Colombia (Possible opponents: Costa Rica, Italy, Uruguay)

4)      Costa Rica (Possible opponents: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece)

5)      Argentina (Possible opponents: France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras)

Teams Packing:

1)      Cameron (Group A)

2)      Spain (Group B)

3)      Australia (Group B)

4)      England (Group D)

5)      Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group F)

Day 11 Matches:

Match day two comes to an end tomorrow and I will be adding a poll in the next thread choosing the best performing teams "in my humble opinion".

Belgium vs Russia

Match Implications: A European contest and a qualifying chance for Belgium if they win against Russia.

Korea Republic vs Algeria

Match Implications: A second chance for both teams to get back into the run for qualification.

USA vs Portugal

Match Implications: This is the redemption match for Portugal and qualifying chance match for USA and so I expect this match to be the best thus far.