World Cup Day 10: Man of the Match

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 91^st 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 17^th 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 15^th goal in Germany while Klose scored his 15^th goal in Brazil. An African record was also tied in this match when Gyan scored his 5^th 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.