World Cupdate

Group C's early games meant do or die time for the United States taking on Algeria, and for England taking on Slovenia.  The winners advance, the losers go home, and the tension was on.  Algeria haven't scored a goal yet in this tournament, something that weighs quite heavily on them.  On the other hand, the US have never won a Round 3 match in their World Cup history, in fact they've lost their 3rd match in every World Cup they've ever been in, a fact that wasn't lost on manager Bob Bradley.  Bradley went with a 2-4-4 setup with Jozy Altidore and Hercules Gomez in the front, while Algeria countered with an aggressive 3-4-3 attack with Djebbour, Matmour, and Ziani as the triple threat.  Early the Desert Foxes outfoxed the Yanks as their assault seemed to knock the US into a defensive crouch and left the US team vulnerable as they have been to getting behind in the match.  A draw here would send both teams home, but so would a loss.  In the last 15 minutes of the first half, the US started to finally get a few opportunities as they adjusted to the Algerian attack but they were simply unable to convert.  The US needed a goal or they were going home.  Benny Feilhaber came in for Hercules Gomez at the half, and the second stanza began much as the first: the Algerians on the attack and the US unable to convert on the counters despite multiple chances.  Running out of time, the US threw everything they had at Algeria.  Into stoppage time, the US needed a miracle...and that miracle's name was Landon Donovan, as he finally connects with the back of the net, saving the Stars and Stripes.  Algeria's Anthar Yahia collects a blatant red card in sheer frustration, but it's the Yanks that prevail 1-0 and Algeria's scoreless streak lasts another four years...

The other match for all the marbles had England and Slovenia facing off, the Three Lions, looking shaky so far like the rest of the European favorites, wanted to win to advance.  Both teams went with a nearly identical 2-4-4 format, the Lions with Jermain Dafoe and the always deadly Wayne Rooney up front, the Dragons with goal scoring heroes Novakovic and Ljubijankic leading the attack.  Early on the Three Lions roared to life, pressing the attack and earning a number of corner kicks that rattled the Slovenian defense.  That resulted in a counter cross to Dafoe that was blistered in at 23'.  With that confidence booster, the Brits tried to hammer home an early winner but the Dragons held out for the first half only down one.  The second half was all England as they hammered again and again at the Slovenian defense, but the Dragons were just too stiff-necked to give anything else up, and the English decide to skive off the rest of the match and take the win, as both teams saw the US and Algeria heading to the draw and both would advance with the 1-0 England win...but that last second US goal ripped the floor out from under Slovenia and it's the Yanks who win the Group, followed by the Brits.  The Slovenians came in leading the group...and now they are going home with nothing.

The late games in Group D would determine who the USA and England would face this weekend.  Group leader Ghana was set to tilt against Germany, and Australia was looking for a miracle of their own against Serbia, who threw the entire Group into shambles by shocking the Germans.  Everyone needed wins, and everyone was certainly aiming for the three points.  Ghana's Black Stars started out with a strong 3-3-4 offense, with Ayew and Tagoe at the wings and Ghana's star Asamoah Gyan at center.  The Germans formulated a precision counter 1-3-2-4 battle plan with Cacau at point after Miroslav's Klose's suspension last game.  As expected, Ghana immediately went on the attack, and Germany lay in wait to take advantage.  Both sides got some solid chances around the 20' mark as a result.  That fired up both sides and the game was on in the rest of the half, but neither side could capitalize. Half number two was much the same in a match that should have been 2-2 or even 3-3, but it was Germany's Ozil who actually connected at 60'.  The Black Stars were in danger of blacking out of the Cup.  Germany, sensing the win, pushed forward but Ghana's dangerous offense kept the Europeans on the defensive and Ghana went all out to try to even the score, but it wasn't meant to be.  They had to settle for the loss and hoped that Australia would win...

Meanwhile, Australia rolled out against Serbia, the Socceroos with Tim Cahill returning from his first match red card backing up striker Joshua Kennedy in their 1-3-2-4 formation, while the White Eagles were looking to soar with Nikola Zigic leading a powerfully defensive minded 1-5-4 blockade.  Both sides were evenly matched in the first half, the Socceroos making a couple of probes into White Eagles territory before being booted out by their strong defense, but the Serbs, despite playing much better ball, were still unable to counterattack early either.  Later on they even found the back of the net only to have it called back for offsides, and the Socceroos proved being lucky is sometimes just as important as being good.  The second half has Serbia piling on but the laconic Socceroos absorbed all the White Eagles' fury and then started finding their own legs as the Serbs started drooping midway through the half, and Tim Cahill headed it in at 69'.  Then Holman knocked one in just four minutes later.  All of a sudden Australia was trying to make up that 5 goal differential to earn that #2 spot.  That ended when Serbia's Pantelic finally knocked one home at 84'.  Serbia wasn't done yet and a draw here would get them in past Ghana, but it wasn't enough.  Australia won their pride, but both the Socceroos and the Serbs are going home, with Germany winning the group to face England in the Round of 16 on Sunday, and Ghana going to face the USA on Saturday...winner take all.