¡¡¡España La Furia Roja are campeona del Mundo!!!

Posted by PUMA Football, July 11, 2010, 6:11pm

The world’s best national team is finally the champion of the world. What better way to summarize the final? They might not have played their best football the entire time (first game against Switzerland) but they have constantly pulled themselves together and improved, stepped up when needed (game against Germany). They conceded only two goals, and Casillas was deservedly rewarded the Golden Glove. On top of this Spain won the FIFA Fair Play Award, as they only got eight yellow cards through the tournament. Holland got nine in just the final against Spain, and helped making this final the historic for most yellow cards ever: 14!

The game turned out to be just as people might expect a final to be, but hope it won’t. Tight, few goals and a lot of struggling rather than majestic play. Compared to the usually goal-happy Bronze-games where everyone seem to relax a little bit more and just go for the win as oppose to the fear of losing. From time to time it looked more like some players had chewed extra-testosterone before the game when they should have just juiced up with extra-energy bars. Or bananas. Robben had two of those chances you usually don't even get one of, and especially in a World Cup final, but couldn’t capitalize on either. It took extra time to separate the two teams, and just when it looked as though the match would go into penalties the pitch's smallest biggest star, the perhaps most underestimated player n the world, Andres Iniesta - El Illusionista - stepped up.

He must have decided that to go to penalties was just too much of a lottery and took fate into his own hands and hit a thruster into the back of the net with just 4 minutes to go. BOOM. 1-0 Spain and all that was needed to crown Spain as World Champions for the first time in history. He pulled of his shirt to reveal "Dani Jarque seimpre con nosotros". That means "Dani Jarque is always with us," a reference to former Barca rivals, Espanyol defender Dani Jarque, who died of a heart attack in August 2009 at the too young age of 26 just one month after he was named captain, showing that love crosses all borders and rivalries.

What was supposed to be Africa’s World Cup, then suspected to be South America’s, and finally turned out to be Europe finishing 1, 2 and 3 top places. On a funny side note, only one team never lost one game throughout the tournament…yes, you didn’t get it, New Zealand.

It’s been a great, an absolutely wonderful tournament. A lot of unexpected results, stunning goals and an extremely worthy winner. Just as it should. We can’t wait until Brazil 2014.

A last-second crossbar hit between Bronze for Les Celeste or Die Mannschafte…

Posted by PUMA Football, July 10, 2010, 5:44pm

Who knows what would have happened if Diego Forlan’s last-breath effort had dived an inch, half a nano-second earlier? Where would we have ended up? Extra time, yes, but if it had stunned the German’s enough and been enough to either finish it or take it to penalties is something we’ll never know. Germany won 3-2 and it will only be one of many speculations from this World Cup. “If only…” The Bronze match lived up to its historic reputation of plenty of goals though, what is rare in the final seemed to be standard in the third place game. Attack. Go for victory rather than avoid a loss.

Thomas Muller opened up the game’s scoring with his fifth goal of the tournament and put the Germans up front. Uruguay with Cavani equalized on a lovely counterattack before Forlan decided that he wanted to level up with Muller and scored his fifth goal too with an absolutely stunning scissor-half-volley-kick that left stand-in keeper for the day, Hans Jorg Butt frozen to the ground. Many more goal attempts followed before an unusual combination occurred. Right back Jerome Boateng hit a cross to the other side where left back Marcel Jansen met it with a header and tied the score.

Then, just as the game looked to be going into another overtime conclusion, Khedira got his very well deserved goal for the tournament with a header. Les Celeste tried and pushed and pushed and just as the three minutes added time ticked out, they got the chance they needed and deserved: a free-kick just outside the penalty box. There wasn’t even any doubt who was to step up and take it. Forlan’s been struggling with a leg injury that forced him to sub in the semifinal against Holland, and also made him score in that game with his left foot. But this time he would disregard all presumable pain. As he hit the crossbar with an absolute firecracker, some people spoke of a twist of fate: what helped Uruguay reach the semifinal is the exact same thing that denied them the bronze.

"We wanted to reach the final, it wasn't possible, but we did our best in every game. Now it's time for a rest," said Forlan. Maybe not, but finishing top four is spectacular and you showed the world that Uruguayan football is to be reckoned with again.

"At the beginning we never thought we'd taste a moment like this. We wanted to finish third, but we'll remember the positives."

We will too, Forlan. Thank you for the show, Uruguay.

Oranje beats Les Celeste in another last minute nerve-wrecker & makes it to their first final since 1978 – will this time be THE time?

Posted by PUMA Football, July 6, 2010, 5:28pm

Holland maintains their very-impressive 100% winning-streak in this World Cup, as they beat Uruguay 3-2. But it wasn’t just all that simple. After coming on the pitch with tons of confidence after their win against favorites, Brazil, they probably thought underdogs Uruguay would be a slightly easier path to the finals. But this remarkable Uruguay, who had an extra 2x 15 minutes in extra-time and penalty shoot out in their last match, wasn’t here to go down easily.

Except for their opening goalless draw against France, Uruguay has scored in every World Cup game. So when Holland took an early lead with a stunning cracker and one of the contenders for goal of the World Cup by veteran captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, we pretty much knew they would step up. Consistantly amazing striker, Diego Martín Forlán Corazo did what he does best and secured a 1-1 tie with a swirling long shot (a shot that perhaps keeper Maarten Stekelenburg should have saved) as the teams retired for halftime. Second half came and looked like both teams were feeling out each other and and waiting for the other's next mistake. When it arrived it was another one of those debatable on/off -side sequences, but nonetheless, the result was 2-1 Holland. Recently converted catholic and “Rejuvenated” Wesley Sneijder shot towards the far post and an offside Robin van Persie could have easily been the reason for disallowing the goal. Uruguay went for an equalizer and opened up behind, something Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben decided to take advantage of. Dirk made a cross inside the penalty box and Robben copied Sneijder’s header against Brazil and Oranje was up 3-1. Game over.

Well. Not if you are Uruguay though. A team that, perhaps already had reached the climax of achieving the impossible with the absolutely incredible finish against Ghana, knew very well that a game isn’t over until the extra time and the seconds until they are played and the whistle blown. Another heroic push took them up to 3-2 and suddenly the already cheering Dutch bench was in shock. But this is also a very strong, disciplined and different Holland than we’ve seen in this World Cup - a Dutch team that has been drilled by coach van Marwijk to see, think and dream of a World Cup final since day one with him at the helm.
  Holland has never scored more than two goals after the group stages in a World Cup. Today they scored three and are one huge game away from achieving what no other Dutch team has ever done before. Will this be the year that will forever wipe out “The Best Team That Has Never Won The World Cup” from the Dutch football dictionary? On Sunday we'll know. Tomorrow we’ll know who will be their opponents. Spain or Germany. Best of luck to both. 

Last but not least – Vamos Les Celeste! Today was well played and you still have the bronze to play for yet! 

Congratulations to Uruguay!

Posted by PUMA Football, July 2, 2010, 5:45pm

Congratulations to Uruguay who are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup!

La Furia Roja proved to be too tough for the Selecção das Quinas

Posted by PUMA Football, June 29, 2010, 5:34pm

It was the battle of Europe. Two of the best teams in the world that just happened to be neighboring countries met in the Iberian Derby, the game deciding who snitches the last spot for the quarterfinals. Some of the best players on the planet knew that a loss meant packing your bags and go home, regardless how talented you are.

Crisitano Ronaldo – one of the few contenders to Lionel Messi for Best Player in the World this year – today that meant you and your Portuguese teammates. Portugal tried, had a few dangerous attempts but if it wasn’t Casillas, Barça's dependable center-defenders were standing tall and clearing it all (Sergio Ramos is too busy challenging Maicon for most offensive right back now – and doing it well and Capdevilla is good at doing his job, no more no less). And with the probably best midfield in the world (hello – they can spare Cesc Fabregas on the bench) the Spanish Armada is looking pretty darn solid.

The Premier League had the most players in the World Cup (106 – runner up Bundesliga had 78) but they are also the players who have been struggling the most. Fernando Torres is no exception as he’s yet to score his first goal in this World Cup. Doing better each game, but still slightly out of sync, he has been a little too slow in the crucial decision-makings and accuracy not just there.

Which is why Spain has David Villa too. He stood for one third of Spain’s 19 shots and the odds that he would be the tipping point fell by each ticking second. So when he hit his own rebound, it wasn’t a shock. BOOM. 1-0 Spain, who will now face Paraguay.

Oh and on the Torres side note: remember that he only scored two goals in the Euro 2008. One of them in their 1-0 win against Germany in the final. Just saying.

Friday: Netherlands-Brazil and a special game for PUMAFootball, Uruguay-Ghana
Saturday: Argentina-Germany and Paraguay-Spain.

Just reading it makes you want to be able to fast forward time.

Guaraníes beat the Samurai Blues in the World Cup’s first penalty shoot-out

Posted by PUMA Football, June 29, 2010, 1:20pm

So eventually it came: the mandatory World Cup penalty shoot-out. What players and teams fear the most in a knockout game. Doesn’t matter from then who played the best football over 90 minutes, who had the best chances, most chances, who should have won and ultimately who deserved to win. From there on, football is at its most chance-moment ever. Anything can happen, and it usually does.

There are some numbers we can look at though. Since the penalty-shoot-out was introduced in the World Cup in 1982, it has been the eliminator twenty times. The team that shoots the first has won 60% of the time and 30% penalties has been missed out of 186 taken. Most memorable is perhaps the World Cups that have been decided by penalties: in the finals between Brazil-Italy in 1994, a game where “nothing happened until the penalty kicks” and most recently when Italy clinched the trophy after their 5-3 penalty win against France.

Today it was a game before the penalties. But that is how cruel and merciless football is, that after the game people barely remember the action sequences, the almost-goal-moments, marvelous runs, performances, kicks, tackles, and remember only who won. Who missed. And who saved. The latter never happened today as we saw 7 perfectly executed penalty kicks. Schoolbook examples of excellence. One hit the crossbar.

Japan out, Paraguay to the quarterfinals where they will face winner of Portugal-Spain.

Seleção showed another level

Posted by PUMA Football, June 28, 2010, 5:06pm

Brazil picked it up and showed that they’re real contenders for the title. Facing Chile, who has impressed the most of us, we hoped for an even game with two attacking sides going non-stop. And we kind of got one. It was two attacking sides but it wasn’t all that even. Like Spain, Brazil is the perhaps worst team Chile could meet- they’re simply too good and won’t get surprised by the quick Chileans because they simply out-quick them and dictate the pace themselves.

Brazil has gotten some heat, mostly from their own demanding home fans, who say they are playing too ‘boring’ and that they've lost their renowned samba-spirit under coach, Dunga. But after a slow start (yet still a win) against North Korea, a convincing win against Ivory Coast, draw against Portugal, winning the ‘Group Of Death’ and now crushing Chile, we think it’s time to reevaluate Brazil once again. 8 goals isn’t boring and with striker Fabiano getting in shape, Kaka playing better and better and Robinho, who scored his seventh goal in four appearances against Chile, they have the firepower up-front that’s needed to go far. A world-class goalie (but what’s up with the kit three sizes too big today?), two best right backs (Dunga solved the unsolvable problem by using them both today, Maicon in that position and Dani Alves as right midfield winger), and a captain who is brimming with confidence after winning the treble this season, ensure they also have the defense-line to back up their attacking football.

How far can they go? Obviously all they way, but the first test on the way is another contender for the title of best football team in the world, the Netherlands. Two teams that seem to enjoy attacking football a lot. Looks like we’re in for delicious football on July 2nd. But why wait so long - tomorrow is Japan-Paraguay and highly anticipated neighbor-country clash between Spain and Portugal. It's like being football-spoiled every day with the lovely exception of not feeling any guilt about it. Hooray for football.

The Oranje is starting to look pretty darn lekker!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 28, 2010, 2:04pm

Before this game, the Dutch players had started talking about the chance of winning the World Cup. “We might have the best national side ever,” proclaimed striker van Persie and captain van Bronckhorst and it felt bold. After all it’s a bold statement from “the best national team that has never won the World Cup” (silver ’74 and ’78) and with living legends like the de Boer brothers, Kluivert, Bergkamp, Cocu and of course, creator of the best football ever invented, Mr. Johann “Total Football” Cruyff it is kind of, yes, bold. Bold but not foolish. Because this Dutch side has grown and shown that they just might be ready for the task.

Today, against a Slovakia who heroically beat the World Champions Gil Azzurri last week, they did what was required. The Dutch knew about Slovakia’s abilities but weren’t going to allow another World Cup sensation. They were simply too good. Their quick passes, runs without the ball (oh so crucial) and sheer individual talent tore the Slovakian side apart, and it was one of those precise moments that led to the first goal. Robben got the ball after e a beautiful pass from Sneijder, and from that moment on everyone knew exactly what would happen. Spectators in the stands, his teammates, people watching the TV, but most and foremost, the Slovakian defenders, knew. He used his speed and cut inside to open up his body for a left-footed strike. BOOM. 1-0 Holland. Slovakia had two really decent chances to shock, but it felt like the Oranje controlled the game.

Always a hardworking man, Kuyt showed camaraderie and unselfishness as he beat the otherwise excellent goalkeeper, Mucha, and set up Sneijder to an open goal - he only needed to put his foot on the ball to deliver the Netherlands to a 2-0 lead. A last kick of the game from the penalty spot from Vittek, who grabbed his fourth and last goal of the tournament while leveling up with Higuain in the top scoring position, was the only flaw in the book for Holland as they advanced to the quarterfinals with their 2-1 win. Holland will meet winner Brazil-Chile. Dunga, Bielsa – watch out, Oranje might just have the edge that no other Dutch side has had before.

A crucial decision, a terrible slip-up and a marvelous performance put the Argentineans through to the quarterfinals

Posted by PUMA Football, June 27, 2010, 5:49pm

We had barely grasped the last goal-not-goal situation in the England-Germany game when the referees managed to put themselves in focus yet again. Carlos Tevez was clearly offside when scoring the first goal for Argentina and there is nothing anyone can say about it. Sadly, it’s nothing that anyone can do to change it either. Mexico will go home and it's shows how crucial every decision is when you only have one game to accomplish what you came for and four years to wait for another chance. To insert technology or not has never been a bigger discussion than right now.

People in favor for this simply ask what it could hurt to allow the fourth referee the same chance to view and review scenarios (as the people behind the TV do) and the allowance to call the referees' attention. Naysayers think it would ruin part of the thing that makes football organic and human, with all the faults and errors that come with it. Where then should you draw the line? Who decides when something needs to be up for evaluation, for surely one side will think differently than the other? The fact that it’s pretty much the same game, same rules, same conditions as when it started god knows when, and is played under the same circumstances whether or not you’re a mega star in huge club or a local kid in the street or a mud-pitch is what football is all about.

That said, let’s get back to the game and leave those decisions to the deciders because it was a great game. You have to give credit to legend Maradona who is playing so very offensively that it goes beyond sheer sense, playing Messi, Higuain, Tevez and Rodriguez at the same time, and with a bench including Milito and Aguero they have firepower in reserve as well. Messi is still struggling to score his first goal in this World Cup but with the intensity, skill set and inspiration he plays with, the goals will follow and he very much seems to enjoy himself on the pitch anyway.

But today the goals were scored by none other than Tevez, the first one as we’ve stated was clearly offside but he made up for it with an absolute stunning firecracker that he launched from outside the penalty box that drilled itself back into the top corner. Marvelous. In between this Higauin managed to sneak in and clinch the top spot on the goal scoring leader board of the World Cup as he capitalized on a horrific mistake by the Mexican defender who tapped the ball into nowhere-land just outside his own penalty box. One can’t afford those sorts of mistakes with these kinds of players around - especially not with a cobra-quick Higuain who said "Gracias!" and scored.

Mexico tried their best but couldn’t get closer than polishing the numbers with Javier Hernandez's beautiful goal. Mexico are out, Argentina are through and let’s hope for more fantastic football tomorrow and less controversy around referee decision. Let the football speak for itself.

Goodbye, auf wiedersehen Three Lions, and congratulations, Glückwünsche Die Manschafte

Posted by PUMA Football, June 27, 2010, 12:48pm

Germany dominated the game and is deservedly in the quarterfinals, but it isn’t hard to feel for England. Regardless where you’re from and whom you support – Lampard’s goal should have been allowed. Ball was clearly across the line and even though Germany probably should have won anyway, the game would have been completely different. 2-2 there and England wouldn’t have opened up so much and given Germany such easy counterattack goals. Technology or not in football will doubtlessly be a hot topic once again, as well as Germany will doubtlessly say that “Karma had it’s way” in response to the controversial goal between England and West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, which is still questioned if it was across the line or not. Then, allowed. Today, not.

Karma or not, the highly anticipated game did live up to its hype. Great tempo, high intensity and loads of goals. It was a football-fest for the eye. And we must admit that England committed a lot of rookie defense mistakes that you can’t afford on this level, because a quick, hungry, young German side will punish you - quadruple. Four goals isn’t the average for a typically solid English side that hasn’t allowed so many goals in a World Cup since 1954 in Uruguay.

Germany was good today and we saw the same team that won 4-0 in their opening game against Australia. The German machine is well oiled up and their key players are starting to get rolling. Extra kudos to Thomas Müller too, who became the youngest player (20) to score 2 goals in a World Cup since Pele 1958. Beware winner of Mexico-Argentina.

For a nation, a continent and the world – Ghana won for all

Posted by PUMA Football, June 26, 2010, 5:07pm

Hooray Africa! Ghana continues to impress the world and carry Africa forward. Their first test on their path of accomplishing the impossible (bah!) was the mega-hyped USA - a team that has managed to get a usually not-so-football-frenzied nation to go absolute berserk. A team that has been down in every game so far but managed to come back every time.

After Kevin Prince Boateng’s early goal and Landon Donovan’s penalty, the game was tied and went into this World Cup’s first overtime. Fairly early on, Asamoah “I’m the world’s happiest man” Gyan showed why he is one of Africa’s best players as he bounced off US captain, Carlos Bocanegra, kept his balance and fired off a stunning cracker behind a helpless Tim Howard. Ghana 2 – USA 1. 300 million Americans hoped for yet another miracle, but with over 980 million Africans behind them, the Black Stars stood tall and we saw another miracle. Ghana are the hope for a continent.



Ghana have made Africa proud but have no intention of settling here. 2009 they won the u-20 World Cup. Now they’re on the big stage, in the big “real” World Cup. Go Ghana, go Africa, go world!

How far can Ghana go? All the way? We’ll always remain raging optimists and with the crazy amount of love for football on our side, we can’t see an end to the possibilities! Next test is Uruguay - another nation that PUMAFootball holds extra dear to our heart. We’re already torn as to whom to support, but luckily know that at least one PUMA team will play in the semifinals.

The first World Champions, Uruguay, are playing quarterfinals once again

Posted by PUMA Football, June 26, 2010, 12:52pm

Headlines usually surround Diego Forlan when talking about Uruguay but today another kid wrote them. Boom. Boom. With two goals (last one incredibly beautiful) Luis Suárez made sure La Celeste did what they have not accomplished since 1970 and advanced to the quarterfinals.

It is a tactical strong Uruguay we've seen in this World Cup. A team that knows they can defend, they know they hadn’t conceded a goal in the last twelve months and none in this World Cup. But after their opening goal and early lead the South Koreans came back strong in the second half and Chong Yung Lee decided that their World Cup clean sheet was something that wasn’t going to last as he headed in the equalizer. Ironically on a defense mistake.

But perhaps that was the spark Uruguay needed to ignite. They pulled themselves together and Luis Suárez took it in his own hands and bent the ball in a beautiful arch over the South Korean defenders and post. Boom. With an excellent goal, Uruguay became the first team to reach the World Cup quarterfinals and will meet the winner between Ghana vs. USA. Congratulations La Celeste and go Black Stars!

The World Champions are unbelievably out after an absolutely unbelievable game

Posted by PUMA Football, June 24, 2010, 5:03pm

Arrivederci Italia. It feels way too soon to bid farewell and continue without you, but it is a sad truth and the World Cup will go on. The game can pretty much be summarized in the thrilling second half, when the Italian’s pulled themselves together and their play looked immensely better than the first. The first half that had nothing worth remembering except for Slovakia’s goal and it was an endeavor that paid off. Boom. Unfortunately, Quagriella’s equalizer was ruled off for offside and the Italian’s could only continue to push forward, as the game between Paraguay and New Zealand was still 0-0, which meant that Italia could advance with a draw.

But as it can happen when pushing for a goal, you open up behind. Slovakia counterattacked and then suddenly was up 2-0. The Italians did the only thing they could do, and when Di Natale finally capitalized on one of his many opportunities and reduced to 2-1, "it's a game again" we all thought…and then Slovakia played a clever move with a throw-in and managed to score another beautiful goal. It was 3-1 to Slovakia.



Curtain down… or wait. Quagriella wasn’t through just yet as, cold as ice, chipped in one of the tournament’s most beautiful goals. 2-3 and we started to believe in miracles. But it just wasn’t enough. Even with a dying chance in additional time, the Slovakians held the Italians off. A grand effort from Slovakia who had been pretty much unanimously ruled out of the tournament after the conceded equalizer against New Zealand and defeat against Paraguay, has now miraculously advanced from Group F.



The Italians... what can we say? They had a goal, in their defense, doubtfully disallowed for an inch or so offside, and a golden opportunity in the 95th minute that went outside, but it wasn’t enough. In this World Cup the it just wasn’t enough. Sadly. Gil Azzurri came back, but too late. They hadn’t conceded three goals in a World Cup game since 1970 and they haven’t been eliminated in the group stages for 8 tournaments, in 1974. Today all of that happened at once. The reigning champions of the world, grande Gil Azzurri are shockingly out of the World Cup. Surely they will rise again.

Ghana carries Africa onto the final 16!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 23, 2010, 5:25pm

This was exactly what Africa needed. One of the previously least expected African teams to qualify from the group stages today secured a spot in the knock out stages. We’ve obviously known all along what amazing potential this team possess but must confess we are relieved. It was, in all honesty, one of the sweetest defeats we’ve ever experienced. Africa needed this. The World Cup needed this.

England and certainly not the USA did not qualify without drama either. England scored fairly early on and looked to control the match, without owning it, making Capello at least a little bit happier afterwards.

“I’m very happy cause today we saw the England I know. We’re now looking forward. We can play any team cause we have an open mind.”

A friendly tip is to keep it as open as you want but shut your goal. Germany awaits on Sunday and we have another classic game to look forward to.

The Desert Foxes managed to keep a clean sheet for over 90-minutes against a quite furiously attacking USA who clearly knew the result in the England-Slovenia game and understood it was victory or go home. On overtime, Landon Donovan stepped forward and a nation’s anxiety turned into exuberant joy with his late-goal. A sad exit for Les Fennecs but they showed they can keep up against good opposition on a high level and will surely come back stronger, fitter, hungrier.

Interesting side note: South Korea-Uruguay will meet winner USA-Ghana in the quarterfinals. One of those teams are actually at least in the semifinals. Wow. We didn’t see that one coming.

Au Revoir to Les, Blues, Bafana Bafana, Hellas and the Super Eagles but congrats to viva la Uruguay, Mexico, South Korea and Argentina!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 22, 2010, 5:04pm

The last round of Group A actually turned out to be quite dramatic after all. Many talked about it as though it was all over even before it began. All Mexico and Uruguay had to do was share the points and they would both go through. But with the potential opponent of Argentina coming second in the group, this game was not going to be friendly by any means, and both teams went for victory. Boom. Luis Suarez scored at the end of first half and suddenly the game between South Africa and France became open. Both of them had the chance to qualify now.

Before this happened, Bafana Bafana had already done the only thing they could still do – go out and perform and try. For their fans, country, honor and the sheer chance that was still there. Boom. Boom. A header set them ahead of France and energized by the sudden red card on France and what this opportunity meant, they continued to push forward. Boom. Another goal. Was this going to be it for the host nation?

With an equalizer from Malouda, the goal differential became South Africa’s foe and for the first time, the host nation did not qualify for the next round in a World Cup. But Bafana Bafana exited with some honor regained.

Then it was time for Argentina and Greece, and South Korea and Nigeria, all with the potential to qualify for the nect round. Argentina, who rested a bunch of their stars, still wanted three wins out of three games and pushed forward. With quick passes and high tempo they just seemed to be one number too big for Greece, who wasn’t without chances throughout the match. But as the entire Greek team only completed one more pass than Juan Sebastian Veron this evening, the Argentinean side showed to be too overwhelming.

Then the Super Eagles were determined to do the impossible: lose their first two games but take their shot to qualify (don’t tell that to Chile who has won their two first games and are on top of their group but could still be eliminated in group stages – now if that’s not football, what is?)



With Argentina’s 2-0 goal lead and their 2-2 against South Korea, the chance to advance was suddenly there. And even more suddenly – the goal-chance was, literally there, wide open like a customized one-way street into the goal. But, somehow the ball was kicked outside the post, avoiding the gaping goal. So, so close for the Super Eagles but congrats to the Taeguk Warriors, the Asian Tigers for advancing to the knock out stages and are headed to Port Elizabeth.

First day of the final matches and one word summary: DRAMA. Let’s hope for more tomorrow with an exception of two games. PUMAFootball wouldn’t mind to see our beloved Africa, with Algeria and Ghana in particular achieve amazing. Go Desert Foxes! Go Black Stars!

The PUMA Football iPhone App is here!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 22, 2010, 9:34am

The World Cup is jamming on. Games are played at high frequency, goals are scored in abundance and magical football moments are happening all the time! Wanna make sure you don’t miss a thing? Check out PUMAFootball’s latest must-have – the PUMA Football App. Get the latest updates from Twitter, coolest videos on YouTube, news and info from our team on the scene and much more. Download it for your iPhone, Blackberry Bold or Curve. Best of all – it’s free!

Caramba España

Posted by PUMA Football, June 21, 2010, 5:52pm

Today was the day for the European Champions to show that their setback against Switzerland was a unique occurrence. So they did what they did last time. In short: a lot of ball possession and an offensive strategy that seemed to sum up to – attack, attack and attack, with enough goal opportunities they should come out as winners.

And in comparison to their last game it was a strategy that paid off with two beautiful goals by David Villa. However, the striker also a missed penalty, and as we discussed in our previous post – this group looks to end up being super-tight in the end making every goal counts. For Spain’s sake, let’s hope it’s not vital.

Tomorrow France’s wildly discussed destiny will be decided. Only thing is they don’t have it in their own hands as our boys in light blue, Uruguay face Mexico. A draw takes them both further in the tournament and would mean the shocking end of Les Blues appearance here. All we can say is that we’re 100% behind our team – vamos Uruguay!

Portugal’s exhibition, Switzerland sets new record and yet lost, but are still in the game!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 21, 2010, 12:40pm

We’ll start with the rock ’n’ roll show Portugal showed earlier today. North Korea came out on the pitch ready to show that their first performance wasn’t sheer coincidence. And they did – first half was all right. Then, boom, Portugal scored the first goal - when scoring first in the World Cup they have always won the game. And...

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Six more goals and the World Cup was officially over for North Korea. A result that also sadly puts our boys in orange in a tight spot. Cote d'Ivoire now have to win big over North Korea while Brazil diminishes Portugal with a result that eats up the 9-goal difference that’s now between them and Portugal. It might be a long shot but we’ll always remain optimistic.



A heroic ten-men Switzerland lost against Chile with 1-0 but they did manage to break a World Cup record. As the clock passed they erased Italy’s record of 551 minutes for longest period of not conceding a goal. Big up for that and despite the loss they definitely still have a good chance to advance to the next round. Funny how this group is looking now: a possible, and not too unlikely scenario is that three teams end on 6 points: Switzerland, Chile and Spain.



Imagine that unbelievable scenario for Chile, winning their two first games but still getting eliminated. Ouch. But we know very well – games have to be played and goals have to be scored in order to even start talking about advancing. If Spain does neither, this scenario is just nothing but a ghost of a dream. But it’s just so fun to imagine all the potential scenarios, all part of the beauty of football…

Italy held back by New Zealand and Ivory Coast’s avid samba game against Brazil

Posted by PUMA Football, June 20, 2010, 5:08pm

We must begin with the highly anticipated game between Brazil and Ivory Coast. Brazil, with the World Cup’s oldest squad (average 29 years), looked several time better than in their last game against North Korea. It was a different team our Les Elephants were facing and it was a game full of energy and passion.

 

Just as the commentator let us know that Fabiano hadn’t scored in the national team since September, we realized he was going to be trouble. He then ended that goal-drought with his 26th national career goal in the 25th minute. We felt Ivory Coast came back in the second half destined to do what no other team has done in World Cup history: trail to Brazil in halftime and come out as winners.



But trouble arrived quickly for Les Elephants as Brazil played like the old samba-Brazil with quick passes, utilizing the entire pitch for their play. With another goal by Fabiano (a little help from the hand, eh?) and Elano the situation went from bad to worse for Ivory Coast who was down 3-0. But the Ivoirians showed fervor and fought back into the game and it paid off. Boom. A counterattack directed by Gervinho resulted in a perfect header from Didier Drogba that kept Julio Cesar in Brazil’s goal frozen to the ground and Ivory Coast became the first African team to score on Brazil.

This goal could be worth everything when points and goal differential are being counted after the final game in the group stages. With only one win in twelve matches, it’s not the start that Africa hoped for. But where there are games left – there is hope. Ivory Coast can still advance. Allez Les Elephants!

And back to the early game - Italy encountered unexpected trouble as New Zealand continues to surprise the world. The team that remarkably got away with a draw with a last-grasp goal in the dying seconds against Slovakia now even more miraculously managed to finish equal against the world champions. Gil Azzurri are still short of a win in the tournament but these two points can be vital and their fate is certainly in their own hands during their final game against Slovakia (who fell to Paraguay earlier today). Forza Gil Azzurri!

Interviews with Côte d'Ivoire's Dindane & Gervinho

Posted by PUMA Football, June 20, 2010, 12:10pm

The Black Stars draw and the heartbreaking exit of the Indomitable Lions

Posted by PUMA Football, June 19, 2010, 5:19pm

Let’s begin with our boys from Ghana. They met an avenge-hungry Australia who, after their 0-4 dismal performance against Germany, stepped out on the pitch ready to show everyone that if were only given a fair chance, they’d prove to the world they belong on this stage. And it started well for the Socceroos as they did what they have never done before in a World Cup and scored the first goal. But Ghana were given a gratis opportunity when Australia, for the second game in a row, had a man sent off and Ghana scored the penalty kick for the second game in a row. All the Black Stars had to do now was to win - the stage was set!

But for some reason the indescribable we-relax-when-we-have-one-more-player syndrome kicked in and the Australian side that fought for honor held Ghana back. With any luck the Socceroos could even have been the first team in the World Cup to score with 10 men through their brilliant opportunity with 20-minutes left. But the final result gives Ghana a mission for the final round. If they take at least one point from Germany – they’re through – on Germany’s expense. Bet you didn’t ze zat coming, Die Mannschafte? 

 

And then, Cameroon. What started so well ended in huge disaapointment. First we had to ask ourselves, what had the the team been doing since their last game? By the looks of it – a lot. They came out as an entirely different team from the one that played Japan, really earning their nicknames of Indomitable Lions and practically chewed up Denmark. We saw a frenzied Cameroon team that started on hyper-speed and then accelerated. Inspired captain and super-human Samuel Eto’o (who else) took the role of early savior and capitalized on a Danish defense-mistake. Boom. A goal that deservedly put them ahead with 1-0. What followed was attack after attack. PUMAFootball could barely believe the last five minutes of the first half, “oh! no! ooooh! yeah! no! oh! OH!”



The Lions were still going for victory and perhaps they played a little bit too offensively as it opened up spaces for the Danes to counterattack. Cameroon’s nightmare started with a perfect schoolbook attack from Denmark that resulted in an equalizer from Bendtner and later a brilliant move from Rommedahl and suddenly Denmark was in front with 2-1. Cameroon tried but was denied by the post, the goalie, bad luck and misfires. The reasons were numerous but the result remains.



Because so unpredictable is football, that not even a vivid performance will give you the result you’re looking for. The unpredictability of football means that the smallest measurements differentiate winning from losing. The team of your heart might not get the result they deserve. The World Cup’s first casualty, Cameroon is out.

USA’s comeback and Algeria’s historic achievement!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 18, 2010, 5:06pm

USA did what no other team has accomplished in the World Cup since Ivory Coast against Serbia-Montenegro in 2006: coming back from 2 goals down as they drew against Slovenia. But it should have been a win, right? Still a bit puzzled why Edu’s last goal was ruled out. At halftime, no much looked in USA’s favor after two very nice goals from Slovenia, but it was a different United States that entered the pitch in the second half. A US that went for goals, played really well and showed admirable team spirit. A draw might have been fair over 90-minutes because Slovenia, with just above 2 million citizens and one World Cup appearance (2002 ending in 3 defeats), has really proved themselves a worthy challenger.

Another worthy challenger is our beloved heroes from Algeria.

The Desert Foxes faced a hungry and revenge-keen England. The self-proclaimed contender of the title was just going to crush Algeria – with as many goals as possible to get greater advantage in the knockout rounds. With an England that had never lost against an African team in the World Cup, while Algeria had never kept a clean sheet in a World Cup game, the set up certainly didn’t look in Algeria’s favor.

Today one of those records was broken as Algeria and England drew 0-0, but the Desert Foxes certainly don't have anything to apologize for. They did what Karim Matmour said before the game, “We’re going for a win. We have nothing to lose”, and with that - they are still in it.

Serbia stuns Germany

Posted by PUMA Football, June 18, 2010, 10:20am

The little too card-happy referee seemed to confuse his role with a croupier and shoved them out. Leading to veteran, Klose being sent off, and only minutes after, something Serbia capitalized on. Boom. Serbia up against Germany. This newly revitalized Germany that has the second youngest average aged squad (25) – but fifth most experienced (48 World Cup games in the squad, before the World Cup) and the only team that really impressed in the group stage was now in an unusual position.

Not even a mistake by the otherwise so marvelous defender Nemanja Vidic could help the Germans. The record for the team who gets a man sent off is still without victory. This is Serbia’s first World Cup and it was their day today. Captain Dejan Stankovic has now represented three different countries in the World Cup (1998 Yugoslavia, 2006 Serbia-Montenegro and 2010 Serbia) and now got the chance to celebrate their first win. Servia deservedly clinched three points and are definitely back in the game in Group D.

Vamos Mexico!

Posted by PUMA Football, June 17, 2010, 5:35pm

Caramba! Another tournament that looks to end in another fiasco for Les Blues. Even though they both looked and played better than last time against Uruguay, it turned out to be insufficient. Today it was all viva Mexico as they won with 2-0.

While the game was fun to watch with quick passes and good pace, it also felt like the hesitancy (not losing is more important than winning) from the first round is moving away. Coach Javier Aguirre should also have his praise as he instead of securing his point – went for three. In with wonder child Hérnandez and legend Blanco.

Boom. Boom. Two goals later from each of them and Mexico had made France’s already deep trouble, deeper. The latter of the two also marked the first time in history that a Mexican has scored in three World Cups. But it’s not consecutive cups – first one came in 1998 and now, twelve years later he did it again. Don’t rule out a man by his age – judge him by his love for football.

Did Uruguay silence the vuvuzelas now?

Posted by PUMA Football, June 16, 2010, 5:10pm

Uruguay beat South Africa 3-0 and everything – might – be forever changed. A result that could mean that this is the first time in the history of the World Cup that the host nation does not qualify from the group stage. Wow.



Bafana Bafana did their best and fought hard. Problem is that they met a well-organized Uruguayan side that played with equal Latin intensity and European shrewdness. They hinted against France that they are here to play football and they cemented it against South Africa.

With a virtuous Diego Forlan leading a three-pronged forward line allows the Uruguayans to play tactical with numerous players behind the ball, and almost depend their whole offensive strategy on the revitalized striker, a responsibility he seems to grow with. Two goals (one on a penalty following another harsh red card on goalie Itumeleng Khune) put him alone on top of the goal-scoring chart.

A reflection so far, is that no South American team (Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) has yet lost and is, a bit surprisingly one must admit, playing great defense, and Uruguay is no exception.



Uruguay is playing exactly like a team should in a World Cup. Better and better in each game. Now that might be a bit early to say after only two games, one might say. But remind you that the maximum amount of games to play is seven. Two down for the Uruguayans – five to go?

Heroes from the Alps

Posted by PUMA Football, June 16, 2010, 1:36pm

Our hats off and warmest congratulations go to our Swiss boys who beat Spain 1-0. Without doubt, the biggest shocker and most amazing achievement of the World Cup (so far?).

Before the game Spain was the outrageous favorite. Switzerland hadn’t conceded a goal since the USA World Cup in 1994 prior to this. But today, when facing the European Champions in their opening game that statistic was going to be shattered. For sure. Right? But this is football – anything can happen in football. And it did. Boom. 1-0 Switzerland. Spain in shock. Switzerland in euphoria.



The commentator said, “They‘ve done nothing yet they find themselves in front”.

But demanding them to play out Spain is as silly as expecting them to win. Switzerland, who quite remarkably won the U-17 World Cup in 2002, had six players from that generation on the pitch today, was ready to show they have grown into their boots. They had done their homework and defended well. Switzerland hasn’t conceded a goal since the USA World Cup in1994 and after the game against Spain – they still haven’t. Not too many expected that. Less expected them to win. Silly football, right…

Regardless of your sympathies, you have to admit that this is what makes football the most brilliant sport in the world. It’s unpredictable and nothing is certain. Brilliant tricks, amazing goals, huge stars, astonishing achievements aside, this is part of the reason we love football.



Is this it for viva la Espana now? Statistics might imply so:

- Only 8% of teams that lose their first game advance pass the group stages.
- No team has ever won the World Cup after losing the opening game.

Then again, no European team has ever won the World Cup outside Europe – and that stat didn’t seem to scare anyone off before this started when Spain was considered one of the favorites for the title. Pretty sure the Spaniards will recover and come back. They’re simply too good not too.

Kiwi-shocker, Les Elephants stunner – and Brazilian samba?

Posted by PUMA Football, June 15, 2010, 12:55pm

We obviously begin with the highly anticipated game between Portugal and Les Elephants. And wow did our boys from Ivory Coast make us proud (rhetorical question). Even without Drogba in their starting 11, they proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in this World Cup. Not sure if it was their speed, quick passing, great movement from the whole team across the pitch, but they sure didn’t make Portugal look their best. There was an amazing strike that hit the post from Cristiano Ronaldo in the early minutes of the game, but that felt like about all for the Portuguese.

Call us raging optimists but even until the end, PUMAFootball thought (and hoped) that Les Elephants were going to come out as winners of this game. Group G – very open. Let’s see if Brazil can put on a show of samba and another magnificent performance and dance their way to victory next? Surely North Korea won’t be a problem, right?

And with the words of “magnificent performance” we catapult ourselves right into the Slovakia-New Zealand game earlier today. It was just a few seconds left and I think Slovakia felt pretty sure about winning. After all, New Zealand doesn’t even have its own league, some players are, literally, amateurs, others have been fired from their clubs, haven’t played professional football for three months - one guy hasn't been signed at a club for two years.

How on earth will they be able to even summit a single goal chance… Well hello Winston Reid. In the 93rd minute in the dying seconds of the game, Reid decided that the World Cup’s first Cinderella story should emerge (second if you count Germany’s Cacau, who played in Division 5, five years ago and scored on his first touch in his first World Cup appearance) and headed home an unbelievable draw for the All Whites.

Also very nice for coach, Ricki Herbert, whose memory of New Zealand’s last World Cup appearance in Spain, 1982, was being left out from the pitch in their opening match. But here he was, back – on the bench – and could witness a magnificent achievement for the All Whites as they secured their first ever World Cup point.

Gil Azzurri and American Footballs

Posted by PUMA Football, June 14, 2010, 5:12pm

Only two touches inside the penalty box before scoring. Now our football hearts might be slightly inked with Azzurri blue, but think it’s safe to say that Paraguay’s 1-0 lead came as a surprise. But the great World Champions weren’t here to lose, and less than ten minutes into second half, De Rossi showed that he just might be a worthy ancestor of Rome (Totti), and Italy. Despite several chances the result stood tall when the final whistle blew. But biggest setback wasn’t the draw for the Italians – longtime hero, Buffon went out in halftime due to a “hamstring injury”. Really hope it was just precaution and he’s fit again soon.

Our reflection so far is that even though we spot many mighty hearts out there, it seems more crucial not to lose than to win this first round of the Group stages.

Another side note is that PUMAFootball likes is the innovative way Mexico is training now. After a pretty overwhelming critique-storm against the official World Cup ball (even Messi criticize it…), Mexico is doing there own thing to prevent further surprises. The ball’s allegedly peculiar bounce and wobbly course through the air, “reminds of one you buy at a gas station” being one of the most common judgments, has resulted in at least two crucial mistakes by two goalkeepers. They are now training with an American Football. Yes. Those egg-shaped leather things hopefully can teach the goalkeepers a thing or two about awkward bounces and eerie ball courses through the air. Regardless the outcome, PUMAFootball always endorse creativity in football.

Impressive football

Posted by PUMA Football, June 14, 2010, 2:28pm

Without impressing too much, Holland did cap the win against Denmark. What was expected to be a hyper offensive football fest with players like Sneijder, van der Vaart, van Persie, Babel, Jan Huntelaar and Robben (last three didn’t even play) – the Oranje didn’t get the game flowing as they wanted and we expected. But they did manage to come out as winners, and doing that in a World Cup without impressing is impressive enough.



Sadly for the Indomitable Lions, this was not the case for them - it was an unexpected start. They pushed and pushed to get an equalizer against Japan, but were denied by the bar, the notable goalie Eiji Kawashima and just mere inability to break through the tight and well-organized Japanese defense. But hats off for Japan for making history as they clinched their first win outside Japanese soil in the World Cup. Question now is if the Lions will rise and manage to advance to the knockout stages? Two tough games against Denmark and Holland left, but everything is possible in football.

Next up is Gil Azzuri against Paraguay. Almost crazy how the reigning World Champions are almost seen as underdogs in this tournament. Hopefully they can prove their doubters wrong and impress the world once again. The line up looks good, and with players like Buffon, Chiellini and Camoranesi they look strong from behind – let’s hope for a game with molti, molti gol.

“We won for Africa!”

Posted by PUMA Football, June 13, 2010, 4:54pm

A perfect penalty kick and boom. The first goal from a forward in this World Cup was made. A quite ecstatic game-hero, Asamoah Gyan, tried to sum it up after the game. “It’s not just for Ghana – this victory was for Africa, I hope whole Africa is behind us”. Pretty sure they are, Gyan.

It was a magnificent success for the very young (average age 25) Black Stars over very tall (average height 187 cm) Serbia as they showed the world what they can accomplish, even without Michael Essien. A great game, high intensity and more chances than the result even shows. But then again, any team that has defense general Nemanja Vidic in their team should never be ruled out.

But before this game even kicked off, Group B’s last game was played. Algeria’s goalie, Faouzi Chaouchi fumbled in a shot from Slovenia’s Robert Koren. Boom. Game over for the Desert Foxes who were hoping for a draw after already being down to ten men, as an over-excited Abdelkader Gheezzal managed to get sent off after only 14 minutes on the pitch. Think both USA and England had hoped for a tie there too. Group B: wide open.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. The German machine did as they always do in the opening game and had fairly little trouble clinching their win over the Socceroos of Australia. The red card on Tim Cahill felt a bit too harsh though, no? Who knows what could have happened if they had scored their first attempt after only a few minutes and remained a whole eleven players? Yes, who knows…if only…gotta love football.

So what does this mean for Group C? Well, Serbia’s next game is against a very well oiled German machine, and Ghana will face Australia without their biggest star (ok, maybe Kewell, but we didn’t see you today buddy). Perhaps the highly underestimated Black Stars will surprise yet again. Only football will tell.