Brazil stumble past Socceroos
Frustrated France flop again
Croatia pay penalty price
—– Pre-tournament favourites Brazil are through to the knockout stages of the World Cup finals with their final group game still to come, but they were made to fight all the way for their 2-0 win against Australia in Munich.
It takes something to feel sympathy for an Australian sports team but that was the case as the Socceroos come of age with a thoroughly committed and well-organised display while Brazil continue to find their feet.
Adriano opened the scoring just after the break then Harry Kewell missed a golden opportunity to bring the Aussies level.
Substitute Fred sealed the win in the last minute but the reigning champions form will once again be a cause of concern, especially with Ronaldo being a shadow - if a rather large one - of his former self.
We welcome your views and descriptions of the World Cup matches.
Conflicting views from around the world of what has happened offer a fuller historical picture than any single ‘official’ version ever can.
By adding your comments and reviews, you are contributing to the history of the world’s greatest football competition.
Although we appreciate a bias in favour of your country, without exception, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. This is very much a family website - indeed we are keen to encourage younger statisticians to get involved.
Of course, please ensure factual statements are correct at all times.
For acceptable examples, go to Liverpool v West Ham United FA Cup Final or this season’s Arsenal v Juventus Champions League match pages via our Members Area. Please feel free to add to them or any other matches on the database. Thank you.
—– The debate about touchline technology comes back to the fore after former champions France are denied a seemingly valid goal in their possibly critical 1-1 draw with South Korea in Leipzig.
Already ahead through a Thierry Henry goal, it seemed like his former Arsenal team mate Patrick Vierra had doubled their advantage with a 32nd minute header.
Contrary to television evidence, Mexican ref Benito Archundia Tellez rules the ball did not cross the line and it proves to be a crucial judgement.
Although France produce a much more convincing display than their opening game goalless draw with Switzerland, their ageing team tires in the latter stages and Manchester United’s Ji-Sung Park gives the enthusiastic Koreans a key point with a scrambled 75th minute leveller.
It means France must beat Togo in their final group game to stand any chance of progressing. If they don’t, Zinedine Zidane will have played his last-ever game as he will miss the Togo match through suspension.
The 1998 winners still haven’t won a World Cup finals game on foreign soil since 1986, much to the understandable annoyance of coach Raymond Domenech: “It’s a pity that at this level we do not use all the technology that we could.
“If you appealed every time you feel a mistake has been made it would be a never-ending story, but video replays would definitely have helped clarify this situation. It was definitely the turning point.”
The AFS Mailing List offers a unique opportunity to express opinions and track down information on some of the most in-depth aspects of the statistical history of football.
The majority of the contributors are not only AFS members, but also some of the most dedicated researchers in to the game’s long and colourful history. It means the AFS community offers an unparalleled wealth of contemporary and historical football stats knowledge.
For a very limited example, among the topics under discussion in the last week have been the Football Combination in 1888-89, how player appearances should be recorded where a game has been doubled-up as a league game as well as cup-tie, what happens to Yugoslavia’s records when Serbia & and Montenegro split after the World Cup and when numbered shirts were introduced.
If you need a question answered or would like to join in the discussion, please go to the Mailing List section in the Members Area for more details.
Please also note that membership to the Mailing List is included in the standard AFS subscription, so there is no additional charge.
—– The battle to follow Brazil out of Group F will continue to the final game after Japan and Croatia draw 0-0 in Nuremberg.
It could be that Croatia will have even more reason to rue a 21st minute penalty miss. Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi denies the Croatian’s a vital win when he palms away Darijo Srna’s spot-kick.
Japan’s coach - the legendary Brazilian Zico - will now have to guide his team to victory against his home nation if they are to progress. However, he was more concerned that both of Japan’s games so far have been played in the extreme heat of the mid-afternoon sun.
—– The on-going payments wrangle involving Togo’s players hits new depths as they threaten to boycott tomorrow’s game with Switzerland.
The Hawks initially stayed in their Wangen base while they continued to discuss the long-running pay dispute.
Although they later agreed to travel to Dortmund, a FIFA spokesman explains: “As far as we understand the team did not want to play. The FIFA delegate there told them it would be extremely serious. He told them to be reasonable and they were.”
No team that has qualified for a World Cup finals has ever withdrawn from a match in the competition’s 76-year history.
If you have views or relevant statistical information regarding any World Cup or domestic issues, or updates for any earlier AFS News-Blog items, we warmly invite your contributions.
Please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’.