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World Cup: First round leaves Europe all at sea BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

World Cup: First round leaves Europe all at sea

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 07:39 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi have left Brazil with their tails between their legs highlighting the hard times for Europe at the World Cup.

Having provided seven of the last eight World Cup semi-finalists, Europe's dominance appears to be on the wane after a brutal group phase for the continent's teams.

Where Latin American sides such as Chile and Costa Rica created sensations, Europe's powerhouses flopped, with Italy, England, Portugal and defending champions Spain among seven teams from the UEFA zone eliminated in the first round.

In sharp contrast, World Cup crowds have thrilled to the virtuoso performances of Neymar and Lionel Messi, the swashbuckling football of Chile and Colombia, and the daring displays of giant-killing Costa Rica.

While France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Greece remain in contention for glory, the tournament has done little to encourage hope of a first European World Cup success in the Americas.

"It cannot be a coincidence that a European team couldn't win a World Cup held in South America," declared Switzerland's decorated German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld before the tournament.

"Not in Uruguay, not in Mexico, not in Argentina, and for sure not in Brazil."

Europe's World Cup difficulties may be part of an emerging trend.

Whereas European teams filled 10 of the last-16 places in five of the first six tournaments after the round was introduced in 1986 (with nine getting there in 2002), only six made it in 2010 and this year.

With tens of thousands of fans from neighbouring countries flooding into Brazil, the South American teams have clearly benefited from the home advantage.

Supporters from Argentina and Chile took over Rio de Janeiro's Maracana when their sides played there in the group phase and France coach Didier Deschamps believes such mass support can make a difference.

"We are in Brazil, so the South American teams certainly acclimatise better, and maybe the fact that they are playing so close to home and have so many supporters with them gives them added strength and energy," he said on Wednesday.

Developing Deschamps's theme, Brazil striker Fred said: "I think the climate can make a bit of a difference, because we are better adapted to it.

"The tactical aspect makes a difference, too. We see Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile all playing technically good football. And as they are used to the very hot climate, it can end up helping a bit."

England manager Roy Hodgson feels that European sides are hindered by the strengths of their respective domestic championships.

Citing the examples of Costa Rica and Iran, who almost held Argentina to a goalless draw in Group F, he said that it is easier for the tournament's supposed weaker sides to gather together for pre-competition training camps, making them more well-drilled and tactically flexible.

"Iran and Costa Rica have been together for months, so they've really had a chance to do the type of work that we've been happy to do for three or four weeks with our players," he said after his side's group-phase exit.

"We'll never get the access to our players that an Iran or a Costa Rica get."

One consolation for the Europeans is that only one of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay can reach the semi-finals due to the configuration of the draw.

And although only six teams from Europe reached the last 16 in 2010, three of those went on to reach the semi-finals, while the final between Spain and Holland was the second all-European affair in a row after France and Italy in 2006. France, Germany and the Dutch are again looking strong and confident.

While it has been a chastening first fortnight for the old continent, the cream of European football can still rise to the top. -AFP

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Algeria make history after draw with Russia

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:31 PM PDT

Posted on June 27, 2014, Friday

A 60th minute header by Islam Slimani gave Algeria the point they needed to reach the second round of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-1 draw with Russia in Curitiba on Thursday.

Algeria had had to come from 1-0 down to grab the draw and knock 2018 World Cup hosts Russia out inflicting more World Cup woe on their coach Fabio Capello.

While Belgium top the group having beaten the Koreans 1-0, Algeria face a grudge match with Germany on Monday.

The Algerians believe they and not the Germans would have progressed to the second stage of the 1982 World Cup had not Germany beaten Austria 1-0 in a match considered by many to have been played out as a friendly. -AFP

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World Cup: Slimani heads Algeria to historic qualification

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 03:45 PM PDT

CURITIBA: Algeria progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history with a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday, but controversy surrounded Islam Slimani's equaliser as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have been distracted by a laser pen.

Russia boss Fabio Capello said there was no doubt Akinfeev had been distracted by the laser beam.

"He was blinded by the laser beam. There are pictures and you can see that in the footage," said the Italian, who for a second successive time has failed to translate his success as a club coach onto the World Cup stage.

"About the lasers it is not an excuse. The goalkeeper was unable to do his job. The laser beam was in his face."

Algeria boss Vahid Halilhodzic said he has not seen the laser beam incident, but is relishing the chance for the Desert Foxes to avenge their controversial exit from the 1982 World Cup when they face Germany in Porto Alegre on Monday.

Back then West Germany and Austria played out a mutually beneficial 1-0 win for the Germans to ensure Algeria were eliminated on goal difference.

"We have not forgotten about it. Everyone talks about Algeria and Germany from 1982," said Halilhodzic.

"Thirty-two years ia a long time, but I am very proud of what we have achieved tonight and we deserve to be here.

"Algeria played a heroic match and our qualification for the second round is perfectly deserved."

Belgium topped the group with a maximum nine points from three games after they beat South Korea 1-0 in the other game.

Algeria had gotten off to the worst possible start as with Sofiane Feghouli off the field receiving treatment for a head injury, Russia used the extra space afforded to them down Algeria's right to open the scoring.

Left-back Dmitry Kombarov sauntered forward and his cross was expertly nodded into the top corner by Alexander Kokorin.

Oleg Shatov then came within inches of doubling Russia's advantage with a dipping shot from range that flew just past the post.

However, Algeria posed the greater threat towards the end of the half and Akinfeev went some way to redeeming himself for an awful error which cost his side a goal in their opening game against South Korea with a fine save from Slimani's first effort of the evening.

Russia came flying out of the traps in the second period, though, looking to kill the game off and should have done when a lovely one-two between Kokorin and Aleksandr Samedov put the latter clean through on goal, but Rais Mbolhi stood up well to block his effort.

And that save was to prove vital on the hour mark as Akinfeev flapped at Brahimi's free-kick and Slimani headed home into an unguarded net.

Mbolhi was forced into another fine save 21 minutes from time as Samedov played in Alexander Kerzhakov down the right and his low strike was held at the second attempt by the Algerian goalkeeper.

Russia continued to push for a winner, but when Aleksei Kozlov's header sailed wide in stoppage time their last chance was gone.

Defeat means Russia have still yet to qualify for the last 16 since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and continues Capello's poor record at the World Cup after he oversaw England's 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany in the last 16 four years ago. -AFP

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World Cup: Vertonghen gives 10-man Belgium perfect third win

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 03:43 PM PDT

SAO PAULO: Jan Vertonghen led 10-man Belgium to a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Thursday that gave them top place in their World Cup group and ended Asian hopes in the competition.

The stand-in captain hit the winner 12 minutes from time as Belgium finished with a perfect three wins in Group H. They now play the United States in the last 16.

South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu could only parry a fierce shot by substitute Divock Origi and it went to the feet of Vertonghen, who buried the rebound and leapt into the stands to celebrate.

Belgian coach Marc Wilmots dismissed criticism over the style of the victory and said his team had "made history" by winning all three group games.

"We fulfilled our mission with nine points," he said. "It's never happened before and what's important for me is whether we can get into the quarter-finals. I don't care about anything else."

South Korea had needed a big win to stand any chance of qualifying, and they were given hope when Steven Defour was sent off for a stamp just before half-time.

But they failed to create clear-cut opportunities and depart the tournament winless, as did regional rivals Japan, Iran and Australia.

"My goal was not to have any regrets. I think we weren't good enough but we nevertheless did our best," said South Korean coach Hong Myung-Bo.

"More than anything, I think it was important for our players to play on such a big stage and gain experience."

Wilmots made seven changes from the team that beat Russia 1-0, giving Manchester United 19-year-old Adnan Januzaj his World Cup debut, to keep players fresh for the knock-out stages.

South Korea showed urgency at the start and had two hopeful penalty shouts waved away before Kim Young-Gwon, receiving the ball in the area from a free-kick, blasted off-target.

Son Heung-Min received a great through-ball but was quickly closed down. Belgium showed little threat although Kevin Mirallas, bursting on to a pass from former Everton teammate Marouane Fellaini, had a goal chalked off for offside.

A Mexican wave after19 minutes indicated the crowd's thoughts were elsewhere, but Dries Mertens regained their attention when he found Mirallas in the box and then miscued wildly from close range.

It looked like Belgium would take control but Ki Sung-Yueng brought a sharp save from Thibaut Courtois with a low drive before Defour cleared Koo Ja-Cheol's header off the line from the resulting corner.

The busy Mertens fired another chance well wide and then forced goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu to tip a long distance free-kick over the bar.

Defour got a straight red card from Australian referee Ben Williams for a two footed challenge on Kim Shin-Wook. The Porto midfielder made no protest and walked straight off.

With Russia leading Algeria 1-0, South Korea needed at least two goals to go through and coach Hong brought on striker Lee Keun-Ho at half-time as they went for broke.

Bayer Leverkusen's Son ran into space down the left and found Lee Chung-Yong, whose shot was blocked, and then from the right, he floated a cross-cum-shot onto the Belgian bar.

Belgium were doing most of the defending but Manchester United's Fellaini had a strong penalty appeal denied when he was checked by Hong Jeong-Ho.

It felt like a goal was on its way and when Ki rose to meet Son's corner from the right, Korean fans held their breath. But he mistimed his header which was easily gathered by Courtois.

Januzaj was withdrawn on 59 minutes and replaced by Origi, Belgium's scorer in the 1-0 win over Russia. Shortly afterwards, Fellaini should have broken the deadlock but he put a simple header wide.

Despite their extra man, South Korea could not penetrate the packed Belgian defence and Lee Chung-Yong and Koo both saw dangerous opportunities snuffed out before they could shoot.

And they paid for their failures when Vertonghen scored. -AFP

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World Cup: Mueller fires Germany to victory over USA

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 12:07 PM PDT

Thomas Mueller fired an unstoppable 20 metre shot to give Germany a 1-0 victory over the United States on Thursday and top spot in World Cup Group G.

The United States, coached by former German boss Jurgen Klinsmann, also went through to the last 16 despite the 1-0 defeat in rain-sodden Recife.

Portugal's 2-1 victory over Ghana was not enough to overtake the Americans in second place as they lost out on goal difference.

The 1-0 win and Germany's domination of the game answered doubters who had suggested the two sides could be happy with a draw that would see them both through to the second round.

Klinsmann hired German coach Joachim Loew as his assistant when he was in charge of Germany. The two remain friends but both insisted they would go for a win.

Germany went on the attack from the start and in the first 20 minutes the ball was seldom out of the US half. Mueller and his teammates struggled to create clear cut chances though.

The breakthrough came 10 minutes into the second half as US goalkeeper Tim Howard faced more pressure.

Howard punched away a header from Per Mertesacker, but Mueller was waiting on the edge of the penalty area and fired it back in giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Mueller now has four goals in the tournament taking him level at the top of the scorer's rankings with Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar. -AFP

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Sarawak promise to emerge stronger in Malaysia Cup

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 11:57 AM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawak coach Robert Alberts is looking forward to fielding a stronger team in the Malaysia Cup campaign.

He said Sarawak's three import players – Muamir Salibasic, Gabor Gyepes and Hassan El Mohamad who missed the last four or five Super League matches due to injuries should be available when the Malaysia Cup kicks off.

"With the foreign players available, our team will be stronger..no doubt about that. We have good foreign players and they are not just here to make up the numbers.

"I am looking forward to have the full team at my disposal for the Malaysia Cup campaign," he said after watching Sarawak lose 0-1 to Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in their last Super League match at the State Stadium, here on Wednesday night. Alberts said his players would be given enough rest, (until July 7), before they resume training for the Malaysia Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, commenting on Sarawak's defeat to JDT on Wednesday night, Alberts said he was happy with the performance of his depleted side which missed three of the four import players.

"JDT fielded all their three foreign players while we did not and that made the difference, a big impact to the team. They have good foreign players and we also have good foreign players but ours did not play due to injuries," said Alberts. — Bernama

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