Argentina, Belgium Through to World Cup Quarter Finals After Extra-Time Drama

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lucas Biglia celebrate after extra time in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between Argentina and Switzerland at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo, on July 1, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Eddie Keogh)

Brasilia. Argentina scored in the 118th minute to beat Switzerland and Belgium clung on to defeat the United States in another heart-stopping period of extra time to reach the World Cup quarter-finals amid more extraordinary drama on Tuesday.

Angel Di Maria struck with two minutes of the extra period remaining to give Argentina a 1-0 win over stubborn Switzerland, who still had time to hit the post amid unbearable tension in Sao Paulo.

Belgium took a 2-0 extra-time lead through Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku but, after Julian Green pulled one back, they had to survive an extraordinary end-to-end finale as the US threatened an equalizer before winning 2-1.

“Football is brutal, brutal, brutal. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite have enough strength at the end to get through extra time,” Switzerland’s assistant coach Michel Pont told reporters as the tournament continued to surpass itself for drama and emotion.

Argentina and Belgium will meet in Brasilia on Saturday after completing a quarter-final line-up which will feature all eight group-stage winners with four teams each from Europe and Latin America.

Hosts Brazil face Colombia in Fortaleza on Friday, preceded by France against Germany in Rio de Janeiro and the Netherlands take on rank outsiders Costa Rica in Salvador on Saturday.

The Dutch, runners-up four years ago, will almost certainly be without hard-tackling midfielder Nigel de Jong for the rest of the tournament after he was ruled out for two to four weeks with a groin injury.

Off the field, Cameroon’s football federation (FECAFOOT) said it would investigate claims that seven players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup, centered on the 4-0 defeat by Croatia when Alex Song was sent off in the first half.

“Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon’s three 2014 World Cup games, especially Cameroon v Croatia, as well the existence of “seven bad apples (in our national team)” do not reflect the values and principles promoted by our administration,” FECAFOOT said in a statement.

The allegations against Cameroon came from convicted fraudster Wilson Raj Perumal, who it emerged during a discussion with German magazine Der Spiegel had accurately forecast the result and the fact that a player would be sent off.

Penalties looming

Twice champions Argentina dominated the last-16 game against Switzerland but their attacks lacked variety and too often ended with hopeful crosses into the penalty area.

Switzerland were expertly marshaled by veteran coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who had already announced that he would retire after the tournament.

With penalties looming, Angel Di Maria stroked the ball home from the edge of penalty area to put the finishing touch to a trademark Lionel Messi run, sparking wild celebrations among the South American team and their fans in Sao Paulo.

The celebrations nearly proved premature when Swiss substitute Blerim Dzemaili headed against the post from point-blank range and the ball rebounded on to his knee and went centimeters past the post.

 

“It was a game that we deserved to win in 90 minutes,” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella told reporters.

“It was even during a first half in which they had two clear chances to score, but in the second half we were clearly superior, we had five or six shots at goal and in extra time we also had more chances.”

Belgium dominated normal time and were frustrated by an inspired Tim Howard in the US goal but struck early in extra-time when De Bruyne collected the ball before turning and firing home an angled shot from seven meters.

Substitute striker Lukaku powered home a second on 105 minutes after a clever De Bruyne pass before Green’s volley at the start of the second period set up a pulsating finale in which Clint Dempsey almost sneaked an equalizer.

The US could have sealed it at the end of normal time but substitute Chris Wondolowski skewed his effort horribly wide from five meters.

“We had about 15 chances, we were controlling the game I think it is largely deserved even though at the end we conceded one,” Belgium coach Marc Wilmots told reporters.

Howard felt heart-broken to lose.

“We left it all out there but we lost to a really good team. It hurts but hats off to Belgium they were fantastic,” he said.

Reuters

By Brian Homewood on 11:14 am Jul 02, 2014

Quality Saves Portugal After US Ride Fitness Factor

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, center, jumps to head the ball near teammate Eder, Geoff Cameron, left, and Fabian Johnson of the United States during their 2014 World Cup G soccer match at the Amazonia arena in Manaus on June 22, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Jorge Silva)

With one moment of genuine class at the very death, Portugal snatched victory from the grasp of the United States and kept their World Cup hopes alive on Sunday.

If football was divided between “triers” and “flyers” then Juergen Klinsmann’s uber-fit side would be an embodiment of the former, while World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo could be considered the archetype of the latter.

For 14 minutes in the 30 degree heat and 65 percent humidity of the Amazon basin on Sunday, it looked like the triers would prevail courtesy of Clint Dempsey’s goal, which he most unglamorously bundled over the line with his stomach.

But quality will often emerge and after 94 minutes of contributing very little, Ronaldo whipped in an inch perfect cross which substitute winger Silvestre Varela rocketed into the net with a diving header.

It was a brutal end to the evening for the Americans, who had poured heart, sweat and soul into their quest for a second victory and a place in the last 16 for the fourth time in the last seven tournaments.

Klinsmann has come under repeated flak for over-training his players, a criticism which gained more currency when his key striker Jozy Altidore limped out of the World Cup with a hamstring strain in the opening 2-1 victory over Ghana.

Central defender Matt Besler was withdrawn from the same match in Natal after feeling his own hamstring tightening, although he was fit to start on Sunday.

Boot camp

Klinsmann’s pre-tournament boot camp was vindicated in  sultry Manaus, however, when his team made light of the stifling heat and battled back after handing the Portuguese a fifth minute lead through a Geoff Cameron defensive error.

Nani snapped up that chance with alacrity and nearly scored again with a thumping shot that came back off the post in stoppage time in the first half with Tim Howard saving brilliantly to deny Eder from the rebound.

Those moments apart, the Americans had contained the Portuguese and Jermaine Jones, the rock at the heart of the United States midfield, equalised by a curling the ball into the net with a strike of no small quality in the 64th minute.

Whether or not he has a debilitating knee injury, Ronaldo, as he had in the 4-0 defeat by Germany with which Portugal opened their campaign, looked distinctly out of sorts until his decisive contribution at the end.

The 2-2 draw means the Americans need only a point from their final match against Germany to guarantee their progress from one of the toughest groups at the World Cup.

“The US are known to give everything in every single game,” said Klinsmann. “We have that fighting spirit and determination to try to win every game and therefore we will go for a win against Germany.”

Portugal find themselves with their destiny out of their own hands as they prepare for their final group match against Ghana.

Coach Paolo Bento was left bemoaning the impact on his squad of so many having played for European clubs competing for silverware.

“Many of the players had a very short break before the World Cup and we have hence had many injuries during the tournament,” he said. “This will of course limit our options.”

Reuters

US Must Recover Quickly After Portugal Draw: Klinsmann

Clint Dempsey, left, of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match against Portugal at the Amazonia arena in Manaus on June 22, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Andres Stapff)

Manaus, Brazil. Allowing Portugal to snatch a last-gasp 2-2 draw was a blow but the United States must rebound quickly ahead of their final World Cup group match against Germany, coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Sunday.

Klinsmann also said his players had earned the respect of their opponents with a battling performance as they prepare to face the three-times World Cup winners on Thursday in Recife needing at least a point to guarantee a place in the last 16.

“We would have been very happy with four points from the opening two games,” Klinsmann said. “But conceding a late goal was a bummer that we have to swallow. We felt very confident after we turned it around.”

The result means the US are in second place, level with Germany on four points, while Portugal are third with one along with Ghana and face a tough task to reach the last 16.

“It was very emotional for all of us: the players, the fans, the bench but we have to move on and move on quickly,” Klinsmann said.

“Portugal is off the table, we have to recover for the game against Germany because the World Cup is always about the next game.”

Just when it looked as though the Americans had secured a come-from-behind victory with goals from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey, Portugal substitute Silvestre Varela scored with a flying header from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross.

Good cross

Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as player in 1990, complimented Ronaldo’s pinpoint cross, which he said followed a series of errors by the US.

“Goals always happen on a sequence on mistakes and although we had three centre backs on the field they couldn’t manage to cut out that cross by Ronaldo and it was a very good cross,” Klinsmann said.

Despite needing at least a draw against Germany to make it to the knockout round for the fourth time in the last seven tournaments, Klinsmann said the US would aim for a victory.

“The US are known to give everything in every single game,” Klinsmann said. “We have that fighting spirit and determination to try to win every game and therefore we will go for a win against Germany.”

He said he did not expect a call from his friend Joachim Loew, the Germany manager who was assistant coach when Klinsmann led his country to third place as hosts at the 2006 World Cup.

“There will be no such call. We are good friends but we are both here to do our jobs. There is no time right now to have friendship calls.”

Reuters

Italy’s Prandelli Happy With Pitch, Wary Of Different England

Italy’s head coach Prandelli gives instructions to his players during a team training session at the Arena da Amazonia stadium in Manaus. Reuters Photo/Andres Stapff

Manaus, Brazil. Italy has the know-how to beat a much improved England side boasting plenty of attacking talent on a good pitch that should produce a spectacular clash in the Amazon city of Manaus, coach Cesare Prandelli said on Friday.

The 56-year-old Italian added that he would keep his squad guessing until the very last minute who will start Saturday’s Group D clash in the expected hot and humid climate.

“It’s always good to leave a few lingering doubts among the players because they have to feel that they are competing until the very last moment before I name the team,” he told a news conference on Friday.

“We will be up against an England side different from the one we beat on penalties in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, with a wealth of attacking talent as well as an organised and creative midfield.

“Their players have great personalities and psychological strength. But we have prepared for this game to win and are confident that we have all the ingredients required to come out on top in what should be a pulsating clash,” Prandelli said.

“We have seen lots of goals in the opening few games and I believe this will be the tournament’s trend. We are looking forward to treating the fans to a football feast after such a great reception they gave us here and in last year’s Confederations Cup,” he added.

“We had been told that the pitch was in very bad condition but actually I think it is very good and I have no concerns about it.”

Prandelli was asked why goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, one of three Italian players in the squad who won the 2006 World Cup, finished practice early.

“He twisted his ankle very, very lightly and came off only as a precaution, meaning that he will definitely start tomorrow,” he said.

The other survivors from 2006 are defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi and playmaker Andrea Pirlo who is expected to pull the strings and carve out the supply routes for Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano.

“Pirlo is the incarnation of the Italian team spirit because he is still as enthusiastic as he was on his first international appearance and he has more than a 100 caps for the national team,” Prandelli said.

“He leads by example and shows in every training session that he still wants to be the symbol of this team.”

Commenting on England captain Steven Gerrard’s remarks that the English had a stronger squad and a better team than the Italians, Prandelli said; “Everybody thinks they are the bigger team and naturally England also have every reason to be confident because they have so much depth and their forwards are very apt at creating and using space.

“Controlling the midfield will be the key and what I am looking for from my team is 90 minutes of intelligent football played at a steady pace because nothing less will do against such a strong rival.”

Reuters

By Zoran Milosavljevic on 02:02 pm Jun 14, 2014