4 Red and one joker in the pack
I am not sure if we had the privilage of viewing a football match last eve. The game will be etched in my memory for the cards and on pitch disruptions rather than the footer. I stayed up expecting to watch 2 skillfull teams dish out a treat. While the excitement was high and had me on the edge of my seat, it was due to all the wrong reasons. The game seemed to start on the wrong footing with early bookings to Costino and Khalid, and Cristiano Ronaldo getting the boot in the literal sense.
In the melee that ensewed let me not forget to mention the 2 players that made all the difference. First I bring to your attention the effort from Maniche to put Portugal ahead. The game was just a couple of cards old and seemed to look like a sane one if I may use the term. Maniche mooved quickly and displayed a fine predatory instinct in beating Van De Sar. He seemed to have been helped to some extent by the Dutch defense having gone awry for a while, but you got to do what you got to do.
The player of the game without a doubt however was Van Persie. I am sure you all with agree with me that he looked to be the most potent force from both sides. I can remember at least 4 opportunities that he single handedly created for a Dutch team that seemed to lack imagination on all other fronts. The one time when he danced past at least 3 defenders and took a shot from an acute angle was good enough to make even the puritans stand up and applause. Truely deserved to net. My guess is that Van Basten missed a trick by keeping Van Nistlerooy on the bench. He would have combined really well to make all the difference. I however take heart in the fact that things auger well for Arsenals next season with the new Dutch sensation now ready to take the mantle from his illustrous mate Bergkamp.
I am sure you will all be surprised that I will refer to the England - Equador game as the "other game" of the eve. But for Beckhams super strike (surprise surprise!!!) the game seemed to be largely forgettable. England was not very creative and with Joe Cole seeming to be off color lacked the penetrating power. While Frank Lampard is amongst my favourites and would definelty start in the middle of the park in Sanjay Nadkarnis 11, I think Erikkson should look at bringing him on late. He has been remarkably unlucky with most his strikes not even challenging the keeper. To top it all Stevie G did not have much to do. John Terry also looked shoddy and will have to pick up his game against the wily Portuguese front line.
All in all not a day that you will remember for the footer. Portugal might have made it through but will bear the scars in the next game against England. Its up to the bench strength to deliver for Scolari. Even the most ardent English fan will find it tough to believe that the lions can win if they continue to put up such an exhibition, however its important to note that they live to fight another day.
Saw the 1st game with Chets, Dipali, Anita and Sonu at Otters. Chets tried to don his soothsayer hat and predict. He kept changing his mind every 10 mins though. He and Dip were rooting for Equador, while Dip and Anita were all for Beckham. I will never pretend to understand how these things work. My logic is pretty simple. Arsenal 1st.
We had butter chicken, chicken Tikka, Reshmi Kabab, Fish... yes the bird flue scare has flown away. Had to watch at the ground floor bar as the upper was full (lot of old foggies looking politically correct). One gent was kind enough to share his table with Sonu and me for a while and then changed his mind.
Look forward to the Azzuri Soceroos game this eve. More from me on the morrow.
In the melee that ensewed let me not forget to mention the 2 players that made all the difference. First I bring to your attention the effort from Maniche to put Portugal ahead. The game was just a couple of cards old and seemed to look like a sane one if I may use the term. Maniche mooved quickly and displayed a fine predatory instinct in beating Van De Sar. He seemed to have been helped to some extent by the Dutch defense having gone awry for a while, but you got to do what you got to do.
The player of the game without a doubt however was Van Persie. I am sure you all with agree with me that he looked to be the most potent force from both sides. I can remember at least 4 opportunities that he single handedly created for a Dutch team that seemed to lack imagination on all other fronts. The one time when he danced past at least 3 defenders and took a shot from an acute angle was good enough to make even the puritans stand up and applause. Truely deserved to net. My guess is that Van Basten missed a trick by keeping Van Nistlerooy on the bench. He would have combined really well to make all the difference. I however take heart in the fact that things auger well for Arsenals next season with the new Dutch sensation now ready to take the mantle from his illustrous mate Bergkamp.
I am sure you will all be surprised that I will refer to the England - Equador game as the "other game" of the eve. But for Beckhams super strike (surprise surprise!!!) the game seemed to be largely forgettable. England was not very creative and with Joe Cole seeming to be off color lacked the penetrating power. While Frank Lampard is amongst my favourites and would definelty start in the middle of the park in Sanjay Nadkarnis 11, I think Erikkson should look at bringing him on late. He has been remarkably unlucky with most his strikes not even challenging the keeper. To top it all Stevie G did not have much to do. John Terry also looked shoddy and will have to pick up his game against the wily Portuguese front line.
All in all not a day that you will remember for the footer. Portugal might have made it through but will bear the scars in the next game against England. Its up to the bench strength to deliver for Scolari. Even the most ardent English fan will find it tough to believe that the lions can win if they continue to put up such an exhibition, however its important to note that they live to fight another day.
Saw the 1st game with Chets, Dipali, Anita and Sonu at Otters. Chets tried to don his soothsayer hat and predict. He kept changing his mind every 10 mins though. He and Dip were rooting for Equador, while Dip and Anita were all for Beckham. I will never pretend to understand how these things work. My logic is pretty simple. Arsenal 1st.
We had butter chicken, chicken Tikka, Reshmi Kabab, Fish... yes the bird flue scare has flown away. Had to watch at the ground floor bar as the upper was full (lot of old foggies looking politically correct). One gent was kind enough to share his table with Sonu and me for a while and then changed his mind.
Look forward to the Azzuri Soceroos game this eve. More from me on the morrow.
penned by Sanjay at 11:35 AM
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