Three really good games yesterday in the World Cup.
Australia left it late to blast three past Japan for their first ever World Cup win and Italy and Ghana had an interesting duel in the final match of the day. If the Africans had had a half-decent striker or if any of them could shoot it might have been very different. Was anyone else waiting for Kuffour to thump the ground in despair after his error gave the Italians their second goal?
The middle game of the day is the one which held the most interest for Arsenal fans as we got to see new signing Tomas Rosicky and he didn’t disappoint. He scored two sensational goals. The first was a thunderbolt from at least 25 yards which left former Sp*rs keeper Kasey Keller grasping at air and the second came when he was put through by Pavel Nedved. He showed he’s got a bit of pace, took the ball on and clipped it past Keller when he’d gotten into the box.
In between that another shot from outside the area cannoned off the bar. I think we’ve got ourselves a player here, ladies and gentlemen. He’s definitely got an eye for goal and we need that with Pires gone. I was also impressed how much he worked and tackled back and for €7m he’s definitely a bargain when you consider that those two goals would certainly have added a couple of million to his price tag if we were to buy him now.
Afterwards Czech coach Karel Brueckner said:
I just want to congratulate Arsenal for having won such a wonderful player.
I’m really looking forward to seeing him in red and white next season. There’s big Arsenal interest in today’s middle game as well as France take on Switzerland. For the last few years the French team has been choc-a-block with Arsenal players but Thierry Henry will be the only one today.
He’ll be up against two Gunners in the middle of the Swiss defence though as Philippe Senderos and Johann Djourou aim to stop their club captain doing what he does for Arsenal week in, week out. Djourou says:
It’s a shame he won’t be on my side but it would be a great challenge to mark him. In training I have done well against him and so has Philippe but training is different to the real thing. He always encourages me and the other young players who are not in the first team, he is a great guy and I have so much respect for him.
While Senderos says:
Thierry is a great striker but you can never say you know him. He is very instinctive and can always do things you don’t expect.
Henry himself is determined to make up for the flop they had at the last World Cup, saying:
We have a good balance of young and experienced players and I believe we can win in Germany. We have the experience and knowledge of what it takes
So that is the game of the day for me, even if we are going to get our first glimpse of Brazil. I’m not sure if Gilberto will start for them so we’ll have to wait and see. There’s also Emmanuel Adebayor in the first game of the day as South Korea take on Togo.
In other news Robin van Persie has told Arjen Robben he can’t win the World Cup on his own and he needs to play for the team more. There is a feeling that sometimes Robin could take his own advice there when playing for us but I think it’s down to the fact that he’s asked to come on as a sub and make an impact in a short space of time. When he starts games he’s more aware of the team.
Freddie Ljungberg has played down his bust-up with Olaf Mellberg as run of the mill stuff. They simply fight each other every day in a caged arena with medieval weapons. A few harsh words is nothing to get excited about.
And that’s it. Till tomorrow.
