Netherlands vs. Brazil
Even before the match the Dutch were off to a disappointing start as defender Joris Mathijsen damaged his knee in the pre-game warm up and had to be substituted at the last minute.
Thirty five year old Andre Ooijer was called on to fill in.
On the Brazil side, doubts about the ankle of Felipe Melo didn’t prevent the defender starting the match.
Both men proved to be selections of consequence.
The Dutch defense were sliced open just 10 minutes in by a Felipe Melo pass through the middle to Robinho—where was Ooijer? Robinho spun and hit the ball with delightful precision past Dutch ‘keeper Stekelenburg. 1-0 Brazil.
All was well in the Brazilian side while they were in the lead but early in the second half the Dutch pulled even on Wesley Sneijder’s free kick from the right that glanced off the head of Felipe Melo and into the Brazil net. Brazil 1-1 Netherlands.
That’s when the wheels came off the Brazilian applecart.
Minutes later Sneijder figured prominently again when a Dutch corner kick was flicked on by the head of Kuyt at the near post and Sneijder was quickest to react. Brazil 1-2 Netherlands.
Instances of sportsmanship had been difficult to spot even from the beginning of the match, with finger-pointing and recrimination the most common forms of communication between the opposing players.
Arjen Robben was the primary focus of Brazilian ire due to a perceived predilection to embellish. And to be honest, Robben is an accomplished thespian.
But the Dutch winger wasn’t acting when Felipe Melo stamped maliciously on his leg in the midway through the second half. Japanese referee Nishimura wasted no time in brandishing his red card in Felipe Melo’s direction. It was a good decision.
Felipe Melo’s frustration was symptomatic of Brazil’s loss of composure once they had lost their lead, and with ten men the Brazilians had little chance of regaining control against an inspired Dutch squad.
It was a sad ending to the 2010 World Cup for the Samba Kings, whose response to adversity was unbecoming their skills and reputation as champions.
Say goodbye to Brazil, and likely Mr. Dunga also.
Uruguay vs. Ghana
Despite an opening half hour that saw Uruguay in command, the youthful Ghana side gained confidence and possession in the final fifteen minutes of the first half and asked questions of the Uruguay defense through the remainder of the half.
Then Ghanaian bad boy Sulley Muntari put his side one up right on the stroke of half time with a left foot shot from distance that caught Uruguay keeper Muslera leaning the wrong way.
Muntari’s goal, albeit a surprise given the distance from which that bad boy shot it, seemed a deserved reward for the enterprise Ghana had shown. 1-0 Ghana at the half.
Diego Forlan evened the match early in the second half with a curling free kick from the left that beat the diving Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson to his far post. Ghana 1-1 Uruguay.
Both teams had chances but the 90 minutes plus stoppage ended with no further scoring. The true drama came in the 30 minute over-time period. And specifically at the end of the period.
Late pressure on the Uruguay goal resulted in a headed shot by Adiyiah that was clearly going in had not Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who was standing on his goal-line, reached up and blocked the ball with his arm.
Suarez was deservedly red-carded, and Ghana was deservedly awarded a penalty kick. But Ghana
striker Asamoah Gyan’s penalty, the last kick of the overtime period, struck the cross bar. Instead of walking away with the win they deserved the Ghanaians found themselves in a penalty kick shoot out.
To his credit, Gyan faced his demons and took the first spot kick for his team, which he powered home with aplomb. It wasn’t enough, however, as Uruguay went on to win 4-2 on the penalties.
Ghana, the last remaining African team in the tournament, go home while Uruguay, by virtue of an illegal play, go through to the semi-finals.
It was a sad way for any team to lose, and a poor way for any team to win.
Saturday Action
Argentina vs. Germany
Germany knocked Argentina out of the 2006 World Cup at the quarter-final stage on penalty kicks, and an ugly confrontation followed. Neither team has forgotten!
First to stoke the flames of renewed confrontation was Paul, a German octopus, who several days ago predicted a Germany win. Paul, being an octopus, is mute, so his predictions are made through the medium of oysters or clams or some other kind of mollusk favored by octopuses.
Paul selects his delicacy from a choice of containers, one decorated with a flag of Germany, the other with the flag of their opponent. Following a lengthy period of deliberation, Paul has selected his home country for the win over Argentina.
So, look for a Germany win, but not an easy one.
Paraguay vs. Spain
Spain showed a lot of class against a very defense-minded Portugal in the Round of 16 when they beat their Iberian neighbors by a narrow 1-0.
Despite the Portuguese approach to the match the Spanish demonstrated skill and flair with Iniesta
and Xavi Hernandez providing the feed to David Villa and the underperforming Fernando Torres or Fernando Llorente (who looked dangerous when he came on for Torres against Portugal).
Paraguay is outclassed and will likely rely on a defensive posture, hoping that Roque Santa Cruz can lead a counter attack and create scoring opportunities. But if Portugal couldn’t overcome the Spanish it would be a surprise to see the Paraguayans do so.
However, this has been a World Cup with a few surprises. (I wish the Germans would tell us what Paul thinks about this match!)
