What an interesting day of football today was. At the risk of sounding like a cracked CD I will state once again that today produced its own share of surprises. The match between NewZealand and debutantes Slovakia didn't really have any surprises.Although the Bafokeng Stadium was anything but full, both teams played their hearts out and the match ended 1-1 with New Zealand clinching a late goal in time added on.The match between Portugal and Ivory Coast was just high quality football without any real surprises. I felt highly pleased, gratified indeed, that the Ivoriens more than held their own against the Portuguese without the aid of a fit Didier Drogba.Ronaldo's first shot was a long ganger-almost from the centre of the pitch and it caught the left post of the Ivoriens goal.Ivorien striker, Gervinho was very outstanding although he missed a header I am sure Drogba would have scored if he had been fit. So was Kolo Toure who suffered painful cramps during the match. He commanded a defence that effectively kept Christiano Ronaldo and co. at bay. The Ivoriens gave as much as they took, period! They did their fans , their country and the whole of Africa proud.
The match that produced surprises for me was that between Brazil and the People's Republic Of Korea a.k.a North Korea at Ellis Park Stadium ,Johannesburg. Everyone-except me though- was expecting Brazil to totally whitewash them. Expecting Brazil to toy with them, to humiliate them, to beat them by a ridiculous scoreline like 6-0. Those who expected such an outcome were in for the shock of their lives. The asians showed the world that they had earned their place in South Africa 2010. Although being saddled with the unenviable distinction of being the lowest ever ranked team to make it to the finals-they are ranked 104th in the world- they put up a masterclass in defensive football that made it almost impossible for the Mighty Samba boys to get a goal. It took a moment of inspiration, of great brilliance from the right back of the 5-time champions , Maicon Douglas to end the stalemate. Maicon had to squeeze the ball into the Koreans' net from an impossible angle-almost on the by-line- to give Brazil the lead in the second half. No one watching the match failed to see how much the goal meant to him and his team mates. The world's best team had had to fight tooth and nail to get a goal against one of the world's worst-if not the worst(on paper though). Elano then finished off a brilliant play by the Brazilians to make it 2-0. But minutes later, the unexpected happened. The Koreans, one of the worst teams in the world, scored against arguably the best team, the kings of football. The match ended 2-1.The Koreans were meant to be the minnows of group G. Who still thinks they are? Ivory Coast and Portugal better watch out for them.
The man in white in the middle, Winston Reid celebrates his last minute goal to pull New Zealand level-thus earning them their first ever point in a world cup-at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa.
This is how Winston did the magic. Boy can he jump or what!Air Winston is what I call him now.
Look at your frigging unmanly chest. Come on cover that ironing board. Put your rag back on!
This was Slovakia's goal. Courtesy of the man called Robert Vittek.
Christiano Ronaldo leaves Chieck Tiete prostrate on the ground and begging for mercy.Bad man!
Players of both sides argue over the head of a Christiano Ronaldo who;s gone to ground.
You dey mad? If you be former world best nko, you tink say we send you. O boy chill o, or else we go fuck you up. we no send you, we sef be big boys. By the way, welcome to Africa!Didier Drogba, Tiote, Yaya Toure and Demel form the wall against a C.Ronaldo free kick.
This is for you fucker! Yeah you, fucker! You've earned it fucker! What!I'm Ronaldo! A galactico!How the hell will I regain my world's best title when I can't score a goal. Thank God Messi did not score against Nigeria. Fucking short, ugly rat, that Messi! Am sexy!He is feeling the pressure real good. Portugal's hopes rest on his effeminate shoulders. They need to get all 3 points in this game as they are in the same group as the mighty Brazil. If I were in his shoes, I'd be stressed too.
Ronaldo is a frustrated fucker! Things aint going well for ya are they Ronnie? Don't be too mad. This isn't the Champions' league or LaLiga, it's the World Cup. It's meant to be tough. This pic sums up his bloody day. Frustrating!
Roro my man! Nice game nice game.But you know say we play pass una. Drogby dat wan na lie. Anyhow, I fine pass you sha. Drogby dat too na lie. But on a more serious note Roro, I wan ask you sumtin.Wetin you wan ask me Drogby? For di 2 of us, who play pass? Which kain question be dat Drogby? You don forget say I be world best before? You don evr smell am. Roro forget dat World best nonsense, I bad pass you. Anyway, dat no be really di question I wan ask. Di question na, how we go take beat Brazil for dis we group of death? You sure say both of us go make am. Drogby, dat wan na JAMB question o. No be lie.Anyhow, Roro. Wetin Drogby? I still fine pass you and play pass you.Chi tai yun chi tai kpo tung yaon napin lao chin tung!
I will break these chicken legs of yours Kaka. You tink say I dey look your face. The North Koreans gave the Brazilians a run for their money.And pride!
Fabiano skips over the N.korean keeper to celebrate with Maicon after Maicon's miraculous goal.
The sexiest man on the pitch celebrates his goal.Ji Yum Nam is sure to become a star in North Kores. His life is now at risk. Out of jealousy, the country's ruler Kim Il pot, Kim jon Il or whatever might decide to delete his life out of jealousy.
Don't even think abot it buay! No try am at all. You don't stand a chance. You go just break ya waist.Elano's ball coasts cleanly into the far bottom left corner of the net.
Robinho and Blumer Elano celebrate Elano's goal. They deserve to celebrate as they worked hard throughout and worked together to get the goal. They were not disappointing on the day liks Kaka and Louis Fabiano.