World Cup – Day 1

Editor’s note: Since Ryan is the only one around here that knows a thing about soccer, we’ve enlisted him to keep us all up to speed on the World Cup. Teams are broken into groups of four and they play each other once. Wins are worth 3 points, ties 1, losses 0. The two teams with the most points (ties are settled by goal differential) in each group move on to a single elimination tournament, which does not feature ties (at least I hope not) and leads to a 2010 World Cup Champion. –ptb

Friday, June 11, 2010

GROUP A – FIFA Rankings (#)

France (9), Uruguay (16), Mexico (17), South Africa (83)

Game 1 – 10 AM

Mexico 1 – 1 South Africa

In terms of finding out what happened, you can read a match recap.

What I took from this match was that there is such a thing as home field advantage, or at least for one game the crowd can cause a team like Mexico fits. South Africa played about 8 men tight in the back (near the net) and left Mexico little space to take shots. It is a strategy that works if you score first or maintain a tie. If the opposing team scores first, then it makes a team like South Africa take chances. Do not expect a result like this against France or Uruguay. They will push hard for an early goal. Once South Africa gives up one expect more to follow. Their defense is not talented enough to play the opposing team when down a goal. I would bet that this is the only point South Africa gets in this group.

France 0 – 0 Uruguay

This match started off with so much promise. It was back and forth with more scoring chances in the first twenty minutes than the first game. You can tell that France has the most talent in the group, though Uruguay is quite good and comparable to Mexico in terms of scoring talent and passing. Anyway, back to the game: After halftime, both teams appeared to play for a tie. They would rather get one point and take their chances that they could beat South Africa and tie Mexico. First place could come down to which team beats South Africa by more goals. It is pure conjecture, but I see Mexico with a tie in all three games. There is no way France or Uruguay will play to win when all they have to do is beat South Africa and move on.

So, yeah.  Mexico is in trouble.