EPL Round 3 picks and previews

EPL Round 3 – Picks and Previews

Burnley v Manchester United

The only time these two sides have met at Turf Moor in the EPL the home side prevailed 1 nil in what was a huge shock, the same result tonight would be far less shocking.

Sean Dyche has been handed a tough start to the season, Chelsea first up and then Swansea away followed by the visit of United. While they’re yet to pick up a point the Clarets have performed admirably taking the lead in the opening game and pushing the Swans close in the last round.

For the home side Dean Moxey and former United midfielder David Jones are doubts otherwise Dyche has most of his squad available.

For United things have been going from bad to worse, the loss to Swansea first up followed by what was a fortuitous point on Wear side and then a mid-week capitulation by a side made up of players who should have been hungry to impress the new boss but ultimately failed completely.

On the brightside Angel Di Maria is available and should add even more threat going forward while Jonny Evans availability offsets the loss of Chris Smalling to groin problem. Van Gaal is currently without 10 players due to injury and probably about 3 because Ed Woodward hasn’t signed them yet.

Tough to go against United here, looks like there is too much forward threat but I said that the last two rounds!

Pick Burnley 1 Manchester United 2

Manchester City v Stoke City

City has started the season strongly and will only get better as the squad beds in. They’re a tough side to beat at home and have two top players for every position so this should be a comfortable win.

Negrado is out with a foot injury but the way Jovetic has been playing I doubt he’ll be missed.

For Stoke City it’s been a flat start to the season, they were expected to see of Villa in the opening game at the Britannia but lost 1 nil. Last weekend they struggled to draw with a Hull side that played 75 minutes with 10 men so Mark Hughes needs to fire his side up – something that’d not usually a problem for his side.

Barcelona recruit Krkic is a doubt with a rib problem and Phil Bardsley also has a question mark next to his name. Look for the Potters to stack the midfield and try and negate the physicality of Toure through sheer weight of numbers. Having not won in their last 10 games against the Blues of Manchester a draw would be gratefully accepted no doubt and check the odds on a red card – good chance Stoke won’t keep 11 on the pitch.

Pick Manchester City 4 Stoke City 0

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew’s side look like they will click and give someone a hiding at some point. I’ve been really impressed by new signings Cabella and De Jong and that combination created a handful of chances against Aston Villa last weekend.

Chieke Tiote is still missing with a hamstring problem and Davide Santon is also a miss at left back while Mike Williamson is suspended but Newcastle should secure 3 points in front of their fans at the second time of asking against a side they’ve beaten four times on the spin without conceding.

The man dubbed Colin Wanker, Neil Warnock is back at Palace. He seems like a yesterday man for me but he does know the club and has managed at this level before.

The arrival of Palace old boy Zaha on loan for the season from Manchester United will give the Londoners a more viable option than Jerome Thomas on flank but the concern will be whether or not influential centre back Scott Dann can recover from injury in time for the match.

The Eagles need time to settle under their new boss and I can’t see them taking anything from the match. If you want a punt take the halftime fulltime option of Draw/Newcastle as Palace have conceded winners in injury time the last two times these sides have met.

Pick Newcastle United 2 Crystal Palace 1

Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland

It’s been a terrible start to the season for Harry Redknapp’s charges, shipping 5 goals and scoring none. The decision to start Ferdinand and Dunne as part of a back three against Spurs was questionable at best but it’s really the first up loss to Hull that could hurt in the long run.

To miss a penalty and a raft of chances (19 shots only 6 on target) against a Hull side that’ll likely be in the lower reaches of the table come May is reckless and could be fatal to survival.

If that’s not bad enough it looks as though marquee striker Loic Remy could be heading to neighbours Chelsea and seems likely to miss the match as will the creative Alejandro Faurlin who is battling injury.

For Gus Poyet things look on the up and up. The signing of Jack Rodwell from Manchester City seems good business if his game against Manchester United is anything to go by.

The Black Cats have had draws away at West Brom and home to United and Poyet will no doubt be happy with two points at this stage and given last week’s result at White Hart Lane confident of a further three this round.

While Sunderland look a lot more solid so far this season than last they still look like they may struggle for goals having failed to convince Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini to join fulltime. So it’ll be up to the injury prone Steven Fletcher, the raw Connor Wickham and misfiring American Jose Altidore to take their chances.

Pick – Queens Park Rangers 1 Sunderland 1

Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion  

Gary Monk’s side have had a great start to the season with wins at Old Trafford and against Burnley at home. Despite losing some influential players from last season the Swans have hit the ground running and the slick passing style that was implemented years ago by Roberto Martinez is still to the fore.

Spurs loanee Tom Carroll and new defensive signing Federico Fernandez from Napoli are both available strengthening an already confident side.

Ivorian striker Wifried Bony has started the season on form and he’ll be a handful for West Brom’s defence.

The Baggies have been solid so far this season under new manager Alan Irvine. The Scot was the bookies favourite to win the Sack Race pre-season but his side played well first game up against Sunderland and probably deserved 3 points as opposed to one and last weeks’ battling performance away at Southampton has to be applauded.

West Brom’s problem last year was turning nearly chances and good displays into three points, they drew 15 games, more than any other team in the Premiership and Irvine needs to rectify that.

Ideye Brown has been brought in and has a very good record in the Ukraine though he’s yet to find his scoring touch in England, they’ll need him too before these 1 point gains start looking like 2 points lost.

Irvine is an admirer of the passing style of his opposition and he’ll need to find a way to combat that or it could be a long afternoon.

Pick – Swansea City 2 West Bromwich Albion 0

West Ham United v Southampton

The Hammers 3 – 1 away win at Selhurst Park will have eased pressure on Sam Allardyce and no doubt instilled confidence in the side ahead of the visit of Southampton.

Big Sam’s side are still missing Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Carl Jenkinson, James Collins and Matt Jarvis but for now seem capable of performing without them. Mauro Zarate looks to be a player who could play a big part at Upton Park this season, the classy Argentine was top scorer in his homeland last season and his previous experience at Lazio should mean he’s able to deal with the rigours of the Premiership week in week out.

West Ham has a very good record versus the Saints and they’ll be keen to replicate last weekend’s form in front of their own fans.

Ronald Koeman’s side are a work in progress, unlucky not to get a point at Anfield but toothless last weekend at home.

New signings Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic will need to gel as they did at Anfield to create openings against a workman like defence and midfield at Upton Park and the industry and invention of James Ward-Prowse and Gaston Ramirez will be equally important.

The Saints are a hard side to pin down at the moment given the amount of changes at the club in the summer and while I expect them to come good through the season I think they may struggle this time out.

Pick West Ham United 2 Southampton 1

Everton v Chelsea

Roberto Martinez will be acutely aware of the 4 points thrown away already this season, conceding late goals to both Leicester and Arsenal has hurt the Toffees and they’ll need to tighten things up in late kick off with Chelsea.

Romelu Lukaku will no doubt have something to prove against the manager who didn’t want him and a boost in form would be welcome for Everton’s record transfer who hasn’t yet recaptured the form that encouraged them to splash 28 million pounds on him.

The blue half of Merseyside do have a decent record against Chelsea having won 4 of the last 5 meetings at Goodison but with the loss of Ross Barclay and Steven Pienaar through injury could mean they’ll struggle to create chances against what’s likely to be a compact midfield and defence.

Jose Mourinho’s side have started reasonably convincingly this season though it took them an hour breakdown Leicester City at Stamford Bridge last weekend. The problem for Chelsea could be the state of Diego Costa’s hamstring which he reportedly injured in training during the week and with Eto’o released and Torres on his way to AC Milan finding a focal point for the attack could be an issue especially with an injury cloud also hanging over Andre Schurrle.

In Cesc Fabregas Chelsea have a man whose been used by Barcalona and Spain in a false 9 role but given his effectiveness as a deep lying playmaker the Mourinho is unlikely to want to move him.

So two solid sides who are missing much artillery.

Pick - Everton 0 Chelsea 0

EPL Round 2 Picks and Previews for Saturday

EPL Round 2 Preview and pick   

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

The Villans surprised most last week in picking up 3 points at the Britannia Stadium. This week they’re at home and facing a Newcastle United side who impressed despite losing 2 nil to Manchester City.

Christain Benteke will be missing for Paul Lambert’s side and that’s a big miss for them, we will potentially see Joe Cole make his EPL debut though.

Newcastle United have picked up 13 from 15 points in their last 5 EPL meetings with Aston Villa and though I think the game will be tight the Geordies are just about favourites for the 3 points for me.

They’ll be missing Papas Cisse, Ryan Taylor, Davide Santon and Chieke Tiote but Remy Cabella impressed last week and with Siem De Jong in contention for a start they won’t be wanting for creativity.

Pick – Aston Villa 0 Newcastle United 2

Chelsea v Leicester City

Mourinho’s men impressed on the opening weekend, particularly Fabregas who looked like he’d been playing in the shirt for years not just pre season. Diego Costa also looked good and this Chelsea side looked more balanced than last year already.

They’ve only conceded once in their last 8 games at Stamford Bridge and despite Chris Wood’s heroics for Leicester against Everton I can’t see the big kiwi or any of his team mates bothering the scorers this weekend.

The Foxes got a point from their first game back in the EPL and from what many would call a difficult fixture against an Everton side who should be knocking on the door of the top four this season.

Nigel Pearson will be missing the influence of Matty James and Danny Drinkwater in midfield and Matt Upson from the back four.

Hard to see the Championship champions getting anything from this match.

Pick – Chelsea 4 Leicester City 0

Crystal Palace v West Ham United

Despite the distraction of having Tony Pulis walk out on the club a couple of days out from kick off Crystal Palace were extremely competitive  against Arsenal in their opening match of the season. Brede Hangeland marked his debut with a goal and the Keith Millen ran side played to their strengths and were unlucky not to get away with a point.

The biggest worry going into this match is the fitness of Scott Dann who will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness, Jason Puncheon is unavailable following his red card at the Emrites.

Sam Allardyce has issues in defence. James Collins is suspended, James Tomkins, Joey O’Brien and Carl Jenkinson are all recovering from injury so Winston Reid will be leading a makeshift backline.

The Hammers looked light on creativity last weekend against ten men and will need to address that against a Palace side who were tough to beat at Selhurst Park last season

Pick – Crystal Palace 1 West Ham United 0

Southampton v West Bromwich Albion

The Saints were unlucky to lose at Anfield on the opening weekend of the season and perception that they would struggle under Ronald Koeman this season seems to have been dispelled already. Jamie Ward-Prowse, another homegrown talent, was dominant in midfield against more experienced opposition and Dusan Tadic looks to have bought his form from last seasons Eredivise with him too.

The South coast side have averaged more than 2 goals a game over their last 5 EPL matches at Saint Mary’s and I’d expect them to match that tomorrow morning.

Alan Irvine’s West Brom side were denied a win at the death against Sunderland last week and their England under 21 striker Saido Berahino impressed with a brace. His combination with Victor Anichebe could be crucial for the Baggies this season.

Historically West Brom don’t start EPL season’s well and they’ve yet to win away from home in August in Premier League history. With Jolene Lescott and Cristian Gamboa unlikely to feature a point here maybe a bridge to far for Irvine’s men.

Pick – Southampton 3 West Bromwich Albion 1

 Swansea City v Burnley

The Swans stunned Manchester United 2-1 in the opening weekend of the Premier League and it seems unlikely that Gary Monk will change to much for their opening home match against promoted Burnley.

Federico Fernandez has joined from Napoli but is unlikely to feature due to paperwork not being cleared in time.

With the form of last week and the goal threat of Wilfried Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis the Welsh side should win this comfortably.

Burnley started their opening game of the season well, briefly leading against Chelsea before going on to lose 3-1. They’ve brought in former Wolves player Stephen Ward, who should offer experience and competition to Ben Mee for the left back birth.

While last seasons away form was good (11 wins 9 draws and just 3 losses) the Clarets away history at this level is poor with only a 4 points gathered from a possible 57.

Sean Dyche will no doubt have a targeted at least a point from this game but they have a lot of work to do to realise that against a strong and confident Swansea.

Pick – Swansea City 2 Burnley 0

Everton v Arsenal

Roberto Martinez’s side will have been disappointed not to take all 3 points against Leicester City on the opening weekend of the season. Despite creating the majority of the chances new record signing Romelu Lukaku failed to find the net and looked short on form.

The loss of Ross Barkley for a lengthy period is a bad one for the Toffees but they do have experience in the form of Steven Pienaar to carry them forward. Seamus Coleman looks fit and should start in place of John Stones this week to given Everton more options down the right going forward – could be crucial in what looks the game of the round.

The question for Arsene Wenger is will he opt to start his German World Cup winners, Mezit Ozil, Per Mertersacker and Lukas Podolski (less likely). The trio are yet to feature this season after being given extended leave post Brazil. With Walcott, Diaby, Arteta, Gibbs and Sanogo all likely to be missing the Gunners could do with the Teutonic artillery against a side they haven’t beaten in the last two seasons.

The opening weekends win over Crystal Palace came at the death  and it wasn’t the dominant performance most expected – they’ll have to lift to another level to compete at Goodison Park.

Pick – Everton 2 Arsenal 1

It's baaaaccccckkkkkk! EPL round 1 previews and predictions

Manchester United v Swansea City

Luis Van Gaal has had a great start to his reign at Old Trafford – 6 wins from as many pre season games. There were plenty of goals scored (18) and only 5 conceded suggesting the new 3-5-2 formation is already paying off. While victories over the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia and Liverpool are encouraging the real deal starts Saturday night.

Robin Van Persie will be missing as he was given an extra break post the World Cup and there haven’t been the flurry of signings as yet that all assumed would happen. Of the signings that have arrived Anders Herrera looks like he will improve the centre of the park while Luke Shaw has a hamstring injury and may miss a month.

The question will be whether or not LVG can get more out of the rest of the misfiring squad than David Moyes could.

Gary Monk is starting his first season in charge at Swansea after taking the reigns from Michael Laudrup mid way through the last campaign.

He’s had a pre season with the squad but he’s also lost a number of important players, Michel Vorm and Ben Davies have both left for Spurs, Michu has gone to Napoli for the season on loan and Pablo Hernandez, a key part of their midfield, has also flown the coop. To balance things out  there have been signings with Bernard Gomis coming in to add goals alongside Wilfred Bony, Gylfi Sigurdsson should add some creativity while Lukasz Fabianski fills the gap left by Vorm and most exciting of all is Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero.

The balance of the squad does look off though with both fullback positions looking light and a backup centre back a must also. Monks job will surely be keeping them out of a relegation fight.

Pick – Manchester United 2 Swansea City 0

Arsenal v Crystal Palace   

There’s a lot of talk about Arsenal being title contenders this season with the addition of Alexi Sanchez in particular and while he’s a great player I don’t know that he’s the player they needed.

With the likes of Rosicky, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Ozil and Cazorla you could argue he’s just more of the same. Wenger really needs cover in defensive midfield, fullback and up front. Screening the back four his options are Arteta is first choice but getting no younger and is back up by injury prone Wilshere and Diaby and journeyman Flamini. At fullback, particularly on the left, Kieran Gibbs is the likely first choice but with the departure of Vermalen there don’t seem to be any experienced options to cover. Meanwhile Olivier Giroud must stay fit and find the net on a regular basis as beyond him it’s relatively untried youngsters in Joel Campbell and Chuba Akpom.

That said the Gunners should start the season with a win at home to manager less Crystal Palace.

Tony Pulis did a great job at Palace when he replaced Ian Holloway in October. They’d won just once in the first 11 games and looked doomed to be relegated but the former Stoke boss got them playing some great football and picked up some superb results against top sides to eventually finish well clear of the bottom three.

I was looking forward to see how Pulis would approach his first full season in charge but with just days to go til kick off he quit the post following talks with his chairman and has thrown the Eagles future in the EPL into doubt.

Frazier Campbell (Cardiff), Brede Hangeland (Fulham) and Martin Kelly (Liverpool) have been brought in but missing out on Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson seems to have been the deciding factor in the manager leaving.

The spine of last season’s side is intact and if the club can quickly appoint an astute manager they may well survive but it’s certainly a bleak backdrop to the trip to the Emirates for the first game of the season.

Pick – Arsenal 4 Crystal Palace 0

Leicester City v Everton

Nigel Pearson’s side won the Championship title comfortably last season he’s already built on that successful squad.

In have come former England defender Matthew Upson, Spanish striker Leonardo Ulloa, Mark Albrighton from Aston Villa and a couple of promising Manchester United youngsters in Jack Barmby (son of Nick) and Louis Rowley.

Added to the already gifted squad Pearson should be confident of holding his own amongst 12 of the 19 sides in the division the key though will be experience. The aforementioned Upson certainly adds that whilst the likes of Paul Konchesky, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and David Nugent will be able supporters and keeping them fit and in the side will be important as outside those players EPL experience is thin on the ground.

Roberto Martinez proved a revelation at Everton last season. The former Wigan boss had what seemed to be big shoes to fill in replacing David Moyes but by the end of the campaign he looked very much the master and not the apprentice.

The Toffees played a more expansive brand of football with the likes of Ross Barclay, Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku all stand outs alongside the more seasoned Leighton Baines, Phil Jageilka and Tim Howard.

With Lukaku now in from Chelsea as a full signing and the reinvigorated Gareth Barry likewise from Manchester City, Martinez side look stronger now than they did this time last season and they should again push for the top four and take points from more fancied sides again.

Pick – Leicester City 1 Everton 3

Queens Park Rangers v Hull City

‘Arry’s back. And he’s bought a mate this time, Glenn Hoddle in as an attacking coach, hopefully he’s bought shrewder business sense than the last man to take charge of QPR in the Premier League.

Former manager Mark Hughes was guilty of signing a slew of past it Premier League stars on inflated money and it cost the club dearly. The signing of Rio Ferdinand may look like more of the same but he is a class act and no doubt will add experience and leadership the promoted side. The addition of Steven Caulker from Cardiff alongside him is a great get from Redknapp too as many were surprised to see Spurs let him leave last season and his team mate at Cardiff, Jordan Mutch, was one of the finds of last season and will be needed alongside Joey Barton to provide chances for the returning Loic Remy and Charlie Austin.

Rangers look a solid unit this time around and look like they’ll have enough about them to stay up this time around.

Steve Bruce is a year on from where Harry Redknapp currently is and what a year it was. Not only did Hull retain top flight status, they also made the FA Cup final for the first time and qualified for Europe.

It all looks rosy but if I were a Tigers fan I’d be worried about the Europe bit. Other clubs who have succeeded domestically have found the addition of a European campaign a stretch to far. Newcastle United for example achieved qualification for the Europa League at the end of the 2011-12 season with a 7^th place finish in the league but the following season could only manage 16^th and it was only a win against an already relegated QPR on the penultimate weekend of the season that saw them stay up.

Enough of the doom and gloom though, Bruce has retained all of his best players and added the promising Tom Ince, Jake Livermore (on a permanent contract) and Robert Snodgrass all of whom should add goals to his side. If the Europa League campaign is handled well and injuries are minimal Hull should have enough to consolidate for another season.

Pick – Queens Park Rangers 2 Hull City 1

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland

Alan Irvine is in charge at West Brom now following Steve Clarke’s sacking and his replacement Pepe Mel’s inadequacies last season.

Irvine is formerly David Moyes assistant at Everton he has his work cut out for him at the Albion. Liam Ridgewell, a defensive stalwart at the Hawthornes for several years has been let go as have fullback Billy Jones, experienced utility Steven Reid and Uruguayan centre back Diego Lugano.

Whilst the pickup of Jolene Lescott and Liverpool youngster Andre Wisdom offset these loses slight depth is a worry. The other end of the park is possibly worse! Saido Berahino was joint top scorer last season (tied with Stephane Sessegnon) with 5 from 32 appearances and the only additional artillery to be brought in is Brown Ideye from Dynamo Kiev at a cost of 10 million pounds.

That Irvine is odds on to be firs in the sack race this season says everything and I’ll be surprised if West Brom aren’t in the bottom three come May next year.

Gus Poyet saved Sunderland from relegation and Paolo Di Canio last season and now he has his work cut out squeezing enough goals from this squad to make sure they’re not involved in another relegation scrap.

The additions of Jack Rodwell, Billy Jones  and Patrick van Aanholt could offer some solidity but he’s buying potential rather than the finished product there while Jordi Gomez is more proven and Costel Pantilimon looks a quality keeper but what he hasn’t brought in is someone who can put the ball in the net when it counts.

Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham and Jozy Altidore will be the club’s main threats going forward alongside the enigmatic Adam Johnson – certainly not enough to put the fear of god in opposition defences.

The tactical nous and inspiration in the dressing room of Poyet looks to be the biggest asset the Black Cast have in what will be another season of struggle.

Pick – West Bromwich Albion 0 Sunderland 0

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur 

West Ham has had an awful pre-season and not just here in New Zealand. Andy Carroll is out for 4 months and that leaves Fat Sam’s tactics in disarray. Getting wingers behind the fullbacks to whip crosses in to a giant strikers head is so much his number one plan that he continued to start Carlton Cole after Carroll’s injury. Carlton Cole! A striker so awful that the club released him on a free at the end of the 2012-13 season then resigned him when Carroll got injured/they felt sorry for him hanging around the training ground.

For mine Zarate looks like a great player who can score goals given the chance, though the side will have to set up differently which maybe out of the realms of possibility with Allardyce in charge. If Cole starts this game then I almost feel sorry for West Ham fans this season

While they should be tough to score against I can’t see enough at the other end of the park.

Mauricio Pochettino did wonders with a young Southampton side last season and his timing of landing the Spurs job could be fortuitous. Players bought in on the back of Gareth Bale’s sale have all had a season to bed in and they were all players with a lot of promise this time last season. The fact that Lewis Holtby has stared every pre-season game after being loaned to Fulham seems to point to everyone starting with a clean slate under the new boss.

The balance of the squad still needs work but the starting 11 looks promising and it’s hard to see Spurs not starting the season with 3 points.

Pick – West Ham United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 

Stoke City v Aston Villa

Mark Hughes hasn’t so much transformed Stoke it is more of an evolution.

The big hard tackling defence is still there from the Tony Pulis reign as is the beanpole up front Peter Crouch and the hard running, hard working Jonathan Walters but there is now more subtlety and guile in a midfield that was previously more of a minefield.

The addition of Bojan Krkic is a real coup for Hughes, the former Barcelona next big thing is still only 23 and can play as a winger, playmaker or genuine number 10 in the Messi mould. That he only cost 3 million pounds is astounding. Added to that Phil Bardsley will give extra steel at right back while Steve Sidwell can score goals from midfield. Former Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf, though never proven in England, was successful at Hannover in Germany and given he’ll not be solely relied on for goals should be given time to integrate into the side.

These additions coupled with players like Peter Odemwingie and Marko Arnautovic should give The Potters plenty of goals to offset their fortress like defence.

Roy Keane has been brought into Aston Villa as assistant to manager Paul Lambert and while his experience and win at all costs mentality will no doubt help the squad it’s an appointment that’ll have his boss looking over his shoulder constantly.

The Villans struggled last season, particularly when Christian Benteke was injured and the additions to the squad this time around don’t have me believing they’ll have any easier time of it this time around.

The additions are those of club that have an owner who wants out as Randy Lerner apparently does. Joe Cole was for all intents and purposes a failure at West Ham last season, Kieran Richardson can show quality but he’s very much a journeyman these days and Philippe Senderos struggles to convince as a Premier League defender.

Mark Albrighton is the only player of note to leave but this is a squad in desperate need of investment, there are plenty of young players with talent but not enough quality and experience to really take then anywhere. 17^th will on the wishlist of their fans this season as things look.

Pick – Stoke City 3 Aston Villa 1

FIFA World Cup Day 3 review

The third day of the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicked off with many pundits’ dark horses for the tournament, Colombia, in action against a solid but aging Greek unit.

From the off the South American’s seemed to have more about them and it wasn’t long before Pablo Armero scored via a deflected strike to put them one up.

The Greeks turned most of the rest of the 1^st half into a battle but as manfully as they tried they were second in most departments. The two goal scoring threats that coach Fernando Santos chose to lead the line are mis-firing at this level and aging. Georgios Samaras, now 29, has only found the net 8 times in 76 appearances and Theofanis Gekas is now 34 and playing in a mid-table Turkish side

The 2nd half started much the way the 1^st had, with James Rodriguez pulling the strings from midfield for coach Jose Pekerman’s Colombian side and Teo Guitierrez terrorising the Greek back four. Thirteen minutes in and Guitierrez had made the weight of possession and chances count to increase the lead to two.

Going further behind seemed to encourage Greece, not to attack, but to limit the damage and they did that well until Rodriguez slotted a deserved 3^rd in injury time.

While Holland’s thrashing of Spain yesterday was a surprise it wasn’t really an upset, the first of those came in today’s second game between Concacaf qualifiers Costa Rica and two time former champions Uruguay.

Even without the recuperating Luis Suarez, Uruguay could still boast a team of stars, from Athletico Madrid’s defensive rock Diego Godin, to PSG’s Edison Cavani. The biggest names Costa Rica had on offer on the other hand were former Fulham play maker Bryan Ruiz and Arsenal starlet Joel Campbell.

Uruguay started well against a side that were expected to battle in vain. All seemed to be going as most thought it would when Cavani converted a penalty after 24 minutes but without Suarez’s inventiveness and guile they seemed very one dimensional.

Unable to convert their possession into more goals the Costa Ricans began to cause Uruguay real problems with their pace and determination. Both virtues were at the fore early in the 2^nd half as Costa Rica stunned the group favourites with 2 goals in 3 minutes.

It perhaps says something of the frustration felt by the men in sky blue that all cautions in the match were shown to them, including a red card to Pereira for lashing out at Campbell in stoppage time, by which time substitute Urena had made the game safe for the Chico’s with an 84^th minute winner.

The final game of the day was the much anticipated battle between England and Italy. Played in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon, it was expected the heat and humidity would take its toll on the two European sides and lead to a dull low energy draw.

That, however, was far from what unfolded. With England manager Roy Hodgson electing to play young exciting players and the game at pace it was they who dominated the early exchanges as Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney went at the Italian back line with passion and purpose.

England were unlucky not to be leading by at least one when the Italians worked a move from a corner allowing Claudio Marchisio time and space on the edge of the area to rifle home a shot into the bottom corner. Hodgson’s men were not about to let falling behind change their attacking intent and only 2 minutes later Rooney broke down the left and curled an exquisite ball to Sturridge’s feet to tie the game up at 1 all.

The Italians picked up the pace following the equaliser and Phil Jagielka had to act quickly to clear a Mario Balotelli chip off of the line and Antonio Candreva hit a post.

The 2^nd half saw both teams probing and looking to create chances with the Italians being more measured than their counterparts. That approach paid off when Candreva beat Leighton Baines on the right and whipped in a great cross for Balotelli to nod in at the far post.

Steven Gerrard’s men upped the ante once again in response with Rooney firing a good chance wide and Baines having a typically accurate free kick tipped around the post by Salvatore Sirigu. It was the Italians however who nearly added to the score when playmaker Andrea Pirlo hit Joe Hart’s crossbar with a stunning free kick.

The final score line of 2-1 was enough though and the Italians can cement their place in the second round with a win over the Costa Ricans while it’ll be the dance of the desperate Friday morning with England facing a deflated Uruguay.

Colombia 3

Greece 0

Costa Rica 3

Uruguay 1

Italy 2

England 1

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 DAY 2

The second day of the FIFA World Cup 2014 produced eleven goals, a thrashing for the defending champions and more contentious officiating.

The opening game of the day was a scrappy, dogged affair between Mexico and Cameroon. Both sides are realistically playing for second place in the group behind Brazil so a win here was imperative.

The Mexicans dominated the possession and chances for much of the game and eventually prevailed 1 nil following a Oribe Peralta finish in the 61^st minute but they’d not of had to have waited that long if the assistant referee from Columbia had had his prescription updated before the match.

Twice Giovanni Dos Santos was denied goals by the offside flag in the first half so it was fitting that he provide the assist following a solid shot from the edge of the area that was parried by Itanjde into Peralta’s path for his 11^th goal in his last 12 competitive matches for El Tri.

To the main course where the expected Spanish omelette instead resembled scrambled eggs and Dutch delight was on the menu.

Going into the tournament Spain were a lot of experts picks to retain their title, but when the 23 man squad was named Coach Vincente Del Bosque had named just three strikers. They were Diego Costa who was/is recovering from a hamstring injury, the misfiring Fernando Torres and David Villa who has just signed on to the retirement scheme European footballers call Major League Soccer. Given the Spaniards lack of goals (8 in 7 games) in the previous World Cup this would surely have been a concern to their fans and especially when Fernando Llorente of Italian champions Juventus and Alvaro Negredo of English champions Manchester City were left to holiday on the beach.

The Dutch on the other hand seemed overtly aware of their potential shortcomings, Coach Louis Van Gaal disposing of their traditional 4-3-3 formation in favour of a more defensive minded 5-3-2 that allowed them to sit back and soak up pressure before winning possession and hitting quickly on the break through Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie.

Van Gaal’s tactical acumen won out on the day with Spain lording possession but ultimately not being able to do enough with it to make a difference.

To be fair they took the lead through a Xabi Alonso penalty following a trip on the roundly booed Diego Costa (Brazilian born but opting to represent Spain) and it took a moment of salmon like genius from Van Persie, leaping full stretch and get his head to Daley Blind’s superb lofted pass, to bring the sides level before half time.

Whatever was in the halftime “oranjes” certainly worked for the Dutch as they came out firing. The incisiveness of Wesley Sneijder’s passing and the pace and firepower of Holland’s front two were too much for a pedestrian Spanish back line. Eight minutes into the second stanza a Van Persie chip found Robben and he out stripped the defenders before cutting in and firing past the helpless Iker Casillas.

From there things only got worse for the Real Madrid custodian, first he failed to hold onto a free kick that was lofted to his far post and Stefan de Vrij bundled the ball home for his first international goal and then a complete howler as he miscontrolled and back pass that let Van Persie steal in and notch his second of the day.

In between those strikes La Roja were lucky to not be playing with ten men following Costa’s head butt on Martins Indi which caused a coming together and eventually for the big Spaniard to be substituted for Torres. Then with ten minutes left Robben struck the fifth and final nail in the coffin, speeding past Sergio Ramos onto Sneijder’s through ball and beating the retreating Spanish defence and the defeated Casillas once again.

The last match of the day pitted the dark horses of Chile against the whipping boys of Australia but in true Aussie fashion the men in gold battled hard and gave the Chileans a real fight.

Early on it all appeared to be going to script with the Socceroo’s defence looking unsure and unco-ordinated. Chile’s star man Alexi Sanchez and prodigal son Jorge Valdivia had their side 2 nil up inside 14 minutes courtesy of goalkeeper Matt Ryan’s walk about and a well-placed edge of the area shot.

Australians though are like cockroaches, hard to kill off, and through a combination of the South American’s taking the foot off of the gas and a rocket from the side-line for the Socceroo’s they clawed their way back into the game. Particularly impressive were the right sided pairing of Ivan Franjic and Matthew Leckie and it was that combination that set up Tim Cahill for the Australian repost, a typically athletic leap over his marker to head past the keeper.

The second half would have given Australian coach Ange Postecoglou encouragement as his side dominated their more fancied opposition but ultimately they didn’t have the quality to finish the chances created and it was the Chileans through substitute Jean Beausejour who added to the score line in the dying minutes.

Mexico 1

Cameroon 0

Holland 5

Spain 1

Chile 3

Australia 1

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 - DAY 1

The opening game of the beautiful game’s biggest stage.

Brazil hosts for the first time since 1950, this is their time to shine, their destiny to be the best in the world on their home patch and time to make a statement to the footballing world.

That’s how the script was supposed to read but no one sent that script to Niko Kovac and his Croatian team. From the off they sat deep and hit on the counter, the Brazilians came forward but played hesitantly as if the expectation was weighing heavily on their collective shoulders.

A hesitant performance was punished in the 11th minute when an Olic cross from the left was put into his own net by Marcelo, who earned the distinction of being the first Brazilian to score an own goal at a World Cup.

That set back seemed to spur the team and the home town crowd on as Brazil lifted their performance. The tempo lifted, they pressed the Croatians hard and played the ball wide at every opportunity to create holes. The extra effort paid off with a long range Neymar shot in the 29th minute spinning away from Pletikosa’s out stretched hand and in off the right hand upright.

From there Croatia slowly gave ground and Brazil discovered their swagger and gradually became the better side. It was unfortunate that a blatant dive from Fred was awarded with a penalty that ultimately led to Neymar and Brazil’s second goal.

The Balkan side still caused the Selecao plenty of problems on the counter but the Japanese referee further endeared himself to the home side when he disallowed a Croatian equaliser for minimal contact on Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal.

As the Croatians poured forward in a valiant attempt to rescue a point it was inevitable that the brilliance of the hosts would shine through with the extra space they were afforded and Oscar crowned a man of the match performance with an 18 yard toe poke finish to settle the result and launch the World Cup in some style.

Euro 2012 Round One Review

Group A
Poland must be wondering how they let that one get away. A young team that took the foot off the gas as they were a) at home b)1 nil up and c) playing ten men. Well done Greece - great fight back but where was that in the first half - looked like they were all stoned wondering around the pitch like that and giving the ball away.
Russians looked very good and though the Czechs created chances they were never really in it.

Group B
Wow the Netherlands imploding and losing 1 nil to Denmark. The Danes just sat narrow and let the Dutch have the ball and hit them with direct passes when they won the ball. Van der Wiel got caught going forward and the Danes exploited the space he left well. News now that there's in fighting in the Dutch camp with Nigel De Jong unhappy at being subbed v Denmark complaining his midfield partner Mark Van Bommel gets preferential treatment from the coach, who also happens to be his father-in-law hmmmm you think?

Germans were pushed harder than I and they thought they would be by the Portuguese, great goal by Gomez to win it but Ronaldo and co looking like they might actually produce something at an International tournament.

Group C
The Italians played the Spanish very well and probably edged the chances. Del Bosque started six midfielders and no strikers - unbelievable. As my mate Rob said "when I heard Spain were playing a false striker I just thought they meant Torres". The Spanish clearly miss Villa and given they only took three recognised strikers too the tournament and then left them all on the bench I think it means Del Bosque still isn't sure how to cover his loss. As you'd expect plenty of fannying about by Spain when in and around the area - if they were more direct they'd have caused more problems for Italy.

Giovanni Trapattoni's lack of a Plan B bit him and his team in the arse against Croatia. You'd have thought a win in the first game and sneak a draw against Italy would have been the plan coming in but they'll be lucky to get a point now. Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington must have been shaking their heads watching that. Croatia mean while looked the business their clash with the Italians should be a beauty and you'd be hard pressed to pick who'll advance at the moment.

Group D
England v France was boring - England were solid and predictable and created little while the French were happy with a point and barely got out of first gear. Creativity in the middle was sorely missing and you wonder how the legs of Parker and Gerrard (both in their 30's) will deal 3 games in 8 days. For mine a change of formation is needed to get the most out of the squad and get as many of England's best players on the pitch as possible. The same back four with Parker and Milner or Jones sitting in front will free Gerrard up to play the Sneijder/Ozil role, Young on the left and Walcott on the right with Welbeck up top gives the side a lot more width and pace going forward.

Sweden were disappointing, they looked at times a lot better than the Ukrainians but the difference was the home side worked harder and wanted it more and it showed - credit to Blokhin for getting the most out of a mixture of ageing stars and up and comers.