One of today’s games featured Group G’s Portugal and Ghana at the Estádio Nacional in Brasilia. Portugal defeated Ghana 2-1 but the result sees both teams eliminated from the tournament. Portugal finished in 3rd place with 4 points and Ghana finish in 4th place with 1 point. Ronaldo had the first effort of note in the fifth minute as his audacious lob from wide on the right caught out Dauda but struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety. The Portugal captain threatened again seven minutes later, testing Dauda with a trademark dipping free-kick from 30 yards. Ronaldo was at the forefront of all of Portugal’s attacking play and ought to have put his side ahead in the 19th minute. Joao Pereira delivered a pinpoint ball from the right and the Real Madrid man, unmarked six yards from goal, directed his header straight at Dauda, who parried away. Portugal continued to make most of the running and got their noses in front on the half-hour mark, Boye slicing Veloso’s cross from the left into the net via the bar and right-hand post.
Ronaldo brought another save out of Dauda two minutes later, while Gyan continued to pose a danger, heading wide after meeting Christian Atsu’s cross. After a quiet start to the second half Ghana equalised with 57 minutes gone, Gyan nodding home at the far post following a superb cross from Kwadwo Asamoah with the outside of his left foot. Waris wasted a glorious chance to put Ghana in front four minutes later, somehow heading wide from six yards after being picked out by Gyan. Ronaldo – relatively quiet throughout the tournament – ultimately had the final say as he lashed in a left-footed strike after Dauda feebly palmed Mensah’s wayward header into his path, but it mattered little as both sides’ hopes were dashed.
I expected more from Portugal they should be easily beating sides like USA and Ghana but they struggled against both, I expected Germany to beat them but not by the scoreline they did. I don’t know what’s changed since Euro 2012 but Portugal have been awful in this World Cup and when Ronaldo retires from the Portugal side they will be 10 times worse. Ghana played better than expected but I still thought they would get a least a point against USA.
Manchester United’s Luis Nani played in Portugal’s win, but yet again played poor for his side. Some people say he isn’t consistent, he is consistent but he’s consistently poor. He flattered to deceive at times but was just one part of a largely out-of-sorts attack. I’m disappointed in Nani, he played amazing in his debut season at United, he did better than Cristiano Ronaldo did on his debut season but ever since he has been woeful. His time is up now and needs to be sold. Reports say Inter Milan will offer £12 million for him and I wouldn’t hesitate to accept it.
The other Group G game featured USA and Germany at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. Germany beat USA 1-0 and the result sees both of the teams go through to the second round. USA finished in 2nd place with 4 points and Germany topped the group with 7 points. Joachim Low handed Lukas Podolski a first start of the tournament on the left side of his attack and the Arsenal forward blazed over in the second minute, as Germany pinned back their opponents during the opening stages. By the time Tim Howard shovelled a Mesut Özil effort to safety in the 34th minute, following a shimmying run from the Arsenal man, a more even contest had developed, although that was at the expense of the earlier intensity. At half-time Low introduced veteran striker Miroslav Klose, hunting for an outright claim to the all-time World Cup finals goal record following his equaliser against Ghana last Saturday. Pressure told in the 55th minute when Müller smashed home emphatically from the edge of the box after Howard had parried Per Mertesacker’s header. The USA visibly rallied as news of Asamoah Gyan’s equaliser for Ghana filtered through – a victory for the African nation would have seen them progress on goals scored, pipping the States for a third tournament in succession. But a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal ensured Klinsmann’s side, who went close in stoppage time as Alejandro Bedoya saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Lahm and Clint Dempsey headed over, will face the winners of Group H in Salvador on Tuesday.
I expected Germany to take all 9 points in this group after thrashing Portugal 4-0 but they struggled against Ghana and USA, probably the two weakest side of the group. I still tip them to win the World Cup, but they can’t be playing like they have been. USA have shocked me in this tournament, I didn’t think they would get a point out of any games but everyone they have played has been poor. I don’t think they will get past the Last-16 but I think they could give Belgium a run for their money.
Next up was a Group H match between Belgium and South Korea at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo. Belgium defeated Korea 1-0 and they finish top of Group H will all 9 points and they face USA in the last-16. South Korea finish bottom of the group with 1 point and they have been knocked out. Marc Wilmots insisted in the build-up that his side would not go easy on their opponents despite only needing a draw. But the he made seven changes from the Russia win, with Adnan Januzaj making his first international start. The Manchester United youngster and Belgium’s other attackers were exceptionally quiet in the opening stages, though, as South Korea were routinely invited forward. Hong’s men lacked any creative spark, however, allowing Belgium to gain a foothold and Dries Mertens inexplicably failed to give them the lead in the 25th minute as he blazed over from close range after pouncing on a loose ball. Korea eventually came to life in the final third after half-an-hour and Courtois was forced into action twice in quick succession. Hong and his team received a significant boost to their chances just before the break as Defour received a straight red card for a callous stamp on Kim Shin-Wook. With a place in the next round slipping from their grasp, Korea began the second half with renewed determination. South Korea took the game to Belgium as much as they could, but Wilmots’ men finally punished them on the counter-attack with 13 minutes to go.
Second-half substitute Divock Origi blasted a ferocious effort at Jung Sung-Ryong and, having failed to push the ball to safety, the goalkeeper was helpless on the rebound as Vertonghen smashed Belgium into the lead.
The Koreans almost levelled in stoppage time, but Courtois did well to stop Lee Keun-Ho’s flick at the front post and Belgium subsequently earned a third consecutive World Cup victory – sending them into the last-16 in high spirits.
Belgium won this group with ease as expected but struggled to score goals. They left it late in all their games to find a winner but in the end they all eventually came. The Red Devils are yet to face a big side in the competition and they will need to play well against one to prove if they are the dark horses. They will most likely face Argentina in the Quarter Finals if they beat USA, but I can’t see them getting past the South American giants. South Korea never looked wining as the quality of their team isn’t good enough and in the end they finish with a deserved point.
Marouane Fellaini played the full game for Belgium and played really well, he passing was on point and he won plenty of headers in each penalty boxes, but maybe he could of grabbed himself a goal. Adnan Januzaj made his first international start in this game and played 60 minutes in Belgium’s win. He showed glimpses of quality but was quiet for most of the night.
The other Group H game featured Algeria and Russia at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba. Russia were held to a 1-1 drew by Algeria, the result sees Algeria finish in 2nd place with 4 points and face Germany in the second round while Russia finished in 3rd place of their group with 2 points and have been eliminated from the tournament. Kokorin, whose place in the starting XI had been the subject of discussion in the build-up to the game, gave Russia a dream start when he rose to head Kombarov’s perfect left-wing cross into the top corner. Russia continued to have the better of the play and Oleg Shatov went close in the 26th minute with a swerving drive from distance that drifted narrowly wide of the right-hand post. Algeria tested Akinfeev for the first time in the 30th minute, the goalkeeper flying high to his left to tip Slimani’s header over the crossbar. Slimani tried his luck with another header two minutes before the interval, but this time his effort lacked power and was comfortably held by Akinfeev. Aleksandr Samedov went close to doubling Russia’s tally shortly after the resumption, but Rais M’Bolhi raced from his line to deny the midfielder. That save proved crucial as, on the hour-mark, Akinfeev came to palm away Brahimi’s free-kick but was beaten to the ball by Slimani, who nodded into an empty net.
Kerzhakov tested M’Bolhi 10 minutes later as Russia pressed to regain the lead, but the keeper got down well to his right to smother the well-struck shot. Although Russia saw a lot of the ball in the final stages, they were unable to breakdown a stubborn defensive line as Algeria celebrated a landmark achievement.
Russia have been really poor in this tournament and I expected them to progress before but their first performance against Korea have cost them.
Algeria on the other hand have been great, they scored the only goal Belgium have conceded in this World Cup and they put up an amazing performance against Korea Republic. They progress out of the group stage for the first time in their history but I don’t think they have a chance of getting past Germany.
Early today, Manchester United confirmed the news that Man United fans have been waiting for. They have signed Spanish Central Midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao on a four year deal with the option to extend after triggering the buy out clause on his contract.
Earlier in the morning Athletic came out and said they had rejected a bid from Manchester United for Ander Herrera due to tax on payment had not been paid. Shortly after Athletic said Herrera has paid himself out of his contract to leave Athletic which Man United would have give Herrera the money for. Then Man Utd announced he had been signed and is a Man Utd player.
Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs said: “Ander is a fantastic young player, with great energy and creativity. We believe him to be one of the brightest young prospects in Spain and I am certain he will be a big hit with the United fans. I’m delighted he has made the decision to come to Manchester and play his part in the club’s future. I’m looking forward to seeing him in action on our summer tour to America.”
Ander Herrera said: “Signing for Manchester United is a dream come true. I have played at Old Trafford for Athletic Club in the UEFA Europa League and it was one of the highlights of my career so far. I have joined United to do all I can to help the team reach the club’s objectives. Having arrived on Tuesday, I’m excited to now be living in Manchester and I can’t wait for my first game in United’s famous red shirt. I will never forget my time with Athletic Club and I’d like to thank the fans and staff for all their support and, above all, wish all my fantastic former team-mates all the best for the future.”
Herrera said to MUTV both David De Gea and Juan Mata have been in touch. “They told me this is the biggest club in the world.” He also said “Louis van Gaal is one of the best managers in the world. I want to learn a lot of things & can’t wait to play for #mufc.”
I’ve been told great signing for MUFC, I have never seen Herrera play so I don’t know what to expect from him. €36 million seems like a lot of money for him but Athletic would not let him go for less. Hopefully we will see a central midfield signing, I will be disappointed if we don’t but it’s nice to see us actually signing someone. Hopefully this is the first of many signings of the summer.
Also reports say a £30 million fee has been agreed for Southampton Left Back Luke Shaw and he has either had a medical at Carrington tonight or he will have one tomorrow. This has been a long anticipated transfer, Man Utd submitted a £28 million bid back in May and no news had been heard of since. But finally I looks like we will get our target and he will fill the position of Alexander Büttner who has just left Man Utd for Dinamo Moscow. He could be announced tomorrow morning.
People say MUFC are in big need of a Left Back, we are now because Büttner has left, but I think we need a Right Back, we only have one natural Right Back in Rafael. He is gets injured a lot and he is replaced by either Phil Jones or Chris Smalling who are Centre Backs and also get injured a lot.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @MUFCFUTBOL
@mufcfutbol 