Day 3 WC

Today's games is what I have come to expect from opening games. Teams get very little time to prepare for a match and only get to play with each other a few months every year so the first game is kind of a tune-up to see where they stand. Games are very tight and no team wants to lose the first one and better to start off with a point than a loss, and winning one of these games is a huge advantage in advancing past the first round.
I did not get to see much of the Greece-South Korea game but from what I saw it was a totally one sided affair. South Korea is known as a country not loaded with talent but with an amazing work ethic that causes problems and forces teams to play controlled because they will pounce at any loose ball or poor touch. Greece seemed to have no answer and lack the class to break down the Korean defence. Well played by Korea I expect they will have a much better showing than their brothers to the North.
Although I did sleep in late I made sure I was up in time to watch the Argentina-Nigeria tilt. The Argentinians domintated the match but there was a noticable problem. Lionel Messi is the worlds greatest player and he has all the tools to be the best. Fast, powerful, quick hard shot, uncanny dribbling, always seems to know where other are and can sometimes create that moment of magic that keeps everyone on their toes when he is running at defenders. He showcased all of these talents today but could not find the back of the net. Playing for Barcelona on La Liga he seems to be unstoppable but when wearing his countries colors he can not seem to access those same skills. Argentina is a very talented squad but all of their forwards are all selfish and used to being their teams best striker and so not used to assisting teamates and sacrificing for the good of team and country. It will be interesting to see if this team can mesh before its too late and they have to go back home disappointed yet again.
Now to the BIG game. USA-England. What a game, both teams played well but the class of England never was shown. They are more talented than the Yanks at almost every position and yet the work rate and sheer determination of the USA team proved that even the big guys take a beating if they do not capitalize on the chances they have. The goal that Clint Dempsey scored was obviously very lucky and the US team can not continue to count of goal keeping troubles to advance. Jozy Altidore came the closest to scoring late in the game but his shot glanced of Robert Greens arms and off the post but it was a good chance showing that the US will be a player at this Cup. I wouldn't think that England would have over looked the Americans but maybe they need time to adjust too but 1 point in the opening game is never a bad thing.