England vs Germany. It has to happen, is it?

If fate is a person, he would be a very funny guy. I mean, picture this situation. You take a stroll around the neighborhood where you are living, then at one point, you meet someone that you know. I know people would classify such unplanned meetings as mere coincidences or pleasant surprise, but none would go as far as classifying it as fate. But picture this, it's quite funny how one could meet one another at that exact same point of time, and both of these guys were at the exact same location without any prior planning? I guess it's safe to say that fate plays a part, at least something resembling that. Well, I know blabbering about that is out of sync with the subject/title, and thus before psychiatrists out there or wannabes start diagnosing me with ADHD or anything of that sort, I'll delve into the topic at hand right away.

Yesterday was when the teams from Group C and Group D in World Cup 2010 were determined whether they continue on fighting in the last 16 of the competition, or simply have to prepare for an early flight back home. Amazingly, events clicked in such a way in the four matches between the two groups that the match between England and Germany was ensured. First up in Group C. With their newly acquired Italian Catenaccio skills, England managed to snatch a 1-0 win over Slovenia while the USA, amazingly scored a last minute goal against Algeria and also won 1-0. This put the USA on top of the group due to goal difference. England finished second in the group. The first part of the events has been fulfilled. In Group D, it was even more dramatic. Germany managed to yet snatch 1-0 win against a fighting Ghana side while in the other match, Serbia lost 2-1 to Australia with a very late equalizer chalked off for offside. This ensured Germany came on top while Ghana go through as the group's runners up. Thus, it means that Germany will meet England in the last 16. What a mouth watering prospect of a match, despite the fact that goals come at a premium in this World Cup. As for Ghana, again fate simply dictated that there have to be at least one African representative remaining past the Group Stages, and the dramatic 2-1 Australia vs Serbia match set that up nicely.

The animosity between England and Germany go a very long way, in football or outside of it. Those inclined in history would start picturing the intense and deadly trench warfare in World War I between the two sides, the “Christmas Truce” and all. Also, in World War II in which the Third Reich bombarded London in a Blitzkrieg campaign, as well as Britain and its Allies strike-back in their own strategic bombing campaigns against Germany. In football, many fans would evoke memories from 1966 when England won its first and so far only World Cup title on home soil by defeating the then West Germany in a very controversial nature especially due to Geoff Hurst's goal which did not cross the line. Fans from both sides are still debating about that goal. Moving forward, in 2002, English fans would keep on reminding their German counterparts about how they thrashed Germany 5-1 in Munich. Those events are basically those I could remember spontaneously at the moment, and there might well be even more animosity between these two nations.

No one had planned this meeting, at least not so early in the competition as most if not every fan had predicted England and Germany finishing top of their respective groups. Even if after two matches in these groups all 4 teams in the respective groups were still able to go through, after all that drama, there wasn't to be a twist of fate. England vs Germany, always a destiny to happen in this World Cup. Now, it's time for fans all over the world, not only English and German fans to start licking their lips over the prospects of this match which is sure to be as explosive as the trench warfare and the Blitzkrieg, but we are all confident that there will be the kind of fair play involved such as the “Christmas Truce” in the aforementioned trench warfare between these two great nations.

Slovenia 2-2 USA World Cup 2010 Group C

I am still stunned, absolutely stunned. What a soccer drama it was. (To English people out there, I am so sorry, this is USA's night). What a game of soccer I had the privilege to watch all the way from the start to finish. Throughout this World Cup so far, not a single day has passed without records being broken, history being set, basically there's no day without a memorable World Cup moment. From how Slovenia recorded their first ever victory in the World Cup finals, as well as the Greeks winning and scoring for the first time, the South Koreans winning for the first time outside of Asia, and so on and so on and so on. In this soccer match, history was about to happen, as Slovenia was on the brink of their first ever qualification from the Group Stage in the World Cup, but just like the previous match between Germany and Serbia, football has another surprise in store for all of us. Many people including myself were quite skeptical prior to this match, thinking that this match would have been a boring match which is likely to end 1-0 or even 0-0. My gosh how we were totally wrong. We thought this match was about to be consigned to only lurk beneath the shadow of the previous match today and totally forgotten. But this match totally eclipsed the Germany match. It was full of wonderful goals, controversies throughout the match, pure entertainment, heart-stopping moments, basically full of World Cup moments to remember. A family member commented, “It's strange how soccer could make people go crazy...” Well, I didn't answer his question solidly back then, but it's because of matches like this we as soccer fans totally go crazy and let all hell break loose.

As mentioned, this match is simply crucial for both teams. For the Slovenians, a win would make them the second country after Argentina to qualify to the last 16 of the competition, while for the USA, a victory for them will keep their World Cup hopes alive. Slovenia almost made history but in the end they were pegged back and even almost defeated but for a huge controversy while the USA would be regretting how their defense was so porous in the first half.

The first ten minutes of the match turned out to be quite boring as I was about to switch off for a moment when I was suddenly awaken, violently but pleasantly when the Slovenian number 10 V. Birsa scored with a thunderous long range shot. This is history in itself as this was the first long range shot that actually got into the goal perfectly. It seems that Jabulani has been conquered after all those controversy about this “crazy little soccer ball”. 1-0 for Slovenia. The very first controversial referee decision was at the 39th minute when R. Findley of USA was wrongly booked for handball and he will miss the next crucial match against Algeria. The US defense continued to be porous and they conceded one more goal at the 41st minute through Zlatan Ljublianjik from a great defense splitting through ball. 2-0 for Slovenia and interestingly, both of the goals celebration by Slovenian players slightly resembled the Balinese traditional kecak dance.

By half time, it looked like Slovenia was set to follow right behind Argentina to qualify for the last 16 of the competition, but then again, it would take a fool to jump into that conclusion before the final whistle has been blown, let alone at half time. The second half started with a bang at 47th minute when Landon Donovan, US' best and most well known player scored a wonder goal from a tight angle to peg one back for USA and give them a glimmer of hope to get something out of this match or even launching a remarkable comeback from 2 goals down. This match also had its own crazy moments, WWE moments to be precise, maybe it's USA playing, that's why. At 59th minute, Clint Dempsey was seen executing a DDT on a Slovenia defender that left the player on the ground for a while. At the 62nd minute, it was Jozy Altidore's turn to execute an arm bar takedown on Suler but he was countered by the Slovenian defender.

Another controversial moment came at 69th minute when Jozy Altidore burst through the Slovenian penalty box and he was pulled back by Suler. Suler was only given a yellow card when he should have sent off as he was the last man and he prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. USA tried to attack by substituting defender Oguchi Onyewu for striker Herculez Gomez. Prior to the sub, a few more controversial decisions against the USA by the referee but Slovenian players also started collecting yellow cards. One minute after that at the 81st minute Michael Bradley, the son of the US manager Bob Bradley heroically and dramatically clinched a great equalizer shooting with power from an Altidore flick on. This shook the stadium and stunned Slovenia who thought they have won this match. This also justified Bob Bradley's inclusion of his son when he was heavily criticized for a nepotism selection. The biggest controversy among all the controversies so far was at the 85th minute when the USA got a free kick near the penalty area near the corner flag and Maurice Edu scored for what supposed to be a marvelous winning goal but the Malian referee Coulibaly strangely chalked that totally legitimate goal off. From the replays, it could be seen that there was no foul, nor offside, nor any other infringements, and yet the goal was chalked off. What a moment that sent even me jumping in the air for that goal. But the referee got a decision correct when at the last minute, he didn't give Clint Dempsey a free kick as he simply slipped on the ground.

From this dramatic result, Slovenia didn't manage to become the second country after Argentina to qualify for the last 16 despite being ever so close to that achievement and that USA is still pretty much in the World Cup. Now, the USA have to win against Algeria to ensure their qualifications while for the rest of the possible permutations and combinations, it would totally depend on the result of the upcoming match between England and Algeria and since I don't like mathematics, and mathematics does not like me, I shall leave the mathematics to those who are well versed in the subject. In any case, it was truly a classic match with a complete entertainment package. Congratulations to both teams for this marvelous match!

Algeria 0-1 Slovenia World Cup 2010 Group C

Slovenia managed to make history by notching their first ever win in the World Cup finals at the expense of Algeria. There's not a lot to be taken notes of in this match as this match could have easily been a dour and boring 0-0 draw, save for the occasional chances from both teams as well as Slovenia defense's error which provoked their keeper Samir Handanovic's ire as well as the unnecessary fouls on Algeria's number 9 Ghezzal culminating to his silly sending off which arguably catalyzed Slovenia's victory in this match. It was an unfortunate and a wrong substitution made by Algeria's veteran coach Rabah Saadane. The flashy haired striker's first contribution on the pitch was a silly jersey pulling by the striker and his second yellow card was even sillier as he attempted a very twisted and silly version of Maradona's Hand of God by purposely touching the ball with his hand to just managed to lightly touch it as the ball was so far away from him. Slovenia immediately took advantage of the one man advantage as well as the fact that Algeria was shell-shocked as Robert Koren shortly scored with a rather soft shot which the Algerian keeper failed to catch and smother. That's the winning goal and now Slovenia is at the top of the Group C table.

PS: Robert Koren seemed to have attempted a low and soft shot as throughout the tournament, as well as throughout the Algeria vs Slovenia match, players have been trying to shoot from distance but the ball always flies way over the bar. Maybe it's right that the ball has an effect after all. Also, the ball's supposed “effects” will be scrutinized even more as England's Robert Green made a goalkeeping gaffe which allowed the USA to equalize in their match while Jabulani was made scapegoat.