Game 24: Netherlands vs Japan

The Netherlands and Japan both came into this game off of comfortable wins from their first matches, but it would be the Netherlands who would go atop the group with six points after coolly finishing off the Asian contenders 1-0 on Saturday.

The Netherlands dominated most of the match, but were unable to score many goals due to Japan's emulation of North Korea by placing six defenders behind the ball throughout most of the match. Playing a passing game, the Netherlands would patiently whittle away at Japan until the 53rd minute when Wesley Sneijder would score.

A blistering rocket of a shot, the keeper Eiji Kawashima would be fooled by the sudden spin of the ball, taking it slightly away from him only to blast off of his forearm and go into the back of the net.

Seeing themselves 1-0 down, Japan would begin to press by bringing in more attacking options, but very few of their shots would trouble the Dutch keeper Stekelenburg. With Japan trying to muster a goal, they would leave themselves vulnerable in the back, and substitute Ibrahim Afellay would have a couple one-on-one chances, the first in the 84th minute, and again in the 88th, but Kawashima would come up big to keep his team in the game.

Japan's best ever opportunity would sadly come at the very end of the match, when Shinji Okazaki would get onto the end of a brilliant crossing header and beat the defense, only to see his shot narrowly go over Stekelenburg's crossbar.

The Netherlands are now on a national-side record of ten straight wins, and will automatically qualify for the next round provided Cameroon and Denmark tie in their final match.

The Dutch were able to give a warning to teams at this years tournament, that even when going up against a solid defense, they still have the capability to score sudden and spectacular goals from range in the form of Sneijder and van der Vaart.  All in all, it was another solid performance by the Dutch, who maintained control of the ball and created a number of opportunities. The score could have easily been much higher if not for Kawashima's heroics, and if not for the trouble they had of having to navigate through a ten-man side defensive unit.

Netherlands is one of the favorites to contend for the title, and even though they have been runner-ups two times, once in 1974 and the following year 1978, they have never won the tournament. Could this year be different for Oranje?

Game 23: England vs Algeria

This has been a tough tournament for the Three Lions. Two successive draws in a row, with the team only having scored one goal in total, may spell doom for England after the 0-0 draw today against Algeria.

In truth, Algeria were the better team for much of the match. They connected their passes well, stood up to the tough English center-forwards, and made good runs on offense. Karim Ziani was a maestro on the offense, tormenting the English backline and constantly trying to set up opportunities for his fellow countrymen.

On the other side, Rooney could do very little. Because of the usual double-marking, Rooney had to constantly track back to the center of the field just to even get touches on the ball, something you generally don't want to see your central-forward and main goal-scoring machine doing.

"No excuses," said captain Steven Gerrard, "we weren't aggressive enough."

Constantly the English attackers would try to lay the ball off for each other, rather than going for goal on their own. The few times they did have shots on target, such as from Lampard, Gerrard, and Rooney, the ball had little strength behind it, making them comfortable saves for Algeria keeper Rais M'Bolhi.

Much like the United States, England now goes into their final game against Slovenia in a win-or-die situation. Even if England pull off a draw, they would more than likely not go through provided the Yanks also draw. If the United States win, England is out regardless, if the United States lose then England will go through with a win.

In other words: to move on, England has to win.

Algeria will be going into their final game against the United States with renewed confidence, and if they win then they could conceivably go through provided England also loses.

Group C is turning out to be one of the most exciting groups of this years tournament.

Game 22: Slovenia vs United States

On Friday the United States were able to pull off a dramatic come from behind effort to draw 2-2 against Slovenia. Coming in as favorites, the United States had to work hard to get back into the game, and would have won if not for some controversy on a disallowed goal.

For the first 45 minutes the United States could not muster any of their brilliance they displayed against England. The first wound would be inflicted in the 13^th minute after Valter Birsa was left all alone on top of the 18 yard box, firing in a bending shot which would catch Tim Howard completely flat footed.

Having conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes for the second straight game the United States began to push, but would be caught on a counter-attack when Oguchi Onyewu was left standing in the open, allowing Zlatan Ljubijankic to slide in behind him in the 42^nd minute to score in a one-on-one chance against Howard.

Going into half-time, the United States was trailing Slovenia, a country of only two million people, by a score of two to nil.

However, the United States would not be undone, and would put on display the best come-from-behind draw of the tournament thus far.

It would be non other than Landon Donovan, America's talisman, that would get the Yanks back in the game. After a long ball was played up the field, a Slovenian defender would have a lapse in judgment by missing the ball, allowing Donovan to gather and dribble into the box. Looking around, America's number 10 could find no open player at the front of goal; instead, he would carry the weight of the team, by going straight up to the Slovenian keeper and blasting a shot through his arms, burying it in the back of the net. The United States was back in the game.

From this point on, Slovenia would feel like they were being sucked in a hole. The Yanks would constantly press, coming close to equalizing numerous times from both Altidore and Donovan, the latter barely missing a cross from Dempsey. Then, in the 82^nd minute, American fans around the world would go crazy, as Altidore would send in a header while Herculez Gomez (a sub in the 80^th minute) would lead a defender away, allowing Michael Bradley to run onto the ball and blast it into the net, tying the game back up at 2-2.

Both sides would become desperate trying to push forward, and it would be in the 86^th minute that a Donovan freekick delivered to Maurice Edu in the box would be scored! Then disallowed. The referee from Mali had called a foul on Edu which, upon further review of the replays, was completely unjustified. Maurice Edu would be guilty of doing nothing but slipping his man, without touching him, to connect with a strong volley. Highlight reels will be showing this one for years to come, as the game will go down as one of the best come-from-behind victory-draw's ever.

“I'm not sure what the call was.” Stated Landon Donovan at the end of the match. “He wouldn't tell us what the call was.”

Coach Bradley, father of Michael Bradley who scored the equalizer was also confused: “We still don't know what the call was for” said the coach, “it's too early to tell so soon after the game.”

Regardless, the United States still came away with an excellent result, keeping them alive in the tournament. Had they lost, they would easily be facing elimination.

This now sets up some different scenarios. Regardless of other results, the United States has to win against Algeria in their final game. Then, if England beats Algeria later today, and then goes on to beat Slovenia, the United States will be through in second. If England ties or loses to Algeria, then ties or loses to Slovenia, the United States would go through in either first or second, depending on goal differential. If England beat Algeria, then tie Slovenia (or the other way around), then the United States will face goal differential against both the English and Slovenia.

Regardless, the game against Algeria is now a must win situation, the rest is up to fate.

Game 21: Serbia vs Germany

This would be a game dictated by the official, something a fan never likes to see.

Serbia would score the only goal of the match in the 38th minute when Milan Jovanovic would get onto a loose ball in the box, sliding it past the German goalkeeper.

The goal came shortly after Miroslav Klose had recieved his second yellow card (the sixth yellow in the first quarter of the game), to send the goal-scoring giant to the locker room. The sad thing is, is both fouls were rather tame, certainly not card worthy.

As a result of so many cards, Germany would not be able to play their usual physical game, for fear of later suspensions. They did, however, have a few chances. Sami Khedira, at the stroke of half-time would volley in a rocket of a shot, only to see it smack against the crossbar.

Then in the 60th minute Germany would be given a penalty kick, after a Vidic hand-ball in the box. However, Lucas Podolski would fail to deliver the shot, with Vladimir Stojkovic of Serbia coming up with a tremendous save.

The game would end Serbia 1 - 0 Germany.

Hopefully Germany can put this loss behind them, as they were very unfortunate with the amount of cards they received. However, with their extreme talent and desire, I can easily envision Germany still going through to the knockout stages. To do so they will need to win their last game against Ghana, then hope that either Ghana or Serbia lose one match, as Australia would need to overcome a lot of goal differential to edge out Germany for a spot to move on.

Game 20: France vs Mexico

First, let me start with this: Thank you Mexico for having the best fans in the world! Now, before I have my United States citizenship revoked, let me explain. This world cup has been dominated by one sound, the dreaded vuvuzela, and lacking a historic football theme, singing! But the Mexican fans changed this, instead of the vuvuzela, we heard chanting, instead of a bee-hive we heard cheering, drums, we saw passion and I loved it. So thank you Mexico fans, now please attend every match as the minority!

Anyway...

Today, Mexico took on France, and re-wrote history as they routed les Bleus 2-0 to come within a whisker of reaching the knockout stages.

With the defeat of France, Mexico snapped some interesting losing streaks. For one, the country has never beaten France; two, until today Mexico had never defeated a country that has won the World Cup. Sure, those facts may only interest the statistic snobs, but it does show growth for Mexican football, demonstrating how they can take on the world's elite teams.

When Javier Hernandez came on as a substitute to score Mexico's first goal in the 64th minute, by beating the off-sides trap to stage a one-on-one with Hugo Lloris, he became the second person in his family to score against France, after his Grandfather had done it previously. The second goal from Blanco, scored in the 79th minute on a penalty, is also important because in doing so he became the third oldest player to have ever scored in the World Cup finals, at the ripe young age of  thirty-seven.

And finally, the most important record setter, Mexico's win over France has essentially kicked hosts South Africa out of the tournament, when previously a host nation has never failed to make it out of the group stage. The reason I said Mexico did this, instead of Uruguay, is because South Africa does still have an extreme outside shot of qualifying, provided they beat France. However, now France has to really lay the 'smack-down' on the hosts to have any chance of qualifying, and when France get cornered, they often deliver, in some form or another (*ahem*, playoff against Ireland).

Mexico now go into their final game against Uruguay only needing a draw to qualify for the second round. With Argentina knocking on the door, and a tie meaning Mexico draws the South Americans, I expect the Mexicans to come out firing on all cylinders in an effort to win, and therefore draw one of the weaker teams from Group B (see: South Korea or Greece).

All in all, Mexico played spectacular football today. The link up play was spectacular, the attackers ran at the defenders, the defenders held off the attackers, you name it and Mexico did it; well, they could have finished their shooting more, but that is the story of this World Cup and a tale for another time.

I actually am terrified of Mexico's future team, with the likes of Dos Santos, Chicharito, and co., Mexico have a solid platform to build for the future. So whether win or lose in the next stage, I expect good things to come from my southern neighbor.

Did I mention Mexican fans are the best?