Portugal v Denmark: Probably the best match of the tournament!
14/06/12 01:53
Footcall 2012 Day 6...
Here we go again with another couple of matches to determine the success or failure of the Footcallers dreams. First up was Denmark against Portugal in Group B. We really haven't had a dull game in the tournament yet and this one didn't disappoint either, possibly the best so far. Portugal, having lost to germany, really needed a victory and they started well powered in a near post header. I was updating the Footcall league table at this point to see it dynamically change everyone's positions as they bobbed up and down the table as the goals went in. The only thing was I missed the Portuguese second goal by Postiga as I was dealing with my courier! On my return, Denmark scored what I thought was the equaliser so I updated the table accordingly only to receive several text messages telling me I'd got it wrong! Realising my error I corrected it and thanked those eagle-eyed viewers, at least this proves some people are interested enough to follow their Footcall fortunes live :-) And so it finished the first half with Portugal one ahead. The exciting open attacking game continued well in the second half as poor old Cristiano Ronaldo pi**ed away two golden opportunities as he went one on one with the keeper, the Brazilian Ronaldo certainly wouldn't squandered such chances in his hay day! Then that many Bendtner nutted in his second goal to bring the Danes level again. Now the tension rose as we entered the last ten minutes but Silvestre Varela sealed the match for Portugal after bumbling his first swing at the ball he then powered it in the corner of the Danish net! That 3-2 win for Portugal makes the group wide open with much to play for in their final games.
The other match in Group B saw the resolute Germans take on the flair boys of the Netherlands in the Metalist Stadium. Van Persie missed a good chance to take the lead but it was Mario Gomez the German number 23 who hooked a through ball into the left hand corner of the Dutch net. Just 14 minutes later he did it again, connecting with Schweinsteiger's perfectly weighted pass and he banged in the top left corner of the goal a la Michael Owen (18) in 1998. The Germans were bossing this game and Holland looked all at sea. In the second half Holland did spark to life when Van Persie broke into the edge of the German box and smashed in peach of a goal to bring the game to life. Suddenly there were orange shirts everywhere as they pushed for the equaliser. But the Germans are masters at running down the clock and they didn't panic as kept the Dutch at arms length for the remaining few minutes. Another three points for Germany and now three goals for Gomez in the back pocket, surely a contender for the golden boot?
And so to the Footcall league...
There were a load of one pointers but would you believe only two people got Germany to win 2-1 and I'm gonna give special credit to my mate Sean Broad and his team HodgSpurs who must be crushed at the news of Harry leaving Tottenham but can take some comfort for his first red square of his Footcall campaign, he now has girlfriend, Leanne Maloney in his sights! Don't worry Sean, rumour has it Harry will get a tasty £3m when he leaves Spurs and after tax, that's £3m ;-)
The second match brought more joy for the Footcallers, Manoj Gupta picked up another three to cruise into third place, Dan (the man) Schroeck and Johnny JT Trent also move further into contention. Oliver Whitfield, Stuart Acott, Gary Thorp, Stephen (I've left me bus running) Hills, Simon (where's Julia now?) Dudson and Darren (not again?) Alldritt all gathered valuable reds to do their league position no harm at all. Matt (or is it Mat?) Green and Tracey (Fancy Nancy) Beattie picked up threes but only one man scored a perfect 6 today, it's the salad man, James Ridley who rockets into 15th place with his first exact predictions of the tournament. For those of you wondering, his team name is a Gavin and Stacey reference.
Let's see how the Irish get on against Spain tomorrow.
Until then...
Dj