June 14: The Daily World Cup Wrap

What a day. Spain finally showed up for a World Cup, though Ukraine won’t appreciate their timing. Saudi Arabia and Tunisia gave us a dramatic finish with two goals in the final few minutes, while Germany and Poland’s slide tackle-tastic encounter had everything you could ask for in a local rivalry. Except for a decent standard of football.

Daily Wrap Awards:

Top Man: Artur Boruc. Hislop-esque until the 91st minute.

Top Team: Spain. Who else?

Top Goal: Zied Jaziri’s scissor kick. Angola’s Akwa turns green with envy.

Bit of Skill: Carlos Puyol’s tackle, dribble, one-two then cushioned header to Torres. Got the lot.

Saw That Coming: Sami Al Jaber scoring. It’s what he does.

But Not That: Spain’s demolition of Ukraine. Over-achievers today.

Spain vs Ukraine | LiveBlog | Spain World Cup Gear, Ukraine World Cup Gear

Spain 4 (Alonso 13, Villa (17, 48 [pen], Torres 81)
Ukraine 0

Viva Espana! Not just a big win, but a big win against a decent team. Aragones’s decision to play David Villa ahead of Raul paid early dividends when the Valencia forward scored a free kick (via deflection) in the 17th minute, doubling Spain’s lead after Alonso had headed home from close range in the 13th. Villa then converted a penalty after Vladislav Vashchuk had tried to pull Torres’ shorts down in the box. Vashchuk got a red card for his attempt to expose Torres’ underwear to a global audience. The Ukrainians slipped below USA to the wooden spoon position when Carlos Puyol made a solid tackle, dribbled up field, played a one-two then nodded the ball down for Torres to fire home a fourth.

Shevchenko didn’t have a great day, but he’s recently returned from injury and came up against an in-form Puyol. With Tunisia and Saudi Arabia still to come, Ukraine could still bounce back, finish second and fulfill their potential as dark horses. Spain look like genuine contenders to win it all. Unless they lose on penalties again.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photos: Spanish and Ukrainian fans…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thank-you to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Spain or Ukraine team pages. The Spanish one will probably be cheerier.
• Buy World Cup tickets to Spain and Ukraine’s next matches.

Tunisia vs Saudi Arabia | LiveBlog | Tunisia World Cup Gear, Saudi Arabia World Cup Gear

Tunisia 2 (Jaziri 23, Jaidi 92+)
Saudi Arabia 2 (Al Qahtani 57, Al Jaber 84)

Not a classic, but this game had it’s highlights as the two teams battled their way to a draw. Jaziri’s scissor kick was perfection, Al Qahtani’s equaliser had classy written all over it as he beat two defenders to a cross to flick the ball into the roof of the net, and seeing Sami Al Jaber coming off the bench to win the game for the Saudi’s seemed to confirm his legendary status. Except he didn’t win it, because Jaidi’s injury time header squared things up again.

Tunisia might feel they deserved all 3 points, having been the slightly better team despite only equalising in the dying moments. Even Stevens then, but it won’t do either team any favours unless they can get results against Ukraine and Spain.

Video highlights here (though for some reason it’s “only available in certain areas,” not sure why).

Fan Photo: Things were a little too noisy for this Tunisia fan…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thank-you to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Head for the Tunisia or Saudi Arabia pages to discuss this game further.
• Buy World Cup World Cup tickets to Tunisia and Saudi Arabia’s next matches.

Germany vs Poland | LiveBlog | Germany World Cup Gear, Poland World Cup Gear

Germany 1 (Neuville 91)
Poland 0

This was like watching lower division English club football. Thousands, nay millions of full-blooded slide tackles, long balls galore and more bookings than a professional Santa Claus gets at Christmas time. Definitely entertaining in its own way, but lacking finesse. Things were fairly even until Poland’s Sobolewski was sent off in the 74th minute for a second booking. Klinsmann accelerated Germany’s attack by bringing on Neuville and Odonkor, and their pace caused mayhem for the under manned Polish defenders (suggesting Herr Klinsmann might know what he’s doing after all). Artur Boruc produced a string of saves to keep the hosts off the score sheet, until Neuville slid (fittingly) to get on the end of Odonkor’s cross in the 91st minute.

Poland still alive in Group A, but if you’ve got anything you desperately want to say to them you’d better do it tonight, they’ll be finished this time tomorrow if Ecuador beats or ties with Costa Rica.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo: German fans celebrate their late winner…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thank-you to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Go the Germany page to celebrate, or the Poland page to commiserate.
• Buy World Cup tickets to Germany and Poland’s next matches.

Have a look what today’s results have done to the group tables.

In Other News:

Our Brazil blogger is happy that Brazil is now just another team.

Fergie has secretly been getting his own back on Sven for the whole Rooney thing by letting Dwight Yorke train at Old Trafford.

Mexico fans could have been celebrating with a disguised Kikin Fonseca after their teams 3-1 win over Iran.

The ESPN backlash has begun on the USA blog.