June 16: The Daily World Cup Wrap

African teams still without a win and Ivory Coast are now finished, despite two impressive performances. Angola “did a Trinidad” though, holding on with ten men for a draw against Mexico to claim their first point. But the World Cup is over anyway because we can just hand the trophy to Argentina now, can’t we?

Daily Wrap Awards:

Top Man: Joao Ricardo. The new Shaka Hislop.

Top Team: Angola. Argentina a close second.

Top Goal: Cambiasso’s for Argentina. Great passing move.

Bit of Skill: Carlos Tevez’s dribble on the way to scoring Argentina’s fifth.

Saw That Coming: Mexico struggling to score sans Borgetti.

But Not That: Serbia & Montenegro’s stingy defence conceding six. Ouch.

Argentina vs Serbia & Montenegro | LiveBlog | Argentina World Cup Gear, Serbia & Montenegro World Cup Gear

Argentina 6 (Rodriguez 6, 41 Cmabiasso 31, Crespo 78, Tevez 84, Messi 88)
Serbia & Montenegro 0

Argentina made a mockery of the “Group Of Death,” thrashing Serbia & Montenegro and qualifying for the last 16 with a game to spare. The score is impressive enough, but some of Argenina’s football was even more impressive. Lots of sharp, one touch passing but none of it just for show, I can’t remember seeing a team play this well.

No time to go through all the goals, but the jewel in the six goal crown was the second. Cambiasso’s finish after receiving a back heel from Crespo was nice enough, but it was the culmination of a beautiful, lengthly 24 (I think) pass move that covered most of the pitch. It was enough to get an increasingly slim looking Diego Maradona dancing in the stands.

Lionel Messi came off the bench to put the icing on the cake with a confident finish, adding his name to the fearsome list of Argentina’s attackers. The really scary thing for all non-Argentenians is that every single attacker, whether starting or on the bench, looks in fantastic form.

As for Serbia & Montenegro, coach Ilija Petkovic’s expression (which you can see in the video highlights) said it all.

Fan Photo:Argentina fans celebrate one of their many goals…

Fan Video: Argentina fans singing…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the understandably jubilant Argentina page or the gracious in defeat Serbia & Montenegro page .
• Buy World Cup tickets to Argentina and Serbia & Montenegro’s next matches.

Netherland vs Ivory Coast | LiveBlog | Netherlands World Cup Gear, Ivory Coast World Cup Gear

Netherlands 2 (Robben 23, van Nistlerooy 27)
Ivory Coast 1 (B. Kone 38)

Another good performance from Ivory Coast, but another defeat. Robben was in good form again, but had also located his passing boots. Van Persie whipped a free kick into the top corner to open the scoring afte 23 minutes and Ruud van Nistelrooy gratefully accepted an Arjen Robben pass (imagine his surprise!) and finished expertly to make it 2-0 before the half-hour mark. Bakary Kone pulled one back before half time when he beat two defenders and lashed the ball past Edwin van der Saar, setting up an exciting second 45.

Ivory Coast chased an equaliser all second half, and Robin van Persie had to intelligently clear one Drogba header off the line with his chest, putting both hands behind his back to avoid any accusations. Despite battling hard, the equaliser never came, and Ivory Coast are out despite two impressive performances, while Holland advance with Argentina.

Video highlights here

Fan Photo:Dutch fans celebrate van Persie’s goal with an embrace, aw…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Netherlands or Ivory Coast team pages. .
• Buy World Cup tickets to Netherlands and Ivory Coast’s next matches.

Mexico vs Angola | LiveBlog | Mexico World Cup Gear, Angola World Cup Gear

Mexico 0
Angola 0

Bad result for Mexico, but Angolans will be overjoyed. Mexico very much missed injured goal machine Jared Borgetti, as they struggled to break down the supposed Group D whipping boys. Joao Ricardo looked unbeatable in the Angolan goal making a string of saves and even a mighty impressive one handed catch (featured in highlights).

Even when Angola were reduced to ten men following Andre’s second yellow card for handball, Mexico couldn’t score past the Palancas Negras. Mexico’s coach Ricardo Lavolpe looked in agony on the sidelines, and this goalless draw won’t help him to quit smoking.

It does make Group D interesting though, with both these teams still having a chance to progress.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo:This Mexico fan is understandably frustrated…

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Visit the understandably fruastrted Mexico page or the Angola pages where our Angola blogger Pasha “can hardly type I am so excited.”
• Buy World Cup tickets to Mexico and Angola’s next matches.

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

In Other News:

Australia are pondering a bid to host the 2014 World Cup.

The England blog has some conclusive video evidence that Peter Crouch climbed all over his marker to score England’s first.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Brent Sancho proposed to his girlfriend via text message before the game against England.