FRANCE ON THE EDGE!

Pusan June 6th. World champions France teeter on the edge of first round elimination following their 0-0 draw with Uruguay in which Thierry Henry was sent off in a match filled with incident and controversy. With Denmark and Senegal having drawn 1-1 earlier in the day, France went into the match knowing that only a victory would give them a good chance of topping their group after their disastrous start against the Africans. The French started well, and after nine minutes David Trezeguet lobbed keeper Carini, but the goal was disallowed for offside. After losing Leboef to injury, France were dealt another blow after 26 minutes when Henry was given a red card for a lunging tackle on Romero ­ a harsh decision as there was no real intent to foul. The game became very scrappy, but just after the half hour Petit hit the post with a curling free kick, and Bartez saved well from a Uruguayan counter-attack. Towards the end of the half Dario Silva, after feigning injury, goes unpunished following a well over the top challenge on Viera. The second half saw France continue the pressure, with Wiltord, Trezeguet and Petit all having chances, but to no avail. In the dying seconds Barthez again saved with his feet, this time from the tricky Recoba. Goalless it ended though, and France now face Denmark having to win convincingly ­ ironically, if both France and Uruguay beat Denmark and Senegal respectively by more than two goals, then they'll both go through.

FIFA STAMP OUT 'SIMULATING' OR ARE THEY JUST SIMULATING!!

Rivaldo given $6,000 fine & slap on the wrists!
5th June. After FIFA's claim that they would stamp out diving and simulating injury, they have capitulated on the first big offence brought before them. Millions of fans watched as Rivaldo went down more spectacularly than the Titanic after being struck on the leg by a ball kicked at him by Turkey's Hakan Unsal. It's 2-1 thanks to a penalty that shouldn't have been, the opposition is down to 10 men, it's the last seconds of injury time and you have a corner - So why does one of the most talented players in the world act in such a way to get an opposition player sent off. He freely admitted the ball never hurt him, just that he wanted to get the players punished, so why did FIFA 'let him off'
These guys earn in excess of $100,000 a week so what kind of deterrent is a $6,390 fine - NONE WHATSOEVER!
GIVE THEM A 2 MATCH BAN! then they WILL think twice about doing it again. MARADONNA is arguably the best player (bar PELE) to have graced the football pitch, but ask any England fan what they think of him and it's 'cheating b@s*@*d' after 'the hand of God' incident which he was proud of!
Cum on FIFA, you've screwed the fans on the ticket front, at least lets keep the football fair and punish blatant cheating!

TICKETS - OR LACK OF!

5th June. It seems that FIFA and the organizing committees were so concerned with security / hooligans that they forgot that other 99.9% of the fans may actually like to get hold of a ticket to watch a game or two. So far, there has been no trouble, some pretty good games, good stadiums, sensible treatment by security staff at the grounds, good weather, and a generally good atmosphere. But what this WC will become known for, despite all the positive points, is the complete mess that surrounds the ticket distribution.

• Last weekend's games in Japan alone saw 37,000 vacant seats.
• Yesterday's games - Russia v Tunisia and Germany v Ireland - both games had 6,000 empty seats.
• FIFA is now doing online sales - but is basically inaccessible due to the flood of hits.
• For the 12 remaining group games in Japan, from 8th to 14th June, 39,600 tickets will be sold through the internet(half) and by phone(half).

The details of this are to be announced later today.
The numbers are almost unbelievable !!!
A screw up on a massive scale - who suffers? - Joe Fan!!

Let's Blame Someone

Prime Minister, Koizumi, has told his Sports Minister,Toyama, to sort it out. He's been in touch with JAWOC and FIFA. The fun and games now start as everyone blames everyone else. FIFA - Byrom - JAWOC/KAWOC....take your pick. To keep things simple - who's show is it? Answer - FIFA. It's their fault !!! That is where the buck should stop...who is in charge of FIFA ? Blatter - solution - he should step down.
How difficult can it be to sell tickets, when you have got 4 years to plan it ??!!
Again, they were so concerned with them ending up in the wrong hands, they forgot to get them to the right hands !!
How come there were at least 3 major web sites selling tickets to all games at inflated prices, and they have now set up distribution points in Tokyo ??
They insist on their site that they have nothing to do with FIFA. How did they get their tickets ??

A Final Thought.

Let's hope that the sponsors make a noise about this and demand compensation. This may shake up FIFA and stop corruption (at worst) and waste of money (at least).
All of this wasted revenue should be in the hands of grass roots associations/clubs - benefiting true fans and players around the world. FIFA has become too big and powerful - it thinks it can get away with anything......they need to be taught a lesson.

LUCK OF THE IRISH? OR UNLUCKY NOT TO WIN?

Keane's injury time strike keeps Irish hopes high.
5th June. Miroslav Klose scored his 4th goal of the campaign, with another header from a perfect Ballack cross, that kept the Germans in front for 70 minutes in their battle with the feisty Irish at Ibaraki. Both teams played some good attacking football, but the Irish kept most of the possession (60%). Damien Duff played his heart out and was unlucky not to score when he found himself through the German defence, forcing one of many fine saves from veteran goalie Kahn. The Germans seemed content to strike on the counter and it very nearly paid off when Janckers chip over an advancing Given narrowly went wide. Keane, who'd had a number of efforts saved already, finally hit the mark in stoppage time when he ran onto a flick on from Niall Quinn. Chesting the ball down, he went past his marker shooting at close range. Kahn almost deflected it out but it found the net off the inside of the post giving the Irish a deserved equalizer. Mick Macarthy's face was a picture of first disbelief then Jubilation, the Irish fans erupted in a roar but the Germans stood in disbelief. The final whistle blew leaving the Irish feeling that a win over Saudi should seal them a spot and the Germans knowing they'll need a result over Cameroon!

CO-HOSTS ENTER THE FRAY

5th June. Co-hosts Japan and Korea began their campaigns yesterday and emerged with satisfying results. In Saitama, Japan were unlucky not to beat Belgium - settling for a 2-2 draw after going behind to a Marc Wilmots overhead kick in the 57th minute. Japan struck back immediately - Takayuki Suzuki stabbing home Ono's long pass following hesitation in the Belgian defence. Spurred on by a partisan crowd of over 55,000, the home team took the lead after 68 minutes, Arsenal's Junichi Inamoto taking on the Belgian defence and hammering home a left-footed shot from just inside the box. Japan's jubilation was short-lived however - Belgium drew level several minutes later when some naive defending left Van der Heyden time in the penalty area to lob the ball over advancing keeper Narazaki. Japan continued to press forward however, and were unlucky not take all three points when Inamoto was adjudged to have fouled a Belgian defender before turning to force the ball into the net.
In Seoul, a fanatical crowd of 55,000 cheered South Korea to a 2-0 victory against a lacklustre Poland side. Veteran striker Hwang Sun Hong gave them the lead on 26 minutes, turning sweetly in the box to beat keeper Jerzy Dudek at his near post. The Koreans continued to dominate and extended their lead in the 53rd minute when midfielder Yoo Sang Chul, who like Hong plays for the J league's Kashiwa Reysol, drove a blistering shot into the net from just outside the box. Korea had several other chances to score but had to survive a late onslaught from Poland before emerging as victors.
With the USA and Portugal to come, the Koreans now have an excellent chance of progressing to the second stage, while Japan, who face Russia and Tunisia, are in with a shout, particularly if they can reproduce their second half form.

WHAT? NO HOOLIGANS?

Tokyo June 4th. Perhaps it's a bit early to start thinking of a completely trouble-free World Cup as far as fan violence goes, but if the early signs are any indication of how the rest of the tournament goes, then there's likely to be a lot less trouble than expected. The Japanese media reported on the England Sweden came in relieved but somewhat bemused tones on Monday, showing camera crews and photographers scouring the stadium and Roppongi, one of the main entertainment districts, looking for hooligans but finding only groups of pissed & rather than pissed off - English and Irish fans singing and mingling with the locals. Ironically, the only arrests made were three Japanese who'd been letting off fireworks in a crowded street. All this will have come as a huge relief to the organisers, and left those who'd predicted widespread violence (even rape) feeling a bit silly. It seems the combination of pre-emptive restrictions on travel from the UK, combined with the distance and cost involved, have succeeded in reducing the number of hooligans to a minimum – at least for the moment. With the England/Argentina game on Friday comes perhaps the greatest likelihood of trouble, and things could still turn sour as thousands of fans converge on a much smaller area than Tokyo, whose size has no doubt dissipated the influx.> Whatever happens, we'll be there to bring you first hand reports of the game itself and of the experiences of ordinary fans.
Andy Hoodith

ENGLAND STRUGGLE TO DRAW WITH SWEDEN

Pressure on Sven's Men as Argentina Take Initiative
Saitama June 2nd. England and Sweden shared the points last night as Argentina overcame Nigeria 1-0 to put them in the driving seat in Group F. England started quite well, taking the game to the Swedes in the first half and deservedly taking the lead after 24 minutes when center-back Sol Campbell rose above the Swedish defence to power home David Beckham's corner. With Beckham and the rest of the midfield winning most of the possession England looked reasonably comfortable, despite creating few clear-cut chances. However, they failed to control the game in the second half, allowing Sweden more time and space on the ball and paid the price in the 59th minute. Sloppy defending by Danny Mills gave Niclas Alexandersson the ball on the edge of the box and he battered it past the flailing Seaman. England then lost Beckham, who looked tired after his 7-week injury layoff, and Sweden took control, exposing the England defence and creating several chances, notably through Lucic, Larsson and Linderoth. England's response was weak & Owen and Heskey had efforts on goal but didn't really threaten, and with no one taking leadership responsibility to raise the tempo, they were a little fortunate to come out of the game with a point.
England's result makes Friday's clash with Argentina all the more critical. The South American's went top of the group following a 1-0 win over Nigeria in Ibaraki. Although they had to wait until the 63rd to take the lead & Batistuta rising above the Nigerian defence to head home Veron's corner – Argentina were always in control of the game. Veron and Ortega both had chances and after losing Kanu to injury, Nigeria never looked like making an impact. So Argentina go into Friday's game in form and with confidence, while England must pick themselves up and force a result if they are to qualify for the knockout phase.

DANES AND GERMANS TAKE THEIR LEADS

Germans score 8 in Saudi slump
June 1st. Miroslav Klose scored the first hat trick of this World cup as Germany totally out played and out powered a very nervous Saudi Arabia squad. Scoring all three with his head he led the way as the Germans totally dominated the air. The Saudis could barely hold onto possession when they got the ball, let alone mount much of an attack. The Germans finished the rout with a well taken strike by Bierhoff for their biggest ever World Cup Finals win.
Holland strike gains tie for Ireland
As expected, Cameroon are proving to be tough cookies as Ireland found out in Niigata. Ex-J.league striker, Patrick Mboma rose to the occasion of returning to his old stomping grounds, by opening the scoring against Ireland. Poor marking left him open to latch onto a cutback from the right, which he had no trouble in finishing into an open net. Ireland fought hard but found the going tough against the burly Africans. They finally pulled level when Matt Holland got the ball just outside the Camaroon box. He let fly with a fierce low drive into the bottom left corner. This draw will make for an interesting race in group E
Tomasson heads Denmark to top.
2 goals by Jon Dahl Tomasson were enough to take Denmark to the top of group A in Ulsan. His first goal near the end of the first half was cancelled out by a fine volley soon after the break. However he was later left wide open to loop a header over the stranded Uruguayan keeper for a 2-1 final score line.

SEOUL OPENING SHOCKER

FRANCE STUNNED BY SENEGAL IN TOUGH OPENER
Seoul May 31st. In a display of both tough and skillful football, the underdogs Senegal, making their first appearance at the World Cup finals, silenced favorites France and the world with an historic 1-0 victory. Reminiscent of Cameroons defeat of Argentina at Italia '90, Senegal held onto their 30th minute lead despite both Henry and Trezeguet hitting the woodwork. The goal came from a well worked move down the left. Diouf hopped over a lunging Leboeuf to take the ball to the goaline and fire in a low cross. Petit's attempted clearance was kept in by Barthez only for the ball to drop in front of Bouba Diop, who happily knocked it in. The celebration at the corner flag was an event in itself but nothing compared to the jubilation when the final whistle blew.
Brightly coloured Senegalese fans were dancing in the stands while the look on Zidane's face was one of abject misery. It's quite ironic that most of the Senegal players ply their trade in France, whereas the french team are spread all around the rest of Europe!!
The plot thickens!