The group phase of South Africa 2010 is providing more jitters for the supposed favourites than anticipated at the outset of the tournament.
A schoolboy error by England goalkeeper Robert Green gifted first opponents USA a 1-1 draw, an occurance which should not disguise the fact that Fabio Capello’s team was collectively pedestrian at best attracting harsh “kick and rush” criticism from former German great Franz Beckenbauer.
The Germans were one of the few ‘heavyweights’ to impress with a 4-0 canter victory over Australia as aging Italian and French sides played out bore draws.
Portugal’s much anticipated ‘Group of Death’ opener against the Ivory Coast also resulted in a sharing of the points – the Africans looked the better team although Ronaldo did have the ball in the back of the net only for the referee to decide that a foul had preceded the strike.
Argentina, Brazil and Holland did make winning starts but failed to live up to their top billing as the latest global football feast still awaits its first big moments.
