Day 4; Japan vs. Australia, USA vs. Czech Republic, Italy vs. Ghana

Australia 3 – Japan 1

Shunsuke Nakamura 26’
Tim Cahill 84’, 89’
John Aloisi 92+’

The Socceroos stunned the world as they upset Japan to chalk three points in Group F. The Japanese were content on defending from the start as they relied heavily on the counter-attack. Aussie captain, Mark Viduka tested Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi early in the first half as his consecutive double strike was denied. Midway through the first half Naohiro Takahara tried to let one loose as he miscued his kick and saw the ball go wide. Moments later Nakamura chipped one in from the right flank that sailed over incoming Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer and into the net. Hiddink’s men were infuriated as Schwarzer was clearly impeded by Atsushi Yanagisawa, the goal should not have been allowed. The Japanese held onto their lead as they allowed the Aussies very few chances for the remainder of the half.

Soon after the break Hiddink sent in Cahill to change the tempo of the game and also the score but the Japanese defence looked a tight unit as they denied Australia with clear chances at the goal. Australia had a chance to level the score in the 69^th minute from a free-kick at the edge of the box directly in front of the goal as Viduka stepped up to take it only to have his shot denied by a solid block. The clock was running just when Cahill tapped in the equalizer in the 84^th minute off a loose ball from a corner. Cahill found himself in the thick of things again when in the 89^th minute he struck the winner from just outside the box. A couple of minutes into stoppage time John Aloisi took the game away from the Samurais when he moved past two defenders and netted in the sealer.

It seems as if whichever team Guus Hiddink takes under his wing shows immediate improvement but it is too soon to say as the Aussies will be facing heavy favourites Brazil.

USA 0 – Czech Republic 3

Jan Koller 5’
Tomas Rosicky 36’, 76’

The Czechs brought down the arrogant US team in their opening encounter as they opened their campaign with a bang. For the last few days the US squad wanted to make a statement to the world and failed miserably on the world’s greatest stage. The Czechs went ahead in the fifth minute when Zdenek Grygera’s cross from the right wing found the 6’8” Jan Koller, who had no problem bursting a header past the diving Kasey Keller. The US had the best chance in the 28^th minute as a long-range drive from Claudio Reyna struck low on the upright. Tomas Rosicky showed the US how a long-range shot is taken when in the 36’ minute he sent the ball screaming into the US net. The Czechs lost leading man Jan Koller just before the break to a hamstring injury as he was substituted.

The Czechs opened the second half with more salvoes as they threatened and sent a warning to the quickly deflating US side. Rosicky attempted another long-range shot but this time it found the woodwork and not the goal but he did not have to wait long when in the 76^th minute Rosicky went on a run and flicked the ball past the American keeper to make it 3-0.

The Americans did not walk the walk for their first game despite all the press conferences, it’s about time they concentrated on their game and not telling people to show them respect. As the Czechs showed, respect is earned on the field and not off it.

Italy 2 – Ghana 0

Andrea Pirlo 40’
Vincenzo Iaquinta 83’

Italy boosted their confidence as they got their World Cup campaign off to a flyer with a comprehensive victory over Ghana. Italy put the pressure on Ghana as they attacked the Ghana goal incessantly early on and set the pace. The Italians demonstrated surgical passing and a higher sensory perception as they set each other up for attack. Luca Toni let one rip as the ball bounced down off the crossbar and was safely guided to the keeper by John Mensah. Italy took the lead five minutes before the half by way of a belter from Andrea Pirlo when he launched the strike just outside the box.

Ghana came out in the second half composed and ready to equalize when they had a few chances but all that changed through a single error as Samuel Kuffour played the ball back to keeper Richard Kingston only to have it intercepted by the oncoming Vincenzo Iaquinta who then guided the ball into the open net.