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Caution is the buzzword at the World Cup

Roar Guru
16th June, 2010
21

The group of death got underway yesterday, but there was a continued focus on caution as the most anticipated opening group game between Ivory Coast and Portugal petered out to a scoreless draw. This saw the continuation of an opening group game trend – carefulness.

Other than, dare I say, Pim Verbeek’s decision to play players out of position in an untried structure and formation, most World Cup teams have focused on playing with a compact defence and a level of care.

Uruguay and France played out a scoreless draw as neither team wanted to open up too far defensively.

Australia’s group rivals Serbia and Ghana both played a cautious style with only a late handball and resulting penalty deciding the encounter.

Surprisingly, it was only Italy who let fly with their tactics late in the game against Paraguay.

Boss Marcello Lippi might have been chasing the three points as an uncharacteristically attacking Italy piled on the pressure.

The caution is underlined through a relatively low 23 goals in 14 games.

Portugal and Ivory Coast moved the ball superbly across the park, but there was no endeavour – say for example – for a full back to get more attacking and leave their flank exposed.

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The Portuguese were too narrow with all their play directed through the centre of the pitch where captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco, along with their other attacking teammates were.

Ronaldo moved to wide areas for the final 20 minutes with some effect.

Ivory Coast didn’t whip in their corner in the dying seconds, opting to play it short and hear the final whistle.

Cautious? Don’t want to get hit on the counter attack?

Some teams have opened the game up in the second period – 15 of the 23 goals have been scored in the second half.

Expect to see some more goals and goalmouth action with teams searching for results in upcoming games, and throwing caution to the wind.

Have you enjoyed the first 14 games? Has there been too much caution?

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Goal of the day: Maicon (Brazil) – not quite sure if it was a deliberate shot or a cross, but it went in from an almost impossible angle thanks to some delicate curl as he put his hat in the ring for goal of the tournament.

Love to be: Winston Reid (New Zealand) – what a day for the 21-year-old, scoring a late goal to secure a first ever World Cup point for the Kiwis.

Hate to be: Ivory Coast and Portugal – a draw wasn’t a bad result, but a win would’ve been better. It now comes down to goal difference in games with heavyweights Brazil and a resilient Korea DPR.

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