The Grand Old Man of Mexico: Rafa Marquez

Mexico beat Croatia 3-1 in Racife in a thrilling encounter, enabling the North Americans to set up a mouth-watering Round of 16 clash with The Netherlands. A game that only came to life in the second half, both teams controlled the game at regular intervals, yet with Croatia chasing the game all the time – Mexico needed just a draw to qualify as runners-up of Group A – the Balkan country ultimately capitulated in the face of Mexican pressure.

The first half was a half of contradictions. Croatia had clearly more of the ball and had El Tri chasing shadows for most of the half, with the possession stats indicating the European nation had almost 63% of the ball with half an hour played, yet it was Mexico that came closest to scoring. The first chance was a piledriver of a shot from Hector Herrera that beat Croatia ‘keeper Pletikosa completely beaten, only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar. The second chance saw Peralta burst through the Croatian defence with the ball, only to slip on the greasy pitch just as he was about to pull the trigger.

However, the second half was when the game exploded into life. Mexican ‘keeper Ochoa, their saviour in the previous match, had to play the role of the saviour again, denying Mario Manzukic and Ivica Olic in quick succession.

However, a quick break down the right hand flank for Mexico resulted in Peralta sliding the ball for Guardado. Which is when all hell broke loose, the Mexican winger’s shot blocked by Croatian skipper Dario Srna’s arm in the box, yet the Uzbek referee waved the penalty appeals away, instead pointing for a corner. Mexico thought poor refereeing decisions were going to affect their game again. But one man stood strong. The Grand Old Man of Mexico, their captain. Up stepped Rafa Marquez.

As the ball swung in, Marquez leaped as he has never leaped before, all 35 years of him. He planted his head firmly on the ball, guiding it past a despairing Pletikosa. Cue a green explosion at Racife asth eMexican crowd went wild. Guardado and Chicharito added their goals in quick succession as Croatian coach Niko Kovac could only stare in disbelief at the way his team capitulated.

Ivan Perisic thought he had restored some pride by becoming the first player at this World Cup to beat Ochoa, starting and ending a sublime move that came a little too late. But even that consolation goal was spoilt by a reckless lunge by Ante Ravic on the outstanding Moreno, getting the Croatian midfielder sent-off, ending what was an exciting match on a sour note.

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The Great Wall of Mexico

Guillermo Ochoa had the game of his life as Brazil and Mexico played out a 0-0 draw at Fortaleza tonight. Repeatedly frustrating the Brazilians, Ochoa, along with his central defenders Rafael Marquez and Rodriguez shut out the threat of the home side’s attacks.

Ochoa has had to wait for his turn to don the ‘keepers gloves in the World Cup. Twice previously he had travelled with his country’s contingent – to Germany in 2006 and to South Africa in 2010; both times he was kept warming the bench. Yet the Mexican goalkeeper is very highly regarded in his country, especially by coach Miguel Herrera, and tonight he showed why he is.

Twice in either half he was forced to pull off a stunning save to keep his side in the game, yet by his own reactions and by that of his teammates, he was not doing something extraordinary – he was merely pulling off what for him were routine saves on the biggest stage of them all – at the World Cup in Brazil, against Brazil.

The first save came halfway in the first half, when a cross from Dani Alves found a carelessly marked Neymar at the penalty spot. The Barcelona attacker directed his header at the near post, and on any other day, it would have been a certain goal. But Ochoa had other ideas, leaping sharply to his right and clawing the \ball away from the goal. Later, replays showed how close it was to being a goal –cameras showed that had the ball travelled even a few centimetres more, it would have been a goal. 

The second save came towards the end of the first half, as a cross by Alves was chested down by Thiago Silva, breaking free for Paulinho, who, with the goal at his mercy, suddenly was confronted by the sight of Ochoa bearing down on him. The Tottenham midfielder tried to smash the ball past the keeper but Ochoa stayed strong and the resultant ricochet was cleared easily.

The third save made by Ochoa was probably the best of the lot. A cross in by Bernard from the left was superbly controlled by Neymar, who then shot at goal on the half-volley, yet the Mexican keeper was at hand to deny him again.

Finally the fourth save, around the 80 minute mark, was when a Neymar freekick from near the corner flag was superbly met by Silva, yet Ochoa was able to pull off a reflex save from point blank range.

But it was not all an Ochoa show. Marquez and Rodriguez time and again were there to close down the Brazillian attack, playing a highline which caused Fred to drift offside more often than not. Thursday’s hero Oscar was harried and bullied mercilessly by fullback Moreno and finally Giovani dos Santos, Peralta and later Javier Hernandes and Raul Jiminez, though unable to really cause a lot of problems for Brazil ‘keeper Julio Cesar, kept the former QPR man guessing with potshots from all over the pitch.

At the end of the day, Brazil will reflect on the match as 2 points dropped, with Mexico will be more than happy with the night’s result. All eyes will be on tomorrow’s game between Croatia and Cameroon. If Cameroon wins, Mexico are virtually guaranteed a place in the next round as Cameroon’s final game is against Brazil. If Croatia wins, Mexico just need a draw to see them to the round of 16.

“To watch highlights, video on demand, fun moments, skills & dribbles, and live streams of the FIFA World Cup 2014 visitwww.livsports.in now!” 

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Fingers pointed at refereeing as Mexico beat Cameroon

Mexico beat Cameroon 1-0 in what was ultimately a close encounter in a crucial Group A game of the World Cup. A drenched afternoon in Natal, which saw tropic storm-like conditions, proved to have a very exciting game, where the ball was pinged from end to end.

Poor refereeing decisions plagued the first game between Brazil and Croatia and this game was no different, which saw 3 goals being chalked off in the first half, arguably two incorrectly. Mexico was livid to see two legitimate goals chalked out and seeing the ultimate scoreline of 1-0 in favour of the North American country must have come as a relief to Fifa most of all in what is supposed to be their showpiece tournament.

It was a bittersweet day for Giovani dos Santos. He may have ended up on the winning side but at a personal level, he has every right to feel aggrieved. Twice the ex-Barcelona player managed to get beyond his marker and twice the referee chalked off the effort. Mexico coach Miguel Herrera was apoplectic with the Columbian referees, but kept on urging his team forward, using their energy to break down what was at best a shaky Cameroon defence.

While the first disallowed goal was touch and go, with dos Santos just being onside but the second goal chalked off was a farce. A Mexico corner was headed on by Cameroon’s Eric Chupa-Moting to dos Santos, who managed to twist his body midair to head the ball into the net. Yet for reasons unknown, the Columbian referee deemed it offside.

Ultimately though, Mexico managed to get a breakthrough via Peralta, latching on to the ball after dos Santos's effort was merely parried by the keeper Charles Itanje. He lurked just behind the defence as dos Santos sashayed his way through the Cameroon defence, and though his shot was straight at Itanje, the America striker was at hand to fire the ball into an empty net.

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Pain for Spain as Netherlands score five

The Netherlands crushed Spain in their opening World Cup game as a brace apiece from Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben helped the Dutch come from behind to win 5-1 at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

Spain, the defending champions were attempting to do what the previous three winners of the World Cup had not been able to do – win the first match of the next edition. They were, or rather are, an experienced lot. Seven of the starting eleven played in last edition’s final in Johannesburg and between them, they boasted an impressive 862 caps, with only Cesar Azpelacueta and Diego Costa having played less than 10 games for their country.

In contrast, the Dutch team had been completely revamped from the brutal final four years ago. Only four players – van Persie, Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Nigel de Jong still survived from that team. The team had 422 caps between them; cut out the aforementioned four, and that figure would drop to a meagre 88 caps.

The game started off in typical fashion, with Spain dominating possession while the Dutch, in remembrance of Johannesburg, still seemed to harbour a fondness for Spanish heels and shins. It seemed only a matter of time before the breakthrough would come, and it finally did, through a soft penalty.

Costa raced to a through ball from Xavi and finding himself all alone, conned Dutch defender Steven De Vrij to give away a foul, collapsing almost theatrically. Referee Nicola Rozzi had no choice but to point to the spot, much to the chargin of the Oranje and of the spectators, who were booing Costa for choosing Spain over his native Brazil.

Up stepped Xabi Alonso to take the penalty, and despite Robben’s hastily whispered instructions to his ‘keeper Cillessen, the ex-Liverpool player tucked away his shot with ease. 1-0 to Spain.

They almost doubled their lead when an Andres Iniesta pass sliced open the Dutch defence, with David Silva racing onto the ball, but the Manchester City maestro was unable to score. And that perhaps was the turning point of the game.

Towards the end of the half, the Spanish perhaps became a little lax, allowing Danny Blind too much time and space as he pinged a ball forward. No one was marking van Persie as he launched himself in the air before looping a beautiful header over the stranded Spanish ‘keeper Iker Casillas and into the net.

Not that the Spanish learned from their mistake. Less than 10 minutes into the second half, another long ball by Blind found Robben, who beautifully controlled the ball  before taking both centre halves out of the game, shooting past Casillas and putting Holland into the lead.

After that it was all Oranje. A silly freekick near the corner allowed Sniejder to float a ball to the far post where De Vrij bundled it home for his first ever international goal, before a backpass from Ramos found Casillas napping – he took a heavy touch, allowing the ball to bounce away from him and to a gleaming van Persie, who toe-poked into the net for his second and his country’s fourth.

Towards the end, Iker Casillas cast a forlorn figure. One of the most respected goalkeepers in world football, he was made to look silly by Robben, a player that his club, Real Madrid had cast off years ago. His central defenders Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique were in shock: Ramos looked like he wanted to just sink into the ground while Pique looked longingly towards the tunnel – anything to get off the pitch. The scoreboard read 5-1, the clock 80 minutes. A ball from Blind inside his own penalty area found Robben near the halfway mark, he beat three Spanish defenders for pace before toying with Casillas, gyrating this way and that way before slaloming the ball into the net.

The game was summed up when substitute Fernando Torres found himself in space towards the 90 minute mark. He was in acres of space, with only the goalkeeper to beat, but waited so long that defender Ron Vlaar managed to poke the ball away. Spain could not even score another consolation goal.

Spain will need a miracle to recover from this shock. They next face Chile, which will be a tricky tie at the best of times. And with a fiercely partisan crowd to be expected, lets hope they don’t suffer another shocker.

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