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Match Day 2 > Saturday 10Jun06

Match 3: ENGLAND v. PARAGUAY

Booking: CRAP?

Like GER-CRC last night, another spotty, nervous effort from both sides with neither country able to string together a concerted attack .. .. If not for the OG off BECKHAM’s FK, bed would have been a better option .. ..

PAR did settle and come on in the second half but got no help up front as it was only one person going forward .. ..

Noticed all the EURO sides thus far (GER, POL & ENG) are easily dissected by anybody with pace .. .. INTERESTING NOTE > Almost all the crosses, for both sides, came in from the right .. ..

ENG MoM: #7 DAVID BECKHAM barely gets the nod as it was his early deep, curling FK caused GAMARRA to nod on the ball into his own net .. .. Still has a golden first-time and second-time touch .. ..  

PAR  MoM: None

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Match 4: TRINIDAD/TOBAGO v. SWEDEN

Booking: CLAP!

By far the best match played thus far – Brave as Hell TRI clamped down and frustrated SWE all match despite being a man down all of the second half .. .. SWE created bushels-full of chances yet were stopped by last-ditch defending and goalkeeping .. .. Although AVERY JOHN was sent off just after halftime, TRI Head Coach LEO BEENHAKKER bravely brought in LA’s CORNELL GLEN for more offense, instead of defense .. ..

TRI showed their UK experience as 15 members of their side currently play there .. .. They looked like an English team as they pumped in crosses when they had a chance and GLEN could have won the match when his bomb rang the crossbar .. .. No side more richly deserved a point for a draw .. ..

TNT MoM:  #1 SHAKA HISLOP deserves his moment in the spotlight as he was a last minute starter after Starting GK KELVIN JACK hurt himself in pregame warmups – JACK’s name was still on the FIFA Lineup report .. .. The West Ham netminder was gallant and was peppered with 18 shots before recording the shutout .. ..

SWE MoM: None

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Match 5: ARGENTINA v. IVORY COAST

Booking: CLAP!

A good first bite out of the WC for both ARG & IVC and we got to see pretty much what we expected to see .. .. Skillful and talented ARG while IVC was quick .. ..

It all started when ARG legend MARADONA made his way to his seat just before kickoff with a date that looked was about 15YO – Hope she was his daughter .. .. ARG took full advantage of IVC’s backline and put both of their goals home in the first half .. .. IVC hit back when DIDIER DROGBA (Chelsea) snapped home a short cross in the second half .. ..

ARG MoM: #7 JAVIER SAVIOLA once scored a record 11 goals during the 2001 FIFA World Youth Cup and has parlayed his talents to the senior side .. .. Showed his pace when he tapped the ball around a IVC marker and was able to sprint by him .. .. Scored the second goal when RIQUELME found him making his run and slotted it under the GK .. ..

IVC MoM: #11 DIDIER DROGBA played like the man-mountain he is .. .. Impossible to bring down, strong and opportunistic .. .. Didn’t get much help up front and only scored when his teammates began to stream forward .. ..