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Match Day 6 > Wednesday 14Jun06

  TEAM USA UPDATE: Today was the first full workout for the boyz and noticed that CHRIS ALBRIGHT, BRIAN CHING, EDDIE JOHNSON & CLINT DEMPSEY all were working with the first team .. ..

Match 15: SPAIN v. UKRAINE

Booking: APLAUDA! APLAUDA! APLAUDA!

ESP finally looked the team the footballing world wished they would see – Crisp from the opening whistle, swarming on defense and pacy with flair on the flanks despite playing in the midday heat .. .. Grabbed two early goals that came off UKR defenders at some point and ESP had a half-dozen shots before UKR even got into their attacking third .. .. Best-looking side thus far might just extend ESP domination in 2006 as Barcelona won the Champions League and Sevilla won the UEFA Cup .. .. And, all this with RAUL laughing from the bench .. ..

UKR was shell-shocked after the first goal and then watched ESP run and dissect them at will .. ..

Did ya know that of the first 13 winning sides so far in Germany, that six of them had at least one starter who played in La Liga last season?!?!

ESP MoM: #21 DAVID VILLA grabbed a lucky brace, but perhaps everything is just going to fall for España .. .. Grabbed his first goal on a FK from the top of the box which was going toward the upper-left when it went off as UKR back and into the middle of the goal .. .. Got his second lucky goal and a very unfair RC and slotted home his PK .. .. His goal celebration is to pretend to pour cider in a long arc, the traditional way of serving this favorite drink of his native Asturias .. .. 

UKR  MoM: None

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Match 16: TUNISIA v. SAUDI ARABIA

Booking: CLAP!

What a great afternoon it’s been – And, who would have thought that this match would not have been anti-climatic after ESP’s masterpiece and highlighted the AFC’s good play thus far??

Both sides had a hard time doing anything when both defenses were compact, but flowed as it opened in the second half. Won’t have that open space when they play better sides .. ..

KSA looked tentative early and allowed TUN to run the show but stormed out in the second half, stretched the match and countered really well .. .. The scores by AL-KAHTANI & AL-JABER were first-rate and deserved their point .. ..

TUN looked in control early, took KSA’s brace on the chin and managed to gather themselves to pull out the draw .. ..

TUN MoM: #15 RADHI JAIDI is a rugged defender who led TUN in tackles @ WC 2002 and is best known for his ability in the air – so what was he doing all alone to head down the equalizer .. .. Had an easy chance deep into stoppage time but he did put it home after a sweet chip/cross from JAZIRI .. ..

KSA MoM: #5 YASSEER AL-KAHTANI his sweet first-touch goal highlighted his scoring ability which has made him KSA’s most-expensive footballer ever .. .. Equalized when he made a strong run into the box, splitting two TUN markers and roofed the centering pass from AL-HAWSAWI .. ..

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Match 9: GERMANY v. POLAND

Booking: CLAP! and CRAP?

CLAP because 10-man POL &  BORUC bravely stood tall late and CRAP because of so many wasted chances by GER .. .. GER created so many chances all match long but never looked like they were going to score .. .. POL stayed in it only because GER was so poor in the offensive third and were also poor when the chances came .. .. BALLACK was poor early and looked rusty .. ..

GER MoM: #7 BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER again created almost all the chances for GER .. .. His first-time touch sent his teammates through .. .. His perfect thru-ball to PODOLSKI down the middle set him free only to see the pass roll up his back .. .. Cheeky back-heel set LAHM free for his cross to KLOSE who blew a free header in front of the net .. .. Tired late .. ..

POL MoM: #1 ARTUR BORUC bravely kept POL in the match despite being bombarded in the box in the second half .. .. Can’t be blamed for the late NEUVILLE goal as he split two markers and left BORUC with no chance .. .. Favorite son of Poland who now plays at Celtic (Scotland) .. ..