Group C- Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

braves

braves

Pretty much a regular
...

  • Group C
  • col.png
    Colombia
  • gre.png
    Greece
  • civ.png
    Côte d'Ivoire
  • jpn.png
    Japan


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[TD="colspan: 8"]World Cup 2014 - Group C winner[/TD]
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[TD]Thu 6/12[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]8141 Colombia wins Group C[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] -115 [/TD]
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[TD] [/TD]
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[TD]4:00PM[/TD]
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[TD]8142 Field wins Group C[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] -105 [/TD]
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[TD]Thu 6/12[/TD]
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[TD]8144 Japan wins Group C[/TD]
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[TD] +425 [/TD]
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[TD]4:00PM[/TD]
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[TD]8145 Field wins Group C[/TD]
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[TD] -515 [/TD]
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[TD]Thu 6/12[/TD]
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[TD]8147 Ivory Coast wins Group C[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] +385 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
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[TD]4:00PM[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]8148 Field wins Group C[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] -460 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
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[TD]Thu 6/12[/TD]
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[TD]8150 Greece wins Group C[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] +795 [/TD]
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[TD]4:00PM[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]8151 Field wins Group C[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] -1140 [/TD]
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  • .


  • .


.
 
.[TABLE="class: lines"]
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[TD]Sat 6/14[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]161 Greece (World Cup)[/TD]
[TD] +½ +123+½,+1 -110[/TD]
[TD] +485 [/TD]
[TD] o2 -135o2,2½ +105 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
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[TR="class: linesRowMid, bgcolor: #F6F6F6"]
[TD]12:00PM[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]162 Colombia (World Cup)[/TD]
[TD] -½ -143-½,-1 -110 [/TD]
[TD] -140 [/TD]
[TD] u2 +115u2,2½ -125 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
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[TR="class: linesRowBot, bgcolor: #F6F6F6"]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]163 Draw[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] +265 [/TD]
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[TD]Sat 6/1.[/TD]
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[TR="class: linesRow, bgcolor: #F6F6F6"]
[TD]Sat 6/14[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]281 Japan (World Cup)[/TD]
[TD] pk +110pk,+½ -135[/TD]
[TD] +200 [/TD]
[TD] o2 -117o2,2½ +120 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesRowMid, bgcolor: #F6F6F6"]
[TD]9:00PM[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]282 Ivory Coast (World Cup)[/TD]
[TD] pk -130pk,-½ +115 [/TD]
[TD] +160 [/TD]
[TD] u2 -103u2,2½ -140 [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
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[/TABLE]
 
Falcao's status is what concerns me, they still have quality but he is a difference maker.

Greeks have a very very good chance in this group, think they will beat ivory coast.
 
braves said:
have greeks gotten better t-mike? Or do you just not think Ivory Coast is very good
Click to expand...

Greeks actually have some attack now surprisingly. We know how notorious they were for just sitting back, well that doesn't change, but teams that attack them do not do very well. African teams do not have creativity and play physical...wrong game plan against the Greeks, they will have that "give me all you got" approach and tire you out.
The game vs IC the total will probably be o/u 2, I'm also going to assume that IC will be slight favourites there.
Pretty much the approach for Greeks vs IC and Colombia is not to lose, they will go for the win against Japan.
 
Toronto_Mike said:
Greeks actually have some attack now surprisingly. We know how notorious they were for just sitting back, well that doesn't change, but teams that attack them do not do very well. African teams do not have creativity and play physical...wrong game plan against the Greeks, they will have that "give me all you got" approach and tire you out.
The game vs IC the total will probably be o/u 2, I'm also going to assume that IC will be slight favourites there.
Pretty much the approach for Greeks vs IC and Colombia is not to lose, they will go for the win against Japan.
Click to expand...

good info.
 
IVORY COAST

[TABLE="class: standard_tabelle, width: 658"]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Goalkeeper[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Boubacar Barry[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
5.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Sporting Lokeren[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]30/12/1979[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Sylvain Gbohouo[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
78.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Séwé Sport[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]29/10/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Badra Ali Sangaré[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
78.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]ASEC Mimosas[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]30/05/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Mandé Sayouba[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
36.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Stabæk IF[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]15/06/1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Defender[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Toulouse FC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]10/11/1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Brou Angoua[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Valenciennes FC[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]28/11/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Serge Aurier[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Toulouse FC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]24/12/1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Souleymane Bamba[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
50.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Trabzonspor[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]13/01/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Arthur Boka[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]VfB Stuttgart[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]02/04/1983[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Brice Dja Djedjé[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Olympique Marseille[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]23/12/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Constant Djakpa[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Eintracht Frankfurt[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]17/10/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Kolo Touré[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Liverpool FC[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]19/03/1981[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Diarrassouba Viera[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
50.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Çaykur Rizespor[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]21/12/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Didier Zokora[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
50.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Trabzonspor[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]14/12/1980[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Midfielder[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Serey Die[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
45.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]FC Basel[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]07/11/1984[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Ismaël Diomande[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]AS Saint-Étienne[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]28/08/1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Max Gradel[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]AS Saint-Étienne[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]30/11/1987[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Cheik Tioté[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Newcastle United[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]21/06/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yaya Touré[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Manchester City[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]13/05/1983[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Forward[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Mathis Bolly[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Fortuna Düsseldorf[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]14/11/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Wilfried Bony[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
55.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Swansea City[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]10/12/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Seydou Doumbia[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
41.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]CSKA Moskva[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]31/12/1987[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Didier Drogba[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
50.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Galatasaray[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]11/03/1978[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Gervinho[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]AS Roma[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]27/05/1987[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Salomon Kalou[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Lille OSC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]05/08/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Giovanni Sio[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
45.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]FC Basel[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]31/03/1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Lacina Traoré[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Everton FC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]20/08/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Didier Ya Konan[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Hannover 96[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]22/05/1984[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Manager[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Sabri Lamouchi[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
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[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"][/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]09/11/1971[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
JAPAN

[TABLE="class: standard_tabelle, width: 658"]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Goalkeeper[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Shuichi Gonda[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]FC Tokyo[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]03/03/1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Eiji Kawashima[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
5.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Standard Liège[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]20/03/1983[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Shusaku Nishikawa[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Urawa Red Diamonds[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]18/06/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Defender[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Masahiko Inoha[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Jubilo Iwata[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]28/08/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yuto Nagatomo[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Inter[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]12/09/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Gōtoku Sakai[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]VfB Stuttgart[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]14/03/1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Hiroki Sakai[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Hannover 96[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]12/04/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Atsuto Uchida[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]FC Schalke 04[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]27/03/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Maya Yoshida[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Southampton FC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]24/08/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Midfielder[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Toshihiro Aoyama[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Sanfrecce Hiroshima[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]22/02/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yasuhito Endō[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Gamba Osaka[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]28/01/1980[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Makoto Hasebe[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]1. FC Nürnberg[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]18/01/1984[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Keisuke Honda[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]AC Milan[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]13/06/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Shinji Kagawa[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Manchester United[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]17/03/1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Hiroshi Kiyotake[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]1. FC Nürnberg[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]12/11/1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Yasuyuki Konno[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Gamba Osaka[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]25/01/1983[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Masato Morishige[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]FC Tokyo[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]21/05/1987[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Hotaru Yamaguchi[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Cerezo Osaka[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]06/10/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Forward[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yoichiro Kakitani[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Cerezo Osaka[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]03/01/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Shinji Okazaki[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]1. FSV Mainz 05[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]16/04/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yoshito Okubo[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Kawasaki Frontale[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]09/06/1982[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Yuya Osako[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]TSV 1860 München[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]18/05/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Manabu Saito[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
162.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Yokohama F. Marinos[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]04/04/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Manager[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Alberto Zaccheroni[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"][/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]01/04/1953[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
COLUMBIA

[TABLE="class: standard_tabelle, width: 658"]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Goalkeeper[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Faryd Mondragón[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
63.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Deportivo Cali[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]21/06/1971[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]David Ospina[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]OGC Nice[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]31/08/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Camilo Vargas[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
63.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Santa Fe[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]09/03/1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Defender[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Eder Álvarez Balanta[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
58.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]River Plate[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]28/02/1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Santiago Arias[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
21.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]PSV Eindhoven[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]13/01/1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Juan Cuadrado[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]ACF Fiorentina[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]26/05/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Aquivaldo Mosquera[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
139.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]CF América[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]22/06/1981[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Luis Perea[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
139.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Cruz Azul[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]30/01/1979[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Carlos Valdés[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
58.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]San Lorenzo[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]22/05/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Mario Yepes[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Atalanta[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]13/01/1976[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Cristián Zapata[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]AC Milan[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]30/09/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Juan Zúñiga[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]SSC Napoli[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]14/12/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Midfielder[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Abel Aguilar[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Toulouse FC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]06/01/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Pablo Armero[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
12.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]West Ham United[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]02/11/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Fredy Guarín[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Inter[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]30/06/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Víctor Ibarbo[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Cagliari Calcio[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]19/05/1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Alexander Mejia[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
63.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Atlético Nacional[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]11/07/1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Juan Quintero[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
39.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]FC Porto[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]18/01/1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Aldo Ramírez[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
139.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Monarcas Morelia[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]18/04/1981[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Carlos Sánchez[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
48.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Elche CF[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]06/02/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Elkin Soto[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]1. FSV Mainz 05[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]04/08/1980[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Macnelly Torres[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
181.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Al Shabab[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]01/11/1984[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Edwin Valencia[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
60.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Fluminense RJ[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]29/03/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Forward[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Carlos Bacca[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
48.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Sevilla FC[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]08/09/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Radamel Falcao[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]AS Monaco[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]10/02/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Teófilo Gutiérrez[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
58.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]River Plate[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]27/05/1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Jackson Martínez[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
39.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]FC Porto[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]03/10/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Luís Muriel[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
25.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]Udinese Calcio[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]16/04/1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Adrián Ramos[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
11.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]Hertha BSC[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]22/01/1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]James Rodríguez[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]
16.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0"]AS Monaco[/TD]
[TD="class: dunkel, bgcolor: #F0F0F0, align: center"]12/07/1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: gross, colspan: 5"]Manager[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"]José Pekerman[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]
.gif
[/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA"][/TD]
[TD="class: hell, bgcolor: #FAFAFA, align: center"]03/09/1949[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Final squad for Greece

Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Vassilis Torosidis (Roma), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Kostas Manolas (Olympiakos), Vangelis Moras (Hellas Verona), José Holebas (Olympiakos), Georgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Giannis Maniatis (Olympiakos)
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna)
Forwards: Georgios Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Fanis Gekas (Konyaspor), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK)
 
Toronto_Mike said:
Greeks actually have some attack now surprisingly. We know how notorious they were for just sitting back, well that doesn't change, but teams that attack them do not do very well. African teams do not have creativity and play physical...wrong game plan against the Greeks, they will have that "give me all you got" approach and tire you out.
The game vs IC the total will probably be o/u 2, I'm also going to assume that IC will be slight favourites there.
Pretty much the approach for Greeks vs IC and Colombia is not to lose, they will go for the win against Japan.
Click to expand...


Watched their friendly and your assessment, while possibly correct as recently as a few months ago, could not be more wrong at this point. It seems like Fernando Santos is carrying on the tradition of Otto's airtight soccer. They refused to play until the last quarter hour, and then had three good chances against Portugal's modified 4-4-2. This will no doubt give them confidence to continue to play in this same dull manner that won the Greeks a Euro title 10 years back. Attacking weapons they have now, in spades compared to that team, but a safe passage out of this group should come just by countering against the Japs and figuring out a way to beat the undisciplined Ivory Coast. That said, matchups might well favor Japan (vs. IC), IC (vs. Colombia, as it seemed they struggled with some of the things Senegal did in that friendly) and Colombia (talent over Japan).... Tough group but I fancy Greece to get out because of how intelligent they are overall and tight they are at the back.
 
yeah dude don't know what happened....in a span of 3 months they decide to revert back to snoozefest.
they only really come out to play if they have to, but man they couldn't be anymore anti football at his point in time. this might be the best unders group
 
Will update after it's final as well, as this one is on TV for me. Costa Rica 1-0 at the half over the Japs. This one is a pseudo-home game for Japan, being played at the Tampa Bay Bucs Stadium (sammmy meattballs style).

CR had the best of it early, but after the first quarter hour they were mostly beating it around when they had it, doing little purposeful. Japan's attacks were much more threatening, except that CR plays that disciplined, defensive style to a "T" now, and it helps to have the best goalie in the Spanish league behind them. The Ticos scored by forcing a turnover, getting a good cross to Ruiz, and having their captain finish in the 31st minute on a thrilling play that was largely unstoppable after the turnover. I will report back after the second half...

:shake:
 
Japs win 3-1, scoring three goals in the last 33 minutes. The Ticos over-committed on the first one, as leading 1-0 with a corner around the 58:00 mark, got it cleared out and never recovered. For more than a few seconds, the Japs had a 6-on-5 near the box, and despite Honda possibly being offside, was able to cross it nicely for an easy goal in the middle past Navas, who had no chance.

The second goal was much the same, though after a sloppy Tico turnover near midfield, the Japs ran a nice combo play to score nicely on a semi-counter. The third goal came in the waning moments on a horrid attempt at a clearance from one of the CR backup defenders. The one CR weakness is a lack of depth, and when teams are allowed to go 4 and 5 deep in these friendlies, those sorts of things get exposed.

There were roughly 9,000 fans or so and CR prolly had close to half (there is a nice CR influence in Florida) even though the Japanese federation paid for the game. On a neutral pitch if they played 100 teams with both going hard, i'd say Japs win 40, Ticos win 25 and there are 35 draws. Fairly closely matched game, by and large, and CR prolly gained more in defeat than they would have had they not conceded.

As far as Japan, since this is their thread, it seems like they will have to tighten things up at the back against any attack-oriented foes and be wary of the set piece. CR has a dearth of size and they had a few guys who dwarfed some of these Japan guys tonight. They had 7 corners or so, and only took 2 or 3 tops into the box; the rest were just short kicked to a teammate, conceding that they had little chance to score on those types of plays that I deem to be among the most dangerous in soccer. :shake:
 
aplous said:
I like the Japs to advance from this group.....
Click to expand...

yup good value, they also were overlooked at in 2010.
they do play an attractive brand of football and try to score.
Asian teams actually have had quite a lot of success vs African teams in WC
 
Everyone... Being from Greece I can tell you this is going to be a tight group. I trully believe that it's going to be Ivory Coast (1) & Greece (2)

Greece is a team that's going to get you on the counter (same as Euro 2004)

For right now a midfielder by the name of Fetfatzidis is going to be the key. He plays for Genoa and is a young guy that's tiny and run for days... Along side Karagounis (Fulham) and Maniatis (Olympiacos) they are going to be strong in the middle.. Not to mention that they are going to have a speedy player (Salpigidis - PAOK) on the right. Up top I see Samaras and Mitroglou sharing going up and back with Mitroglou really being up there longer and being the "target"

They way that they are going to match up against everyone is going to be tight.. With the Ivory Coast its strength (Ivory Coast) against tactics (Greece)..
 
I took a rather rough beat on Jordan +2 goals -103 tonight. Colombia took a 1-0 lead to the lockerroom on a 42nd minute penalty kick. They then were the beneficiary of a 82nd minute red card leading to another penalty. Then Fredy Guarin fired in a screamer from about 35 yards out in the 89th minute to account for the 3-0 final, which was very deceiving. Jordan had several chances early, and a couple of real good ones. Colombia must do better starting next week if it wants to progress.
 
From soccerway; Greece, as about +110 favorites (on the 3-way, or -1/2 +110 on the 2-way), beat Bolivia 2-1 in New Jersey.

Fernando Santos' Brazil-bound side had not scored in their past three international appearances, but were aggressive from the opening minute at the Red Bull Arena. Panagiotis Kone powered a header past Bolivia custodian Romel Quinonez, running into the area to get on the end of a chipped cross in from Dimitris Salpingidis in the 21st minute. Kostas Katsouranis' classy finish on 54 minutes gave Greece some breathing space, as his glancing header from a Jose Holebas corner found the top-right corner.Bolivia pulled a goal back via a 35-yard strike from Rudy Cardozo that was bundled into the net by Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis with 20 minutes to play. But Greece held on for their first win in five matches, a necessary boost for Santos' men ahead of the FIFA World Cup.Greece pressed hard on their Bolivian opponents from the outset, and it almost resulted in an early howler from the South American nation. A Bolivia back-pass was chased down by Greek forward Theofanis Gekas, who forced goalkeeper Quinonez into a panicked clearance in the fourth minute. Gekas was again in the thick of the action as he missed a shot from point-blank range eight minutes later. The Konyaspor front man took a touch from a cross in from Georgios Samaras, but his blind turn on goal saw him hook his shot wide despite a lack of pressure from the Bolivia defence.Greece would eventually convert their dominance when Kone buried his free header - their first goal in 357 minutes. Bolivia began to hunt an equaliser but failed to put their opponents under any serious pressure, despite earning multiple corners.The best chance of the half for Xabier Azkargorta's men fell to Alejandro Melean, but his header from Gualberto Mojica's corner on 34 minutes was well high and wide of the target. Both sides were attacking early in the second half, with the two goalkeepers called upon inside the opening four minutes after the restart. And Greece doubled their advantage in the 54th minute from a set-piece, as Katsouranis converted from Holebas' corner. Moments earlier, Gekas had the chance to capitalise on a Bolivia turnover. Samaras forced the turnover, and their charge up the field ended with the veteran forward sliding in at the far post, but he failed to control his effort, spraying it well wide of the Bolivia goal.Marcelo Moreno could have got Bolivia back into the contest when he was one-on-one with Greece custodian Karnezis, but he punched his shot wide right. Gekas' fortune in front of goal did not improve, as he was one-on-one with Quinonez moments later after being played through by Giorgos Karagounis – however, he was denied by the onrushing goalkeeper. Bolivia's fortunes were on the rise, however, as Karnezis saw plenty of Cardozo's strike, but clumsily saw it come off his hands and into his own net. It was the first goal Greece had conceded in 285 minutes, but they never looked likely to concede a second.
 
and the match of the day, Japan comes from two down to stun Zambia. There were four goals in the last 17 minutes of this match. Aw hell, let the fourfourtwo.com guys tell you...

'Japan escaped with a 4-3 victory over Zambia on Friday in their final friendly before the FIFA World Cup. Yoshito Okubo struck a brilliant late winner for Japan in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage the win for his side, soon after Lubambo Musonda had equalised with an incredible strike.Japan had looked on track to win 3-2 after Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda both scored in the space of two second-half minutes at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, where Zambia led 2-0 in the opening half-hour.
But in the 89th minute, Musonda burst forward before unleashing a thunderous strike over Shusaku Nishikawa and, two minutes later, Okubo showed fine control to bring down a high pass and then power his shot into the net. The win was Japan's fifth in a row but coach Alberto Zaccheroni will no doubt be concerned by his team's poor start and how they struggled with Zambia's physicality, plus their continued reliance on attacking midfield pair Honda and Kagawa for goals. Zaccheroni made five changes to his starting line-up from Monday's 3-1 win over Costa Rica with Eiji Kawashima, Masato Morishige, Toshihiro Aoyama, Okubo and Yuya Osako dropping to the bench.
Nishikawa was given the gloves, Yuto Nagatomo started at left-back, Yasuhito Endo was installed in midfield and Shinji Okazaki overcame a cold to take up position on the right wing. Yoichiro Kakitani started as the lead striker, which has been a problematic position for Zaccheroni, after scoring as a substitute against Costa Rica. Zambia took a few minutes to settle but Japan were unable to make the most of their early possession and were made to pay in the 10th minute.
A cross from the right was flicked on by the outstretched boot of Felix Katongo and his brother Christopher got in between Nishikawa and Atsuto Uchida to head the ball into the net - the captain's first goal for Zambia in 364 days. In the 18th minute, a clash of heads between Okazaki and Zambia goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata and play was stopped for five minutes as both players received treatment. Zambia's early goal and the clash between Okazaki and Nsabata seemed to affect Japan, who struggled to string passes together and looked generally rusty, which led to the Africans doubling their lead just before the half-hour mark. After Felix Katongo's powerful shot was deflected for a corner, Chisamba Lungu drove his set-piece to the top of the box, where Sinkala blasted the ball across his body and into the net.
But Japan dragged themselves back into the contest in the 40th minute after Shinji Kagawa's cross struck Emmanuel Mbola's hand and Honda converted the spot-kick. At half-time, and with Kakitani having struggled to provide much threat up front, Zaccheroni replaced the Cerezo Osaka man with Okubo but Zambia continued to have the better goalscoring opportunities in the second half. Japan struggled with Zambia's pressing and the Africans' power in the forward third.
In the 54th minute, Christopher Katongo should have claimed his second goal when he wasted a free header from his brother's cross, while Zambia's captain also fired a long-range shot just wide two minutes later. The wastefulness of Patrice Beaumelle's men came back to the haunt them in the final 20 minutes.
In the 74th minute, Kagawa cut in from the left wing and his attempted cross evaded Okubo on the edge of the six-yard box and fizzed into the net. Straight from the restart, Japan regained possession and attacked, with Morishige spinning in the area before crossing for Honda to stab the ball into the net to make it 3-2.
All that was left was a dramatic finale with the two best goals of the game thanks to Musonda and Okubo, with the latter scoring his first goal for Japan since 2008.'
 
don't know a ton, but I gotta think Colombia is a bit overvalued if those prices are still around considering the remainder of the group. No Falcao sounds like a big loss, then they have to deal with the athletes of Cote d'Ivoire (underachievers) and then the discipline of Greece/Japan. Part of me thinks Drogba still has some notoriety and I'd think the world considers IC a great offensive team and I don't know if they got a good draw despite the lack of a juggernaut in this group
 
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