WC Group C: Argentina v. Côte d'Ivoire {P & R}

[Daniel David]

Very good match indeed, best one so far. Argentina performed really well, efficiently getting hold of the game for most of the time (except by giving away too many balls on the midfield). I even do not think their bitching was so bad this time . On the other hand Ivory Coast surprised me by playing at their level - Holland beware! Damn, this group C is wicked, arguably the toughest in recent WC history. Can't wait for Holand vs S&M!

 

[henry#14]

Ivory Coast looked good, but in the end Argentina were better. Kone looked really shaky, his technique looks really suspect. I saw him a few times at PSV and he looked really average. Drogba looked pretty good today, used his strength really well. I'm glad I streamed this instead of England - Paraguay. What a crap game that was.

 

[newbie original]

Very good match indeed, best one so far....

That' s stretching it a bit. If Argentina hadn't sat on a 2 goal lead, it would have been good. They just tempted the Ivorians to attack....I'm sure that Argentina is a much better team that what they showed everyone in this game.

 

[pede54]

Pede I wonder why I haven't seen you bitch about that play where some Paraguay player got isolated and was wrongfully called offside.

Well if it'll make you happy Virgo......

BITCH.....BITCH....FU<KIN' BITCH.....OK now mate........

 

[pede54]

Pede, did you have too much to drink in Frankfurt?

I watched this game as a pure neutral and i thought the officiating was consistent with both sides. OK, there was some play acting but Argentina are renown for it and officials on the whole don‘t fall for it anymore. This ref was taking none of it and just let Sorin role on the floor making a fool of himself.

Fantastic match. Best of the WC so far.

yeah but was he booked for simulation?...no he was not. Was he booked for shirt pulling ? no he wasn't. Maybe its just the refs being inconsistant. I noticed that the ref in the Germany game let the players get on with it. The game flowed and it was a smoother game foe all that. I guess the ref was a bit like that for Argentina. Unfortunately we had "Little Dracula" in our game. He is the Mexican Anders Frisk, Superstar Referee. He blew up everytime someone breathed out too loudly. He handed out yellows for fu<k all. Hopefully thats the last time he'll referee one of our games. The should have given him Argentina V Ivory Coast. He would of had a field day there man...... :funny:

 

[pede54]

Too add something else to all of those who think that Argentina is over. This was our first match, and sure we made a lot of mistakes, but it was clear that our players were very nervous. Our defense looked completely disoriented in the first half, but did a spectacular job in the second half until we lost possession of the ball and allowed IC to take the initiative. Had Messi gone in instead of Lucho Gonzalez we might have been talking about an extra goal or so. Argentina are not the only ones that didn't meet the expectations, England had a difficult time against Paraguay, Sweden against T&T and Germany had to struggle a bit against an amateurish Costa Rica.

Spot on there Andy.......

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

On the other hand Ivory Coast surprised me by playing at their level - Holland beware! Damn, this group C is wicked, arguably the toughest in recent WC history. Can't wait for Holand vs S&M!

It was bound that this match was going to be tough and i still think that Group E is toughest group.

Now regarding the substitutions, Palacio should have come in, instead of Saviola not of Crespo, but it wasn't proper time to take off, probably they should brought in Tevez for Crespo or for Cambiasso who wasn't playing ok and get Tevez to do company to Riquelme, or even bring Aimar to do that.
And if they wanted to have Lucho Gonzalez on the pitch then they should have taken off Cambiasso and take Maxi to the left, because it looked like Maxi, Maxi went to left when Lucho came in, but at times it looked like Maxi and Cambiasso were trying to fill the same role and that's kind of useless.
But i'm confident the team learned a lot after this match.

No one can say, even if Argentina didn't play as good as they could, that Ivory Coast wasn't a decent rival.

 

[Fernandez]

This kind of games you need to win to win the World Cup.

 

[bytor]

Great game. I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the clear handball by Ivory Coast (just before the Ayala's header goal/no goal).

It looked like Argentina was nervous in the beginning...and I completely agree...this team has a lot of potential...Riquelme is one of the best players in the world in what he does....pure genius.

Kudos to Ivories, they played a great game and didn't respect the double world champion team too much. I predict they can surprise Holland if they use their size & strength better in the next games. Most of their forwards are HUGE and strong guys.

Great game. And I agree...they should try Messi next game.

 

[RUSI]

haha

 

[Internazionale]

I salute to Ivory Coast's nothing to lose in this match.

very entertaining football afterall.

 

[mnj2x]

Sorin is a disgrace to argentine football after that dive when clearly eboue didnt touch him.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

The third Argentinian goal, wasn't a goal... so there's no point in referring it...
Angola is much weaker than Ivory Coast, so... so there's no point in comparing the two teams...
I really don't think Argentina were better than IC... and it's not that i'm biased or something, because many people know that i'm not... Argentina tried to play in contention, after they got the second goal, but it almost went wrong for them... if at least the Ivorian forwards could keep their calm and finish those balls... clear goal oportunities...

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

Did anybody catch Kieta's facial expression after his headed shot was saved by Abbondanzieri? What a pimp that guy Kieta is. I must have rewinded that bit 10 times.

 

[andy]

Did anybody catch Kieta's facial expression after his headed shot was saved by Abbondanzieri? What a pimp that guy Kieta is. I must have rewinded that bit 10 times.

Could you post a screenshot if you have it?

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

Sorry, I don't have a screenie.

I knew I shouldn't have deleted this game from my DVR.