World Cup: Brazil, France need wakeup calls
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-20 08:54
FRANKFURT, Germany - Brazil and France had better learn soon that no one wins
World Cups just by showing up.
France's national
soccer team goalkeeper Fabien Barthez gestures during a press conference
in Hameln, northern Germany, Monday, June 19, 2006. France tied 1-1
against South Korea. In the Group G of the World Cup 2006 others teams are
Switzerland and Togo.[AP] |
The two nations have won the last three championships between them. But the
trophy will be going somewhere else unless Brazil's defenders stop handing easy
chances to their opponents and the French stars remember how to score enough to
win games.
While Brazil beat Australia 2-0 in Munich on Sunday to reach the last 16, the
French handed South Korea a late equalizer. After two draws, they are sweating
over whether they reach Round 2.
Defending champion Brazil was so careless at the back that the Socceroos, who
haven't been to the World Cup since 1974, could easily have tied the game and
stayed top their group.
With forwards Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaka and Robinho on the field,
it's easy to say `Who needs a defense?" Brazil tried playing without one and it
could have cost them the game.
While the Brazilians have some of the most eye-catching forwards around, they
haven't reached the level they know they need to win the trophy for the sixth
time. That means the guys at the back can't afford mistakes that would surely
have been punished by a better team than Australia.
How about these moments that embarrassed both Brazil and the Socceroos:
- Goalkeeper Dida, who plays for Italian powerhouse AC Milan, decided to rush
off his line to deal with a high ball his defenders should have cleared. It
dropped at the feet of Australian substitute Harry Kewell. The Liverpool star
had only been on the field for a few seconds, so maybe he hadn't worked out
where the goal was. He lobbed his shot over an empty net.
- Four minutes from the end, with Brazil still ahead 1-0, Dida again left his
line to reach a through ball. Aussie striker Mark Viduka beat both the
goalkeeper and the daydreaming Gilberto Silva, only to see his lob wind up on
top of the net.
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