A Son of the Rock

Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, 14/6/10

Contrary to the TV panellists I thought Paraguay were worth their lead at half time as a couple of times their front two looked on the verge of opening up a ponderous looking Italian central defence.

Yet had Italy gone about the game in the first half as they did in the second they would surely have won it. Why do they only start playing when they are a goal down?

Both goals showed up the truth of the assertion that a team scores only when their opponents make a mistake.

Poor Italian marking at a corner is a phrase I never thought I’d type.

And another goalkeeping howler. Again not due to the ball.

If the ball is having an effect it’s that players are over-hitting it – especially on long passes or crosses.

There hasn’t been a classic so far; but first games in a group rarely produce one.