As there's only something like 7 games left - should we just have one combined PBP thread for all the games? Or at least a place where we can discuss anything (post group) African Cup? Anyhoo ... some good games on now: Tonight: Angola v Ghana Ivory Coast v Algeria Tomorrow: Egypt v Cameroon Zambia v Nigeria Some really good games coming up, I'm especially looking forward to Angola v Ghana and then Egypt v Cameroon games. The semifinals will be Angola/Ghana v Zambia/Nigeria Ivory Coast/Algeria v Egypt/Cameroon .... so a Egypt v Algeria semi final could be on the cards???!!!
congrats to Ghana knocking off the hosts with no more than 4 starters and a bunch of U20 guys. This is a massive accomplishment if you ask me. Very efficient performance.
crazy match this... IC go 2-1 up in the last minute only for Algeria to equalize in injury time... great goals btw... Algeria maybe the Turkey of ANC 2010.... the team that just does not want to die...
After a stunner by Keita, 2 very open headers for Algeria to take the lead. Lets just hope the defence actually learns how to mark players before the world cup. Otherwise IC will be embarrassed by Brazil.
Surprising... Kolo Toure and Sol Bamba are such good players at club level... but in the national team they always look clueless... BTW: Chaouchi is a f%^&ing disgrace. He stole like 10 minutes in total with his simulating.
Irregardless credit must be given to Algeria for dominated this match. People assumed they would falter if forced out of their defensive shell, and they answered that query with a bang. They were the aggressor for the majority of the match I don't think that can be debated.
Great result for Algeria... reminiscent of Turkey in 2008 Euros - the teams that just will not lay down and die... now I would just love for Egypt to win tomorrow - Egypt v Algeria semi-final! btw... that guy was a mile onside! What a botched decision... I really hope this doesn't happen in the WC.
you are right. It was a blown call, but CIV have themselves to blame for poor defence, and quite frankly for being too passive after going 1 nil up so early, it was like they just stopped playing. This was the first time I have seen a team dominate the CIV like Algeria did today, and this is going back 2 ANC's and a WC. CIV actually played better in their 4-1 loss to Egypt than they did today. Very dissapointing, but I will give Algeria credit, many people thought they were the weak link repping Africa in the WC, I think they will have a very good chance at progressing from their group as long as they don't try to play too conservative. CIV really needs to work on defence, (Bamba has to go, he has been making way too many mistakes) It is just disgraceful how they gave this game away after such a beautiful goal by Keita in the 89th minute.
I believe that was Kolo Toure. As to credit: I fully give credit to Algeria. They took everyone by surprise after three dismal group matches, which they managed to qualify mainly thanks to the outdated head to head rule (scoring 1 goal and losing 3). They were really tremendous today, albeit I really think the Cote d'Ivoire were really generous at the back... the 2 and 3 goal had no right of being goals. Where the hell was man-marking? And why were there more Algerians in the Cote d'Ivoire penalty box that Ivorians since this wasn't a break?
You win some and you lose some. Algeria dominated Ivory Coast in the game in every department, check the stats. It was a deserved hard fought victory, and tough luck to Ivory Coast. This goes to all those people who have doubted this team. It is a win win situation for me, considering I'm an Algerian and a Chelsea fan. Tough luck Drogba, but we need you back haha....but we must remember, all thanks goes to the Almighty Creator.
Hmm... Ghost... did you watch the game? Cote d'Ivoire had issues and problems, but creativity was not one of them... That was the one department that Cote d'Ivoire was miles ahead of Algeria. If anything I would say there was too much creativity and too little rational tactical thought.
And what was that? As all experts said after the game: Cote d'Ivoire's issues were in the back. Not in the front. They was a lot of creativity going up front, but not enough team-work. It is you who didn't see what everybody saw, what football experts saw...
Yes I saw the game. The extent of their creativity was just loads of through balls down the middle. Hardly any were pulled off and the one that was actually onside went against them. Cut out those through balls which didn't seem that effective in this game, and I don't see them doing much, short of individual pieces of brilliance.
Then you saw a different game than most commentators saw... including the game the Eurosport commentators saw. Seems however you saw the same game that the Algerian dude did. Equally biased though... I'm out. Say whatever you want, but doesn't make it any more less untrue.
Its a lost cause with this bitter nobody going by the name of ALGmoeCFC. He saw a different game BTW If Cote d'Ivoire was so uncreative how the hell did they score 3 goals, miss at least 2 golden opportunities to score and should have had a penalty awarded? And Algeria's defence was miles better than Cote d'Ivoire's... It's one thing to criticize a team for its flaws (and Cote d'Ivoire is a very good case study for flaws), but I find criticizing it for it strong suites quite ridiculous.