Motty's day six preview
Wednesday sees the final two matches in the first round of the 2010 World Cup as European champions and hot favourites Spain take on Switzerland and Honduras face Chile in Group H.
We will also see the host nation South Africa back in action as they take on Uruguay in Group A as the second round kicks off. I will be looking back on how they performed in their first round games.
Here's my day six preview - click on the video below to see what I reckon will happen.
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South Africa 2010 will be John Motson's 10th World Cup with BBC Sport. John will be filing regular video reports from Cape Town, offering expert insight and opinion as well as recalling his own fond memories of previous tournaments. You can watch World Cup Motty on the BBC Sport website and the Red Button. John will also be using 
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Comments
I'm disgusted and this evening watching the North Korean team especially one of their players namely Jong tae-Se in tears during their National Anthem crying brought it home to me that a majority of the England squal of the OVER PAID under performing players sang out and looked even proud of representing their country or even guilty of the amount of money they earn to basically lets be honest to get a free holiday to South Africa....... The other night there is only one word to describe their performance and that is "CRAP" .....
I was so moved by Jon Tae-Se that I just had to send this EMail to say get your act together Rooney and the rest, sing out with gusto the national anthem and don't disgrace our country.
Kick them into shape
Mike
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Brazil 2.1 North Korea
Well, despite the scoreline and the intention for North Korea to muster a draw and throw every defender back like a wall, I still think this was an easy win for Brazil, they have not played their best football yet, as I keep stressing about opening games, easily won the game comparing the amounts of attempts on goal, scored the best goal of the tournament to date, became too complacent towards at the end of the match and Korea scored. . .Why panelists or other correspondents in England wanted North Korea to do well, is common sense. . .If you think about it. . .
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After watching the video I agree the goal is amongst the 10 top goals ever scored, but not the best. . . As for Spain they have an unbelievable record, and unfortunately have suffered the same underachieving status and referee decisions in World Cup history as England have. . .Remember South Korea v Spain Quarter Finals in 2002?
I think with Villa and Torres, as two penetrating strikers that are so synchronised and familiar to gel well with each other, as do the whole team, is a vast advantage. That has always been the secret of Germany’s success knowing where their players will be at any point of the game, so organised and timing is the key. . .Concentration, Tactics, Discipline, Motivation, Naturally Skill, and whatever you call it a tad of Luck. . .
Spain play better in Europe, naturally, and I hope England can see how USA managed to beat Spain in the Confederations Cup in 2009 in South Africa. . .At least England can say in the history of International Competitive Football, to date, the only penalty spot kicks we have won was against Spain in Euro 96. . .
Maybe they’ve peaked for too long and finally their run is over, but I am not too confident that’s the case. I feel though that their discipline might be their Achilles heel and let them down.
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Suprised you still seem to be tipping france Motty.
EnglishPlayersareOverPaid
Firstly if you think english players are over paid then so are footballers from plenty of other places.
But my main point is...
Everytime somebody complains about players mumberling or not singing our national anthem. I like to remind them of a few things.
1) Our anthem is awful. The music is fine and sounds fairly good on its own but its hardly La Marseillaise when it comes to something to sing along to and that's putting aside its awful lyrics. Sorry, but wether you are a staunch monarchist or an athiest republican you can't think lyrics which are essentially us asking an unspecified monothiestic diety to save the figurehead of a german family of aristocrats are any good. As my italian friend once said to me, their not even nationalistic (of course all of this refers to the first verse as that's all they ever play).
2) Patriotism is just sentimentality and whilst I think it is fine for people to endulge in sentimentality and to desire others to share it, I do think its a bit OTT to demand people share your sentimentalitys.
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Does someone knows why Micah Richards is not in the England squad?
Forgot about him, but after the injury disaster of the England defense, it stroke me that he was left out?
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Spain top Group H from Switzerland:
Spain v Switzerland 2-1 (Torres rescues Spain);
Honduras v Chile 1-3 (Chilian class tells);
South Africa v Urguay 2-3 (thriller as technique and tactics win out over endeavour and fitness;
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matches this tournament are far more of close encounters rather than the standard fare of predictable 2-0'ers and odd upsets here and there. Football seems to be much standardised now, much more in line of Greece team of 2004. Organised, well drilled and very fit with any additional talent a bonus. But then again, Senegal did beat France in 2002, nothing that monumental has happened so far, just unlikely draws. All hopes that Spain can really kick some real flair into this, but well done Brazil anyhow, two excellent goals!
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@EnglishPlayersareOverPaid
Mate, are you seriously advocating we should be more like North Korea?! Is it their enviable human rights record, the propagation of the belief that Kim-il Sung created the world, or the national-mandated dress code that appeals to you most?
Dude...
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PS regarding North Korean players in tears at the National Anthem, I imagine the average North Korean lives either in a state of existential fear, or a 1984-dénouement-like state of brainwashed adoration for their 'Dear Leader'.
Btw 1984 is a novel by George Orwell about a reality TV show.
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#1 - I am never one to say that what someone has written is complete rubbish, but....
Wanting anyone to be like someone from North Korea is a bizarre thing to come out with. As a country with a terrible human rights record and a mad dictator in charge, it just doesn't seem like a smart thing to say.
Part of what makes our players so good is the freedom they have throughout life to express themselves as they wish, something they couldn't do in N. Korea.
But I guess players mumbling a rubbish national anthem justifies our country becoming a dictatorship.
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lets face it, all the neturals felt it was needed that brazil put on a dazzling display of football for the sake of the world cup. What i didnt think anyone expected was to feel a sort of apathy with the koreans. Almost zilch was known about them which made them a unique entity and the image of their number 9 crying his heart out in pride made you wish they didnt get beaten.
Having said that in the first half the north koreans defended brilliantly and im sure in the first half any england fan would have swapped their two centre halves for our two as they were outstanding. ALTHOUGH having said that Fabiano was woeful last night and expect alot more to come from him in the next few games. Robinho is showing the class he oozes when he actually feels like playing. In this Dunga team, the responsiblity of flair and a bit of magic rest heavily on his and Kaka's shoulders who I think is still struggling and is still carrying some extra weight around.
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#5
Yes, the anthem is awful and it is not even the English anthem - it is the national anthem for the United Kingdom. Get your own anthem!
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@ TPRM;
George Orwell's novel 1984 is about a totalitarian government, who ascertain state control through indoctrination and existentialism.
It's got nothing to do with a Tv show, the Tv series is derived from the book.
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Motty,
While you're out there, do you fancy picking up the mike again for a few of the games - maybe even the final?
You are head and shoulders above all the would-be commentating imposters on the BBC (Jonathan Pierce is ok but doesn't shine a torch on you..)
I miss Brian Moore and Barry Davis too...you are the last of the Greats Motty...stop wasting time by telling us the bleeding obvious on these blogs and return to what you do best...I don't understand why you're out there when you can be doing all this stuff from a broom cupboard in Shepherd's Bush...
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#14
England already have their own anthem - Land of Hope and Glory.
As a Scot I'm happy though that they have 'God Save the Queen' as another anthem as we have our own anyway. They stopped playing 'God Save the Queen' at Scotland games to stop the embarrasment because it was roundly booed. 'God Save the Queen' is seen as an English anthem by large sections of Scots and if they want to sing it then fine.
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I don't think #1 literally meant we should all copy North Korea and therefore throw out the Co-Alition Government and all worship say Boris Johnson as our new Dictator..
I think he was referring to the North Korean players and the passion and resilience they showed against Brazil, no politics involved.
However the dig at the England players, I don't think they enjoy the huge amount of pressure put on them by our expecting fans as a 'free holiday', just ask Rob Green. Yes footballers are overpaid, but most of the players from other major countries are just as guilty.
Performance against USA wasn't crap, there were positives, we could've won the game had Heskey (maybe not) or SWP stuck away their chance, or had Rob Green didn't make that mistake, USA had hardly any chances. Lets not forget this USA team is well underestimated by many of our fans, there are many Premier league players in their team, and this is the side that beat Spain comfortably last year in the Confederations cup.
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#14
I remember in the last Commonwealth games, all the seperate nations of the UK used different national anthems. I seem to remember England using 'Land of Hope and Glory'. We should use that.
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Ok guys let's be honest here (have to say i laughed when Kieran M said an atheist republican! what an oxymoron!) Englishplayersareoverpaid was not suggesting we should be like North Korea, that would be absurd. I think what he was trying to say was that our players should feel proud and priviledged that they are representing their nation in the biggest sporting event in the world. You're talking about how the anthem describes a deity (Kieran M the diety itself isn't monotheistic, that's like saying God only believes in 1 god!) to save our Royal Family. My question is, who cares? Rugby players blare the national anthem out at every game, regardless of what the lyrics say, does patriotism hurt anyone? I'm an atheist and i'll still sing the anthem as loud as I can when it's on the TV. It doesn't hurt to support your country a little, even if it isn't the greatest anthem in the world. Show more support for our boys in South Africa! If we took apart every anthem in the world I'm sure we'd find things we disagree with in every single one of them, so let's stop bickering about it and show our boys in South Africa every ounce of encouragement and support you've got!
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Also, Jerusalem is a brilliant anthem to use as well. Pretty much anything is better than the tiresome "God Save the Queen"...
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#19
As a Scot myself I find it insulting that the England team use the UK anthem. But that is getting a bit off topic...
I do think that having a rousing anthem can have a positive effect on the national team. Anyone watching the Italian team belt out their national anthem with gusto cannot deny that they are highly motivated to do well for their country when the game starts. Ignoring the correctness of its use for a moment, God Save the Queen hardly sets the pulse racing.
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I would love 'Land of Hope and Glory' to be the official English anthem. 'God Save the Queen' is the British anthem, we should have one of our own. 'Land of Hope and Glory' is just a great song - it would be the best anthem in the world IMO. The campaign starts here!!
I don't think players not singing the anthem shows a lack of patriotism - it just shows that they feel self-conscious with the world watching. They are footballers, not singers. I feel enough of a chump singing hymns at weddings etc. What's wrong with simply closing your eyes and thinking about how much your country means to you?
PS: @10 - I really hope you are joking about 1984 being about a reality TV show!?
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Strange how i sort of expected the North Koreans to all dash for freedom immediately they got off the Jet in South Africa, but then again i had to force myself to remember that they didn't win the lottery to get to SA, they actually qualified from a pretty difficult asian group, that means they have actually being away from home several times in the past, and yet they didn't bolt.
which might just mean the image the Media gives us of millions of N koreans staring longingly at the border looking for a chance for a mad dash for freedom just might not be 100% accurate. Maybe they don't all live in abject fear of their lives, cos i was sort of rooting for them yesterday, because somewhere in my mind, i was afraid if they do lose, not withstanding the fact that everybody loses to brazil, if they do lose, then their lives wouldn't be worth 2 pennies.
but still it was great to watch them have a go at Brazil, didn't think they could play all that well, maybe their level of skill wasn't so great, (must come from being unable to watch Zidane and Figo in the Champions league when they were developing, i think), but they did give it a good go, and they did score a great goal
Finally the world cup gets to kick off today, A team that does know how to play football will be in action (sorry, Germany also played a great game, but every other team has been rubbish, including Argentina). really looking forward to watching spain.
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#18
I find it amusing that a lot of people, including yourself, cite the Heskey and SWP chances and choose to ignore that the USA hit the post in the second half and looked dangerous on a few other occasions too. I am not blasting the England team though, I think the USA are a useful side and think that England did well to get a point.
And what is it with basing the quality of a team on the number of Premiership players in the line-up? Are you ignoring the fact that the Premiership failed to get a team in the last 4 of the Champions League this year? Spain and Germany must be rubbish, they only have a couple of Premiership players between them...
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Being a multi-national, I am happy to stand up and sing my countries anthems. I expect those that want to stand up and sing to do so without complaint from others.
As long as you seriously mean what you say then it's good and positive.
Know your own mind and don't be detered by others for gods sake.
If anyone says the English national anthem is rubbish....consider they have a problem themselves, who knows what that might be.....a grudge against us or not we don't know.
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Well, even if English players are overpaid, you only have to look at the reaction of those who didn't make the final 23, and at Ferdinand when he was injured, to see just how much playing for England in the world cup means to these players. Its huge for them.
As for singing the national anthem - many footballers (and rugby players too) don't sing their national anthem because they are SO focussed on playing the match and don't want to lose their concentration. And we all know what can happen when you allow your concentration to slip... And in any case, our national anthem is pretty rubbish! It isn't a British team so why not Land of Hope and Glory? Or anything other than GSTQ...
As for North Koreans defecting whilst abroad, I think that most would be terrified as to what might happen the their families left behind...They don't have the kindest of regimes back home.
Thought Beckenbauer's comments were quite interesting. England have have brilliant goalkeepers from '60s on until recently. Is there a link to the fact that we now have so few English keepers playing in the Premiership? I believe there is...When many Premiership teams churn out entire teams composed of foreign nationals, you start to wonder.
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The team who will win the world cup will be the one who has that man u striker on their team. Can't remember his name ... was man u's second highest goal scorer ... oh yeah! His name was "own goals" ...
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#1s comments about the amount footballers get paid and the singing of the national anthem....what a joke. Its always footballers who get stick about the amount they get paid, nobody mentions the money racing drivers , tennis players, boxers, golfers, rugby players, and cricketers get. There's a lot of people jealous of the "working class" kids "made good" i.e Wayne Rooney. People can't accept that a council estate kid can be a millionaire through their talent, even though to get to the top of the tree in football is far more difficult than the aforementioned sports.
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#26
If anyone says the English national anthem is rubbish....consider they have a problem themselves, who knows what that might be.....a grudge against us or not we don't know.
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Maybe they just don't like the sound of it? It can be a bit on the staid side is what I gather from some of the comments above, and none of these posts sound as if they have a 'grudge'.
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I'm just glad he didn't mention 1966.......
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motty,
please please please pick the mike up i just cant bear listening to mick mcarthy anymore it really hurts my brain and i feel i kno less about football afer he has droned on for 90 mins!!
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Switzerland 1. Spain 0
As repeated numerous times, the opening games can never be subject to what a team is capable of as the tournament progresses, but obviously they expected to win, brushed the opposition as a cricket score result prior to the match and wanted to win the first 2 games and rest their players for the 3rd. Big mistake. . . But I am not surprised that Spain lost to Switzerland and to be honest with you was delighted, they underestimated their opponents and this is not Europe this is Africa, this will be a different class of football and no matter what team you come up against never under rate them. . .
Although their goalkeeper made a howler in order for Switzerland score, now can the press get off England’s backs? Spain in the history of the World Cup have underachieved and I can guarantee you their Manager and the Spanish Press will be outraged. . .
Spain lost discipline, ran out of ideas and I thought Mick McCarthy’s comments were superb. . .
So next up, South Africa v Uruguay. . .One always wants the host team to perform and advance far into the tournament, so it will be interesting to see now we have finally arrived to the second group game matches. . .
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I have to say this is a very poor world cup - not one game has lit up the tournament yet. I just watched spain lose to Switzerland. I can't stand it when that Greece Euro 2004 football wins the day over the style that Spain plays - its a real turn off and thats what I do to the tv. I just want to see the team that plays the best football winning is that too much to ask, as well as all those negative teams getting sent packing. Alas it seems destined to be one of the drabbest world cups in recent history, but i hope not. Spains loss certainly makes englands result look a lot better!
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Teams aren't playing right... unexpected results... and a great dose of the "fear" factor already in evidence. On top of this, the BBC (normally pretty good) have said Lineker is afraid of heights. If so, he suffers from Acrophobia and NOT Vertigo. I suffer from Vertigo (controlled with medicine) but love nothing better than get high up on mountains, tall buildings and enjoy the view. If you are bored with the World Cup so far, go for a Surf on the web and find some interesting facts... and now over to Motty...
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Well, I don't know what footie's maxim a la '........but you putt for dough......', but I would think that Ottmar Hitzfeld might be thinking just that tonight.
Spain's strikers seemed ill at ease and in the final third they lacked penetration. They will need to get much better if they want to win the tournament. But their midfield could pass the ball short or long with consistent accuracy, so I don't know what the issue with the ball is in that part of the game.
So after the first round of matches, really only Holland, Germany and Argentina showed what they could really do. Spain, England, Italy and France slipped up. Brazil did what they had to.
This seems to be shaping up to be an open world cup indeed. Despite thinking before that there were two strong teams heading the field.
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South Africa 0. Uruguay 3
In every World Cup the hosts will provide an electric atmosphere the further they progress in the tournament, now I think it is beyond them, which is a shame because for the nation I hope it will not flatten the atmosphere which has been a spectacle to admire. . But as continent, Ivory Coast could make an impact. . .
I will not quote certain factors that are controversial, but I have not rated Suarez from the moment they started their campaign. . . Forlan on the other hand, outstanding. . .South Africa started to inscribe the right tactics with crosses after the 60th minute which had they of been of better quality would of troubled Uruguay (note for other nations), but once that red card came out and the penalty, game over. . .I always say when you take penalties hold your head up high, hit the ball with force in the top left or right hand corner, no goalkeeper in the world can save them. . .I remember how the Germans meticulously took their penalties in the Semi Finals 1990, all of them in that combination and we saw again a perfect spot kick from Forlan, unstoppable. .Man of match, yes, man of the tournament no.
Well the good news is now the second group games are underway the goals, the performances and skill should flow. . .The fireworks have begun on the field, lets hope they don’t drain off the field. . .
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#25
Yes USA had a clear chance, but let's say everyone took their chances, still would've been 3-2 to England...
My comment bout the number of American players in the Premier league was simply to demonstrate that they are certainly not a pub team that England should sweep away like some English fans have said, I really don't know why you're reading so much into it haha
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Spain 0 Switzerland 1
The way Switzerland played may not be attractive, but they shouldn't be criticised for that. As Mick McCarthy said, it would have been suicide for Switzerland to go for all-out attacking football against Spain, and the Swiss would hardly take consolation from the resulting 4-0 scoreline that at least their team had played 'pretty' football.
It's not Switzerland's fault Spain couldn't score, and neither is it their fault that Casillas came out trying to kick the ball away rather than smother it. The Swiss knew their limitations and stuck to them brilliantly, in what I would almost compare to the 2nd leg of Inter v Barcelona - 2 banks of 4 and hoofing the ball up the pitch when you win it. The scoreline says all that needs to be said, Switzerland won and Spain lost, and at the end of the day, results count, you don't get points for style!
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