World Cup Heavy Weights Falter In S’Africa …Algeria Holds England, Ghana, Ivory Coast Hopeful

Less than 24 hours after Mexico steamrolled former World Champions, France, to effectively end their 2010 aspirations in South Africa, yesterday’s results show that the heavy weights and pundits’ favourites are not having it their way at the first World Cup in Africa.

European champions and bookmakers favourites, Spain were the first 2010 World Cup’s top dogs to falter when Switzerland against all expectations stunned them 1-0 on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Serbia also brought Germany down to earth, inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the German machines, who sent pundits running to alter their odds after they pummeled Australia 4-1 in their first game.

But the performance of the day (yesterday) went to the Desert Foxes of Algeria, who not only neutralized the Three Lions of England, but also out played them.

The Algerians, after an eventful Africa Cup of Nations in Angola earlier in the year and poor pre-World Cup Friendlies, were literally written off.

England’s striker, Wayne Rooney also wrote them off just before the encounter, as a walk-over assignment.

The Foxes however, took everything the English team threw at them, earned their first point of the campaign and put England’s chances of progress in jeopardy.

England must win against group C leaders, Slovenia to have a realistic chance of qualifying from the group.

Now, Africans are hoping that Ghana and Ivory Coast, two teams with positive opening results would build on Algeria’s performance to lift the continent’s spirits

The Black Stars of Ghana, the only African team with victory, confronts the Socceroos of Australia today.

The Ghanaians have the momentum and with the crowd expected to be behind them, they will certainly be hopeful of another win in the group, thereby qualifying for the last 16.

But they must be wary of the Australians, who can rebound forcefully after the 1-4 bashing by Germany.

Another African team with positive prospects is the Elephants of Ivory Coast.

Despite finding themselves in the group of death with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.

Having survived Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese team, the Ivoriens face the might of Brazil tomorrow, with the hope that they can stop another heavyweight, against popular expectations.