Arindam: - Viewers, today in this 14th episode of ‘Fantastic Football Fever’ program in your favorite ‘Royal Bengal Tigers (RBT)’ TV Channel, we have invited a famous British football striker, whose name is Michael Owen. Mr. Owen, welcome to our show. But, before we start our discussion, we will hear from Mr. ARINAN about the match between England and Slovenia.
Mr. ARINAN: - England was not at all playing good football against Slovenia. Rather, Slovenia was playing more attacking football than England. Luckily, the British Defoe became ‘THE FOE’ for Slovenia. The Slovenian goalkeeper misjudged the ball and was unable to grab it with his gloves. Otherwise, the Slovenian goalkeeper saved many deadly shots of the English strikers. Also, the defense of this England team was looking good in this match. The defenders of England team blocked at least 2 sure-shot goals. England has qualified for the next round.
Arindam: - So, Mr. Owen, this England team is not playing good football at all. Luckily, they have reached the round of 16. What you say about it?
Owen: - Well, I am very much confident that England will get back their attacking rhythm in the ‘round of 16’ match. Rooney, Gerrard and Terry are always the hard-working players of our side, but, somehow, they are not getting the winning goals for the side.
Arindam: - in your times, you have scored a goal by dribbling through 6 defenders. That was one of the best classic goals of the world. Really, this England side is missing you.
Owen: - Ha ha ha…yeah, yeah, that was one of my best goals. There was one time, when I and Beckham used to rule for England. But, somehow, things have changed. But, that does not mean that this England side is a very weak side. Defoe, Lampard and Heskey are acting like good game-makers. If England plays in a combination of 3-2-2-3 formation, then they are sure to get an early breakthrough.
Arindam: - hmm…England team was looking like an attacking team against Slovenia, after they scored a winning goal from Defoe’s leg. Ok, now let us check out from Mr. ARINAN about the match between USA and Algeria.
Mr. ARINAN: - The countrymen of Abraham Lincoln were having a great fight with the African desert foxes. Algerians were thinking that the match will be a mere goalless draw, but, alas, within the 3 minutes injury time, Mr. Donovan just stunned the desert foxes with his winning goal. After 90 minutes of that match, USA football team fans were thinking of packing their luggage to go back to their home, but, in the 91st minute, they got the confirmation that they are here to stay in South Africa to watch the round of 16 match as USA has qualified as a leader of its own group.
Arindam: - Really, if you look at the points table of both Group-C and Group –D, it is really a thriller to know, who will actually qualify to the next round.
Owen: - Yeah, that’s what is making this particular World Cup a very special World Cup. In our days, in every group, there used to be two strong teams with two weak teams. Automatically, people used to predict about the teams which will reach the round of 16. But, in this World Cup, even the weak teams are stunning the strong teams, which make the tournament more competitive and exciting. When a weak team beats a strong team in this tournament, it is not the weak team, but the game of football wins the match. When you see some new countries playing good quality football, then as a footballer you have to appreciate that the game of football is gaining more popularity nowadays.
Arindam: - Yeah, that’s true. Hey, Mr. ARINAN, what happened in the match between Germany and Ghana?
Mr. ARINAN: - It was a war between the blacks and the whites on the greenish surface of the world. The dark-skinned Ghana players were wearing white colored jerseys and the white-skinned Germans were wearing black colored jerseys. Only one goal from a German was enough to defeat Ghana, but the Ghana footballers were helpless from their end. It was due to some extraordinary defense from the German side that the Ghana strikers were unable to score the equalizer. At least, Ghana displayed better football than all the other African teams in this World Cup.
Arindam: - Mr. Owen, what is your opinion about these African teams?
Owen: - African teams believe in speed and power rather than in traditional football skills. But, the most disappointing thing for the African players is that they lack concentration. They take off their eyes from the ball during vital times. Yesterday, I saw Yakubu missing a goal just because he took off his eyes from the ball. Many African players don’t give passes to their teammates. Instead they take unnecessary long shots in which the ball traverses above the opponent’s goalpost. I am hardly finding any African strikers except Drogba, who knows how to convert a mere opportunity into a winning goal.
Arindam: - It is so sad that the FIFA World Cup is being played in South Africa and not a single African nation has been able to perform till now. Anyway, let us have some information about the match between Australia and Serbia from Mr. ARINAN.
Mr. ARINAN: - The Kangaroos were hopping in the 1st half but in the 2nd half they started chasing the European White Eagles from all ends to conquer their territories. The Kangaroos scored 2 goals where the White Eagles have nothing to do rather than staring at them. But, after the 70th minute of the match, the White Eagles started playing their traditional European attacking game and it worked for them. They got a goal. They also got another goal, but this one was cancelled due to offside. There was a strong appeal for a hand-ball from the Serbian side, but, somehow, that hand-ball was not an intentional one, that’s why, the referee granted the benefit-of-doubt in favor of the Australian defender. Australia defeated Serbia by 2-1 but it was not enough for the Kangaroos. But, the Kangaroos shattered the dream of the White Eagles. Due to the defeat of Serbia against Australia, the Ghana team got the 2nd spot and was lucky enough to reach the round of 16. As USA has topped in its group and England is in the 2nd spot, so, there is a bad news. Both Germany and England will clash in the Round of 16, which means that one favorite team will be eliminated in the Pre-Quarter round itself.
Arindam: - Germany is going to clash against England! Mr. Owen, who will win the war? It is a war between the countrymen of the Winston Churchill and the Adolf Hitler.
Owen: - Ha ha ha…well, it is very tough to say. Both teams are equal in all respects. I will say that Germany has 51% chance to win and England has 49%. I am putting Germany ahead, because Klose is going to come back in the team and this German team has a good speed, whereas, England is yet to show some real good rhythm in the midfield area. If a team needs to stop Germany, then it has to play superb constructive football in the midfield area, otherwise, the German team will create the opportunities for goals through long zigzag passes.
Arindam: - Anyway, we hope that whoever plays better football on that particular day should win the match. No one loves to select a winner through tie-breakers or sudden death drama. Mr. Owen, thanks for coming to our show. Viewers, we will end our show here. Don’t forget to see our next episode. Take care and goodbye.
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