Thursday, 1 July 2010

World Cup 2010: goalkeepers ups and downs - summary after 1/8



Next teams said goodbye to the World Cup, others qualified to the next round. Time to do another summary. Seems that this time one goalkeeper qualifies to be put in the most of the categories...

In 8 matches 68 saves was made what gives 8,5 saves per every match.

Most saves overall



Eduardo made 9 saves in Spain - Portugal match, saving also his team from an ashaming defeat.

The second place belongs to Jan Mucha who made 7 saves in Slovakia - Netherlands game. Manuel Neuer (Germany), Eiji Kawashima (Japan) and Jung Sung-Ryong (South Korea) made 6 saves each.

Most conceded goals overall



James allowed 4 goals in England - Germany match. Could act better in at least two situations...

The last line of defence - best saves in a match



There can be only one choice: Eduardo in Spain - Portugal match. However, Kingson in Ghana - US match did very good and it had to come to penalty to defeat him.

The best save of a penalty



There were penalties, there were penalty shoot-out, but no sucessful penalty save... However, for the attitude I put here Villar (Paraguay). He looked so self-confident, so easy-going that it had to make Japanese players at least a bit more unsecure.

Clean sheets



Only two goalkeepers managed to keep clean sheet in this round: Julio Cesar of Brazil and Iker Casillas of Spain.

The best defence



I could put Eduardo also in this category, but Kingson also deserves to named here for his amazing 1 to 1 saves in Ghana - US match. Did this more than once. Impressive.

Good performance in the game



Manuel Neuer (Germany). His long pass was an assist for Klose who scored the opening goal.

A goal allowed in the most awkward way



Some things in football are certain. There are two goals and one ball, Germans are always winning in the end and English goalkeepers are English goalkeepers. Means far from being good. James managed somehow to keep 2 clean sheets in the group matches. Unfortunately for him in the match with Germany he commited all mistakes he shouldn't. He made an error when he was late with coming out of the goal when the first goal for Germany was scored but his third attempt of save was the most fatal. He pushed the ball into the net with his left elbow. A blunder, no doubt.

Most effort put in the match but it gave nothing



Jan Mucha made good saves in Slovakia - Netherlands match but all this effort were wasted by one mistake and misjuding the cross.

A goalkeeper who yelled the most at his defenders



Tim Howard in Ghana - US. The defenders, however, seemed to not communicate quite well among themselves and didn't help too much his goalkeeper.

The most lucky save



Eduardo again. Save of Llorente's shot.

A rare sight



Two goalkeepers in one penalty box. Richard Kingson and Tim Howard in Ghana - US game.

The most funny moment



Mexico - Argentina game. Some paper streamers thrown by fans had landed on the pitch. The commentator said "The service is removing the streamers now " and then the camera showed Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez doing the work insted of the service. A helpful goalie.

It could end up with a lost goal...



What is happening with Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas? He let the ball out of his hands way too often in Spanish - Portugal match. It could end up with losing the goal. He was, however, focused when he rushed out of the goal to clear the ball.

The goalkeeper who did fine although his team didn't made through



Eduardo (Portugal). Tim Howard (US) also did fine as well as Kawashima (Japan) and Mucha (Slovakia).

The saddest moment



Eduardo in despair after the lost match with Spain.

A nice gesture



Fellow goalkeepers Beto and Daniel Fernandes consoling Eduardo.
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