World Cup 2010 - Day 4

Netherlands 2 Denmark 0 (Group E)

Alas, poor Poulsen; I knew him Horatio –
He’d strength and skill in equal ratio.
A thousandfold, the crossed ball flew
In front of goal with danger true
And every time in his career,
His sturdy skull would knock it clear.
Save that one time in Soccer City
In a faux pas far from pretty,
When a crossed ball from van Persie
Showed that God has little mercy.
Alas, poor Poulsen, though he tried
To head it out both far and wide,
Fate thrust blindly like a dagger,
Caused the ball to slew off Agger
And bobble in inside the post
With Sorensen a deathly ghost.
See now, how the jawbone grins
Atoning for this sin of sins.



Cameroons 0 Japan 1 (Group E)

Midfield dynamo
With a powerful engine,
How Honda motors.

Italy 1 Paraguay 1 (Group F)

The Paras got off to a flyer,
Their bellies were stoked by a fire,
The free kick was swept,
Canavaro then leapt,
But Alcarez leapt even higher.

The weather was drizzly and hazy,
The Italian players looked lazy.
Out on the Cape,
They lacked basic shape
Till they brought on Camaranesi.

Paraguay’s heroes were plucky,
Not afraid to get down and get mucky.
Reputation unsullied,
They didn’t get bullied
And maybe were somewhat unlucky.

Conditions of course were quite slippy
But the Italians were lukewarm and drippy.
There wasn’t much blending
Or classy defending,
Which caused many problems for Lippi.

Normally, steadfast and strapping,
The Paraguay keeper came flapping.
De Rossi slid in
With a jubilant grin
With the Para defenders caught napping.