Monday, June 19, 2006
Today’s free winner (no password needed), late breaking information as game time approaches, and advanced news and notes are at JoeDuffy.net Premium picks are at www.godspicks.com
MLB
· R Johnson has an 8-2 personal and 10-5 team record to Philadelphia
· Arroyo 8-3 personal record, 10-4 team and a 2.51 ERA
· J Johnson (Clev) 3-7 personal, 4-9 team record, 6.00 ERA
· NYY over 10-5 with R Johnson
· Detroit under 9-4 with Bonderman
· Milwaukee 10-5 with Davis
World Cup
Here are news and notes from Godspicks.com private clipboard. They are compiled from hometown newspapers and the team’s own press releases.
Togo-Switzerland
Aljazeera.net
There has been drama ahead of the match, as has been the case with Togo throughout the tournament, with the Africans threatening to boycott the match over ongoing pay disputes. FIFA has since stepped in and Togo will play at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, but their preparation has been disrupted due to missing their scheduled flight.
With coach Otto Pfister walking out on the squad three days before their first match against South Korea only to return on the eve of the game, you would think the worst was behind Togo. Apoel defender Jean-Paul Abalo will miss the match through suspension, with the Sparrow Hawks again set to rely on big games from Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor and first match goal scorer Mohamed Kader. Switzerland played out a 0-0 draw with former World Champions France in their opening match with the defensive aspect of their team looking very much on song.
Saudi Arabia-Ukraine
Monstersandcritics.com
Though before the tournament began the East Europeans were a Group H co-favourite, the Ukrainians go into the game against Saudi Arabia damaged, coming off a 4-0 drubbing by Spain last week, and coach Oleg Blokhin facing with tough roster problems, especially in the defence. The Saudis in contrast are healthy and playing some of their best football ever in an international tournament, although the side must still be regretting its Wednesday draw to Tunisia, losing the game’s lead in the final minutes. Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Paqueta singled out weather as a critical factor in the upcoming tie, expressing fears falling temperatures in Hamburg could cut into the performance of his team. ‘I like the rain but I don’t want to play in the rain,’ Paqueta said. ‘Playing in rain is very dangerous for us. I need the sun to come out for us.’ Germany’s heat wave fell off as the week end approached, to be replaced by cool temperatures and intermittent rain. Saudi players preparing for the Ukraine match on Friday were wearing clothes suitable for the Middle Eastern winter, including sweat shirts, jackets, long trousers and even ski caps. The Ukrainians ran aground against Spain last week, in part, after players and staff abandoned the side’s traditional high-energy pressing tactics because of fears of exhaustion in face of 30 degree temperatures prevailing at the time.
Spain-Tunisia
NZHerald.com
Spain are out to prove that their scintillating start to the World Cup was no fluke when they play Tunisia in their second Group H match. Luis Aragones’ side dismantled much-fancied Ukraine 4-0 on Friday, raising hopes that, after half a century of World Cup underachievement, 2006 could be their year. The comprehensive nature of Spain’s victory, which extended their unbeaten run to 23 games, means Aragones is unlikely to make any changes to the starting XI. Tunisia, who needed a last-gasp goal from defender Radhi Jaidi to snatch a 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia in their opening game, are confident they can produce a much-improved performance against the group leaders.
Once more Tunisia will have to do without injured leading striker Francileudo dos Santos. The Brazilian-born player, who has scored 18 goals in 28 matches, is out with a shin injury. Their French coach, Roger Lemerre, believes qualification will rest on his side’s final match against Ukraine and has hinted that he may rest some players.
Now at their fourth World Cup finals, Tunisia have won just one of their previous 10 games (when they beat Mexico 3-1 in their debut in Argentina in 1978).
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