Togo World Cup Team Blog » Group G

Write for Togo World Cup Blog

WC Bob — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:39:26 +0000

Do you have a passion for Togo football? Do you like to write and to share your opinions? Are you already fired up and excited for the 2010 World Cup? We’re looking for someone to captain this blog. This is not a paid position, but you will be rewarded with an admiring worldwide audience that will hang on your every word. If you are interested in joining the World Cup Blog team, shoot an email to bob [at] worldcupblog.org and let him now why you are excellent for the position.

Togo 0 France 2

Nick O'Neill — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 16:14:27 +0000

Togo played Togo in the final game of Group G. Togo were 0-2 for games and had no chance of qualifying for th knockout round. The Sparrow Hawks were looking for some respect and kicking French bootie was the best way to get it. After battling hard for an hour they finally leaked a goal to Patrick Vieira, and later allowed him to set up Thierry Henry.

The are relieved to have won and Togo did not make it easy for them.

Togo out of World Cup 2006

Nick O'Neill — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 06:13:09 +0000

Togo crashed out of World Cup 2006 Germany, with a 2-0 loss to Switzerland. In a sense Togo already had one foot out of the World Cup already, with a mutinous team refusing to train or play and a coach who was in and out himself.

What positives are there for Togo to look back on? Well they made it into the World Cup and millions saw them play on TV around the world. They scored against S. Korea, an event that must be the pinnacle of Togo football history. Most of the players are unremarkable, but Adebayor gave us an taste of his style of play. He’s already playing for Arsenal.

With African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, not to mention Egypt, Tunisian and Morocco, competing for spots, getting to another World Cup will be very tough. With Togo’s lack of football infrastructure its not likely we’ll be seeing them again. Anyway, it was fun to dream for a brief moment that the Sparrow Hawks could take the World by storm.

Togo vs. Switzerland: Dortmund 1500

Nick O'Neill — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 14:52:03 +0000

Togo plays Switzerland today in what promises to the a boring game (watch them rack up 8 goals). The Swiss are about as exciting a block of cheese and Togo lost 2-1 in their opening game to S. Korea.

Why do we care about the result today? Togo pretty much has to win this game, then go on to draw with France, in order to go through. The Sparrow Hawks are bottom of Group G, played 1, zero points. Their best chance of a win is against the Swiss, and anything less than a draw means they’re out.

Togo’s players attitude towards this World Cup, has been pretty shitty. Forget about national pride, or the love of the game, they threatened not to continue if they weren’t paid a lot of money. If Togo came out and played well, some of these knuckleheads might actually get picked up by decent teams.

Prediction for the game: My last prediction was total crap. I said 4-0 to Korea, and Togo kept it close at 2-1. If Togo can use the talent they have and play as a team (like those soccer cliches?- its a game of 2 halves…) they might be able to give the Swiss a scare. Whatever, Togo will probably not be on any World Cup schedule for many years, so lets enjoy the novelty of it.

Togo anthem mishap

Nick O'Neill — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:33:25 +0000

FIFA officials expained that the playing of the Korean national anthem for Togo, was human error. Togo’s ambassador to Germany wrote a letter to FIFA complaining. These things happen and there is no need for the high-brows to get involved.

Togo captain Jean-Paul Abalo popular in Korea

Nick O'Neill — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:21:21 +0000

Togo captain Jean-Paul Abalo is popular in Korea, after showing a sporting side during the 2 country’s game. Togo lost the encounter 2-1, but gained respect for their open play and sportsmanship.

Togo: Can they qualify for the next round?

Nick O'Neill — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:32:53 +0000

Can Togo get through to the next round at World Cup 2006? To be honest I have no idea, my predictions usually end up completely off. After the 1st round games, Togo is bottom of Group G, with 0 points. S.Korea is top, with 3 points, followed by France and Switzerland with 1 point each.

Good points for Togo to think about are: They can score, they showed glimpses of footballing ability and both France and Switzerland didn’t look that good. Chances are Togo will finish botton in the group, but who knows what will happen.

Togo manager may sue football association

Nick O'Neill — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:17:26 +0000

Togo coach Otto Pfister may sue the Togo football association, after comments made after the 1-0 loss to S. Korea. Togolese football association’s secretary-general Assogbavi Komlan, told reporters that Pfister drinks too much. I must admit that looking at him on the sidelines of the Korea game, he did have the aura of the ‘old guy in the club’, decked out in Levi’s and party shirt.

Komlan said “I don’t like Pfister,’ he said. ‘He is not a good trainer. For me, Pfister is not the coach of Togo.” As of now Pfister is back at Togo’s training camp in Wangen, preparing for the game against Switzerland on June 19th.

Togo 1 S.Korea 0 at Halftime

Nick O'Neill — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:04:53 +0000

Togo are leading S. Korea 1-0 at halftime. The Sparrow Hawks have amazed us in the first half by playing football and taking the lead in their first ever World Cup game.

Before the start of the game I predicted a 4-0 win for the Koreans. Well that is right out of the window! Go Togo. The Togo goal was a beautiful piece of execution by Mohamed Kader, firing a controlled shot diagonally along the floor, across the path of the goal keeper and in. Accurate low shooting is something we haven’t seen too much of in this World Cup, but this goal was a fine example.

Can Togo repel the upcoming Korean attack, and can they get their first win in the World Cup? We’ll know in another 45 minutes.

Ten minutes from Togo’s World Cup kick off!

Nick O'Neill — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:51:54 +0000

We’re 10 minutes from Togo’s first ever kick off in the World Cup. Its a hot sunny day here in Germany and the excitement is high.

The Sparrow Hawks have their hands full, but if they can get a draw it will do a lot for their confidence. S.Korea will be hungry for success and Togo will be under the gun from the start. I’m drinking a hefeweisen in Togo’s honor and hope the team can pull out a performance to do the country justice.