Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda: Goalkeeper Blunders of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Here are youtube videos for each of the costly goalkeeper mistakes during the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with a shoulda, coulda, woulda. (This post will be updated throughout the tournament)

June 12th, Match # 5   USA vs England,  #12 Robert Green, England

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVVifvhnsx8&NR=1]

This may be the most unfortunate goal of the whole tournament.  What looked like an easy shot from Clint Dempsey, Robert Green fumbled and gave up the goal.  Green should have gotten more of his body behind the ball and performed a front smother save.  A front smother save is when the goalkeeper basically collects the ball as if a basket catch and dives forward landing on his/her forearms.

June 13th, Match # 6  Algeria vs Slovenia,  #16 Faouzi Chaouchi, Algeria

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va_HjJmjzDM]

Faouzi Chaouchi goes to front smother the shot from Slovenia’s, Robert Koren, but he should have taken a simple collapse dive.  As you can see Chaouchi ends up doing a superman dive landing on his stomach desperately trying to make up for his poor footing.

June 14th, Match # 11 Italy vs Paraguay,  #1 Justo Villar, Paraguay

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGq7QTq6lY8]

Wet conditions against a very good free kick team generally means “don’t go unless you know.”  Justo Villar should not have went for the corner.  The rainy conditions make it difficult to judge the flight of the ball (not to mention the reputation of the Jabulani) and hold on to it.  Going against a team as good in the air as Italy, Villar should have only gone for that cross if he knew he was going to get it.  Villar was in no man’s land leaving the empty goal behind him as a gift for the Italians.  If Justo Villar would have stayed on his line, he wouldn’t have called ‘keeper’ (or the language equivalent) allowing his defenders to clear the ball.

****Most likely the people reading this post wish they were at the level of the goalkeepers mentioned.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Unfortunately, there is no worse situation than for a goalkeeper during the World Cup.

June 15th, Match # 14  North Korea vs Brazil, #1 Ri Myong-Guk

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45lcgXY0zsY]

North Korean goalkeeper, Ri Myong-Guk was caught cheating for a better position on the cross.  Brazil’s Maicon, took advantage of the keeper’s poor positioning and scored the near post goal on a very poor angle.  Maicon made it look very easy.

June 16th, Match # 17  South Africa vs Uruguay, #16 Itumeleng Khune

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Yb2UxL_mI]

South African goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune came out feet first for a breakaway and as a result fouled Luis Suarez in a box and was given a red card and Uruguay was awarded a penalty kick.  Granted Luis Suarez was offside and the play should have stopped, Khune should not have gone out feet first.  It’s dangerous and it’s a difficult position to make the save from.

June 17th, Match # 19   Nigeria vs Greece, #12 Alexandros Tzorvas and #1 Vincent Enyeama

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-hJJVzBn7E]

Greece goalkeeper, Alexandros Tzorvas made a mistake on this goal.  He waited to see if a player from Nigeria was going to head the ball rather than going after it himself.  He even dives anticipating a redirect header from #11 Peter Odemwingie and let the ball trickle in.  Tzorvas should have went for this cross.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbn-hxX_qlE]

Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama was having a great tournament until this keeper mistake.  Similar to Robert Green’s mistake against the US, Enyeama struggled with a low bouncing shot.  Enyeama went down and got his body behind the ball, but he did not soften his hands and scoop it into his chest.  He gives up a terrible rebound and a gift for Greece’s Vasileios Torosidis.