Many people have held up the World Cup Final of 2010 as an example of everything that is seemingly wrong with football. I don't subscribe to this point of view at all. I didn't at the time, and I don't now: a full 268 days after Spain beat Holland.
And that is exactly why I don't think the Final was the car crash many saw it as. Because Spain beat Holland. Football won. The best team won the World Cup. Their best player scored the winning goal. WC2010: dealt with.
What's not to love?
The game itself was tense as hell. There were plenty of goal-scoring chances, including three one on ones - two for Robben, one for Fabregas - before Andres Iniesta scored the goal of the tournament (seriously, to connect with a controlled waist high volley after 116 minutes of the World Cup final, under pressure from a desperate lunge of the last defender: pure class).
Football could so easily have lost. And then where would we be?
If that pass from Fabregas had not fallen to the feet of the coolest player on the planet, where could we be? Nigel De Jong, Johnny Heitinger, Mark Van Bommel, and Dirk "hard working" Kuyt could all have World Cup winners' medal.
Come on, repetitive fouling aside, how did some of these Dutch players end up playing in a World Cup Final?
Although, having said all that, you can't accuse the Dutch FA of not knowing their best XI. The squad numbers of the players who started this Final numbered 1-11. How often does that happen? Not very.
How many people care? Not many.
Anyway, my point remains: the Dutch were outclassed and outplayed for 120 minutes and the team who played the best football in the tournament won the World Cup.
And you haven't always been able to say that...
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Holland 0-1 Spain
Player of the tournament: Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Goal of the tournament: Iniesta (Spain v Holland)
FINAL GEEK-OUT / ROLL CALL
[placings, after round of elimination, decided by group points won, then overall goal difference for the tournament - additional points awarded for extra time / penalty eliminations]
1. Spain; 2. Holland; 3. Germany; 4. Uruguay; 5. Argentina; 6. Brazil; 7. Ghana; 8. Paraguay; 9. Japan; 10. USA; 11. Chile; 12. Portugal; 13. England; 14. Mexico; 15. South Korea; 16. Slovakia; 17. Ivory Coast; 18. Slovenia; 19. Switzerland; 20. South Africa; 21. Australia; 22. New Zealand; 23. Serbia; 24. Denmark; 25. Greece; 26. Italy; 27. Nigeria; 28. Algeria; 29. France; 30. Honduras; 31. Cameroon; 32. North Korea.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
URUGUAY 2-3 GERMANY
Extensive notes taken on this one (I had such great intentions!):
A couple of things really bugged me here, during what would have been my match of the tournament if it wasn't essentially a friendly, although my annoyance was probably cumulative.
Firstly: the amount of foul throws. Not just in this game, but during the entire World Cup. I was always taught at school: "feet together (behind the white line), two hands on the ball, throw from behind the head, keeping both feet firmly on the ground". Referees seemingly couldn't give a shit: "just lob it in and get the game restarted".
But referees have more on their minds than the legality of a throw in. For one: "where should I be stood on the pitch to most impede the team currently with possession?" This drives me up the wall of my armchair.
The number of times moves have broken down because the official is standing (or running) directly in the line of the perfect through ball or slide rule pass is astonishing. It's like they've never watched a football match. Surely one of the main attributes a professional referee should have is the ability to read the game? To second guess what might happen next. They don't have to be psychic - just follow a basic law of averages. And don't stand THERE!!!
Aside from that, this was a thoroughly good game - primarily because neither side played with any fear. The Third Place Play-Off is a game so irrelevant that I watched the first half with the volume turned down (for the record, it's soundtrack was provided by the Sia album "We Are Born"). But then came the rain...
Football is better in the rain - no question: the ball skidding off the surface, players looking wet and miserable. Lovely stuff.
And, looking like a bedraggled poodle in a thunderstorm, the follically agile Deigo Forlan was a whisker away from finishing as the outright leading goalscorer in the tournament.
Rather than rattling the crossbar, I wish his 'last kick of the tournament' free kick had gone in. But then, I think that about a lot of misses...
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Germany 0-1 Spain
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
A couple of things really bugged me here, during what would have been my match of the tournament if it wasn't essentially a friendly, although my annoyance was probably cumulative.
Firstly: the amount of foul throws. Not just in this game, but during the entire World Cup. I was always taught at school: "feet together (behind the white line), two hands on the ball, throw from behind the head, keeping both feet firmly on the ground". Referees seemingly couldn't give a shit: "just lob it in and get the game restarted".
But referees have more on their minds than the legality of a throw in. For one: "where should I be stood on the pitch to most impede the team currently with possession?" This drives me up the wall of my armchair.
The number of times moves have broken down because the official is standing (or running) directly in the line of the perfect through ball or slide rule pass is astonishing. It's like they've never watched a football match. Surely one of the main attributes a professional referee should have is the ability to read the game? To second guess what might happen next. They don't have to be psychic - just follow a basic law of averages. And don't stand THERE!!!
Aside from that, this was a thoroughly good game - primarily because neither side played with any fear. The Third Place Play-Off is a game so irrelevant that I watched the first half with the volume turned down (for the record, it's soundtrack was provided by the Sia album "We Are Born"). But then came the rain...
Football is better in the rain - no question: the ball skidding off the surface, players looking wet and miserable. Lovely stuff.
And, looking like a bedraggled poodle in a thunderstorm, the follically agile Deigo Forlan was a whisker away from finishing as the outright leading goalscorer in the tournament.
Rather than rattling the crossbar, I wish his 'last kick of the tournament' free kick had gone in. But then, I think that about a lot of misses...
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Germany 0-1 Spain
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
GERMANY 0-1 SPAIN
Watching these two sides made me think of England, and what would have happened if we had made it through this far.
It would have been a travesty, because this was a proper football match between two seriously decent teams.
I enjoyed it so much that I ordered room service (burger and chips) in my Middlesborough hotel to celebrate. This is something I'm not used to. Room service that is. I've had plenty of burgers in my time. And chips.
But there's something very odd about room service. All that silver tray malarkey, and not knowing whether or not to tip the waiter; I find the whole experience as foreign as a World Cup final.
It's all Greek to me. Or should that be Spanish?
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Germany 0-1 Spain
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
It would have been a travesty, because this was a proper football match between two seriously decent teams.
I enjoyed it so much that I ordered room service (burger and chips) in my Middlesborough hotel to celebrate. This is something I'm not used to. Room service that is. I've had plenty of burgers in my time. And chips.
But there's something very odd about room service. All that silver tray malarkey, and not knowing whether or not to tip the waiter; I find the whole experience as foreign as a World Cup final.
It's all Greek to me. Or should that be Spanish?
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Germany 0-1 Spain
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
URUGUAY 2-3 HOLLAND
Ah yes, I remember this one: I was in a hotel in Middlesborough for both semi finals. Just in case you were interested.
Cracking game here, ruined only by a Dutch win.
That and the TV director choosing to be in on a close up at the moment Van Bronckhorst let fly. That decision may have cost Giovanni my goal of the tournament crown (he'll be gutted).
Here's another example of this unforgivable sin:
As an armchair viewer, there is nothing more frustrating than this.
With the possible exception of Mark Bright.
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Cracking game here, ruined only by a Dutch win.
That and the TV director choosing to be in on a close up at the moment Van Bronckhorst let fly. That decision may have cost Giovanni my goal of the tournament crown (he'll be gutted).
Here's another example of this unforgivable sin:
As an armchair viewer, there is nothing more frustrating than this.
With the possible exception of Mark Bright.
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Saturday, March 26, 2011
PARAGUAY 0-1 SPAIN
And so I took a deep breath and started to give a shit about the World Cup again.
The only thing that brought me back to this point was the realisation that Spain could still save the day, and in turn save football. If there was going to be any justice, then this Spanish side would win the World Cup (I won't spoil the ending for you). And because of this, because the future of football itself was at stake, this scrappy game was full of tension. In short: it was a proper Quarter Final.
A proper quarter final lacks the quality of a semi, but marks the point in the tournament where players and fans alike start to think "two more wins and we're in the final". That's enough to make an Englishman freeze (see 2002 & 2006).
This seizing up of the bowels has led to a rash of QF penalties in living memory. And not just shoot outs. Two for Linekar in 1990, not to mention one for Cameroon in the same game. Two missed in this match (plus one chalked off from Alonso).
But if you're looking for a truly significant World Cup Quarter Final penalty miss (and let's face it: who isn't?), look no further than Brazil versus France from 1986. One of the great World Cup matches, Platini's France were European Champions; Brazil, tournament favourites, boasted arguably their best squad since 1970.
Give it to Zico!*
[*Storyteller 2 circa. 1982]
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
The only thing that brought me back to this point was the realisation that Spain could still save the day, and in turn save football. If there was going to be any justice, then this Spanish side would win the World Cup (I won't spoil the ending for you). And because of this, because the future of football itself was at stake, this scrappy game was full of tension. In short: it was a proper Quarter Final.
A proper quarter final lacks the quality of a semi, but marks the point in the tournament where players and fans alike start to think "two more wins and we're in the final". That's enough to make an Englishman freeze (see 2002 & 2006).
This seizing up of the bowels has led to a rash of QF penalties in living memory. And not just shoot outs. Two for Linekar in 1990, not to mention one for Cameroon in the same game. Two missed in this match (plus one chalked off from Alonso).
But if you're looking for a truly significant World Cup Quarter Final penalty miss (and let's face it: who isn't?), look no further than Brazil versus France from 1986. One of the great World Cup matches, Platini's France were European Champions; Brazil, tournament favourites, boasted arguably their best squad since 1970.
Give it to Zico!*
[*Storyteller 2 circa. 1982]
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Thursday, March 24, 2011
ARGENTINA 0-4 GERMANY
"Football doesn't get any simpler than that" said Mark Lawrenson as Miroslav Klose tucked in another supreme counter attacking goal to wrap up this one. He's probably right.
Germany were always going to win.
Argentina could have done with some forewarning.
A single goal behind at half time, having had a goal of their own disallowed, they got caught by a couple of sucker punches on the break in the second half. If only they'd watched the England game...
Although to even begin to liken England's performance to Argentina's is offensive in the extreme. Sorry, Diego!
The more observant of you will have noticed that England's exit coincided with the death of my enthusiasm for this World Cup.
This is only partly true.
While Germany were flattening Maradona & Co. I was enjoying a long weekend in the village of Little London in East Sussex. The weather? Well it was very similar to what it's like now, thank you very much. Which makes me realise that in between this game and this blog, we've made it through an entire winter:
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
Germany were always going to win.
Argentina could have done with some forewarning.
A single goal behind at half time, having had a goal of their own disallowed, they got caught by a couple of sucker punches on the break in the second half. If only they'd watched the England game...
Although to even begin to liken England's performance to Argentina's is offensive in the extreme. Sorry, Diego!
The more observant of you will have noticed that England's exit coincided with the death of my enthusiasm for this World Cup.
This is only partly true.
While Germany were flattening Maradona & Co. I was enjoying a long weekend in the village of Little London in East Sussex. The weather? Well it was very similar to what it's like now, thank you very much. Which makes me realise that in between this game and this blog, we've made it through an entire winter:
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Goal of the tournament: Tevez (Argentina v Mexico) - [2nd goal]
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