July 14, 2010

Shine 2010 via Flickr Creative Commons

It’s hard to believe it’s all over. It seems not five minutes ago that this World Cup was kicking off, but already we’re here in that awkward post-tournament stage. No longer can you watch a double-header of football in the day-time, instead it’s Homes under the Hammer. No longer can pub conversations be dominated by the day’s on-goings, you actually have to make real conversation and no longer can you engage in highly charged patriotism without appearing slightly racist. The eyes of football fans across the country are already focused on the first day of the season and, while that may be fun, it seemed an appropriate time for us at Nouse to reflect on the 2010 World Cup. You might disagree, in fact you probably will, so by all means contribute your own views below.

ADAM SHERGOLD – SPORTS EDITOR (2008-2010)

Player of the Tournament

Diego Forlan – In anticipation of my colleagues dissecting the talent-laden and victorious Spanish XI, I’m going with a player who was never part of an outstanding team unit but whose five goals carried his nation to an improbable last four finish. Forlan was much maligned at Manchester United, where he never adapted to the pace and physicality of the English Premier League, but, at 31, he has blossomed into a striker capable of some quite stunning finishing and seems to be enjoying his football like never before. His free-kick equaliser against Ghana in the quarter-final, where he demonstrated an unrivalled command of the capricious Jabulani ball, is a personal favourite.

Best Goal

Siphiwe Tshabalala for South Africa vs. Mexico – The moment an entire nation awoke from interminable anticipation to the glorious reality that the greatest show on Earth was in town. Tshabalala’s terrific left-footed roof-of-the-net finish, following intricate build-up, was much more than just than the opening goal of the tournament. It was the realisation of a dream – the dream of a nation and a continent often fractured, but suddenly united. In addition, the joyous aftermath included the tournament’s best choreographed celebration. He also has the best name since Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala.

Favourite Match

Germany 4 Argentina 0 – An emphatic result and masterly performance which marked the cessation of one age of football and the beginning of another. Diego Maradona’s Argentina were brutally exposed by a German side that will undoubtedly wrest with Spain to be Europe and the world’s pre-eminent side through the next five years. With an average age under 25, Joachim Löw’s bright young kinder, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Mesut Özil, are most definitely an atypical German side, but all the more intriguing for it. This showing announced their arrival as genuine World Cup contenders, years ahead of schedule, and wrecked the dreams of Maradona, Messi and co.

Best Moment

Andres Iniesta’s goal for Spain in the final – A winning moment which meant so much to so many, but also to the game. Iniesta’s 116th-minute strike, technically perfect, extinguished the possibility that the very un-Dutch brand of thuggish football would prevail and the world rejoiced. Effective it might have been in stalling the Spanish passing carousel, but it was disappointing to see a nation steeped in such a rich heritage of playing the game beautifully resort to such anti-football tactics. Thank goodness Iniesta, one of the stars of the tournament, intervened to provide justice.

LEIGH CLARKE – SPORTS EDITOR (2009-2010)

Player of the tournament

Carles Puyol – Here’s a statistic for you: in the knock-out stages of both Euro 2008 and this World Cup, Spain have not conceded a goal. There’s a danger that in years to come that we’ll remember only the attacking fluency of this great side and forget how their incredible defence essentially won them two consecutive tournaments. Despite being a rock throughout, and Spain’s outfield leader, I’ve not seen Puyol on many ‘Teams of the Tournament’ and he wasn’t even nominated for the Golden Ball. Yet he deserves recognition for a fantastic few weeks; he may not have had a great final but his performance against Germany, which he capped with a superb match-winning goal, was nothing short of outstanding.

Best Goal

Miroslav Klose vs. Argentina – Was this the perfect counter-attack? Germany humiliated Argentina in more ways than one, as their inch-perfect move exposed the Argentinian defence as clueless whilst making the scoreline embarrassing. At times Germany played the most exciting football in this competition and this was surely the pinnacle of the young team’s achievements.

Favourite Match

Slovakia vs. Italy – There were serious doubts over Italy’s following their first two performances, but no one expected this. It was a match that had it all: wonder-goals, huge tension and, at the finish, an early exit for the World Cup holders. In a tentative group stage, this was a real highlight.

Best moment

Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty - Actually an awful moment, but one that summed up the excitement of a World Cup perfectly. Ghana, vying to be the first African nation ever to make the semi-finals, are awarded a penalty in the final minute of extra-time after Luis Suarez handles on the line. Up steps Asamoah Gyan, the cool and collected expert penalty taker, for one of the most important kicks in football history. The whole of Africa, perhaps the whole of the non-Uruguay world, wants him to score but, almost inevitably, he misses, his effort hitting the bar. Ghana then go on to lose the subsequent shoot-out. Heartbreaking, but a moment that really shows the incredible drama of a major tournament.

HENRY COWEN – ACTING SPORTS EDITOR

Player of the Tournament

Thomas Mueller – I put my hands up, I hadn’t heard of him before the tournament, but the young German has starred in South Africa. Before this tournament Mueller had played three times for his country; he has now played eight times, scoring on five occasions, and has won the Golden Boot in his debut tournament. He’s energetic, lively and proved a constant thorn in the side to every team he came up against, not least England against whom he scored twice. Ryan Nelsen of New Zealand also deserves special mention; for the All Whites to go through the tournament undefeated is a superb achievement and it is down in no small part to the Kiwi skipper.

Best Goal

Tricky question. Tevez’s against Mexico was fantastic, as was van Bronckhorst’s against Uruguay but for me it has to be Maicon’s goal against North Korea. Did he mean it? Who cares. A special goal that finally broke the minnows’ resistance and one that could only have been scored by a Brazilian.

Favourite Match

I became something of a New Zealand fan during this tournament; partly because they were plucky underdogs but mainly because in their side was the only Ipswich Town player. As a devoted Tractor Boy I followed Ricky Herbert’s men because on the left of their back three was our very own Tommy Smith. He had a good tournament, his team had an even better one and their highlight was my favourite game of the competition. Playing against the world champions can never be easy, especially when your side contains players that had previously been deemed not good enough for English non-league sides but Nelsen and his men fought heroically to earn a 1-1 draw against Marcello Lippi’s Italy. A superb performance and one that typified the general theme of underdogs throughout this World Cup.

Best Moment

There’s two here, both of them betting related which, I think, tells a story. Number 1. Put five pounds on for my older brother that Siphiwe Tshabalala would score the first goal of the tournament. Hello £50. My brother puts it on black at a nearby casino, hello £100 and I didn’t have to pay for anything else that day. Number 2. A tale of oh so close. Put five pounds on Matt Upson to score against Germany, and score he did! Unfortunately the lovely lady at the betting shop mistakenly processed it as Matt Upson to score first…valuable drinking money cruelly taken from me on a day that was already forgettable.

JAKE FARRELL – ACTING SPORTS EDITOR

Player of the Tournament

Xavi Hernandez – The Machine is a nickname that you would envisage being attached to some nutter defender that plays for Rochdale. Instead it is the moniker used to describe Xavi, the central midfield machine that literally passes teams into submission. The Barca Captain made 669 passes in the tournament with a completion rate of 81%. That is a higher total of passes and a higher completion rate that Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Kaka combined. He also played all 636 minutes of Spain’s campaign running 80.2km in the process. The best player in the world, let alone the tournament.

Best Goal

Carlos Tevez vs Mexico – Argentina had a bit of luck against Mexico who proved a good side over the course of the tournament. There was nothing lucky about the Tevez strike that ultimately beat them and the look of pudgy joy that spread across his features after he almost broke the net was pure Maradona. Genius.

Favourite Match

England vs Germany – Only a humiliation on the scale of a 4-1 second round World Cup defeat to Germany could induce the root and branch re-structuring of English football that we need, and that is why it is my favourite match. It won’t lead to anything of the kind of course but it should – now is the time to let the individuals that have comprised our squad slip (in)gloriously into retirement and for a young squad to form an enthusiastic eleven before they are jaded by the Premiership. I want to see Joe Hart in Goal, Jack Wilshere in behind and Jack Rodwell as Captain for the next friendly.

Best Moment

The opening goal of the finals – I have been somewhat repulsed by the saccharine levels of white, middle class sympathy toward South Africa, and the continent in general, over the course of the tournament but Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal against Mexico did feel like something special for the nation. Aside from the patronising assertions of “What this will mean for Africa?”, and cringeworthy features from Robben Island, Tshabalala’s goal was one of some class. All it did was ignite the passions of a nation that loves football and had eagerly been anticpating the start of the greatest show on earth in their own back yard for some time, not somehow unite Africa into one pangea of sport. If only football mattered half that much.

HUW HARROW – Sports Correspondent

Player of the Tournament

Bastian Schweinsteiger – If this world cup has shown us anything, it is the importance of the holding central midfielder. Whilst youngsters Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller were grabbing the headlines for their exhilarating displays it was Bastian Schweinsteiger who was the fulcrum of the German campaign. Stepping up to replace the talismanic Michael Ballack, Schweinsteiger has matured beyond recognition from the man considered by many to be a luxury player in to a tough tackling yet technically excellent general. His set pieces were also a huge asset to Joachim Louw’s men and the German side looks set to be built around him for the foreseeable future.

Best Goal

Giovanni van Bronckhorst v Uruguay – This simply has to be van Bronckhorst’s semi final thunderbolt. It is worth giving mention to Nicklas Bendtner’s equalizer for Denmark against Cameroon, an effortlessly simple, sweeping move, stemming from what must be the pass of the tournament from Simon Kjaer. However it would be churlish to deny this award to the Dutch veteran who produced the cleanest strike of a ball you are ever likely to see in a tournament where long range efforts tended to do little but stir memories of South Africa’s 1995 world cup rather than create their own.

Favourite Match

Brazil v North Korea – The minnows gave us a fair share of entertainment throughout this tournament. New Zealand taking the lead against holders Italy and ultimately holding on for a draw was a fantastic achievement. However, it was North Korea whose brave efforts against the might of Brazil provided us with an unforgettable piece of world cup history. From Jong Tae-Se’s waterworks during the national anthem, to Maicon’s wonder goal to Ji Yun-nam’s memorable late consolation this was the sort of drama only a world cup can provide.

Best Moment

Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal v Germany – Having been on the rack for the most part against the old enemy and 0-2 down early on, almost out of the blue Matthew Upson and Frank Lampard appeared to have brought England back from the brink. For the first time in the tournament the nation was united in joy and started dreaming of the greatest comeback since Lazarus. The joy of course was soon to turn to united anger, disbelief and delicious irony that this might somehow be payback for 1966, but this is my moment of the tournament as it may be the incident that instigates the long overdue addition to the game of goal line technology.

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July 12, 2010

Howard Webb has had better days but he didn't make too many genuine errors in last night's final. Photo: thetelf via Flickr Creative Commons

You only have to look at the statistics of this game to see it wasn’t the best final ever. Fourteen bookings and one red card demonstrate just how physical and bad-tempered the game was, with the Netherlands doing their utmost to prevent Spain from playing their natural game. While the actions of manager Bert van Marwijk’s side helped them stay in the game as long as they did, they didn’t make for an entertaining spectacle, with those in my living room more concerned with how good old Howard Webb was doing.

The game, and the tournament as a whole, lacked the drama of a Zidane head-butt but it would be fair to say that the best side in the world did win the World Cup, which provides a fitting end to this year’s competition. In fact in a tournament short of goals it is only right that a scrappy 1-0 victory should provide the crescendo, penalties would have been far too dramatic, especially for my Mum who drew Spain in the office sweepstake and thus was clinging to the sofa as if the prize money was the Jules Rimet trophy itself.

Fortunately for the Spanish, and my Mum, they had the best team in the tournament and despite an initial blip they progressed through the tournament ruthlessly, climaxing in four consecutive 1-0 victories. Despite all this talk of style over substance we mustn’t forget that Spain haven’t actually been playing beautiful football, but the best teams are always able to win when they’re not performing at their best.

Torres has definitely had better days, while the much-hyped Pique and Puyol were, at times, susceptible; outmuscled by the Swiss in their first game they could have conceded on more than one occasion tonight had the Dutch been able to take their chances. The Spanish won’t care though, all they’ll want to do tonight is celebrate and who can blame them.

One man who probably won’t be celebrating is Mr Howard Webb. Despite the whole of England being behind him, and with this being touted as “his time” it seems the pressure might have got to him. He has definitely had better days, nobody wants to send anybody off in a World Cup final, and he won’t be happy to see the “expert” pundits criticising his overall performance but he didn’t do too much wrong, regardless of what the Dutch say. Nevertheless, at least he isn’t Graeme Poll.

Many people seem to be suggesting that Spain’s win is deserved because the Netherlands were in someway “anti-football” but that would be harsh on the Dutch. Granted they haven’t been the prettiest footballing side in the world but they have got results and surely that is what football is all about, nobody was complaining when Jose Mourinho ‘parked the bus’ against Barcelona to masterfully secure passage to the Champions League final.

The Dutch are unfashionable but we know that we would take England getting to the final in any way possible. They were undoubtedly physical, with Mark van Bommel seemingly on a mission to get sent-off in every game he played, but if that is what victory requires so be it. They weren’t going out to injure players, and even if they did force our Howard to use his cards more than he would have liked, they weren’t outside the rules of the game to the same extent as Uruguay’s Luis Suarez. Let’s celebrate the success of the Spanish, it’s nice to see the best team in the world lift the trophy, but don’t knock the Dutch too much for not lying down and letting Villa and co waltz around them.

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July 10, 2010

Photo: Articularnos.com via Flickr Creative Commons

What do Sweden, Croatia and Turkey all have in common? Yes, that’s right, rather surprisingly they have all finished third in the World Cup. It is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and yet most football fans would be unable to recall the games in which these sides secured third place. Who can forget the 1994 classic where Bulgaria succumbed 4-0 to Sweden? What about Turkey’s superb 3-2 win over South Korea in 2002? We all remember them, don’t we? Of course we don’t, the truth is that to most football fans the third and fourth place play-off is a meaningless fixture, a forgettable aperitif to the main event. Let’s ignore that though and focus on the real game this weekend, nobody really cares about the World Cup final, do they?  The real fun is to be had between Uruguay and Germany…at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Forgettable it may be, but one thing this fixture always offers is entertainment. In the last four World Cups there have been 16 goals in the third and fourth place play-off fixture. Now I was never very good at Maths but even I know that’s an average of four goals a game. This competition has had its highs and its lows but it would probably be fair to say it’s slightly fallen short in terms of entertainment, the average goals per game is only 2.2 and it would be very surprising if Uruguay and Germany didn’t serve up a more enjoyable spectacle tonight.

In many ways the game should be more entertaining than Holland v Spain. In that game we see the masters of possession in Spain taking on the much-maligned Holland, who bear little or no resemblance to the days of Total Football with Johann Cruyff et al. In tonight’s fixture we see the free-scoring Germany do battle with the Diego Forlan inspired Uruguay. Despite the prize of third place up for grabs, the match will have something of a friendly feel to it with both sides going for it, La Celeste have already said they will “fight” for third place and there’s no way Joachim Löw’s Gemany will give up easily.

So what’s going to happen? Germany came third last time round with a 3-1 win over Portugal (does anyone remember that?) and it would be a brave man to bet against them here. They have been fantastic in this tournament, demolishing England and Argentina in the process and were beaten only by Spain, who will surely be the eventual winners of the tournament. Unlike Uruguay they don’t rely on the brilliance of one man. They’re a team in which everybody knows their roles and everybody performs them to the best of their ability. Players like Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller have arrived on the world stage in South Africa and Bastian Schweinsteiger must be a contender for player of the tournament.

Uruguay on the other hand have very few names in their side. The one obvious exception is Athletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan. The ex-Manchester United man has been superb throughout this tournament, lifting his side with some superb goals and adding the gloss to his colleague’s thoroughly workman-like efforts. Luis Suárez has had an interesting tournament, featuring at both ends, but the man who scored 49 goals in all competitions for Ajax last year will always be a threat, especially to Per Metersacker and Arne Friedrich who don’t look to be the best central defensive partnership in the world.

So with only an hour or so to kick-off I’m going to be very brave and make a prediction, at least that way there will be something at stake for me during the game. I would be surprised if it wasn’t a fast and free-flowing game, neither side has anything to lose and both may as well attempt to go out on a high. They’re not watertight at the back but are both pretty handy going forward and thus I see a 4-2 Germany win. Quick, rush down to your nearest bookie and hand over some cash, I also predicted Matt Upson would score against Germany so I’m bound to be right! You may as well go for it anyway, it’s not as if we will remember the outcome of this game for long anyway, regardless of how entertaining it may be.

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July 10, 2010

Dirk Kuyt might lack the glamour of past Dutch players, but the Liverpool winger has been instrumental in Holland's success this tournament. Photo: Globovision via Flickr Creative Commons

When Scorsese, after years of failure at the Oscars, finally won Best Director with The Departed, some commentators criticised the decision to present him the long overdue award. Sure, it was a good movie, but how could it win when Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas all had not? That’s the problem with being known as a glorious loser: you’re likely to capture the hearts of the crowd but, when you do finally win, they’re going to expect something pretty special.

Dutch football has a similar problem. Known primarily for the outstanding teams of the late 1970s, teams that twice made it to the World Cup Final playing football that inspired all those that watched, they are the honourable martyrs of international football, twice denied the greatest crown of all due to an inability to play anything less than the beautiful game.

In 1974 they introduced “Total Football” to the world, but were halted whilst attempting to enact footballing revenge in a final against bitter rivals West Germany. Four years later the same team without star Johann Cruyff came up against host nation Argentina in a hostile Buenos Aires final, Rob Rensenbrink being only millimetres away from snatching victory in the final minutes of normal time, before Argentina went on to win their first ever trophy. And again, as recently as in 1998 and the European Championships in 2008, the Dutch have cemented their reputation as the team who win our hearts, but rarely any trophies.

Baring a European Championships victory in 1988, it is a rich history of footballing brilliance but ultimate disappointment. Now, on the eve of the Netherland’s first World Cup final since the late seventies, there is a genuine suggestion that victory for this ‘dull’ Dutch side, one based on footballing discipline rather than unchecked flair, would not do justice to the honourable teams that have failed before.

It is a statement based on two glaring misconceptions. First that this side are somehow dull, and secondly that Dutch football has always been based on flair and ‘Total Football’. A staggering run of 14 competitive wins, starting with a 2-1 qualification victory over Macedonia in 2008 and including a stunning defeat of Brazil, to get to this stage shows the first point to be ridiculous. The second, as so often the case in international football, is an outdated stereotype. Dutch football has long mixed the sublime with the ugly; for every Cruyff turn, there has been a Rikjaard spit; for every Bergkamp wonder-goal, a Battle of Nuremberg and for every Ruud Gullit, an Edgar Davids.

Yet there is a little doubt that this side has a simplicity and resilience rarely seen in recent years, and with that a certain dislikeable quality that we are not that used to in the Dutch. Marco van Bommel’s tackles so far this tournament earned him a less than favourable reputation, while players such as Boulahrouz, De Jong and Kuyt perhaps lack the glamour and creativity of past Oranje stars. Big name Robin van Persie has failed to bring his early season form to South Africa, and the Dutch have relied heavily on Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to provide their creativity, the latter also unpopular due to his penchant for diving.

Yet this Netherlands team, with its pragmatic, direct and cohesive approach are arguably the best equipped in the nation’s history to cope with the challenge that faces them on Sunday evening – the challenge of beating a Spain team that are on the verge of being the greatest in a generation. One can imagine the Cruyff 1974 team, who so famously fell victim to complacency against the then European champions in their World Cup final, being outwitted and outclassed against opponents known for their ability to out-football all those that come before them.

Perhaps like Germany, fresh from destroying England and Argentina in two displays of footballing brilliance, they would have found themselves stunned by the relentless flow of the Spanish midfield and it’s two chief artists: Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Sir Alex Ferguson, after watching Manchester United crumble against a Barcelona side that contained seven of Spain’s starting eleven last Wednesday, called it a “passing carousel”, and in recent years it has, for both club and country, bewitched all those that come before it.

Against Germany that carousel worked to perfection for the first time in the tournament. Germany came into the game with the idea of taking the punches and demonstrating their ability to hit cleanly on the counter, playing on Spain’s two obvious weaknesses – their tendency to overplay and a reliance on David Villa in front of goal. Yet within the opening ten minutes it had become clear that they were entirely overawed by the occasion. Perhaps showing their inexperience for the first time this tournament, they sat there like rabbits in the headlights, entirely baffled as the magic midfield relentlessly poured forward. Puyol’s goal was not beautiful but it was inevitable, and there would have been a second before the end had Pedro later chosen to pass to an open Fernando Torres.

The Dutch, due to their experience and strength in midfield are likely to cope with this better, and they will be helped by the fact that they contain in their ranks one man who has overcome these opponents before. Wesley Sneijder’s rise from the bench of Real Madrid to being the star of this tournament has become a footballing fairytale, and during his successful year at Internazionale he was part of a midfield that over two Champions League games, managed something that no other team has done in the last two years – it rode the carousel and survived. Should Xavi and Iniesta work their magic on Sunday, no man would arguably be more experienced to cope with their threat, finishing an unprecedented year of individual success in the process.

There is a strong argument that this Spanish team is the greatest footballing side since those Dutch heroes of 1974 and there is certainly no doubt that it is one been strongly influenced by the ‘Total Football’ philosophy. Holland must realise that the mantle has been passed on, and that the only way to beat Spain is to play them in the way that their opponents did to their Dutch predecessors throughout the seventies. The tables have been turned; they are now the West Germany of 1974, the plucky underdogs against a footballing giant, and would do well to take inspiration from their bitter rivals as well as from their countrymen. That is because, as glorious as failure can be, one thing is always sure: history remembers the winners.

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June 30, 2010

Photo: Georgio via Flickr Creative Commons

It’s now a few days after England’s ‘Golden Generation’ once again flopped on the biggest stage of all and the brutal yet always seemingly inevitable reality defeat has just about sunk in. Every pundit from the professionals to the armchair versions have been furiously attempting to identify a reason for the limpest of failures from this supposedly most talented of teams.

For the most part, England’s early exit is still hugely baffling. The same group of players were flawless during the qualifying campaign, preparation was superb and most key players came in to the tournament fit and off the back of strong club seasons. Yet from start to finish it all went so wrong. The likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and John Terry who have spent the last few seasons dominating European Club football appeared to almost metamorphose in to pub players overnight.

It may sound strange given the comprehensive beating Fabio Capello’s men took at the hands of the Old Enemy on Sunday, but there are very few members of the current German side who you would swap for their English equivalent. Playmaker Mesut Ozil would certainly be in with a shout, but looking at other key German players like Phillip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger they don’t stand out as in any way superior to the likes of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard. Yet as a unit, the Germans were simply on another level. You would do well to find a single Algerian who would even come in to contention for the England squad let alone starting line up but this certainly wasn’t the impression anyone who watched the two nations fight out a 0-0 draw would have got.

Though the players themselves must take a fair share of the blame for this, the fact remains that it is the manager’s job to get the best out of his players and Capello spectacularly failed to do this. Though is hard to disagree in the main with his team selection or man management it seems to me that the Italian’s main undoing was his devotion to a very English institution, the 4-4-2.

In years to come when the words Jabulani and Vuvuzela conjure up only blank looks rather than heated debate the 2010 World Cup may well be remembered for the death of 4-4-2. None of the sides who have impressed at this tournament have employed the time honoured system yet England have stuck by it rigidly. Brazil, Holland, Germany and Spain all operate a variation of the 4-2-3-1 formation, the Spanish even forcing David Villa to take up a wide position such is their reluctance to play two up front. We might describe Argentina’s set up as more a fluid 4-3-3 with Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez given freedom to roam.

England struggled throughout the tournament to contain attacking midfielders, Ozil being the prime example but Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan caused problems for the USA and even Robert Koren was a threat for Slovenia. With England’s midfield set out without anyone holding in front of the defence they failed to stamp any authority on midfield and continually struggled to keep possession. In attack, the 4-4-2 should benefit from the presence of two genuine wingers to supply balls in to the box which makes England’s decision to persist with it even more unfathomable given the lack of quality of the wide men at Capello’s disposal. Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole were shoehorned in to service on the left whilst Aaron Lennon disappointed on the right.
Perhaps this is the key to the failure of many players continual failure to replicate their club form in a white shirt (or even a ‘lucky’ red one). Rooney often leads the line alone for Manchester United and Gerrard operates in behind Fernando Torres at Liverpool. Attacking midfielders at all of the big Premier League clubs are there to do exactly that, with the security of having holding players in behind them but England repeatedly get this balance wrong at international level.

Whether England were ever good enough to win this World Cup is doubtful but I feel a move to a 4-2-3-1 would have given them a much better chance. From the squad that travelled to South Africa I would have liked to have seen England line up something like this way back on June 12th.

—————————————-James—————————————–

———- Johnson———–King———- Terry ———-Cole———-

—————————-Barry —————Carrick————————–

——————Milner———–Gerrard ———-Cole———————

—————————————-Rooney—————————————

Though it would not have necessarily have facilitated the best eleven players being on the pitch it would have had players in roles they were more comfortable with and, crucially, were clearly defined. Though no full blown battling midfielders made the squad, he sheer presence of two men sitting in front of the defence would have made it much more difficult for Ozil and co to run amok and would have made it easier for England to move the ball from defence to midfield (Rio Ferdinand’s absence being keenly felt in this regard). Whether Capello remains at the helm or not, this system simply must be given a chance if England are ever to succeed against the best teams and fulfil their undoubted potential.

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June 28, 2010

Carlos Tevez by Alfonso Jiménez via Flickr Creative Commons

Situated amidst the misery of yesterday was one of the great moments of this World Cup so far. As half of England sat half-drunk either calling for Capello’s head or moaning about the “overpaid golden generation”, Argentina vs. Mexico played in the background. Argentina were two goals ahead, courtesy of a questionable offside call and a defensive mistake, and it seemed inevitable that the day’s analysis was to be dominated by calls for technology and anti-Blatter feeling. Suddenly Carlos Tevez picked up the ball on the edge of the area, casually kicked it into a defender, regained possession and blasted it superbly into the corner of the goal. Across our living rooms we all jumped up in euphoric amazement and, despite the day’s disappointment, the World Cup seemed to start all over again.

It was reminiscent of a another great Argentinian goal, one that was also scored in the second round of the World Cup against Mexico just four years ago. It is an odd coincidence that last tournament Argentina’s round-of-sixteen and quarter-final opponents were exactly the same as they will be this year. They waited until extra time to vanquish Mexico in 2006: a Maxi Rodriguez wonder-goal firing them, like yesterday, into a quarter-final against an impressive young German side. Argentina will hope that the next stage of their campaign goes better than it did last time.

They were not the Brazil of ’82 and certainly not the Holland of ’74, but you could certainly make an argument that the Argentina of 2006 rank as one of the great World Cup sides that didn’t make it as far as they initially promised. They certainly deserved to go past the quarters, where they were on the verge of progression after taking the lead through Roberto Ayala, only for Miroslav Klose to equalise for Germany with just ten minutes remaining. In a decision that arguably cost him his job, Jose Pekerman took playmaker Juan Riquelme off just before the goal and then had to watch as his subsequently toothless side were unable to respond, eventually falling victim to the German penalty machine. The world was denied the opportunity of seeing just how far this team, who had already demolished Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 in one of the great World Cup performances, could have gone.

Many had predicted that coaching unpredictability would again cost a remarkably talented Argentina side dear in this tournament. Diego Maradona might have been one of the most enchanting players of all time, but he took on the Argentina job with a club coaching record of just three wins in 23 games. In qualification they famously lost 6-1 to Bolivia, and only qualified with tight wins against Peru and Uruguay, the heroes not being Leo Messi or Gonzalo Higuain but the inexperienced Mario Bolatti and ageing veteran Martin Palermo. After scraping through, Maradona launched into a foul-mouthed rant against those that had doubted him, earning himself a lengthy touchline ban as a result.

Further doubts regarding Maradona surfaced as Argentina went in to the tournament. Palermo made the plane, but Inter stars Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso did not. Questions were raised over World Player of the Year Leo Messi’s international form, with the suggestion even that Maradona was pleased that the Barcelona forward was not playing to his best and eclipsing his coach’s legacy.

Yet so far, all is going remarkably well. Ten goals scored, with two conceded; assured performances from Hiaguain, Messi and Tevez; even Palermo justifying selection with a goal against Greece - another of the tournament’s great moments. Maradona, formerly a laughing stock, now appears a stylish master at the sidelines, with his salt-and-pepper beard, sharp wit and admirable enthusiasm. Some are now even complimenting Argentina’s tactics, while many point to the influence of former World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo, pulling the strings behind Maradona’s passionate leadership.

There are still doubts – nothing is predictable with Maradona and he still makes the odd baffling decision. Jonas Gutierrez at right-back seems rather bizarre and Messi still remains goalless (he was also effectively marked out of the game against Greece). Yet against Germany, the first top-tier team they will have faced, Argentina will have an opportunity to announce themselves as serious contenders and set up the potential of a mouth-watering final with Brazil – which would, amazingly, be the first time the two sides have ever met in football’s biggest match.

In a tournament that has perhaps lacked one outstanding team so far, the redemption of Maradona, possibly amidst the emergence of his successor, might end up being this World Cup’s great narrative. In order for that to be so, Argentina must learn from the mistakes of four years ago and realise that style alone might not be enough to win a World Cup. You would never bet against the Germans, but this Argentina side might be even more special than the last.

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June 28, 2010

England's World Cup performance: Half-empty or Half-full? Barnaby S via Flickr Creative Commons

GERMANY 4 ENGLAND 1

Ah. Now that wasn’t very good, was it? As an eternally optimistic glass half-full kind of man, I’ve spent years watching football telling anybody who would listen that it’s not as bad as you think, we weren’t that bad, we’ll get better etcetera, etcetera. Games like yesterday put me in a quandary, my instinct is to defend the players, the manager and the system and attempt to be reasonable, but it is nigh on impossible when your team plays as woefully as England did in their 4-1 capitulation at the hands of Germany in Bloemfontein.

Normally we have a scapegoat. In 1998 Beckham was a “silly boy”, in 2002 Seaman flapped at Ronaldinho’s cross and in 2006 Rooney got all in a tangle with Carvalho’s Jabulanis. Now, as the dust settles, the only positive thing we can do as a nation is come to some kind of agreement on who we can blame this time. What we all want to know is who can The Sun vilify?

The obvious choice is Fabio Capello. The man has gone from continental tactical genius to worse than Steve McClaren in the space of four games. He has made some frankly bizarre decisions; picking Jamie Carragher, attempting to recall Paul Scholes, sticking with big Emile Heskey, and letting Shaun Wright-Phillips know there was even a tournament going on are just four of them. He even claimed that our performance yesterday was good, suggesting that had Lampard’s goal been given that it would have been a different game. Perhaps that’s true, but when Miroslav Klose is made to look like Usain Bolt you have to question your defence’s mobility.

Another contender is the Uruguayan linesman who failed to see that Frank Lampard’s effort had crossed the line. In 1966 it was Tofik Bakhramov and in 2010 it was Mauricio Espinosa. In terms of a spectacle, there can be no greater dramatic irony than England having a rightful goal disallowed in exactly the same manner in which Geoff Hurst dubiously scored 44 years ago, although when I shared this with my fellow viewers on Sunday they didn’t seem best pleased. Poor old Espinosa is in for a rough time of it now, when Urs Meier disallowed Sol Campbell’s goal in 2004 (correctly, may I add) he received death threats and was given police protection.

A very popular contender for the scapegoat award is the players themselves. To put it simply, they weren’t very good. We blamed Sven and we blamed McClaren, perhaps we should start looking at the eleven players on the pitch. Two particular favourites in my household were Wayne Rooney and Gareth Barry. Rooney bore no comparison to the man that scored for fun in last season’s Premier League and Gareth Barry’s first touch would have been shown up at any level of football. John Terry and Matt Upson were also abysmal, Upson’s positional sense was embarrassingly naïve and Germany’s first goal suggests there couldn’t have been much in the way of communication between the two.

A final option I’m going to throw into the ring is the media. A controversial one I know, I can even hear your gasps of dismay. Of course, by the media I don’t mean the likes of Nouse and Vision, I mean the national press. The way in which we build ourselves up only to knock ourselves down is laughable. I’m not suggesting we’re not a good side, we are, but our chances are severely hampered by the pressure placed on the squad. England could do nothing right in 2010; as soon as we started poorly, Capello was all of a sudden too strict. When things were going wrong there were suggestions that the players needed their WAGS to relieve them of boredom and when the results didn’t come there was an entirely media-led mini revolution.

Why can’t we go into a tournament with a realistic mindset? We’re in the top ten sides in the world, therefore on our day we could win the whole thing, but we would need a lot of luck and a favourable draw and similarly there is every chance we would get knocked out in the Second Round/Quarter Final. Granted that wouldn’t scan very well as a headline, but it’s more pragmatic.

Any other suggestions for a scapegoat would be gratefully received. Perhaps the FA is in the wrong for extending Fabio’s contract and removing the get-out clause? Maybe you feel it’s Emile’s fault for ending Rio’s tournament or perhaps you feel it’s Manuel Neuer who should take the blame for playing on as if the ball hadn’t crossed the line? Either way we’ll be here again in four year’s time, waves of optimism preceding another painful exit. Oh well, at least Howard Webb can referee the final now.

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June 23, 2010

2 holes in green tie via Flickr Creative Commons

A few things at every World Cup have become just inevitable…

Controversy surrounding the match ball

Thus far the infamous Jabulani ball has been roundly [sic] criticised by an assortment of naysayers, doom merchants and Chris Coleman. Apparently it’s too spherical, not spherical enough, composed entirely of mashed potato, and has severe commitment issues. With such obvious deficiencies it’s no surprise that the tournament has lacked goals so far, but the misgivings expressed by players and managers alike are incredibly reminiscent of those surrounding match balls used in the last two tournaments. In 2002, Gianluigi Buffon said the Adidas Fevernova was akin to ‘a ridiculous kiddie’s bouncing ball’, while Paul Robinson stressed that the Teamgeist used in 2006 was ‘goalkeeper unfriendly’. Perhaps we should use a good old fashioned Mitre Tactic and be done with it. In Zulu the word Jabulani supposedly means rejoice but, with the universal disdain that has greeted this ball, perhaps the Adidas Contempt would have been a more appropriate name.

Football advert overload

Every four years across June and July, promotions for products as diverse as chocolate bars, deodorants and HDTVs will become football themed to appeal to an alcohol-fuelled mass of football fans. It doesn’t matter that the link between the sport and the product it promotes is extremely tenuous, or even non-existent, because who wouldn’t want to buy a special edition Mars bar after hearing John Barnes reprise the World In Motion rap in honour of it. However, if England fail to overcome Slovenia and are prematurely eliminated from the tournament, the short lifespan of these partisan adverts will become even more pronounced. The melodrama of Carlsberg’s World Cup team talk will no longer seem quite so appropriate, not that tastelessly exploiting the memory of Bobby Robson to sell Danish lager ever was. And unless Terry Venables aspires to mundane mediocrity and 0-0 draws with Algeria, he might have to wait a bit longer for his World Cup dream to come true.

Renewed patriotism

It’s the World Cup, time to show your undying love for our brave lions out in South Africa by draping the St. George Cross over every aspect of your house and person. You want the rest of the nation to know just how much you support the team don’t you, well stop being so cynical and staple that flag to your face so the neighbours can see it. This excessive parade of patriotism is vital to the English World Cup experience, characterised as it is by a shared delusion that passion and desire are preferable to technique or ability; the ubiquity of Ian Wright being one of its many unfortunate symptoms. However public displays of devotion will quickly be replaced by effigy-burning, death threat-sending and foreign referee-blaming once England are cruelly knocked out.

New TV pundits

Although Lineker, Hansen, Shearer and Lawrenson are sufficient for the needs of the Match of the Day highlights package, the demands of exhaustive World Cup coverage lead to a major recruitment drive for terrestrial channels. A global punditry cast has been drafted in by both the BBC and ITV to ensure that all bases are covered in the battle of the big broadcasters. The BBC’s major signings included Roy Hodgson, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Clarence Seedorf (on loan from AC Milan with the view to a permanent deal), who bring a fresh perspective to the often stale analysis of their usual team. The inclusion of current or recently retired players is also a prominent theme with ITV’s coverage, where Edgar Davids and Patrick Vieira have featured prominently, giving an international flavour to proceedings and distracting attention away from the desperately bland Andy Townsend. But ITV’s major summer signing has undoubtedly been lovable everyman Adrian Chiles, whose affable presenting style brings a welcome change from the robotic sterility of Steve Rider.

A patronising approach to foreign countries

When the World Cup arrives it’s time for commentators to begin lazily reverting to national stereotypes as opposed to insightful analysis. So be prepared to hear that the Germans are efficient, the Italians have adopted their naturally defensive style, the Brazilians are playing joyous football showcasing all their ‘samba skills’, and that any African side is powerful yet tactically naive. Meanwhile, in reference to the surprise qualifiers and unknown quantities, like Honduras and North Korea, such deliberately ambiguous terms as enthusiastic, hardworking and well organized will be carefully employed to conceal the ignorance of the experts. Suggestions that these countries are just pleased to be there will abound. As the first African nation to host a World Cup there has also been a jarring contrast between reference to the clichéd carnival atmosphere in the country and the horrific poverty in its townships, an uncomfortable disparity emphasised by awkward attempts to shoehorn topical features into the match coverage.

Part time supporters

As the World Cup returns from its four year hiatus, devoted football fans encounter a similarly infrequent phenomenon; the part time football fan. This hijacker of big sporting events is almost certain to have watched the Super Bowl and NBA playoffs, and is sure to become an avid tennis fan over the next couple of weeks, misguidedly hoping that Tim Henman can recover his form in time for Wimbledon. In many ways the mass interest in football during the World Cup is what makes it such an exceptionally special event, but it does mean that committed enthusiasts are often swamped by those with strong opinions on their most casual of interests. So expect criticisms of Capello, suggestions that Beckham should be playing, or justifications for Peter Crouch’s inclusion in the starting line up to increase dramatically.

Uninspired transfer moves

A noticeable after effect of many a World Cup is the inevitable scramble to sign previously unfashionable or unknown players that make a mark on football’s biggest stage. This was particularly evident after the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea, where prominent members of the Senegal team, that year’s surprise package, became popular signings for Premiership managers. A spate of Senegalese stars arrived in England after they reached the quarter finals, with the delightfully civil El Hadji Diouf heading the list. This time around there have been a number of emerging talents touted for moves to the Premiership, like Denmark’s Simon Kjaer and Chile’s Alexis Sanchez, the World Cup offering them the perfect opportunity to enhance their credentials. However, managers should be wary of signing those who stand out in a high profile tournament where success is glorified and exaggerated to such a degree that the average can become the incredible. When Liverpool spent £5 million on a commanding midfield presence in the summer of 2002, Houllier boasted of having signed the new Patrick Vieira, it turned out that he’d actually just bought Salif Diao.

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June 21, 2010

Not bloody likely... austinhk via Flickr Creative Commons

SLOVAKIA 0 PARAGUAY 2

South American success continues to be the recurring theme of the tournament as Paraguay comfortably beat Vladimir Weiss’s side to take control of Group F in Bloemfontein. Enrqiue Vera put them in front just before the half hour with a dinked finish beyond Jan Mucha. Borrusia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios provided a fine assist. It took going a goal down to spark Slovakia into life, but they remained well below par. Without having to step up a gear in the second half Paraguay looked comfortable, continued to threaten and added a second late on with Sunderland-bound midfielder Cristian Riveros pouncing on lacklustre defending from an Aureliano Torres free kick which nobody in white reacted to. His edge of the area strike rounded off a solid midfield display.

It will be difficult for Slovakia to take positives from this display, but they know they will have to beat the holders Italy in the next match in order to have a chance of making the knockout stages. Marek Hamsik looked more comfortable in a more attacking role today than last time out. The soon-to-be Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha must improve his kicking because he simply wastes possession too much.Overall it was an all-round poor performance. Gerrado Martino’s men on the other hand have much to be pleased about. Argentine-born Barrios looks to be the complete centre forward on today’s performance and you can easily see why he did so well for Dortmund in the Bundesliga. His club mate Nelson Haedo Valdez was also bright in the first half. At the other end both centre halves, Sunderland’s Paulo da Silva and Antolin Alcaraz, signed by Wigan, impressed with an excellent defensive display. Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz managed to play a full ninety minutes today but still did not offer enough for me and thirty-eight goal Oscar Cardozo really ought to be in the XI especially if Paraguay progress.

ITALY 1 NEW ZEALAND 1

The four times champions were held to a draw by Ricki Herbert’s Kiwis in Nelspruit. The Oceanian outsiders took the lead inside ten minutes with the Italian defence failing to defend properly from a Simon Eliott free kick that was tapped home by Shane Smeltz off the desperate lunge of Azzurri captain Fabio Cannavaro. Was the former Halifax strike offside though? Marcello Lippi’s men pressed and pressed and just before half an hour young Ipswich defender Tommy Smith was seen pulling back the shirt of Roma’s Daniele De Rossi leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Juventus forntman Vincenzo Iaquinta stepped up and scored from the spot.

No doubt New Zealand rode their luck at times. Fiorientina midfielder Ricardo Montolivo was so unlucky not to score from range, hitting the post in the first half and meeting inspired goalkeeping from Mark Paston after the break; that in stark contrast to his poor display in the first group game against Slovakia. Young West Brom striker Chris Wood came on in the second half and showed promise. Wave after wave of Italian attacks were repelled by the man of the match Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen. The kiwi hero from the last match Winston Reid again looked good. As far as the holders go they must now beat Slovakia in the last fixture, so like England at least they know what they have to do. Iaquinta was playing wide for much of the match, a tactic that makes no sense when you consider his height and build. After an impressive Serie A season Giampaolo Pazzini of Sampdoria was almost anonymous when he came on at the hour mark. Lippi will be hoping playmaker Andrea Pirlo will be fit for the next match. New Zealand deserve all the plaudits but Italy continue the trend of top European sides struggling in South Africa.

BRAZIL 3 IVORY COAST 1

Dunga’s much fancied Brazil put together back-to-back wins in Group G with a comfortable victory over Sven Goran Eriksson’s Ivory Coast. Luis Fabiano who had not found the net for his country since last autumn bagged a brace either side of half time. The Sevilla forward’s first finished a move that saw him exchange passes with Kaka before his clinical finish into the top corner. The second saw him handle the ball twice but took on three defenders before powering it past Boubacar Barry. Elano added a third after an hour from a great pass from Kaka again who got round the back as the former Manchester City midfielder peeled off his marker. Elephants captain Didier Drogba headed a goal back with ten minutes to go, Gervinho’s good work to get in behind before passing to Barcelona’s Yaya Toure to cross for the Chelsea striker to profit.

The much improved Kaka, criticised for his performance in the first group game against North Korea, had his evening marred by two bookings, the second yellow resulting from a coming together with Abdul Kader Keita who made the most of the contact. The match had showed signs of boiling over as the Ivory Coast players became frustrated as the game wore on. Aruna Dindane offered very little again and Gervinho really should have started. Robinho and Michel Bastos did not seem quite so effective against African opposition and swashbuckling right back Maicon had a quiet game by his high standards. This match was littered with controversy as after Fabiano’s second goal it appeared as though the referee asked the player if he handled. Elano suffered an injury in the second half and the sending off will create substantial debate. At least Brazil have the option to rest players now having taken six points and the Ivorians may still qualify if they can beat North Korea, depending on tomorrow’s result between the Asian side and Portugal of course.

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June 18, 2010

Gareth Barry's return to the England starting line-up should liberate Steven Gerrard. Herschell Hershey via Flickr Creative Commons

ENGLAND vs ALGERIA
Cape Town, 7.30pm, ITV1

I’m guessing that it is more difficult to sound a vuvuzela through gritted teeth and whilst watching through splayed fingers, the usual pose for long suffering England fans. Should England struggle again this evening expect their noise to be substantially diminished. Cappello’s side go into their game with Algeria knowing that their draw with the USA didn’t go down well with an expectant nation but also that, given the results of a number of other heavy weights, it could have been far worse.

The challenge now for England is forget the expectations which seem to stifle them at every major tournament. Gareth Barry could play a huge role in allowing a more expressive edge by setting Gerrard and Lampard free again after they looked so uncomfortable together against the Americans. Liverpool’s explosive captain will be desperate to have three or four moments like the one that brought about his early goal in Rustenberg and to prove that he is one of the foremost attacking midfielders in world football. Aaron Lennon will also hope to improve after a stuttering start and a renewed fluency from the wide man could really kick start England’s tournament. He has all the attributes that England have lacked for years; frightening pace, intricate trickery and the ability to get to the byline were never the forte of David Beckham and whoever we could find to stand on the left wing (Trevor Sinclair, Nick Barmby and Steve Guppy are just three of the average players who gave it a go) and if Lennon can hit his stride he adds a potency to a midfield already filled with goals.

There are still questions about the players who form England’s plan B though. Shaun Wright-Phillips looked aimless and naive during the opening fixture and gave credence to those who criticised his inclusion based on his lack of a killer ball. He, like Lennon, has the raw materials to create chances but, unlike the Tottenham man, has rarely utilised them to any real effect in the league or for his country. After his ineffectual turn against Steve Cherundolo at left back, who had the added threat of a booking hanging over him, I would expect Joe Cole to be the go to man for Fabio Capello should England need to conjure something from wide areas. Cole has been bowed by injury at the peak of his career and it’s saddening to see years taken from a footballer who had so comprehensively shaken off the mantle of being a wantonly irresponsible flair player to become a strong and experience match winner. He deserves the chance for England in South Africa after a succession of impressive displays in major tournaments.

After a midweek scare in which he did not particpate in training Wayne Rooney is fit and, if you believe the hyperbole of The Sun, ready to “blast”, “rap” or indeed “slam” Franz Beckenbauers “kick and rush” jibe with a display of intent against Algeria. He remain’s England’s great white hope and should he spark then he will be talked about along with Messi and Ronaldo as one of the most dangerous individuals in the tournament. Of all the England talent Rooney is the least worrying. Mentally he turns up for almost every occasion with the irrepressible abandon of a schoolboy who knows he is that bit better than his mates. Emile Heskey put in a gargantuan effort to try and feed him in the first game and although he was quiet he was up against a central defensive partnership that included the towering Oguchi Onyewu who excelled in his opening match.

Jamie Carragher is likley to start in place of the, inevitably injured, Ledley King and may find his lack of pace un-exposed against a weak side. John Terry will be important alongside him and it is heartening to see the Chelsea captain playing as if he has a settled private life once again. The back four looked solid against the US and Glen Johnson especially is clearly confident in the knowledge that he now belongs on the world stage. His attacking verve will need to be matched by the imperious Ashley Cole on the left, arguably the only player in the England set up that would start for every nation at the tournament.

England of course can’t really win. A slender victory will be taken as evidence that they are in a continued malaise, a draw will draw the ire of the tabloid press whilst an impressive victory will lead to a wave of jingoistic optimism. The reaction to a loss need not even be countenanced. England will win and, given recent history, may make it difficult but either way it won’t really matter. As long as qualification is assured during the next two matches anything can happen. England’s chances will not be decided against Algeria or Slovenia, just as they haven’t been terminated by a draw against the USA. All that sensible fans will be looking for is an improvement, a nudge that suggests that this year, regardless of whether we storm to the trophy or get knocked out before the last 16, that England will play to their potential. Should they do that they are still by no means favourites, but their chances are far better than the probability of Switzerland beating Spain.

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June 16, 2010

Photo: xfm95.1 via Flickr Creative Commons

I’m not sure anyone remembers the days when we played with triangle shaped footballs but apparently we must have because, as ever, the official football for the 2010 World Cup is the “roundest” ball ever. If you were to write down the requirements needed for a football number one would be spherical, and yet the players who are using the Adidas Jabulani aren’t happy.

Nigeria’s Dickson Etuhu described it as “the worst ball ever”, Iker Casillas said they were “in an appalling condition” and Brazil’s Julio Cesar deemed them to be “terrible” and compared them to the cheap plastic balls bought in Supermarkets. Every nation is having a pop, Slovenia and Algeria have both voiced their concerns while Robert Green blamed his now infamous gaffe on the ball: “I have two palms which are a foot wide, maybe more, in span and it has hit the outside of one of my thumbs. I’m not that bad a keeper to miss it by that much.” The jury’s out on that one, Rob. If you don’t even bother to get your body behind the ball you can’t criticise the football.

And here is the crux of the argument. This World Cup has, so far, been short on entertainment. Many players seem to be looking to the Jabulani as an excuse, now I don’t have £80 to test out a Jabulani (who on earth is paying that?), so I can’t be sure but my guess is that it cannot be that bad. These are supposed to be the best players in the world, how can they fail to adapt to a football that is less predictable in terms of flight? In cricket, England’s bowlers will face a task getting the Australian Kookaburra ball to swing in the same way as an English Dukes ball does, and you don’t hear them complain. Granted it’s a different sport but the intricacies of a football’s flight, movement and swerve shouldn’t prevent footballers from playing to the best of their ability.

Having said all that, the very idea that the football should even be worthy of comment is completely Adidas’ fault. I understand they’re trying to be revolutionary – this ball is the first to not be hand-stitched don’t you know – but the focus of this World Cup should be on the Messis, Villas and Rooneys of this world, not the ball they’re using. Marcus Hahnemann, Wolves and USA keeper, summed it up quite nicely; “Technology is not everything. Scientists came up with the atom bomb, doesn’t mean we should have invented it”.

So who’s the real villain here; Adidas for creating this balloon of a football, or the players for blaming every little error on it? I think first one must look towards the makers of the ball but the players should have a responsibility to just get on with it. Back in the day the heavy leather balls would absorb water, and towards the end of a game heading them would have been an unenviable task. The West Brom great Jeff Astle said it was like “heading a bag of bricks”, tragically Astle died from brain damage in 2002 and the coroner ruled his illness was an “industrial injury”, or in other words Astle’s heading of the ball was the reason behind his death. It puts things into context a little bit.

The Jabulani might be unpredictable but these footballers should stop moaning and simply get on with it. As the old phrase goes, a bad workman blames his tools. Perhaps in forty years when we have witnessed another ten World Cups in which the new “roundest” official ball is widely derided we can adapt the phrase: a bad footballer blames his balls.

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June 16, 2010

Dunga (left) might wish he still had talents like Ronaldo and Romario after last night's tepid performance. alvez via Flickr Creative Commons

Where is the joyful abandon that was so deeply infused into the Brazilian footballing conciousness? It was painfully absent in their performance against North Korea last night as they slogged to a 2-1 win that throws England’s supposed “embarrassment” against the USA into sharp relief.

Before the commencement of this Footballing carnival, which has so far resembled a girl guides parade in Romford rather than Mardi Gras in Rio, I feared Brazil. Dunga seemed to be be the living embodiment of Fabio Cappello’s meritocratic preachings, having omitted a bloated Adriano and a waning Ronaldinho from his squad in favour of a new generation of burgeoning Brazilian brilliance.

Instead his team look as though they have been instilled with a sense of rigidity that does more to stymie their creative edge than anything else. Kaka was especially ineffective yesterday and seems to be suffering the effects of a stop-start season. He will need to return to his best to act as the fulcrum for the attacking talents of Luis Fabiano and Robinho. Elano seems to have made little improvement since his spell at Man City where he rarely looked interested let alone world class. It seems strange that a nation with such a rich seam of natural resources to draw on would rely on his talent and the ageing Gilberto Silva in midfield. Robinho on the other hand seemed far freer and keener than he ever did in Manchester where he was clearly wearing a shade of blue somewhat lighter than the hue he had been hoping for.

Given that Brazil are the nominal joint favourites for the tournament their sluggish showing bodes well for a Spanish side that is so steeped in talent it seems unfair. Rumours that Fernando Torres will be rested for the opening group matches in order to safeguard him for later in the competition should worry Spaniards. The fact that it will be Cesc Fabregas coming in to replace him and form a five man midfield with Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets and Silva will soften the blow I’d imagine.

So with the Brazilian’s failing to spark an increasingly dour tournament into life attention turns to Vicente Del Bosque’s infeasibly talented squad. Should they fail to take home the trophy they will take on the dubious honour of being the best team to have not won the world cup along with, and perhaps even more so, than the Dutch side of 1974. They will be keen not to let that tag attach itself to them, ruthlessly driven to destroy any of the “bottler” stereotypes. I’m glad I’m not Swiss.

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June 16, 2010

Cristiano Ronaldo rattled the post in the bore draw between Portugal and Ivory Coast. azote via Flickr Creative Commons

New Zealand 1 Slovakia 1

Group E remains wide open after the early match was drawn in Rustenberg, a result which matched last night’s Italy vs. Paraguay game. The defending champions will still expect to get through to the knockout stages as they have nothing to be afraid of based on this evidence. The Kiwis looked organised, playing three at the back frustrated the Slovakian front line and a point was well deserved for Ricky Hebert’s side. The starring role was played by centre half Winston Reid who played well at both ends, getting the late equaliser from a Shane Smeltz cross. Despite his advancing years, the 36 year old Simon Elliott continues to deliver, but ex-Bradford keeper Mark Paston had a couple of very dodgy moments, ensuring the controversy over the Jubalani ball will just not go away. New Zealand’s success came largely down the left today with Tony Lochhead having an all-action game.

Slovakia on the other hand were nothing short of a disappointment. Playmaker and star man Marek Hamsik couldn’t get a grip on the game and the team looked as though it was really missing the injured Miroslav Karhan. His experience and distribution to more attacking players was certainly missing from their performance today. Robert Vittek’s early second half goal was well taken and Stanislav Sestak playing in behind the front two linked up well. The manager’s son, also called Vladimir Weiss, had an impressive game for one so young, like most twenty year olds however the end product is lacking. Tricks are nice but they have to lead somewhere. Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel was poor today and must shoulder the blame for losing his nation two valuable points.

Ivory Coast 0 Portugal 0

The honours were also even in the opening game in Group G. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo came closest to scoring when he hit the post from fully thirty-five yards out after ten minutes. Another match that failed to live up to the hypre Carlos Queiroz did not risk the fitness of Simao from the start, with the vastly overrated Danny taking the wide left berth. Similarly Elephants captain Didier Drogba was only fit for the bench leaving Sven Goran Eriksson playing a front three of Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Aruna Dindane. The latter lacked discipline, popping up on the wing too often for a man playing as the focal point of the Ivorian attack and had no joy all afternoon. In the absence of their talisman it was the Lille winger who has had an impressive season in Ligue 1 who tried to provide the creative flair and Gervinho did show flashes. Drogba got twenty-five minutes but the discomfort his broken arm/elbow is giving him showed. The Chelsea man flashed a delicious ball in at the end but nobody else attacked the box.

Benfica full back Fabio Coentrao starred for Portugal. Earning only his fifth cap, the twenty-two year old showed no signs of his inexperience at this high level defending solidly, ensuring the Ivory Coast got nothing down that flank. For a player billed as a wingback he really impressed but has set the bar very high. In stark contrast the players expected to figure prominently in the headlines were found wanting. Apart from his long range effort Ronaldo could not get his through balls and crosses right. I can’t help feeling having the captain’s armband on is burdening him, reflected perhaps in him failing to score for his country in nearly eighteen months and not finding the net at all during the qualifying campaign. Paulo Ferreira continues to be a liability and Deco took far too long to feel his way into the game. Danny was little more than a passenger and I don’t know why Queiroz rates him at all. Liedson will only score goals if he gets the service and that will have to improve if Portugal are to get to the business end of the tournament.

Brazil 2 North Korea 1

A far from comfortable victory for the five time world champions at Ellis Park. Maicon’s drive from a tight angle and Elano’s consummate finish from Robinho’s incisive pass enough to secure three points against the mystery package of Group G. Ji Yun-Nam pulled one back late on from a deep free kick headed on by impressive centre forward Jong Tae-Se. The one hundred and fifth ranked team in the world have nothing to be ashamed of, defending exceptionally well in the first half, but it took its toll. Luis Fabiano looked frustrated at being closed down at every avenue by a well organised back five. Ri Kwang-Chon caught the eye at centre half.

Much will be made of Maicon’s goal. The Brazilian right back used the outside of right foot to put Dunga’s much fancied side in front, but did he mean to shoot or cross? The latter is certainly a skill he has been criticised for in some circles. Robinho looked in better shape than when he left Manchester City for his loan spell at Santos in January, but Kaka seemed somewhat sluggish. Tonight’s win leaves Group G entirely in Brazil’s hands. A potential quarter final against European champions Spain is mouth-watering.

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June 14, 2010

It's fair to say quite a few countries would like Bastian Schweinsteiger in their team. Thomas Duchnicki via Flickr Creative Commons

“Mit Traumtoren und Traumfußball begeisterte die Nationalmannschaft ganz Deutschland. Ist dieser Sieg etwa der Auftakt zu einem Sommermärchen 2010? Ganz Deutschland hat jetzt das Gefühl: Das wird unsere WM!”

Although liable to get rather carried away, Bild, Germany’s answer to The Sun, might have been on to something this morning. Dream goals, dream football, a World Cup fairytale in the offing – well possibly, but at the very least a brand new, more empowered, more unrestrained Nationalmannschaft? Definitely.

Yes, so it might only have been Australia, a side who still look naïve on the world stage and, let’s be honest, prioritise about half-a-dozen other sports before this one, but last night’s exquisite 4-0 romp at the stunning Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban gave us a glimpse of a new German philosophy on football.

Traditionally, to beat the Germans you would have to outrun them because they were the envy of the world in terms of physical conditioning and endurance – all the way through extra time and penalties too. And you would also have to outwit them, because they would have experience and intelligence on the ball, feeling supremely confident in possession. The European Championship winning side of 1996 was anchored by skipper Matthias Sammer, with the experienced heads of Thomas Häßler and Stefan Kuntz further forward. In Christian Ziege, Oliver Neuville and Dietmar Hamann, the side which finished second to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup had players who had been round the block a few times, while in 2008, Michael Ballack (then 31), Neuville (35) and Torsten Frings (31) featured in a tournament which saw them again reach the final.

But last night was something different – more spectacular, more daring, easier on the eye. The average age of the starting eleven was just under 25 (in the final two years ago it was nearly 28), the skipper Philipp Lahm is at 26 the country’s youngest leader and featured three players from the team which won the European Under-21 Championships just last year. Television pictures caught Joachim Löw prior to kick-off leant casually against his dugout, in relaxed attire, cradling a cup of coffee. He clearly knew something we didn’t and his judgement in giving youth a chance was proved spectacularly right.

With an advanced Miroslav Klose supported by the trio of Lukas Podolski, Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller, Germany provided the Socceroos endless problems all night. Podolski and Müller were particularly effective off the ball, making well-timed darts into ever-increasing space behind the Australian wing-backs and both scoring deserved goals, while the vision and passing of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira from deep midfield, and Lahm from right-back, ensured the front line were well supplied. More importantly, the attitude was positive and exciting, so when Australian heads started to drop after the second goal and their spirit, and hopes of advancing from Group D, diminished by the dismissal of Tim Cahill, the Germans didn’t rest on their laurels. Preserving the high tempo and attacking mentality, they piled on the misery and became the first of the big names to actually show us something.

In a group of limited talent, as shown by the disappointing Serbia-Ghana match earlier in the day, we should expect this group of German players to thrill us again soon. Time will tell whether Traumstart turns into Trophäe for the most exciting German side in a generation. It’s definitely Germany, but not as we know them.

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June 13, 2010

The loud abrasive sound of the vuvuzela has attracted criticism so far this tournament. Photo by South African Tourism via Flickr Creative Commons

Yesterday was the first truly brilliant day of the World Cup. For us already-finished third years, the tournament has come at the best possible time; the perfect excuse to spend all day drinking in front of the television without anyone thinking that you’re developing a problem. Last night, after watching the particularly dry England performance, I snuggled into my bed, ready for some boozy slumber -well earned rest from a hard day’s football supporting. Yet as I closed my eyes a sound rang violently in my ears, the relentless buzz of a swarm of insects, instilled from listening to nearly five hours of the incessant vuvuzela drone.

I awoke to find that the South Africans are giving real consideration to a ban of the metre long instrument. It seems to be annoying just about everyone: broadcasters, commentators, players – Patrice Evra hilariously blamed it for his side’s poor performance against Uruguay – and, of course, us back home. Most people are dreading the three weeks of buzzing ahead, the BBC is apparently receiving frequent complaints about the din and there have even been reports that the horn can cause deafness.

What is it about this instrument that is annoying us so much? A lot of the criticism seems to not centre on how annoying they are, but more on what they prevent us from hearing. Viewers at home are denied the usual soundtrack of a major tournament – the songs, chants and brass bands – and in its place is ninety minutes of one monotonous noise.

Yet we must realise that this is not our tournament, and any band of this instrument would only pander to Euro-centric views on how football should be viewed. You only had to watch the South African vs. Mexico and Nigeria vs. Argentina games this weekend to see that Africans watch football in a beautifully different way to us. For them it is party, an opportunity to paint their faces, dance and celebrate the fantastic occasion. It is a slightly more vibrant way to view the game than the nervous head-in-hands-and-teeth-gritted style perfected by long-suffering England fans .

At the centre of this party is the vuvuzela, apparently the Bafana Bafana’s twelfth man. And it does add to the atmosphere in a unique way; the South Korea vs. Greece game was played in front of a half empty stadium, but it sounded like the Champions League final. In the slightly dull France vs. Uruguay game the horns had a hypnotic effect, combining with the French’s rhythmic passing movements to send me slowly to sleep. They also provide us with exceptional moments of comedy, such as when Marcel Desailly attempted unsuccessfully to blow one during last year’s Confederations Cup.

The idea that this is Africa’s tournament has been slightly overdone by the British media, but it certainly isn’t Europe’s. The last twenty years have seen, particularly in Britain, a change in the way people feel football should be viewed. The raucous terraces have been replaced by painfully quiet corporate-filled stadiums and, although many will argue that there was justification for this sea-change, it is refreshing to see a nation that supports the game with such passion. When we look back at this World Cup, undoubtedly an iconic moment in football, we will remember the vuvuzela drone and we will remember the African fans. That might sound a little cheesy, but the largely impoverished South African population, a group that many feared would be cruelly left out of this great celebration, have somehow managed in less than a week to leave their mark on this tournament – brilliantly pissing off half of the world in the process.

So let’s not ban the vuvuzela, instead I’d suggest merely turning the volume down. It’s certainly not as annoying as most of the main television commentators anyway or, for that matter, your beery “IN-GER-LAND” chants every other minute.

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