Thoughts of World Cup 2010

When I first began writing this entry I had done so with a vision on commenting on all 64 matches. However, after an hour of writing and only scratching on Germany vs. Australia, I knew it would be too much. Still, I wanted to note down something, particularly because it has happily taken up so much of my time in the last 30 days.

In a nutshell, the lesser teams were organised and determined, the better team hadn’t improved that much, but still it enthralled me. It began with a bang, and with a goal that seemed to typify that anything can happen, when Tshabalala smashed the ball into the top right hand corner. Celebrations akin to the Macerena from the players made me think this was the cup of the underdogs. Marquez’s equaliser ensured it was not to be the romantic cup when he equalised for the Mexicans and deprived the South Africans a victory.

My work days consisted of me listening to 5Live or watching the games on the BBC iPlayer or the ITV’s (virtually inaccessible) equivalent. I had to reduce the size of the webpage and discreetly nestle it into the corner of the screen. Then, when I heard excitement in the commentator’s voice I’d quickly switch to the screen only to see the ball go out for a goal kick.

What was a big disappointment was the performance of the England team. It still irks me to this day, whilst eating my oatflakes bleary eyed or drinking Bulmers on a summery evening lamenting with another football enthusiast on what could have been. If only Green hadn’t spilt it, if only the team turned up against Algeria. If only... The reality was, England severely underperformed, James, Terry, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Heskey have more than likely played their last World Cup. A limp way to finish your international career which perhaps, in hindsight, peaked when England went 1-0 up against Brazil, some eight years ago in Shizuoka. That was England’s best team of that alleged ‘Golden Generation’, well, apart from Danny Mills.

Germany destroyed England with a counter execution which left ol’ blighty in tatters. Capello almost lost his job and a few million people were left gormless staring at the television screen wondering what was going on. In fact Germany turned out to be one of the success of the tournament, with a coach who seems to be dressed by TopMan and players who only played a handful of times for their country before the tournament. Their destruction of Argentina brutally exposed the South American’s lack of tactical nous. Everyone knew how they would play, and so Germany just waited and waited and smashed them on the break.

In fact, the South American heavy weights did not really deliver in the tournament after every all South American teams qualified from their groups. Brazil was supposed to win it but they fell apart after a ropey attempt to punch the ball from Julio Cesar, ended up with it in their net. After that, a European orange heavy weight out-foxed them like a 10 year old tricking a 4 year old into giving them their sweets, leaving the 4 year old stamping their feet in frustration upon realising what had happened. And so did Brazil who became divas instead of competitors after the Dutch scored a second.

It was an unfancied Latin country which was my team of the tournament. Uruguay punched well above their weight, but there seemed to be some belief that oozed amongst them as they all worked together. Oscar Tabarez had his men well organised and in Diego Forlan they had a deadly striker who could score past any defence. He knocked out Liverpool in the Europa cup last season and also broke Fulham’s heart in their great journey in that competition. With that form he rattled in five and deservedly won the best player award. His strike partner, however, probably shouldn’t be booking a holiday to Accra anytime soon. His handball is probably one of the most notable moments of this world cup. I don’t blame him, although it did annoy me when he went from crying to celebrating like he had just one the thing when Gyan hit the crossbar. In context, I think many players would do the same, not all, but a lot would do what he had done.

Some of the European bigger teams crashed at the first hurdle with France being in the press more for their off the field antics than for their prowess on it. It was comical to see it unravel and many believed that they shouldn’t have even been there due to Henry’s handball against the Irish. Karma? The Italians stumbled in their first game against a dogged Paraguay and never managed to get momentum until the last thirty seconds against the Slovakians, a little too late. As a consequence they finished bottom of their group and outrage sprawled through the country like it has here.

The Asian teams had a good World Cup, and their astute attention to detail meant they were machine like in their play. South Korea was unfortunate to be knocked out by Uruguay and the Blue Samurai were able to mix that pragmatic organised approach with a sprinkle of flamboyancy in their star player, Honda. His free kick and subsequent set up for Japan’s victory over Denmark were amazing bits of skill. Gaining qualification to the tournament meant that the North Koreans had taken a step in the right direction (in terms of football I mean), and being able to hold Brazil for 55 minutes was mightily impressive. So was their (supposed) fans who all seemed to be waving their little flags in unison, it all seemed too staged for me.

New Zealand played gallantly and actually did not lose a game in the whole tournament. They held off the Italian onslaught and can consider their World Cup a success. The Australians probably will be kicking themselves at an opportunity lost with the last hurrah of their best ever players in Tim Cahill and Harry (injury prone) Kwell. It was unfortunate that they never played a match together and in the end only missed out in qualification on goal difference. A penalty should have been awarded to the Aussies against Serbia which never was and the game ended with them all screaming at the ref.

The final itself was entertaining, and whilst I did want the Dutch to win, the way they played changed my mind. It was never going to be an enthralling match considering what was at stake but the Spanish wanted to play football whilst Holland’s more combinative players just smashed the Spaniards about. De Jong’s karate kick in Alsono’s chest summed up the lengths they were willing to take in ensure the fluidity of the Spanish play was stopped.

I thought the Spanish goal was really well worked and worthy of a World Cup winning goal, the ball from Fabregas to Iniesta was superb and as it bounced up, everyone had time to wait and watch it come down, waiting for a Dutch defender to come launching in, or the keeper to come flying out, but no one came, and Iniesta composed himself to lash the ball into the bottom right. Game and tournament, over.

This World Cup was as expected great to watch but the lasting image that will stick in my mind for a long time was Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu donning a SA woolly hat and bopping to The Black Eyed Peas. He truly was relishing in the moment of having the continent’s first World Cup being held in his home country.

Right, so when’s the first game for Brazil 2014 kick off? Peru to win?