So I probably forgot a few guys the last time, hopefully this time I'll remember everyone:
Starting with the BBC (incidentally, the viewing figures for the final, apparently, saw BBC peak at 18 million viewers, and ITV1 peak with 3.8 million viewers: are they going to give up do you think? Perhaps they thought that Beggers unexplained absence (read STI or the presenile dementia really kicking it up a notch, or maybe a combination of the two) was the real crushing blow.
Lineker: PASS. And not just because he's Gary Lineker, he did a pretty good job I thought, was fairly quick witted and was excellent when they reminisced about 1990.
Murray: FAIL Norn Iron et al. I don't spose I'll be watching much fucking MOTD2 this year.
Hansen: FAIL Principally because of all this "great hit" bollocks.
Shearer: FAIL And I realised why I didn't want Spain to win: it's because Shearer had picked them before the tournament, and looked so fucking sad when they lost to the Swiss that I started praying they wouldn't even get out the group. I pity Shearer now, rather than despise him.
Dixon: Has been retconned to a FAIL; he's such a fucking hindsight merchant.
Klinsmann: PASS I liked him actually. Excellent talking about Italia 90, and seems more thoughtful than most.
Seedorf: PASS for that short about the ball. Brilliant. He was approaching fail for everything else.
Adebayor: PASS sorry sorry sorry - I know he was fucking awful, but he talked at length about cradling a dying man in his arms; given the standard of the rest of it (Lawro talking about the Boer War?), this was a stunning moment. And his phone went off because his daughter had been born, give him a fucking break. He was shit though, no mistaking that.
Redknapp: FAIL This is my most one-eyed rating, because Redknapp was often the best thing on screen when he was there, but I fucking hate him, so there.
Hodgson: PASS It's Woy, everyone loves Woy. Or at least, they did until he went to Liverpool.
Motson: PASS I liked his studio spots, principally because he droned for 45 seconds rather than 45 minutes. I respect the guy for his knowledge, so enjoyed these segments.
Lawrenson: FAIL Just fuck off with the jokes now.
Bright: FAIL Jesus. Unbelievably dull.
McCarthy: FAIL I like Mick a lot, but not when he's talking. Again, could make you want to switch off a Miley Cyrus porno.
Keown: FAIL A decent pundit made a boring Co-Comm. A shame.
Mowbray: FAIL Completely unsuited to being a number one commentator. I know I have a pop at Tyldo continually for his irritating attempts to convince you that you are watching something Truly Important; but Mowbray is incapable of investing anything with any weight, and as such was a poor choice for the big matches here. If this was his trial as one of the big boys, he failed. And his one-eyedness when it came to England was fucking shameful for a "British" broadcaster.
Pearce: PASS, principally because he made me glad it wasn't Mowbray.
Wilson: FAIL, I had him and Mowbray confused for most of the time. Equally nondescript.
Gabby: PASS or perhaps more accurately SMASH
I think that's 8-11, for a score of -3. I think that's going to be enough to win it, in fact, they did pretty well really. Well done BBC.
ITV
Chiles: FAIL ITV fucked this up majorly, and proved beyond any dispute that Adrian Chiles is not suited to primetime sports broadcasting presentation. He may be a decent hand with light entertainment, he may have a light touch with highlight shows, but he doesn't have what it takes to present the televisual coverage of the World Cup. The experiment failed, and I hope that they simply give Matt Smith a go at the long term anchor shot. He's a pro, and is being wasted wherever he is. They've bought in anchor upon anchor, and they overlook the homegrown pro they have right there. Hopefully when Chiles fucks off to GMTV, they give Smith a crack at the Champions League and see what he can do.
I didn't watch any highlights on ITV, so I have no idea who presented that. Maybe it was my beloved Smith.
Townsend: FAIL I acutally haven't seen the bloke analyse anything for weeks, because I simply don't watch the ITV half-time coverage or build-up. I simply don't believe it's going to add to my understanding or enjoyment of the occasion. Andy played a full part in this. He's played out.
Earle: FAIL Because he got sacked for selling his comp tickets for use in a marketing stunt, basically.
Southgate: PASS I like him, I guess. He's no more or less bland than anyone else, I'm just gently biased.
Keegan: PASS He didn't quit halfway through, after all. That represents a win for Wor Kevin.
Davids: FAIL Absolutely bloody awful, probably the worst token black man out of the lot, I found him actively repellent. Fuck off with yer sponsored clothes.
Radebe: FAIL A bucket of water would have made an equal impression.
Vieira: PASS For the spherical head, mostly. I would have loved it if he had smeared decongestant on his shirt and tie.
Desailly: FAIL You might be Ghanaian by birth mate, but you fucking sold them down the river as soon as you could for a shot at glory with France. So pipe down and fucking stop with the dancing; you weren't patriotic enough to actually represent your fucking country.
Burley: FAIL Often, a co-commentator has to analyse and discuss whether a penalty should be awarded for a challenge in the box. Burley got every single one wrong, without exception. Not good, but fairly consistent with the rest of his job.
Beggers: FAIL Just appalling. Maybe it used to be that I was stupid, rather than that he used to be good.
Coleman: FAIL Just completely inappropriate for television. Completely bloody awful everytime he was on. Dull, monotonous voice spouting cliche after cliche. Terrible choice.
Tyldo: FAIL He won't change, I can see that now. I think, to be honest, I'm just not going to watch football on ITV. I hope they don't get any good matches in the next European Championship.
Drury: FAIL Again, the voice, the mistakes, the terrible sentences ... nothing's changing in a hurry. They've had 12 years with these two behind the mike, and they still think they're worth employing. Just don't watch ITV.
That's everyone I think ... 3-11. They can have a PASS for Smith if he was doing the highlights, for 4-11, and that's -7. So the Corden tiebreak didn't even come into play.
I'd love it if there was to be some sort of shift in the broadcasting of football in this country, and that football programs would feature commentators who add to the pictures, co-commentators giving serious analysis, pundits who focus on tactics and shape, and a starting ethos that just because you are good at football or even management, you will not necessarily be a good pundit. It's probably an impossible dream though. As it is, I don't think I'll bother watching much ITV football again.
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Monday 12 July 2010
Awards and all that bollocks
Player of the Tournament
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Bastian was pretty much the best central midfielder on show here, and would have improved almost any side at the tournament. Even against Spain, where he was outmatched by Xavi, Xabi and Iniesta, he still raged brilliantly against the dying of the light, getting stuck in and almost waging a one man war at times. His performances against Australia, England and Argentina were superb, especially the latter. A great tournament for a young man who initially promised sporadically as a winger, and now seems completely at home in central midfield.
The runners up were Iniesta, who got better as the tournament went on and deserved to score the winner in the final, and obviously Forlan, who was immense for Uruguay.
Young player of the tournament
Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Could have been either Meuller or Oezil here, Mueller just gets the nod. He looked fairly average to me in the Champions League, but here was exceptional attacking from the right. Decent technique, direct, a good finisher, a good worker and great off the ball movement made Mueller a key part of the German counter-attacking machine.
Runners-up: Oezil, who should have a great future; De Wiel, who I though defended pretty well, and did a decent job on Iniesta 'til he started coming inside a bit more.
Game of the Tournament
England vs Germany
Whilst not in any sense enjoyable at the time, aside from a certain masochistic amusement when the fourth goal went in, this game was by far the best in the tournament: calamitous defending, controversial decisions, great goals, and it should finally send the message to English fans that we are second tier. Perhaps the only disappointment about the game is that Lampard's goal wasn't allowed to stand: a 6-2 defeat might have been even more extraordinary.
Runners up: there aren't many to choose from, really. Urugay vs Ghana was fairly epic, Argentina vs Germany was like England vs Germany without the emotional attachment or drama, Uruguay vs Holland was dramatic but fairly low quality ... the last twenty minutes of Slovakia vs Italy were great.
Goal of the tournament
Fuck it, due to the BBC's bizarre omission of it from their goal of the tournament, it was Bendtner vs Cameroon: a precise howitzer pass from Kjaer, perfect first touch from Rommedahl, a brilliant low cross, finish by the underrated Bendtner (I know he usually looks shit, but the lad's shaping up to be a genuine clutch player at times).
Runners-up: Luis Fabiano vs Chile, where a lovely Kaka pass sent him through, Tevez vs Mexico, a bomb of a shot.
Biggest Disappointment
I don't think Italy or France's campaigns were that unexpected, frankly; so the biggest disappointment must be the form of Wayne Rooney. I have harboured the belief that Rooney's injury at the end of March and too-soon return to action majorly affected his form and led to his terrible performances, but I think some analysis of his ability to cope with the pressure of being England's key man is too much for him is probably necessary; he seemed to shrink under the pressure of hype that he would be capable of leading England to the final or somewhere near. I find the gripes that Rooney should have been played in a lone centre forward role to get the best out of him hilarious at this point: Rooney's touch and feel for the ball and his fitness level were highly questionable, and would probably have been exposed even more as a lone centre forward. Frankly, he was poor, and whilst I'm sure a few good games for United will have the media raving again, I don't know that I will forget this in a hurry.
Team of the Tournament
Obviously this isn't going to be a team with the eleven best players of this tournament in, I'm far too biased against Spain for that ...
Casillas (Spain); Lahm (Germany), Puyol (Spain), Lucio (Brazil). Coentrao (Portugal); Annan (Ghana), Schweinsteiger (Germany); Mueller (Germany), Iniesta (Spain), Villa (Spain); Forlan (Uruguay)
Subs: Eduardo (Portugal), Ramos (Spain), Friedrich (Germany), Van Bronckhorst (Holland), Xavi (Spain), Boateng (Ghana), Ozil (Germany), Sneijder (Holland), Robben (Holland), Suarez (Uruguay), Honda (Japan)
Casillas was wonderful in the knockout stages, Lahm just creeps ahead of Ramos, Lucio survives despite Brazil's capitulation to Holland, Coentrao looks one to watch, I loved Annan and Schweinsteiger, and kept banging on about them. Mueller and Forlan are obvious picks who need no explaining. Villa looked an absolute star playing from the left, and to be honest, Spain should have kept him there throughout the latter stages, and might not have needed extra time in the final.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Bastian was pretty much the best central midfielder on show here, and would have improved almost any side at the tournament. Even against Spain, where he was outmatched by Xavi, Xabi and Iniesta, he still raged brilliantly against the dying of the light, getting stuck in and almost waging a one man war at times. His performances against Australia, England and Argentina were superb, especially the latter. A great tournament for a young man who initially promised sporadically as a winger, and now seems completely at home in central midfield.
The runners up were Iniesta, who got better as the tournament went on and deserved to score the winner in the final, and obviously Forlan, who was immense for Uruguay.
Young player of the tournament
Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Could have been either Meuller or Oezil here, Mueller just gets the nod. He looked fairly average to me in the Champions League, but here was exceptional attacking from the right. Decent technique, direct, a good finisher, a good worker and great off the ball movement made Mueller a key part of the German counter-attacking machine.
Runners-up: Oezil, who should have a great future; De Wiel, who I though defended pretty well, and did a decent job on Iniesta 'til he started coming inside a bit more.
Game of the Tournament
England vs Germany
Whilst not in any sense enjoyable at the time, aside from a certain masochistic amusement when the fourth goal went in, this game was by far the best in the tournament: calamitous defending, controversial decisions, great goals, and it should finally send the message to English fans that we are second tier. Perhaps the only disappointment about the game is that Lampard's goal wasn't allowed to stand: a 6-2 defeat might have been even more extraordinary.
Runners up: there aren't many to choose from, really. Urugay vs Ghana was fairly epic, Argentina vs Germany was like England vs Germany without the emotional attachment or drama, Uruguay vs Holland was dramatic but fairly low quality ... the last twenty minutes of Slovakia vs Italy were great.
Goal of the tournament
Fuck it, due to the BBC's bizarre omission of it from their goal of the tournament, it was Bendtner vs Cameroon: a precise howitzer pass from Kjaer, perfect first touch from Rommedahl, a brilliant low cross, finish by the underrated Bendtner (I know he usually looks shit, but the lad's shaping up to be a genuine clutch player at times).
Runners-up: Luis Fabiano vs Chile, where a lovely Kaka pass sent him through, Tevez vs Mexico, a bomb of a shot.
Biggest Disappointment
I don't think Italy or France's campaigns were that unexpected, frankly; so the biggest disappointment must be the form of Wayne Rooney. I have harboured the belief that Rooney's injury at the end of March and too-soon return to action majorly affected his form and led to his terrible performances, but I think some analysis of his ability to cope with the pressure of being England's key man is too much for him is probably necessary; he seemed to shrink under the pressure of hype that he would be capable of leading England to the final or somewhere near. I find the gripes that Rooney should have been played in a lone centre forward role to get the best out of him hilarious at this point: Rooney's touch and feel for the ball and his fitness level were highly questionable, and would probably have been exposed even more as a lone centre forward. Frankly, he was poor, and whilst I'm sure a few good games for United will have the media raving again, I don't know that I will forget this in a hurry.
Team of the Tournament
Obviously this isn't going to be a team with the eleven best players of this tournament in, I'm far too biased against Spain for that ...
Casillas (Spain); Lahm (Germany), Puyol (Spain), Lucio (Brazil). Coentrao (Portugal); Annan (Ghana), Schweinsteiger (Germany); Mueller (Germany), Iniesta (Spain), Villa (Spain); Forlan (Uruguay)
Subs: Eduardo (Portugal), Ramos (Spain), Friedrich (Germany), Van Bronckhorst (Holland), Xavi (Spain), Boateng (Ghana), Ozil (Germany), Sneijder (Holland), Robben (Holland), Suarez (Uruguay), Honda (Japan)
Casillas was wonderful in the knockout stages, Lahm just creeps ahead of Ramos, Lucio survives despite Brazil's capitulation to Holland, Coentrao looks one to watch, I loved Annan and Schweinsteiger, and kept banging on about them. Mueller and Forlan are obvious picks who need no explaining. Villa looked an absolute star playing from the left, and to be honest, Spain should have kept him there throughout the latter stages, and might not have needed extra time in the final.
The World Cup 2010 Final: Holland vs Spain
1) Thank fuck that that's finished.
2) In one sense, I am glad that Holland didn't win after a performance of extraordinary spitefulness and cynicism. However, amidst the opprobrium that will be (rightly) hurled at the Dutch, I thought Spain were poor, creating little from open play until the game became stretched. Despite reading several reports that claim Spain created "many" chances, I thought that Holland had the best three (Robben's two, and Mathijsen) until Fabregas went through on goal. Overall, whilst no-one, not even me, can complain that Spain are the world champions, given that they have basically been beaten twice since the last World Cup (Northern Ireland and USA, if I remember correctly), they are by far the least inspiring that I have seen, and given that they were one of the most positive sides in this tournament, 2010 can't be remembered especially fondly.
3) Robben will probably forever be remembered for his miss on 62 minutes; the Dutch game-plan would have been completely justified had he scored there. Casillas was immense on both one-on-one chances, especially the first as he stayed on his feet for as long as possible, and deserved the lift the cup for this clutch moment.
4) I suppose Webb will end up being praised for his performance, in a way it reminded me of the Battle of Nuremberg that I linked to earlier in the blog; once he had started giving cards (and he did have to, Puyol, Van Bommel and especially De Jong all commited shocking challenges in the first half) it was obvious it would continue.
5) I suppose this match wasn't as bad as West Germany vs Argentina from 1990, and it may have been better than the 1994 final, which I didn't watch. However, it was an atrocious game. I suppose my final thoughts on this game and tournament before I come and wrap up with Player of the Whatever bullshit stuff, are that there are few things that annoy me more than people complaining about the quality of the World Cup as if they deserved a better spectacle. I always come from a position that we are lucky to be able to watch the World Cup at all; and it owes us nothing. Complaining about quality, or it being boring, is frankly absurd: Don't Fucking Watch It Then. Why is it that there are vast numbers of men who have failed to learn the following principle: All World Cups will disappoint you, except two: the first one you watched, and the first one you were old enough to drink excessively or take drugs?
Did I think this was a great World Cup? Of course I fucking didn't. Am I going to complain about it? No I'm fucking not. I've eaten a lot of grilled meat, and drank a lot of beer and wine. I've seen some good matches (fewer then ever before, I think, but there were some), some average matches (a lot of average matches, truth be told) and some shit matches. I finally got the fucking message with England. I occasionally wrote some good blog posts.
A shit World Cup is still a damn sight better than a good anything else.
2) In one sense, I am glad that Holland didn't win after a performance of extraordinary spitefulness and cynicism. However, amidst the opprobrium that will be (rightly) hurled at the Dutch, I thought Spain were poor, creating little from open play until the game became stretched. Despite reading several reports that claim Spain created "many" chances, I thought that Holland had the best three (Robben's two, and Mathijsen) until Fabregas went through on goal. Overall, whilst no-one, not even me, can complain that Spain are the world champions, given that they have basically been beaten twice since the last World Cup (Northern Ireland and USA, if I remember correctly), they are by far the least inspiring that I have seen, and given that they were one of the most positive sides in this tournament, 2010 can't be remembered especially fondly.
3) Robben will probably forever be remembered for his miss on 62 minutes; the Dutch game-plan would have been completely justified had he scored there. Casillas was immense on both one-on-one chances, especially the first as he stayed on his feet for as long as possible, and deserved the lift the cup for this clutch moment.
4) I suppose Webb will end up being praised for his performance, in a way it reminded me of the Battle of Nuremberg that I linked to earlier in the blog; once he had started giving cards (and he did have to, Puyol, Van Bommel and especially De Jong all commited shocking challenges in the first half) it was obvious it would continue.
5) I suppose this match wasn't as bad as West Germany vs Argentina from 1990, and it may have been better than the 1994 final, which I didn't watch. However, it was an atrocious game. I suppose my final thoughts on this game and tournament before I come and wrap up with Player of the Whatever bullshit stuff, are that there are few things that annoy me more than people complaining about the quality of the World Cup as if they deserved a better spectacle. I always come from a position that we are lucky to be able to watch the World Cup at all; and it owes us nothing. Complaining about quality, or it being boring, is frankly absurd: Don't Fucking Watch It Then. Why is it that there are vast numbers of men who have failed to learn the following principle: All World Cups will disappoint you, except two: the first one you watched, and the first one you were old enough to drink excessively or take drugs?
Did I think this was a great World Cup? Of course I fucking didn't. Am I going to complain about it? No I'm fucking not. I've eaten a lot of grilled meat, and drank a lot of beer and wine. I've seen some good matches (fewer then ever before, I think, but there were some), some average matches (a lot of average matches, truth be told) and some shit matches. I finally got the fucking message with England. I occasionally wrote some good blog posts.
A shit World Cup is still a damn sight better than a good anything else.
Thursday 8 July 2010
Spain vs Germany
Instead of match analysis, I'm just going to try to get to the bottom of my views about Spain. Ultimately, I don't like Spain.
I have made no attempt in the blog to hide the fact that I don't like the Spanish national football team. It's not easy to explain why; they are capable of scintillating football that few other teams could equal, I am a fan of football and someone who feels they can appreciate good play, therefore I should like them. The meta-narrative (it cannot be underestimated how important his is in the watching of top-level sport) of the Spanish team is fairly good as well: a team who have bottled it for a long time finally come to terms with their big name players and manage to blend them into a successful unit, at the same time getting rid of their best-known and perhaps most talented player (Raul), and manage to become the opposite of chokers. It's great to see a team change like this one has; at the last World Cup Spain were easily one of the better teams, but they did not have the bottle to perform when it counted. Now they do, and this should be admired. However, I just don't like Spain.
I used to like Spain, back when they bottled big tournaments: I was gutted when they were robbed in South Korea, desperate for them to beat Spain at Euro 2000. But I don't like them now. I sometimes think there's something joyless in their play, and they have never completely taken a team apart in the way that they dismantled Russia twice in the Euros, or the way Germany have gone through teams here. The constant possession means that the Spanish control games, but they are not exciting games, and you knew sitting down to watch Spain vs Paraguay that it was not going to be a pulsating encounter, unless Paraguay managed to take the lead.
And it's not just the fact that Spain are vastly superior to their opponents that make the match dull. I quite warmed to Brazil, who played perhaps the most defensively orientated football in their history. I could claim that I found some of the interplay between Kaka and Robinho sensational, and look at the Luis Fabiano goal against Chile and say "this is why I like watching this Brazil play", but the truth is that the Spain goals against Portugal and Paraguay were no less cutting than Brazil's. Spain have played football at times that is as good as anyone else in the tournament; I just don't like Spain.
I admire the possession football, I really do. In an age of counter attack, where the priority is on defensive solidity and attacking from deep a la Holland or Brazil, or Mourinho's Inter, it is courageous of Spain to attempt to control the game through possession. And they are very good at it: when they take the lead, they win. This has been the case for what 4 years, 3 years? However, whilst when the ball is moved quickly they can slice teams apart, the majority of possession is slow and around midfield, and I cannot profess to finding it exciting. Truth is, I can't be arsed to watch it when I'm drunk. And it's the World Cup, I'm going to be drunk. I might admire it, but I just don't like watching Spain play.
My biggest problem with Spain though, is not something that they can do anything about: it is the fawning fucking media. Sickening broadsheet toadyism, the constant online wanking of tactic nazis, and most of all the BBC; how these bastards have the nerve to present a series of 1-0 wins as genius and a victory for attacking football is beyond me. Simply put, these cunts could make me dislike my own fucking family with five minutes of hindsight based blathering.
So perhaps it is not Spain's fault entirely; they are merely playing technically excellent football that wins matches, and responding to the pressure in a way that decades worth of their countrymen could only dream about. I am basically 97% certain that on Sunday, Spain will lift the World Cup. But while they continue to get a very public media blowjob, they will never earn the most important thing: my heart.
I have made no attempt in the blog to hide the fact that I don't like the Spanish national football team. It's not easy to explain why; they are capable of scintillating football that few other teams could equal, I am a fan of football and someone who feels they can appreciate good play, therefore I should like them. The meta-narrative (it cannot be underestimated how important his is in the watching of top-level sport) of the Spanish team is fairly good as well: a team who have bottled it for a long time finally come to terms with their big name players and manage to blend them into a successful unit, at the same time getting rid of their best-known and perhaps most talented player (Raul), and manage to become the opposite of chokers. It's great to see a team change like this one has; at the last World Cup Spain were easily one of the better teams, but they did not have the bottle to perform when it counted. Now they do, and this should be admired. However, I just don't like Spain.
I used to like Spain, back when they bottled big tournaments: I was gutted when they were robbed in South Korea, desperate for them to beat Spain at Euro 2000. But I don't like them now. I sometimes think there's something joyless in their play, and they have never completely taken a team apart in the way that they dismantled Russia twice in the Euros, or the way Germany have gone through teams here. The constant possession means that the Spanish control games, but they are not exciting games, and you knew sitting down to watch Spain vs Paraguay that it was not going to be a pulsating encounter, unless Paraguay managed to take the lead.
And it's not just the fact that Spain are vastly superior to their opponents that make the match dull. I quite warmed to Brazil, who played perhaps the most defensively orientated football in their history. I could claim that I found some of the interplay between Kaka and Robinho sensational, and look at the Luis Fabiano goal against Chile and say "this is why I like watching this Brazil play", but the truth is that the Spain goals against Portugal and Paraguay were no less cutting than Brazil's. Spain have played football at times that is as good as anyone else in the tournament; I just don't like Spain.
I admire the possession football, I really do. In an age of counter attack, where the priority is on defensive solidity and attacking from deep a la Holland or Brazil, or Mourinho's Inter, it is courageous of Spain to attempt to control the game through possession. And they are very good at it: when they take the lead, they win. This has been the case for what 4 years, 3 years? However, whilst when the ball is moved quickly they can slice teams apart, the majority of possession is slow and around midfield, and I cannot profess to finding it exciting. Truth is, I can't be arsed to watch it when I'm drunk. And it's the World Cup, I'm going to be drunk. I might admire it, but I just don't like watching Spain play.
My biggest problem with Spain though, is not something that they can do anything about: it is the fawning fucking media. Sickening broadsheet toadyism, the constant online wanking of tactic nazis, and most of all the BBC; how these bastards have the nerve to present a series of 1-0 wins as genius and a victory for attacking football is beyond me. Simply put, these cunts could make me dislike my own fucking family with five minutes of hindsight based blathering.
So perhaps it is not Spain's fault entirely; they are merely playing technically excellent football that wins matches, and responding to the pressure in a way that decades worth of their countrymen could only dream about. I am basically 97% certain that on Sunday, Spain will lift the World Cup. But while they continue to get a very public media blowjob, they will never earn the most important thing: my heart.
Holland vs Uruguay
1) A strange match, which was fairly rubbish for long stretches yet ended up being pretty exciting.
2) Great goals from van Bronckhorst, Robben and Pereira for Uruguay. Van Bronckhorst in particular hit an absolute screamer, in his penultimate performance. Truth be told, I've alwasy thought Van Bronckhorst was pretty shit, and if he had been Scottish instead of Dutch, would never have made it out of Glasgow. Still, fair play to him, he's getting to go out near the top. The late Uruguayan goal was a lovely finish from the bloke's left foot.
3) Van Bommel got booked at last. I suppose he'll probably be sent off in the final as payment for all his past indiscretions.
4) The Dutch are really not that exciting to watch; I certainly can't remember them having a duller team (2004 and 2006 weren't great, but they played more than this one). They have balance, and they defend solidly, and look dangerous on the counter, for sure, but given the amount of attacking talent, it seems a shame that they don't make more of an impression on games. They actually looked fairly clueless at 1-1, and Sneijder's goal was fairly lucky. Sneijder, to my mind, has actually contributed very little to games apart from goals and assists (I realise that this is a comment which makes me sound like a cretin of the highest order), and of his five credited goals, three have been deflected, with a short range header and a tap-in; I would probably say he is playing at an inferior level to his performances at Euro 2008, where he was sensational. Still, Holland are in the final, so fair play.
5) The Uruguayans simply looked like a team that gave all it had, but it wasn't enough. I wonder if an available Suarez might have made a difference, allowing Forlan to drop deeper as he has to good effect in other games. Still, Forlan has shown a versatility and level of performance that has perhaps surprised the few remaining individuals (principally broadcasters and journalists) who recall him for his time at Manchester United. He has been one of the better forwards on show.
2) Great goals from van Bronckhorst, Robben and Pereira for Uruguay. Van Bronckhorst in particular hit an absolute screamer, in his penultimate performance. Truth be told, I've alwasy thought Van Bronckhorst was pretty shit, and if he had been Scottish instead of Dutch, would never have made it out of Glasgow. Still, fair play to him, he's getting to go out near the top. The late Uruguayan goal was a lovely finish from the bloke's left foot.
3) Van Bommel got booked at last. I suppose he'll probably be sent off in the final as payment for all his past indiscretions.
4) The Dutch are really not that exciting to watch; I certainly can't remember them having a duller team (2004 and 2006 weren't great, but they played more than this one). They have balance, and they defend solidly, and look dangerous on the counter, for sure, but given the amount of attacking talent, it seems a shame that they don't make more of an impression on games. They actually looked fairly clueless at 1-1, and Sneijder's goal was fairly lucky. Sneijder, to my mind, has actually contributed very little to games apart from goals and assists (I realise that this is a comment which makes me sound like a cretin of the highest order), and of his five credited goals, three have been deflected, with a short range header and a tap-in; I would probably say he is playing at an inferior level to his performances at Euro 2008, where he was sensational. Still, Holland are in the final, so fair play.
5) The Uruguayans simply looked like a team that gave all it had, but it wasn't enough. I wonder if an available Suarez might have made a difference, allowing Forlan to drop deeper as he has to good effect in other games. Still, Forlan has shown a versatility and level of performance that has perhaps surprised the few remaining individuals (principally broadcasters and journalists) who recall him for his time at Manchester United. He has been one of the better forwards on show.
Spain vs Paraguay
1) I was too drunk to remember much about this one, aside from enjoying Spain's players get pulled up for encroaching on the penalty.
2) I thought the Paraguay "goal" should have been given within the limits of the laws.
3) Spain played poorly, as I recall, but deserved the win overall, the goal was well made.
2) I thought the Paraguay "goal" should have been given within the limits of the laws.
3) Spain played poorly, as I recall, but deserved the win overall, the goal was well made.
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Germany vs Argentina
1) Argentina obviously didn't watch the England or Australia (or Serbia or Ghana) games closely enough. You need five men in midfield against Germany. Argentina'a approach of leaving Mascherano with Di Maria and Rodriguez working the flanks was absurd.
2) Thomas Mueller didn't look anything special in the Champions League games I saw; however he is clearly a real talent. Hard working, decent game awareness, great movement, a good touch, and a goalscorer to boot. He might be missed against Spain.
3) Klose deserves his place up in the pantheon of World Cup goalscorers. You don't score 14 goals in World Cups without being a decent taker of chances and without having sufficient ability to be in place to score in the first place.
4) Bastian Schweinsteiger has been by far the best midfielder on show in this tournament.
5) A slightly off-colour Messi is not good enough to simply win matches all by himself. To be honest, I doubt if he is good enough to win matches all by himself even on top form; perhaps some recognition that he plays in front of two of the finest midfielders on earth with some fabulous forwards alongside is due. Messi may be one of the great players of all time, certainly he often looks like the best player in the world; perhaps a little less deification is necessary though. The truth is that each star who has been built up for this tournament has disappointed in the face of the hype placed on them; the hype needs to stop. Teams are always more important than individuals anway.
2) Thomas Mueller didn't look anything special in the Champions League games I saw; however he is clearly a real talent. Hard working, decent game awareness, great movement, a good touch, and a goalscorer to boot. He might be missed against Spain.
3) Klose deserves his place up in the pantheon of World Cup goalscorers. You don't score 14 goals in World Cups without being a decent taker of chances and without having sufficient ability to be in place to score in the first place.
4) Bastian Schweinsteiger has been by far the best midfielder on show in this tournament.
5) A slightly off-colour Messi is not good enough to simply win matches all by himself. To be honest, I doubt if he is good enough to win matches all by himself even on top form; perhaps some recognition that he plays in front of two of the finest midfielders on earth with some fabulous forwards alongside is due. Messi may be one of the great players of all time, certainly he often looks like the best player in the world; perhaps a little less deification is necessary though. The truth is that each star who has been built up for this tournament has disappointed in the face of the hype placed on them; the hype needs to stop. Teams are always more important than individuals anway.
Ghana vs Uruguay
1) Oh Gyan. Why did you have to give our cretinous press a reason to get all high and mighty and use the word "cheat" repeatedly? The Suarez Incident obviously dominated the press after this exciting game, and rightly so, but had Gyan simply placed the ball to the keeper's right, it all could have been avoided. Gyan then showed an extraordinary amount of bottle to score his second kick, but it was too little too late.
2) Annan was fairly poor for once in this game, I think because Forlan was operating from a position fairly close to him, so he wasn't allowed to be an extra man quite so much. Still, he's been a revelation.
3) Kevin Prince Boateng has had a fantastic tournament as well; driving from midfield, doing his share in defence, getting into the box: I'd have thought he is capable of performing at the upper echelons of European football; a bit of a prick though.
4) Kingson should have saved Forlan's free-kick; only a muppet would describe it repeatedly as a fantastic strike. It was hit literally to where he was standing. Poor.
5) John Mensah hit the worst penalty I have ever seen. He took the old Beppe Signori three step run up. The difference was, of course, that dear old Beppe could take a three step run-up to the side of the ball and hit the ball into either top corner without letting on beforehand which way he was going to shoot. Mensah, on the other hand, might as well have told the keeper he was going to shoot to his left, and then proceeded strike the ball about a foot away from the keeper. An appalling display of penalty taking, and harsh on Mensah, who has had a good tournament.
6) I had some sympathy for Adiyah, given that it was his header that Suarez pushed off the line, but again, a poor penalty.
7) However, I greatly enjoyed the Uruguayan who thundered the penalty over the bar. Marvellous work. Not quite up to the standard of Jaap Stam's in the Euro 2000 semi of Dutch Penalty Misses, where Stam managed to smash the ball on to the first tier of the stand, but it was a solid effort.
8) I suppose the last word is with Suarez. The simple truth is this: had Suarez not handled the ball, and allowed his team to lose the match, he would have been at fault as a professional. Therefore, describing him as a cheat shows a simple failure to grasp the nature of professional sport, and the fact that the desire to win has to override every other feeling. Bryan Robson once said that if an opponent is through on goal, and you have the chance to foul him and deny him from scoring, you would be letting the team down if you didn't do it. Suarez is a cunt for bragging about what he did, but not for doing it.
2) Annan was fairly poor for once in this game, I think because Forlan was operating from a position fairly close to him, so he wasn't allowed to be an extra man quite so much. Still, he's been a revelation.
3) Kevin Prince Boateng has had a fantastic tournament as well; driving from midfield, doing his share in defence, getting into the box: I'd have thought he is capable of performing at the upper echelons of European football; a bit of a prick though.
4) Kingson should have saved Forlan's free-kick; only a muppet would describe it repeatedly as a fantastic strike. It was hit literally to where he was standing. Poor.
5) John Mensah hit the worst penalty I have ever seen. He took the old Beppe Signori three step run up. The difference was, of course, that dear old Beppe could take a three step run-up to the side of the ball and hit the ball into either top corner without letting on beforehand which way he was going to shoot. Mensah, on the other hand, might as well have told the keeper he was going to shoot to his left, and then proceeded strike the ball about a foot away from the keeper. An appalling display of penalty taking, and harsh on Mensah, who has had a good tournament.
6) I had some sympathy for Adiyah, given that it was his header that Suarez pushed off the line, but again, a poor penalty.
7) However, I greatly enjoyed the Uruguayan who thundered the penalty over the bar. Marvellous work. Not quite up to the standard of Jaap Stam's in the Euro 2000 semi of Dutch Penalty Misses, where Stam managed to smash the ball on to the first tier of the stand, but it was a solid effort.
8) I suppose the last word is with Suarez. The simple truth is this: had Suarez not handled the ball, and allowed his team to lose the match, he would have been at fault as a professional. Therefore, describing him as a cheat shows a simple failure to grasp the nature of professional sport, and the fact that the desire to win has to override every other feeling. Bryan Robson once said that if an opponent is through on goal, and you have the chance to foul him and deny him from scoring, you would be letting the team down if you didn't do it. Suarez is a cunt for bragging about what he did, but not for doing it.
Holland vs Brazil
1) What a strange match. Brazil were mostly untroubled by the Dutch in the first half, before seeming to capitulate in the face of very little. Holland looked far better at keeping the ball and countering once Brazil were down to ten men.
2) The main Dutch weapon in this match seemed to be Robben's ability to elicit free kicks and irritate opponents via cheating. He seemed to enrage Bastos into giving a stream of free kicks away, which led to the first goal, and then drew Melo into a stamp which pretty much guaranteed Holland the win. Melo's complete lack of composure after scoring the own goal was absurd, and earns a bat-shit crazy bastard.
3) Who the fuck did Van Bommel sleep with to avoid a yellow card here?
4) Wesley Sneijder is having a curious tournament: his performance level is not consistently high, in that you don't watch him run the games, but he is delivering key moments and deciding matches. Similar to the Dutch overall, I suppose.
5) The only explanation I can come up with regarding Brazil is that they conceeded the first goal too early. The plan was clearly to sit back and wait for the Dutch to become desperate, and then hit on the counter. Holland started the second half with a bit more snap, but still did not commit too many men forward, meaning Brazil still sat back also. Had Melo not ignored Cesar's call/Cesar had called properly, or whatever happened, Brazil would probably have finished the game off on the counter. Such is life. The way that Brazil fell apart after conceeding though (failing to track Kuyt for the second, Melo's stamp) was absurd for a team that seemed so full of characters. Simply put: I, and others, had predicted Brazil as winners based on the fact that their defence seemed resolute and to be improving through the tournament, and that this impregnability fused with quicksilver attacks would mean that at 1-0 late in the game, they would almost always hold firm, and probably add to their lead. Basically, they were not as impregnable as it seemed.
6) Not a great game then, but a momentous and dramatic one, and that was enough on an afternoon off work.
2) The main Dutch weapon in this match seemed to be Robben's ability to elicit free kicks and irritate opponents via cheating. He seemed to enrage Bastos into giving a stream of free kicks away, which led to the first goal, and then drew Melo into a stamp which pretty much guaranteed Holland the win. Melo's complete lack of composure after scoring the own goal was absurd, and earns a bat-shit crazy bastard.
3) Who the fuck did Van Bommel sleep with to avoid a yellow card here?
4) Wesley Sneijder is having a curious tournament: his performance level is not consistently high, in that you don't watch him run the games, but he is delivering key moments and deciding matches. Similar to the Dutch overall, I suppose.
5) The only explanation I can come up with regarding Brazil is that they conceeded the first goal too early. The plan was clearly to sit back and wait for the Dutch to become desperate, and then hit on the counter. Holland started the second half with a bit more snap, but still did not commit too many men forward, meaning Brazil still sat back also. Had Melo not ignored Cesar's call/Cesar had called properly, or whatever happened, Brazil would probably have finished the game off on the counter. Such is life. The way that Brazil fell apart after conceeding though (failing to track Kuyt for the second, Melo's stamp) was absurd for a team that seemed so full of characters. Simply put: I, and others, had predicted Brazil as winners based on the fact that their defence seemed resolute and to be improving through the tournament, and that this impregnability fused with quicksilver attacks would mean that at 1-0 late in the game, they would almost always hold firm, and probably add to their lead. Basically, they were not as impregnable as it seemed.
6) Not a great game then, but a momentous and dramatic one, and that was enough on an afternoon off work.
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