La Copa Mundial De Futbol

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Then there were eight

What a mixed bag the second round has thrown up in World Cup 2006. Over the first two days we saw a dominant, clinical display by the Germans, the wonders of Argentina v Mexico, the inspirationless dirge of England, and the open warfare of Portugal's victory over the evil Dutch. The last four games have continued in this vein, showing us the full range of the footballing spectrum.

First came Italy's win over the Aussies, which threatened high drama all the way through but never really delivered until the dying seconds, though it's good to know that this World Cup hasn't missed out on that wonderfully freakish footballing event, the last minute penalty. Every tournament needs at least one, there's probably nothing more traffic-stoppingly dramatic in the game, and that includes the vast majority of shoot-outs. A game that Italy were running, but not leading, was seemingly evened up a little by the ridiculous decision to send off Materazzi with a straight red for what was no more than a fairly ordinary late tackle. Italy however, have been here before, and if Australia thought their job had been made a lot easier, they were proved to have been sadly mistaken. Cannavaro marshalled his ten troops magnificently, and even playing a man light the Italians barely gave the Aussies a look at the goal. If Italy hadn't been so wasteful in the first half they would have safely seen themselves through to a routine win, as it was, it looked as though they were coasting towards extra-time. Then as injury time reached it's final ten seconds, an Italian defender made a buccaneering run down the left wing. Thought I would give you a full stop there so you can re-read that last sentence, I promise I tell no lie. Having beaten two men, the full-back made his way into the box before being confronted by Lucas Neill sprawled on the ground right across his path. Well, what would you have done? I think it's harsh to call it a dive, as the Italian was actually denied the chance to get to the ball and lay on the winner, it just happens that Neill's stupid challenge was so bad that it actually missed everything and failed in it's mission to bring his opponent to the ground. A moral penalty in my opinion. So Totti, no pressure then. Only the entire world, and even half of your own fans wants you to fail miserably and enhance your reputation as the most overrated non-Frenchman in football. Ah, rubbish, that was only the most perfect penalty ever hit, smashed at 100mph straight into the top corner. Better luck next time fellas.

Just as well that some belated drama was provided in that game. The only think I can think of that could have been worse than watching the one that followed is to have been watching it sat next to Sepp Blatter. Sorry Franz Beckenbauer. Ukraine and Switzzzzzerland couldn't have produced less goalmouth action if they'd invited Norway along to join in. I will never understand it. I refuse to believe they were struck down by fear, it's not as if either would have had realistic claims for winning the World Cup, nor would it have been a huge embarrassment for either to lose. Instead it was a golden opportunity for both teams to play in the biggest game of their lives, a World Cup quarter final, and neither seemed the slightest bit interested in taking it. The way the game went was probably more the fault of the Swiss, who do base themselves entirely on clean sheets, and it's difficult to argue with their choice when you consider they successfully kept four out of four. I did previously compare them with Greece in Euro 2004, and the Swiss clearly had designs on ambushing this tournament in a similar fashion. Even the Greeks however, made some attempt to score on the break, in fact no one succeeded in keeping a clean sheet against them in the tournament. As it turned out the Swiss paid a heavy price for failing to acquaint themselves with the goal, as they incredibly failed to find it at all during the penalty shoot-out. As for Ukraine, well all I can think is that Italy must be feeling the most confident of the eight quarter-finalists.

The final day of the second phase was a particularly painful one for me, as I had to endure two sides that I have heavily criticised make their way through. I must admit I didn't hold out too much hope that Ghana would bring about the demise of Brazil, but of course my hopes were cruelly raised when Ghana began to give Brazil a bit of a roasting after conceding an early goal, before being dashed again by Adriano's highly illegal second goal, allowed despite the scorer twice being caught offside during the move. Ghana can go home mostly proud of themselves; despite not covering themselves in glory against the Czechs with a shameful display of imaginary card waving, their football had much to be admired, particularly the power and pace of their midfield which proved troublesome even for world class outfits like Italy and Brazil. However, their demise was brought about by their one consistent failing, the lack of quality up front. If Ghana had someone to provide a final ball and a finish they may have been 4-1 up on Brazil by half time; as it was, Brazil went in with a scarcely merited 2-0 lead, and the stuffing had been knocked out of Ghana who had nothing left after the break.

In their quarter-final, the underperforming Brazilians will play the barely performing French. On paper it looks unbelievable, "Brazil v France?, what a cracker that will be!" I hear millions cry. Well, if both sides display the same form that has taken them this far, we could be in for a nap, and then some penalties. Maybe I am being slightly unfair on the French, who definitely showed their best 45 minutes so far in the second half against Spain. Yet even this was such a long way from the heights they reached in 1998, and a country mile behind the what we have seen from Germany and particularly Argentina in this tournament. I still haven't seen anything from either France or Brazil that I consider worthy of real praise in relation to their expectations.

As for Spain, they must be crestfallen after their abject display against France. We should expect nothing else from them given their track record, but this was a major choke even by their standards. Spain held all the aces in this match, youth, pace, form and confidence were on their side. The one advantage France could have claimed to have over the Spanish was an abundance of experience, but the baggage carried by that experience had so far appeared to be the very thing working against them. Yet Spain, despite starting with three strikers, fired blanks once again, their predictable attempts at creativity the sort of thing Gallas and Thuram have dealt with in their sleep a million times before. As the game wore on, and Spain began to show increasing signs of desperation, the more likely it became that the French would find a breakthrough. It came after an appalling piece of play-acting by the steaming hypocrite Thierry Henry, long advocate of fair play and greater punishment for cheats. Henry got up off the floor after a bout of rolling and face clutching apparently brought on by contact between Puyol's shoulder and his chest, just in time to see Vieira head in an effective winner. Zinedine Zidane actually rolled back a few years in beautifully finishing a third. What an unbelievable bonus for the tournament it would be if Zizou were to miraculously find the greatness that has deserted him for the last four years. I won't be holding my breath.

I always find it very difficult to watch any World Cup match without willing on one side or the other, yet on Saturday night I'm going to have difficulty in not hurling abuse towards both sides. If only someone could show both sets of players the video of their predecessors in the quarter-final of 1986, when France won on penalties after a pulsating match-of-the-tournament, we may yet be treated to something truly inspirational. I have everything crossed.

Now. I have to deal with the World Cup watershed. After 56 games over 20 consecutive days - dare I say it - here comes a day without football.

Aaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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