Features, Ian John, World Cup 2010 POSTS

Hits and Misses of the World Cup So Far…

Published by Ian John on June 17, 2010

So we’ve seen everyone in action, we’ve seen all the stadia, most of the top players, the fans, the music, the noise… So what has been the hits of the tournament so far and what has been the misses?

HITS

1. THE OFFICIALS : Every World Cup comes around and every single time the officials are usually roundly criticised. Namely for sending players off who shouldn’t have been, letting others stay on the field that should, allowing goals that shouldn’t stand and disallowing goals that should. However without exception, I think the officiating at this World Cup has been the best I have ever seen. Almost every major decision has been got right and the officials deserve every credit.

2. ASIAN & OCEANIC FOOTBALL : Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and North Korea should take a well deserved bow. With so many of the bigger sides from Europe, South America, Central America and Africa disappointing, it is great to see these nations stepping into the limelight with some excellent performances in the first round of games. Let’s not also forget China, who defeated France 1-0 in one of the French’s final Warm up games even though they haven’t qualified.

3. GERMANY : It’s not often that Germany can be accused of saving a World Cup from utter tedium, but lets face it, without that German performance against Australia, this World Cup would be unquestionably the dullest thing in the history of football. Even with it, it comes close to watching Arsenal under George Graham. Thank God for Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and co, otherwise by now I might have started watching Cricket, it is that bad.

4. THE STADIA & PITCHES : Despite many concerns from officials, the state of the pitches in South Africa has been almost perfect. Not that England can comment anyway given the state of Wembley. The Stadia too look outstanding and fully deserving of hosting the worlds biggest football tournament. It’s just a pity the football played on and in them has been so dire in the main.

5. LIONEL MESSI : So far none of the megastars have really shown their worth. Drogba and Torres coming back from injury, Rooney quiet, Ronaldo ineffective. Only Messi has shown a glimpse of the quality he possesses and I must not be the only one looking forward to seeing him torment what looked like a dreadful Greek defence.

MISSES

1. THE GENERAL ATTITUDE : Every single team, with few exceptions, has approached their first game with the idea “If we don’t lose, we are ok…” and it has festered throughout the tournament like a cancer, leading to the most boring sequence of World Cup games I can remember. We are watching Fear football of the highest order in the main. A few teams bucked that trend, but overall the quality has been desperate, but there may well be a reason for that and I’ll explain why later…

2. VUVUZELA’S : Yes they are annoying but what did you expect? This is South Africa and part of their football heritage! Why bring the World Cup here and then complain about the noise and want it banned? How petty and pathetic is that? I find the Samba drums following Brazil tiresome and especially the bell ringer at Portsmouth. How narrow minded to want it banned, it is the same as trying to ban singing at football games in England or being depressed at a Tranmere game. Impossible, pointless and less than sensitive.

3. FREE KICKS : Why is it that suddenly every player is trying to shoot from free kicks anything less than 3.5 nautical miles from the goal? Oh hang on… This is linked in with my final point…

4. CROSSING/PASSING : Have you noticed how many passes and crosses are going too long? Goal kicks that are bouncing in or just outside the opponents penalty box? What looks like a good pass bouncing miles too high and out for a harmless throw in? Corners whipped in so hard that the ball ends up in the stand without bouncing almost… It is as if all the Worlds top players have got to South Africa and turned into Sunday league Amateur cloggers… Oh wait, that’s linked in with my final post too…

5. JABULANI : Imagine you are a Racing Car driver and for the entire season you and all the other drivers have been driving a Ferrari Enzo. What fun that is. You complete the season and get to the Final race of the season, the World Championship drive. They then tell you that you and every other driver will now be driving an Austin Allegro in the final race of the season, oh and that the German driver has had an Allegro to practice with for the last six months. You’d think it a bit unfair and a bit silly wouldn’t you? So why have FIFA done this with the ball? It is obviously very different to the ball that players use on a regular basis. I refuse to believe that there has been a collective Soccer amnesia in South Africa and everyone in South Africa has forgotten how to pass, cross and shoot. The ball is an utter disgrace and if FIFA are looking at reasons as to why the tournament has been a washout so far, then they need to look at that ball. Strange isn’t it how the one country that has been using the ball for the past six months, Germany, were the one team who looked good with it?

What have been the hits and the misses for the tournament for you so far?

Image Courtesy of ***Chris Bloom*** on Flickr.com

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