Eight games gone sixteen teams on display. The point has to be made that, so far, this World Cup hasn’t been particularly thrilling. Too many average teams plodding along. Argentina showed some style and at times played with great fluidity. Apart from that this noggerfest is yet to ignite. One factor/excuse (delete where necessary) is the balltitude. A debilitating combination of altitude and a new ball which makes cohesive play impossible. To be fair though, some of the top sides are yet to play. And, most importantly, a Stoke player will be playing for Denmark so the standard is sure to increase dramatically!!!
Tommy Sorensen Hoodie from Stoketshirts.co.uk
Australia were woeful against Germany. Even allowing for the fact they were up against one of football’s true powerhouses, they were off the pace and looked like overawed rabbits trapped in headlights. Rabbits may not feel overawed when trapped in headlights but that’s how Australia’s looked. I ventured to the pub for an all nighter and half an hour before kick off I bumped into my mate Indecisive Mike who was bristling with excitement because he’ll be flying out to South Africa to attend the games against Ghana and Serbia. It’s always been a dream to go to a World Cup so to be able to go and watch Australia was a special thing. The early exuberance of the large crowd in the pub soon turned to anxiety. One of the moments when it becomes clear that on the football stage Australia are still a small player amongst giants. German competence was enough to overpower their lame tepid resistance. Cahill was unlucky to see red but to place to much emphasis on that would be to hide from the cold hard truths of this flimsy ‘performance’. To their credit they didn’t blame the balltitude.
At the end of the game as the pub emptied and football gave way to the sunrise, I saw a bedraggled Indecisive Mike and wished him a great time in South Africa. I plucked up the courage to ask him why he was known as Indecisive Mike. He explained, “Because I’m indecisive”. Quite.
“I’m not one for jumping over the moon or off a cliff” Alf Ramsey
England’s World Cup campaign finally got underway. For the neutrals it must have been a cracker. But I’m not neutral! Overall though the performance wasn’t half as bad as some are making it out to be. Gerrard started with a hunger enthusiasm and purpose reminiscent of Beckham against Greece back in 2001. After taking the lead we fell off with Milner badly exposed and seeing yellow. It raises the question why he was picked when 1 he’s been ill and 2 there are other options? The most infuriating thing about THAT huge mistake is that when Milner was replaced by Shaun Wright Phillips we’d just seized the initiative and started to take the game to them again. Then Green allowed that hopeful pot shot to go through him. Keeper remains a problem for England and the question has to be asked…why hasn’t Hart been more involved in the build up to the tournament?
In the second half we battled stoutly and after Heskey wasted that marvellous opportunity it was apparent we’d blown our chance. Rooney tried a long range shot and Heskey put that header over. Lampard took that free kick and skied it as badly as, as, well er, as badly as all the other free kicks in this tournament so far!! Could it be the new lightweight ball? As ever with England, plenty of endeavour but a lack of craft. And, especially against solid underrated opponents like the USA, you need more than sweat.
All isn’t lost. Far from it in fact. If we win the next two matches we’ll be in the round of 16. And, crass though it sounds I honestly believe a win or draw hinged entirely on Green’s error. But what an error. The only way to rationalise it is to say that’s football and it happens.
Because I don’t have an effigy of Rob Green hanging from my house to urinate on it doesn’t mean I’m happy with it all. It’s very disappointing not to win a game you’ve been leading in. But the end of the world it isn’t. It’s football and these things happen sometimes. Upwards and onwards. What a difference a win would make. Algeria next!!
The real irritation with the vuvuzela is the one tone deadness of the din. No variation, no tune can be played. Just an ongoing honk. That’s all I intend to say about the aforementioned trumpet! Enough has been expressed elsewhere. It’d be hard to find an original angle!!
ANYWAY, The South Africa v Mexico game was a bright way to start it all. There seemed to be an abundance of space all over the park yet painfully few moments of craft to unlock either defence.After South Africa took the lead and celebrated with a delightful piece of choreography, Mexico looked beaten. Then South Africa, being the gracious hosts they are. allowed three opponents hatfuls of space at the far post to pick their spot and equalise. How could anyone have doubted their ability to host when they show such hospitality? Mexican manager Aguirre seemed to age about fifteen years during the game. At the start he was a dashing well dressed charmer. By the end he looked bedraggled and anxious.
As for France, well….their ideas drained away as they game went on. The worst thing was the late Uruguay red card because they set their stall out for the draw and rarely looked in danger. There was that late penalty appeal but it smacked of desperation. At least Thierry Henry had the decency not to look indignant. Him complaining that a handball hadn’t been given would be a rather ironic twist to proceedings. This will hardly help to brighten Domenech’s legacy.
As for tonights games, it’ll be fascinating to see if Maradona can be as entertainingly mad as he was in qualification. Anything can happen. A disputed throw in could result in him baring his backside or something. He makes Neil Warnock look like Bjorn Borg.
And tonight’s other poignant question is, if the USA take the lead, or just threaten to, how many references to Belo Horizonte 1950 will the commentators cram in? My prediction is 12. Hopefully it won’t come to that but the longer the game goes on without us scoring the more the ideas may drain away like France’s did.
This is Wayne Rooney’s time. In the last twelve months he has fulfilled all the rich potential and evolved into one of the world’s best players. He will also be aware that beiong our one truly world class player .so many of our hopes and dreams rest on his stocky torso. He can make as many appearances in Nike ads as he likes, now he really does have the chance to write the future. So come on Wazza, justify the hype!!
Come on England!!!
Since South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup was successful in 2004 it hasn’t always been a smooth road. In fact at times it has been violently bumpy. So many doubters (including me) bemoaning South Africa’s hosting as a legacy of advanced madcap Blatterism. There have been question marks over everything. Would the stadiums be ready? Will the lights stay on? How will the thousands of visitors travel? Will they be safe when they do so? Was the talk of England being secretly approached and asked to step in true? In fact, was there any truth in the rumour Australia had been approached and asked to step in? Even today, the horrific news of the death of Nelson Mandela’s great granddaughter adds yet another layer to the story.
Watching the fans gathering in Johannesburg is special. Of course, we can easily relate to the spectacle and colour when excited fans congregate for football, but there is another aspect to it this time. This also symbolises a changed nation. The tyranny of apartheid is in the past and the next month is the biggest moment in African history. Has the planet ever been so focussed on that continent as it is now?
After the internal wrangling and political stunts we can soon observe something much more important…..the football! Enjoy the beautiful football. Oh by the way, enjoy the ugly football too!!
In 2 hours 54 minutes and 58 seconds we land on planet football. ENJOY!!!!
Hungary went into the 1954 World Cup widely ackonowledged as the best team in the world. Hammering England 6-3 and 7-1 were two matches in a 32 game unbeaten run. This form continued and they reached the final. Narrowly beating South Korea 9-0 on the way.
West Germany were the opponents in the final competing in their first tournament since the end of the war. They had many experienced players….and that was considered their biggest problem. They were all considered to be too too old! Despite thrashing Austria 6-1 in the semi West Germany weren’t expected to prove too much of an obstacle to Puskas and the lads on their unstoppable march to the trophy.
Expectations were entirely justified when, in the unfortunately named Wankdorf Stadium, Hungary raced into a two goal lead. Puskas, although not fully fit, scored after six minutes, the 2nd came two minutes later and all was on track. To Hungarian astonishment the West Germans responded quickly and by the 18th minute had got two goals back to level at 2-2. The game reached half time at that score despite both sides missing chance after chance. Hungary were clearly rattled by Gerrman resistance.
In the second half the ‘Magnificent Magyars’ regained their composure and piled forward in search of the winner. Resilient German defending from their aged legs and masterful goalkeeping foiled them. In the 84th minute the unthinkable happened…West Germany scored. Hungary could hardly believe it and rallied for a final push for the equaliser…and it came, or so they thought. Puskas got the ball in the net but the Welsh linesman ruled it offside. That was their final chance and West Germany had won the World Cup…one of the biggest shocks in football history.
The victory sparked a wave of national pride through West Germany, their first major celebration since the end of the war. Many have stated that the World Cup of 1954 was a huge turning point in German post war history. It was the first time the German national anthem had been played since the end of the war and motovated the nation to continue rebuilding their devastated country. But, the greatest player of the era….. Puskas… never won the World cup.
See video below that has a strange French Commentary!
1954 World Cup West Germany vs Hungary
The Munich air disaster cast a dark shadow over England’s 1958 campaign. To lose such brilliant young players was a tragic loss.
However, sympathy should be limited when you consider that, despite being allowed a squad of 22, England chose to take 20…leaving two spaces vacant. Sympathy decreases further when you bear in mind that Stanley Matthews and Nat Lofthouse were left behind. Stan, despite being 43 was still at the peak of his powers and sent fear through opposition defences. Lofthouse was also in great form having scored two to beat Man Utd in the FA cup Final. A barnstorming centre forward, the Lion of Vienna frightened opposition defences. Stan crossing to Lofthouse could be a formidable weapon, yet they were ignored.
So why didn’t they make the squad? WELL, one theory was that Lofthouse being a physical centre forward didn’t present an appropriate image for the FA. As for Stan, in 1950 after England’s exit Stan had been fascinated by other teams play…especially the South American sides, and decided to stay in Brazil to watch and learn. The FA blazers resented this and warned him he’d have to pay a heavy price for such gross insubordination. That would explain it partly BUT, if that was the case, why was he in the squad for 1954? In short, we don’t know for certain why we chose to take a squad two men short….omitting our two most potent attacking force in the process and treating the tournament with contempt. WE can only speculate in exasperated disgust.
The baflling omissions of 1958 show that despite a snazzy website and encouraging females and ethnic minorities into the game the English FA have a damaging legacy of detached stuffiness to shake off.
The notion that sport and politics can exist seperately is but an idealists dream. At the 1974 World Cup East Germany played West Germany for the only time. Being hosts and having a side full of stars, West Germany had started the competition among the favourites. Despite winning the first two games their public was unhappy with their form. This unease was exacerbated by Holland’s style and what seemed an inexorable march to the trophy.
Facing West Germany meant a huge security operation. The only East Germans allowed to travel were high ranking members of the communist party who, like the players were rarely out of sight of armed stasi guards. The East German regime feared huge numbers of defectors to the West.
The game itself was as dramatic as the scenario was intense. Sparwasser scored a late winner for the East which led to huge ructions in the West camp. Back at the hotel the West German players drank in the bar and a huge row ensued. Franz Beckenbauer did a captains job and settled everyone then went up to Helmut Schoen’s room for a chat. Beckenbauer saw Schoen lying on his bed sweating profusely in a zombie like state having had a panic attack. Beckenbauer simply told him what changes were to be made. Schoen had little option but to agree.
The victory was used as propoganda by the East German government. Propoganda so blunt and forceful that Sparwasser admitted in later years that he wished with all his heart he’d never scored it.
West Germany, of course, went on to win the trophy defeating the Dutch in the final. But every tournament has it’s own twists and turns and East v West in 1974 was a truly great World Cup story.
Tis the time to dream. Every four years this recurring dream recurs. This familiar one when England become world champions. However, even being as optimistic as possible, the dream is motivated by hope as opposed to realistic expectation.
The quarter finals are by any historical measure a good performance for England and the problem is that some people seem unable to get their heads around that. Our record since 66 isn’t great. In the last 44 years we have reached a World Cup semi a Euro semi and several World Cup quarter finals. In the same period Holland have reached two WC finals and a semi and won the European championship. Bulgaria have reached a WC semi. Sweden have got to a WC semi and a Euro semi. Poland have reached a WC semi and finished 3rd in 1974. Soviet Union reached two Euro Finals. Belgium have reached a Euro final and a WC semi. Turkey have reached a World Cup semi and a Euro semi. And, of course, Greece were European champions. That’s only looking at the middle ranking sides from Europe. In 2008 and 2002 the Germans were considered to be poor yet still reached the final of those competitions.
So since 66* our record, when compared to other European football nations, gives new meaning to the word average. Yet people got annoyed because, for example, we’d never ‘win anything with Sven.’ Its unlikely we’ll win a competition whoever the manager is! We’d all love to but actually expecting England to win a tournament is wishful thinking. There’s no great tradition to justify that sort of demand. In a tournament, if we get through the group we’ve fulfilled expectancy. Personally, I always look at getting through the group then take it from there. Usually as soon as we face a side with genuine aspirations to win the tournament we get knocked out. 1990 was great fun but, with all respect, Belgium and Cameroon weren’t contenders to lift the trophy.
Sven was also unpopular because he didn’t stand on the touchline with contorted face and clenched fists and blood spurting from his ears, displaying the ‘passion’ we English crave. The Premier League is popular throughout the world because its often exciting and fast paced mixed with physical tussles. This does make for exciting blood and thunder games but doesn’t necessarily help players to develop their technique and tactical awareness. The British public love blood and thunder too. What’s the thing always thrown at the England set up? Passion. England lack ‘passion’. ‘Passion’ manifests itself by way of crashing tackles and sticking your bonce amongst the boots to win a header. These aren’t bad attributes but at World Cup level you need more than blood and thunder. England’s players are lacking because many have never had to consider a wider range to their game. Partly because of the nature of English football.
I’m certainly not saying we shouldn’t try to win tournaments I’m just saying that we should keep our hopes in perspective. But 44 years never stops me dreaming!!
*our record before 66 wasn’t great…Bela Horizonte anyone?
Sweet snack
Albert Camus once said “All that I know most surely about morality and obligations I owe to football.” I’m sure many of us have also learnt life lessons through our wonderful game. In 1978 I learnt about timezones. You see, despite 1978 being the year that Grange Hill started and Boney M told us about blarting near The Rivers of Babylon, it was also my first World Cup…..and that meant the challenges of a timezone……………….. Argentina’s matches kicked off at 11pm which created a problem. How could I persuade my parents to let me stay up and watch it? In the build up to the tournament I asked them repeatedly and the answer each time was an increasingly resounding “Don’t be so bloody stupid you aren’t staying up until after midnight to watch a game of football it isn’t even England playing etc”
Of course, the idea of being in bed while a World Cup match is happening on the telly was preposterous. So I decided to force myself to stay awake until 11, wait until they were both asleep in bed and sneak downstairs for the feast of football. I had to be quiet to avoid the mandatory within an inch of my life thrashing if caught.
In the second phase of the competition Argentina faced Brazil. Being fed stories of Pele, Garrincha and Di Stefano this one would be well worth sneaking downstairs for. The ticker tape blew and all seemed well with the world. It was surely going to display the glorious pride and fury of South American football. Well, the fury anyway!! Argentina v Brazil 1978 was a staggering show of violence! Within seconds of kick off Luque, whose brother had burned to death in a car crash a few days before, had violently hacked Batista and Brazil weren’t taking that lying down. They could hack a bit themselves and replied in kind. The game was little more than a vicious brawl. At half time, and getting increasingly cocky about not being caught downstairs, I decided that what would really bring samba skills to the fore was a lemon curd sandwich. For me not the players. I constructed the aforementioned snack and looked for a plate. For some reaason (the words ‘for some reason’ are often a prelude to a ridicuous incident) I decided to use a metal plate. As I took the clanking plate from the cupboard one of the cats, pleased with late night company, brushed against my leg startling me. I let out a loud cry of shock and knocked the metal plate off the worktop and onto the tiled floor. For a split second I watched in fascinated terror. The plate landed on the floor on it’s side and bounced several times CLANK CLANK CLANK, CLANKETY PHUQQING CLANK. I was terrified. It was obvious that mum and dad, or both, will have heard that din and would inevitably dash downstairs to see whats happening and administer a good belting. And, worst of all, I’d have to miss the second half of the violence. I cowered in the kitchen and waited. And waited. Five minutes passed and it was coming to the start of the second half. Miraculously, nobody heard. I continued watching the violence uninterrupted and enjoyed the lemon curd sandwich.
That the clanking went unheard, and I remained alive, can only be described as a miracle. It was the miracle of the World Cup. Once every four years there is a magical month full of wondrous mystery. SO, if you find yourself metamorphosising into a giraffe in the next month don’t be alarmed….it’s just another World Cup miracle!! But whatever miracles happen we’ll still go out on a penno shootout.
In recent years it has been exciting to watch Australia come to prominence in football. I’ve never known this country as ecstatic as it was on reaching the second round last time. Finally, after years of administrative haggling, football finally had the profile it deserves. It also brought the realisation that football, and the World Cup in particular, provided a stage bigger than anything previously experienced.
This is my home and a place I love dearly so while I can’t quite say I support Australia I do honestly wish them well. Until they play England anyway! A good campaign for the national team is good for the game here which, obviously, is good for any football fan. Each time I walk through my beloved Brisbane the profile of the World Cup is growing. Shopfronts proudly displaying the green and gold and bars advertising live TV showings are more prominent each day. How many are prepared to stay open until 4.30am to show some matches remains to be seen!!
Anything Australia achieve in South Africa, and contrary to some peoples views I think they have a good chance of reaching the second round, is almost entirely based on a rigid formation. You can’t outplay them BUT you can outnumber them. Squeezing the opposition in the middle of the pitch and narrowing angles will stifle opposition creativity and help to get on top of them and grind them down. Another advantage of this is the KISS method. Keep It Simple Stupid. If in doubt kick it out. There will be little scope to make a tactical blunder. In the build up the media attention is largely focussed on Harry Kewell and will he be ready for the Germans on Monday morning. It’d actually make more sense not to play him in that. Why risk another breakdown in a game where Australia will likely be beaten anyway? The extra days would mean he’s much closer to full fitness when the more realistic goal of beating Ghana arrives on Saturday night. It’s crucial to use the whole squad and everyone plays a role in a healthy campaign. But a big injury to Tim Cahill would make a serious dent in the hopes. He’s crucial.
So next Monday morning at 4.30 it’ll be interesting to see footballs true believers out in force. And it’s a public holiday so everyone can catch up on much needed sleep afterwards!!