Paraguayan pride and pundits
Typically, as soon as I mention the second round having a healthy goals per game ratio we get two games with one goal between them. It’s pleasing that Paraguay got through, albeit by a penalty shootout. When they played Slovakia the camera scanned on them singing their national anthem and at the end they all cheered and clapped and looked at each other smiling. A brief miraculous moment, players actually ENJOYING participating in the World Cup. Such a refreshing change from the usual surly scowling young men with the weight of the world on their shoulders talking of which… Christiano doesn’t help himself does he? He hasn’t written much future either. He’ll meet his friend Wayne and they can drink champagne and decide who to blame for their lack of influence. Then can blame Nike for not paying them enough to do those adverts. Wayne and Steve Gerrard has decided to pull out of an event in London to find the worlds most skillful footballer, and they have had to lose their payment of half a million quid. Poor loves, lets have a whip round.
The decision of the remarkably named Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan to suspend their national team is as foolish as it is melodramatic. It seems the decision is more to punish their FA than the players. This is in the wake of their chaotic preparation which resulted in friendlies cancelled and even the plane to take them to South Africa unable to take off. However, FIFA take a dim view of political leaders meddling with football. If the two year ban is upheld it could be that Blatter and his mates decide to bang an extra ban on top. This will harm the players in several ways but most of all deprive the Nigerian people the chance to see their team in competitive action. Hopefully Goodluck is using this as a chance for a spot of self promotion. Otherwise we can only wish bad luck on Goodluck.
Bastian Schweinsteiger’s digs at Argentina got a staggering response from Maradona, because there wasn’t one! Where you might usually expect him to react by smashing a glass or baring his arse or something, he didn’t react. This is the calm before the storm. You can bet there will be a reaction if Germany knock them out. There is still bad blood after their quarter final in 2006 and nothing stokes the fire like a sense of grievance. If, as is extremely possible, Argentina meet Brazil in the final the terms mind games and antagonistic will have to be re-defined! And antagonism is rarely as antagonistic as it is when Brazil play Argentina.
Reading some articles it seems the punditry on UK TV is rather poor. The most annoying aspect is that in the first few weeks when they said something about one of the more obscure sides players they got ridiculed for being a swot. Before Slovenia v Algeria one of them sort of shrugged and admitted he knew nothing about either team. How lazy can you be? Have they never heard of this thing what was invented called the, er, internet like? This attitude does nobody any favours. In fact they just present themselves as ignorant and insular. It’s not much to ask to provide some background information, otherwise why are they there?
Blatter has apologised for Lampard’s phantom goal, how very kind of him!! Three cheers for good old Sepp. What happens now? This apology means nothing unless measures are taken to ensure mistakes like this aren’t repeated. They are happy to accept technological developments when they develop the new ball the players can’t play with. Or when they have those big videoscreens that carry sponsors advertising. Maybe, just maybe, they can use technology to help the game and not just so they can vacuum up money.