Seeing as the whole country seems to have an opinion on how bad this World Cup has been so far, a look at what has gone wrong is required. It’s obviously not acceptable and we need to get to the bottom of it. I wasn’t going to let you down here and I feel I’ve got to the bottom of it.
Countries just aren’t providing the entertainment and fun that is surely their moral responsibility to do so.
Who told the lesser teams they are allowed to employ tactics? Where’s the wild abandon in throwing everything into attack, the whole team running after the ball and leaving massive gaps for the opposition to exploit? Who can forget the Zaire team who barely knew the rules?
What’s the deal with the heart of the New Zealand defence? A Premier League regular alongside a former Danish under 21. Surely they should have a team of semi pros who spend their working lives sheep shearing.
Where’s the unheard of African youngster who, despite not having a verifiable age and looking like he’s spent the last 20 years as a miner, is heralded as the world’s best teenager?
It’s just not acceptable, even Argentina looked organised. Maradona may actually pull this off without it turning into the circus we had all expected. No fun. We wanted him playing a strict 2-3-5. We wanted him to combust on the sidelines, strip down to his kit, reveal a ‘Maradona is better than Messi’ tattoo and demand to come on.
The Dutch look a happy squad. Their disregard for tradition is alarming.
Only the French seem to have infighting with coach Raymond Domenech and defender William Gallas locked in tight competition for the prestigious ‘Nutter of the Tournament’ award.
The referees have a lot to answer for too. We normally get a raft of dodgy free kicks and penalties leading to a glut of goals. Their competence is effecting our entertainment. It’s a disgrace. What happened to the good old days when we’d get a ref from Central America whose highest level of experience was the Guatemala Retired Policeman’s League?! They knew how to make games livelier.
Finally, who cannot be outraged by the annoying soundtrack that seems to be accompanying these games? It’s impossible to concentrate with that nonsense going on.
My ears are offended and if it carries on I may be forced to mute the volume on the TV. So please join me in praying that something is done about Jim Beglin and Mark Lawrenson before the knockout stages.
The worlds most populous countryChina failed to qualify again and with India the second and Indonesia the fourth that’s half the worlds people looking around to adopt a surrogate. With strong football cultures rooted in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines amongst others, over 3bn ‘unattached’ Asians are proving a marketing mans dream. Billboards, magazines and TV commercials are as blazoned with world cup themes selling anything and everything, as in Europe.
Whether or not Terry Venables crooning is likely to convince karaoke crazed nations in South East Asia is anyone’s guess, but its certainly worth a try. Japan are an unadventurous if hard-working team who rely on Keisuke Honda for flair both on and off the pitch. South Korea are similarly lead by Park Ji-Sung and neither team has garnered support amongst fellow Asians.
With the group of death now looking quite tame, the North Koreans will have found new fans around the world and not just in the same way your girlfriend fawns at puppies in the window of the pet shop, but in admiration of their play. The desperately disappointing 0-0 between Portugal and Ivory Coast makes for some of the more interesting remaining group games in which supporting North Korea could be much more of a realistic pursuit than mere tokenism.
Most countries are showing the matches on free to air channels at much the same times and in much the same way that the English Premier League is shown. Many will have some connection with one of the qualified teams, be it through a family member working abroad or relative, etc and these numbers could form a large proportion of a teams overall support, if appreciated.
The USA is unlikely to be popular in Vietnam but will have many a follower in the Philippines where American culture and sport have trumped all for years. Once the playoff finals between the Lakers and Celtics are settled, the obsession with Basketball is likely to switch to football. The Philippine sports superstar Manny Pacquiao is rooting for Mexico, while the countries strong Latin heritage has lead to a surge in Spanish and Italian shirts appearing in Manila.
With England’s 2018/22 campaign not exactly the runaway favourite, and with only 168 days of making nice left, perhaps if England in South Africa can tap into the Asian market, the campaign could take on a whole new look and feel. Less about England itself and maybe with more of a global feel to it than South Africa has mustered. At the very least it’s a huge opportunity not to be missed, one you would hope those running the bid have an eye on. The uniting effect North Koreas performance last night had took everyone by surprise.
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France coach Raymond Domenech has never been warmed to at all by the French public and even more so from his players as he dropped his latest clanger on Friday in the build up to France’s uninspired 0-0 draw with Uruguay by succumbing Florent Malouda and talisman Thierry Henry to the bench.
The 58 year old’s eccentric management style of supposedly picking his teams based on astrology has left people baffled. It is safe to say he is his own man and will not budge from criticism which illustrates his stubborn nature. Despite guiding Les Bleus to the final against Italy four years ago he still remains one of France’s most unpopular figures.
Their build up to their opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been marred by dressing room unrest from the likes of William Gallas and Florent Malouda who are unhappy with their coach’s way of thinking. Arsenal centre-back Gallas has boycotted the press in an alleged protest against his coach for picking compatriot Patrice Evra as skipper ahead of him. With Thierry Henry’s inclusion in the starting eleven being under scrutiny, it had left the Les Bleus armband up for grabs.
It isn’t the first time the French have ran into problems with the media and have been heavily criticised in the past for their handling of communications with the press which had led to the French Football Federation’s president Jean-Pierre Escalettes’ call for Domench and his players to make more of an effort after Euro 2008.
Florent Malouda who has just come off the back of his best season in England with Chelsea had a training ground altercation with Domenech, rumoured to be over the inclusion of Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff in the starting eleven. This saw Malouda dumped to the French bench in the game against Uruguay where Abou Diaby took his place. Ironically Diaby was the only real stand out performer for the French as he gave a spirited display unlike some of his fellow colleagues.
Sidney Govou of Lyon started the match ahead of Thierry Henry and fluffed a magnificent chance with just a few minutes gone to put the 1998 champions ahead but didn’t make good enough contact to bamboozle goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Nicolas Anelka was the lone man up front with Govou and Franck Ribery playing off him on the wings. France enjoyed a positive start but began to fade away as the game ran its course. Uruguay was very resolute and had a couple decent chances themselves with Forlan’s prowess threatening.
Domenech’s stubborn attitude was evident as he seemed reluctant to make any changes to his side that were evidentially lacking ideas and creativity. It took him to the 71st minute to makes his first change as Thierry Henry came onto earn his 121st cap in place of Anelka. No change to the formation as the Barcelona man played the loner up front. Domench then brought on Malouda soon after but still there was no change to their mentality. They lacked a cutting edge and found it excessively difficult to break down Uruguay, even with them playing with ten men for the remaining ten minutes after Nicolas Lodeiro was given his marching orders after a robust challenge on Bacary Sagna.
There is no guarantee had Domench started with Malouda that their fortunes would have been better but Malouda would have added something more dynamic in the middle of the park. Henry is not the player he once was but he still possesses that aura around him that frightens opposition defenders. Domenech continued to foresee his 4-3-3 formation during the game which evidentially lacked sparkle but he still continued to use it and only made like for like substitutions which did not change the complexion of the game what so ever.
It will be interesting to see if he tinkers with his side for the next game against Mexico. His way of thinking wouldn’t surprise anyone at all if he opts with the same eleven and formation. If France want to progress to the second round they need to up their game against Mexico who showed in their first game against South Africa that they are a neat footballing side with the creative flair up top which France lacked.
The stubborn nature of Raymond Domenech may haunt France if he doesn’t concede to some common sense by starting players for the good of the team. Rifts and arguments aside, winning football matches is the most important aspect and sooner he realises that the better for France and their 2010 hopes.
South Africa’s World Cup organising chief Danny Jordaan may ban vuvuzelas from inside stadiums after complaints from broadcasters and supporters. The constant sound of the high-pitched horn-like instrument has so far drowned out much of the atmosphere-generating singing usually associated with games. And Jordaan, when asked if he would get rid of them, told BBC Sport: “If there are grounds to do so, yes. “We did say that if any land on the pitch in anger we will take action.” France captain Patrice Evra has already blamed the noise generated by the vuvuzelas, which has been likened to the drone of thousands of bees, for his side’s poor showing in their opening group game against Uruguay, which finished goalless.
He said: “We can’t sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas. People start playing them from 6am. “We can’t hear one another out on the pitch because of them.” Jordaan conceded that while the noise was irritating for some people, they were doing all they could to minimise the impact. “We’ve tried to get some order,” he continued. “We have asked for no vuvuzelas during national anthems or stadium announcements. It’s difficult but we’re trying to manage the best we can.
“We’ve had some broadcasters and individuals [complaining] and it’s something we are evaluating on an on-going basis.” Jordaan admitted he was not a huge fan of them himself. “I would prefer singing,” he said. (BBC Sport)
Fingers crossed these things will be banned. Its bad enough hearing them on televised coverage one can only imagine just how annoying they are in the grounds. I strongly believe that its something real football fans can do without. Since when did it become compulsory to make irritating noises for 90 minutes? Whats wrong with a good drummer in the stands? Or how about a good chant? Or a song?
Who wants Vuvuzela’s banned? And who wants to keep them? By the way if you own a shop that sells them or you have shares in any companies that have a vested interest in Vuvuzelas you are not allowed to register your opinion!
Roll up, roll up and welcome to today’s World Cup column on Soccerlens.
The tournament in South Africa is now in full swing and I was really enjoying being immersed in football all day, every day- that was until about 8:10pm yesterday evening.
Thank you Mr Robert Paul Green of Chertsey.
Here’s the best (and worst) of what the World Cup has to offer…
(If you would like to subscribe to this column – and others like it on Soccerlens – then please feel free to follow this link.)
Argentina 1-0 Nigeria…
Diego Maradona’s side got their World Cup off to a winning start after recording a deceptively narrow win over Nigeria in the opening match of Group B.
Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze notched Argentina’s only goal after just six minutes – dispatching Juan Veron’s corner with an impressive flying header.
Nigeria certainly had their chances to score but, in truth Argentina should have won by a much bigger margin after dominating for large periods of the game yet failing to convert a raft of chances – with Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama almost single-handely (literally at times) keeping his side in it.
(Very) selected highlights…
You can read Andy Ryan’s match summary for Soccerlens here.
South Korea 2-0 Greece…
As well as Maradona’s men, South Korea also got their tournament underway with surprisingly confident showing against a compact but unadventurous Greece side in Port Elizabeth yesterday.
The 2004 European champions created little against an energetic South Korean outfit, who sealed the win through goals from Kashima Antlers centre-back Lee Jung-Soo and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung.
Highlights…
You can read Jonathon Feyerherm’s match report for Soccerlens here.
England 1-1 USA…
As you may be aware, goalkeeper Rob Green dropped a pretty sizeable b*ll*ck last night as England kicked off their World Cup campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against the USA in Rustenburg.
Newly-appointed captain Steven Gerrard gave Fabio Capello’s men the perfect start after prodding home Emile Heskey’s pass with only four minutes on the clock, but England failed to press their early advantage – which would end up costing them a potentially crucial two points.
On a night when none of Capello’s selection gambles would prove to pay off, James Milner, obviously still weary from his recent bout of sickness, was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips after just half an hour.
England seemed to be holding on to their slim one-goal advantage in relative comfort until, five minutes before half-time, Green allowed Clint Dempsey’s generous back-pass to squirm through his wet vermicelli fingers and over the line as the West Ham man scrambled – in vain – to recover.
Injury-plagued centre-back Ledley King was then replaced at the break by Jamie Carragher after the Tottenham man suffered a groin injury in the latter stages of the first-half.
The second half proved to be a slightly more fertile affair from England’s perspective, with a handful of chances falling to the likes of Heskey and Wright-Phillips – both men duly displaying their limitations in front of goal by firing shots straight at US stopper Tim Howard’s midriff, when presented with ample opportunity to do otherwise.
However, the American side also had chances to nudge their noses in front, most notably when Jozy Altidore steamed into the area past a flagging Carragher, only to see his angled shot somewhat fortuitously pushed on to the post by Green.
As the game wore on, England noticeably (and more so, worryingly) ran out of ideas, eventually leaving Bob Bradley’s side celebrating a well-deserved point.
“Sometimes a forward misses, sometimes a keeper makes a mistake – that’s football. The second half [Green] played very well, but the mistake remains a mistake.”
England coach Fabio Capello. I could be wrong, but I think we may be seeing Joe Hart getting a run out in the Algeria game!
“It hit the outside of one of my thumbs, do that again 1000 times and I will save 999.”
Said Rob Green himself. It’s just a shame that those other 999 times were in training.
“It was unfortunate. These balls are moving about. I don’t know how much the ball moved. It is unfortunate for keepers, They are the last line and, when they make a bit of a boob, it gets picked out.”
If there is such a thing as back-handed sympathy, then Frank Lampard has mastered it…
“I’d love to join the goalkeepers’ union and find an excuse – an awful pitch or the ball – but there was nothing. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
…However, former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson hasn’t.
“Of course I feel for him. He has made a couple of really good saves and, as we have been saying all week, this ball is doing silly things.”
Green’s opposite number Tim Howard proudly declares himself to be a card-carrying member of the goalkeepers’ union.
“To the Boston Tea Party and Belo Horizonte, the Royal Bafokeng stadium can almost be added.”
The Sunday Times’Jonathon Northcroft gets a little swept away.
“The Hand Of Clod.”
You can always rely on The News Of The World for a subtle summation.
It pays to advertise…
Remember this?
Well consider this…
…and think on.
Quote of the day…
“According to Opta statistics, Rob Green made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League last season.”
From the BBC Sport website. Good to see that the West Ham ‘keeper has carried his domestic form on into the World Cup.
Rino calls it a day…
Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso confirmed at a press conference yesterday that he intends to retire from international football after this summer’s World Cup – and also outlined his plans to one day manage his country.
The 32-year-old holding man, who was part of the Azzurri side that won the tournament in 2006, has admitted that he is now feeling the effects of age and therefore intends to move aside to allow younger players a chance to break into the national team;
“It is only right, for the way I see football, that at the age of 33 I step aside and give more space for players who have better physical stamina.
As a player, it will be my last World Cup, but then I have a dream of one day leading the Nazionale to this tournament as a coach.”
Gattuso suffered with a string of injuries last season, but the former Rangers man is ready to repay his national team coach for the faith he has shown in him;
“I wake up without pain now and can train regularly. Undoubtedly I had a very tough campaign with Milan, but Marcello Lippi gave me this chance and I must be ready.
If I don’t start then I’ll cheer on my team-mates. It is an honour for me to wear the Azzurri jersey and there’s nothing better. I would’ve come to South Africa just as a water boy.”
Good lad. There are a few more quotes Rino’s press conference here.
Del Bosque: ‘Iniesta will start’…
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has told a Spanish television programme that he is confident that midfield maestro Andres Iniesta will be fit enough to start for La Furia Roja in their opening World Cup game against Switzerland on Wednesday.
Del Bosque told La Siete;
“Iniesta will play and he will be in the starting line-up, tomorrow he will train with the ball and there are still 72 hours left.”
Well, that seems pretty definitive to me.
And in other news…
FIFA have blamed transport issues for the varying degrees of empty seats visible at the 2010 World Cup so far. (Sporting Life)
Whilst it’s not strictly ‘World Cup news’ as such, the agent of Serbian winger Milos Krasic has admitted that Inter Milan (rather than Juventus, as was first thought) are leading the race to sign his client. (F365)
Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has admitted that he is ’scared’ of the threat posed by Serbia and that his side are ‘not even thinking about Germany and Australia’ as a result. That doesn’t sound like a particularly strong tactic to me Stephen. (BBC Sport)
