Perhaps it was Gary Bloom, one of the faceless voices on ESPN that one develops a taste for in due course of watching football, who said it. But whoever it was I was flabbergasted when the words were uttered. The best world cup in years, he said. The most number of goals and some of the most memorable moments on the pitch, Bloom gushed.

What nonsense.

By the time the final whistle is blown or, and some may say this is more likely, the last penalty of the shootout is blasted against the upright on the 9^th of July, millions of football fans all around the world would have sat through the latest edition of the FIFA world cup.  And most of them would have got up underwhelmed. For all its pageantry, pomp and splendour it has been a most dull tournament; one devoid of the wizards, underdogs and new heroes that the tournament is known to dish out fabulously every four years. Few games have risen to the standards that stay etched in memory for the years to come and except for the emergence of Zinedine Zidane in the last couple of games most so-called ‘tournament stars’ have all flattered to deceive.

Let us not even get started about the referees.

The tournament has simply failed to deliver on so many accounts.

Consistent Inconsistence

Not one team in the world cup has managed to seal its authority in this tournament with any permanence. The Czech  Republic, who started so promisingly against the U.S., quickly lost steam and did not even make it into the knockout stage. Argentina sizzled and then sputtered, appearing apprehensive of their own attacking abilities. Spain briefly appeared to have shrugged off their ‘big-time choker; reputation only to go back into the shell in their tie with France.

Of the lot left in the last four, at the time of writing this story, Italy is the only outfit that has shown a consistent impetus on the pitch and a need to get on with things. The Italians have surprisingly been positive with the ball and will go into their Semi-final with Germany with the benefit of momentum.

The hosts have, for all its worth, been the surprise package of the tournament. They started off confidently against Costa Rica and Miloslav Klose sat up and begged to be noticed from game one. While never appearing imposing in defence, the Germans confidently capitalized Sweden’s sterile midfield and an awful Larsson spot kick. In the quarters they were gifted victory by Jose Pekerman through two overly defensive substitutions - Crespo and Riquelme, when leading by a single goal.

But sitting on a one goal lead is not a strategy that was Pekerman’s alone. Several times teams seemed to sit back on a single goal, choosing to soak up pressure rather than close the game with another goal. Japan, Argentina and Spain all suffered defeats after slowing things down when they were a goal ahead.

Coach Potato

When teams loaded with some of the world’s best footballers seem to flounder against weaker sides one knows there is a problem with the brains in the dugout. All conversations about insipid coaching in the world cup will begin with Sven Goran Eriksson. And the Swede will have to field many questions. The English were clearly uncomfortable with the five people in midfield and the lone striker up front. There were times when the English looked completely devoid of ideas with the ball. Beckham provided the occasional flashes of brilliance and Joe Cole provided a wonder goal that will no doubt go into a prominent place in the 2006 highlights reel. But through the tournament it seemed Eriksson’s tactics was holding the English back. Why was Aaron Lennon used so sparingly when he clearly had the pace few of the others had? Why pick Theo Walcott at all if he was going to come along for the ride? Where were the Plan Bs when nothing on the pitch seemed to work.

After the disastrous penalty shootout against Portugal Eriksson said it was a poor result and they had performed badly in spite of having trained for the penalties. Insipid till the very end.

And this is not a singular phenomenon. Too many teams have descended into a ‘long ball and a prayer’ strategy too often when under pressure. Are the coaches running out of ideas? Are they leaving it all to the players on the pitch? Except flashes of brilliance from Van Basten and inspired performances from the coaches of the unfancied teams like Ghana and Australia this seems to be the case.

Game after game was full of hopeful shots from 30 and 40 yards. Several of them did become wonder goals and in the group stages it seemed as if strikers were trying to use the aerodynamics of the new Teamgeist ball. But as the tournament wore on it seemed more like desperate attempts at scoring when nothing else: strategy, substitutions or input from the dugout seemed to help.

The Brazil Story

Brazilian football, clichés aside, evokes the fiercest fan passions of possibly any team in any sport. So when I say that the defending World Champions were anything but special this World Cup a whole lot of feathers are going to get ruffled. But even the most ardent fan must admit: this Brazilian team was not a shade on the usual Brazilian outfit of wizards and magicians one has to come to expect, love and loathe.

Commentators and pundits erupted every time a Brazilian side-stepped a defender or thumped a shot over the crossbar. After every mediocre Brazilian performance the commentators refused to admit to the obvious. ‘Surely they are merely warming up,’ they said, ‘the best is yet to come.’ The Selecao met their first real challenge of the World Cup, France, in the quarter final and Fabien Barthez was tested by the Brazilian attack less than half a dozen times.

The Brazilians were by and large mediocre on every part of the pitch. Their best player in the tournament, arguably, was Robinho who was sparingly used as a substitute by coach Carlos Alberto. Ronaldo broke the all-time goal scoring record and intermittently sparkled in a tournament that was to be his swan song. Ronaldinho, like Lampard, was simply uninspired and a complete let down. Perhaps the demands of club football were taking their total on the world’s best footballer.

Men In Black

FIFA were determined to stamp out cheating and unsporting behaviour on the pitch. They may have succeeded had they not got it terribly wrong with many of their officials. The World Cup has had several controversial cards and sending-offs this time right down to the Rooney dismissal in the quarter-finals.

But there was still no shortage of play acting. Perhaps it is the surfeit of rules and edicts that is making consistent implementation a problem. Some commentators even said it is the desperate attempt to bring in referees from all over the world that has diluted quality.

FIFA must now see the need for a comprehensive program to train and develop officials. While this might still be early days to say if tools like video replays will be used, FIFA must surely now think of means to pull up wily footballers and save the game from poor decisions.

The Home Stretch

The tournament will now have an all-Europe set of teams in the semi-finals. Perhaps it is a reflection of the tournament quality that no clear winner has still emerged. There is no one you can really put your money on with any confidence. In the light of recent performance the French look formidable. They have beaten the favourites with energy to spare and are riding a wave of confidence. Zidane looks a frightful prospect for any opposition in his current form. Ribery, Henry and Vieira all seem to be peaking with perfect timing.

Portugal are lucky to be where they are. They scraped through against the Dutch and were lucky to hold up against 10-man England. However they look confident and Scolari is a master tactician who has tasted victory at this level before. But will that be enough to beat resurgent French team? Only time will tell. But I have a feeling that is going to be one match that probably will not go to penalties.

Which leaves the hosts and the Azzuri. Both sides have turned in sound team performances so far. They both have been potent upfront. Germany have developed a dependable striking partnership in the Podolski-Klose duo. Lehmann will be supremely confident after his performance against Argentina. Also keep an eye out for David Odonkor. He is an exciting, pacy young talent. The Germans, if they are their clinical selves, can expect to go to the field on the 9th.

Italian players have had a lot on their minds. But the Serie A crisis seems to have brought out the best in the team. Yet they have had, even in the words of coach Lippi, a comparatively easy route to the semi-finals. The hosts will be their first big challenge in the tournament. While momentum is with the Azzuri the Germans have reached there the hard way and might catch an undertested Azzuri squad off-guard.

Now the million dollar question. Who will lift the cup on the 9^th in Berlin? Zidane and company have thrown the form book out of the window with their last two performances. If they can keep the momentum and the midfield magic going they will be the team to beat. The Germans have been efficient, confident and can strike against most defences. And if it comes down to those two the game will be decided not in the penalty boxes but in the midfield. Ballack facing up to Zidane will be one to relish.

It will be an interesting week of football ahead. Perhaps not for the quality of football as much as for the unpredictability of it all.

[Sidin Sunny Vadukut is an avid blogger and proud author of a book which is currently undergoing a severe quality control program. He wishes to make it clear that he does not internalize too much. He once walked eleven kilometers in pouring rain because of a flash bus strike and the next day ate eighteen idlis with surprisingly little coconut chutney. You can read more of his work at http://sidin.blogspot.com]

{mosimage}

({mhauthor})

Also by

• Consultation Freeze - September 4th, 2006
• Need for Speed - August 28th, 2006
• Meals on wheels - August 14th, 2006
• Whither tomorrow - August 7th, 2006
• Bombay Dreams - August 7th, 2006

Share This