Final WC thoughts
Discussion
it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.I didn't think this WC was special. But to be honest, i just think it is a reflection of what international football is like nowadays. There is on one great team anymore. All the teams in there this time had trouble scoring at least one goal in normal time of play against all but the weakest of opposition. International football has reached a kind of stalemate - gone are the good old days of the 70's and 80's, where you saw some real flair, talent and special moments, and a good old 4 - 3 victory was often the norm.
The number of penalty shootouts in the knock out stages support this theory i think.
It's all a bit lame now really, and dare i say a bit boring?
The number of penalty shootouts in the knock out stages support this theory i think.
It's all a bit lame now really, and dare i say a bit boring?
Edited by gbbird on Sunday 9th July 22:27
Germany has been an impressive model of how to host an event of this nature. Well policed, fanzones with big screens, proper facilities and even a team that entered into the spirit by arguably overachieving.
FIFA however and the entire cesspool surrounding the business of football has too often been at the front and this is the way the game will continue to be for the near future - one massive advertising and corporate bung fest. The real joy of this world cup was watching the teams like Trinidad & Tobago, and even some of the bigger African nations like Ghana play football with a naivety that brought excitement and cringes in equal measure.
Let's face it, with the exception of Italy vs Germany, all of the last 16 games were entertainment free zones, hardly a sparkling advert for the beautiful game.
Nevermind, at least we have Italy as World Champions, on the eve of the pronouncements over the Italian match rigging claims. How Ironic.
FIFA however and the entire cesspool surrounding the business of football has too often been at the front and this is the way the game will continue to be for the near future - one massive advertising and corporate bung fest. The real joy of this world cup was watching the teams like Trinidad & Tobago, and even some of the bigger African nations like Ghana play football with a naivety that brought excitement and cringes in equal measure.
Let's face it, with the exception of Italy vs Germany, all of the last 16 games were entertainment free zones, hardly a sparkling advert for the beautiful game.
Nevermind, at least we have Italy as World Champions, on the eve of the pronouncements over the Italian match rigging claims. How Ironic.
Not the best, not the worst - there was some great football in the early stages but things seemed to cool off a little as the tournament progressed. England underperformed all the way through (again) and the fact that the eventual winners still looked beatable (by England, on a good day) is gauling. Some observations:
Poor old Walcott - what was the lad there for?
Goodbye Sven, close the door on your way out. Sadly I fear your legacy of unpredictable but overly conservative tactics may continue under the new management
Owen Hargreaves - much better than he got credit for
Rooney, never mind son you've got plenty time. Give that Porteguese tw@at a slap for me when you see him please
Joe Cole was mostly superb, capped off by that wonderful volley against Sweden
It took Argentina's wonderful extra time winner against Mexico to better it
Ivory coast played some terrific and entertaining football whilst going out earlier than deserved (group of death!)
Spain played some beautiful football and failed to deliver once again
Will (not the real) Ronaldo set foot in England again?
Well done Germany (through gritted teeth!) - in many ways the team of the tournament for me; more than the sum of their parts.
Ukraine vs Switzerland - possibly the worst WC game of all time?
HOW MANY red cards!? Whilst there was a surprising amount of player indiscipline some of the refereeing was laughable
Only 2 years to wait for what should be a better tournament
Poor old Walcott - what was the lad there for?
Goodbye Sven, close the door on your way out. Sadly I fear your legacy of unpredictable but overly conservative tactics may continue under the new management
Owen Hargreaves - much better than he got credit for
Rooney, never mind son you've got plenty time. Give that Porteguese tw@at a slap for me when you see him please
Joe Cole was mostly superb, capped off by that wonderful volley against Sweden
It took Argentina's wonderful extra time winner against Mexico to better it
Ivory coast played some terrific and entertaining football whilst going out earlier than deserved (group of death!)
Spain played some beautiful football and failed to deliver once again
Will (not the real) Ronaldo set foot in England again?
Well done Germany (through gritted teeth!) - in many ways the team of the tournament for me; more than the sum of their parts.
Ukraine vs Switzerland - possibly the worst WC game of all time?
HOW MANY red cards!? Whilst there was a surprising amount of player indiscipline some of the refereeing was laughable
Only 2 years to wait for what should be a better tournament
I never got "in" to this World Cup. I was not as excited as the media seemed to be about England's chances although with a decent manager they could have truimphed.
The BBC and ITV were equally poor in their collective coverage and presentation of most games. John Motson is way past his sell by date and should be replaced and as for David Pleat on ITV as the expert summariser, please do me a favour the guy is a grade 'A' jerk.
Was it just me but did anyone else notice the BBC coverage was 5 seconds ahead of the ITV coverage last night?
The BBC and ITV were equally poor in their collective coverage and presentation of most games. John Motson is way past his sell by date and should be replaced and as for David Pleat on ITV as the expert summariser, please do me a favour the guy is a grade 'A' jerk.
Was it just me but did anyone else notice the BBC coverage was 5 seconds ahead of the ITV coverage last night?
Good entertainment in the early stages.
From the last 16 onwards most Managers sent out teams designed to "not lose". With too many "one up front" formations the idea of open attacking football dried up and therefore so did the goals... Hello 120 long minutes and penalties, goodbye entertainment.
In a way, I can understand why this happens. Managers and teams are put under enormous pressure from fans and media to win and win in style. Ironically, this is counter productive because the Managers and teams simply become petrified of losing, effectively killing any hope of the attacking formations and flowing football required to achieve those results. Shame really...
Well done to Italy for holding their nerve in the shoot out and well done to Germany as well, both the team and the country as a whole..
From the last 16 onwards most Managers sent out teams designed to "not lose". With too many "one up front" formations the idea of open attacking football dried up and therefore so did the goals... Hello 120 long minutes and penalties, goodbye entertainment.
In a way, I can understand why this happens. Managers and teams are put under enormous pressure from fans and media to win and win in style. Ironically, this is counter productive because the Managers and teams simply become petrified of losing, effectively killing any hope of the attacking formations and flowing football required to achieve those results. Shame really...
Well done to Italy for holding their nerve in the shoot out and well done to Germany as well, both the team and the country as a whole..
Last night i was priveliged to pick up both sides of the coin in my cab,one was a mate that had just been to 'bar Italia' to soak up the celebrations,he's English and still had a good time,the other was a French couple who had just been to East lane ,who's misery was further compounded when they had to pay for a cab,me 
, to Winchester.
Over the course of the WC there were a few busy nights where upon i made a few ££££'s,thanks FIFA.
, to Winchester. Over the course of the WC there were a few busy nights where upon i made a few ££££'s,thanks FIFA.
It showed me that FIFA need to get a grip of to what extent technology can help the officials.
We saw the ridiculous situation where Figo butted someone but only got a one match ban because the ref "saw" it and booked him. The ref clearly cannot have understood what happened as he would not have booked him, he'd have sent him off.
In the final there is now controversy as to whether the officals benefitted from video evidence to send Zidane off. We nearly had the situation where the whole world knew he had to go but the officials weren't sure.
We also saw two penalties bounce off the crossbar, near to the goal line. Luckily they were fairly easy ones for the officials to judge but if they had been closer to the line, there could have been a big problem.
We saw the ridiculous situation where Figo butted someone but only got a one match ban because the ref "saw" it and booked him. The ref clearly cannot have understood what happened as he would not have booked him, he'd have sent him off.
In the final there is now controversy as to whether the officals benefitted from video evidence to send Zidane off. We nearly had the situation where the whole world knew he had to go but the officials weren't sure.
We also saw two penalties bounce off the crossbar, near to the goal line. Luckily they were fairly easy ones for the officials to judge but if they had been closer to the line, there could have been a big problem.
Just a thought for Englands future.
Maclaren was Svens assistant for 2 of the last tournaments.
When Sven was making some awful tactical blunders and selection cock ups, where was Maclaren? Was he in support just to save his job or did he agree/advise Sven with these decisions?
Makes me nervous that Maclaren will be just not up to the job.
Maclaren was Svens assistant for 2 of the last tournaments.
When Sven was making some awful tactical blunders and selection cock ups, where was Maclaren? Was he in support just to save his job or did he agree/advise Sven with these decisions?
Makes me nervous that Maclaren will be just not up to the job.
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