Given England (4-4-2) and New Zealand (3-4-3) were the only nations not employing the 4-2-3-1 in SA does this mean that England and New Zealand were the only countries represented at prepared to display their own national identity?
Everyone else has got on board the globalisation freight train and is playing the same way while wearing different colours.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
4-2-3-1
4-2-3-1 : the formation that the world now plays (with the exception of England and New Zealand) produced the most boring World Cup since 1990 Italy. Outside the performances of Argentina, Germany and Diego Forlan this World Cup was dominated by a style of football that did not inspire.
Lets hope before Brazil 2014 a nation or team or individual can develop a style that brings back onfield brilliance. Right now football is a game for athletes, where have all the artists gone?
Lets hope before Brazil 2014 a nation or team or individual can develop a style that brings back onfield brilliance. Right now football is a game for athletes, where have all the artists gone?
Howard Webb
I feel sorry for Howard Webb.
Having to ref a World Cup Final of foulers and divers, doing his best not to send anyone off and then he gets hammered for not doing a great job. Could anyone have done a top job reffing that final?
If Arjen Robben took one of the gift wrapped chances he received then Holland win the final, Arjen is a hero. Instead he transfers his failure to convert to the supposed failure of the Webb to send off Carlos Puyol for holding Robben back during chance #2.
I haven't heard any complaints from the Dutch about the fact that Nigel de Jong was still on the field despite tackling Xabi Alonso's chest (when he was standing) with sprigs in the first half or Webb's leniency in not giving a second yellow to Robben when he kicked the ball away after being called for offside late in the match.
Sure, Webb could have made some different calls but he could also have made it a 11 v 10 man game much earlier.
That so much has been made of Webb's performance reflects the state of officiating in the world of football right now - to much pressure placed on the man in the middle with no technological support in a sport that is extremely fast with varying levels of player contact and plenty of divers.
FIFA need to urgently review and then overhaul how the game is reffed.
Having to ref a World Cup Final of foulers and divers, doing his best not to send anyone off and then he gets hammered for not doing a great job. Could anyone have done a top job reffing that final?
If Arjen Robben took one of the gift wrapped chances he received then Holland win the final, Arjen is a hero. Instead he transfers his failure to convert to the supposed failure of the Webb to send off Carlos Puyol for holding Robben back during chance #2.
I haven't heard any complaints from the Dutch about the fact that Nigel de Jong was still on the field despite tackling Xabi Alonso's chest (when he was standing) with sprigs in the first half or Webb's leniency in not giving a second yellow to Robben when he kicked the ball away after being called for offside late in the match.
Sure, Webb could have made some different calls but he could also have made it a 11 v 10 man game much earlier.
That so much has been made of Webb's performance reflects the state of officiating in the world of football right now - to much pressure placed on the man in the middle with no technological support in a sport that is extremely fast with varying levels of player contact and plenty of divers.
FIFA need to urgently review and then overhaul how the game is reffed.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Octopus pretenders
Paul the Octopus is on an incredible run.
He has picked all German results correctly at the World Cup (6/6) and has now gone for Spain to win the final.
So, what happens?
He has to deal with imitators. Animals who have no history of making any previous correct predictions (or any predictions at all sporting or non-sporting) get on the bandwagon. Keas in New Zealand, camels and giraffes at a Dutch zoo get the chance to pick who will win the World Cup and gain media coverage.
Its bollocks. Paul has earned his right to get his exposure, the other animals have done nothing, have no track record at all.
He has picked all German results correctly at the World Cup (6/6) and has now gone for Spain to win the final.
So, what happens?
He has to deal with imitators. Animals who have no history of making any previous correct predictions (or any predictions at all sporting or non-sporting) get on the bandwagon. Keas in New Zealand, camels and giraffes at a Dutch zoo get the chance to pick who will win the World Cup and gain media coverage.
Its bollocks. Paul has earned his right to get his exposure, the other animals have done nothing, have no track record at all.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Dirk Kuyt
Much has been made of the brilliance of Xavi, Iniesta, Sneijder and Robben ahead of the World Cup final.
However, one man not to be forgotten is Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt. The left midfielder has an unbelieveable motor and is arguably the most consistent player for the Reds in the EPL. His ability to break up attacks and then quickly break to a goalscoring position makes him a real threat.
Kuyt is paying $4.00 to score in the World Cup Final, $12.00 to be the first goalscorer.
However, one man not to be forgotten is Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt. The left midfielder has an unbelieveable motor and is arguably the most consistent player for the Reds in the EPL. His ability to break up attacks and then quickly break to a goalscoring position makes him a real threat.
Kuyt is paying $4.00 to score in the World Cup Final, $12.00 to be the first goalscorer.
An extra day of rest
Six games played for both Holland and Spain, one more to go.
What value then the extra day of recovery that Holland had following their semifinal win over Uruguay? With Spain playing their semifinal 24 hours later that extra day of rest could prove to be crucial in the Monday morning final.
Holland also welcome back two suspended players. Combative midfielder Nigel de Jong and right back Gregory Van der Wiel (both products of the Ajax youth academy).
For Holland to beat Spain they will need to do something that a tired Germany were not able to do - put Spain and their ball players under consistent pressure. This means pressing higher up the pitch than the Germans did, not sitting back so deep and hitting the accelerator when required to cut down options for the Spanish man with the ball.
Paraguay was able to do this in the quarterfinal and created chances accordingly, Germany sat back until the game was gone.
Holland are unlikely to make the same mistake.
What value then the extra day of recovery that Holland had following their semifinal win over Uruguay? With Spain playing their semifinal 24 hours later that extra day of rest could prove to be crucial in the Monday morning final.
Holland also welcome back two suspended players. Combative midfielder Nigel de Jong and right back Gregory Van der Wiel (both products of the Ajax youth academy).
For Holland to beat Spain they will need to do something that a tired Germany were not able to do - put Spain and their ball players under consistent pressure. This means pressing higher up the pitch than the Germans did, not sitting back so deep and hitting the accelerator when required to cut down options for the Spanish man with the ball.
Paraguay was able to do this in the quarterfinal and created chances accordingly, Germany sat back until the game was gone.
Holland are unlikely to make the same mistake.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
How a soccer star is made
From the New York Times.........individual development (Ajax system) vs winning matches (US system)
www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magazine/06Soccer-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magazine/06Soccer-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Monday, 5 July 2010
Uruguay
Uruguay snuck into the World Cup courtesy of a playoff against Costa Rica.
Now, despite qualifying as the 5th best South American team, they are the only nation from the Americas left standing.
No one is giving them much of a show of upsetting the Netherlands in the Wednesday morning (NZ time) semifinal. The TAB is paying $5.85 for Uruguay to win in 90 minutes (Holland $1.60), $3.50 for Uruguay to progress to the final (Holland $1.28).
Don't buy into the hype of the Dutch victory over an imploding Brazil - Uruguay can make its first "final" since the underdog defeat of Brazil in 1950.
Primary to their success is striker Diego Forlan who has found the net 3 times in the tournament to date. Forlan has been the unsung star of the tournament, masterminding his team's 3-0 romp against South Africa in group play before scoring a spectacular free kick equaliser against Ghana in the quarterfinal.
While the Netherlands are on a record run of undefeated matches (24) in the international arena, Uruguay had to grind their way through South American qualification and then battle every step of the way once in SA. They are battle hardened and have conceded just twice at the tournament.
In a World Cup of upsets and surprises, Uruguay have the look of a Greece circa Euro 2004 about them. Unfashionable, unfancied but capable of going all the way. Worth a lazy $20 punt.
Now, despite qualifying as the 5th best South American team, they are the only nation from the Americas left standing.
No one is giving them much of a show of upsetting the Netherlands in the Wednesday morning (NZ time) semifinal. The TAB is paying $5.85 for Uruguay to win in 90 minutes (Holland $1.60), $3.50 for Uruguay to progress to the final (Holland $1.28).
Don't buy into the hype of the Dutch victory over an imploding Brazil - Uruguay can make its first "final" since the underdog defeat of Brazil in 1950.
Primary to their success is striker Diego Forlan who has found the net 3 times in the tournament to date. Forlan has been the unsung star of the tournament, masterminding his team's 3-0 romp against South Africa in group play before scoring a spectacular free kick equaliser against Ghana in the quarterfinal.
While the Netherlands are on a record run of undefeated matches (24) in the international arena, Uruguay had to grind their way through South American qualification and then battle every step of the way once in SA. They are battle hardened and have conceded just twice at the tournament.
In a World Cup of upsets and surprises, Uruguay have the look of a Greece circa Euro 2004 about them. Unfashionable, unfancied but capable of going all the way. Worth a lazy $20 punt.
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