Deuelio's World Cup Thoughts
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by user Deuelio
The Cup has been won, the opinions are coming out and everyone is wringing their hands of the Zidane Situation. With absolutely nothing new to write about, I give you my random thoughts on Germany '06.
1. The final game was a boring affair. The Italians rarely mounted an attack and France's shooting was largely regrettable. The French did force Buffon into making a few key saves, notably Zidane in ET and Henry early. Ribery had one great shot skitter wide, but for the most part it was an attackless affair.
2. All the hand wringing over Zidane is warranted. It was a stupid play no matter what Materazzi said to him. Zidane is an experienced footballer, not some 20-yr-old novice. He's a veteran of countless world and club championships and should have known better. However, his head butt did not cost France the championship because even if he had not been sent off, Trezeguet would have been a shooter anyhow.
3. The US is on the right track. Looking through the groups, I believe the US would have advanced if they were in Group B (England, Sweden, T&T, Parguay), Group D (Mexico, Angola, Iran, Portugal), Group G (South Korea, Togo, Switzerland, France) and Group H (Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia). They were unlucky they were in the group of death and they did not deserve to go on after the way they played. Other than their group, the biggest difference was that the US was not going to surprise anyone this year. They surprised Portugal in their opener in '02, but that was not going to happen to the Czech's.
4. My five most entertaining teams (in no order) - 1. Argentina, 2. Germany, 3. Ecuador, 4. Spain, 5. Brazil (when they're playing like Brazil which they rarely did this tournament).
5. I am tired of Brazil and having them shoved down my throat. I watched them several times and knew they were not going to win this tournament. I thought they were overrated coming in (by American media) and failed to deliver. Few players have gotten so much mileage out of one skill than Robert Carlos. He's a great free-kicker, but an average defender, which is not good...for a defender.
6. Zidane blew it. Not the game, but his legacy. They will always say, "Amazing player, one of the best ever...but." Had he not head butted the guy and France lost, he would have still been one of the greats. Had he not head butted the guy and France won the cup, he's suddenly one of the all-time greats and his face could be carved on the Mt. Rushmore of International Football next to Pele, Maradona and Landon Dono...wait, scratch that last one.
7. All the diving and flopping has got to stop. Refs need to card this offense more. I can think of three PK's off the top of my head that were dubious: 1. USA vs. Ghana, Gooch called for PK at the top of the 18 which effectively eliminated the US. 2. Totti vs. Australia going down in the 95th minute drawing to conclusion a fun match that Australia didn't deserve to lose in such a way. 3. Flourent Malouda's dive early in the final. Clearly a dive and I'm glad that Italy equalized and didn't lose on something like that. Although had they lost, it could have been the swift hand of Karma smiting them for Totti's dive vs. Australia.
8. Was it just me or did there seem to be a high occurance of own goals?
9. I, like everyone else, hate penalties. Its a terrible way to end a world cup final and it takes all the beauty and suddenness away that makes soccer so great. My ET plan: 1. Return to Golden Goal, 2. After first half hour, give each team an extra sub and drop the time to two 10 minute Golden Goal halves, 3. After those 20 minutes, give each team ANOTHER sub and make them each drop a player so they're playing 10 v 10. These will be two 15 minute Golden Goal halves, 4. Continue this way, adding a sub and dropping a player until someone scores. 5. If nobody scores the teams suck and don't deserve a title.
10. I can't wait for SA10.
Date
Tue 07/11/06, 7:47 am EST
