Friday, July 02, 2010
WAYNE'S WORLD CUP: DUTCH TREAT
by Wayne Robins
When I woke up this morning, I was convinced that Brazil was unbeatable and would cruise through the remaining games, including the battle against the Netherlands, and win the 2010 World Cup. And their apparent dominance was confirmed in the first half when Brazil, the No. 1 ranked team in the world, scored a seemingly effortless goal against an uncharacteristically baffled Dutch defense: a straightaway breakout that, to once again use an American football simile, was like a quarterback handing off the ball to a running back, who runs right up the middle and without as much as a zigzag is astonished to find himself untouched in the end zone 80 yards later: The vaunted Dutch "D" left the entire middle of the field open. Dutch players were pointing fingers at each other: I think it was the great Robben himself seen pointing at himself with agitation and shouting at the sideline something like: "Me? It wasn't my fault!"
Brazil led 1-nil at the half, and the Netherlands, No. 4 in the world, and as the second period began seemed to be using its usual defense/counterattack strategy. That's not often the most advantageous style when trailing a team like Brazil, which the Netherlands hadn't beaten in international team play since 1974.
But Brazil was stunned and Holland elated by a double-header goal early in the second half. The Orangemen seemed aflame, and now it was agile, beautiful Brazil looking befuddled. When Melo of Brazil got a red card and was ejected in the 73rd minute, leaving Brazil to play with 10 men for the rest of the match, the now-flying Dutchmen took advantage, scored a second goal for the lead, and nearly nailed a third. Brazil didn't quit, but they certainly lacked their usual footloose flair. Before the inevitable, unexpected denouement, TV announcer Martin Tyler reflected on the stunning momentum change. "In sport, as in life, it's all about seizing the moment." The Netherlands did just that and is going to the quarterfinals, and Brazil, mighty, stylish and lovable Brazil, is going home: Not embarrassed, but nevertheless humbled and gone, gone, gone.
Google News
When I woke up this morning, I was convinced that Brazil was unbeatable and would cruise through the remaining games, including the battle against the Netherlands, and win the 2010 World Cup. And their apparent dominance was confirmed in the first half when Brazil, the No. 1 ranked team in the world, scored a seemingly effortless goal against an uncharacteristically baffled Dutch defense: a straightaway breakout that, to once again use an American football simile, was like a quarterback handing off the ball to a running back, who runs right up the middle and without as much as a zigzag is astonished to find himself untouched in the end zone 80 yards later: The vaunted Dutch "D" left the entire middle of the field open. Dutch players were pointing fingers at each other: I think it was the great Robben himself seen pointing at himself with agitation and shouting at the sideline something like: "Me? It wasn't my fault!"
Brazil led 1-nil at the half, and the Netherlands, No. 4 in the world, and as the second period began seemed to be using its usual defense/counterattack strategy. That's not often the most advantageous style when trailing a team like Brazil, which the Netherlands hadn't beaten in international team play since 1974.
But Brazil was stunned and Holland elated by a double-header goal early in the second half. The Orangemen seemed aflame, and now it was agile, beautiful Brazil looking befuddled. When Melo of Brazil got a red card and was ejected in the 73rd minute, leaving Brazil to play with 10 men for the rest of the match, the now-flying Dutchmen took advantage, scored a second goal for the lead, and nearly nailed a third. Brazil didn't quit, but they certainly lacked their usual footloose flair. Before the inevitable, unexpected denouement, TV announcer Martin Tyler reflected on the stunning momentum change. "In sport, as in life, it's all about seizing the moment." The Netherlands did just that and is going to the quarterfinals, and Brazil, mighty, stylish and lovable Brazil, is going home: Not embarrassed, but nevertheless humbled and gone, gone, gone.
Google News
Labels: Brazil, Netherlands. Martin Tyler, soccer, World Cup 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Nothing Much Happens in Spain-Portugal Match
by Wayne Robins
Nothing much happened in the much anticipated battle for Iberia as the two European soccer powers that share the peninsula pretty much played patty cakes for 90 minutes in a 2010 World Cup matchup. Some guy from Spain scored a goal, so Spain won, 1-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals in South Africa. Portugal looked flat, and Spain didn't exactly strike fear into the hearts and legs of its next opponent, Paraguay. At one point, the announcer spoke of a match in which a team scored nil (zero), and was lucky to score nil at that, so lacking was its offensive effort. Portugal played like that at times today, looking nothing like the squad that scored seven goals, count 'em, seven, goals against North Korea last week. In fact, North Korea was the only team Portugal scored against this World Cup, with previous contests against Brazil and Ivory Coast ending as nil-nil ties. Despite Spain's mediocre performance, it has a good chance of advancing as its next opponent is middling Paraguay, which managed to edge feisty Japan after 120 scoreless minutes in a penalty kick shootout.
Google News
Nothing much happened in the much anticipated battle for Iberia as the two European soccer powers that share the peninsula pretty much played patty cakes for 90 minutes in a 2010 World Cup matchup. Some guy from Spain scored a goal, so Spain won, 1-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals in South Africa. Portugal looked flat, and Spain didn't exactly strike fear into the hearts and legs of its next opponent, Paraguay. At one point, the announcer spoke of a match in which a team scored nil (zero), and was lucky to score nil at that, so lacking was its offensive effort. Portugal played like that at times today, looking nothing like the squad that scored seven goals, count 'em, seven, goals against North Korea last week. In fact, North Korea was the only team Portugal scored against this World Cup, with previous contests against Brazil and Ivory Coast ending as nil-nil ties. Despite Spain's mediocre performance, it has a good chance of advancing as its next opponent is middling Paraguay, which managed to edge feisty Japan after 120 scoreless minutes in a penalty kick shootout.
Google News
Labels: FIFA, Portugal, Spain, World Cup 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
GERMAN BLITZ FLATTENS ENGLAND AGAIN
by Wayne Robins
It's taken a little time to digest Germany's stunning 4-1 defeat of England Sunday. After all, Sunday's game was the was the metaphysical match-up of the World Cup so far, weird old Europe's answer to the Cold War drama of the 1980 U.S./Russia Olympics hockey game. England vs. Germany! Making headlines together as hard-hitting rivals since 1914, at least. Never mind World Cups (like the 1966 final game, won by England and the likely source of British entitlement ever since): These sides fought World Wars, and played nationalism-fueled soccer games between and after the wars, and anyone with a sense of history knew this soccer game offered at least a reminder of what is now, thank god, long finished business between them. The droll play-by-play annoucer Martin Tyler referred to the history of "skirmishes" between the nations, a typical bit of understatement that has made the main mic men from the U.K. such a pleasure this World Cup.
The game itself lived up to its billing. For people who think soccer is too slow and cramped, Germany was so loose it might have been playing American football, with a West Coast offense at that. Germany's goalie Neuer acted as (American football) quarterback with a long goal kick from his end, which bounced twice near the English goal before Miroslav Klose kicked it in: The equivalent of a 90-yard touchdown pass. Germany's third goal, in the 67th minute, was a kind of fast-break through British defenders nailed perfectly by Thomas Muller: the equivalent of an 80-yard TD run from scrimmage. The 20-year-old Muller put an exclamation point on the game with another goal two minutes later.
Of course, much of the talk is about the English goal that would have tied the score at 2-2 before the half had the referee spotted Lampard's kick bouncing well behind German lines. Everyone in the world saw it except the refs. No goal. All the more important, then, that Germany completely dominated the second half. To their credit, the announcers in the stadium and the British commentator in the studio, Liverpool legend and English World Cup veteran Steve McNamanan, did not blame the botched goal call on Britiain's loss. "We're not as good as we think we are." "Terrible" "An awful performance." The Germans were "quicker, stronger, more intelligent." And that was the truth.
Oh yes: On Saturday, Ghana beat the United States 2-1, ending the U.S. run at the tournament. The score reflected reality: Ghana was just a little bit better, faster, more aggressive, more skillful, more energized, than the U.S. team. Can't wait for Germany-Argentina, with plenty more psychohistorical subtext in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Google News
It's taken a little time to digest Germany's stunning 4-1 defeat of England Sunday. After all, Sunday's game was the was the metaphysical match-up of the World Cup so far, weird old Europe's answer to the Cold War drama of the 1980 U.S./Russia Olympics hockey game. England vs. Germany! Making headlines together as hard-hitting rivals since 1914, at least. Never mind World Cups (like the 1966 final game, won by England and the likely source of British entitlement ever since): These sides fought World Wars, and played nationalism-fueled soccer games between and after the wars, and anyone with a sense of history knew this soccer game offered at least a reminder of what is now, thank god, long finished business between them. The droll play-by-play annoucer Martin Tyler referred to the history of "skirmishes" between the nations, a typical bit of understatement that has made the main mic men from the U.K. such a pleasure this World Cup.
The game itself lived up to its billing. For people who think soccer is too slow and cramped, Germany was so loose it might have been playing American football, with a West Coast offense at that. Germany's goalie Neuer acted as (American football) quarterback with a long goal kick from his end, which bounced twice near the English goal before Miroslav Klose kicked it in: The equivalent of a 90-yard touchdown pass. Germany's third goal, in the 67th minute, was a kind of fast-break through British defenders nailed perfectly by Thomas Muller: the equivalent of an 80-yard TD run from scrimmage. The 20-year-old Muller put an exclamation point on the game with another goal two minutes later.
Of course, much of the talk is about the English goal that would have tied the score at 2-2 before the half had the referee spotted Lampard's kick bouncing well behind German lines. Everyone in the world saw it except the refs. No goal. All the more important, then, that Germany completely dominated the second half. To their credit, the announcers in the stadium and the British commentator in the studio, Liverpool legend and English World Cup veteran Steve McNamanan, did not blame the botched goal call on Britiain's loss. "We're not as good as we think we are." "Terrible" "An awful performance." The Germans were "quicker, stronger, more intelligent." And that was the truth.
Oh yes: On Saturday, Ghana beat the United States 2-1, ending the U.S. run at the tournament. The score reflected reality: Ghana was just a little bit better, faster, more aggressive, more skillful, more energized, than the U.S. team. Can't wait for Germany-Argentina, with plenty more psychohistorical subtext in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Google News
Labels: England, football, Germany, soccer, World Cup
