Tuesday, July 06, 2010
WAYNE'S WORLD CUP: Holland Closer To Its "Goooool!"
by Wayne Robins
The semifinal World Cup match between the Netherlands and Uruguay was so interesting that I watched the first 20 minutes for a second time tonight in Spanish on Telefutura's WFUT, channel 68 in New York, which has been repeating key games of the day. (The Spanish network Univision carries the games live, simultaneously with ESPN and, on weekends, ABC.) Actually, I watched because I knew in the 17th minute Giovanni Van Bronckhorst would score an extraordinary goal, a long left foot strike that bounced off the post and in. "An absolute firecracker," ESPN announcer Ian Darke aptly called it. But I wanted to hear the great Argentine-born soccer announcer Andres Cantor call his now famous "gooooooooool!," stretching the single syllable word for about 15 seconds, one more time. (You can hear it often as your cellphone rings: Cantor's trademark call is available online as a ringtone.)
Ian Darke was in fine fettle as always. Both he and American sidekick John Harkes (a former U.S. team captain) took the Dutch to task for their sometimes lame "histrionics and amateur dramatics" in trying to induce the referee to call a foul on their opponents. The comment was piercing, because Holland is otherwise one of the class acts of world soccer, and certainly earned its place in the final, having run Brazil out of the tournament and finally beating the brave and resourceful Uruguay 3-2.
I don't know if a player on a team that loses in the semifinals can be World Cup MVP, but Uruguay's charismatic Diego Forlan, who evened the score in the 40th minute with his fourth goal of the tournament, certainly deserves consideration. Forlan was taken out in the 85th minute, his thigh hurting, with Uruguay trailing 3-1. A Uruguay goal in extra time made it 3-2, and the South Americans mounted a desperate attack only to be finally turned back.
So the domino theory, so discredited as the political and military concept behind the futile United States war effort in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, seemed to be accurate in this World Cup. All the South American dominos with the potential to dominate have fallen: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay. The Netherlands will play either Spain or Germany on Sunday for the championship. In the saddest contest in all of sports, 90 agonizing minutes of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," the loser of Spain vs. Germany plays Uruguay in the third place game Saturday afternoon.
Google News
The semifinal World Cup match between the Netherlands and Uruguay was so interesting that I watched the first 20 minutes for a second time tonight in Spanish on Telefutura's WFUT, channel 68 in New York, which has been repeating key games of the day. (The Spanish network Univision carries the games live, simultaneously with ESPN and, on weekends, ABC.) Actually, I watched because I knew in the 17th minute Giovanni Van Bronckhorst would score an extraordinary goal, a long left foot strike that bounced off the post and in. "An absolute firecracker," ESPN announcer Ian Darke aptly called it. But I wanted to hear the great Argentine-born soccer announcer Andres Cantor call his now famous "gooooooooool!," stretching the single syllable word for about 15 seconds, one more time. (You can hear it often as your cellphone rings: Cantor's trademark call is available online as a ringtone.)
Ian Darke was in fine fettle as always. Both he and American sidekick John Harkes (a former U.S. team captain) took the Dutch to task for their sometimes lame "histrionics and amateur dramatics" in trying to induce the referee to call a foul on their opponents. The comment was piercing, because Holland is otherwise one of the class acts of world soccer, and certainly earned its place in the final, having run Brazil out of the tournament and finally beating the brave and resourceful Uruguay 3-2.
I don't know if a player on a team that loses in the semifinals can be World Cup MVP, but Uruguay's charismatic Diego Forlan, who evened the score in the 40th minute with his fourth goal of the tournament, certainly deserves consideration. Forlan was taken out in the 85th minute, his thigh hurting, with Uruguay trailing 3-1. A Uruguay goal in extra time made it 3-2, and the South Americans mounted a desperate attack only to be finally turned back.
So the domino theory, so discredited as the political and military concept behind the futile United States war effort in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, seemed to be accurate in this World Cup. All the South American dominos with the potential to dominate have fallen: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay. The Netherlands will play either Spain or Germany on Sunday for the championship. In the saddest contest in all of sports, 90 agonizing minutes of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," the loser of Spain vs. Germany plays Uruguay in the third place game Saturday afternoon.
Google News
Labels: Andres Cantor, Ian Darke, soccer, the Netherlands, Uruguay, World Cup
WAYNE'S WORLD CUP: SO YOU WANT TO BE A COACH?
by Wayne Robins
Those who think soccer is just a game and a line here last week about the French team facing execution just a joke should read some of the stories hitting the wires today, aggregated by ESPN. France has a new national team coach, Laurent Blanc, who said he was "outraged" by the team's behavior—mutiny, dismissals, missed practices, selfish and horrible play—that led to its early exit from the World Cup in South Africa. The pressure on him, Blanc acknowledged, is enormous: "I get the impression I'm heading toward suicide, or the guillotine," Blanc said. "I hope this climate will change with results."
After once-mighty Argentina's total 4-0 destruction by Germany on Sunday, the country's great soccer legend and team coach Diego Maradona looked stricken; one photo showed that he appeared to need help leaving the field. And the defeat was considered so humiliating that Argentine police, according to the Associated Press, went on "high alert" as the team returned home. A two-mile security perimeter around Buenos Aires airport was created, presumably to keep angry fans from attacking the team.
But Argentina and its football fans deserve congratulations for showing responsibility, respect, and maturity in accepting the defeat. The thousands of fans who greeted the team at their headquarters were mostly positive, and both players and fans indicated they wanted Maradona to return as coach. True, Maradona was outcoached July 4 by Joachim Low: Germany had a defense strategy, Argentina had none. Maradona has the prestige and sensitivity to learn from the experience, if he can handle the brutal pressure. (While many American football head coaches call their team's offensive plays, they hire assistants known as "defensive coordinators"—defense is too essential not to be delegated.)
After watching so many games, it seems that national soccer team coach is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the world: Dunga, Brazil's flamboyant coach, has also been fired for his team's underachievement. As we get ready for the final four: Uruguay-Netherlands later Tuesday, Germany-Spain on Wednesday, none of those coaches should be on the hot seat. To have gotten this far is a triumph for all—Ghana, though eliminated, are the heroes of Africa—and the largely peaceful acceptance of the tournament results so far a triumph for soccer. Of course, the fate of the North Korean players and coaches has not been made public.
Though I'm very fond of the Netherlands, I'm hoping for a Uruguay win Tuesday, and a German win against Spain, and a German win in the final. "Impossible Germany," as Wilco put it in one of their most enchanting songs? We'll have to wait and see.
Google News
Those who think soccer is just a game and a line here last week about the French team facing execution just a joke should read some of the stories hitting the wires today, aggregated by ESPN. France has a new national team coach, Laurent Blanc, who said he was "outraged" by the team's behavior—mutiny, dismissals, missed practices, selfish and horrible play—that led to its early exit from the World Cup in South Africa. The pressure on him, Blanc acknowledged, is enormous: "I get the impression I'm heading toward suicide, or the guillotine," Blanc said. "I hope this climate will change with results."
After once-mighty Argentina's total 4-0 destruction by Germany on Sunday, the country's great soccer legend and team coach Diego Maradona looked stricken; one photo showed that he appeared to need help leaving the field. And the defeat was considered so humiliating that Argentine police, according to the Associated Press, went on "high alert" as the team returned home. A two-mile security perimeter around Buenos Aires airport was created, presumably to keep angry fans from attacking the team.
But Argentina and its football fans deserve congratulations for showing responsibility, respect, and maturity in accepting the defeat. The thousands of fans who greeted the team at their headquarters were mostly positive, and both players and fans indicated they wanted Maradona to return as coach. True, Maradona was outcoached July 4 by Joachim Low: Germany had a defense strategy, Argentina had none. Maradona has the prestige and sensitivity to learn from the experience, if he can handle the brutal pressure. (While many American football head coaches call their team's offensive plays, they hire assistants known as "defensive coordinators"—defense is too essential not to be delegated.)
After watching so many games, it seems that national soccer team coach is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the world: Dunga, Brazil's flamboyant coach, has also been fired for his team's underachievement. As we get ready for the final four: Uruguay-Netherlands later Tuesday, Germany-Spain on Wednesday, none of those coaches should be on the hot seat. To have gotten this far is a triumph for all—Ghana, though eliminated, are the heroes of Africa—and the largely peaceful acceptance of the tournament results so far a triumph for soccer. Of course, the fate of the North Korean players and coaches has not been made public.
Though I'm very fond of the Netherlands, I'm hoping for a Uruguay win Tuesday, and a German win against Spain, and a German win in the final. "Impossible Germany," as Wilco put it in one of their most enchanting songs? We'll have to wait and see.
Google News
Labels: Argentina, ESPN, Germany, Laurent Blanc, soccer, Wilco, World Cup
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
Saturday, June 26, 2010
WAYNE'S WORLD CUP: A VIEW FROM QUEENS' LITTLE SEOUL
by Wayne Robins
I wanted to watched the end of Uruguay vs. South Korea in one of the densely Korean sections of my neighborhood in Queens, N.Y. So I headed to the H-Mart (formerly Han Ah Reum) supermarket on Union Street in Flushing, where I go a few times a week and do most of my family's grocery shopping. It was startling to walk in and find the store almost completely empty: It is usually packed elbow to elbow on Saturday mornings, but I knew there had to be a crowd around a TV somewhere. I looked in the home electronics shop that can only be accessed within the supermarket, and sure enough there were plenty of TV sets on, but the teenage girls behind the cosmetics counters were watching some K-Pop contest show, a variation of "Busan Idol." I darted into the cafeteria-style Korean home cooking restaurant also within the H-Mart, and near the front there was a tiny TV surrounded by a dozen anxious soccer fans: I'd found my viewing zone.
After trailing 1-0 at the half, South Korea had evened the score before I arrived, and the crowd was anxious and hopeful, exhorting their underdog team with every unpredictable bounce and roll. (It should be noted that almost all were H-Mart employees, who are mostly either Korean or Latin American. The Latin Americans appeared non-commital. It was impossible to tell whether were rooting for their employers team, or whether common language had them pulling for heavily favored Uruguay. (There is a notable Uruguayan presence in frantically polyethnic Jackson Heights a few miles southwest). The game was being watched on Spanish language Univision with the sound down; the play by play came from a Korean-language radio station.
A few of the Korean employees went back to work after Uruguay scored a goal, making it 2-1. But South Korea continued playing with great skill and undeniable heart, and as time was running out, nearly tied the score with a dribbler that got away from the Uruguayan goalie and in what appeared to be heart-breakingly slow motion, nearly rolled into the net. Close, but no cigar. When the final whistle blew, everyone dispersed back to work, fatalistically accepting the result. I bought fluke fillets for dinner at the H-Mart fish counter, possibly still thinking of the fluke it would have been if South Korea advanced.
Google News
I wanted to watched the end of Uruguay vs. South Korea in one of the densely Korean sections of my neighborhood in Queens, N.Y. So I headed to the H-Mart (formerly Han Ah Reum) supermarket on Union Street in Flushing, where I go a few times a week and do most of my family's grocery shopping. It was startling to walk in and find the store almost completely empty: It is usually packed elbow to elbow on Saturday mornings, but I knew there had to be a crowd around a TV somewhere. I looked in the home electronics shop that can only be accessed within the supermarket, and sure enough there were plenty of TV sets on, but the teenage girls behind the cosmetics counters were watching some K-Pop contest show, a variation of "Busan Idol." I darted into the cafeteria-style Korean home cooking restaurant also within the H-Mart, and near the front there was a tiny TV surrounded by a dozen anxious soccer fans: I'd found my viewing zone.
After trailing 1-0 at the half, South Korea had evened the score before I arrived, and the crowd was anxious and hopeful, exhorting their underdog team with every unpredictable bounce and roll. (It should be noted that almost all were H-Mart employees, who are mostly either Korean or Latin American. The Latin Americans appeared non-commital. It was impossible to tell whether were rooting for their employers team, or whether common language had them pulling for heavily favored Uruguay. (There is a notable Uruguayan presence in frantically polyethnic Jackson Heights a few miles southwest). The game was being watched on Spanish language Univision with the sound down; the play by play came from a Korean-language radio station.
A few of the Korean employees went back to work after Uruguay scored a goal, making it 2-1. But South Korea continued playing with great skill and undeniable heart, and as time was running out, nearly tied the score with a dribbler that got away from the Uruguayan goalie and in what appeared to be heart-breakingly slow motion, nearly rolled into the net. Close, but no cigar. When the final whistle blew, everyone dispersed back to work, fatalistically accepting the result. I bought fluke fillets for dinner at the H-Mart fish counter, possibly still thinking of the fluke it would have been if South Korea advanced.
Google News
Labels: H-Mart, soccer, South Korea, World Cup
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Italy Coach: "They Had Terror In Their Legs"
by Wayne Robins
The most candid, intuitive apology we've ever heard offered by a coach came this afternoon from Italy's soccer coach Marcello Lippi after his team, the defending World Cup champions, was eliminated by Slovakia, 3-2. More important, through three previous matches, including an infamous opening game 1-1 tie with supposed tournament patsies New Zealand, the Azzurri (or the blues, after the color of their uniforms) played without heart, passion or confidence.
English-language Italian soccer site Football Italia reported Lippi's postgame comments that were as astounding as the results of the play. Speaking of his experienced team (eight of the 11 starters were over age 30, according to brilliant ESPN announcer Ian Darke), Lippi said:
"They had terror in their legs, heads and hearts," Lippi said. Trailing Slovakia 2-0, Italy went on a furious run in the last 15 minutes of the match, scoring a goal and having a tying goal waved off because of an offside call that replays showed to be justified. Slovakia made it 3-1, and then Italy showed championship resilience by scoring yet another goal in extra time before time ran out.
"I don't know why they changed in the last 15 minutes. I clearly couldn't prepare them for such an important game, if they played for 75 minutes unable to make any mark - in my view exclusively due to a psychological problem - then it is only the fault of the Coach."
There's a dollar here for any U.S. sportswriter who asks a losing Super Bowl coach (just think of a Bill Belichick or a Bill Parcells) if his team lost the big game because they were insufficiently up to treating their players' emotional insecurities. Meanwhile, Italian football authorities are considering replacing Lippi with film director Dario Argento, the horror cult impresario.
Google News
The most candid, intuitive apology we've ever heard offered by a coach came this afternoon from Italy's soccer coach Marcello Lippi after his team, the defending World Cup champions, was eliminated by Slovakia, 3-2. More important, through three previous matches, including an infamous opening game 1-1 tie with supposed tournament patsies New Zealand, the Azzurri (or the blues, after the color of their uniforms) played without heart, passion or confidence.
English-language Italian soccer site Football Italia reported Lippi's postgame comments that were as astounding as the results of the play. Speaking of his experienced team (eight of the 11 starters were over age 30, according to brilliant ESPN announcer Ian Darke), Lippi said:
"They had terror in their legs, heads and hearts," Lippi said. Trailing Slovakia 2-0, Italy went on a furious run in the last 15 minutes of the match, scoring a goal and having a tying goal waved off because of an offside call that replays showed to be justified. Slovakia made it 3-1, and then Italy showed championship resilience by scoring yet another goal in extra time before time ran out.
"I don't know why they changed in the last 15 minutes. I clearly couldn't prepare them for such an important game, if they played for 75 minutes unable to make any mark - in my view exclusively due to a psychological problem - then it is only the fault of the Coach."
There's a dollar here for any U.S. sportswriter who asks a losing Super Bowl coach (just think of a Bill Belichick or a Bill Parcells) if his team lost the big game because they were insufficiently up to treating their players' emotional insecurities. Meanwhile, Italian football authorities are considering replacing Lippi with film director Dario Argento, the horror cult impresario.
Google News
Labels: Italy, Lippi, soccer, World Cup
Saturday, June 12, 2010
World Cup Miracle: U.S. Trounces England, 1-1
by Wayne Robins
In the most stunning upset of FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, heavy underdogs the United States demolished heavily favored England, with each team scoring one goal.
After the Brits took a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Steven Garrard the United States tried to crawl back. But it wasn't until English goalie Robert Green was removed for a few seconds and replaced by British TV contest winner, 4-year-old Amy Yeardley of Blackburn, Lancashire, that the Yanks scored what turned out to be the winnning equalizer. A gentle bouncing left-footed touch by American player Clint Dempsey was initially stopped by Amy. But distracted by the Posh Spice Barbie doll she clutched throughout the brief photo op, the ball rolled away from Amy and into the net for the only U.S. score of the match.
Google News
In the most stunning upset of FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, heavy underdogs the United States demolished heavily favored England, with each team scoring one goal.
After the Brits took a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Steven Garrard the United States tried to crawl back. But it wasn't until English goalie Robert Green was removed for a few seconds and replaced by British TV contest winner, 4-year-old Amy Yeardley of Blackburn, Lancashire, that the Yanks scored what turned out to be the winnning equalizer. A gentle bouncing left-footed touch by American player Clint Dempsey was initially stopped by Amy. But distracted by the Posh Spice Barbie doll she clutched throughout the brief photo op, the ball rolled away from Amy and into the net for the only U.S. score of the match.
Google News
Labels: FIFA, soccer, World Cup
