It may just be me, but the level of sheer magic in this World Cup has been absent in comparison to past events. To date, there has been too little in the form of excitement and wonder. Where are the nuggets of sublime creativity or sheer force of will that have made previous campaigns the stuff of folklore? Am I being too nostalgic or has the game evolved to this? Where is the wonder goal created out of nothing that the next generation will be talking about and trying to replicate on the football field? I may be getting ahead of myself with the quarterfinals less than a day away, but this World Cup has been as exciting as watching paint dry for the following three reasons:
- Poor Officiating: I don’t mean to beat a dead horse. I love horses too much to do that, but aside from being unfair, the officiating in this World Cup has removed the intrigue that normally grips this competition. Far too often, it appears that officials play it safe and favor the ‘Better Known Soccer Nations”. For example if Argentina’s second goal was ruled offside as it should have been, the game would have been more interesting, at least for non-Argentine fans. Spain has benefited twice from favorable officiating. In the game against Chile, a penalty should have been awarded to Chile but wasn’t, and in the Spain vs. Portugal Round of 16 match, a Portuguese defender was sent off after a Spanish player clearly dived. Many argue that such events don’t matter, but they do. When the game is allowed to unfairly get away from a team, it takes away the intrigue and the possibility of the losing team getting back in the game. What is a contest if the underdog isn’t even given a fighting chance to begin with?
- Too Cautious: Many teams have decided to go out and not lose games as opposed to going out to win games. The counter-attacking methodology that has permeated club football has also infected international competition. Granted, at the club level, the business ramifications of winning and losing warrants such an approach, but I was hoping that at the World Cup, teams would be a bit more adventurous. In the game against Brazil and Spain, it appeared that Carlos Queiroz was content walking away with a ‘good showing’ as opposed to committing men forward in an attempt to win the game. In the game against Argentina, it appeared that Nigeria was more concerned with defending as opposed to going out and forcing the issue against a team that had a hard time qualifying for the tournament. If there were ever a time to have a go at Diego and the boys, it was at that first match.
- The Jabulani Ball: I don’t know about you, but all I see with the Jabulani is a bunch of errant passing and shooting. FIFA should have said no to this ‘technological marvel’ instead of to goal-line technology and instant replay. Because of the cautious approach embraced by some managers, teams have been unwilling to send enough players forward when in the final third, and as a result, players have resorted to “pulling a Ronaldo”. (You know, when a ‘world-class’ player refuses to share the ball with his teammates and resorts to ripping shots from 40 yards and watching them sail off target out over and over again.) Surprisingly, this new approach has not been very successful. Maybe, just maybe, FIFA’s penchant for allowing Adidas to introduce a new and “technologically improved” ball before the start of the World Cup isn’t such a bright idea, but then again what do I know. On second thought, forget I said anything. Sepp may just use it as an excuse to do away with the ball all together.
Here’s hoping things take a turn for the better from here on out, otherwise this World Cup may be known as the World Cup that put people to sleep.
