Sick as a parrot...literally!

So the third/fourth place play-off is on today, and did you know that the last 7 of these games have averaged more than 4 goals a game!? Maybe it is worth watching? And besides my pet octopus told me this morning that we're going to get a 5-4 thriller.

Now I don't know Miroslav Klose, but I bet he's distraught to miss out today. The 32-year-old international football German goal fiend needs only one goal to draw level with Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals and become the joint leading all time scorer in World Cup final, and this was probably his last chance. Right now, he’s level on 14 with Gerd Muller, one ahead of Just Fontaine and two ahead of some dude called Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele.  But he has a bad back and a case of the flu, so he starts on the bench...let's see if he gets the chance...Germany get a penalty, will they sub him on??

Uruguay make two changes to the side beaten by the Netherlands as captain Diego Lugano recovers from a knee injury to replace Mauricio Victorino and, having served his suspensio, Luis Suarez comes in for Walter Gargano.  Diego Forlan will be trying to score a few to have a chance of getting his hands on the Golden Boot.

Germany ring the changes following their defeat at the hands of Spain as Miroslav Klose, who needs one goal to equal Ronaldo's all-time World Cup record of 15, drops to the bench alongside first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer, captain Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski.  Hans-Jorg Butt will play his first match for the German national team since 1 June 2003, ending a wait of seven years and 39 days.  Any chance of a Robert Green moment??

C'mon Uruguay!

Even in Arizona...

Eyes around the world were on Germany's octopus oracle Paul on Friday as he made his biggest prediction yet in the World Cup: Spain will beat the Netherlands in the final on Sunday.

The most surprising thing is that this even made the news here in Arizona... Read the article from our local news website...

Paul the Predicting Octopus

It's Golden Balls time - and I'm not talking Beckham

At every World Cup since 1982, FIFA has put together a shortlist from which accredited journalists choose the best player of the tournament.

The previous winners are:

1982 Spain: Paolo Rossi (Italy)

1986 Mexico: Diego Maradona (Argentina)

1990 Italy: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)

1994 USA: Romario (Brazil)

1998 France: Ronaldo (Brazil

2002 Korea/Japan: Oliver Kahn (Germany)

2006 Germany: Zinedine Zidane (France)

This year's nominees for the adidas Golden Ball trophy are:

Diego Forlan (URU), Asamoah Gyan (GHA), Andres Iniesta (ESP), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mesut Oezil (GER), Arjen Robben (NED), Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER), Wesley Sneijder (NED), David Villa (ESP), Xavi (ESP)

I'm not sure what Messi is doing on that list; like the other 'world stars' Ronaldo and Rooney, I was underwhelmed by his performances, other than a few flashes of brilliance. But to make him one of the top 10 players of the tournament is bowing to his reputation not the reality of the tournanment I've been watching!  I think his spot should have gone to Thomas Mueller of Germany - 4 goals in 5 games (he was suspended for the semifinal defeat) for a young midfielder is more impressive than Lionel Messi's contribution.

My top 3:

Bronze - Thomas Mueller - Germany. His drive, energy and goals were the driving force behind Germany's surprise progess - his absence in the semifinal due to a poor refereeing decision in the QF was noticable as the German team lacked the spark of previous games.  

Silver - Diego Forlan - Uruguay - It was a shame Sir Alex let him leave Man Utd a few years ago; without doubt his country's MVP at the World Cup, Forlan was the main reason Uruguay surpassed all expectations. After some truly dreadful free-kicks by other long range 'specialists' at the tournament, Forlan has shown the world how to strike and get the best out of the Jubulani ball.

Gold - David Villa - Spain - I used to be a striker, so maybe I'm biased, but goals win games and Villa has scored 5 of Spain's 7 goals in the competition so far. 3 of his goals came in 1-0 wins, which has made him a match-winner on three occasions. Villa is also going head to head with Wesley Sneijder for the Golden Boot as the World Cup's top scorer, after winning a similar accolade in the Euro 2008 final. 

I would be interested to know your thoughts...

Goals per game update...

With just 2 games to go, the 2010 World Cup is on course to be one of the lowest scoring World Cup tournaments in history. And with Spain, the '1-0 Kings',  in the Final we could be relying on Germany and Uruguay scoring a bundle to keep 2010 out of last place.

3 goals would see the tournament match the lowest ever gpm ratio of Italia 90, while just 2 would see South Africa become the most goal shy World Cup ever.  To leap frog Germany 2006 in the table, the 4 remaining teams need to muster 9 goals between them in the Final and the 3/4th place game.

It's interesting that, barring a 20 goal miracle over the weekend, the last 3 World Cups will rank in the 4 lowest  scoring World Cup tournaments ever. Has international football become more defensive?  Have the differences in quality between the 'big and small' nations evened out?  Other than North Korea, there wasn't really a terrible team in this World Cup. Yes England, France and Italy underperformed, but I mean there were no 'minnows' just along for the experience. Look at the performances of Australia and New Zealand for example. Both had opportunities to get out of their groups...  

When it's all said and done, we'll revisit that discussion, but for now here's the stats table!

Average goals-per-match for each World Cup tournament:
5.385 : Switzerland 1954
4.667 : France 1938
4.118 : Italy 1934
4.000 : Brazil 1950
3.889 : Uruguay 1930
3.600 : Sweden 1958
2.969 : Mexico 1970
2.808 : Spain 1982
2.781 : Chile 1962
2.781 : England 1966
2.712 : United States 1994
2.684 : Argentina 1978
2.672 : France 1998
2.553 : West Germany 1974
2.538 : Mexico 1986
2.516 : Korea/Japan 2002
2.297 : Germany 2006
2.242 : South Africa 2010
2.212 : Italy 1990

Spain v Germany - The rematch of Euro 2008

The second semi-final is a rematch of the Euro 2008 final between Spain and Germany.

As England didn't qualify for that tournament I honestly didnt pay too much attention, so it was good to watch these brief highlights. I don't think the Spanish will be as dominant in today's game as they were 2 years ago... 

Germans - With just a touch of English!

The German national team coach Joachim Low has revealed that he picked the best bits of English, Spanish and Italian football to create Germany's impressive new style of free flowing counter attack football. I couldn't tell you which bit was the English influence as the Germans have yet to look inept, old, sluggish and passionless...maybe that all happened in the defeat to Serbia earlier in the competition - I didn't see that game.

Low said "I've seen a lot of international football, I have soaked it all up and taken away many aspects. In England the tempo is incredible and something to be emulated. In Spain, there is the free-flowing style, technique and skill and you can see that's something that is second nature to them, even to their youth teams."

"In Spain the game is not just played or worked at, but celebrated. It impresses me how easy it looks even though, of course, it isn't easy at all. I like combination passing football and that is what I work towards. Italy won the World Cup in 2006 with perfect defensive play but the game has moved on in the last four years. The teams in the final four have solid defences but you have to have a more than that, a more versatile style of play," Low added.

Interesting that tempo was the thing he highlighted from England - you might be able to win a world cup with good defence - Italy did - and you certainly can with free-flowing style, good technique and skill - just ask many a Brazil team in years gone by - but I don't think you could ever win a World Cup with good 'tempo'! Perhaps that is another reason why it could be another 44 years before England wins another World Cup!  

On Germany's chances of gaining revenge for their Euro 2008 final defeat to Spain in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final and then going on to meet the Dutch in the World Cup Final, Low said: "In 2008, there is no doubt that Spain were the best team at the tournament. They were also very good in the final. But now the situation is different. We too have a good team and we have every reason to believe that we can succeed."

What price a repeat then of the 1974 World Cup Final between Germany and Holland?  I can't make my mind up on picking a winner - sometimes I think that Germany can't possibly play as well again, but then I also think that Spain have yet to hit top gear and yet they are in the semi-final. Spain were my pre-tournament pick, so I'm going to stick with them...which has pretty much just guaranteed a German victory!  Although Paul the psychic octopus has also picked Spain, so maybe I'm onto something??

 

The 2 greatest World Cup semi-finals ever...

On the eve of the 2010 World Cup Semi-Finals, I thought you might enjoy watching some highlights of two of the greatest ever World Cup semi-final games, both involving Germany.  Hopefully this year's games will live up to these two as Uruguay v Netherlands and Germany v Spain take center stage. 

The first takes us back to Mexico in 1970 - The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City was the venue and 17 June 1970 the date as Italy and West Germany contested a tight affair for the opening 89 minutes, before drama was unleashed in the closing moments that carried on into extra time. Roberto Boninsegna put Italy ahead with eight minutes on the clock, only for Karl-Heinz Schnellinger to equalise deep into injury time, extra time was next...  

And back to a time when England had a team to believe in...

Celebrating my Independence!

So after a day off to enjoy July 4th yesterday, a thought came to mind that perhaps it's time for me to declare my independence from the England football team. 

I'm not the most fanatical of supporters by any means; I don't spend thousands travelling the world to watch these bums 'play'; I don't invest in tickets to watch them; in fact my biggest expense this World Cup was buying a few new England t-shirts to wear. So what have I lost? Nothing really, other than losing a few brain cells and minutes off my life from 'stress'!  But perhaps it's time to step aside for a while. 

England is in disarray - ageing 'stars' and little coming through the ranks of the country's best teams, thanks to the money available in the Premier League and the consequent lack of opportunity for England's young players to play.  10 years ago Germany was in a similar situation. They rearranged the  governance of the game in their contry, restructured the youth set-up and look how they've turned their fortunes around, with a young team that has made it (again) to the latter stages of a tournament and could go on to win it. The Bundesliga (the German league) is a good example of how a national team can benefit when young players get the chance to play and develop at home. 

The problem is that the Premier League is now too successful and there is too much money to be made. It is a juggernaut out of control, and unable to stop. But until the powers that be find a way to get some control back from the money men, the England team's fortunes won't change.

Italy is in a similar position. Inter Milan won the treble this year (Italian League, Cup and Champions League) without regularly fielding an Italian? They won the Champions League final without an Italian on the pitch.  And how did their team of ageing stars do?  Not much worse than England! 

Admittedly Italy were World Champions 4 years ago, but look how finances in football have changed in those 4 years. The most expensive transfer in history 4 years ago remained the 2001 move of Zidane from Juventus to Real Madrid for about £43 million; since then we've had  Kaka move to Madrid for £57m; Ibrahimovic to Barcelona for £61m and of course Ronaldo from Manchester United to Madrid for £80 million.  The fact that Spain have bucked this trend and done well at a national level despite an overpriced league is down to their core crop of excellent players - their golden generation that, unlike England's, has performed.  Also the money in Spain is limited to just a few teams - the Premier League remains the wealthiest across the board.

So, until the English FA sort their s&%t out, this is my declaration of independence because I too have certain unalienable rights, among which are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - and the latter does not include watching England play football!   

So until that time when I can again have pride in my national team, I lower the flag and pledge my allegiance to baseball, basketball and all sports American! 

Well at least until the next qualifying campaign starts... ;)

Argentina v Germany - Round 2!

Following on from yesterday's Mostly Balls post, here's clip of the Argentina v Germany brawl from 2006 - let's hope we see similar excitement on Saturday, it will make for an entertaining few hours for the neutral! Not that I'm neutral darling... (but we do have a German Shepherd!) 

Germans: Argentina have no respect...

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accused World Cup quarterfinals rival Argentina of showing no respect for opponents and referees, and urges his teammates not to be provoked.

Four years ago at the 2006 World Cup, the hosts Germany eliminated Argentina   on penalties (Germany in shock penalty shoot-out win!) at the same stage and there were chaotic scenes after the shootout, with both sides exchanging punches and kicks in a fracas that included team officials from both benches.

Now as an Englishman who has lived in Germany, and being married to an Argentine girl with family down in Patagonia, no personal good can come from me commenting on this!  And as I have little or no fondness for either nation's footballing history, I shall remain discretely neutral on the subject and refer you to the full ESPN story for the details...

Germans: Argentina show no respect. 

What? No football?

Got withdrawal symptoms yet?

For the first time in what seems like months (although it is only 19 days) the world woke up to the first football free day since June 11th.  As the world takes a 2 day breather, the remaining 8 teams prepare for the Quarter Finals of this year's competition.

Friday

Uruguay (16)  v Ghana (32)
Netherlands (4) v Brasil (1)

Saturday
Germany (6) v Argentina (7)
Paraguay (31) v Spain (2)

With 3 surprise teams (Ghana, Uruguay & Paraguay) in the last 8, and for the first time since 1930 4 South American teams, it promises to be an interesting couple of days. 

The balance of power certainly seems to have shifted back to South America. In 2002, the only South American quarter finalists were the eventual winners Brasil; in 2006 we had  Argentina & Brasil in the last 8, along with 6 European teams. The semi-finals (and therefore obviously the final) were all European match ups. 

This time there is the possibility of an all South American semi-final line up, although I think Spain might ruin that 'fiesta'.

Goal Watch
After 56 games, we're now at 123 goals; that's a rate of 2.20 goals per game. It's getting better, but 2010 in South Africa is still on course to be one of the lowest scoring World Cups of all time.

The curse of Nike?

So I'm sure many of you have seen the full length 3 minute Nike 'Write the Future' ad that was launched just before the World Cup; but how many of you have noticed the curse that Nike has obviously put on the football players featured?

Watch it again and then we'll discuss it further below... I guarantee you'll find it interesting...!

Nike being Nike, and advertising being advertising, they want to associate their product and brand with success...they picked 6 of the world's biggest football stars to feature in their extensive, expensive commercial, I'm sure hoping that one of them would 'take it all the way'.

Well, the outcome is that not a single solitary one of their 'stars' made it to the Quarter Final stages of the World Cup, let alone 'performed' in the tournament. Let's break it down one by one...

Cursed #1?  Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast broke his arm in training a few days before the World Cup began limiting his time on the field, with just one goal in a losing effort to Brazil. Out in the Group stage.

Cursed #2?  Fabio Cannavarro - Italy's captain - too old, too slow and with the rest of the Italian team, clearly past his best at international level. Would probably have thrown his back out with that overhead kick in the commercial. Out in the Group stage.

Cursed #3? Wayne Rooney - Supposed to be England's talisman, yet looked a pale immitation of himself. Lived up to the first part of the ad, giving the ball away, but never had the drive that he seemed to have in this advert and in previous performances to get it back. Let's hope he's got that nice caravan and groundsman job lined up.  Out in round of 16 - lucky to get through the group.   

Cursed #4?  Frank Ribery - France. No more needs be said. Out in the Group stage, home with the rest in shame.

Cursed #5? Ronaldinho of Brazil didn't even make it into the Brazil squad. His only appearance on our TV screens during the World Cup is in this commercial.  Out before the World Cup.

Cursed #6?  Cristiano Ronal-D'oh of Portugal - not quite as dismal as Rooney, but not far off. One lucky goal against North Korea, several dreadful free kicks, a fair amount of dives and his usual level of bitching will be all he is remembered for at this World Cup.  Out in the round of 16. No movie, no statue.

So the only stars still shining from the ad are the LA Lakers' Kobe Bryant who won his 5th NBA Championship a few weeks back, and Roger Federer (he was playing table tennis against Rooney if you missed it) who hopes that the Nike curse won't stop him claiming another Wimbledon title this weekend. 

Nike have had to do some fast editing a create a new ad that actually features a star likely to continue to play in the tournament for a while longer yet. Step forward Robinho, and if you're a Brasil fan, let's hope the curse doesn't strike again...

England - a monument to mediocrity

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport's chief football writer, breaks down the failings of the England football team in a very interesting blog...

If England carry a burning sense of injustice as part of their baggage on the long flight home from South Africa on Monday night, Fabio Capello and his players will fool only themselves.

Capello's complaint about the incompetence of officialdom after England's humiliating last-16 exit against Germany was little more than a flimsy fig leaf when it came to disguising shortcomings exposed in a World Cup campaign that was a monument to mediocrity.

England's coach, of course, had every right to draw attention to one of the worst decisions in the tournament's history as a mitigating factor in their eventual defeat by a vastly-superior Germany.

Capello must not think, however, that Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa's failure to spot Frank Lampard's clever finish dropping well behind Manuel Neuer's goalline with the score at 2-1 was a defining moment that somehow blocked England's path to glory.

Read the rest of Phil's blog here...

Take down the flags...

Well at least one good thing has come out of the England Germany game; I think it's guaranteed that video technology will be used at the next World Cup. 

I'm not sure that 'the goal that wasn't' would have made a difference to the outcome as England were outplayed, but still, that goal would have made it 2-2 and who knows what would have happened. A game of such importance should not be influenced by mistakes, especially when the technology is available to counter such mistakes. 

We shouldn't be surprised at the result though - the Germans have not failed to reach the quarter finals in a World Cup since 1954 and this England team wasn't going to stop them on this World Cup's performance.

2 final things to say; at least my German Shepherd is happy and Vamos Argentina! 

US - Ghana preview

So Uruguay are the first team through to the QF stage, and they await the winner of the next game - US v Ghana.  Uruguay become the first South American team (other than Argentina and Brazil) to reach the Quarter Final stage since 1970.

Apparently, as you'll notice repeatedly in this video, the US are 'champions' of Group C.  I wasn't aware that was an award that FIFA handed out, but here in the US, everything in sports needs to be exaggerated slightly!  Superbowl World Champions - Lakers World Champions - Baseball World Series - Need I say more!  So rather than the team that 'topped' Group C as we would say, the CHAMPIONS of Group C have a great chance of advancing to the Quarter Finals...listen to what Ruud Gullit thinks of their chances...  

Top 10 goals so far...according to ESPN

ESPN's Top 10 goals of the tournament so far...maybe a little biased but entertaining nonetheless!

16 down...

So we're down to the round of 16 - 48 matches played, 16 games to go... starting with the two games today...including the big one on this side of the pond, the US v Ghana. However exciting that will be, and we will be watching it and cheering on the US on Saturday afternoon, the big day in this household is Sunday, when my Argentine wife and German Shepherd dog will be ganging up against me and the England boys...

Saturday

Uruguay (16) v South Korea (47)

United States (14) v Ghana (32)

Sunday 

Germany (6) v England (8)

Argentina (7) v Mexico (17)

Monday

Netherlands (4) v Slovakia (34)

Brazil (1) v Chile (18)

Tuesday

Paraguay (31) v Japan (45)

Spain (2) v Portugal (3)

I picked only 11 of these 16 teams to make it this far, and I only got 5 of the 8 group winners right, so I'm not going to put my neck out and pick winners here!

If you were wondering what the goals per game ratio has climbed to - see my earlier post - well this is still on course to be the lowest scoring World Cup ever. After 48 games, we've had 101 goals - that's 2.10 goals per game. That's lower than Italia 90 - the previous lowest scoring tournament.  Portugal and Argentina are the leading scorers with 7 each (although Portugal got their 7 in 1 game against North Korea so I'm not sure if that counts)

In preparation for the US game later; here's ESPN's preview of the US v Ghana.