CHAPTER 80: Reflections on the World Cup's group stages....

"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Luis Suarez

The group stages of the current FIFA World Cup has ended (and after posting today, the first two matches of the last 16 had also concluded). So, here are some of my opinions on different matters that relate to the group stages of the tournament thus far:

Best team – Argentina
Well….at this stage they have arguably the best record compared against all the other teams in the tournament. Most number of goals scored, and only conceded one. And this being in the ‘Group of Death’. And they were the team with more chances to win when they played against Holland.
All players are quality (the first choice as well as the subs…..perhaps with the exception of their goalkeepers, who I do not know none of them, but I’m not discrediting Abbondanzieri’s performances, so far he’s been their safe hands), plus this team showed excellent teamwork, workrate and camaraderie between themselves.
Their match against Serbia & Montenegro is one of the best one sided show I’ve seen in any competitive football competitions. ‘Nuff said.

Worst team – Serbia & Montenegro
I’m making the judgment based on their overall performances and their records in the tournament.
They qualified for the World Cup by just conceding a solitary goal. The amount they conceded in the tournament is disaster.

Best player – Juan Roman Riquelme
Actually, IMO there hasn’t really been any one outstanding player so far, one that played super brilliantly in every match, scoring many spectacular goals or giving fantastic assists.
However, I would say on nearing this criteria, probably Riquelme. His passing and set-up is vital for Argentina’s attack. It’s evident how crucial Riquelme is as he’s an important (if not, the most important) piece in Pekerman’s plan & tactics. He’s also been taking the most number of freekicks and corners for the team (perhaps all of them?).

Worst player – Peter Crouch
Okay….he got a goal against T&T, and that a leaping header from a Beckham cross. But what are his performances on the pitch? What is he doing? Where is he? What kind of passes does he play? How can he get into spaces? How even can he kick and also miss-kick?
The guy’s 6”7 tall and yet he (or England) couldn’t the best out of his height. And Crocuh’s so skinny, I wonder how he passes through rigorous training and tackles. I think if you put Roberto Carlos and Peter Crouch in a boxing ring, I think Carlos can beat him up.

Most disappointing player – Frank Lampard
He had like 15-17 shots in all matches,….and haven’t even scored. And this from a player with a reputation for scoring long range goals, coming in the 18-yard box from the 2 full seasons he’s been impressing for Chelsea.
Anyway, I’m tempted to mention Ronaldinho too (as there’s still no flashing brilliance from him that set up alight the World Cup so far), but I only saw Brazil’s match against Australia, so I can’t really make a judgment on him. On the other hand, I’ve seen all three of England’s matches.

Best coach – Jose Pekerman
The manager of Argentina. Anyhow, I think Klinsmann, Scolari could also be considered, seeing that Germany and Portugal also put in good efforts and they got maximum points from their respective groups. But I’m basing this particular judgment since Pekerman led Argentina on top of Group D.

Worst coach – Ilija Petkovic
I’m basing this judgment based on Serbia & Montenegro’s achievements in this World Cup.

Best dressed coach – Leo Beenhakker
Saw him in the England game. Dressed very smartly, donning a suit like a VIP’s VIP, with what seemed like an expensive gold watch.

Worst dressed coach – Otto Pfister
In Togo’s first match, Pfister appeared as if he want to go clubbing or being a club bouncer or something. For the first time in my life, I saw a coach wearing jeans during a match.

Fiercest looking coach – Ricardo Lavolpe
Seriously, I think that Lavolpe has the looks that can make him as any villain in any Hollywood production. The hairstyle, the moustache, the beard, the stare…his lucky Dragon tie….And this guy smokes.

Most active coach – Jurgen Klinsmann
Well, he’s been on the touchlines just like any other coach would. Always monitoring his team, always seemed to be thinking positive. He’s been using subs well too I guess, and Germany have been very good so far. When Germany scores, you can see it on Klinsmann’s expressions, the sort of character, manager, human that he is. IMO he is Germany’s most important factor if they want or were to win the World Cup.
Another candidate would be Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Most in-active coach – Sven-Goran Eriksson
I don’t know. He just sits around on the bench, and although sometimes the camera shows that he looks at the matches as if he’s pondering hard on what to do or how to strategize, he’s still on the bench. Doesn’t seem to show much activity or work. Or giving orders for that matter. What I saw instead is Steve McClaren giving, shouting orders to the England players when they play. The time that Eriksson gets up is when England scores.

Best debutant - Ghana
Tempted to say Ivory Coast. But Ghana edges it for me, since they’ve made it through to the second round. They were in a tough group as well, and I think that group E became the real ‘Group of Death’ of the tournament.
Australia has a world class & respected coach in Hiddink, and they have players who play top league football and having vital European football experiences (Viduka, Kewell, Schwarzer, Cahill). Ukraine was paired in a fairly easy group for them to succeed in (albeit Spain of course).

Best Match – Holland - Ivory Coast
Hard to say really. But I’m making this verdict on a match where two teams battled it out (as on a neutral’s point of view). Anyhow, I was not able to watch all the World Cup’s matches so far, so it was hard to make this decision. Among the matches that seemed hot stuff (that I didn’t get to watch) from opinions worldwide are: Italy – Ghana, Italy – USA, Croatia – Australia).
In the Holland – Ivory Coast match, both Van Persie and Kone scored excellent goals, and the game throughout was played at a frantic pace and tempo, swung back and forth between the attack of the tow sides. I still can’t forget the last 5-10 minutes of the game, Holland was defending like mad against set-pieces that the Ivory Coast kept bloody having! What the fu-k of an intensity was that, man!
Another match that I saw and that would also warrant this award would be the game between Argentina against Ivory Coast.

Most boring match – England - Paraguay
Typical Eriksson-England. Score the first goal, then defend it. Then only bombard the opposition with long range shots or long balls. Some more, the opposition gave an own goal.
Anyway, Paraguay themselves couldn’t really snatch for a victory.
But what I can’t understand is HOW Frank Lampard was Man of the Match based on him having 2-3 shots on target but no goals? I think the Paraguay’s subs keeper gave a more active performance.

Most frustrating match – France - Switzerland

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Strangest match – Saudi Arabia - Spain
4 years ago, Saudi got beaten 8-0 by Germany. So I expected that Spain would dish out a trashing to Saudi, even though it was already the third game and Spain was paying with the 2^nd team (their quality cannot be dismissed).
At the end of the day, the Spanish only scored a goal.
First half, they controlled the match. Second half, Saudi Arabia came out and attacked, and on some occasions just unlucky and not having much edge in finishing.

Most Shocking result – Trinidad & Tobago - Sweden

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(I think almost everybody expected Sweden to win no matter what. What happened was a piece of history.)

<b>Best Goal – Joe Cole’s against Sweden
The fantastic thing so far about this World Cup is that there have been a lot of great goals being scored, almost on a daily basis! From Lahm’s to Frings’s, Cambiasso’s and Deco’s, Kaka’s, Rosicky’s…….
But Joe Cole’s was SUPERB. It really made the jaw dropped (in a short burst of moment where my mind went blank). And I HATE England.

Like Shebby said: “That was different class.”

Best Team Goal – Esteban Cambiasso/Argentina against Serbia & Montenegro
I was so impressed by this goal, I felt that I had to create a separate ‘Best Goal’ award.
I was clapping with real admiration after it was scored (the build up and the execution of the goal, ABSOLUTE CLASS). Simply superb, what football should be and what the game is all about.

Although they could have got another one of the same kind though, somewhere early in the second half where there were some intricate, creative passing that occurred up in the 18 yard of the S&M zone from Riquelme to Sorin (with an audacious back pass) to Riquelme to Saviola only for Saviola couldn’t finish it up. Even though it didn’t materialized, it was a delight to watch. Real ‘Joga Bonito’ friends. Fantastic.

Most unique Name – Yapi Yapo, Razak Pimpong
The first the Ivory Coast midfielder, the latter the Ghanaian striker.

So, what about the next 16?

Well, now 16 teams have exited the competition, yesterday 2 and from now 6 more will leave soon. The knock-out stages have begun and now the real-deal will begin. From now onwards each match must have one winner, so it’ll be very, very interesting to see how the tournament progresses. They are some cracking matches lined up in the second round, most notable the clashes between Portugal – Holland and France – Spain. Here are my thoughts on the upcoming matches:

England – Ecuador: Intriguing indeed. England up against an unknown quantity. Even though my heart’s feels for Ecuador shocker and I hate England, but my head says England. Logically and realistically, England has the better players, with more quality and experience in these kind of top-level matches.

Portugal – Holland: This one, most anticipated. Rematch of the Euro 2004 semifinal. I’d say that the game would be decided by a penalty shoot-out, with Holland emerging victorious.

Italy – Australia: Italy: They got more quality, and they all have a point to prove (what with the sh-t happening back at home). Also, since Hiddink was the same man that led South Korea to a victory against the Italians in the same stage of the tournament four years ago against the Italians, I’m sure Italy would want a revenge in some way against Hiddink.

Switzerland – Ukraine: No comment. Perhaps the least attractive tie of the second round.

Brazil – Ghana: I’m very looking forward to this match. To see the Brazilians against the Africans would an interesting affair. Expecting fast, attacking football.
I’m predicting that Ronaldinho will be instrumental in this game. He still hasn’t shine yet for Brazil and I do believe that in this match he’ll mark the World Cup. The others of Brazil’s Fantastic Four quartet had already scored goals, I’m still waiting for Ronaldinho to open his goalscoring account.

Spain – France: Spain for me. This is another top clash between two top sides (just like Portugal vs Holland). More like experienced old timers up against hungry, youthful aggressiveness. A clash between former champions against upcoming champions perhaps?.........we’ll see. Sure is tough to call, football is unpredictable. But Spain for. They’ve been underachievers for a long time, and I think this time, they can go far, with the way they topped their grouped warranted this fact. Plus, theirs is another team that’s brimming with talent and quality on every depth and edge of the team.