The Trinbagonian

 

mikhail_byng@hotmail.com World Cup Edition

Tel: (868) 347-2572, 357-1773 Issue.2

 

    

    We've all waited four long years for another display of the beautiful game on the World's greatest footballing stage, the FIFA World Cup. For the first time in history the continent of Africa has been given the opportunity to host the worlds' single most popular event. Thirty two of the world's best teams were separated into eight groups with the four teams of each group playing against each other.

    The competition began with the South American champions Brazil as favorites along with their fierce rivals Argentina, a team that boasted of the world's best player Lionel Messi and an array of talented attacking players in such abundance that it was a struggle for Coach Diego Maradona to find space in his team roster. The England team was also considered another favorite due to their dominating performances during the World Cup qualifying rounds. Spain as Champions of Europe had to be recognized as a strong force and the determination and discipline of the German team was not to be over-looked. Many of the other teams participating in the World Cup consisted of very talented individual players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogbar, Patrice Evra, Frank Ribery, Blanco, Pirlo and many others, but the teams which these players played for either lacked unity, discipline or simply won't good enough on match day to be serious contenders for the World Cup. Some teams like the Netherlands were an exception. It was difficult for one to predict how they would perform when considering their disappointing World Cup history. Although the Netherland team consisted of remarkable talents like Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben their team chemistry was questionable.

    The opening match of the tournament featured CONCACAF giant Mexico against the host nation South Africa. This match ended in a 1-1 draw but was no help to the South African cause mainly because they were knocked out of the competition by the end of the group stages. Mexico was unable to challenge the mighty Argentineans and a 3-1 defeat clearly showed the superiority of the Argentinean outfit and sent the Mexicans home.

    The World Cup clearly showed many football fans that the gap between teams was no longer as large as before. Highly rated teams like Spain, Germany, Italy and France were all stunned by teams that were widely considered inferior to them in talent and quality. Spain and Germany were defeated 1-0 by Switzerland and Serbia respectively, while the finalists of the 2006 World Cup, France and Italy were both knocked out of the competition within the group stages.

    All the South American teams that had qualified for the World Cup were able to progress outside of the group stages. For many football fans it was beginning to seem that the tide had turned from European domination to South American domination of the football world. The odds were already in favor of a South American team winning the World Cup. But this would not be easy. Brazil matched up against Chile in the round of 16 and defeated the Chileans 3-0, thus lowering the possibility of the title returning to the South American continent but with the two South American giants of Argentina and Brazil still in the contest, there was hope for South American supporters.

    The Brazilians were then defeated by a Netherland team that simply refused to give up. After going one goal down the Netherland team grinded their way back into the game and were able to force a mistake from Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar. Poor marking by the Brazilian defenders then allowed Wesley Sneijder to nab a header into the back of the net that put his team into the World Cup semi finals.

The Argentineans played a German team that had already thrashed an out of form English side 4-1. The youth and discipline of the German team were being praised by football fans all around the world but the attacking might of the Argentineans had to be considered. The Argentineans would eventually be embarrassed by a German team that refused to hold back. The team pushed forward relentlessly and was able to dismantle a weak Argentinean defense. Disappointment flooded the South American continent and many more football fans around the world. Neither the Samba boys nor the star studded Argentinean team were able to deliver and they would have to wait until 2014, when the World Cup tournament would take place in Brazil.

    The semi finals saw three European teams in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and one South American team in Uruguay. The Netherlands were able to defeat the Uruguayan outfit rather convincingly, although the score-line of 3-2 may have given the impression of a close fight. The Spaniards were then able to scrape another one nil win against a disappointing German team which had to settle for a third place match against Uruguay. Germany defeated Uruguay in the runner-up play-off and for the second consecutive World Cup they had to settle for a third place finish.

    The final match between Spain and the Netherlands guaranteed that for the first time in their footballing history one of these nations would be crowned World Cup Champions. This created an excitement among football fans through-out the world even if they were supporters of teams that were already out of the tournament.

    The game went goal-less for a full 90 minutes and was forced into extra time with Spain having more of the ball possession and greater chances on goal but the Netherland striker Arjen Robben had two clear opportunities, one-on-one with goal keeper Casillas and failed to deposit the ball into the back of the net. He lived to regret his missed opportunities in the 116^th minute of the game when Andres Iniesta slammed the ball pass Stekelenburg, the Netherland goal keeper.

    For the first time in their history Spain had won the World Cup. They also at present hold the European title, thus making them the greatest Spanish team in history and the best team on the planet.

    The World Cup proved to be a successful experience for the nation of South Africa. It not only produced exciting football moments but also gave world-wide exposure to the African continent and silenced those who criticized or questioned the ability of the South Africans to host the World Cup. The world was exposed to many aspects of South African footballing culture most in particular the vuvuzela. This World Cup would never be forgotten.