World Cup Discussion Thread

[Jarulf]

This match was sure *not* to attract any new audiences from the US. What a POS boring game.

But why care about that? Let those silly americans watch their American Football instead :P

It was a relatively booring game though, I tend to agree. However, I still think the teams played quite well. Personally I like the more offensive football and matches were both teams go full forward. It is much more fun. But I can understand why one would not like to play such a game.

Overall I think the whole World Cup had quite unimpressive games. ONe had expected much more fantastic games. It was a bit booring. I would say that in part it was due to so many teams setting up a rather defensive strategy. Look at how many teams in most matches had a set up with only a single forward (is that the correct english name? The guy up on the top). Wit 5 midfields and 4 in the defense. Much of the teams that finally went to the final rounds did so due to good defence, or rather, good prevention of the other team to establish their own game and then utulizing that to get their own play and offense going. France was a good example of this tactic.

There was also far less goals than one had hoped for (despite ever years new better ball). I think the average was less than for a long time. Sad.

With the above in mind of what type of football I like, I would say that out of the final 4 teams, I thought Portugal had the best potential. However, their lone (!) forward didn't play up to his standard end enither did for example Deco. One big surpirse to me was Germany. I had thought they would get far, they usually do and had homefield, but they turned out far better than I expected. Never really fancied for either Italy and France, hence the final was not that interesting to me, no team to really rally behind. I think the referee did a good over all job though (as oposed to the tournament as a whole!!). He set the level and although rough play, the players knew the limits.

Brasil? Dissapointmen? Perhaps. I think several of their players did not performe to the level they do in their normal club teams, Ronaldinho being such an example. Although good at times, he never lived up to the marvelous passes he routinely gives his team mates out of nowere. I als think they played to nonchalant in defence and didn't do well there. TThe checks was also a negative surprise to me.

All in all however, I think this year, the World Cup lacked any real big surpirses. Allready in the quarter finals and perhaps even in the round before that, it was mainly the "same old teams".

Now we have to go back to natial leagues and of course the qualifying games for the European Championship in 2 years..... :)