Group Stage Round-up

When we talk of the successes of the 16 nations that have progressed, one’s mind uncontrollably drifts to the failures of their counterparts... particularly the Socceroos.

So much has been written about their struggles, but it was heartening to see their exemplary and gallant form against Serbia.

It makes one wonder what they could have achieved if they had qualified to progress.

Without wanting to flog a dead horse (always my favourite expression) maybe if Pim had played spark-players Harry Kewell and Marco Bresciano in the first game, along with defender Michael Beauchamp (a genuine star against Serbia), the disastrous defeat to Germany might not have been so comprehensive...

Ultimately winning four points in a difficult World Cup group is a great result for the Australians, especially after their squad was written off pre-tournament and absolutely canned after the Durban disaster.

But rarely will a team progress after conceding four goals in a single game.

Ghana, the team that progressed alongside the Germans, may well prove to be one of the most fortunate teams in this year’s tournament. Only scoring two goals in their three games (both from penalties), the Ghanaians seemed largely ineffective when going forward – symbolised by their inexplicable penchant for shooting from distance, greatly evident in their game against the Socceroos.

So 16 teams have progressed to the next round and the fixtures will be as follows:

Uruguay v South Korea
USA v Ghana
Germany v England
Argentina v Mexico
Netherlands v Slovakia
Brazil v Chile
Paraguay v Japan
Spain v Portugal 

If you are a Socceroos fan and are seeking a nation to follow to ensure some interest remains in the tournament, why not pick an underdog in the form of our old sparring partner, Uruguay?

Imagine if, against all odds and common sense, they do in fact reign supreme. Then we can say that we kept out this year's champions from the last World Cup... a great feat.

Clutching at straws?
You betcha!

Cometh the hour... but where is the MAN!? 

England managed to progress but Wayne Rooney’s troublesome form continues to worry. He has now gone over 11 hours of play without scoring and missed several golden chances to break his drought against Slovenia.

When one considers both his untouchable form throughout the season and previous good displays at an international level (he had a breakout Euro 04 and was also England’s top scorer in this tournament’s qualifying with 9 goals).

Earlier in the year, Rooney was effortlessly scoring bags of goals in all competitions. And possibly the most astounding element of his game was that he was actually scoring from his head – never a strongpoint for the bustling striker.

A large reason for this was the scintillating crossing form of Manchester United newboy, Antonio Valencia, from the right.

His silky passes and perfect crosses meant that often goals were given to Rooney on a proverbial plate and the striker was able to play with a relaxed confidence... a far cry from his current frustration.

But the good news for England is that they did progress.

If Rooney is able to find his mojo and regain the form from a few months ago that made him the world’s most explosive player, anything is possible. When he is on fire, England is a two goal-better team.

If Rooney can’t regain this type of form and England subsequently crashes out, the FA’s next step should be finding a way to naturalize the Ecuadorian Valencia and get him in the national squad as soon as humanly possible!

Italian Debacle... pezzo di merda

With an Italian last-name, it is only right that I vent a bit about Italy’s flop of a tournament.

Italy’s infamous style of play, traditionally called catenaccio (meaning a door’s bolt/lock), is a defensive, counter-attack-driven, highly-technical game. It is not always great to watch but it is highly efficient if the players boast great intelligence and skill.

If played effectively, the game-plan also means that a weaker team (skills-wise) can beat their superior.

Probably the best way to describe the ethos and philosophy of catenaccio is in the following encounter between early proponent of the system, coach Nereo Rocco, and an Italian journalist before a game.

Journalist: May the best team win.
Rocco: I hope not.

So what significance does a catenaccio hold for this tournament?Well, it wasn’t there.

Although it can be argued that the ‘perfect’ catenaccio of the past has not been implemented for decades – one must understand and appreciate that its influence on the Italian football culture is still extremely strong.

During this World Cup, Italy seemed to favour a different tact – a long-ball game with little attention for possession and midfield build-up play.

Although more entertaining to watch, in the sense that the ball moved across the field openly, it proved both impotent and ineffective.

It wasn’t great football and the Italians duly suffered.

Ultimately Italy didn’t have the players up to the task. Don’t buy into the belief that it was the age of their squad that was their undoing. Although Cannevaro, Zambrotta, and substitute Camoranesi are clearly past it – (with the former showing all the traits that were evident in his extremely poor season at club level – because of which Juventus did not seek to extend his contract), Italy did however showcase young talent.

Criscito, Chiellini, Montelivo, Marchisio, Pazzini, Pepe, and Rossi are all players that will feature heavily in both Italy’s Euro campaign in two years and the next World Cup in Brazil. And there was even more young talent on the bench, which coach Marcello Lippi unfortunately chose not to utilise.

In fact, a significant amount of blame must be centred on Lippi.

His choice to start with the striking partnership of Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino ahead of the more fancied and in-form Antonio Di Natale and Giampaolo Pazzini, left a lot of Italian supporters scratching their heads.

Also his constant reliance on the out-of-sorts Marco Camoranesi as a substitute was enough to make any ardent onlooker give up and reach for the grappa...

In every World Cup, the eventual winners always rely on the outstanding form of at least one particular player. Although individual performances don’t single-handedly win World Cups, (...well maybe Maradona in 1986) there is always one player who is able to transcend his teammates and truly encapsulate his country’s victory.
Below I look at the five players that have impressed me most during the group stage and are in ominous form... possibly the type of form that wins World Cups.

Lionel Messi:
Not much has to be said. He plays a different style of play for country than he does for Barcelona. Maradona gives the Argentinean wizard free reign on the pitch and Messi is able to come deeper in the midfield and be the instigator of play. His team plays through him and because he is getting so much of the ball, it is hard for him to be quiet for long.
What makes him so good?
The quickness of his feet. When in possession, he touches the ball so often and with such speed – meaning he has greater and more dominant control. 

Wesley Sneijder:
Probably the best passer of the ball in the world... or at least with the best form, the Dutch midfielder has truly become a giant of world football. After a mixed time with Real Madrid, Sneijder was brought to Inter by Jose Mourinho – one of last year’s best transfers. It wasn’t long before the Dutchman become Serie A’s most effective player and he put all elements of his skill on show in his club’s semi-final and final victories in the Champions League.
Dutch strikers lick their lips when he has the ball. 

Mesut Ozil:
With a host of Europe’s biggest clubs chasing the signature of Ozil before the start of the tournament, the German wunderkind (...or vunderkind...) has done little to harm his blossoming reputation. In fact, it has sky-rocketed.

A playmaker in the style of the old school, don’t expect Ozil to be the team’s best tackler. Instead his strengths are his ability to cut up a defence with a scorching pass or, just as effortlessly, strike the ball himself.
It was no wonder that his club Werder Bremen were willing to part with their Brazilian star, Diego, to Juventus before the start of the season – they had Ozil in the bank.

Diego Forlan:
Thank God that the Uruguayan marksman wasn’t in his current rich vein of form when the Socceroos played Uruguay for a 2006 World Cup birth on that faithful night in Sydney, all those years ago.
In any case, Forlan has showed that he holds many of the facets of an optimum striker. Strong, quick, intelligent, experienced, highly-skilled... he is dangerous whenever in possession.
Not the same player that once struggled in the Premier League for Manchester United, Forlan now has under his belt a series of fantastic seasons in Spain for Atletico Madrid... and a belief that he is truly world-class. 

Keisuke Honda:
The bolter of the tournament, Honda’s form warrants particular mention – for it is rather easy to argue that he has been the player of the tournament thus far.
He always seems to get in promising, threatening positions and possesses the required creativity to really bring a spark into a game and ignite his countrymen. A fan favourite, expect Honda to be targeted by the remaining teams. It will be interesting to see if his form is able to stand up... and if he can inspire Japan to progress.