Many congratulations to Spain, but not exactly the final we were all wanting
1. So the worst World Cup final in history, to end the worst World Cup in history? That seems to be the consensus this morning. I know it wasn’t a classic, but is that not a bit of an over the top reaction; on both counts?
The final was in no way thrilling, certainly not in the sense of chances and flow, but there were elements to the game that were fascinating in their own right, which sort of worked as a microcosm for the whole tournament. It’s a competition which has only burst into life in spurts, every time you were getting bored, an explosion of incidents, but likewise, just as you thought the tournament was really getting going (like the second round) you ended up with Paraguay vs. Japan.
A lot has been made of the fact that this was an African World Cup, and while I applaud the hosts for delivering what some doubted that they could, for me, as a fan, the tournament just hasn’t been one that has captured the imagination on the pitch. Very few games could be described as real ‘classic battles’. Dramatic moments, yes, but overall there is just that feeling of disappointment that things didn’t lift off in the way we were all hoping (or, as perhaps the problem was, expecting). Football is a team game, which this completion has definitely proved, but to truly capture the world’s imagination, the big marquee names, the superstar players need to turn it on, and over the last month, very few of them have.
2. Our new World Champions are seemingly the marmite of football; you either love the ‘tika-taka’ or absolutely despise it. Spain aim to control the game, dominating the possession and working their openings, always biding their time for the best opportunity to strike. To some, this is boring; to others it’s the embodiment of the beautiful game.
They say beauty is in the ‘eye of the beholder’ and two years ago, Spain, in my eyes were wonderful to watch. Not only did they keep the ball but they zipped it around and played at speed, stretching their opponents, creating chances and putting teams to the sword. Over the last month, the possession has been there but the speed and dynamism has been rarely on show. Four consecutive 1-0 victories, four consecutive clean sheets, it hasn’t impressed everyone.
For me, the best all round team in the world has won the World Cup, but I can appreciate how it’s not to everyone’s enjoyment. The current Spanish style doesn’t lend itself to a ‘thrill-a-minute-ride’, however their opponents have also been somewhat to blame, with at least half the teams they’ve played (notably Switzerland, Portugal and in the final the Netherlands) showing no attacking intent whatsoever.
3. The ‘this is boring’ dissent started in earnest after Spain had just beaten Germany in the semi finals. Listening to Radio 5 Live after the game, many fans were letting it be known that they wouldn’t stand for it, if ‘that’ (Spain’s performance) was served up to them every week instead of the regular Premier League fare normally on the menu.
In a way that is perhaps one of the issues facing the England national team, we want them to be successful playing in a ‘Premier League style’; however there is no evidence to suggest that would be helpful at all. Well I guess there is in a way, in that there is evidence (i.e. playing rubbish and bowing out of major tournaments early) to suggest that the much vaunted English style will not get you very far at a World Cup.
If we just want to be entertained, then fair enough, nothing to worry about. However we can’t then turn around every four years and demand that we win the World Cup, whilst refusing to see that the way in which Spain are currently playing the game, whilst not necessarily being what you want to see, is unarguably very successful.
Besides, I watch English football every week and the vast majority of games are rubbish and boring as well. That’s just the way it is I’m afraid.
4. Just as you thought that we’d finally heard the end of abusing an Englishman’s performance at the World Cup, along came the final, and along came Howard Webb. Where to start really... Webb was selected for the final by way of some ‘impressive’ (read ‘competent’) officiating through the tournament. Obviously England were nowhere near the final, so his cause was helped there as well. All was set then for him to show the world, that when it comes down to it, the inventors and guardians of the beautiful game still know how to uphold the laws whilst applying that Corinthian spirit. Well that was the theory anyway.
I’ve never quite got the hype with Howard Webb. As has been discussed with my colleague on this site, Mr James Platt, Webb’s usual tactic to refereeing games is to not give decisions, just let everything go. In yesterday’s final, some (if you’re Spanish) might argue that’s exactly what he did, whilst others (if you’re Dutch) would probably argue that he couldn’t stop making decisions (i.e. booking various players in orange). Did he have a great game? Well, technically speaking, some questionable decisions, but then despite everything I’ve said so far, I think that he did well, mainly due to the fact that he had to put up with an absolutely despicable Netherlands team and their shameful tactics.
5. Which leads me onto my final point; the Netherlands, and how they got exactly what they deserved in the end; i.e. nothing. In much the same way that the commonly held view to stop teams like Barcelona and Arsenal is ‘to get in amongst them’, the Netherlands game plan for the game exposed their lack of self belief and the inadequacies in which they perceived themselves to have. Sending out a team with a game plan to break up and disrupt another is one thing, but to put into practice a game of pure thuggery, where kicking your opponents rather than the ball is your approach is not something to be condoned or excused in any way.
It’s funny, when a referee hands out a lot of cards, he is seen (in England particularly) as ‘ruining the game’ however, why do we not look to the players to take some responsibility? This morning, as I mentioned, Howard Webb is being roundly criticised but what choices did he really have? In terms of the punishments he handed out to the Dutch, if anything he was lenient. Every yellow card was deserved, and the only one where it was not (in De Jong’s case) was because it should have been red.
People have accused Spain of being boring, and killing the spectacle of football, but what the Netherlands brought onto the pitch on Sunday was Neanderthal football; negative, spoiling tactics, and the desire to commit fouls, and lots of them. It was a fantastic effort for the team to get to the final, however when there, they let themselves, and their country’s rich and wonderful football history down.
I certainly agree it was a pretty tricky game for Webb to manage and there were some calls that could have gone either way. I’m not a massive fan though (as you point out) and as strange as it might sound, I thought Webb adopted his usual ‘big game’ strategy and was far too lenient. De Jong should have gone, and how Van Bommel saw out the first half, let alone the rest of the game, I do not know. It ultimately didn’t matter, but Robben should have also be given a second yellow when he kicked the ball away in extra time. Webb seemed reluctant to send another man off for such a petty offence, but the rules stand and can’t be altered for sentimentality.
ReplyDeleteI also agree the best team won on the night, although I think four successive 1-0 wins sums Spain up really. Effective, but not exactly overwhelming. The way in which they keep the ball is superb, and certainly a lesson to England’s players, but they moved it too slowly at times, allowing teams to get men in position behind the ball. Still, the best team definitely won. I thought the Netherlands’ foul play was deplorable, although it’s worth keeping in mind that they were never going to be able to compete in terms of passing so they didn’t have much option but to play a defensive game.