I’ve been trying to imagine the Dutch coach’s final words of motivation for his team just before they stepped out to face Spain in the World Cup Final. I imagine it went something like this.
“Lads, Spain have the better technical players so we can’t hope to beat them playing pass and move football like they do. Let’s get stuck in and disrupt their metronomic rhythm from the start. If we can get to an hour without conceding, it will give us belief and will start to make them worry as they don’t know any other way to play. So don’t hold back, put your foot in and make sure we’re still in the game.”
Now I can’t fault him for applying these tactics. We’ve seen many ‘inferior’ teams on paper come and park the bus at The Emirates, Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge. It’s not pretty but ultimately winning would matter most. He’s proven to be a pragmatic coach who does not yield to calls to play the ‘shecshy football’ demanded by Dutch fans, ex players and commentators alike. He can’t have expected, however, that his players would exercise these tactics above and beyond fair play. It was brutal at times and Howard Webb had an almost impossible task once the tone was set. It was also deeply sad that despite the prize at stake, one team resorted to effectively ruining the game as a spectacle. This brand of anti-football almost worked but it’s a victory for football and for patience and endurance that the Spanish ultimately prevailed.
So Spain are holders of both the European and World Crowns, simultaneously. Few can doubt they deserve it though it’s unlikely any team will do so again scoring only 8 goals in the entire competition. They have the best squad and the best team and look set to dominate world football for years to come. Any nation for whom the almost peerless Cesc Fabregas can’t even break into the first team is clearly spoilt for choice. My word, how good must Xavi and Iniesta be? Truth is very, very good indeed.
In the end it was a good tournament. Though it started poorly with far too much caution, there were some excellent games, tremendous individual and team performances, a dash of controversy, a psychic octopus and a new winner.
Here are my personal highlights and lowlights of the tournament.
Best player:
Mesut Oezil. He emerged out of obscurity to become a true world class star. Hugely influential, a joy to watch and mature beyond his years.
Best game:
The big games on paper failed to deliver with Brazil vs Portugal the worst of the lot. However for sheer drama and no shortage of entertainment, I won’t forget Uruguay vs. Ghana
Best team:
Slightly controversial maybe but one team really showed that it was greater than the sum of its parts and that was New Zealand. With Spain defeating Holland, they ended up being the only unbeaten team at the 2010 World Cup which is a massive achievement. One to remember for future quiz nights.
Best goal:
It has to be Tevez’ scorcher vs. South Korea. Sublime.
Best moment:
The French mutiny. If in doubt, strike – brilliant! Shouldn’t have been at the tournament in the first place.
Worst moment:
England’s pathetic attempt to overcome the injustice of the disallowed Lampard goal. Completely lacking in game intelligence and summed up by Terry marauding forward in typically cavalier and arrogant fashion. Dreadful.
Best prediction:
Well almost. This is what I said in my last article
Well without the help of Paul the Octopus, I’m going for a Spanish win in extra time with Torres to score the winning goal after coming on as a sub.
Close!
Over and out – hope you’ve enjoyed my ‘alternative’ take on the World Cup.
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