On the eve of the world cup quarterfinals it is worth taking a moment to look back and reflect on the things we found striking. There is plenty of badassitude to be found in the remaining teams.
Germany – Awesome, Definitely Badass!
Very well coached, very precise, fluid and fit. The game planning of their coaching staff was impeccable. England were lucky it was not 7-2 (I give them back the disallowed goal).
Ghana – Abundantly Spirited, Pure Badassitude!
When it counted, the Black Stars out-ran, out-muscled and outplayed the US. This team only gets better as they advance. Watch out world, the trophy is likely staying on the continent.
Argentina – Fleet Footed Genius, Badassitude Aplenty!
The front 3 or 4 depending on when and how you are counting, can be frightening. Many teams would be happy with just one. Argentina has 4, and a crazy coach, a legendary forward himself, to round up the threat. Their defense though has looked shaky at times but there is no arguing with their chances.
Spain – Solid But A Tad Underachieving, Much Badassitude!
The Spanish side leaves us scratching our heads. They have a very formidable squad. Amazing talent all over, but for some reason they have seemed to struggle. They need to show us more.
Uruguay – Determined and Lethal, With Badassitude!
What looked apparent to us as we watched Uruguay was their unyielding determination and the wickedly lethal opportunism with which the pounced on their chances. I would look over my shoulders at them if I was Ghana.
Netherlands – Ready and Steady, Pure Badassitude!
No team has looked better prepared and steadier than the Dutch. Of all the teams still in the tournament, we would be least surprised if the Dutch became the world champions.
Brazil – Samba On the Pitch, Unadulterated Badassitude!
If Ray Hudson were describing Brazil, he might use phrases like “their feet dance the football samba like angels dancing to the heavenly sounds of the football gods…” No other team has the badassitude aura like Brazil.
Paraguay – Solid, Badass!
We were very impressed with how they held Japan and with their penalty takers. If it was up all up to us, we would want to see them attack with more conviction. Still solid though.
Parting Shorts
England was overrated!! Way Overrated!!
The United States did great. They played just about as well as they were capable of playing. They have to figure out how to not spot the other team goals early.
Portugal disappointed. Really disappointed!
Japan should have made the quarters. We liked Japan.
South Korea played well. We liked how much better they looked this time around.
Chile was a good team – they ran into the Brazil buzz saw.
We liked Mexico. They have good young talent but they need better finishing and to take care of those silly mistakes in the back.
Ivory Coast disappointed too. We expected much much more from them.
South Africa – We like Bafana Bafana. How could we not with such a nickname and the opening goal of the world cup?
North Korea gave it the old college try. What more can we say?
Nigeria stunk.
France stunk and were embarrassing.
Italy were old and embarrassing.
Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia must all have gone home with heads held high. They gave it a solid try and played above expectations.
Greece was indifferent.
Slovakia was average to disappointing. Losing a 2 goal lead and for all intents and purposes losing the game is nothing to be proud of.
Serbia were not good enough.
Honduras were just not good enough.
Slovenia did not show us anything distinguishing.
Norway just did not have enough quality.
Algeria was unimpressive.
Cameroon woke up too late and showed good quality but could not finish. Disappointing.
So we watched the first few games of the world cup and we have some thoughts. For opening games of the tournament, the games were okay, with occasional flashes of excellence and excitement. With first round games, coaches on both sides generally prepare their teams pretty well because they know who they are going to play. Coaches also do not want their teams to look bad. Opening games are used a lot as confidence builders.
Having said all that, what did we see and what did we think?
South Africa v Mexico
What a story!! The first game in the first World Cup tournament held in Africa, and the first goal was scored by an African, Shabalala, a forward for the hosting country. The game, exciting as it was, ended in a draw. Bafana Bafana had to feel good about the result nevertheless and for the pressure situation they were in, they did their country, their continent and the tournament proud. Bafana Bafana are badass without a doubt.
Uruguay v France
Les Blues entered the tournament amid a lot of skepticism. They needed a handball assist from Henry to get past the Irish in the play-off qualifier. But they have a team with big name stars and there is no saying what can happen whenever you put enough talent together. But the French football fandom long ago soured on coach Domenech’s ability to do anything with talent. The draw in this game did little to disabuse them of the notion. We hear that Patrice Evra was blaming the noise from the vuvuzelas for their performance. Tough shit we say. This is the world cup. Every world cup has a unique flavor. This one has vuvuzelas. Deal with it.
Korea v Greece
We have always thought Korea might be the sleeper team in this tournament. We like their style of play and their speed. Greece was not helped much by what seemed to us like a very soft effort. Nevertheless, Korea comes out smelling very good and in the pole position for the race to win group B.
Argentina v Nigeria
At the end of the game, Nigerian fans must have been scratching their heads trying figure out whether their national team came to South Africa to play or to watch the World Cup. It looked like they did not want to engage the Argentineans perhaps for fear that they might not then be able to watch the Argentineans play! Or was it Maradonna’s animated presence on the side line and the ball tricks he pulled off while in his sleek suit. And that is not to say that the star studded Argentineans were impressive either. It was pathetic. And how about the coaching decision to start Obafemi Martins on the bench for Nigeria and Millito on the bench for Argentina? Come on!
England v USA
This was the big game of the opening week of this 2010 World Cup. For some reason, up till this point England fans were persuaded that their team was a legitimate, even favorite candidate for the championship. At the end of the game, they had to be thinking differently. The US, decided underdogs, played a steady, solid game. Their game relied largely on solid defense, good midfield play, and efficient counter attacks. Onyewu was an animal in central defense. The rest of the team was solid. Altidore was very good. He should have exploited Carragher’s lack of pace a lot more. Watching the game, we were more and more perplexed that Capello had not included Walcott in his squad. This game needed Theo Walcott. We also wondered why he had never considered Ashley Young for the team. We came away with an interesting note – if you did not know who Wayne Rooney was at the beginning of the game, you still did not know who he was at the end of the game. You wouldnot know who Frank Lampard was either. But you surely would know who Glen Johnson was and who Emile Heskey was. And Robert Greene, the goalie who gifted the US with the goal.
Algeria v Slovenia
On the heels of the Robert Green disaster, one would be forgiven if one did not expect to see another crucial goalie mistake. But surprises are the staple of the world cup. Fighting to hold on after being reduced to ten men courtesy of a red shown to Abdelkader Ghezzal for a rather silly handball, the Algerians could not have been too concerned when the Slovanian captain attempted what looked to most of us like a rather ordinary shot with average power and a non challenging trajectory. But the shot bounced off the grass just a tad and that was enough to cause Faouzi Chaouchi, the Algerian goalie to gift the Slovanian with a goal and a win.
Serbia v Ghana
Awesome game. Serbia are a good physical team with some world beaters on their squad. Ghana is a good athletic team with some world beaters on their squad, most of whom were injured and not in the game. But the Ghana Black Stars, after a hesitant start to the first half seemed to find their footing. Prince Boateng was excellent as was Assamoah Gyan who scored the winning penalty shot. The Serbians were solid. Chelsea’s Ivanovich and Man U’s Vidich showed their quality but the Ghanians seemed to get better as the game went along. We thought it would be just a matter of time before the Black Stars claimed a goal even though the Serbians looked pretty good after they were reduced to ten following the red card for Lukovich. It came via a penalty, the Ghanian goal, but it was well deserved. We like Ghana to progress. We think the Ghanians are badass.
Germany v Australia
Whatever diet the Germans are on, I want in. They looked good, confident, efficient, awesome. If I was a betting man, as of today, I know who I would pick to win this tournament. They abused the Australians, did the Germans. It did not help the Soccerroos that they lost Cahill to a very suspect red card. If that was a genuine red, I have a lot of plays I want to show you from the preceding games. The Germans looked dominant and they were. June 23 will be very interesting – The Germans play the Ghanians. We think the Germans are also badass.