World Cup
Some thoughts on the just concluded World Cup 2006:
Best Games
Mexico-Argentina, Round of 16; Italy-Germany, Semifinal; France-Spain, Round of 16
Mexico is a team with flair and individual skill, and when they play giants they can often be at their best. Argentina at that point in the tournament were solid favorites for a run at the title. Mexico got a great early goal with a skidding slide from their captain off a flicked on header from a cross. Argentina solidly equalized within 15 minutes. Mexico played well but couldn't quite recover their peak form. Argentina continued to possess the ball well, and in the overtime Maxi Rodriguez hit a superb chest and volley winner to send home Mexico.
Italy-Germany was bristling with energy, with the hosts and their exuberant fans well in their court. Italy played exceptionally well on this day, with skillful interpassing and delicate touches and flicks. They got a deserved winner in the 119th minute off a corner with a skillful shot from Fabio Grosso that curled around the goalkeeper into the far corner. They tacked on a 2nd, and it was a thrilling finish to advance the Italians and eliminate the stunned Germans.
France beat Spain 3-1, a shocking finish to Spain's brightly started World Cup.
Quality
The quality of play was good, and the good teams rose to the occasion. There were not the pulsating, back-and-forth attacking games like you sometimes see. A good game often ends 3-2, and there were not many, if any, of those. That seemed to be all this tournament lacked. Germany come out the "winningest" team in my book, although they did not win the competition, as their inspired and positive play lifted the attitudes of the country and showed possibility. They wrapped up the World Cup with a strong 3rd place triumph over Portugal, 3-1.
The best team effort goes to Australia. They were unfancied, and yet they outlasted Croatia to advance to the 2nd round and went down to Italy only through a difficult penalty call. All in all, it was a very excellent World Cup with skillful players and quality play.
Best Players
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Fabio Grosso, Luis Figo, Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski, Marco Materazzi, Lilian Thuram, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Edwin van der Sar, Ashley Cole, William Gallas, Fernando Torres, Zinedine Zidane, Andriy Shevchenko, Gennaro Gattuso, Roberto Ayala, Juan Roman Riquelme, Phillip Lahm
Klose's setting up of his teammate Lucas Podolski for two goals against Sweden was an absolute masterclass in skill, timing, and selflessness. Marco Materazzi's headers were flawless, and he plays the ball with such consumate skill, looks like Picasso getting out his brush. Edwin van der Sar is the most incredible goalkeeper; his foot skills are also a lot better than many field players! Gattuso was most brilliantly levelheaded, perfectly sticking to his role of defensive foil to brilliant attackers as they varied considerably and let their heads take them out of the game. Riquelme has the most exquisite touch on the ball and an eye for piercing throughballs. Roberto Ayala was dynamite until his penalty kick miss. Ashley Cole did more running against Portugal than I have ever seen in a match. He totally dominated Portugal's right side. Buffon makes the one-handed save look like an art form. Pirlo is classic in his touch. Shevchenko is most fired-up attacker who can inspire great things in his team. Think about this: last year AC Milan had Pirlo, Shevchenko, Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta (a GREAT defender not seen in the later rounds), Gilardino, and others besides.
Honorable mention would have to go to Thierry Henry, Frank Ribery, and Fabio Cannavaro. Henry scored that brilliant, elegant goal against Brazil and had two other goals as well, plus being taken down for the penalty kick that beat Portugal. He is a little bit lazy at times but his skill and ability to dribble past defenders is fantastic. If some other players got into the penalty box against Italy, Henry's crosses might have led to a 2-1 victory. Ribery was full of effort and made a lot happen for his team (often the only guy running forward at opposing defenses). The only reason I didn't put Cannavaro on the top list was that everyone was giving more rave reviews than I think were deserved. I thought Henry beat Cannavaro a couple of times, and Abidala also seemed to get past him once or twice. He was agressive in the final but sometimes wildly kicking out.
From the back, my best 11 would be:
Edwin van der Sar
Ashley Cole
Gianluca Zambrotta
Roberto Ayala
John Terry
Pavel Nedved
Luis Figo
Juan Roman Riquelme
Gennaro Gattuso
Andriy Shevchenko
Thierry Henry
Best Games
Mexico-Argentina, Round of 16; Italy-Germany, Semifinal; France-Spain, Round of 16
Mexico is a team with flair and individual skill, and when they play giants they can often be at their best. Argentina at that point in the tournament were solid favorites for a run at the title. Mexico got a great early goal with a skidding slide from their captain off a flicked on header from a cross. Argentina solidly equalized within 15 minutes. Mexico played well but couldn't quite recover their peak form. Argentina continued to possess the ball well, and in the overtime Maxi Rodriguez hit a superb chest and volley winner to send home Mexico.
Italy-Germany was bristling with energy, with the hosts and their exuberant fans well in their court. Italy played exceptionally well on this day, with skillful interpassing and delicate touches and flicks. They got a deserved winner in the 119th minute off a corner with a skillful shot from Fabio Grosso that curled around the goalkeeper into the far corner. They tacked on a 2nd, and it was a thrilling finish to advance the Italians and eliminate the stunned Germans.
France beat Spain 3-1, a shocking finish to Spain's brightly started World Cup.
Quality
The quality of play was good, and the good teams rose to the occasion. There were not the pulsating, back-and-forth attacking games like you sometimes see. A good game often ends 3-2, and there were not many, if any, of those. That seemed to be all this tournament lacked. Germany come out the "winningest" team in my book, although they did not win the competition, as their inspired and positive play lifted the attitudes of the country and showed possibility. They wrapped up the World Cup with a strong 3rd place triumph over Portugal, 3-1.
The best team effort goes to Australia. They were unfancied, and yet they outlasted Croatia to advance to the 2nd round and went down to Italy only through a difficult penalty call. All in all, it was a very excellent World Cup with skillful players and quality play.
Best Players
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Fabio Grosso, Luis Figo, Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski, Marco Materazzi, Lilian Thuram, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Edwin van der Sar, Ashley Cole, William Gallas, Fernando Torres, Zinedine Zidane, Andriy Shevchenko, Gennaro Gattuso, Roberto Ayala, Juan Roman Riquelme, Phillip Lahm
Klose's setting up of his teammate Lucas Podolski for two goals against Sweden was an absolute masterclass in skill, timing, and selflessness. Marco Materazzi's headers were flawless, and he plays the ball with such consumate skill, looks like Picasso getting out his brush. Edwin van der Sar is the most incredible goalkeeper; his foot skills are also a lot better than many field players! Gattuso was most brilliantly levelheaded, perfectly sticking to his role of defensive foil to brilliant attackers as they varied considerably and let their heads take them out of the game. Riquelme has the most exquisite touch on the ball and an eye for piercing throughballs. Roberto Ayala was dynamite until his penalty kick miss. Ashley Cole did more running against Portugal than I have ever seen in a match. He totally dominated Portugal's right side. Buffon makes the one-handed save look like an art form. Pirlo is classic in his touch. Shevchenko is most fired-up attacker who can inspire great things in his team. Think about this: last year AC Milan had Pirlo, Shevchenko, Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta (a GREAT defender not seen in the later rounds), Gilardino, and others besides.
Honorable mention would have to go to Thierry Henry, Frank Ribery, and Fabio Cannavaro. Henry scored that brilliant, elegant goal against Brazil and had two other goals as well, plus being taken down for the penalty kick that beat Portugal. He is a little bit lazy at times but his skill and ability to dribble past defenders is fantastic. If some other players got into the penalty box against Italy, Henry's crosses might have led to a 2-1 victory. Ribery was full of effort and made a lot happen for his team (often the only guy running forward at opposing defenses). The only reason I didn't put Cannavaro on the top list was that everyone was giving more rave reviews than I think were deserved. I thought Henry beat Cannavaro a couple of times, and Abidala also seemed to get past him once or twice. He was agressive in the final but sometimes wildly kicking out.
From the back, my best 11 would be:
Edwin van der Sar
Ashley Cole
Gianluca Zambrotta
Roberto Ayala
John Terry
Pavel Nedved
Luis Figo
Juan Roman Riquelme
Gennaro Gattuso
Andriy Shevchenko
Thierry Henry
Labels: Soccer
posted by David at 1:58 PM
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