Oh man, oh man, oh man. I have never been so happy losing a bit of money, never been so happy with a team losing, never been so happy in a country that has witnessed something historic.
Spain - the team of half Barca-pains-in-the-arses, the team of beautiful football, of that confidence and arrogance of a team that believes it has already won before the first kick - would lose, to Switzerland. Switzerland, the country which while they love their nati, don't really take their football THAT seriously. Afterall, methinks they take their football less seriously than Xavi takes himself. Wonder how it feels for Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, Pique, Busquets and Villa to lose to a team that takes ice-hockey, walking, cows and Nespresso more seriously than them. (Question: apart from North Korea, I wonder if there's any other national team out there that boasts more than half of the team from just one club. Answer: Probably none. Conclusion: North Korea still are that much more likeable).
It's just brilliant. I'm going out and buying a Swiss football jersey tomorrow.
So let's look at the stats. Spain: total dominance. Spain: 25 shots on goal. Spain: with all the hot-shot players of a golden generation. Spain: losers. To Switzerland. I just can't get enough!
I mean, this just opens up Group H then. Switzerland on three points with Chile and Honduras to play, should get through with just a win over Honduras. Keep your eye on the ball, and it should be fine. Chile, with a draw against Switzerland and finally against Spain, should get through too. And who doesn't? Spain! I just can't get enough! No clues for who I'm supporting when that Spain-Chile tie comes around.
As far as the Swiss performance was concerned, it was quite amazing. Yes, they did put Italy to the sword in their last friendly, but there was no clue to their defensive stability. But more than that, all I can put it down to is crap finishing. Spain played the beautiful game, right up to the final third, but when it came to it, fired blanks. It was like Arsenal redux in our worst nightmare! Don't you just love it when graft wins over arrogant swaggering?
Why did Spain lose then? Wastefulness? Arse luck? Switzerland's defensive tactics? Perhaps. But you know what I think? Bad karma man! A team is a sum of its parts, and unfortunately, it's almost all Barca. And Barca? They've had it coming for a long long time, thinking they're above the game. See what happened with Inter? Let's hope we see more of today. NB: I was kinda hoping the camera would zoom in on the crying Xavis, Iniestas, Puyols and all, but alas, no such joy.
So what else is there to talk about? Oh yeah, a word on jerseys. What is it about this new thing of ultra tight jerseys? Isn't that like a 70s thing - which had the short shorts to go along as well? (See: Gerd Muller). Anyway, you know what I'm talking about. I kinda thought it was a brand thing initially. Nike, with their normal, conservative, but athletic and traditional look to things - i.e. Holland, Portugal, the US. Then there's Puma, which is the worse culprit when it comes to ultra-tight, nipple-revealing shirts. See: Ivory Coast, Italy, Cameroon...get the drift? When it comes to Adidas, it's a bit of a mixed bag. You have the French, who have perfected the art of looking daft in their shirts two sizes too small, while at the same time, you have the rather decent and spiffy looking Germans.
So what is it? I say it's a national thing - whether everyone takes the size they should wear, or go one down. It's says a lot - France, Italy, Ivory Coast types: nipples, good. Six-pack (or lack thereof): good; and the conservative types opting not. I mean - what more stupid image can there be of Nicolas Anelka skulking, sulking, moping around in a faux swim suit on a football pitch? The French should think about this just as much as Raymond Domenech. Les Blues may think they're doing a Russell Crowe/Gladiator thing, but they're looking more like Zoolander, I'm afraid.
Of course, then there's the England jersey. Wannabe throw back to the 60s' kinda look, I'll say. And we all know where that's coming from. Whatever it takes, I suppose.
There's been a lot said about Australia these days, and their chances of scoring a goal, getting a point, getting past the group stage, whatever. But I think I know what they need to do. Get creative with the names, I say! I mean, really, no offense, but no Brazilian, Spanish, Argentinian or German is going to be anywhere intimidated intimidated by Scott Chipperfield, David Carney, Mike Milligan, Josh Kennedy, Brett Holman, Jason Culina or Luke Wilkshire on the back of the Australian shirt.
Try one of those one word names instead: Celçao, Carlito, Miliesta, Kéké, Holsão, Culinho or Lucas. What's the harm? It works, I tell you. Your chances of winning the World Cup rise quite quite substantially if you have a one-word, Portugese or Spanish sounding name on your shirt.
Ahhh...that's enough for today then. There's the little thing of South Africa-Uruguay in a few minutes. Can't believe we're already six days in. You gotta love the World Cup.
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