How will the 2010 World Cup be remembered?
Last night’s cagey, tentative World Cup Final between Spain and Netherlands summed up this summer’s tournament quite effectively.
It wasn’t a classic World Cup in the sense of easy-on-the-eye, exciting football; but it was a World Cup which will be remembered for other unique moments both on and off the pitch.
Sure, in future years, people will be able to recall Andres Iniesta’s dramatic extra-time winner at the Soccer City Stadium. However, they will then think of the vuvuzela or Paul the psychic octopus ahead of most of the football itself.
In past World Cups, there’s often been a standout match between two giants of the international game, which went down in history as that tournament’s classic match. With the possible exception of Germany’s 4-0 hammering of Argentina, there wasn’t really a game that will be fondly remembered in the same way as Brazil v Italy from the 1982 finals, for example.
It was more a battle of tactics in South Africa, with coaches desperate to keep things tight in defence and ensuring that no stone was left unturned in their bid to stifle their opponents. Whether this decreased the entertainment value depends on personal opinion, but most matches proved intriguing rather than compelling viewing.
Even Germany, who scored 16 goals from their seven matches, were intent on defending well first and foremost. They may have netted the most goals at this year’s World Cup, but still relied heavily on sitting back first, soaking up pressure, and then pouncing with swift counter-attacks.
Fortunately, this year’s World Cup has confirmed Spain’s status as the best team in the world. With just two defeats from their last 55 matches, la Furia Roja have been well ahead of any other nation in world football for the past three years, and thoroughly warranted landing their hands on the famous trophy for the first time.
Their Dutch opponents, previously revered for their unique brand of “total football” during the 1970s, shamelessly resorted to utilising cynical tactics during last night’s final. English referee, Howard Webb, endured a difficult night because of the sheer amount of foul-play on show in Johannesburg and issued a record number of deserved yellow cards and one red as a result.
Because of this, Spain’s eventual triumph was also a victory for positive football. Their own brand of “tika-taka” football, which they’ve become synonymous with over recent years, has allowed them add to the 2008 European Championships with the grandest prize in world football. And as the celebrations finally begin to die down in both Johannesburg and Madrid, history will hopefully remember this summer’s World Cup Final for Spain, rather than the negative Oranje or the referee.
It was also written in the script that one of football’s good guys would cement his name in the record books with the 2010 World Cup Final’s only goal. Midfield genius Iniesta was humble as ever in the aftermath of last night’s drama, “I've made a small contribution in a very tough game,” was more than an understatement from arguably the best midfielder on the planet.
While Uruguay’s Diego Forlán fully deserved to pick up the coveted Golden Ball following a series of inspirational performances for his national team. Although his efforts weren’t entirely single-handed, the 31-year-old striker scored five goals and dragged a nation with a population of just 3.5 million people to the World Cup semi-finals.
As for the winner of the Golden Boot, few would have touted Germany’s Thomas Müller to pick up the award before the tournament kicked off just over a month ago. At just 20-year-old, the Bayern Munich midfielder is a hugely exciting talent, and could play a major role for his national team in Brazil in four years time. His five goals and three assists sealed him the prestigious top scorer accolade.
So, whether your abiding memory from the tournament will be Iniesta’s winning goal, the incessant racket of the vuvuzelas, Diego Maradona’s exploits or a mystic octopus, the past four weeks have been gripping for a variety of different reasons; and South Africa – along with the whole of the dark continent - can be proud of the memorable World Cup they’ve hosted.
http://www.senore.com/Burt-Van-Marwijk-vents-his-anger-at-Howard-Webb-a16016
http://www.senore.com/Spanish-finally-get-hands-on-footballs-biggest-prize-a16017
http://www.senore.com/Spanish-finally-get-hands-on-footballs-biggest-prize-a16017
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