Fergie's World Cup Chewing Gum #4
Miroslav Klose fluffs his landing after an historic goal (FIFA World Cup)
Wildcard’s Word
It feels like this is becoming the World Cup of the Americas. It’s an overused fact that a European team has never won in South America, and just once has a South American team done so in Europe, so it’s hardly a surprise that of the teams getting bundled out early or struggling, most are from the Euros. After two full rounds, the undefeated teams remaining are Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Argentina, Nigeria, Germany, USA and Belgium. Just 4 European teams (of 13 that qualified), while 7 teams from North or South America still are yet to lose (of 10). I thought that of the Europeans, the Ibizan pair would be best suited to the conditions (being as Spain & Portugal colonised the whole continent) but Spain are gooone and Portugal are in massive danger.
It’s scary to see Nani playing better than Cristiano Ronaldo. We all assumed that Ronaldo was the key to their success, but we’re yet to see the best of him or anything close. Clearly his match fitness is lacking, though his biggest issue is that he’s playing with guys much weaker than his usual supporting cast at Real Madrid. He’s hanging around up front expecting others to create chances for him to capitalise on but it just isn’t happening with no Bale/Benzema/Di Maria/Modric/Xabi Alonso to bail him out. Next to zero work rate off the ball, hardly any space to work in when he tries. Instead it’s the rest of the team that’s sparking things when they happen, especially with their lethal counter attacks. Unfortunately they don’t know how to defend at all, hence the 6 goals already conceded, so yeah…
But despite all that, Ronaldo still came up with an inch perfect cross with under 30 seconds remaining for Varela to tie the game up and keep Portugal’s hopes alive for a little longer. Just as Lionel Messi has overcome two games where he’s struggled to make an impact with two brilliant, match winning goals. Luis Suarez did it last week, as did Robin Van Persie. Even Miroslav Klose off the bench. The best goalscorers are coming through at the most important times. This is the World Cup that all following World Cups will be compared to as the benchmark.
Mystery Doctor's Word
The last we saw of Tyrion Lannister on the Game of Thrones season 4 finale, he was being shipped off to a foreign land in a box. Who knew he was being shipped of to Brazil!? Who knew he had some French blood in him?! Not sure how his proud family would feel about his French connection, but Tyrion has been doing a decent job up front along with Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud. Folks, meet Mathieu Valbuenna aka Tyrion Lannister. He's freaking tiny, 5 ft 6 inches, an inch shorter than Lionel Messi and shares similar footballing attributes. It just made me smile seeing him score against the Swiss and do this...
Speaking of Messi, how awesome is it that we're seeing Messi put Argentina on his back and determine the outcome of World Cup games with his left boot. World Cups have a history of stars carrying their nation and stars basically doing nothing for their nation, it looks like Messi could be doing the latter. Twice now he's hit left footed shots from outside the box, all class to win the game but it's only pool play. I would go nuts if Messi wins knockout games, that would be awesome.
There's plenty of joy and love being spread around at the World Cup but this Costa Rican side are taking the cake. They have a solid team and someone who all fellow Arsenal fans would love to see in a red and white jersey at the Emirates - Joel Campbell. He's an Arsenal player but he's been on loan for a few years with Real Betis and Olympiakos who looks likely to return to train with Arsenal ahead of this season. Arsenal are amongst the rumours for Mario Balloteli, I'm going to enjoy the thought Balloteli and Campbell being a part of a silky Arsenal attacking force just as I'm going to enjoy the work of Costa Rica who have shown the epitome of pride and passion of the underdog.
The Best of Social Media
Hi-5s
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – Tied for the most World Cup goals all time now with 15. Quality. Not a guy who ever lit up the club stage in quite the same way, but always a man for the occasion. Klose has scored in 4 consecutive World Cups now. Only Pele, Uwe Seeler and Klose have ever done that.
Algeria – Wow, they really showed a few people, didn’t they? Completely undervalued going in, it turns out that Algeria are pretty decent. This is the country that gave us Zinedine Zidane, remember, and Karim Benzema (born in France) is of Algerian descent too. 4-2 over South Korea gives them a shot at making the next round, a feat the North African nation has never achieved before.
Le Francais – Running riot all over the Swiss. Man, they were good. So clinical, so swift and dangerous. Even with Franck Ribery back in France, they can attack you so rapidly on the counter that the Swiss barely knew what had hit them, and this is a very good defensive Switzerland side. With everyone getting along and Benzema scoring goals (including a belter ruled out as the ref sympathetically blew the final whistle as the French went on one last attack), they could go pretty far.
Hugs
Iran – I get the feeling that watching Iran this tournament is something close to what the rest of the world had with New Zealand last time, battling for their lives to get draws. Fortunately, the All Whites never had 90 brutal, committed minutes written off by a last gasp piece of Lionel Messi genius. Guts.
Roy Hodgson & co. (England) – Their false hope only lasted a day before Costa Rica upset Italy. To be fair, they lost to the 2012 European Championship runners up and the fourth placed team from the 2010 World Cup, both of whom were seeded above them. A poisoned chalice. No shame in that, just the usual mild disappointment.
Sulley Muntari (Ghana) – He went out in the streets and started handing out cash to poverty stricken Brazilian locals, until the police came and broke things up. With all the drama over how the Brazilian nation has spent so much money on the World Cup while overlooking its own social inequalities, it was a nice sentiment, even if not a hugely practical one (the cops turned up once a crowd of beggars amassed).
Slaps
The Asian Confederation – 3 draws and 5 losses from 8 games. Japan’s lack of cutting edge especially has been sad, given how great their lead-up play can be. South Korea topped things off by getting outplayed by Algeria this morning. At least they saved some face in the second half, having been 3-0 down at the break.
Cameramen – Look, we love a pretty lady as much as the next bloke but let’s not get carried away, cameramen. You can’t compete with internet porn. And you may as well be fair and give the ladies something to ogle over (since Ronaldo’s being all mopey). Here’s a cameraman actually pushing a bloke out of the way to get a shot of the lass next to him.
Golden Boot Watch
3 - Karim Benzema (France)
3 – Thomas Muller (Germany)
3 – Robin Van Persie (Netherlands)
3 – Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
3 – Enner Valencia (Ecuador)