The World Cup Quarterfinals
James Rodriguez vs Neymar (FIFA World Cup)
Big teams fall all over the course of every World Cup. Spain, Italy, Portugal and England all tumbled out early this time amidst a mess of underperforming, wasted chances and tough draws. At the same time, less fancied nations played well above themselves and earned their deserved way to the next round despite the odds. We’re at the stage in the tournament now where good teams are gonna be knocked out. Not just good teams, but great teams. Teams that have played superbly all the way through the tournament are going to be heading home early. There can only be one winner, after all.
That’s both the most exciting and the saddest part of the quarterfinals. Either James Rodriguez’s or Neymar’s World Cup will be over in the next couple days. All through Brazil 2014 we’ve had superstar players carrying their teams on their backs. From Lionel Messi’s pure genius, to Cristiano Ronaldo’s half-hobbled desperation, to the youthful exuberance of Neymar or the bolt from the blue that is James Rodriguez. But the Brazil vs Colombia game will be the first time where two superstars go head to head against each other. It is winner takes all – the stakes have never been higher.
Football’s becoming increasingly more individual focussed. Player power is at an all-time high with Today’s Modern Super Agents giving them all the encouragement they need. It used to be that players were the assets of their clubs. Now players have the ability to force through transfers, to influence club decisions and hold entire fanbases at ransom – and they get away with it too! All is forgiven as soon as they step back on the pitch and start banging in goals. You know what, though? This is the way it has to be. It’s the superstars that make the game, it always has been. Pele, Maradona, Best, Cruyff, Zidane, etc… if you take on the responsibility that talent like that brings, you deserve to see the rewards too. The fact is, without Lionel Messi, Argentina wouldn’t have a single goal to their credit this tournament. With him, they’re potential World Champions.
Messi himself has the task of breaking down a pretty superb Belgian defence. Belgium entered the tournament with high expectations and a golden generation. Performances haven’t quite justified that yet, but then again, here they still are. Defensively you can maybe point at a couple of weak spots, though Vincent Kompany is arguably the best defender on the planet and Thibaut Courtois has been more than solid between the sticks. They’ve only conceded two goals so far. Their problem is at the other end. Despite a flood of talent, things haven’t quite clicked. Combinations aren’t there yet. Belgium haven’t scored before the 70th minute in any of their games, and their rustiness is best shown by the fact that they needed 39 shots to score two goals against America. Their ability to win games despite not looking at their best is one hell of a good trait – and something they share with their next opponents, Argentina.
Yo, Lionel Messi though. I still feel like I have to defend Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world but I don’t know why. Does it even matter? Why does one have to be better? Can’t we have them on equal pegging, or at least acknowledge that there’s no clear answer? They’re the best rivalry in sports right now, each driving the other to greater heights. But nah, this is the internet age. You have to pick a side and go all out in irrational defence of them. Start a fake twitter account (@_messi_9_golazo or @CR7_IsA_God) and watch the sheep come in to follow. Comment on Facebook posts about the other guy with lists of achievements and an overflow of emoticons. Use words and phrases like ‘Ballon D’Or’ and ‘tiki taka’. Burn the bridges. Overthrow the establishment. Troll everything.
Lionel Messi has been the single greatest revelation for me this World Cup. Watching him produce those brilliant moments on a team where he is the lone dog, without the backing of Xavi and Iniesta and the rest of the Barcelona Boys Club. It’s not been perfect, but he’s always been there when it counts. He has the softest, silkiest first touch in football. The ball is never more than a few inches from his boot. It means he can slip in and around defenders with ease and it’s beautiful to watch, even more so now that I feel like I can root for him without giving my tantamount support to the Death Star of Barcelona FC. Almost no help from his teammates (Someone but out an APB on Sergio Aguero!), yet Messi is still every bit as sublime. If this tournament is to be decided by one individual, it’s hard to look past the Messiah Messi.
France vs Germany is full of great players, but these are the two teams left that best rely on team structure and combinations. The French are swift and clinical. The Germans are mentally strong and well organised. Both are technically great across the board. Word is that the Germans are nursing a flu bug that’s going through their camp, whether or not that’s gonna affect the game we can only hope not. Each team has their share of stars, from Ozil to Benzema to Muller to Valbuena, plus a guy in Paul Pogba who’s primed to be a world great in a few years. Still, their fates aren’t tied into the performances of any single one of those guys like Argentina or Brazil. Spain won it last time as a fully functioning team, however the greatest legacies of the FIFA World Cup are those of the legendary players that led their team to glory. Regardless, this is the hardest match to predict of them all. And there’s still time for Pogba or Muller to make their Golden Ball case.
Costa Rica are the only team that look like they’ve already achieved all they can. This is probably the biggest sporting accomplishment in the nation’s history and even though they’ve certainly played well enough to be here, they’ve had to play out of their skins in every game and a single off game – even just by the smallest margin – will doom them against the Dutch. Another game like they played against Uruguay or Italy though and this is a very close game. The Netherlands seemed to struggle in the heat against Mexico. They almost phoned in the first half just to save energy. But then they have guys like Arjen Robben, Wesley Schneider and Robin Van Persie who can turn any game on its head with a piece of individual brilliance. Plus, of all the tactical masterminds in Brazil, Louis Van Gaal has been most impressive. Look at how he turned around that Mexico game. Or the different strategies he employed to take down Spain, Australia and Chile.
And then we came to the end which was actually the beginning which is actually the second game of the quarter finals: Brazil vs Colombia. Neymar vs James. Colombia have been the most consistently impressive team so far, though they haven’t come up against a contending team yet. But then neither have most teams left. So there’s the possibility that they are legitimately in it to win it, or maybe they’re just a little way off and the Brazilians pick them apart. Brazil definitely don’t fear anyone (except Lionel Messi), and it’s all or nothing for them. Don’t worry too much about the scraping through against Chile; the important thing is that they made it. Having faced the abyss and found their way back to safety, however lucky it was, the Brazilians will be better for it. No one wants to play them.
Teams, sponsors and broadcasters alike rely on superstar individuals. Fans are nursed to adore them. Nations have come to depend on them. Two number 10s carry the weight of the world and the hopes of their birth lands. It’s the biggest showdown of the tournament so far. The kid with all of the expectations at the beginning of the show vs the young, unearthed hero. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal. Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier. Neymar vs James Rodriguez. Only one can survive. Only one can progress.
Hot DAMN I love the World Cup!
Balls On The Line
France 1-2 Germany
NZ Time: Saturday 4am
Key Matchup: Paul Pogba vs Mesut Ozil. Two men with talent all around them, yet they carry the task of dictating attacks.
Deciding Factor: The Germans have made the semis the last two times. They know how to win a close game.
Brazil 3-2 Colombia (a.e.t.)
NZ Time: Saturday 8am
Key Matchup: Neymar vs James Rodriguez. Whoever plays better probably wins the game for their nation.
Deciding Factor: Brazil have the fans on their side, and they have a few more big game players. I’m picking an open attacking game though.
Argentina 1-0 Belgium
NZ Time: Sunday 4am
Key Matchup: Lionel Messi vs Vincent Kompany. Can he stall the indomitable Messi for 90-120 minutes?
Deciding Factor: Probably that Messi lad again.
Netherlands 2-0 Costa Rica
NZ Time: Sunday 8am
Key Matchup: Robin Van Persie vs Bryan Ruiz. RVP was rubbish last game, so is probably due a double. Ruiz has to match him goal for goal if Costa Rica are to have a chance.
Deciding Factor: The Dutch are just better across the park. Too many things have to go right for the Costa Ricans, plus the Dutch have everything to play for, CR have nothing to lose. I think the pressure brings the best out in Van Gaal’s boys. Case and point – how they finished off Mexico in the last few minutes.