ian (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ulevi) wrote,@ 2006-06-12 22:45:00 |
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Things I learned from the world cup over the past two days:
Angola can defend well, play the body and stifle opposition attacks, but they're ridiculously schizophrenic going forward. They're not a skill team, they shouldn't attempting multiple overhead kicks in the area or blasting wayward 35 yard shots from out wide. They really could've beaten Portugal if they'd played smart, direct football, but they didn't match their attack to their defence. Shame, really. Portugal was also woeful. Cristiano Ronaldo is not a world class player. He's a carnival sideshow, capable of a few neat stepovers that result in turnovers. His football sense is about where Joe Cole's was when he was 17, which is a shame. CR just has a lot more good players around him, and is quicker, so his shortcomings are less glaring. He's also a petulant little shit, and getting taken off when he did suggests that Scolari feels the same.
I'm still not convinced Holland will qualify despite beating a dreadful Serbia side (I can't believe I hyped them, they were quite poor and the coach seems to have just destroyed any chemistry in the side over the past two weeks with his antics). Robben would not pass to van Nistelrooy, which compounds the team's scoring difficulties. Its bad enough that your forwards probably aren't going to produce, but to have midfield distributors and wingers be ridiculously selfish and carry the ball all over the place is silly. Robben is not good enough to do that. He is not a gamebreaker, and he's been with Mourinho far too long to be a distinct creative influence on a match...
...unlike Rosicky, who completely dismantled the US. It always amazes me how ignorant American saw-ker fans, media, and their coach, especially, whinge and whinge about not getting any respect. YOU'LL EARN YOUR RESPECT WHEN YOU PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL. They lack talent and quality to be in this tournament. Their qualifying zone should get 1, 2 spots at most. The US were dreadful. They think they're on another level because they reached the quarters in a poor tournament. It's really quite easy to advance to the 2nd knockout stage when the tournament has THIRTY TWO FUCKING TEAMS. You can big up that victory against a weak portugal, and wow, you managed to keep within one goal of a german side that just didn't give a shit about you, and oh, you can beat Mexico 68 times. Wow. Rosicky's top corner drive was amazing, and his sprint in on Keller, and the dink into the back of hte net that followed were sublime. Arsenal has picked out a gem, and if the Czechs can go far in the tournament, and I expect them to reach the quarters or semis at least, then Rosicky will certainly garner attention as a potential player of the tournament.
As for Australia, they showed some valiance against Japan to come back. Why did Cahill not start? He is their one top quality player, their one matchwinner. The one player not overhyped, who gives it all with the skill to match. He's a powerhouse out of central midfield who can score a few pretty goals and a lot of ugly ones in the area when its filled with players obstructing the goal. He's got an eye for goal, and I now expect Australia to pop into the 2nd round, finishing second in their group to Brazil.
Italy beat a tough Ghanaian side, and on Ghana's performance I expect them to beat the US and finish 3rd in the group. The Czech-Italy match should be a delight. Nothing good tomorrow (Brazil will put the Croats through the paces), and only France-Swiss on the next day.
Angola can defend well, play the body and stifle opposition attacks, but they're ridiculously schizophrenic going forward. They're not a skill team, they shouldn't attempting multiple overhead kicks in the area or blasting wayward 35 yard shots from out wide. They really could've beaten Portugal if they'd played smart, direct football, but they didn't match their attack to their defence. Shame, really. Portugal was also woeful. Cristiano Ronaldo is not a world class player. He's a carnival sideshow, capable of a few neat stepovers that result in turnovers. His football sense is about where Joe Cole's was when he was 17, which is a shame. CR just has a lot more good players around him, and is quicker, so his shortcomings are less glaring. He's also a petulant little shit, and getting taken off when he did suggests that Scolari feels the same.
I'm still not convinced Holland will qualify despite beating a dreadful Serbia side (I can't believe I hyped them, they were quite poor and the coach seems to have just destroyed any chemistry in the side over the past two weeks with his antics). Robben would not pass to van Nistelrooy, which compounds the team's scoring difficulties. Its bad enough that your forwards probably aren't going to produce, but to have midfield distributors and wingers be ridiculously selfish and carry the ball all over the place is silly. Robben is not good enough to do that. He is not a gamebreaker, and he's been with Mourinho far too long to be a distinct creative influence on a match...
...unlike Rosicky, who completely dismantled the US. It always amazes me how ignorant American saw-ker fans, media, and their coach, especially, whinge and whinge about not getting any respect. YOU'LL EARN YOUR RESPECT WHEN YOU PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL. They lack talent and quality to be in this tournament. Their qualifying zone should get 1, 2 spots at most. The US were dreadful. They think they're on another level because they reached the quarters in a poor tournament. It's really quite easy to advance to the 2nd knockout stage when the tournament has THIRTY TWO FUCKING TEAMS. You can big up that victory against a weak portugal, and wow, you managed to keep within one goal of a german side that just didn't give a shit about you, and oh, you can beat Mexico 68 times. Wow. Rosicky's top corner drive was amazing, and his sprint in on Keller, and the dink into the back of hte net that followed were sublime. Arsenal has picked out a gem, and if the Czechs can go far in the tournament, and I expect them to reach the quarters or semis at least, then Rosicky will certainly garner attention as a potential player of the tournament.
As for Australia, they showed some valiance against Japan to come back. Why did Cahill not start? He is their one top quality player, their one matchwinner. The one player not overhyped, who gives it all with the skill to match. He's a powerhouse out of central midfield who can score a few pretty goals and a lot of ugly ones in the area when its filled with players obstructing the goal. He's got an eye for goal, and I now expect Australia to pop into the 2nd round, finishing second in their group to Brazil.
Italy beat a tough Ghanaian side, and on Ghana's performance I expect them to beat the US and finish 3rd in the group. The Czech-Italy match should be a delight. Nothing good tomorrow (Brazil will put the Croats through the paces), and only France-Swiss on the next day.
