As Fabio Grosso struck that penalty into the net away from the waiting hands of Fabien Barthez, the biggest sporting extravaganza on the planet after the Olympics drew to a close!! What a World Cup it had been.......Goals falling in, goals saved by the goalkeepers and defenders, fouls committed, cards shown, injuries ending the campaign of some mid-way, a few upsets........Everything fell in place in this month long spectacle.
What began in the Allianz Arena in Munich on the 9th of June between Germany and Costa Rica proved to be feast for the fans of "Jogo Bonito".Philip Lahm set the goal register ringing with that excellent ranger from the left hand corner of the penalty box of the Costa Ricans, it all became a daily affair cot d'oeuvre nearly sucking in the Argentines in that game in Hamburg, the Germans being made to sweat till the 90th minute by the Poles till Neuville tapping in off a perfect cross from Odonkor, the Brazilians scraping through against the Croatians, first timers Trindad and Tobago holding the Swedes goalless, the 'Socceroos' coming from behing to thrash the Japanese, Spain thrashing Ukraine, and the French not being able to break the Swiss wall........
But the tournament really was 'normal' in the sense that no big upsets happened like the last edition in Korea and Japan...The Ghanians pulverising the Czechs was the only exception!!The Czechs playing their first world Cup as Czech Republic were heavily grounded by the absence of regular strikers Jan Koller and Milan Baros.Pavel Nedved nevertheless played the role of playmaker to perfection, but couldn't quite do the finishing job.The Koreans really tried their very best, but couldn't repeat the magic of 2002.
The Latin American dominance could only last till the quarter-finals on this occassion.The "Albiceleste" and the "Selecao", that is Argentina and Brazil fell mid way into the last stages.The Argentines who who were no doubt the best team of this World Cup, fell due to some big tactical mistakes by their coach Pekerman and fate in the form of injury to their number one goalkeeper, Abidonzieri. The Brazilian who were the biggest star-studded outfit with all the big names could only remain so on paper.With all those dominance, Roberto Carlos couldn't mark Thierry Henry in that crucial moment.Perhaps the only creditable achievement for them in this edition was that record of all-time highest WC goal scorer for Ronaldo-wonder for how long will that remain, with Kolse really 'closing' in!!
The best goals in this World Cup would definitely be that volley from Maxi Rodriguez in the Extra-Time against Mexico...and who can forget that 24-pass poem from Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro ending with Cambiasso putting in the final signature!! That goal is one of the greatest goals ever in World Cup history.The goal by Maniche against the Dutch and that lon ranger by Joe Cole against Sweden are also lasting memories of this World Cup..........Also to be added are the ones by Frings against Costa Rica and Zambarotta against Ukraine.
The best and the worst moments of this world Cup are also many. The loss of Argentina in that penalty shoot-out against the Germans in Berlin(with the avoidable fistfights in the end), the exit of Brazil by that solitary goal from France, the Swiss not being able to score even once in their penalty shootout with Ukraine, those ugly scenes in what is now dubiously known as "the Battle of Nuremburg", where the Russian referee Valentin Ivanov dishing out 16 yellow and 4 red cards, Wayne Rooney sent off in that quarterfinal clash with the Portuguese, the German march finally ending in that fateful night in Dortmund at the hands of the Azzuri and the Aussies deceived in that last moment by Totti through that penalty. But the most disgraceful moment of the World Cup would definitely be that worst moment when Zinedine Zidane was shown that red card in the final for that head-butt on Materrazzzi, in what was his last match for his country.......
What a shameful moment it was!!A captain leaving his drowning ship......In a way this World Cup has moved in a similar trajectory like Zidane!!Sent off for that crucial game against Togo, and then coming back, displaying his skill and magic for which he has been famous against the Spanish and against the mighty Brazilians-whom he defeated single-handedly!! Then scoring against Portugal and even against the Italians in the final. Thus, it was a roller-coaster ride all the way.Perhaps this WC will be remembered for ever for that one crucial moment on July 9th in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.Zidane's greatest regret in his life would no doubt be the same. This World Cup has also ended the careers of Oliver Khan-demoted to a second position against Jens Lehmann-, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lillian Thuram, Patrick Viera, Fabien Barthez-cud he turned to be the savior for the French in those penalties??-, Cafu, Nedved, Ruud Van Nistelroy-Marco Van Basten never gave him a chance against the Portuguese!!, Luis Figo-what a player he was-, Pauleta and some more!!
The two coaches for whom this World Cup has been a blessing are Marcello Lippi of Italy and Jurgen Klinsmann of Germany.Klinsmann, ever criticized by his countrymen for being based in California, has really changed the Germans from having a 'defensive' mindset to an 'all-attacking mould'!!Even the great "Kaiser" Beckenbauer has asked him stay on in his job. Lippi took his team from the morose and dreariness of the match-fixing scandals in the Series A back home and crowned them to glory!!For others like Jose Pekerman, Carlos Alberto Perreirra, Marco Van Basten, Dick Advocaat, Zico, Guus Hiddink-couldn't quite repeat the magic of the last edition-, Bruce Arena and Karol Bruckner, it was only tears and sighs....Luiz Felipe Scholari and Raymond Domenech would have expected a little more from their teams.
Italy really made that effort to win the trophy for the 4th time!!What an occassion for them!!To lift the glittering trophy designed by an Italian Silvio Gazzaniga.......In the end there has to be some words for the organizers....The Germans under Franz Beckenbauer have presented an absolutely wonderful World Cup.....Even the motto of "A Time to make Friends" has clicked big time....All those people deserve a standing applause........In four years time South Africa hosting the 19th World Cup-the first time in Africa-has to put up a similar and fitting show........
Till then the "Jogo Bonito" rolls on!!Viva the game of the masses!!The Show will go on............
What began in the Allianz Arena in Munich on the 9th of June between Germany and Costa Rica proved to be feast for the fans of "Jogo Bonito".Philip Lahm set the goal register ringing with that excellent ranger from the left hand corner of the penalty box of the Costa Ricans, it all became a daily affair cot d'oeuvre nearly sucking in the Argentines in that game in Hamburg, the Germans being made to sweat till the 90th minute by the Poles till Neuville tapping in off a perfect cross from Odonkor, the Brazilians scraping through against the Croatians, first timers Trindad and Tobago holding the Swedes goalless, the 'Socceroos' coming from behing to thrash the Japanese, Spain thrashing Ukraine, and the French not being able to break the Swiss wall........
But the tournament really was 'normal' in the sense that no big upsets happened like the last edition in Korea and Japan...The Ghanians pulverising the Czechs was the only exception!!The Czechs playing their first world Cup as Czech Republic were heavily grounded by the absence of regular strikers Jan Koller and Milan Baros.Pavel Nedved nevertheless played the role of playmaker to perfection, but couldn't quite do the finishing job.The Koreans really tried their very best, but couldn't repeat the magic of 2002.
The Latin American dominance could only last till the quarter-finals on this occassion.The "Albiceleste" and the "Selecao", that is Argentina and Brazil fell mid way into the last stages.The Argentines who who were no doubt the best team of this World Cup, fell due to some big tactical mistakes by their coach Pekerman and fate in the form of injury to their number one goalkeeper, Abidonzieri. The Brazilian who were the biggest star-studded outfit with all the big names could only remain so on paper.With all those dominance, Roberto Carlos couldn't mark Thierry Henry in that crucial moment.Perhaps the only creditable achievement for them in this edition was that record of all-time highest WC goal scorer for Ronaldo-wonder for how long will that remain, with Kolse really 'closing' in!!
The best goals in this World Cup would definitely be that volley from Maxi Rodriguez in the Extra-Time against Mexico...and who can forget that 24-pass poem from Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro ending with Cambiasso putting in the final signature!! That goal is one of the greatest goals ever in World Cup history.The goal by Maniche against the Dutch and that lon ranger by Joe Cole against Sweden are also lasting memories of this World Cup..........Also to be added are the ones by Frings against Costa Rica and Zambarotta against Ukraine.
The best and the worst moments of this world Cup are also many. The loss of Argentina in that penalty shoot-out against the Germans in Berlin(with the avoidable fistfights in the end), the exit of Brazil by that solitary goal from France, the Swiss not being able to score even once in their penalty shootout with Ukraine, those ugly scenes in what is now dubiously known as "the Battle of Nuremburg", where the Russian referee Valentin Ivanov dishing out 16 yellow and 4 red cards, Wayne Rooney sent off in that quarterfinal clash with the Portuguese, the German march finally ending in that fateful night in Dortmund at the hands of the Azzuri and the Aussies deceived in that last moment by Totti through that penalty. But the most disgraceful moment of the World Cup would definitely be that worst moment when Zinedine Zidane was shown that red card in the final for that head-butt on Materrazzzi, in what was his last match for his country.......
What a shameful moment it was!!A captain leaving his drowning ship......In a way this World Cup has moved in a similar trajectory like Zidane!!Sent off for that crucial game against Togo, and then coming back, displaying his skill and magic for which he has been famous against the Spanish and against the mighty Brazilians-whom he defeated single-handedly!! Then scoring against Portugal and even against the Italians in the final. Thus, it was a roller-coaster ride all the way.Perhaps this WC will be remembered for ever for that one crucial moment on July 9th in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.Zidane's greatest regret in his life would no doubt be the same. This World Cup has also ended the careers of Oliver Khan-demoted to a second position against Jens Lehmann-, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lillian Thuram, Patrick Viera, Fabien Barthez-cud he turned to be the savior for the French in those penalties??-, Cafu, Nedved, Ruud Van Nistelroy-Marco Van Basten never gave him a chance against the Portuguese!!, Luis Figo-what a player he was-, Pauleta and some more!!
The two coaches for whom this World Cup has been a blessing are Marcello Lippi of Italy and Jurgen Klinsmann of Germany.Klinsmann, ever criticized by his countrymen for being based in California, has really changed the Germans from having a 'defensive' mindset to an 'all-attacking mould'!!Even the great "Kaiser" Beckenbauer has asked him stay on in his job. Lippi took his team from the morose and dreariness of the match-fixing scandals in the Series A back home and crowned them to glory!!For others like Jose Pekerman, Carlos Alberto Perreirra, Marco Van Basten, Dick Advocaat, Zico, Guus Hiddink-couldn't quite repeat the magic of the last edition-, Bruce Arena and Karol Bruckner, it was only tears and sighs....Luiz Felipe Scholari and Raymond Domenech would have expected a little more from their teams.
Italy really made that effort to win the trophy for the 4th time!!What an occassion for them!!To lift the glittering trophy designed by an Italian Silvio Gazzaniga.......In the end there has to be some words for the organizers....The Germans under Franz Beckenbauer have presented an absolutely wonderful World Cup.....Even the motto of "A Time to make Friends" has clicked big time....All those people deserve a standing applause........In four years time South Africa hosting the 19th World Cup-the first time in Africa-has to put up a similar and fitting show........
Till then the "Jogo Bonito" rolls on!!Viva the game of the masses!!The Show will go on............
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