Well well well. All the big talking countries are out, some defeated even before they got their game on. The biggest embarrassments have been Italy and France, both previous champions, now relegated to the bottom of their groups with seriously unimpressive group performances. Pathetic some might say, others would they had it coming, yet more will conclude they weren't hungry enough.
The latest high flying World Cup departure was England. They limped off losing spectacularly to Germany. Many expected a low-scoring outing or even penalties judging by previous encounters between the two football giants but one proved bigger than the other by more than the proverbial inch. Germany young upstarts shook the world view of boring Teutonic soccer and played like a cohesive commando unit. All together, all for it. To be fair, both teams had their chances but the Lampard curse continued to plague the Chelsea star. He was denied 3 times and worst of all, by the linesman who didn't see the crossbar deflection go into the German net past Neuer the goalie who flicked it away as it bounced out. Amazing what instant replays can do to denounce the words of a man in black by the line with a flag. The whole controversy of video replays being used to assist refs in decision making has come to the fore, with such a gargantuan loss of English spirit leading the charge for its use. Who knows what England might have pulled off if they weren't so unfairly ruled against? Who knows yeah.
My issue is why have instant repllays on TV when the teams can't be subject to the same visual evidence as us at home. Then we'll never know if the linesman got it right or wrong and no one would have a price on his head for screwing up some drug cartel tycoon's bet.
Ok, ok, I am all for video replays in the spirit of fairness in the sport of hooligans.
Japan got kicked out last night. I had a bad feeling about Kamano all night as I watched the dismal tug of war between Japan and Paraguay. It was silly at times - the loss of control, the passes to nowhere, the mistimed kicks. Perhaps embarrassing even. The defender Kamano has some chances to move up to the South American half to assist his fellow men in blue with their attempts at scoring but he didn't really do well with his passing. So that bad feeling rose up when he came to take the spot kick and subsequently hit the ball too high. Was it me and my bad feeling that caused Japan to lose? I dunno, I am not that almighty I think. So the Asian representation is no more and Paraguay also made history by entering the final 8 for the first time. They meet Spain who will trash them but who cares, history has been written.
Spain knocked Portugal out and everyone is upset with Cristiano Ronaldo for not living up to his worth. Well, what to do. Sometimes I think the choice between club and country often falls on the former as that's where the regular fame is. For country, perhaps once in 2 or 4 years to prove one's mettle is too long to wait. Young, pretty and pretty good footballers like Mr Ronaldo lap it up, with the media at their feet and girls at their beck and call. It's about the $ baby. Make as much as one can while one can.
Half the month down, let's the madness continue. Go Germany!
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