Whether its Shakira’s swinging “Waka Waka” or K’naan’s “Wavin’ flag”, wherever you look (and hear), the World Cup is top of mind and conversation. For over a month now, football fans (old and new) have immersed themselves in what must be the biggest single periodic event in the world. Nothing matches up to it.
Here are my thoughts on what were the highlights of this particular world cup tournament.
The level playing field:
If you’ve been following football (particularly the World cup) for the last two decades, you might agree with me on this. I remember as a kid, if someone were to ask who would win the cup, there were just 4 usual suspects – Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy. And somehow, till the French ‘revolution’ in the late 90s, these were the teams reaching the finals and winning also. This world cup has been different though – from the beginning, people have talked about Spain (ranked 2 in the latest FIFA rankings), England (‘the golden generation’ as some of its stars are referred to), Portugal and a couple of African nations like Drogba’s Ivory Coast – they have all been in the reckoning. After all the action that has transpired, it does look like as if the playing field has now leveled out far more than in the past. The Asian and African teams have made their presence felt (Ghana missing the semis with a penalty whisker). Less fancied teams like Serbia and Slovakia have shown they can play a good organized team game and preval over more illustrious opponents. With the increased movement of players across the globe for their club assignments (particularly in European clubs), players of lesser nations have picked up strategies and skills that were earlier a bastion of the established football superpowers. Cases in point: Didier Drogba, Diego Forlan, Park Ji Sung, etc. Now it seems that any team can beat any team on its day. All it requires is teamwork, passion and possibly making the most of half-chances on the field.
The "Superstar Trap":
Lionel Messi. Christiano Ronaldo. Wayne Rooney. Some teams this world cup have suffered from what can be called ‘the Superstar trap’. The team, knowingly or unknowingly, starts to play around the superstar instead of collectively as a team. So, a young forward with an equally good chance for netting a goal, will look around for the superstar in his team to pass the ball, and eventually squander his team’s chances. Plays are created to feed the superstar but alas, they forget the superstar receives his due attention from the opposing team also who have heavily marked him. Teams that did well in this world cup like Germany and Spain and the African nations played as a team. A Podolski feeds to Klose, a Ozil passes to Schweinsteiger who in turn sets it up for Muller. All very fine players in their own right, but none of them head and shoulders above the others. Notice no ‘superstars’, but great as a team.
The “superstar trap” has had its disclaimers too. Consider the curious case of Zinedine Zidane and the French football team’s fortunes. In 1998, Zidane was a powering force in France’s World Cup triumph. Four years later, he missed the first 2 games of the World Cup due to injury, and before he could make a ‘fitting’ impression, France were bundled out. Cut to the next world cup, where he played the anchor in France reaching the World Cup finals. Ironically, the turning point in the final against Italy was also provided by him. The headbutt and Zidane’s red card happened, and suddenly the Italians looked much more in control of the game that they eventually went on to win.
The refereeing dilemma:
This world cup has been notorious for the refereeing blunders that have turned the tide of many games. Lampard’s disallowed goal when the ball clearly bounced over the goal line created a furore and would have been particularly embarrassing for Sepp Blatter (the FIFA top boss) who was watching from the stands. So what’s the solution? FIFA’s already said yes to technology playing a bigger role in matches, but is yet to say how. I think the fast-paced, competitive and punishing nature of the game today demands that a team can raise say 2-3 challenges for replay (similar to tennis) on contentious goal allowing/disallowing decisions. Technology used more often than that (say for instance, fouls) would adversely impact the pace of the game and dilute the field referee’s role. But for goal decisions which are potentially game-changing, technology should receive a thumbs up.
What else happened…
Every world cup also brings along its own unique flavour to the history of this competition. Here are some things that WC2010 brought to the party:
Vuvuzelas: Everyone hated them and the Africans loved them. The sound of a million bees as the media described it. Some teams even requested FIFA to ban the use of vuvuzelas in the matches saying they couldn’t hear the referee whistle. All this, and then as the tournament progressed, fans of every country picked up the vuvuzela, painted it in their national colours and accepted it as an integral part of this world cup. Even our ears have got attuned to the vuvuzela sounds, and I think every football game in future is going to sound a bit odd (or normal?).
Jabulani, the football: In every world cup, atleast since 1998, the football produced by Adidas has come under scrutiny. Too light, no control in the air and all that. Sound bytes from ex-players, coaches and disgruntled forwards & goalies add to the drama. The ball was being blamed for the initial goal drought in this tournament too but once Portugal scored 7 in a game and the Germans started averaging about 4, there was really nothing left for anyone to say.
Larissa Riquelme: Nobody did more for Paraguay’s support this World Cup than her. The Paraguayan lingerie model promised to run naked through the streets of her hometown Asuncion wearing only body paint of her team colours. Condition: Paraguay wins the world cup or even if they beat Spain to enter the semis, or… what the heck, she’ll do it anyway. Latest reports suggest she’s decided to do the run anyway this weekend which makes you wonder what really was the point of the whole thing. Larissa was also the advertiser’s delight, cheering with first a Nokia phone and then an Axe ad positioned near where most men were focusing as she cheered from the stands. Most popular fan of the world cup? I guess so!
Paul the Oracle Octopus: From a quiet existence in a sea-life museum in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul is now an international celebrity. To date, Paul has got 7/7 predictions right in this World Cup, including some for which he received death threats. Nobody really knows how Paul does it. Some scientists say he’s attracted to flags which have distinct stripes (Spain for instance). Others argue it’s where he’s physically located in his tank when prediction time comes. Whatever might be the reason, Paul has established himself as the ultimate football pundit and what’s more, he’s now encouraging other animals around the world to take us humans for a ride (Mani the parakeet in Singapore). For the finals, Paul’s predicted Spain will win while Mani’s choice is Netherlands. So, one of them is going to fall from their short-lived stardom very soon. I think I’m going to give Paul’s prediction the winning edge on this one. A little more experience on his side. :)
So that was that. An exciting world cup, full of drama and surprises.
Tonight, the World Cup will have a new champion. Will it be the third-time lucky Dutch or the finally-united-as-a-team Spain? We’ll just have to wait and watch. Waka, waka!
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