Maxi Pereira. Maxi bloody Pereira.
That boy cost me £21, as I had the game down as a thrilling 3-1 showing from the Dutch. Well, they've yet to truly thrill me as yet, so I expected them to systematically take apart a severely weakened Uruguay side.
But no, they relied on a wonder strike comparable to that by Maniche (against the Dutch, actually), pretty poor Uruguayan defending and ultimately got done at a set piece in injury time. Yes yes, they still won - but who cares?!
I know, I know - if you play in the dirt, expect to get dirty. Get lost McNulty, do I look like Officer Walker?
And how gutted are you if you're a Uruguayan? Not only did you have to call upon the other El Diego when Silly Muntari boshed one in, but then you had to do it again when Gio popped up with what I claim is the best goal of the World Cup (so far, obviously). There didn't seem to be too much movement, and Gio showed some balls by not disguising his shot as a cross (yeah, i see you Maicon). Anyway, I think they have a good side for the future (Under 20's side looks decent), and I'm growing a liking for that Gargano - he's like a little, squatty engine running up and down the pitch.
Okay, moving on. So this is the first time a European team will win the World Cup outside of its continent - but all I ask is that team be Spain.
Hold it, don't expect any anti-German sentiment from me. I'm only saying this for the good of the game itself, we need Spain to win this World Cup for many reasons.
The Reasons.
1) I truly believe this Spanish side is the best the country will have for at least another forty years. Similar to France in 1998, this side has been blessed with timing. But more so, it has been blessed with the resurgence of Barca in the last five years, and the strength of it's league teams in European competition. It's effect on the global football community is comparable to that of the Best International Side Of All Time - the 1970 Brazil squad.
Now, I know this doesn't give them a divine right to win the thing - especially as they haven't fulfilled their potential in this tournament (thanks to Hitzfeld, Chile and the manager persisting with Sergio Buckets alongside Alonso and Xavi). But, they have played the best football us lot are going to see for a very long time, and have been doing it for years. Not just this summer - years.
2) They show us English people how integral the role of mentality is within a team. This is the same nation that under-achieved more than England, and within the course of around six years has learnt to let go of that, and are re-writing their own history books. For that, they deserve something...but maybe that something is just a pat on the back.
3) A World Cup isn't like other competitions where outsiders merely show up one summer and win the hallowed trophy. It's not the Euro's, the Olympics or the Champions League. Teams have to be great to win this thing, great in the sense that they are either going to, or already have, effected football dramatically for the four years leading up to the tournament. Spain fit the bill, and if another side had played truly great football throughout this summer, I would take my hat off to them. But they haven't.
So, let's all be honest with ourselves shall we? The Dutch team isn't actually better than the one they had in 2008. Or 2006. Maybe even 2004. They play a direct and wide style that is so similar to the Premier League that it makes me want to puke. And this German side will only deserve the trophy if they go on to dominate for the next four years, so can't they just wait their turn? Hello, look at your trophy cabinet - it's pretty full already you greedy gits.
4) If we all look within the football department inside our hearts, we know Spain are the best side left. Even if they show up at 60%, they are better than the others - but it's the 'if' that is the problem. If the mentality issues come back to roost, if they play without width for longer than sixty minutes, and if the Germans/Dutch capitalise - they will have failed at the final hurdle. Their greatness will be lost in the ether, and our kids will scratch their heads at what we're banging on about when we say that this Spanish side was the best team of our generation.
And who wants to put up with that?
5) Spain have David Villa, a permanent resident in my Top Three Strikers chart. He deserves the trophy above most of the 'great' players left, don't you think?
Speechless.
As the Argentines played out their traditional exit from another World Cup, I was overcome with sadness. I couldn't even write any notes on the match, all I got was:
Pathetic, I know. But who won't miss things like this?
The tragic clown has left the building, so has any divine comedy that I wished for in the final. Now we'll just have the self-combustible Dutch and the incessantly counter-attacking Germans just being bitter to each other, and Cruyff coming out moaning again about Berti Vogts' man-marking in 1974. Oh well, at least I won't have to be nervous as f**k, unlike my German mates.
Biggest Summer Disappointment.
No, not the scandalously short playing given to Jesus Navas, nor is it Wayne Rooney.
It's this:
I should actually relate (yes, my figure is 'adapting' to home life), but I've not felt this bad since Lauryn Hill fell off. Oh well, we'll still have 2002-2007 Ronnie.
Something For The Pub.
Did you know that Forlan is the first player since Lothar Matthaus, to score three goals outside the box in a single World Cup?
Well, you do now. (Yes, it's been a slow 'story' day - roll on Germany v Spain).
Will This Last?
Well, well, well - has the British media grown up? This is what I saw on the back page the other day:
I think it's the first act of actual sports journalism that I've seen on the back page. Where's the gossip in this - a story about the Under 19 England squad? That's astonishing, does this mean people will be watching the competition later this July? Wow, I'm going to the local to watch it - we're certain to screen it in pubs now that we all know England has to build from the ground up.Oh, hold on - I think Spurs are playing Hamburg in a pre-season friendly on the day of that England match....go Spurs! England Shmingland, let's get the Premier League hoopla on the go!
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