The anticipation was worth it no? probably the best world cup ever, and I am writing this before the knockout rounds have even begun.
I like to think of myself of a man of the game, a connoisseur of the finer points of the global sport. I believe I am a student to whit the intricacies of all the formations and players and teams have to offer. In short, I think I have a decent knowledge of the game.
Then the world cup starts and goals are flying in everywhere, anywhere but mostly into the net of the teams I’ve predicted will do well.
This world cup has shown me up to be the no nothing hack I really am.
Spain. I know they’re all 6 years older than the initial 2008 Euro’s triumph, but Jesus… nobody, and I mean nobody saw the shafting they received coming. They just looked old, slow and complacent. Once their game was shown up to be the house of cards it was, there was no plan B. I didn’t think Spain would win the tournament, but I never thought the demise would be so swift, and so sudden.
If there is a legit bracket, from the offset that has Greece playing Costa Rica in the next round. then you’re a liar. Plain and simple.
The rise of Costa Rica is a breath of fresh air. It should be celebrated as a win for the common man. The clues were there to see with the victory over the USA in San Jose in late 2013. It proves that a team doesn’t need to be made up of world stars to compete. Anyone against modern football can cheer loudly at their achievements.
England and Italy. excuses of Manaus aside, terrible. I said to Rocko before the tournament “Quietly ya know, I think England are a good team” To which he agreed. However I am very glad I said it quietly because it was a complete and utter disaster. While Costa Rica may have been a team with sum greater than their parts. England and Italy were definitely the opposite. Scoring only 2 goals each, despite having so called “world class” stars is a parody of itself. Italy have now failed to progress from the group stages from successive world cups, While England have only won 1 world cup game in 8 played going back to Germany 2006. That’s damning. Yet they still took Gerrard and Lampard……. will they never learn?
I can’t help also but think if Italy and England just played out a drab slow 0-0 tie in Manaus, it could have been so different. The USA were the only team to play in Manaus and go through to the knockout round. While Portugal were the only team to win their next game. The conditions in the stadium when USA played Portugal in the jungle according to Ryan Smith “it was like an furnace.” It does seem a little unfair to ask certain teams to play in those conditions while others get a pass playing in more temperate climes of southern Brazil.
Leading on to the USA…… What can be said that hasn’t already. Full disclosure here, I thought the USA would be 3 and done. My predictions again, happily way off the mark. One Nation One Team really have grabbed their chance and seized upon it. Who cares that it was goal difference, they got out of a group that looked like a nightmare from the onset. This can only be good for the national and local game. We have to seize upon this for Saint Louis FC next year. The hype of the world cup may die down. But the parties, the feel good factor of us all getting together to celebrate the game at the Amsterdam Tavern (or wherever else you may have been) will live long in the psyche of those whom experienced it. I implore you, before the game against Belgium, tell one person about the new USLPRO team next year. Buy them a beer in accordance with the Free Beer Movement and explain that this could be a weekly occurrence next season.
On the national scene, it seems fitting that from 8 years ago watching the USA v Italy game in a Buffalo Wild wings with 4 other people, we’re now seeing not just an improvement on the field, but an improvement in fan culture all around the country. Watch parties are the in thing to be seen at. The bars are at bursting point all over St Louis when the USA has played, and while I may scoff at BPV and the “Get Loud” graphics, if we continue to see the compound interest in the tournament and game in general, in 4 years time big screens in Forest park, Tower Grove park and BPV will be the only way to accommodate all comers. I only hope it can be done with the inclusion of the soccer bars and vendors that cater to the fans during the rest of the year, not just when the world cup is on.
So yeah, been a great world cup. Enjoy. See you on the flip side in Fenton in 2015.
On a final and heartwarming note, the naysayers in the press, the ones who trott out the same old tired rubbish “world cup sucks, flopping around and it’s not real sport” are just becoming more and more the fringe. Yes, I’m looking at you Joe Strauss. You basically admitted you’re a sports writer who doesn’t like sports. Way to talk yourself out of a job. This is the future, evolve or get left behind. I hope the Post Dispatch employs a sports journalist who’s head isn’t still in the 50’s. And please, let’s not even discuss Coulter nonsensical ramblings.
