The 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is more than 6 months old now but still haunts a football fan. With Russia and Qatar winning the bids for hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, people are scared of missing out action they have seen over so many years in the soccer-fanatic nations. It started with a day which concluded with draws followed by several other draws throughout the group-stage which summed up to 14 draws out of which 6 ended 0-0. Apart from the draws in the group stages, 13 games ended with just one goal separating the two teams after 90 minutes. So, on paper, 27 out of 48 games turned out to be a turn off for a football fan who must have bunked college or office, fought with his/her girlfriend/boyfriend just for the beautiful game which did not prove to be beautiful this year. Coming to the K.O. stages we had quite a spectacle in the Round of 16 as we saw U.S.A. exiting to Ghana which was a boost for the continent of Africa but that too “a.e.t.”. Nevertheless we had one of the most anticipated matches in this round of whose result turned out to be as it was anticipated by a major part of the following. Germany 4-1 England-One of the biggest international level football rivalries. Even half my friends go to sleep as the half time concludes 0-0. The line goes well then “Score To Live”. No goals is a dead game then.
Even the Finale was dead-boring. What made it more boring was that most people speculated a penalty shootout but last minute goal broke heart of many those who watch for entertainment and those who supported the Netherlands. What made the tournament so boring and obvious that almost every follower of the Beautiful Game knew who was going to win and without any hesitation the anticipation came true?
Bringing Joy To No One!
Yes! The tournament had no balls! It had Jabulani. The irony is that “Jabulani” means “Bringing Joy to everyone”. Brazil goalkeeper Júlio César compared it to a "supermarket" ball that favoured strikers and worked against goalkeepers. Second part of the irony with the ball is that it didn’t bring joy to anyone except the players who endorse the producer and the ones who were able to score owing to some really wicked deflections. On one hand where the English ‘keeper David James stated that, "The ball is dreadful. It's horrible, but it's horrible for everyone" his teammate Frank Lampard who endorses the producer company of Jabulani gave good reception to it saying, "(It is) A very strong ball, true to hit." FIFA claimed that it would discuss the matter with coaches and teams after the World Cup. But what’s the use Sir? We’ve already been bored!
Practice makes a tournament boring!
The actual saying is that “Practice makes a man perfect” but perfection this time made the game really monotonous. Though on the other side we got to see some really good tackles but what is the use when it makes all the teams equally good? As time goes, in any tournament a group of death would probably kill the audience. Nevertheless, hitherto the game has been better than what it is speculated to be with the onset of goal-line technologies and action-video replays; gosh! Mr. Øvrebø, your career and our entertainment is in danger!
Viva La Espana!
It was much anticipated world cup win, unlike many previous large-scale tournaments. Spain were the favourites ever since they won Euro ’08. A true prediction is always welcome but the flawlessness with which Spain played was lukewarm. Big-Big clashes are sometimes unwelcome when rather Small-Big clashes manage to end up with more goals. Certainly the Portugal v/s North Korea match would have been more of an enthusiasm than even the Final. But then Spain aren’t held fully responsible for the murder of someone’s enthusiasm who wishes to get sheer entertainment and pleasure for 90 minutes, it is collectively the whole game out of which flaws are being picked out one by one making it just 90 minutes of disheartening goalless draws.
-PRANAV MUKUL
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