Why the only person at Leicester City under as much pressure as Paulo Sousa has the chance to fire this club into the Premier League...
Football is a fickle sport. Most of the time, you’re only as good as your last game. It’s also true that following a successful season, anything less than that the year after often seems disappointing.
Now, it’s difficult to criticise the season that Leicester City had last year. Finishing fifth in the Championship and narrowly missing out on a play-off final appearance was an outstanding achievement that exceeded most people’s expectations, bearing in mind this team was in League One the year before. But one thing that seemed to be lacking was a prolific goal scorer; someone who could get you twenty goals or more in a season.
Enter DJ Campbell?
First of all, I do not doubt any of the strikers at Leicester City. Matty Fryatt was unstoppable in League One, but unfortunately missed around three months of last season after suffering a broken jaw against Doncaster Rovers in February. Steve Howard is constantly a huge presence who can change the face of any game - as was demonstrated in the play-off semi-final second leg at Cardiff City. Paul Gallagher is arguably the most skillful and talented attacking player at Leicester City, although he was played out of position most of last year and looks likely to adopt an attacking midfielder role this season. And, unfortunately, Sunderland were unwilling to sell or loan Martyn Waghorn after a terrific year with the Foxes, which led to him being voted Leicester City’s Young Player of the Year
Secondly, please don’t count this as me jumping on the bandwagon. Like many Leicester fans, I remember the three dismal years Campbell spent with this club. Four goals in 38 games is a terrible scoring record for any striker. I also remember Campbell begging Leicester not to obstruct a “dream move” to Blackpool – the side he helped to gain promotion to the top flight of English football, scoring eleven goals in eighteen games during his time at Bloomfield Road, including a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in the play-offs.
When talks between Leicester and Blackpool over Campbell broke down due to financial disagreements, there were still strong rumours circulating regarding his future, and that other clubs had shown interest in him – most likely to the delight of Leicester fans. But when Nigel Pearson left the club, with Paulo Sousa being appointed, it became apparent that Campbell may well be staying put.
Sousa still had the option to consider a transfer, but instead he has given DJ an opportunity for a fresh start. While it might be difficult to get too excited about something like that, it’s clear to see that Campbell has certainly impressed the new manager. Four goals in four games in preseason – albeit against, for the most part, lesser opponents - speaks for itself.
All of a sudden, there’s an air of excitement regarding DJ Campbell, and the prospect of what he can do to help Leicester City. Whilst this is perhaps overoptimistic right now, it’s very easy to see why people are now anticipating the opening day of the season more than ever. To some extent, it feels as if Campbell is a new signing. And with the support Paulo Sousa, there’s a chance he could feature in the starting eleven on August 7 against Crystal Palace – a wildly different scenario than last season when Campbell rarely even made it to the substitutes’ bench.
The unfortunate situation is, however, that if DJ Campbell is to remain at Leicester, then he will be under just as much pressure as Paulo Sousa this season – perhaps even more so. He has the huge challenge of winning back the fans of a club he effectively turned his back on when he voiced his desire to move on. The only way he can do that is by scoring the goals that will guide Leicester City towards another promotion push. An extra twenty goals next season might be the difference between a mid-table finish and a play-off spot – or between a play-off spot and automatic promotion.
There is still more than enough talent in this Leicester side to achieve above and beyond last season’s accomplishments. But if DJ Campbell leads this side to glory, it’ll be one of the biggest turnarounds this club has ever seen.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Why Leicester City Fans Should Not Get Carried Away...Just Yet
First of all, don’t get me wrong. I like Paulo Sousa. From a mutual standpoint, it’s difficult not to. He was a great footballer for a number of top European clubs during the 1990s, his playing career epitomised by being remembered as one of Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’.
I also think that after Nigel Pearson left to take the job at Hull City, Sousa was one of only a handful of managers who would not have been labelled as a ‘step down’, yet still being an achievable target for Leicester.
This isn’t really about Paulo Sousa. This is more the view of a Leicester fan who has seen managers pass in and out of the revolving door that has been the Walkers Stadium over the last three years. This is more the view of a Leicester fan who has witnessed the recent good times as well as the bad. I still remember the feeling of relegation to League One. I still remember Leicester being 3-2 up at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup. I remember Steve Howard’s injury time header against Leeds on that Easter Monday and, of course, I remember last season’s play-off semi-final heartbreak. Life is never dull as a Leicester City fan.
This may sound terribly pessimistic, but I’m still not sold on Paulo Sousa. And I think it’s far too early for any of us to be getting too carried away.
When Martin Allen was named as the new manager of Leicester City in 2008, a lot of people believed this was a great decision by Milan Mandaric. Allen had that ‘Mad Dog’ reputation. He had a fiery persona and an apparent knack for getting the best out of his players. Fans liked this choice. Four games later, his contracted was terminated by mutual consent, as his relationship with the chairman soon broke down. People started to question what the problem was.
Fast forward to November of that year. Ian Holloway was appointed as the new manager following a few months of turmoil within the hot seat. Again, fans were pleased with this decision. Having had previous impressive stints with QPR and Plymouth Argyle, he looked like the man who could turn our disappointing season around.
We all know what happened after that.
When Nigel Pearson was appointed in June 2008, it was difficult to get too excited. He had previously been replaced as Southampton manager despite saving them from relegation on the last day of the season (at the expense of Leicester, as we all remember). Lacking charisma and character, fans didn’t really know what to expect. From the opening day of the League One season against MK Dons, we soon realised that Pearson was the man who could take this club forward. Leicester City were top of the league by November and never looked back. Last season, the team carried on where it left off and achieved its highest finish in the Championship for a long time. It was another successful year.
Pearson leaving was certainly a bombshell. The way Mandaric seemed to handle the situation showed good character in bringing a new manager in time for pre-season training. But Leicester fans should not be carried away with Sousa. With players being transferred in and out, it is difficult to know how things will pan out next season. He has impressed people with what he has said so far in press conferences and within the media, but it is important that this confidence is reflected on the pitch.
Football managers must always feel the pressure. For Sousa, the pressure will be on right from the start. Expectations are very high for this club. There is a reason for optimism.
I do believe the future is bright for Leicester City. The foundations laid by Nigel Pearson and his backroom staff during his two years as manager brought a level of stability to this club not witnessed by fans since the days of Martin O’Neill. There is a fantastic mix of raw talented youth and level-headed experience within this squad to challenge for the playoffs once again. But therein lies the problem; Leicester City fans will expect this based on last two seasons. Paulo Sousa has asked for the fans to ‘give him time’. But will he have as much time as he needs? What happens if the results don’t come instantly? What happens if Leicester City are fourteenth in the Championship in January?
Sousa has the potential to bring a new style of football to this club. Let’s just hope he’s around long enough for us to see it.
I also think that after Nigel Pearson left to take the job at Hull City, Sousa was one of only a handful of managers who would not have been labelled as a ‘step down’, yet still being an achievable target for Leicester.
This isn’t really about Paulo Sousa. This is more the view of a Leicester fan who has seen managers pass in and out of the revolving door that has been the Walkers Stadium over the last three years. This is more the view of a Leicester fan who has witnessed the recent good times as well as the bad. I still remember the feeling of relegation to League One. I still remember Leicester being 3-2 up at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup. I remember Steve Howard’s injury time header against Leeds on that Easter Monday and, of course, I remember last season’s play-off semi-final heartbreak. Life is never dull as a Leicester City fan.
This may sound terribly pessimistic, but I’m still not sold on Paulo Sousa. And I think it’s far too early for any of us to be getting too carried away.
When Martin Allen was named as the new manager of Leicester City in 2008, a lot of people believed this was a great decision by Milan Mandaric. Allen had that ‘Mad Dog’ reputation. He had a fiery persona and an apparent knack for getting the best out of his players. Fans liked this choice. Four games later, his contracted was terminated by mutual consent, as his relationship with the chairman soon broke down. People started to question what the problem was.
Fast forward to November of that year. Ian Holloway was appointed as the new manager following a few months of turmoil within the hot seat. Again, fans were pleased with this decision. Having had previous impressive stints with QPR and Plymouth Argyle, he looked like the man who could turn our disappointing season around.
We all know what happened after that.
When Nigel Pearson was appointed in June 2008, it was difficult to get too excited. He had previously been replaced as Southampton manager despite saving them from relegation on the last day of the season (at the expense of Leicester, as we all remember). Lacking charisma and character, fans didn’t really know what to expect. From the opening day of the League One season against MK Dons, we soon realised that Pearson was the man who could take this club forward. Leicester City were top of the league by November and never looked back. Last season, the team carried on where it left off and achieved its highest finish in the Championship for a long time. It was another successful year.
Pearson leaving was certainly a bombshell. The way Mandaric seemed to handle the situation showed good character in bringing a new manager in time for pre-season training. But Leicester fans should not be carried away with Sousa. With players being transferred in and out, it is difficult to know how things will pan out next season. He has impressed people with what he has said so far in press conferences and within the media, but it is important that this confidence is reflected on the pitch.
Football managers must always feel the pressure. For Sousa, the pressure will be on right from the start. Expectations are very high for this club. There is a reason for optimism.
I do believe the future is bright for Leicester City. The foundations laid by Nigel Pearson and his backroom staff during his two years as manager brought a level of stability to this club not witnessed by fans since the days of Martin O’Neill. There is a fantastic mix of raw talented youth and level-headed experience within this squad to challenge for the playoffs once again. But therein lies the problem; Leicester City fans will expect this based on last two seasons. Paulo Sousa has asked for the fans to ‘give him time’. But will he have as much time as he needs? What happens if the results don’t come instantly? What happens if Leicester City are fourteenth in the Championship in January?
Sousa has the potential to bring a new style of football to this club. Let’s just hope he’s around long enough for us to see it.
Monday, 12 July 2010
World Cup 2010 - Final Thoughts
First of all, congratulations to Spain for winning World Cup 2010. Certainly the most improved team over the course of the tournament, and deserving winners on the night.
A friend of mine suggested I should do something a little different for my final blog after the World Cup was over. That being noted, I'm not going to spend too much time analysing the final; it wasn't a fantastic game, but Spain were the better side despite Holland (who should have had at least two players sent off) having more clear cut chances to win the game. This is more a look back at the tournament as a whole and my thoughts in respect of that.
- Two players who have really impressed me this tournament are Uruguay's Luis Suarez and Germany's Thomas Müeller. Both played incredibly important roles in helping their respective teams reach the semi-finals. Aged 23 and 20 respectively, the best is certainly yet to come for both players.
- Remember when everyone questioned Alex Ferguson after Diego Forlán was more or less a bust at Manchester United? I think we can all take that back. It's no secret that Forlán has been prolific at both Villareal and Althetico Madrid since moving on, but his goalscoring record at international level is excellent as well. He has had a fantastic tournament and was a vital part in Uruguay reaching the semi-finals. Winning the Golden Ball epitomised this.
- England and France; take note from the best team in the world. This is how you should be performing. It's not always just about picking the best individuals from the best clubs and hoping that they work well together, because it rarely does. It's about picking the best team. Did it never occur that Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe up front in one game might just have worked, seeing as they play together for Tottenham week in week out? Just something to think about.
- When we think about the South American teams, we should think further than Argentina and Brazil (and even Uruguay) from now on. Every team from South America who made it to the World Cup reached at least the last sixteen. We saw some sintilating football from the lesser known teams such as Chile, Paraguay and Mexico. I don't believe in the coincidence of a similar climate; this continent includes some of the best up and coming international sides in the world today. World Cup 2014 is bound to highlight this.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, it was disappointing to witness so many of the African nations performing so badly in this tournament. Other than Ghana (and to some extent, South Africa), most teams underachieved massively. I anticipated teams like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast pushing harder to reach the second round. Having said that, the way that all of South Africa/Africa/the World rallied for Ghana in the quarter-final was fantastic to see.
- Was there a better goal in this tournament than the one scored by Giovanni van Bronckhorst against Uruguay? I know he has a good left foot, but the composure and technique to hit a ball that well from 35 plus yards is quite outstanding - especially for a full back. Carlos Tevez's strike against Mexico gets an honourable mention too.
- I'd say, on a whole, that South Africa did a good job in hosting this tournament. There were a few issues at the start, as well as the general concern of crime in certain areas, but this was a fantastic occasion for the people of this country. Although there were times when stadiums weren't 100 percent full, you could still tell that people were genuinely appreciative to be there.
- You have to feel for Miroslav Klose. Needing only one goal to tie Ronaldo's record of fifteen goals, thereby becoming the joint top goalscorer in World Cup history, he missed the third place play off due to injury. It's unlikely he will ever get another chance to play at a World Cup now. That's going to hurt.
- After watching this World Cup, three players I'd like to see in the Premier League in the next season or two: Mesut Özil (Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) and Keisuke Honda (Japan). These are all potential stars in the making. I was going to mention Paraguay's Cristian Riveros as well, but he signed for Sunderland earlier on in the summer.
Anyway, I think that's about it for now. Thanks for reading my thoughts on the World Cup; I'll be focusing primarily on Premier League and Championship football over the next few months, doing a few match reviews on my beloved Leicester City in the process. As always, your thoughts are appreciated.
A friend of mine suggested I should do something a little different for my final blog after the World Cup was over. That being noted, I'm not going to spend too much time analysing the final; it wasn't a fantastic game, but Spain were the better side despite Holland (who should have had at least two players sent off) having more clear cut chances to win the game. This is more a look back at the tournament as a whole and my thoughts in respect of that.
- Two players who have really impressed me this tournament are Uruguay's Luis Suarez and Germany's Thomas Müeller. Both played incredibly important roles in helping their respective teams reach the semi-finals. Aged 23 and 20 respectively, the best is certainly yet to come for both players.
- Remember when everyone questioned Alex Ferguson after Diego Forlán was more or less a bust at Manchester United? I think we can all take that back. It's no secret that Forlán has been prolific at both Villareal and Althetico Madrid since moving on, but his goalscoring record at international level is excellent as well. He has had a fantastic tournament and was a vital part in Uruguay reaching the semi-finals. Winning the Golden Ball epitomised this.
- England and France; take note from the best team in the world. This is how you should be performing. It's not always just about picking the best individuals from the best clubs and hoping that they work well together, because it rarely does. It's about picking the best team. Did it never occur that Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe up front in one game might just have worked, seeing as they play together for Tottenham week in week out? Just something to think about.
- When we think about the South American teams, we should think further than Argentina and Brazil (and even Uruguay) from now on. Every team from South America who made it to the World Cup reached at least the last sixteen. We saw some sintilating football from the lesser known teams such as Chile, Paraguay and Mexico. I don't believe in the coincidence of a similar climate; this continent includes some of the best up and coming international sides in the world today. World Cup 2014 is bound to highlight this.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, it was disappointing to witness so many of the African nations performing so badly in this tournament. Other than Ghana (and to some extent, South Africa), most teams underachieved massively. I anticipated teams like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast pushing harder to reach the second round. Having said that, the way that all of South Africa/Africa/the World rallied for Ghana in the quarter-final was fantastic to see.
- Was there a better goal in this tournament than the one scored by Giovanni van Bronckhorst against Uruguay? I know he has a good left foot, but the composure and technique to hit a ball that well from 35 plus yards is quite outstanding - especially for a full back. Carlos Tevez's strike against Mexico gets an honourable mention too.
- I'd say, on a whole, that South Africa did a good job in hosting this tournament. There were a few issues at the start, as well as the general concern of crime in certain areas, but this was a fantastic occasion for the people of this country. Although there were times when stadiums weren't 100 percent full, you could still tell that people were genuinely appreciative to be there.
- You have to feel for Miroslav Klose. Needing only one goal to tie Ronaldo's record of fifteen goals, thereby becoming the joint top goalscorer in World Cup history, he missed the third place play off due to injury. It's unlikely he will ever get another chance to play at a World Cup now. That's going to hurt.
- After watching this World Cup, three players I'd like to see in the Premier League in the next season or two: Mesut Özil (Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) and Keisuke Honda (Japan). These are all potential stars in the making. I was going to mention Paraguay's Cristian Riveros as well, but he signed for Sunderland earlier on in the summer.
Anyway, I think that's about it for now. Thanks for reading my thoughts on the World Cup; I'll be focusing primarily on Premier League and Championship football over the next few months, doing a few match reviews on my beloved Leicester City in the process. As always, your thoughts are appreciated.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
World Cup 2010 - World Cup Final Preview
I've said it before; I'm not great at predicting the outcomes of games. My bet365 account history will tell you that. However, the World Cup final between Holland and Spain is a very interesting match up, and so it's worth looking into it a little further.
Here's my breakdown of the final:
History
Spain
Although Spain were the winners of Euro 2008, this is their first visit to the final of this tournament. Their previous best finish in the World Cup was a fourth place finish in a round robin tournament in 1950, as no official final was held.
Holland
Also considered as one of the best teams never to have won the World Cup, the Dutch finished as runners-up in 1974 and 1978, losing to West Germany and Argentina respectively. Holland's last major tournament success was winning Euro 1988, defeating the Soviet Union 2-0.
Form
Spain
Under coach Vicente del Bosque, Spain have only failed to win four of their last 54 games. They won all their games in qualifying for the World Cup, and have won their last five in this tournament, despite losing their opening game against Switzerland 1-0.
Holland
A 25 game unbeaten run and a 100 percent qualifying record puts them in good stead for a tough final. Holland have scored twelve times in six games in this tournament, finding the back of the net in each of those games.
How they line up
It's possible that Fernando Torres will start his second game in a row on the bench for Spain after a disappointing tournament so far, with Barcelona's youth star Pedro likely to play alongside David Villa. Gregory van der Wiel and and Nigel de Jong are expected to be recalled to the Dutch side, after both missing the semi-final against Uruguay.
How they match up
Interestingly, these two teams have never met at the World Cup before. If Pedro does start for Spain, seven of the starting eleven are Barcelona players. This familiarity will be beneficial for them. Carlos Puyol and Gerard Piqué will have their hands full as Holland like to push forward with Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.
Who has the edge?
I've got to go with Spain in this one. The reason for this is because this team has improved in every game they've played in this tournament, and Holland haven't really hit top gear yet. Spain are going to make it very difficult for Holland to do this in the final. David Villa has been excellent in this tournament, and the midfield was suffocating against Germany. Whilst Sneijder poses a huge threat for Holland, the depth possessed by Spain in the form of Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets will be tough to break down. Cesc Fabregas and David Silva are strong options off the bench, too. I think the midfield is where this game will be won and lost. Holland must get Dirk Kuyt and Robin Van Persie more involved and threaten that Spanish defence. It will be close, and extra-time may come into it, but I can see Spain lifting the trophy on Sunday.
So, me and Paul the psychic octopus agree. I can sleep soundly tonight now. Your thoughts, predictions and comments are appreciated. Here's hoping for a great final tomorrow night.
P.S. - My blog can now be found at SportsBlogs.org, which is well worth checking out if you're interested in writing your own blog, or reading others.
(Shameless plug over)
Here's my breakdown of the final:
History
Spain
Although Spain were the winners of Euro 2008, this is their first visit to the final of this tournament. Their previous best finish in the World Cup was a fourth place finish in a round robin tournament in 1950, as no official final was held.
Holland
Also considered as one of the best teams never to have won the World Cup, the Dutch finished as runners-up in 1974 and 1978, losing to West Germany and Argentina respectively. Holland's last major tournament success was winning Euro 1988, defeating the Soviet Union 2-0.
Form
Spain
Under coach Vicente del Bosque, Spain have only failed to win four of their last 54 games. They won all their games in qualifying for the World Cup, and have won their last five in this tournament, despite losing their opening game against Switzerland 1-0.
Holland
A 25 game unbeaten run and a 100 percent qualifying record puts them in good stead for a tough final. Holland have scored twelve times in six games in this tournament, finding the back of the net in each of those games.
How they line up
It's possible that Fernando Torres will start his second game in a row on the bench for Spain after a disappointing tournament so far, with Barcelona's youth star Pedro likely to play alongside David Villa. Gregory van der Wiel and and Nigel de Jong are expected to be recalled to the Dutch side, after both missing the semi-final against Uruguay.
How they match up
Interestingly, these two teams have never met at the World Cup before. If Pedro does start for Spain, seven of the starting eleven are Barcelona players. This familiarity will be beneficial for them. Carlos Puyol and Gerard Piqué will have their hands full as Holland like to push forward with Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.
Who has the edge?
I've got to go with Spain in this one. The reason for this is because this team has improved in every game they've played in this tournament, and Holland haven't really hit top gear yet. Spain are going to make it very difficult for Holland to do this in the final. David Villa has been excellent in this tournament, and the midfield was suffocating against Germany. Whilst Sneijder poses a huge threat for Holland, the depth possessed by Spain in the form of Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets will be tough to break down. Cesc Fabregas and David Silva are strong options off the bench, too. I think the midfield is where this game will be won and lost. Holland must get Dirk Kuyt and Robin Van Persie more involved and threaten that Spanish defence. It will be close, and extra-time may come into it, but I can see Spain lifting the trophy on Sunday.
So, me and Paul the psychic octopus agree. I can sleep soundly tonight now. Your thoughts, predictions and comments are appreciated. Here's hoping for a great final tomorrow night.
P.S. - My blog can now be found at SportsBlogs.org, which is well worth checking out if you're interested in writing your own blog, or reading others.
(Shameless plug over)
Thursday, 8 July 2010
World Cup 2010 - Semi-Finals
After weeks of having three televised games of international football a day, it almost feels unnatural when there are no World Cup games being played. Fortunately, the two semi-finals were both excellent, and although many of the 'bigger' European sides were eliminated in the group stages or last sixteen, the stage is set for either Holland or Spain to win the World Cup for the first time in history.
Here are my thoughts on the two semi-finals:
Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands
It’s funny how things can change so quickly in the world of football. Holland were the better team on the night, although they still never looked completely in control of things – a scenario which has plagued the Dutch throughout this tournament. Giovanni van Bronckhorst put his side ahead after eighteen minutes with an unstoppable 35 yard strike which will probably go down as the goal of the tournament (in case you missed it, you can see it again here). Uruguay looked a little flustered after that, and with Luis Suarez suspended, the burden was very much on Diego Forlan to take charge in front of goal for Uruguay – which of course isn’t a bad alternative. He did just that, four minutes before half time, with a wonderful strike which curled away from the Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. At this point in the game, the momentum seemed to have shifted towards Uruguay, and although the second half was ultimately less eventful to begin with, the game could have gone either way. Two second half goals by Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder eventually put the game to bed, despite an injury time strike from Maxi Pereira giving the Dutch bench a few nervous moments.
The thing that worries me about this Holland team is that they still haven’t played as well as they could, and should, have done in this World Cup. On the other side of the argument, Holland played as well as they could, and should, have done in this World Cup and reached the final. They still need to up their game and show more quality as a team. The defence is good, but they haven’t been tested by a team as strong in attack as Spain. Holland are clearly a good side, but they need to be better than that to win on Sunday. As for Uruguay, they have been a thoroughly enjoyable side to watch over the last few weeks. If Luis Suarez was available in this game, I think he could have made a real difference. I suspect he may be linked with a few Premier League clubs in July and August.
Germany 0-1 Spain
This one had a completely different preface than the first semi-final. In the last five games, Germany have probably been the best footballing side in the World Cup (despite a surprise 1-0 loss to Serbia in the group stages), scoring four goals three times. Spain, on the other hand, have probably been the most improved side in the tournament, after losing their opening group match to Switzerland. So something had to give. Carlos Puyol made sure it wasn’t his side. His bullet header in the 73rd minute ensured Spain made it to their second major final in three years, and denying Germany any revenge for defeating them in the Euro 2008 final.
I’d say that Spain have vastly improved since the beginning of the tournament, but that would be a huge understatement. When they played their opening game against Switzerland, they lacked creativity and the ability to break teams down. They struggled against a solid defence and even looked shaky at the back themselves. These are all things we don’t associate with Spain as a football team – especially when seven of the starting eleven play for Barcelona, and three more play for Real Madrid. Whatever Vicente del Bosque has told his team after that game, it certainly had a huge impact. This Spanish side has improved in every game played, and against Germany they were outstanding – especially in the second half. The defending is solid, the midfield is showing more ingenuity and David Villa is still a massive threat. This is all without Fernando Torres playing well. They will trouble Holland in every department this Sunday. As for Germany, they never really got going in this one. Did the loss of Thomas Müller hurt them that much? Key players like Bastian Schweinsteiger also didn’t play to their full potential. The midfield couldn't keep control of the ball for long enough. They kept it close until the second half, but Spain were always the better side. Being eliminated at this stage has to be a massive disappointment after playing so well in the last few games.
As the World Cup draws to an end, so does my World Cup blog. I’ll be writing about the final at the weekend, as well as the third place play-off, and looking back at some of the more memorable moments of this tournament. Here’s hoping for a great final, and of course, your thoughts and comments are appreciated.
Here are my thoughts on the two semi-finals:
Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands
It’s funny how things can change so quickly in the world of football. Holland were the better team on the night, although they still never looked completely in control of things – a scenario which has plagued the Dutch throughout this tournament. Giovanni van Bronckhorst put his side ahead after eighteen minutes with an unstoppable 35 yard strike which will probably go down as the goal of the tournament (in case you missed it, you can see it again here). Uruguay looked a little flustered after that, and with Luis Suarez suspended, the burden was very much on Diego Forlan to take charge in front of goal for Uruguay – which of course isn’t a bad alternative. He did just that, four minutes before half time, with a wonderful strike which curled away from the Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. At this point in the game, the momentum seemed to have shifted towards Uruguay, and although the second half was ultimately less eventful to begin with, the game could have gone either way. Two second half goals by Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder eventually put the game to bed, despite an injury time strike from Maxi Pereira giving the Dutch bench a few nervous moments.
The thing that worries me about this Holland team is that they still haven’t played as well as they could, and should, have done in this World Cup. On the other side of the argument, Holland played as well as they could, and should, have done in this World Cup and reached the final. They still need to up their game and show more quality as a team. The defence is good, but they haven’t been tested by a team as strong in attack as Spain. Holland are clearly a good side, but they need to be better than that to win on Sunday. As for Uruguay, they have been a thoroughly enjoyable side to watch over the last few weeks. If Luis Suarez was available in this game, I think he could have made a real difference. I suspect he may be linked with a few Premier League clubs in July and August.
Germany 0-1 Spain
This one had a completely different preface than the first semi-final. In the last five games, Germany have probably been the best footballing side in the World Cup (despite a surprise 1-0 loss to Serbia in the group stages), scoring four goals three times. Spain, on the other hand, have probably been the most improved side in the tournament, after losing their opening group match to Switzerland. So something had to give. Carlos Puyol made sure it wasn’t his side. His bullet header in the 73rd minute ensured Spain made it to their second major final in three years, and denying Germany any revenge for defeating them in the Euro 2008 final.
I’d say that Spain have vastly improved since the beginning of the tournament, but that would be a huge understatement. When they played their opening game against Switzerland, they lacked creativity and the ability to break teams down. They struggled against a solid defence and even looked shaky at the back themselves. These are all things we don’t associate with Spain as a football team – especially when seven of the starting eleven play for Barcelona, and three more play for Real Madrid. Whatever Vicente del Bosque has told his team after that game, it certainly had a huge impact. This Spanish side has improved in every game played, and against Germany they were outstanding – especially in the second half. The defending is solid, the midfield is showing more ingenuity and David Villa is still a massive threat. This is all without Fernando Torres playing well. They will trouble Holland in every department this Sunday. As for Germany, they never really got going in this one. Did the loss of Thomas Müller hurt them that much? Key players like Bastian Schweinsteiger also didn’t play to their full potential. The midfield couldn't keep control of the ball for long enough. They kept it close until the second half, but Spain were always the better side. Being eliminated at this stage has to be a massive disappointment after playing so well in the last few games.
As the World Cup draws to an end, so does my World Cup blog. I’ll be writing about the final at the weekend, as well as the third place play-off, and looking back at some of the more memorable moments of this tournament. Here’s hoping for a great final, and of course, your thoughts and comments are appreciated.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
World Cup 2010 - Quarter-Finals
Can everyone who predicted the outcomes of all the quarter-finals correctly please raise their hands?
Anybody?
No, me either.
I think I’ll hold back from guessing what will happen in the next two games as I’m bound to be way off with even the most basic predictions. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the quarter-finals.
Holland 2 – 1 Brazil
I told you. I told you there’d be a huge upset at some point. Okay, so perhaps Holland reaching the semi-finals isn’t really an upset, but against a Brazil side who had played so well up until now, I think it has to be classed as one. I didn’t see this coming. After Brazil ripped Chile to pieces in the last round, I thoroughly expected them to go on and reach the final - especially as Holland hadn’t really hit top gear in this World Cup. So much for them not being a real threat in the knockout stages of big tournaments. It goes to show that even the best sides in the world can be beaten. They were defensively excellent in the second half, after Robinho had put Brazil ahead. But that was some comeback from Holland to score twice in the second half, and hold out to win the game. The one thing that disappointed me was the number of petulant fouls sneaking in to Brazil’s game after they were 2-1 down and the frustration started to build. However, I can’t credit Holland enough for their performance. Wesley Sneijder has had a fantastic tournament. If he can keep playing as well as he has been, and he gets a little help from the rest of his goal scoring threats, Holland could win the World Cup. A final against Germany would be very interesting to see.
Uruguay 1 – 1 Ghana (Uruguay win 4 – 2 on penalties)
Wow. So much drama in the latter stages of this game. Two excellent goals from Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlan (who has had a wonderful World Cup) respectively set up a dramatic extra-time ending in this game. The key moment in this game was in the last minute of stoppage time, when Luis Suarez was dismissed for a deliberate handball on the goal line. The resulting spot kick taken by was smashed against the crossbar by Asamoah Gyan, which allowed Uruguay to win on penalties. Incredibly unlucky for Ghana, who were carrying the hopes of all African football fans. This Ghanaian side should still be extremely proud of their performance in this match, and throughout the entire tournament. They did their country proud. To be eliminated in such unforgiving circumstances is difficult. There will, however, be questions asked as to whether the actions of Suarez should have been punished further than just a one game ban. Was the handball instinctive or cynical? Having said that, he had nothing to do with the penalty miss. How will Uruguay - who have been a refreshing change of pace in this tournament - cope with the loss of Suarez for their semi-final match with Holland?
Argentina 0 – 4 Germany
Regardless of how well Germany have played this tournament, this still must go down as one of the biggest upsets of World Cup 2010. Very rarely will you see a side as good as Argentina have absolutely no answer to an opposition. As a good friend of mine put it, that was a demolition. Germany were outstanding from the first minute. All four goals were wonderfully worked team efforts. Thomas Müller, who had never previously scored for his country, now has four in seven games. Miroslav Klose only scored three goals in the Bundesliga this year, but now also has four goals in this tournament. Lionel Messi scored over 40 for Barcelona last year, but was contained by an impressive German defence - as were Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuaín. It’s almost incomprehensible. Can Klose win the Golden Boot for two World Cups in a row? That would be amazing. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That midfield is so effective when pushing forward. I’d like to say that Germany should go on to reach the final from here, but this tournament has been so unpredictable.
Paraguay 0 – 1 Spain
Probably the most straightforward of the quarter-finals, but this game was certainly not without any drama. Three penalties in the space of a couple of minutes, two saved, one scored, and it still remained 0-0. You have to feel incredibly sorry for Paraguay who had a game plan and stuck to it for around 80 minutes. They managed to contain a very threatening and much improved Spain team for the majority of the game. Spain even hit the post three times before the David Villa's shot eventually went in. Oscar Cardozo looked inconsolable after Paraguay had lost. Like Ghana, Paraguay should be extremely proud of what they accomplished in this tournament. Gerardo Martino has a strong set of players in this team. Full credit to Spain, though. They look a completely different side than the one that lost to Switzerland in their opening game. Villa is such a threat, which is just as well because Fernando Torres is still nowhere near his best. Officials are still lacking consistency, though, and this showed with the penalty retakes. By the rule of law, the Spain penalty should have been taken again, but so should the Paraguay penalty. Spain were the better side, though. Two major tournament wins in two years would surely establish them as the best team in the world.
We're down to the last few games of the tournament. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the semi-finals. Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated.
Anybody?
No, me either.
I think I’ll hold back from guessing what will happen in the next two games as I’m bound to be way off with even the most basic predictions. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the quarter-finals.
Holland 2 – 1 Brazil
I told you. I told you there’d be a huge upset at some point. Okay, so perhaps Holland reaching the semi-finals isn’t really an upset, but against a Brazil side who had played so well up until now, I think it has to be classed as one. I didn’t see this coming. After Brazil ripped Chile to pieces in the last round, I thoroughly expected them to go on and reach the final - especially as Holland hadn’t really hit top gear in this World Cup. So much for them not being a real threat in the knockout stages of big tournaments. It goes to show that even the best sides in the world can be beaten. They were defensively excellent in the second half, after Robinho had put Brazil ahead. But that was some comeback from Holland to score twice in the second half, and hold out to win the game. The one thing that disappointed me was the number of petulant fouls sneaking in to Brazil’s game after they were 2-1 down and the frustration started to build. However, I can’t credit Holland enough for their performance. Wesley Sneijder has had a fantastic tournament. If he can keep playing as well as he has been, and he gets a little help from the rest of his goal scoring threats, Holland could win the World Cup. A final against Germany would be very interesting to see.
Uruguay 1 – 1 Ghana (Uruguay win 4 – 2 on penalties)
Wow. So much drama in the latter stages of this game. Two excellent goals from Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlan (who has had a wonderful World Cup) respectively set up a dramatic extra-time ending in this game. The key moment in this game was in the last minute of stoppage time, when Luis Suarez was dismissed for a deliberate handball on the goal line. The resulting spot kick taken by was smashed against the crossbar by Asamoah Gyan, which allowed Uruguay to win on penalties. Incredibly unlucky for Ghana, who were carrying the hopes of all African football fans. This Ghanaian side should still be extremely proud of their performance in this match, and throughout the entire tournament. They did their country proud. To be eliminated in such unforgiving circumstances is difficult. There will, however, be questions asked as to whether the actions of Suarez should have been punished further than just a one game ban. Was the handball instinctive or cynical? Having said that, he had nothing to do with the penalty miss. How will Uruguay - who have been a refreshing change of pace in this tournament - cope with the loss of Suarez for their semi-final match with Holland?
Argentina 0 – 4 Germany
Regardless of how well Germany have played this tournament, this still must go down as one of the biggest upsets of World Cup 2010. Very rarely will you see a side as good as Argentina have absolutely no answer to an opposition. As a good friend of mine put it, that was a demolition. Germany were outstanding from the first minute. All four goals were wonderfully worked team efforts. Thomas Müller, who had never previously scored for his country, now has four in seven games. Miroslav Klose only scored three goals in the Bundesliga this year, but now also has four goals in this tournament. Lionel Messi scored over 40 for Barcelona last year, but was contained by an impressive German defence - as were Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuaín. It’s almost incomprehensible. Can Klose win the Golden Boot for two World Cups in a row? That would be amazing. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That midfield is so effective when pushing forward. I’d like to say that Germany should go on to reach the final from here, but this tournament has been so unpredictable.
Paraguay 0 – 1 Spain
Probably the most straightforward of the quarter-finals, but this game was certainly not without any drama. Three penalties in the space of a couple of minutes, two saved, one scored, and it still remained 0-0. You have to feel incredibly sorry for Paraguay who had a game plan and stuck to it for around 80 minutes. They managed to contain a very threatening and much improved Spain team for the majority of the game. Spain even hit the post three times before the David Villa's shot eventually went in. Oscar Cardozo looked inconsolable after Paraguay had lost. Like Ghana, Paraguay should be extremely proud of what they accomplished in this tournament. Gerardo Martino has a strong set of players in this team. Full credit to Spain, though. They look a completely different side than the one that lost to Switzerland in their opening game. Villa is such a threat, which is just as well because Fernando Torres is still nowhere near his best. Officials are still lacking consistency, though, and this showed with the penalty retakes. By the rule of law, the Spain penalty should have been taken again, but so should the Paraguay penalty. Spain were the better side, though. Two major tournament wins in two years would surely establish them as the best team in the world.
We're down to the last few games of the tournament. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the semi-finals. Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated.
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