World Cup pre-octavos
All the group stage matches have been played and tomorrow the knock-out phase begins with the ‘round of 16’ or octavos, as it is more conveniently called in Spanish. Let’s take stock of what’s happened – every team has scored, there have been great goals and great saves; amazing dribbles and intricate interplay; counter attacks and free kicks; solid defending and shambolic defending; refereeing errors and new technology; last minute drama and huge upsets. Plus we’ve had the Suarez bite and a squad implosion with Ghana. There’s been a lot to celebrate. This World Cup has been brilliant and we’ve only just got through the group phase!
England are out of the World Cup. But despite spirited performances they looked like they were lacking in ideas and technical know-how. This isn’t a new thing with England - time after time in major tournaments, England play with a lot of spirit but just look like they lack basic footballing skills. It might seem odd because all of the players in the England team play in one of the most competitive and sophisticated leagues in the world and know each other well, yet struggle against sides who are made up from players from different leagues of varying strengths and spend time together for the tournament. I think that the players in the England team are not being used effectively.
Football is a team game and successful teams play as a team and not like a group of individuals. Successful teams have a plan or strategy about how to play the game, and importantly, all the players are familiar with that plan or strategy. England’s failing this World Cup (and pretty much any major tournament in the last 50 years) is that their strategy wasn’t clear.
Spain are also out of the World Cup. In my opinion, their problem isn’t as serious as England’s. Spain had a strategy and all of the players were familiar with it. The problem for Spain is that the rest of the world were familiar with it as well! So the teams they played against had a counter-strategy. Next time Spain need a different strategy.
Italy, four time World Cup winners, are also out at the group stage. And for the second time in a row. However, the bigger story from their loss to Uruguay was Luis Suarez biting an Italian defender. Suarez will surely be severely punished as this is the third time he’s done this. So it’s good-bye Italy, good bite Luis Suarez.
With one minute to play, Ivory Coast were drawing and about to qualify to the next stage. Then Greece scored a last minute penalty against them which secured qualification for Greece and ended Ivory Coast’s World Cup. I’m a bit sad to see Ivory Coast go; they have the best badge of all the teams there - you’ve got to love a team with an elephant on their badge.
Watching Colombia play in this World Cup has been a pleasure. Their matches have been exciting and full of entertaining and attacking football. They won their group with three wins and meet Uruguay in the next round - look out Uruguay! It should be a great match as they are both attacking sides, although Uruguay might have lost some bite without Suarez.
France won group E even though they could only manage a draw against a 10-men team of Ecuador. Switzerland qualified in second place after they beat Honduras thanks to a hat-trick from Shakiri (he yodels in his spare time). Argentina and Nigeria played an exciting match which ended 3-2 to Argentina, and meant that they both qualify from group F. Argentina have won all their games but only by one goal. Messi has scored all but one of their goals and is the main reason Argentina are doing so well because without him they would surely be out. They are still second favourites to win the tournament - it wouldn’t be the first time a talented wee player won them the trophy.
Germany won against USA and they both qualify with Germany winning group G. Portugal and Ghana are eliminated. The real drama came off the pitch as Ghana allegedly refused to play their game against Portugal unless they were paid ‘properly’. The Ghana president apparently arranged for a plane to fly from Ghana to Brazil with 3 million dollars in cash for the players. In the dull group, group H, Belgium and Algeria qualify, Russia and South Korea are out.
So, half the teams have been eliminated. They are:
Croatia, Cameroon, Spain, Australia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Italy, England, Ecuador, Honduras, Bosnia-Herzegovenia, Iran, Portugal, Ghana, Russia and South Korea.
The better half:
Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Costa Rica, Uruguay, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Nigeria, Germany, USA, Belgium and Algeria.
The octavo games will be played from Saturday 28 June to Tuesday 1 July. These are the games:
Saturday 28th June 2014
Brazil v Chile
Colombia v Uruguay
Sunday 29th June 2014
Netherlands v Mexico
Costa Rica v Greece
Monday 30th June 2014
France v Nigeria
Germany v Algeria
Tuesday 1st July 2014
Argentina v Switzerland
Belgium v USA
Plenty to get your teeth into. Have a good weekend.