SA 2010: A Disappointment

It had is moments; the opening game, Germany destroying England then Argentina, The 3/4th place play-off, Italy v Slovakia… but by and large the World Cup was disappointing. What is to blame?

• The Ball

Now officially called ‘the much maligned Jabulani’, there was so much plaintive wailing about the offical World Cup ball that there must be some truth in there. No smoke without fire and all that (that’s what all the best legal cases are built on…). I’ve played with one, and it is phenomenally light – difficult to control, and difficult to hit with any combination of pace and accuracy. Only Diego Forlan seemed able to master long range strikes with it, and Tevez’ goal was perhaps the only time it was hit 100% straight and true. That is never a good sign. In the desperate quest to make the games more exciting, contain more goals and attract more viewers Adidas/FIFA seem to have shot themselves in the foot. It was used with some success in the Bundesliga and the J-League prior to the tournament which suggests it’s ok once you get used to it – unfortunately the course of the tournament was not long enough for most sides.

• Vuvuzelas

Absolutely fucking shit. Ruined watching it on TV, ruined it even more inside the stadium (probably). By drowning out the crowd they made the games devoid of atmosphere despite the deafening hoots. Genuinely one of the worst inventions ever.

• Holding Midfielders

The 4-2-3-1 seems to have infected the game, with De Jong and Van Bommel the starkest proponents. Two players in the middle whose sole purpose is to break up play is never going to make for attractive games or a glut of goals. And when they do it by fouling left, right and centre it disrupts the flow to such an extent the game becomes nigh on unwatchable (re: the final…).

• Spain

I appreciate the technique behind what they do, but Spain are actually quite a boring side to watch. They pass sides to death, moving and switching the play but without ever creating more than a handful of clear cut opportunities. They wear their opponents out, wear them down, then when that elusive chance does come they rely on David Villa to stick it away. Spain only scored 7 goals in 6 matches, and only three players scored for them.

• The Punditry

It was just awful. I’ve already reprinted one excellent article from Tom English on just how bad – but ‘Lawro’ plunged it to new depths during the final. Abhorrent.

• Avarice

The prize money on offer was ludicrous – Spain were on £500k per man to win the tournament, and England received nearly £6m for their abject showing. With such enormous sums involved, no wonder tactics were defensive, teams were scared to lose, and as a result football suffered. Germany and Uruguay showed how could it could have been in their playoff game played without fear.

• English Fans

The tubthumping bandwagon that rolls into the country with every major tournament was particularly busy this time. St George’s flags everywhere, bare-shirted, tattooed thugs singing about the IRA, the relentless media exposure, the ridiculous over hyping of a decidedly average England side, the faux-patriotism – I was just glad when England went out. Roll on us not qualifying for Euro 2012.

It just wasn’t an enjoyable tournament. Don’t let the good moments in the later rounds cloud the torpor that was the first round of group matches – we waited four years for this, and it was a massive let-down. But only four years until the next one – and no doubt I will be as excited for that as I was for this.

Love the World Cup.