World Cup Thoughts

Germany Wins!

Yes, I have two teams to cheer for in world soccer.  The US, and Germany.  Was glad to see the unexpectedly good run by the US; Klinsman has really done a job with the team.  It was interesting to have him pick Julian Green for the team, given that while Julian plays for the super-club Bayern Munchen he has, so far as I can tell, never played for them in a game that counts.  I agree with the theory that the selection was made to put a potential future great player on the US team, since Julian has a choice to go with Germany or the US due to his parents' nationalities.  In retrospect, his selection was the right choice, given that he scored on his first touch in his first World Cup game.  Overall a well balanced team, which might have gone even further if Altidore had not been injured in the first game.  Just seeing the US get out of the Group of Death, which I still believe should not have been able to be drawn, was fantastic.  Oh, why should it not have been able to be drawn?  Because just like the group that featured the Netherlands and Spain, this group featured two teams that should have been seeded.  Strange how FIFA favorite Brazil had what should have been an easy walk for them in their group, until Mexico had a strong showing and the referee -I heard- joined the Brazilians against Croatia.  But the US team provided thrills galore, and sparked good feelings for much of the Cup.  Exciting soccer indeed.  USA!  USA!  USA!!!!!!!!!!

I also like the Netherlands.  Became a fan when Chip chose to like them some years ago.  Was impressed with their play this World Cup, starting with the dismantlement of Spain.  Got tired of all the loser-whining by Mexican fans who, instead of being thrilled that their team had such an unexpectedly good Cup, insist despite clear video evidence that somehow they got robbed by bad refereeing.  To the whiners I say:  Look, a penalty was not called when your player ducked his face onto a high kick that barely brushed him.  If I were the ref I would not have called it either since your player put himself in danger.  Next you whine because Robben supposedly dove, which the video shows occurred once in the first half.  You fail to acknowledge that the ref missed one clear case where he was brought down in the box, also in the first half and should have been given a PK.  Even the Mexican announcer on ESPN agrees with this.  You also fail to acknowledge that the time he was finally awarded the PK that the video clearly shows he was tripped.  All your dive talking (yes a play on words) ignores that, and the rules of soccer.

A quick side note on soccer diving.  A lot of people think there is a lot of diving in soccer.  I will suggest that perhaps there is not as much as all that.  When a player is running, keeping control of the ball, faking opponents and the like they are, as Chip notes, running on the edge of balance.  It is not like they are enjoying a leisurely stroll.  They are nearly off balance, and anything that disrupts their foot placement or pushes their weight to the already over-balanced side will send them down.  Judge a player who goes down off of that criteria and stop whining!

Was surprised to see England and Spain out so fast.  My theory is that their coaches stuck with older, more established players instead of going with younger and/or more fit choices and the more established players were brought down by the heat and humidity of the host country.  Perhaps FIFA could take climate into account for future venues.  Oops, they already blew that for '22.  Well, if you insist on using soccer as a way to push some politically correct agenda, or after a nice payoff which many suspect, you are likely to get less powerful soccer.  Not a good thing for FIFA to do but who can stop the nonsense?  Of course after having the Cup handed to them by poor refereeing in '10 Spain deserved an early exit.  This time they did not have Germany engineered for failure by bogus calls that knocked Klose out of one game (that great German team overcame those bad calls by the Argentinian referee) and Mueller out of the Spanish game (weird how the Argentinians had two hand balls but no cards, but Mueller gets a card after the Argentinian plays the ball off his arm and kicks it against Mueller's arm a very few yards away).  Then there was the whole "never call Spain for obstructing Robben in the box" in the final that should have resulted in 2 or 3 PKs.  What a sorry excuse for a referee; when I heard that incompetent buffoon had been selected for this Cup I feared the worst and thought that it definitely is time for either FIFA to make much needed whole scale changes to improve the game or for that sorry organization to be replaced by one which is not corrupted by incompetence, political correctness, or greed.  End of rant.

Finally, the Germans.  A dominant performance against a decent Portuguese team hinted at greatness, but worries surfaced when a physical but not overly talented Ghanaian team was able to dominate before being tied near the end of the game (Klose - what a quality player.  It was a privilege watching you play all these years).  The team continued looking good but not finishing as many chances as they should have nor providing the sterling defense that would have made some of Neuer's efforts unnecessary until they hit Brazil.  Even when the Germans let down in the second half, Brazil could do little.  Like a thunderstorm hitting an outdoor wedding with to few umbrellas.  Yes, I know Brazil missed two key players.  But Neymar is not a defender, so unless you really want to argue that he could have pushed 6 goals do not come off with the quatsch that he would have solved the fundamental problems the host country's team obviously has.  And yes, some adult leadership by Silva might have kept Brazil's defense from melting like a wedding cake in the storm, but it is unlikely that given the German team finally putting a great offensive show that his efforts would have resulted in a "W" for the hosts.  In the final, Germany dominated but a tough Argentinian defense was hard to crack, and even the few times that the German defense failed, the attackers were unable to take difficult chances into success.  Yes, another case of a team playing for the PK end instead of to win playing soccer, and deservedly losing because of that.  Overall the refereeing was not to bad until extra time when the Argentines had spent their energy and should have had several cards, including two that would have had them playing a man down for bad tackles on the rock Schweinsteiger.  But all is well that ends well.  Schurrle's brilliant assist to Goetz's incredible shot was wunderbar!

It was good to see them win.  After so many years, so much frustration for a great team.  Thanks for the fantastic World Cup!

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Birthday USA.

OK, so we are not perfect - especially at this time.  But the foundations of the country are strong and good.  Our people keep for the most part good, not only developing better technology and "things" to live well, but also improving in ways that have in the past left many out in the cold.  Still a long way to go.  Still need to cut back where we have gone to far.  But we are improving.

Let us push together to improve even more.

For freedom!  For our rights!