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Showing posts with label World Cup 2022. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup 2022. Show all posts
Anthony McIntyre ⚽The best soccer match I have ever had the pleasure of watching was between France and Argentina in the 1978 World Cup group one stage. 

Cage 11, a black and white television, the soccer afficionados crammed in front of it at the end of the hut. It was fantastic flowing football, graced with a sensational goal - best of the tournament - from the boot of Leopoldo Luque which saw the South American side emerge as 2-1 victors. 

Luque would later speak of an incident while preparing for a game later the same evening against Hungary. He had a chilling conversation with a member of the far right junta that ruled the country. The official suggested that it could be a game of life or death. It unnerved him. Luque had just heard that a close friend's brother had disappeared. His body would later be retrieved from the River Plate, weighed down by concrete, a common fate for those critical of the regime. 

That was the atmosphere in which that World Cup was played. The Nazi embracing military dictatorship was as enthused about murdering its opponents as it was about winning the tournament. Even though the Monteneros guerrillas had said they would observe a six week ceasefire to facilitate the finals, for the regime it was business as usual - torture, murder and disappearances. Sure, why not? Henry Kissinger had given it the green light but recommended doing it quickly, much like Chile had done with his endorsement in 1973. 

While last weekend's World Cup final in Qatar between the same two protagonists was never expected to live up to the quality of the 1978 game, it proved to be the best of any final in the competition that I have watched. And that is quite a few, stretching back to 1970.

Although I did not see any of the games in the group stages, from what I heard and read neither side throughout the competition seemed convincing. The France matches I managed to catch left me feeling this was a pedestrian outfit, dull and maybe not worthy. Argentina, well they looked as if they had downed a night cap at the start of each match which led to them falling asleep late on in the game just when the opposition knew they had to get up before they shit the bed. What they should have learned against Holland, they failed to. It could have cost them the crown. 

The only thing favouring Argentina was that they had performed better in the semi-final against an ageing Croatia than France had against a Morocco side that played much better soccer.

On the night the Argentinians looked majestic for about 70 minutes . . .  until the night cap kicked in. France woke up and a good final became a great one. It seemed game over. The Argentinians were shell shocked, on the ropes and waiting for the bell to save them. It looked like the bell was only an offer of a respite, that defeat would still be snatched from the jaws of victory.

It is a measure of the character of the French that they managed to get things back on an even keel in a two minute spell of Mbappe mettle. Then Argentina showed their own fortitude. It has been said that true champions get up when they know they can't. Argentina like a phoenix arose from the canvas and soared into soccer history. What France did in the closing stages of normal time, Argentina managed throughout extra time. They were the better team. Heart stopping stuff, my wife and I were on the edge of our seats, our son in town attired in his French top. At 2-0, I texted him asking if he wanted me to send down my Argentina top. No reply.  

This will be remembered as Messi's tournament. He did not have to do the amount of heavy digging that Diego Maradona was called upon to perform during the 1986 competition when he dragged an average Argentina across the line, but he stepped up to the plate when the chips were down. Two goals in the final, crowning an illustrious career, ensuring his place as primus inter pares on the pantheon of soccer greats.   

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Best Ever

Peter Anderson ⚽ Who'd have thought that the most controversial World Cup in the history of the sport would produce arguably the best final? 

To be fair, there isn't a high bar in that regard, but Sunday's match was a cracker. Argentina lifted the trophy after doing their utmost to throw it away, Messi is finally crowned the GOAT and 26 years of hurt are finally brought to an end.

For most of the 90 minutes France were awful. They lacked energy and desire. The commentators talked of a virus in the camp, something was wrong. Argentina burst into a two-goal lead after some awful defending for the first and a team goal of pure quality for the second. 

All the pre-match hype around Argentina involved Messi but it was that other old stager, Di Maria, that was making the difference. In his final international game, he looked the hungriest on the pitch. For the first goal he skinned Dembele and then was tripped by the player as he made a desperate attempt to remedy the situation. It was shockingly bad defending which resulted in Dembele being hauled off after 41 minutes. Messi tucked away the resulting pen. 

For the second goal Di Maria finished a lovely move of free flowing, one and two touch, football. 2 up and cruising. Surely France would start the second half better? Marginally. Kolo Muani was having some impact, but Griezmann just wasn't playing like he can. However, as every footy fan knows, 2 goals is not a winning lead. On 76 minutes I looked at the clock and thought that Argentina had it won; on 81 minutes it was 2-2. Man City reject, Otamendi, produced the second example of woeful defending by letting Muani get goal side, then hauling him back inside the box. Penalty to France, 2-1. From the restart Messi lost the ball and, after a one-two between Muani and Mbappe, Mbappe scored a sizzler. Argentina were so close and now they were level. Unbelievable! How many times have we seen a team 2 up and cruising only to throw it all away?

Extra time was more of the same. Argentina started to dominate, then Messi scored again. Surely now? No, wait. France got another penalty on 118 minutes, 3-3 and a penalty shoot-out. In the end the shoot-out was a damp squib. Argentina won it easily and we got to see Messi lifting the famous trophy, at long, long last.

Whether he's the GOAT or not is subjective. For me he is because he is the only one of the contenders that I have seen multiple times on TV and in the flesh. I have seen him 5 or 6 times at Atletico's Calderon stadium, including one of his greatest performances in a Barca shirt when he scored his first hattrick in Spain. If I had seen Best, Cruyff, Pele or Maradona so many times I'd probably think differently.

It has been a challenging journey for Messi in the Albiceleste shirt. Maradona was royalty in Argentina, obviously. To be named the new Maradona was quite the billing to live up to, but his performances for his country were nowhere near as good as they were for Barca. It all started well enough as they won the Olympic gold in 2008 in a team that included Di Maria, Higuain, Agüero, Riquelme and Zabaleta. I wasn't the only one to think that this side would go on to win the World Cup. Instead, they produced failure after failure. Worse than that they were also failing in the Copa America. 

In the three years from 2014 to 2016, Argentina lost one World Cup final and two Copa America finals. Messi took the blame. He was ridiculed in his home country and openly derided as a secret European, more Catalan than Argentine. Unlike Maradona, he never proved himself in Argentina first. Neither is he extrovert or overtly patriotic. Worst of all was his inconsistent form. Everything changed last year after the Albiceleste won the Copa America for the first time since 1993. Belief returned. Could Messi now win the big one on his last chance? He did, but he shouldn't have. Argentina lost their first game to Saudi and have been far from impressive. They certainly weren't the best side in the tournament, but they did what needed to be done. England must be kicking themselves.

I'm chuffed for Messi, but I wish he had done it in his prime, with the golden generation. To see Agüero celebrate with his best mate after the match was a little hard to watch, Agüero and Zaba should have had winners' medals too. It was not to be. So, to Messi's 12 league titles, 7 Copa Del Reys, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 1 Copa America we can now add the biggie, the World Cup, to complete the set. He has literally won it all. If not the GOAT, then surely the greatest of the modern era.
 
Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Messi

Peter Anderson ⚽ Don't you just love England at the major tournaments?

Guaranteed entertainment! Every defeat a national disaster; every win a portent to greatness. This World Cup was no different to all those before it, penalty drama and heroic failure.

Before facing France in the quarter-final they had beaten Wales, Iran and Senegal pretty well and drew with the USA with a poor performance. Most pundits and bookies put England and France more or less on a par, the Mbappe effect maybe nudging it for France. But they were without their spine of Lucas, Kante, Pogba and Benzema, with those four France would have been easy favourites. So, this was a good time to meet France.

I have said before that the England defensive triangle of Pickford-Maguire-Stones would prove their undoing and I was right. England conceded two goals, the first should have been saved. Certainly, Courtois, Neuer and Allison Becker would most likely have saved it. The second goal should have been cleared by Maguire, but he let Giroud nip in and nick it. England 2-1 down needed a goal and were duly given a pen, which the usually dependable Kane skyed to row Z. Typical England. The ITV commentator said, "we needed Gary Lineker, but got Chris Waddle", the usual media hatchet job only took a few seconds to start.

Once again England depart in the quarters. They will rue this defeat given the poor quality of the other teams. Spain, Germany, Brazil and Portugal are out; we are in mid-season so the players are fresh; and the Qatar temperatures are reasonably mild. Beating France would have led to a semi against Morocco and a possible final against a poor Argentina or an average Croatia. England may never get a better chance to win a World Cup again.

The shit for this defeat should fall where it deserves, on the head of Gareth Southgate. He has done a fantastic job compared to his predecessors. He has coached most of his team since the under-21s and has nurtured a coherent group. He identified England's failures in previous tournaments, namely they conceded too many goals. Southgate spent a lot of time analysing previous tournament winners and noticed that early all winners concede very few goals. Look at Morocco in this World Cup, they have only conceded one goal in their five games and are now in a semi-final. With his ideas in place Southgate then proceeded to get England to a Euro final, a World Cup semi-final and a Nations League final.

Keeping clean sheets with Pickford and Maguire was always going to be challenging this time around. But for all his improvements, his one big failing was tactical: he can't seem to change the course of a game that is not going well. Against the USA his side were toothless, but he kept Foden on the bench. Against France, at 1-1 France were fading, but he never went for the jugular. In that situation a Klopp or a Guardiola would have sent on Rashford, knowing that you must score when dominating. He had the best bench in the tournament, but didn't use it until it was too late.

Whoever manages England into the next Euros has one overriding task: to fix the defence. Everything else is in place to win a tournament. The midfield pivot of Bellingham and Rice is a winning formula if every I saw one. Bellingham has got everything needed to be a superstar, and Rice is the perfect foil. They are 19 and 23 respectively. They have at least a decade to perfect their partnership and with Philips on the bench they are well served in that department.

Going forward, England have also some great youngsters, Saka looks like he will be a superstar, Rashford is coming good again, Foden has the potential to be England's Iniesta. With a shored-up defence and tactical nous England's outlook looks good, but the reality will probably be more heroic failure. At major tournaments it is always thus.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Heroic Failure

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ For years the England national soccer squad has given both detractors and comedians alike abundant material with which to mould mockery by the tonnage. 


The ha ha scripters and LOL designers are never short of work when England take to the showers upon underwhelming their opposition, and exit whatever tournament they are playing in. For almost half a century since Jan Tomaszewski held the Polish pass and headed off an English invasion of his goal mouth, ensuring the boys from Blighty never made it out of the trench and over the top to storm World Cup 1974, I have derived immense satisfaction from seeing them flail, flounder and fail.

It is not the players or the team itself. An avid fan of the English Premier League and a Liverpool fan to boot, I have no animosity towards them, admiring many of them for the sheer joy they serve up throughout the soccer season. I just don't abide by the hyperinflated phenomenon they have been transformed into by the English sports media and fan base alike. The greatest English philosopher of all time, Mediocrities, has gone unnoticed in a country puffed up on its own John Bull.

The irritation that has long sought exit in England's own exit is primed by the phenomenon Man's Search For Insanity. Not how Viktor Frankl phrased it but close enough. Like cultic Christians gathering for the Rapture, supporters and pundits alike every two years join an expeditionary force that leaves the foothills promising to reach the summit in Europe or further afield while leaving all their powers of reasoning at base camp. In their own mind they are favourites and to the rest of the word they are failures. Naked as jaybirds, into the snow they plough, boasting to wave triumphantly at the sceptics and naysayers from the summit. We sit back and duly predict their rapid descent back down. 

Like a rerun of an old movie filmed in Mexico in 1970, it only ever ends one way. Everyone knows the script but the self-professed experts. Like Einstein's lunatic they keep doing the same thing yet expecting a different outcome.

England did not always field teams of donkeys. Many sides were not lacking in talent. The blindspot lay in the inability of the true believers to sense what lay out there, beyond their own shores. The prowess of other teams was understated. The Colonel Blimps of Blighty could see only one thing -  putting Johnny Foreigner to the sword.

But not to hee haw at the combined idiocy of fans and pundits would be a flagellist self-denial, a foregoing of the bragger's trumpet that heralds hubris humiliated. Having been insufferably assailed for weeks on end from the academy of entitlement, blasting the ears with grossly inflated claims, we ridiculers walk on while England walk off empty handed.

Last evening I sat at home watching the France-England quarter final, my wife tolerating my groans.  Earlier in the day Morocco had just beaten Portugal, so whoever emerged victorious from the later game looked a sure bet to make the final. I badly wanted France to win for the sake of my son who, along with his sister, was in a Lyon pub watching the game while wearing the French team's top. I texted him throughout, wincing at each French conceded penalty. He looked very apprehensive when the second, like the first, was needlessly given away. 


The penalty kick - the bane of England's international soccer - arose once more from the depths to pull them under as it submerged again. Defeated not by a French heist but by a Harry Hoist, ultimately they have only themselves to blame. Kane's penalty was nothing short of atrocious. 


Still, on the night the team that played the better soccer went out. The French team looked flat and pedestrian, their defensive capabilities suspect. The English were very unlucky. So they, not the World Cup, are coming home. The trophy is destined for elsewhere and there is no guarantee that its resting place for the next four years will be Paris.

England, when they pick themselves up, must come to accept that they blew it. The referee was poor as were the French, but their fate lay in their own hands.  This England side has quality. Down but not out. they will come again.  If Southgate stays in place and continues to build around the midfield powerhouse of Bellingham and Rice, then England can emerge as champions of Europe in 2024, irrespective of who the opposition is. At present England has the ability to win major tournaments. It doesn't have the nerve to win them. 

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Out

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ Having since watched a few World Cup games with my son, there is still a bad taste in my mouth which even whiskey doesn't remove. 

It became even more acetous on the palate upon listening to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino crow that Qatar hosted the best World Cup ever at the group stage and that he anticipates exceeding the five billion television viewer mark by the end of the tournament. Having broken ranks I too will join that number. Feels like not completing a dry January. Just that soccer Players do not have the soothing effect of sipping Powers.

The tournament had reached the last sixteen before the duck was broke for me with the lure of the French in action against Poland. My son invited me in from my self imposed cold. As I entered the chill exited. It was game on.

Currently, world champions, the French seriously stuttered in Euro 2020 before being silenced by Switzerland. If ever the phrase snatching defeat from the jaws of victory scored a perfect ten, it was there. On Tuesday the Swiss demonstated that they too could flatter to deceive. A woeful display of soccer against Portugal who thrashed them 6-1 preceded their flight back to Zurich. 

The French were impressive with Mbappe scoring two quality goals. Given the lacklustre performances by Paul Pogba for Manchester Unmuted, Les Bleu are unlikely to suffer as a result of his absence through injury. Pampered Paul has as much to offer this world stage as Receeding Ronaldo, but it can take a while for the egos to come to terms with that. There is something to be said about growing old gracefully. 

Last evening I bade my son 'adieu' and 'Vive la France' as he headed off to Lyon with his sister, where they plan to watch the France-England clash on Saturday in one of the city's pubs. I would have enjoyed catching that match with him either in our local or at home. His departure depriving me of the excuse that I am only watching it in some ritual of father-son bonding.

This England team, despite the defensive conservatism of its coach, played some classy football against the Senegalese once it found its rhythm. I expect France to win but this is not the England of old who even Iceland could knock out of a major championship. As ruthlessly clinical as the English finishing was the French will not be as easy to counter attack against as Senegal were. Still, with the dynamic midfield that England can call upon including Jude Bellingham who is a real path finder, France cannot rest on the combination of their laurels and England's previous form.

From what I have watched thus far the major satisfaction came not with a victory for any particular side but through the defeat of Spain, put to the sword by Morocco. What a flat, unappetising side, as dull as dishwater. A team of crabs that instinctively goes sideways. 

What are you having? 
I'll pass on this one. 

And so they did, earning a free pass back home. For about eight years this century Spain dominated world football but it is all history now. This side would struggle to avoid relegation in the English Championship.

At this time of year they don't even have the comforting thought on their journey home that they are all off to sunny Spain 'Y Viva Espana.'

With fewer donkeys there is now more hay for the horses.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

More Hay For The Horses

Peter Anderson ⚽️ As the World Cup heads towards the pointy end one thing is clear: World Cup 2022 is high on entertainment but low on quality. 

It has been for a few years, but now the gap is widening to a noticeable level. Most of the big names at this World Cup are in their mid-thirties. Think Ronaldo, Messi, Lewandoski, Bale, Modric, Suarez, Cavani and Giroud; all yesterday's men. With the exceptions of Mbappe and Vinicius, there has been a severe lack of new, exciting talent. 

Germany have gone home, a pale imitation of previous dominant sides. Belgium too, their "golden generation" wasted on a clueless manager in Martinez, promoted above his talent. Much like Sven and the English golden generation of 20 years ago. Brazil, who used to arrive at World Cups packed with superstars, now fields Man U sub, Fred and Spurs sub, Richarlison, with Vinicius and Neymar the only superstars available. Argentina also tells a similar story. With Messi and Di Maria well past their prime, they take to the field with Brighton's Macallister and Man City youngster, Alvarez. Gone are the days of South American mystic.

This lack of squad quality or depth has thrown up some interesting points. Firstly, with France missing their established spine of Pogba, Benzema, Lucas and N'Golo Kante, England have arguably the strongest squad, certainly the deepest. I still think that their Pickford-Maguire-Stones central partnership and Southgate's lack of nous will cost them dear. They destroyed Senegal on Sunday night but now face France in a potential thriller next weekend. I can't wait for that one!

And secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is that the World Cup is wide open. Never before has every FIFA federation been represented in the last 16. We have seen a brave few upsets and more seem on the cards. I work for a Madrid company and know full well that the Spanish are bricking it over facing Morocco.

I still think that France-Brazil is the most likely final, but I would not be surprised to see a "new" team make the final, certainly the semi-final. The "smaller" teams are making this a very entertaining competition, despite the negative press, but if you want real quality footy then you'll need to wait until the Champions League kicks off again in the New Year.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

High Entertainment ⚽️ Low Quality

Pádraic Mac Coitir ⚽ The earliest World Cup I remember was 1966 - yes, that one - but I never saw the final, or indeed any match. 

It was during the summer holidays and we made the best of the good weather running about the streets in our part of Andytown.

1970 was a bit different because we moved to a slightly bigger house in Lenadoon and I vaguely remember the odd match on our black and white TV. They mightn't even have been live because they were played in Mexico but when running about the streets again during that summer we cheered when England were out. This was at a time when British soldiers were driving around in jeeps and although there weren't too many riots we started to guess tensions were rising. Me and my friends went to Colin Glen and if really adventurous up to the hills surrounding Lenadoon. Our parents were probably glad to see the back of us!
 
1974 was completely different. My mother, Máire, died suddenly the previous year which meant my father, Pat, had to bring up ten of us. My two eldest sisters, Róis and Áine, were in Armagh gaol and the British army were roaming our streets harassing and beating anybody who stood up to them. Despite this my da, who wasn't a soccer man, watched some of the World Cup matches on our (still) black and white TV and as he was cheering on West Germany. I too supported them. I loved Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, especially because his nickname was The Bomber. They won and it made up for that terrible year '66 and all of that'!
 
1978 was when I was on the blanket protest in the H-Blocks and with no access to TV, radio or newspapers we got the results of matches the next day or in some cases days later. The screws hated us that much they probably shouted out wrong results. Fuck them.

1982 I was back in gaol, this time on remand in the Crum and the H-Blocks. Because we had our own clothes and the hunger strike had finished the previous October after ten of our brave comrades died the cowardly screws were a different breed. We didn't have a TV in our cell but there was some coverage on our radios. If I remember right the only matches they commentated live on were England matches and the final.

1986 and back on remand in Crumlin Road gaol. I was on the 3s with a small number of IRA and INLA prisoners which the prison ' authorities' referred to Red Books. We were in single cells and whenever we went on visits, both family and legal, to the hospital or wherever a screw was always with us. We were deemed 'high risk'! A lot of us were into the World Cup but we didn't see one match but got the results on the radio and read the reports in the newspapers.

1990 and back in the H-Blocks. The protests had ended and we gained plenty from the sacrifice of the ten lads. The screws weren't the cocky bastards they once were but at the end of the day they locked us up. We were able to listen to most of the matches on the radio and occasionally we we saw the odd live match.

1994 and things had changed considerably in the Blocks. I was on the camp staff and during negotiations the staff had come to an agreement with the admin to open our cells 24 hours. We had no toilets in our cells and we had argued for years this should never be the way. So they conceded to our demands saying we could use the toilets 24 hours a day. It was unbelievable to be able to watch matches after 8pm - the usual lock up time. I'll write another time why I supported Italy!

1998 and the first world cup I saw free from prison. I wasn't as much into it because I'd more interests but I do remember watching the final in The Suffolk Inn, when it was a great pub.

2002 and again I watched the odd match. I learned there were more important things in life but I understood why it means so much to people.

The other years more or less are the same and the one consistent with me is that I still hate England and want them to lose every match. Most of the English (there again Scottish and even some Irish) pundits on BBC and ITV are enough to make me despise the English team. Yes, I know it's only 'a game' but they bring out the worst in me with their jingoism and smugness.
 
This World Cup is in Qatar and I listen to the usual hypocrites on our TVs. Qatar is one of many countries that people should never visit because of their human rights abuses, including their despicable attitude to women and the LBGTQ+ community. Look at other countries that hosted the World Cup over the years and their human rights abuses - USA, South Africa, Brazil and don't get me started about England!

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

Jingoism And Smugness

Peter Anderson ⚽️Well, surprise, surprise, but this World Cup is turning out to be a cracker. 

After all the initial furore around Qatar and its human rights issues, the football is finally making its mark. On Friday night, one of my mates was telling me that his son is working in Doha and that the place is pumped for having the World Cup. Muslims view it as their World Cup, and certainly Saudi Arabia and Morocco are making themselves known. Both their football teams and their fans have lit up this tournament. We can debate Islam's shocking world view till the cows come home, but the Middle-East deserve a World Cup like every other region in the FIFA world. And if Qatar got it through corruption, we should remember that Blatter is gone. Few, with the exception of Blatter's bank manager, are happy about the situation, but it is what it is. Let's get on with the footy.

England got off to a flier, and then flopped against the US . . .  and then got slaughtered by the English press. Nothing new there, then! Southgate left Foden - the one player that you would bet on to open up a tight defence - on the bench. Southgate showed in previous tournaments that he lacks the tactical nous to cut it at this level, and I don't expect England to suddenly start ripping up any trees in Qatar. Quarter finals at best?

Wales on the other hand are already doomed. It is clear that their success was largely down to the influence of Bale and Ramsey. With these two now firmly over the hill, Wales look like a spent force.

The weekend produced some first-class entertainment. Saudi Arabia played Poland off the park but still lost 2-0. The Saudis looked sharp and fit, urged on by a fanatical support buoyed by their victory over Argentina. Argentina then beat Mexico 2-0 in a high-pressure thriller on Saturday night, saving their World Cup, for now at least. Saturday also saw Mbappé showing us what all the hype is about with two goals against Denmark. What a great Saturday on the sofa. I watched three games and all three were top drawer entertainment.

Sunday was nearly as good! Again, I watched three games and none of them disappointed. Morocco tanked an aging Belgian team, roared on by an amazing Moroccan support. Then Croatia put down a marker for World Cup glory by outclassing the impressive Canadians. Croatia looked very good; the other favourites will have taken note. The night was rounded off by Spain drawing 1-1 with the Germans. The Germans looked awful. Playing with the 33-year-old Thomas Muller as lone striker, they never looked like scoring. I have been used all my life to German teams that manage World Cup games super well and then rely on their superb strikers to nick one or two and win the game. I am old enough to remember Gerd Muller and Klaus Fischer, Rummenigge and Klinsmann, Bierhoff and Klose. This German team pose no such threat. Spain were one-nil up and cruising when Germany threw on their unknown number 9, Fullkrug, who duly scored the equaliser and saved the Germans from an early exit. Given Japan's earlier defeat, this group is wide open and the Spaniards missed a glorious opportunity to top the group and send the Germans home.

All in all, a great weekend of footy providing top-quality entertainment. None of the groups are decided yet and some of them will go down to the wire. There is still a slim chance that this World Cup may be remembered more for the football and not for the politics. As it should be.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Cracker

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