I've just realised it's been three days since I did my last post. Where did that go? I have watched some of the football but have being doing other stuff too. I'm afraid my enthusiasm for this World Cup seems to have lasted about as long as that of the England team's, although having written that, thinking back to their first two games it's hard to see that there was any true enthusiasm there in the first place. I wonder if they'd have played better if they'd been in a tougher group - I've heard it said that it's harder to play well against a poor opponent, but I'm not sure I buy that. They're supposed to be professionals and true professionals give their best whatever the situation. Given the struggle they had even to be 2nd in what was thought to be an easy group, perhaps they were lucky to reach the final 16 and didn't deserve to be there. Having said that, would the outcome have been different if the second England goal, from Lampard, had been given, as it should have been? Perhaps, but I didn't see anything that gave me any confidence that would have been the case. At any rate, FIFA must surely now be forced to adopt the technology used in so many other sports to back up the officials. Whatever, the referee's shocking mistake shouldn't have happened, but I doubt whether the course of the competition was truly impacted.
So, with so many top level players how come they never gelled into a top level team? Have they all got too big for their boots and are unable to put the good of the team ahead of their own individual agendas. They should by rights be a lot stronger as a group than they are as individuals. It's down to the manager to make sure that happens, but I'm not placing all the responsibility for failure onto Capello. It's more complex than that, surely. I've no idea, really, but over the course of the last week a thought has occurred to me. I know nothing about football, but I do know a little about team management. There is a management theory relating to team development that says that teams go through four stages of development:
1. "forming" - the initial stage, where everyone is sussing out their team mates and relating to each other very politely and perhaps rather distantly
2. "norming" - learning more about each other, beginning to work together but also starting to find the points of difference
3. "storming" - where the power struggles take place with team members jostling for position and where points of friction come to the surface and are resolved
and 4. "performing" - where the roles and dynamics within the team have settled down, the creative tension is harnessed as a positive force and the team benefits from the different personalities and abilities of the members.
It's the manager's job to pick the right team members, help the team go through the first three stages as quickly and effectively as possible and get them to the last stage. Not all teams get this far.
I have a theory that removing John Terry as captain earlier this year (but keeping him in the squad) and the even later loss of Ferdinand as captain and from the team through injury effectively meant the team were back at stage 1 when they started preparations in S Africa, the John Terry press conference and ensuing shenanigans were the storming stage which never settled into a "performing" team. Perhaps Fabio didn't give them enough freedom to work through the tensions to get to that stage, or perhaps it was just too late by then. Or perhaps it's nothing to do with that at all and they just didn't deserve to be there at all.
Anyway, it seems as though the South American teams will ensure many of the remaining matches are entertaining for the true football fans. I wonder if there'll be any European teams left in semi-finals?
That's it, from your slightly demotivated amateur pundit. I don't think I'll be making this a long term occupation, but here's a bit of light relief to lift the spirits: South African Homesick Blues
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Thursday, 24 June 2010
"Divots all over the pitch" and this time it's not the players!
I'm afraid I'm a bit footballed out. I did enjoy the England-Slovenia game and of course I'm glad they won and have gone through to the next round, but I'm also quite glad there's no longer a 12:30 match every day, and there are some football free days coming.
It's been another strange time in the tournament though, with Italy (the reigning champions) going out bottom of their group and New Zealand also going out, but not bottom of their group and unbeaten! How impressive is that! Add to that the snub from the French coach towards the S African coach by refusing to shake his hand at the end of their game, and an Algerian player slapping a journalist as he left the pitch. True sportsmen?
I now know where I stand on the boo-ing question. I don't think it's acceptable. Aren't football fans fickle? In fact, I'm surprised they dare call themselves supporters. When the team's doing badly they turn against them and badmouth them, only truly supporting them when they're doing well. That's completely back to front. It's so basic to know that the time when support is most needed is when things are at their worst, or are a struggle. When you're on top, or at least managing to show your potential you can cope better with being undermined (but why do it anyway). When you already know you're underperforming or not meeting expectations you don't need to be further demoralised. So, lets hope their "supporters" manage to get behind the team properly through the next stages and help the team do their best.
And now a bit of light relief - some very short videos created by children in a World Cup "spin-off" project. I hope they make you smile as they did me;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8742633.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755233.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755249.stm
It's been another strange time in the tournament though, with Italy (the reigning champions) going out bottom of their group and New Zealand also going out, but not bottom of their group and unbeaten! How impressive is that! Add to that the snub from the French coach towards the S African coach by refusing to shake his hand at the end of their game, and an Algerian player slapping a journalist as he left the pitch. True sportsmen?
I now know where I stand on the boo-ing question. I don't think it's acceptable. Aren't football fans fickle? In fact, I'm surprised they dare call themselves supporters. When the team's doing badly they turn against them and badmouth them, only truly supporting them when they're doing well. That's completely back to front. It's so basic to know that the time when support is most needed is when things are at their worst, or are a struggle. When you're on top, or at least managing to show your potential you can cope better with being undermined (but why do it anyway). When you already know you're underperforming or not meeting expectations you don't need to be further demoralised. So, lets hope their "supporters" manage to get behind the team properly through the next stages and help the team do their best.
And now a bit of light relief - some very short videos created by children in a World Cup "spin-off" project. I hope they make you smile as they did me;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8742633.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755233.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755249.stm
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
S America on top?
Skipped a day there and I'm now just sitting waiting for the England game, with more anticipation than for any football match I can remember. I don't know what's happened to me.
It's really not fair to take the microphone quite so close to the players though. They're footballers, not singers, and it shows. Wise are the ones who don't sing in that situation.
Since Portugal's seven goals, from six different players, I've seen the complete opposite in the game yesterday between Greece and Argentina, with Greece seeming to have about 99 defenders. All the more credit to Argentina for scoring 2 goals.
Apart from that game, we've seen France lose to S Africa and head home in disgrace, more from their behaviour than the football, Mexico lose 0-1 to Uruguay and Nigeria draw 2-2 with S Korea. So, the teams through to the knock-out stage so far are Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and S Korea and Paraguay, Brazil and Chile are looking well placed. Even though S Africa went out they did so with honour. I'm delighted they won their match yesterday.
The England team shenanigans have continued to provide a side-show. My main question is what was Terry doing supposedly speaking for the team in the press conference - where was Gerrard? Lets hope they have found a bit of humility and put their hearts and souls into the game. It's looking quite physical so far. I'm sure everyone's seen this battle cry from Brian Blessed, but in case not, here's the link - stirring stuff. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8752379.stm and in similar vein here's a collection of relevant Shakespeare quotes put together by The Globe Theatre: http://bit.ly/9DyzdN
Not going to do any more for now - am going to watch the game. But will leave you with this little piece about the ball, given the amount of controversy there's been around it:
Clarence Seedorf and the Jabulani Ball
and a really heartwarming piece about the peripheral impact of the World Cup on a group of young South Africans:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/06/musical_youth_given_final_chan.html#224625
It's really not fair to take the microphone quite so close to the players though. They're footballers, not singers, and it shows. Wise are the ones who don't sing in that situation.
Since Portugal's seven goals, from six different players, I've seen the complete opposite in the game yesterday between Greece and Argentina, with Greece seeming to have about 99 defenders. All the more credit to Argentina for scoring 2 goals.
Apart from that game, we've seen France lose to S Africa and head home in disgrace, more from their behaviour than the football, Mexico lose 0-1 to Uruguay and Nigeria draw 2-2 with S Korea. So, the teams through to the knock-out stage so far are Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and S Korea and Paraguay, Brazil and Chile are looking well placed. Even though S Africa went out they did so with honour. I'm delighted they won their match yesterday.
The England team shenanigans have continued to provide a side-show. My main question is what was Terry doing supposedly speaking for the team in the press conference - where was Gerrard? Lets hope they have found a bit of humility and put their hearts and souls into the game. It's looking quite physical so far. I'm sure everyone's seen this battle cry from Brian Blessed, but in case not, here's the link - stirring stuff. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8752379.stm and in similar vein here's a collection of relevant Shakespeare quotes put together by The Globe Theatre: http://bit.ly/9DyzdN
Not going to do any more for now - am going to watch the game. But will leave you with this little piece about the ball, given the amount of controversy there's been around it:
Clarence Seedorf and the Jabulani Ball
and a really heartwarming piece about the peripheral impact of the World Cup on a group of young South Africans:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/06/musical_youth_given_final_chan.html#224625
Monday, 21 June 2010
I've not seen any football so far today. Probably won't until this evening's game between Spain and Honduras, and then we'll see. I'm probably missing a good contest between Chile and Switzerland but feel in need of a mid-tournament break. And I'm not watching Wimbledon either - that doesn't hold much more appeal for me normally than football does.
What I'd really like to do is go out for a walk, but I'll have to wait another 3 weeks or so for that. I think I'm a bit jaded after the Brazil-Ivory Coast game and the nonsense going on in the England and France camps.
Much as I enjoyed watching the skill and energy of the Brazil team, who beat Ivory Coast 3-1, I didn't enjoy the game as a whole. OK, both teams showed commitment and a desire to win, and the better team won as far as I could tell, but it was a bad tempered game, particularly towards the end and the referee was absolutely appalling - perhaps it was "chicken and egg". There were some really nasty physical challenges from the Ivory Coast players, Fabiano's second goal was helped along by his 2 handballs (visible on the replay but to be fair perhaps not easily by the ref) and there was such a lot of play-acting and cheating you could be forgiven thinking you were at the theatre. I thought that kind of stuff had been left behind long since. Sadly Kaka, arguably Brazil's best player, ended up getting a red card (unjustifiably) as a result of blatant acting by Keita. What could have been a really enjoyable match, given the quality of the players, left me feeling annoyed and disappointed that the football itself had been ruined by the undisciplined and dishonest nature of the play.
On a positive note, I did enjoy seeing Italy kept well under control by New Zealand. Italy - the current champions; New Zealand, with a manager paid about £25k (if what I've read is correct) and with 3 amateurs in the squad as well as 2 professionals not attached to clubs. You'd have thought you could predict the result. Not in this tournament! And the goal scorer for New Zealand, Winston Reid, lives and plays in Denmark and wasn't going to join the NZ squad until he was contacted via Facebook by a NZ television station trying to persuade him to play.
What about the dissent in the England camp. Apart from the football matters and relationships with their manager, they complain of being bored. I can empathise with that to a degree, cooped up in a 5* hotel with too much time to spare in the afternoons. But why on earth are they cooped up. I agree with the sentiments expressed in this text that was sent into the BBC Sprot website:
From Rachel in Sussex: "I'd better start this message by saying I know next to nothing about football and am therefore happy to be shot down, but could the England players be suffering from - what I think is called - paradise syndrome? I imagine that players are cosseted and protected for much of their working lives by agents and others from being totally immersed in poverty, but in SA, what with some WAGS taking part in documentaries on poverty and the word being spread by the BBC's coverage, combined with hours to sit and think about the disparities between nations, maybe players have begun to wonder how important it all is? I certainly have at times during the competition. Paraphrasing Leonardo Da Vinci, 'inaction saps the vigour of the mind' - maybe the camp could organise something that got the players more involved on a practical level and give the players something to feel proud of and satisfied by?"
It's also just been reported that "Capello is said to have agreed to listen more to the players and to have agreed to relax the tight constraints on their free time but the message was clear - he will not back down to player power."
And the big news of today, so far: the Portugal-North Korea result - looks like I made an error of judgement and have just missed the best match of the tournament so far. The result was 7-0 to Portugal and by the sound of there were some cracking goals, 6 of which were scored during the second half. Perhaps I'll look out for the Brazil-Portugal game.
So, with that little bit of excitement (well, something a bit more positive at least) I'm going to leave you with a bit of light relief - some "free style football"! Did you know that existed as a discipline with world championships? I certainly didn't. Here's some anyway:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7596233.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8750580.stm
What I'd really like to do is go out for a walk, but I'll have to wait another 3 weeks or so for that. I think I'm a bit jaded after the Brazil-Ivory Coast game and the nonsense going on in the England and France camps.
Much as I enjoyed watching the skill and energy of the Brazil team, who beat Ivory Coast 3-1, I didn't enjoy the game as a whole. OK, both teams showed commitment and a desire to win, and the better team won as far as I could tell, but it was a bad tempered game, particularly towards the end and the referee was absolutely appalling - perhaps it was "chicken and egg". There were some really nasty physical challenges from the Ivory Coast players, Fabiano's second goal was helped along by his 2 handballs (visible on the replay but to be fair perhaps not easily by the ref) and there was such a lot of play-acting and cheating you could be forgiven thinking you were at the theatre. I thought that kind of stuff had been left behind long since. Sadly Kaka, arguably Brazil's best player, ended up getting a red card (unjustifiably) as a result of blatant acting by Keita. What could have been a really enjoyable match, given the quality of the players, left me feeling annoyed and disappointed that the football itself had been ruined by the undisciplined and dishonest nature of the play.
On a positive note, I did enjoy seeing Italy kept well under control by New Zealand. Italy - the current champions; New Zealand, with a manager paid about £25k (if what I've read is correct) and with 3 amateurs in the squad as well as 2 professionals not attached to clubs. You'd have thought you could predict the result. Not in this tournament! And the goal scorer for New Zealand, Winston Reid, lives and plays in Denmark and wasn't going to join the NZ squad until he was contacted via Facebook by a NZ television station trying to persuade him to play.
What about the dissent in the England camp. Apart from the football matters and relationships with their manager, they complain of being bored. I can empathise with that to a degree, cooped up in a 5* hotel with too much time to spare in the afternoons. But why on earth are they cooped up. I agree with the sentiments expressed in this text that was sent into the BBC Sprot website:
From Rachel in Sussex: "I'd better start this message by saying I know next to nothing about football and am therefore happy to be shot down, but could the England players be suffering from - what I think is called - paradise syndrome? I imagine that players are cosseted and protected for much of their working lives by agents and others from being totally immersed in poverty, but in SA, what with some WAGS taking part in documentaries on poverty and the word being spread by the BBC's coverage, combined with hours to sit and think about the disparities between nations, maybe players have begun to wonder how important it all is? I certainly have at times during the competition. Paraphrasing Leonardo Da Vinci, 'inaction saps the vigour of the mind' - maybe the camp could organise something that got the players more involved on a practical level and give the players something to feel proud of and satisfied by?"
It's also just been reported that "Capello is said to have agreed to listen more to the players and to have agreed to relax the tight constraints on their free time but the message was clear - he will not back down to player power."
And the big news of today, so far: the Portugal-North Korea result - looks like I made an error of judgement and have just missed the best match of the tournament so far. The result was 7-0 to Portugal and by the sound of there were some cracking goals, 6 of which were scored during the second half. Perhaps I'll look out for the Brazil-Portugal game.
So, with that little bit of excitement (well, something a bit more positive at least) I'm going to leave you with a bit of light relief - some "free style football"! Did you know that existed as a discipline with world championships? I certainly didn't. Here's some anyway:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7596233.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8750580.stm
Sunday, 20 June 2010
A bizarre World Cup
Should have done this earlier, as I'm now in the throes of watching Italy-New Zealand with the score at 1-1. So in the interest of seeing a bit of the game this is going to be very brief.
What a very strange World Cup this is turning out to be - isn't it?
What really is the cause of the strange outcomes - ball, environment, global warming, cosmic activity, prima donna behaviour, too much money in the game?
I'm looking forward to this evening's Brazil - Ivory Coast game this evening. How surprising is that?
In the meantime, thought I'd give you a couple of links to BBC World Cup Bus clips:
What a very strange World Cup this is turning out to be - isn't it?
- A fan wanders into the England dressing room looking for the toilet and is quietly escorted off in the right direction, until the media get hold of it.
- Police praise the behaviour of England fans following the disastrous draw with Algeria.
- France in total disarray: Anelka sent home; today's training session didn't happen when the players walked off following an argument between their captain and the fitness coach; and the head of the FFF resigns. I feel sorry for their supporters - what a way to repay their loyalty. Time to start with a blank sheet of paper perhaps.
- Spain, Italy (current world champions), England, Germany, France have all struggled unexpectedly, with games resulting in suprise results.
- New Zealand have their best result ever, and they're not even a fully professional team!
- I am providing information about teams etc to the menfolk of my family. This is the most bizarre.
What really is the cause of the strange outcomes - ball, environment, global warming, cosmic activity, prima donna behaviour, too much money in the game?
I'm looking forward to this evening's Brazil - Ivory Coast game this evening. How surprising is that?
In the meantime, thought I'd give you a couple of links to BBC World Cup Bus clips:
- a trip to Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of the African continent and the place where Harold MacMillan completed writing his "Wind of Change" speech made to the South African Parliament in 1960. Beautiful photography and interesting content.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8737098.stm - visiting an orphanage where the orphans are all HIV Positive - there is such a lot of really valuable work going on in Africa I'm really glad the BBC is using the World Cup as a way of making more of us aware of what's being done (and how much more is needed): http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8749748.stm
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Abject, miserable, confusing, shambolic
What an absolute waste of an evening. The whole match was so boring and the England team worse than a disaster. The ITV team weren't much better, coming up with such insightful comments as Keegan's "they need to play better than that and win..." (or words to that effect). How profound is that!
Algeria at times looked the better team but they didn't help make the match entertaining football - they appeared to be playing not to lose rather than playing a game to win. Although to be fair a lot of the time it didn't look as though the England team were even trying not to lose. There was a short period of improved play somewhere in the middle of the match, if I recall correctly, but then it seemed that doubt and frustration set in and the England team just let the situation get the better of them. What are they paid their obscene salaries for if not to keep their heads in demanding situations. It's time they started delivering. However, if Capello's regime is as described by Keegan (I think it was) - that he "rules with a rod of iron stares" - then you can forgive them for being a bit confused.
Since the football was so dull my mind started wandering - first to the team kits - and I noticed how the England team scrub up rather well in their all white strip - the shorts seem to have changed design for this tournament too - the look almost like tailored shorts, much more structured than previously, and faintly reminiscent of the colonial policeman's style from other times and other continents. I like them, a lot more than the limp skirt-like pale green Algerian ones. In fact, they could almost have been dressed in camouflage, the green quite close to the green of the turf. Is that another excuse to add to the climate, altitude, ball, vuvuzelas, pressure - they couldn't see where the opponents were. Perhaps green kit should be banned.
And Rooney complained about being booed off the pitch by the England "supporters". I'm not sure what I think about that. On the one hand, you don't kick someone when they're down if you're truly a supporter, and boy do the team need support to get their heads up again. But on the other hand, how much does it cost to fly to S Africa, pay for a World Cup ticket and hotel accommodation, not to mention using holiday time for the occasion? And if you paid through the nose to go to a top-flight music festival expecting to see The Beatles (oops, sorry, different generation - Arctic Monkeys? - help me, I'm struggling for a contemporary equivalent to Paul and his pals) wouldn't you boo if you got served up a 5th rate tribute band. I've certainly walked out of a concert before now - not actually booed but the silent equivalent!!
I'm afraid that's all I've seen of or about the football yesterday. But here's a light-hearted comment on the Germany-Serbia game, which you might enjoy and I'm delighted to say Serbia won 1-0. I particularly enjoyed the Serbian goal-scorer's celebration where he ends up disappearing into the moat between crowd and pitch. Unfortunately we don't see how they get him out, which I assume they do: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/collections/p0087lwp
And finally, a quotation, as usual, but not the best I'm afraid. Even the journalism is a bit lack-lustre! This is Kevin Keegan, reflecting (does he do that?) on Rob Green's destiny now that he's been dropped in favour of David James: "It doesn't put him in the bin and put him away totally". Maybe not for Rob Green, but I'd add my support if someone suggested doing that with Keegan.
Algeria at times looked the better team but they didn't help make the match entertaining football - they appeared to be playing not to lose rather than playing a game to win. Although to be fair a lot of the time it didn't look as though the England team were even trying not to lose. There was a short period of improved play somewhere in the middle of the match, if I recall correctly, but then it seemed that doubt and frustration set in and the England team just let the situation get the better of them. What are they paid their obscene salaries for if not to keep their heads in demanding situations. It's time they started delivering. However, if Capello's regime is as described by Keegan (I think it was) - that he "rules with a rod of iron stares" - then you can forgive them for being a bit confused.
Since the football was so dull my mind started wandering - first to the team kits - and I noticed how the England team scrub up rather well in their all white strip - the shorts seem to have changed design for this tournament too - the look almost like tailored shorts, much more structured than previously, and faintly reminiscent of the colonial policeman's style from other times and other continents. I like them, a lot more than the limp skirt-like pale green Algerian ones. In fact, they could almost have been dressed in camouflage, the green quite close to the green of the turf. Is that another excuse to add to the climate, altitude, ball, vuvuzelas, pressure - they couldn't see where the opponents were. Perhaps green kit should be banned.
And Rooney complained about being booed off the pitch by the England "supporters". I'm not sure what I think about that. On the one hand, you don't kick someone when they're down if you're truly a supporter, and boy do the team need support to get their heads up again. But on the other hand, how much does it cost to fly to S Africa, pay for a World Cup ticket and hotel accommodation, not to mention using holiday time for the occasion? And if you paid through the nose to go to a top-flight music festival expecting to see The Beatles (oops, sorry, different generation - Arctic Monkeys? - help me, I'm struggling for a contemporary equivalent to Paul and his pals) wouldn't you boo if you got served up a 5th rate tribute band. I've certainly walked out of a concert before now - not actually booed but the silent equivalent!!
I'm afraid that's all I've seen of or about the football yesterday. But here's a light-hearted comment on the Germany-Serbia game, which you might enjoy and I'm delighted to say Serbia won 1-0. I particularly enjoyed the Serbian goal-scorer's celebration where he ends up disappearing into the moat between crowd and pitch. Unfortunately we don't see how they get him out, which I assume they do: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/collections/p0087lwp
And finally, a quotation, as usual, but not the best I'm afraid. Even the journalism is a bit lack-lustre! This is Kevin Keegan, reflecting (does he do that?) on Rob Green's destiny now that he's been dropped in favour of David James: "It doesn't put him in the bin and put him away totally". Maybe not for Rob Green, but I'd add my support if someone suggested doing that with Keegan.
Friday, 18 June 2010
A couple of entertaining games - I don't believe I said that!
I'm afraid the time has run away with me since yesterday's offering. But I have to say that I have surprised myself and am really quite enjoying following the football. Well, in truth it's the peripheral stuff that I'm learning that I'm finding interesting but nonetheless the matches are proving more enjoyable than I'd expected as well.
It looked really chilly at last night's match between France and Mexico. Below freezing I think I heard them say. I've meant to comment on the mascots who accompany the teams onto the pitch before - I bet they'll remember this for the rest of their lives, and didn't they look just wonderful in their oversized yellow coats last night. And the match itself was good to watch. France, beaten by Mexico 0-2, certainly lived up to Zindedine Zidane's opinion that their side is not a team. And I've never seen such a disinterested and dispassionate manager. Mexico played really well and I thought it was a genuinely exciting game.
The other game I saw bits of was Argentina against Korea, the former winning 4-0. Fantastic. Even Maradonna's prancing around was faintly amusing. I'm glad the Korean's scored a goal. It looked as though the Argentinian defenders were getting a bit complacent (or perhaps they'd dozed off through inactivity). But the Argentinians really kept me entertained - quite a surprise (for me that is).
Apart from the football I haven't stumbled across much else of interest. Alan Shearer presented a short piece about the impact of the World Cup on the poorer S Africans but it wasn't that informative. There was a view expressed that "after the show is over it will be back to square one." I do hope that isn't the case but it's hard to see the value of the massive stadia in the long term. Awareness of the plight of the majority of S Africans is a big thing but it's down to the rest of us to make sure it's not back to square one or perhaps it will all have been wasted. There was also a comment that a ticket to one of the games would cost a week's wages. In that case, why weren't complimentary or massively reduced priced tickets allocated to some of the local people rather than to the broadcasting teams? Actually, I've no idea what a world cup ticket would cost if staged in this country in relation to the wages of the lower paid here but I imagine it's nowhere near as unachievable.
On a lighter note, I didn't know but apparently JRR Tolkein was born in Bloemfontein (the location of the Greece-Nigeria game yesterday). The BBC (in an idle moment) suggested that the manager for the "Lord of the Rings Eleven" should be Gandalf Ramsey. Made me smile, anyway.
And finally, a link to some filming done in the Cape Town area. Looks fabulous, and Gary Lineker doesn't look too bad either. Just not sure recording a sound track against the noise from a helicopter is such a great idea.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8743832.stm
It looked really chilly at last night's match between France and Mexico. Below freezing I think I heard them say. I've meant to comment on the mascots who accompany the teams onto the pitch before - I bet they'll remember this for the rest of their lives, and didn't they look just wonderful in their oversized yellow coats last night. And the match itself was good to watch. France, beaten by Mexico 0-2, certainly lived up to Zindedine Zidane's opinion that their side is not a team. And I've never seen such a disinterested and dispassionate manager. Mexico played really well and I thought it was a genuinely exciting game.
The other game I saw bits of was Argentina against Korea, the former winning 4-0. Fantastic. Even Maradonna's prancing around was faintly amusing. I'm glad the Korean's scored a goal. It looked as though the Argentinian defenders were getting a bit complacent (or perhaps they'd dozed off through inactivity). But the Argentinians really kept me entertained - quite a surprise (for me that is).
Apart from the football I haven't stumbled across much else of interest. Alan Shearer presented a short piece about the impact of the World Cup on the poorer S Africans but it wasn't that informative. There was a view expressed that "after the show is over it will be back to square one." I do hope that isn't the case but it's hard to see the value of the massive stadia in the long term. Awareness of the plight of the majority of S Africans is a big thing but it's down to the rest of us to make sure it's not back to square one or perhaps it will all have been wasted. There was also a comment that a ticket to one of the games would cost a week's wages. In that case, why weren't complimentary or massively reduced priced tickets allocated to some of the local people rather than to the broadcasting teams? Actually, I've no idea what a world cup ticket would cost if staged in this country in relation to the wages of the lower paid here but I imagine it's nowhere near as unachievable.
On a lighter note, I didn't know but apparently JRR Tolkein was born in Bloemfontein (the location of the Greece-Nigeria game yesterday). The BBC (in an idle moment) suggested that the manager for the "Lord of the Rings Eleven" should be Gandalf Ramsey. Made me smile, anyway.
And finally, a link to some filming done in the Cape Town area. Looks fabulous, and Gary Lineker doesn't look too bad either. Just not sure recording a sound track against the noise from a helicopter is such a great idea.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8743832.stm
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Upset for Spain - but it wasn't a very exciting game.
Sorry about the late blog for Wednesday. I was attending to my other blog, about the Pyrenees trip that landed me in front of the television, which has been a bit neglected because of the World Cup.
So, reflections on yesterday's football - I did see some. Watched Switzerland beat Spain 1-0 and S African beaten 3-0 by Uruguay, both of which I quite enjoyed, although I wasn't fully attentive all the time (there's a surprise). And I was lucky that they were both on BBC - much more interesting in all aspects of the broadcasts.
Unless I'm muddling up the two games (which I might well be), the Spanish goalie didn't have the greatest of games, and there were comments around me about him going in with his feet, which apparently is not the way to defend a goal. I'm damned if I would defend with my head in the middle of everyone else's feet, whatever the consequences. If I'm remembering the right goal, it looked just as though everyone was throwing themselves at the ball in front of the goal in whichever way they could and eventualy the ball managed to break free and find itself in the net. A really messy goal and disaster for Spain - the favourites. The Swiss win seems to have surprised everyone, including the goal-scorer apparently. But Spain had 24 shots at goal and didn't score once. Doesn't that say something about whether they deserved to win? I saw some fantastic attempts which were perhaps unlucky to miss but there were loads of really wild shots (?because of the notorious ball, or is that a convenient excuse for everyone). The swiss dug in in defence (not the most exciting football but it worked for them) and then of only 8 attempts on goal managed to succeed. On paper, Spain commanded the game, but the idea is to score goals I understand, and they didn't. Ended up with only their 2nd defeat in 49 games. Upsets like that are what make the tournament more interesting for me.
I was sorry to see S Africa so comprehensively beaten by Uruguay. It was certainly the most entertaining football I've seen in the competition so far, and Uruguay's first World Cup match victory since 1990. They deserved it but it would still have been nice to see the hosts do better. Unlucky (but seemingly justified) for the S Africa goalie to be sent off and a pity to see so many of their supporters leaving before the end. That's not really sporting is it?
Enough football. On to the more interesting stuff. I mentioned in an earlier blog about the short item about the football league at Robben Island. Here's a link to the film, in case you didn't see it and want to: Footballers of Robben Island. It's a really interesting and moving insight into some aspects of the S Africa of the time and the determination and resilience of the people. It's horrifying as well to think that the rest of the world was either powerless or not interested enough to bring the regime to an end more quickly.
A couple of fun videos showing the other side of the World Cup - how they're participating and revelling in the occasion, outside the stadia. What a shame the fun and rhythm of their music and personalities doesn't come through the buzz of the vuvuzelas.
I've spared you a clip of a professional vuvuzela player explaining how to play the thing, and talking about the finer nuances of the instrument. Just saved his advice that you need a "watermelon pip-spitting shape for your lips to be successful". So now you know, and you should be able to get one from Sainsburys!
On the subject of vuvuzelas (Oh no, not more! I hear you cry - Oh yes! I'm afraid so) I have justifiably been rebuked by my sons for a basic error in understanding of the decibel scale. Actually, it's more a question of age and decaying knowledge (or perhaps decaying recall - there is the vaguest of recollections of school physics lessons on acoustics). I think both decibels and reduction in ability to recall knowledge must both be based on a logarithmic scale. Anyway, I suggested the 20 db reduction in sound from the quieter version would only represent 15%. Wrong. It's much more significant than that. The suggestion from those better informed (or more recently informed at least) was that it would be 75%, so much more significant. However, I think, having revised my knowledge on available websites, it actually represents a reduction to one hundredth (i.e. 99% less) (See commments to A swarm of feasting flies? for justification - didn't think I'd bore you with it here). Whichever, now I vote in favour of the new versions. What a difference that would make.
And my favourite quote for the day (apart from the pip-spitting one) comes from the poem Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley in 1875. It was broadcast in one of the breaks yesterday, read by Morgan Freeman (I think). I haven't seen the film but the recital of the poem I found very moving, and the last two lines have stuck with me:
So, reflections on yesterday's football - I did see some. Watched Switzerland beat Spain 1-0 and S African beaten 3-0 by Uruguay, both of which I quite enjoyed, although I wasn't fully attentive all the time (there's a surprise). And I was lucky that they were both on BBC - much more interesting in all aspects of the broadcasts.
Unless I'm muddling up the two games (which I might well be), the Spanish goalie didn't have the greatest of games, and there were comments around me about him going in with his feet, which apparently is not the way to defend a goal. I'm damned if I would defend with my head in the middle of everyone else's feet, whatever the consequences. If I'm remembering the right goal, it looked just as though everyone was throwing themselves at the ball in front of the goal in whichever way they could and eventualy the ball managed to break free and find itself in the net. A really messy goal and disaster for Spain - the favourites. The Swiss win seems to have surprised everyone, including the goal-scorer apparently. But Spain had 24 shots at goal and didn't score once. Doesn't that say something about whether they deserved to win? I saw some fantastic attempts which were perhaps unlucky to miss but there were loads of really wild shots (?because of the notorious ball, or is that a convenient excuse for everyone). The swiss dug in in defence (not the most exciting football but it worked for them) and then of only 8 attempts on goal managed to succeed. On paper, Spain commanded the game, but the idea is to score goals I understand, and they didn't. Ended up with only their 2nd defeat in 49 games. Upsets like that are what make the tournament more interesting for me.
I was sorry to see S Africa so comprehensively beaten by Uruguay. It was certainly the most entertaining football I've seen in the competition so far, and Uruguay's first World Cup match victory since 1990. They deserved it but it would still have been nice to see the hosts do better. Unlucky (but seemingly justified) for the S Africa goalie to be sent off and a pity to see so many of their supporters leaving before the end. That's not really sporting is it?
Enough football. On to the more interesting stuff. I mentioned in an earlier blog about the short item about the football league at Robben Island. Here's a link to the film, in case you didn't see it and want to: Footballers of Robben Island. It's a really interesting and moving insight into some aspects of the S Africa of the time and the determination and resilience of the people. It's horrifying as well to think that the rest of the world was either powerless or not interested enough to bring the regime to an end more quickly.
A couple of fun videos showing the other side of the World Cup - how they're participating and revelling in the occasion, outside the stadia. What a shame the fun and rhythm of their music and personalities doesn't come through the buzz of the vuvuzelas.
I've spared you a clip of a professional vuvuzela player explaining how to play the thing, and talking about the finer nuances of the instrument. Just saved his advice that you need a "watermelon pip-spitting shape for your lips to be successful". So now you know, and you should be able to get one from Sainsburys!
On the subject of vuvuzelas (Oh no, not more! I hear you cry - Oh yes! I'm afraid so) I have justifiably been rebuked by my sons for a basic error in understanding of the decibel scale. Actually, it's more a question of age and decaying knowledge (or perhaps decaying recall - there is the vaguest of recollections of school physics lessons on acoustics). I think both decibels and reduction in ability to recall knowledge must both be based on a logarithmic scale. Anyway, I suggested the 20 db reduction in sound from the quieter version would only represent 15%. Wrong. It's much more significant than that. The suggestion from those better informed (or more recently informed at least) was that it would be 75%, so much more significant. However, I think, having revised my knowledge on available websites, it actually represents a reduction to one hundredth (i.e. 99% less) (See commments to A swarm of feasting flies? for justification - didn't think I'd bore you with it here). Whichever, now I vote in favour of the new versions. What a difference that would make.
And my favourite quote for the day (apart from the pip-spitting one) comes from the poem Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley in 1875. It was broadcast in one of the breaks yesterday, read by Morgan Freeman (I think). I haven't seen the film but the recital of the poem I found very moving, and the last two lines have stuck with me:
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Where was the Brazilian flair?
I haven't seen a lot of football today, nor taken the background research very seriously, I'm afraid. I have had too many other important things to do. Had to order waterproof protection for my plaster cast so I can at last shower or bath - I will soon not be able to be in the same room as myself if I don't. Also had to go out to lunch and then take a road tour around the local area to avoid getting cabin fever. So I only managed to half watch the Brazil-North Korea game this evening while at the same time swotting up from today's paper and gleaning what titbits of additional knowledge and opinion I could from those watching with me. So today's musings are more just random thoughts, and fairly brief at that.
First random thought - I do seem to have been unlucky that all but one of the matches I've ended up watching have been on ITV, including tonight's. I really am not impressed by their panel, and tonight they really irritated by making the assumption that everyone watching was well-informed about football. Why should Adrian Chiles assume that "the Brazilian team need little or no introduction." Well, I'd never been introduced to this Brazilian team but thankfully I had my family on hand to help me out.
The match itself started off pretty dull. It feels as though most of the games have had really quite pedestrian first halves, but I gather that's not altogether unexpected at this stage of the tournament. The stats I've seen, though, show that the level of goal-scoring is still below the norm for the first round of group stages for the last three World Cups and that the average goes down thereafter. Lets hope things perk up for the later matches in this World Cup. They did for this game a little anyway even if the flair I was expecting from the Brazilians seemed to be missing.
I thought the first Brazil goal by Maicon was pretty impressive, although there were comments from my right about rubbish goalkeeping (not for the first time in this competition) and another suggestion that it might not have been a deliberate attempt on goal. It was a good one though, in my humble opinion. And even I could see that Robinho had set up the next goal brilliantly - made it all look so easy.
The best part of the match for me though was the N. Korea goal scored in the 89th minute by Ji Num Yan. They played much better than I'd expected (not that I had any grounds or knowledge for any expectations from either team) and I so wanted them to do well. They defended well all the way through the game and played solidly throughout. To score against Brazil must feel so good. You certainly can't question the passion and commitment they brought to the game - no other team has shown so much emotion during their nation anthem at the start of a match! Although I did notice that the Danish team and supporters have been the loudest singers during the anthems I've seen/heard so far.
Which brings me back to the vuvuzela. It seems I was wrong in my assumption that a 20decibel reduction in sound is relatively insignificant (thanks for the comment, James). Apparently just a 3db reduction results in 50% less noise, 6db reduction gives 75% less, so 20db less must make a massive difference. Will they be as popular though? Anyway, it seems that if it's a real problem for people at home it's possible to download something from antivuvuzelafilter.com which shouts back at the television in the same frequency as the horn, so neutralizing it. Hmmm! Do you think it's a scam? It's not free, naturally.
And to finish off, a nice little quote from Giles Smith in The Times today. He seems to feel the same about Edgar Davids (ITV team) as I do.
" If anyone involved in this tournament needs somebody to creep up behind them with a vuvuzela, it's Davids. Just to blow into it, I mean."
Monday, 14 June 2010
A swarm of feasting flies?
What is going on here? No one else in the house and I actually turn on the television to watch the first game of the day! Hmmm! I didn't actually see a lot of it - I was reading and making phone calls as well - but the fact remains I've overstepped my brief. I've actually chosen to watch the football.
Anyway, since it was on, what of the match between The Netherlands and Denmark - a dull first half, a swift own goal by Denmark (the first of the competition?) at the start of the second and then a goal by the Dutch towards the end of the match. One of the commentators described the first half as "boring", disallowed by Chiles who changed it to "intriguing". Since when have these two words been synonymous, and what on earth was intriguing about that game; about any football game in fact. How can a football match be intriguing? It was pretty dull but the second half had interesting patches - the best bit for me when Poulsen (who had set up the own goal earlier on) redeemed himself with an acrobatic and spectular clearance from right on the goal line. Without that it might have been 3-0 to the Netherlands.
I've been thinking about these vuvuzelas, which apparently aren't going to be banned in spite of many requests. Actually, how can you not think about them when you're watching a game - it's impossible to get away from them. But I'm puzzled - in the rules, they specifically state that there should be "no excessive noise" then go on to disallow kuduzelas but allow vuvuzelas. How is that all consistent. And I gather there's a subdued model of the latter being produced now - 20 decibels quieter - but hasn't everyone bought theirs already? And anyway, 20 db is still only a reduction of just over 15%, so won't make a massive impact. I don't think they should be banned, but I do think it's a shame they're so predominant. Part of what I really like about the African way is their music and the way it comes into so much of what they do. Where is it?
Now, when the football's not held my full attention, I've been busy finding other things to think about. I was distracted a bit by the pre-match preamble from the ITV team - talking about a beauty contest. I assumed they were referring to the teams; not sure why but anyway I was wrong - they were talking about the supporters and voted for the Danes, and I have to confess the group of female Danish supporters they showed were, inevitably, very attractive. But it prompted a beauty contest of my own - between the members of the two teams playing. I vote for the dutch, who on the field looked much more attractive than their opponents. Then I got distracted checking out several team photos on the FIFA website, and I have to agree with Jess (see comments) - the Koreans definitely have the edge when it comes to hair.
......................
I've just spent a little while half watching the Italy-Paraguay game. Again, not totally gripping and another draw. But there were some other parts of the programme that interested me.
This time it was on BBC1. So far all the matches I've seen have been on ITV. I definitely prefer the BBC team. They all have a degree of charisma, look good and are informative and lively.
The whole Match of the Day package was more interesting too. I really enjoyed the brief film of the Addo Elephant Park, where through their breeding programme they have increased the elephant population from 11 to over 500, and found the footage about the football teams that were founded at Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) very interesting. I watched with mixed emotions - sadness, anger at the regime of the day and all that apartheid stood for, admiration for the prisoners and their persistence and resilience and glad that the world has moved on. It's hard to believe that it's not really that long ago that South Africa was subject to sanctions and sporting embargoes because of it's racial policies. There may still be a long way to go in so many ways for the country and the continent of Africa as a whole, but it has come a long way already. This World Cup will hopefully leave a truly positive legacy for all South Africans and hopefully further afield in Africa.
And lastly for today, my favourite quote of the day - apparently from the Japanese team coach, who said his team were like "a swarm of feasting flies". No wonder they won - they must have felt very at home with the sound of the vuvuzelas.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
More than just football?
This is a little tricky. Back from socialising and confined to the bedroom for fear of falling off my crutches as I'm now alone in the house for the evening. So I'm watching the Germany/Australia game on my laptop. This tvcatchup is working pretty well as a compromise option - but makes it a bit tricky to do the blog at the same time in a separate window and not miss any of the action.
Unexpectedly I got to watch the England game yesterday, but so far this evening's match looks a whole lot more interesting. 2 goals to Germany already and a lot more energy and passion. From my position of total ignorance, I'd say the quality of the football was heaps better too.
Disappointing yesterday after such a great start. Who was that commentator who after Gerrard's goal couldn't do any better than "this might be fun"? And what's with those dull grey suits and ties for the manager and Beckham? This is football, and S Africa, not a working day in London. I know it's the England team so we have to behave "British" but why ties, why grey? The Germans had a better idea, t-shirts, jackets and blue.
Anyway, another draw in the England-USA game (yawn) - but if you use the stats, England would have won (marginally anyway, according to the ones I've seen). And talking about stats, 6 yellow cards in that game (3 each), many more than in the other games up to that point. What does that mean? More passion? Less care? Dirty play? Stricter refereeing? Didn't make for a better game anyway.
I do feel sorry for Rob Green though. Disastrous mistake, I know, and such a school-boy error but goalie's are so conspicuous aren't they, and the impact of their mistakes can be so much more crucial - or it seems that way to me. Last time I saw him he was in the pulpit of a London church. Yes, the same Rob Green. It was at a charity Carol Service for two charities doing fantastic work in Africa - FARM-Africa and AMREF . Rob Green was talking about the latter and his support for them, including his climb of Kilimanjaro. The work these charities do is so valuable, helping the Africans to help themselves. He seemed a nice guy. I hope he gets a chance to redeem himself.
And where was Rooney? I thought he was supposed to be a superstar but he didn't seem to be doing much, particularly in the first half. Perhaps he's saving himself. I thought the person who had the best games was the USA goalie. He seemed to do a good job.
......
The Germany./Australia game has just finished 4-0. One of the goals scored by Cacau less than 2 minutes after he came on, and lots of energy and interest. That was more like a real game of football, wasn't it? But what about the 6 yellow cards and a surprising red card (against Australia) - did the referee do a good job or go over the top? Did it help the game? Seems it's his usual style anyway. Is he a respected referee?
While I was reading up about yesterday's games I discovered how much peripheral stuff there is linked to the main tournament, and how much absolute rubbish is churned out in its name as well. Ridiculous quote of yesterday comes from "The Times" leader: "If sport was fair, and championships were decided according to need rather than skill, who should we want to win the World Cup." Yes, really. That's a definition of "fair" that's new to me.
But more than anything else I've stumbled across so far I want to mention ‘Scoring for Africa – An Alternative Guide to the World Cup’, published by Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary-General and Chair of the Africa Progress Panel) and Didier Drogba (United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador and football star). It's a guide with a development perspective that takes the spirit of the World Cup beyond football and highlights some of the issues that unite and differentiate the countries represented. I haven't read it all yet - there's a lot in there - but I will. It is really interesting stuff and I'd recommend you to have a look.
Last words today are those of Kofi Annan himself:
"What football shows is that if people get a lucky break, a chance to fulfil their potential, they score, they shine.... We all gain if we have open minds and hearts. This doesn’t just apply to football...."
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Oh no! Football is threatening to take over.
Well, to be fair, it always does for most of the family, but usually I manage to break free. How have I managed to get myself from mid-Pyrenees, free and following my own whims, to a position where I feel almost my first priority is to follow what's happening in the world of football? This is a truly alien world.
What have I started? Still in bed at 12:35 and the first match of today's 3 has aleady started. It takes a long time to get up with a broken ankle so today i wait til the rest of the family have finished with the bathroom. And while I wait, I'm finding out about the World Cup. Not a well-rounded balanced view from multiple sources but what The Times has to offer as that's all that's to hand right now.
And golly there's a lot to read. How can it be possible to read all of this and watch 3 games and fulfil 2 social commitments all in one day? Comments on today's World Cup events will clearly continue yesterday's ill-informed rambling. But when has ignorance stopped even the professionals offering opinions?
So, the host nation score the first goal of the competition and France have managed to capture the first Red Card and both matches end in a draw.
So, the host nation score the first goal of the competition and France have managed to capture the first Red Card and both matches end in a draw.
Apparently the France-Uruguay game was rather dull. Isn't a draw always fairly unsatisfactory? On paper France had the better game. Why not convert the draw to a win by using the stats to determine the winning side. And thinking about it, isn't it so unfair to decide a winner on penalties. Easy as ever to get the stats and award the game on the basis of simple Maths. Cricket would benefit even more. At least in football you only waste 90 minutes in a match that ends up with no ultimate winner. In cricket, it's six DAYS (I think) and no result. Who ever thought that was a good idea?
So, S Korea v Greece. Watch it, read more newspaper commentary or get dressed? Have to go out in a couple of hours so the football has to take second place. Can't watch the Argentine/Nigeria game this afternoon and I have visitors this evening so even the England game is in jeopardy.
So tomorrow looks like being a day of catch-up, except that I have a social engagement tomorrow as well. Everyone is being so solicitous and worried about me getting bored that I'm busier now then ever. All well-phrased and vaguely plausible assessments of the games would be welcome so I can regurgitate them as my own. Sorry, what I mean is so I can put them alongside other well-informed opinion and form a view of my own. Oh, and perhaps if you could give me a clue about the offside rule, that would be very kind.
Well, I did end up in front of the tail end of the S Korea/Greece game and have only just realised it's finished. I get the feeling I'm not truly committed to this yet today. S Korea won. Greece let themselves down by the sound of it, but that pundit on the left. Has he only just got up? He sounds even less interested thanme I was until yesterday. Who's the guy on the left. He's much more animated. Sadly, no informed viewers here beside me to give me any answers.
I'm quite sorry I'll be missing the Argentina/Nigeria game. I'd have liked to see if the "hand of god" was part of the Argentina toolkit. Just seen him on the screen - I'd never realised how tiny he is. No wonder he needed a helping hand!
Will have to see about the England game. At least Capello thinks they can win. What else could he possibly say? The ITV presenter (no idea who he was, sorry) could surely have managed more than "let's at least try to talk positively about England".
So, off to socialise and swot up on football. Any help in my education very gratefully received.
Well, I did end up in front of the tail end of the S Korea/Greece game and have only just realised it's finished. I get the feeling I'm not truly committed to this yet today. S Korea won. Greece let themselves down by the sound of it, but that pundit on the left. Has he only just got up? He sounds even less interested than
I'm quite sorry I'll be missing the Argentina/Nigeria game. I'd have liked to see if the "hand of god" was part of the Argentina toolkit. Just seen him on the screen - I'd never realised how tiny he is. No wonder he needed a helping hand!
Will have to see about the England game. At least Capello thinks they can win. What else could he possibly say? The ITV presenter (no idea who he was, sorry) could surely have managed more than "let's at least try to talk positively about England".
So, off to socialise and swot up on football. Any help in my education very gratefully received.
Friday, 11 June 2010
World Cup 2010 - What's that?
What am I doing here? My husband and sons are all football fans but I've resolutely avoided getting drawn in for over 30 years. The last match I went to was between Exeter City and Manchester United at Anfield and I don't even remember when that was.
I did at least know the World Cup was about to start. I was away and anticipating having to seek out French bars screening England games when my family came to join me but am now almost anchored in front of the screen at home with my leg in plaster for the next 6 weeks. Good or bad timing? That remains to be seen. Since the matches are bound to be watched by the rest of the family I might as well see if I can make out why so many people get so passionate about it.
What do I know about it so far?
I did at least know the World Cup was about to start. I was away and anticipating having to seek out French bars screening England games when my family came to join me but am now almost anchored in front of the screen at home with my leg in plaster for the next 6 weeks. Good or bad timing? That remains to be seen. Since the matches are bound to be watched by the rest of the family I might as well see if I can make out why so many people get so passionate about it.
What do I know about it so far?
- It's happening in South Africa.
- It started today, 11th June.
- We're half way through a match between the hosts and Mexico with the score still 0-0. To date, I think I heard the pundits say, the host nation in previous World Cups has never lost the first game and Mexico have never won their opening match, so who is going to win today.
- England play tomorrow.
- The first stage is group games; the second is a knock out.
- England aren't expected to win. That's not my judgement - I don't have any yet - it's what I've gleaned from the family.
- Spain are tipped for success, but didn't I hear that they haven't won before and there's a little clique of countries who've kept the spoils of success to themselves in the past, so it would be going against history.
That's about the extent of my knowledge today. I suppose I'm supporting England. It seems an obvious choice but perhaps the pundits will educate me in due course.
What about the pundits? The presenter, this Adrian Chiles - wasn't he on The One Show? I don't know what his football credentials are but I've never really found him particularly inspiring. Let's wait and see. The other pundits seem a mixed bag. The guy on the left, where did he come from? Didn't recognise his name and certainly can't remember it just now. The one on the right - I think I was told he's Gareth Southgate. At least I recognise the name. But the one in the middle - Marcel Desailly, I'm told - well, what do I say. He's got charisma, speaks well and looks good. Sounds as though he knows something about football too. Maybe I'll warm to them all given time and I may just learn something too.
Wow - South Africa have just scored the first goal of the World Cup. Judging by the comments around me that was an outstanding finish.
Lots of suggestions about what I should put in my blog. I'm ignoring them all. One thing that's clear is that everyone is an expert when it comes to football, especially the armchair supporters watching what the broadcasters choose to show on the screen. Isn't it strange how the world stops for football, even when there were supposedly urgent things to do before and still will be after.
I don't think I've ever experienced even part of a football game that sounds as though it's being played in a beehive. South Africa's secret weapon - it must be scrambling the brains of the Mexico players but if it works, all's fair in love, war and football.
I have to say, it does seem to be a remarkably good natured game and well behaved crowd, but the football isn't really gripping me yet. The scene setting programmes were much more fun, talking to the locals and enjoying the excitement and enthusiasm out there. Maybe I'll get more into it.
Mexico have equalised. It looked like a completely avoidable goal to me. Doesn't take long to become an expert, does it.
Oops. Just turned the television off. It said it would turn itself off if we didn't press a key on the remote. Guess who has control of the remote just now. Well, I'm as clued up about that as I am about football so off it went because I pressed the wrong button - any key doesn't really mean any key, you see.
There's about 3 minutes left to play. Do you think there'll be any other interesting bits about South Africa afterwards, or will it just be analysis of the game - my excitement knows no bounds but it's ...
Oh no - that was a bit exciting - a South African attempt on goal just hit the post and now 3 minutes of injury time. Where did that come from? I didn't see any injuries. The bees are really buzzing now. Perhaps I'll stay for a bit longer.
So that's it. A 1-1 draw, which presumably is a good result for South Africa. I'd really have liked them to win.
I don't think I've ever experienced even part of a football game that sounds as though it's being played in a beehive. South Africa's secret weapon - it must be scrambling the brains of the Mexico players but if it works, all's fair in love, war and football.
I have to say, it does seem to be a remarkably good natured game and well behaved crowd, but the football isn't really gripping me yet. The scene setting programmes were much more fun, talking to the locals and enjoying the excitement and enthusiasm out there. Maybe I'll get more into it.
Mexico have equalised. It looked like a completely avoidable goal to me. Doesn't take long to become an expert, does it.
Oops. Just turned the television off. It said it would turn itself off if we didn't press a key on the remote. Guess who has control of the remote just now. Well, I'm as clued up about that as I am about football so off it went because I pressed the wrong button - any key doesn't really mean any key, you see.
There's about 3 minutes left to play. Do you think there'll be any other interesting bits about South Africa afterwards, or will it just be analysis of the game - my excitement knows no bounds but it's ...
Oh no - that was a bit exciting - a South African attempt on goal just hit the post and now 3 minutes of injury time. Where did that come from? I didn't see any injuries. The bees are really buzzing now. Perhaps I'll stay for a bit longer.
So that's it. A 1-1 draw, which presumably is a good result for South Africa. I'd really have liked them to win.
Now I have an evening off from the football as it's my wedding anniversary so I'll have to catch up on the match between Uruguay and France in retrospect so tomorrow will be busy. I'll be sorry to miss any peripheral stuff about Cape Town which looks like such a fabulous city. Do you think it would be tactless to take my iPhone to dinner tonight so I can watch it on tvcatchup?
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