The Brazilian people’s undying love for football is bound to leave people awestruck as the home supporters cheered Tim Cahill’s wonder-goal for Australia against Holland on Wednesday as if it was one of their own. Every goal is celebrated with crackers and to be frank, the sound of the crackers emulates the firing of a machine gun and it lasts for several seconds. It will surely fright you for at least a few seconds.
The World Cup has already presented a fiesta of goals as 60 goals in 20 group games have left the fans on their toes. The football has been free-flowing and the World Cup is raining goals. Following the completion of each nation’s opening games, there has been 49 goals scored in 16 matches at an average of 3.06 goals per game - a figure which surpasses all the previous editions of the World Cup with the exception of the 1958 edition in Sweden. No World Cup has averaged more than three goals a game since 1958.
It can be mentioned that in the previous World Cup in South Africa four years ago, the average number of goals per game was 1.56 following the opening matches of all the 32 nations with 25 goals scored in 16 matches.
The quality of marksmen on offer is also a big factor. German “ramdeuter” (space navigator), Thomas Mueller, has slammed a hat-trick, the fiery Dutch duo of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben have scored two goals each while France’s misfiring striker Karim Benzema has also notched a brace. Brazilian hope Neymar and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, the two attacking maestros, have also etched their names on the scorers’ list after their opening games.
The ball which is being used in this World Cup, Brazuca, may have more carrying power in it and might be a reason behind the high-scoring rate. Four years ago the ball which was used in the World Cup, Jabulani, was widely criticised by the players, especially the attackers for its unresponsive nature. No one has raised a voice against the ball till date.
Moreover, two great goals have already been scored with both of them sure to be included in the World Cup’s best goals list. Anticipating a long ball forward from Ryan McGowan correctly, Cahill hammered it past Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen via the crosspiece with his relatively weaker left foot. Cahill’s volley revived the memories of Marco van Basten’s stunning goal in Euro 1988, when Van Basten thumped in Arnold Muhren’s cross past the despairing jump of Soviet Union custodian Rinat Dasayev.
The Netherlands forward Van Persie’s equalising act against defending champions Spain with a stunning, flying header also sent the fans gasping for breath. Latching onto a curved cross from the halfway line from Daley Blind, son of former Dutch legend Danny, Van Persie got into the perfect position before throwing his body into the air like a swan and his powerful header subsequently whistled past La Furia Roja goalie Iker Casillas.
The World Cup is the pinnacle of all football tournaments and it is the stage where every footballer wants to give his very best. It has been proved once again, via Messrs Cahill and Van Persie.