Biggest disappointment
The Asian contingent was a big let down and so was Ivory Coast from Africa. Japan and Ivory Coast perhaps came into each other’s way as both vied for a place in the knock out round from the same group. However, to my utter disappointment, both failed to make the cut from a group where a spirited Colombia side along with the ever ugly and defensive Greeks, triumphed eventually. The fact that both Japan and South Korea leaked 6 goals was something unexpected if not uncharacteristic. South Korea and Australia faired poorly too with occasional moments of inspiration. For me personally, Ivory Coast’s elimination outweighs even those of the Asians because they had a team full of big and successful names who have tasted success with top clubs across Europe’s major leagues. The likes of Drogba, Gervinho, Toure brothers, Bony, Tiote, Kalou surely let go off a big chance to shine in the big stage by managing to win just one of their 3 group encounters.
Player of the Tournament
Shakira has got a new partner now. Don’t panic! Pique is still there. I actually meant Shakira won’t be alone from now on to represent Colombia in world stage.
Name is Rodriguez. James Rodriguez. Age 23, played five, scored six, assisted two, won the Golden Boot award, Monaco’s hefty price tag of €45 million justified and Falcao forgotten temporarily.
That chest down and sumptuous left-footed volley past a diving Muslera, the Uruguay custodian, was a piece of joy from heaven, a gift from the Almighty.
Goal of the Tournament
Opinions are going to be divided but you just have to pick one. A lot has been said, written, discussed and critiqued regarding Cahil’s goal against the Nethelands and Messi’s almost solo run against Bosnia. I beg to differ that I have seen similar goals before. So my pick is RvP’s flying header against Spain. Something unique, unprecedented and therefore stands out.
Team of the Tournament (4-2-3-1)
Neuer, Lahm, Vlaar, Hummels, Rojo, Mascherano, Kroos, Robben, Messi, Rodríguez, Müller.
Surprise package of the Tournament
This was coming. Long time coming that is. They say, unflinchingly, football is a game of goals. If that is to be true, then why even deploy a goalie? Let goals galore and baptize ourselves! Nevertheless, we often forget to credit the savior who guards the fortress tirelessly and relentlessly and as if to counteract the fact mentioned at the beginning, some of them decided in a body to make their presence felt and their existence worthwhile and they chose the perfect stage to voice their protest! Ask Navas of Costa Rica, Ochoa of Mexico, Howard of USA, Neuer of Germany, Krul of the Netherlands, Romero of Argentina – I can assure you that deep down their heart, they do feel not being appreciated enough although they might not admit it! We live in a funny world you know! We spend millions behind a goal-scorer but a meager amount behind someone no less important than a goal-scorer. Rhetorical question – if someone is so worthless, why even play him?
However, whether Pepe’s headbutt can overshadow the Selecaos’ 1-7 annihilation by Germany in their own backyard in a World Cup semifinal, is something I leave entirely to our readers! Along with that, the shocking demise of the oxymoronic painful and aesthetic demonstration of ‘tiki-tika’, courtesy of Spain’s 1-5 demolition at the hands of the Netherlands, does warrant an investigation too.
Match of the Tournament
The Final at the Maracana. Argentine resilience against German tenacity.
Tenacity triumphed. Immortality keeps Messi beckoning.
Most Interesting off-field Moment
And the undisputed award goes to Pepe, the Suarez of Portugal, always in the thick of controversies ! It’s just inexplicable the way this defender loses his temper unnecessarily. Towards the end of the first half of Portugal’s first match against Germany, Muller fell after Pepe’s arm seemed to have caught him which went unnoticed by the referee. The Portuguese hothead, however, didn’t like the grounded German’s reaction and nudged his head against that of Muller, and rang the alarm bell for the referee to send him off.This compounded Portugal’s misery who were already trailing 2-0 and something from which even the impressive Ronaldo couldn’t pull them out as to add insult to injury, Muller scored a hat-trick in Germany’s comprehensive 4-0 win. This result had a serious bearing on Porugal’s ill fate, as the ramification of that 4-0 defeat saw Portugal crash out, at USA’s expense, from the first round of the World Cup even after winning 2-1 against Ghana in their last group encounter.
Brutal or harsh, I wouldn’t have been surprised at all if Pepe became the victim of Poetic Justice, Andres Escober reincarnated.
Prediction for 2018
Don’t you think I should be a bit tired to predict now?
