Best & Worst of South Africa 2010

So since the quarterfinals have now given us some room to breathe, a dissection of the World Cup is in order. So without further ado, here goes.

Most attractive teams:

Germany & Argentina. The two are set to partake in what, on paper atleast, looks to be a feast of football. Both teams have been inconsistent, but if the Argentineans can play as well as they did against South Korea and Greece and if the Germans can replicate the form of Australia and England, this will be a quarterfinal with enduring memory.

Honorable mention to Chile for regaling us with a brand of fiesty attractive, but if somewhat futile football. Long live Bielsa’s naivety.

Most insipid teams:

Portugal & England. For sides boasting the talents of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, both England and Portugal were poor for the length of the tournament. Both men struggled to impose themselves and while Portugal still covered their goalscoring failings by being rock solid at the back, England managed to flunk that department as well. Cue a ‘root & branch’ analysis.

Most dangerous team:

Brazil. They are your old school axe-murderers. One blow and it is all over. Unlike Spain who consistently probe and look for gaps, Brazil spend most of the game passing patiently, keeping possession. They are solid and impermeable at the back, but they counter-attack at a hundred miles an hour. Superb from set-pieces and not lacking in individual quality, the Selecao will take some stopping.

Match of the tournament:

For pure unadulterated drama, Slovakia v Italy. Topsy-turvy encounter, end-to-end football, and like every great game, you never knew it was over, till it was over. Fabio Quagliarella’s sublime strike was the icing on the cake.

Worst match of the tournament:

I think this will be unanimous. Portugal v Brazil. Woeful match by both sides content with a draw. More brawn than beauty on show. Magnificent let-down.

Biggest controversies:

Frank Lampard’s ghost goal & Carlos Tevez’s offside header. Germany and Argentina both received huge slices of luck. In Germany’s case a disallowed goal for England showed the necessity for goalline technology. In Argentina’s case a clear offside missed by officials was the beginning of the end for Mexico.

Biggest WAG controversy:

Despite the likes of Abigail Clancy staying away, the WAGs still managed to permeate the World Cup. Sara Carbonero of Spain and Iker Casillas’ significant other risked the ire of the Spanish press by … just doing her job. Most were upset that she was so close to Casillas during the game, alleging that it made him lose his concentration.

Biggest letdown

The refereeing has been abysmal. Kaka’s sending off against Ivory Coast a case in point. Fifa’s reluctance to embrace technology or extra referees, also shocking.

Biggest surprise

Ghana has long been identified as Africa’s best side. But here they showed they can mix it with the best. Tactically perhaps the most accomplished side in the tournament, Ghana is a team full of players who know what they have to do. The match with a similar Uruguay will be exciting.

Story of the World Cup so far

Two words. Diego Maradona. Crass, brilliant and superstition all rolled into one. Is there a bigger superstar in world football than Diego Maradona? (and a worse role model?)

The “omg, this guy is good” player

I won’t say Mesut Oezil, because I have been following him closely for a while now. Nor Thomas Mueller because he just played the Champions League final. My pick is Matias Fernandez. The Chilean playmaker from Sporting, is the straw that stirs the Chilean drink. Cool on the ball, with vision and passing, his importance to the side is illustrated by the fact that Chile lost the only two games he did not play, due to an eerie decision by Marcelo Bielsa.

Best-looking fan

Last World Cup we had Heidi Klum. This time, Larissa Riquelme takes the cake. Who is betting on a Paraguayan triumph?

World Cup XI

Important to note is that this team was selected on the basis of a formation; 4-2-3-1 in the parlance of the time. So please consider this as the best players for the particular positions as regards their performance in the World Cup, rather than just holistically the best players overall.

Goalkeeper:

Eduardo: Portugal conceded a single goal all tournament and much of this was down to the brilliance of this 27 year old. Was solid all tournament and made some exceptional saves in the game against Spain.

Left-back:

Fabio Coentrao: It was a toss-up between Michel Bastos and the Portuguese, but Coentrao gets the nod because of his impeccable performances so far. The Benfica player has been a standout so far and provides the Portuguese with tactical mobility.

Center-backs:

Gerard Pique: Calmness personified at the back, almost Kaiser-ish in his forays into midfield and attack.  Very solid in all the games so far despite the blip against Switzerland. The exception who proves the Nike ad ‘epic fail’ rule.

Lucio: Lucio has had some lapses of concentration and he faced stiff competition from Antonin Alcaraz of Paraguay. But Lucio adds much to Brazil’s game with his languid runs from the back.

Right-back:

Maicon: Again, a toss-up between him and Phillip Lahm and the Brazilian is in, by virtue of his quite stunning goal against North Korea. Patrols the right on his own and has done his burgeoning reputation no harm in this World Cup.

Central midfield:

Bastian Schweinsteiger: The German has reinvented himself in a new role, and has become the heartbeat of the side. Steady in possession and his distribution has been impeccable. He has made the most number of passes of any player in the World Cup so far.

Javier Mascherano: Did not have the best end of the season at Liverpool but the midfield hardman has shone as Argentinean captain and is one of the key reason that Argentina can play their expansive shape. There have been better players than him this World Cup, but hardly anyone better in this destructor role.

Attacking midfield:

Lionel Messi: Despite not having scored a single goal so far, although he has had the most shots on target, Messi is increasingly the straw that stirs the drink for the Albiceleste. Not much more needs to be said about the best player in the world. He also edges out Mesut Oezil in this role, although the German has been a revelation so far

Left-wing:

Andres Iniesta: Whenever Iniesta is fit, Spain have played better. He is full of running, intelligent movement and creativity. Even fit well into his shuttled role on the right-wing. Wayne Rooney called him, ‘the best player in the world.’

Right-wing:

Thomas Mueller: His coach calls him cheeky, Maradona called him a ball-boy. But with three goals and three assists Mueller has been directly involved in more goals than any other player in the World Cup. Hard to believe, just last year, he was playing the German third division.

Striker:

David Villa: Has been outshining his more illustrious teammate Fernando Torres in the World Cup and for much of the period before it. Four goals and is a fair bet to finish top scorer.