Sportolysis – The World Sports Blog

It promises to be a final to be remembered. We were all disappointed at different points when Holland, England, Brazil and Argentina or the other teams lost depending upon whom we were supporting. The tournament seemed over just before the semis.

In hindsight, the world cup couldn’t have expected a better final. Italians are good on defense – supposedly unpenetrable and are now going for the attack as well. France has the creativity and the talent. For me Makelele is as crucial as Zidane and there are so many other guys – Henry and Franck Ribéry for example.

In an excellent preview, Danny Pugsley says that it is advantage Italy:

Perhaps it won’t be a thriller, but I anticipate a tight game and as a contest it will be an absorbing. Hopefully both sides will get to show their attacking instincts to give us a memorable final…Italy will triumph 1-0 with Pirlo the goalscorer.

Don’t want to read a lot? Listen to the final Beautiful Game podcast from Germany then, where they talk to BBC Sport’s Adnan Nawaz in one of their best shows yet.

This doesn’t look like being a goal fest and some people might have been put off already. What the final does promise to be is a scintillating contest. I am very much excited about the prospect of the two teams facing each other. It is going to be a game of chess has been the common refrain. What spark of brilliance and mastermind effort will seal the final?

I am thinking France will win it 1-0 with a Henry goal. Who do you think will win and why?

The phase of the disappointment at large over the Brazil failure is over. The analysis has begun.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter joins in the debate:

“Ronaldinho didn’t have the room to play, ask his trainer,” said Blatter.

“He had too many players around him who want to be like him or think they are as good. The system didn’t work. It’s the first rule of football, like chess, that some should run and defend while others make the play.”

Spot on. A lot of people have jumped at the throat of Ronaldinho for being disappointing. Ronaldinho has been brilliant for Barcelona in the last couple of years. So how did he fail to show his magic this time?

A reason pointed out – Ronaldinho being the marked man. However, that holds true when Ronaldinho plays for Barcelona as well – even more so as he is much more dangerous than the players around him at Barca compared to Brazil. So that is definitely not the reason for his failure.

The difference between the teams – Barca has Eto’o while Brazil had Ronaldo and Adriano. Barcelona had Deco while Brazil had x,y and z. Ronaldinho is the perfect at creating chances. If you have a finisher who can utilise those chances, you score a lot of goals. Brazil didn’t seem to be working with a plan. Every one was a star but the team cohesion wasn’t there.

So every one wanted to create the chance and not leave it to 1 or 2 players. We have the issue of team selection as well. We have the issue of team selection as well. I would have played younger talents a lot more as I wrote here.

In the Brazilian interview, Victor had stated:

…from what I’ve seen with my own eyes, this the best team (or collection of players) ever, with a once in a generation player in Ronaldinho. And, from what I’ve read and heard in history, this team, talentwise, is up there with the all-time greats.

For me, that is the bigger reason for the disappointment over the Brazil failure more than because I am a Brazilian fan. The team had so much talent. The coaches are applauded when their teams win. So it won’t be extremist to say that the Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira missed quite a few tricks this world cup.

All the greats have had at least 1 great world cup. Many thought 2006 would be that for Ronaldinho. It wasn’t to be. 2010? It will be one of the many fascinating things to look out for four years down the line.

Yes, if this from The Times is to be believed. Reason enough for the English to rejoice no doubt.

Ronaldo is much hated in England now post the England world cup exit. Whether it was a red card or not is secondary. Portugal tried to unsettle the English and the first attempt lead to madness by Rooney. He shouldn’t have interferred in the first place.

This man won’t mind the recent developments though. The scape goat phenomenon in England never ceases to amuse me.

Video uploaded by You Tube user bws001.

I am back from Jammu earlier than I expected. Who cares. Let’s talk football. 2002 was Ronaldo’s redemption. Will 2006 be Zidane’s? On paper, it is any one’s game with the Italian defense versus the French brilliance giving us an unexpected but just perfect final. However, with the Zidane magic on display, most people except the Italians will be behind France to win the world cup. The French are the sentimental favourites.

Zidane placed himself in the history books forever when the 1998 finals ended. The more you see him playing football, the more your admiration grows. It is such a joy to watch Zidane that many admit to watching Real Madrid play in the last few years just to watch Zidane. How do we describe the way Zidane plays?

People have called him an acrobat on display in a football field. To me, he doesn’t seem like a footballer playing with a ball. He seems like a swimmer swimming past the pantheon of tacklers and defenders. If that seems extreme, you will at least agree that he doesn’t seem to be running at all. Is he sliding? Is the football field smoother for Zidane than it is for mortal footballers around him? We do tend to romanticise when great teams or players play!

Also, when great players play, it looks utterly simple. When you watch Roger Federer playing tennis or Sachin Tendulkar bat or Tiger Woods hit a golf ball, tough feats in tough sports seem like child’s play. With Zidane, the simplicity in execution looks apparent. However, the result – an out of nowhere pass or a chance or even a goal, is so shockingly unexpected, we are usually left open mouthed in plain admiration. You don’t even have to be a football expert to savour the brilliance on display.

Zidane was all over Brazil a few days back. We love to compare in sports. So, now, people are asking the Ronaldinho vs Zidane question. I am a huge Ronaldinho fan but this wasn’t to be his world cup. More than fans of a specific player or team, we are fans of the beautiful game. So, we find ourselves rooting for Zidane and in that, also France. It is said that great men transcend nationalities and are world citizens. Great teams and players also do. Team loyalties and individual player devotions don’t matter any more.