World Cup 2006

The largest and most grandeur sporting event has come and gone once again. The 2006 edition of the World Cup in Germany has turned out to be one with great and horrifying moments, a time to say good-bye to some of the game’s greatest players and unfortunately questionable officiating.
People inexperienced in the game of soccer or football wonder way their is so much excitement and disappointment over one tournament. The World Cup, other than the Olympics, is different from every other sporting event. It’s only played ever four years and even if you do qualify, your team is only guaranteed three games. In baseball, football and basketball leagues the season is every year with a championship every year and games nearly everyday. So for players participating in the Cup, it means so much because there is a very real possibility that they only will get once chance to be there. The lucky ones get to be there twice and be there three times is very rare. Nations wait four long years just for their hopes to rest on three games that our played within a week and a half. Losing is so heartbreaking because the chance to a world champions comes and goes so quick and takes an eternity to return.
Like the Olympics, the World Cup is so huge because its nation against nation and many of these countries have very personal and stressful histories with each other. The Netherlands are still angry at Germany for the Second World War. Scotland still has issues with England over this independence. For nations like Senegal and Togo who play France, it’s a chance for redemption against a country for who they were under colonial rule. There are so many rivalries that go back hundreds of years and the passion is often times uncomprehenable.
Now onto the tournament itself. I said at the beginning that this was going to be one of the weaker Cups and I still believe that. I don’t think there is single side that can be called one of the game’s greatest. Is there a single side that could beat the Pele-led sides of Brazil? How about the teams like the Germany, Argentina or the Netherlands of the 1970’s and 80’s? I don’t think that there are any teams that could touch France of ’98 or Brazil of ’02. But just because I think it has been one of the weaker Cups doesn’t mean it hasn’t been of the better ones. The lack of any fantastic teams has led to a wonderfully balanced field of competition. Nearly every match has been evenly contested.
This has also been a time to say goodbye to some of the game’s greatest players. Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram of France. Luis Figo of Portugal. Oliver Kahn of Germany. Ronaldo is probably among that list considering his age and expanding waist line and it was nice to witness him break the record for goals scored, with typical Brazilian style as well. Seeing these players and other old veterans like them one last time in their nation’s colors at the World Cup stage will be something that fans the world over will never forget.
As for the final, it could have been better. Penalty kicks are no way to crown a world champion. Unfortunately this seems to be no better way to settle the matter. What a shame for Zidane, that was no way for the greatest player in the last twenty years to end a career. One can only wonder what Marco Materazzi said to him. Italy did deserve the crown however. They proved to be the best TEAM. Goals from a variety of different players and a dogged team spirit saw them be victorious despite all the mess back home; kudos for their resilience.
As for officiating, its been interesting to say the least. There have some obvious mistakes. Graham Poll giving the player from Croatia three yellow cards was one blunder and Markus Merk awarding Ghana a penalty in the USA game was another. But in the referee’s defense, the players need to take a lot of the blame. There is so much play-acting and “simulation” that referees can never be perfect in their judgment. Before the players start criticizing the officiating, they need to stop being a bunch of cheats themselves. FIFA also needs to take action. Watch the films after the games and fine/suspend players who take obvious dives that didn’t get called. That would end a lot of this trash.
I would now like to take this last part to name my team of the tournament.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) Only two goals conceded, an own goal and a penalty. Simply phenomenal.
Left-back: Philipp Lahm (Germany) Scored a stunner to open the tournament and continued with classy performances throughout the tournament.
Center-back: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) Without doubt the tournament’s best player. The heart and soul of a team with a lot of heart and soul.
Center-back: Lilian Thuram (France) At 34 years old showed he could still played with anyone. Will be missed greatly by Les Blues as they try to rebuild after the Cup.
Right-back: Miguel (Portugal) The converted winger looked solid in defense and showed great skillsand motor skills when joining the attack.
Left-midfield: Joe Cole (England) One of the few bright spots for the Three Lions. Showed great creativity on the ball and scored a cracker against Sweden.
Center-midfield: Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Controlled the movement of his team with classy passing and movement. Has quietly become of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
Center-midfield: Patrick Vieira (France) Many thought him to be too old but dragged him team through the group stage and can still dominate games on his day.
Center-midfield: Zinedine Zidane (France) Despite the final, rolled back the years to carry France to the final. A type of player we may have to wait a long to see again, if ever.
Right-midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) The best is yet to come from this youngster who was his team’s only real constant attacking threat.
Forward: Miroslav Klose (Germany) Came up big once again at the World Cup scoring five goals including the tying goal against Argentina.