Comments on: WC Fields [k.o.] — Spain v Portugal

By: aratyr

aratyr — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:37 +0000

I don’t think Tevez, Kuyt or Mascherano detract from your theory in the slightest — but I would expand the theory to include the effects of team-consciousness — evident in some squads (Holland, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Brazil…) and a bit, somewhat or entirely lacking in others (England, Portugal, South Africa, USA, France…)

Yeah, Christiano got terrific service for his style of play at ManU. So did Rooney. A 40-game season allows savvy management to figure out how to maximize the skills of each individual (Vidic, van der Saar, Scholes, Giggs, Carrick also got to shine, ja?) — and create a powerhouse 11-man threat.

Aguirre’s done well with that internationally, I’d say. And Marwijk. Brazil and Germany always seem to excel on the world stage. But England was a discouraged team before they hit the pitch. USA has consistency issues (less-famous players try to get the ball to the big names instead of just playing it). Portugal, as I said, thought they could prevail by feeding the ball to their superstar — so their opposition just had to close down C.R. and dispossess him, and Portugal was likely to go down.

As for France, I will point out that the nation’s highest hopes were actually on non-EPL players Gourcuff and Ribery, both of whom failed to deliver, and that the manager’s resistance to putting non-EPL stars Cisse and Henry on the pitch may well have hurt their chances.

By: blairza

blairza — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:03:55 +0000

Sorry, Ronaldo barely touched the ball in second half Against Spain.

By: blairza

blairza — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:02:40 +0000

A couple of things have occurred to me during this tournament, and one is how much Ronoldo benefited from that marvelous Man-U midfield. He barely touched the ball in the second half for Spain, and while some of that is clearly due to Spain’s defense and the negative aspect of Portugal’s strategy, I suspect that Ronaldo might fare better with a different side. Not so for Torres who is as you point out not 100% fit. It is clear to anyone who has seen El Nino at his best that he’s not ready.
That said, what has really troubled me through this tournament is the attitude and emotional funk that seems to hang over players from the EPL. At first I thought it was England and I laid the blame at Capello’s feet. He has straddled English football like a boarding school sadist and there is no joy on that side. I don’t think I saw Wayne Rooney smile, Gerrard was a game warrior but I never saw his swagger but once. I starting thinking it might be something else, when I saw how disengaged Torres seemed, and how volatile things became in France between their lame duck manager, and Nicholas Anelka, Florent Malouda, and Patrice Evra all EPL players. Some folks hate the inference of psychology in Sport, but it was a tense and unhappy year in the EPL and I think the anxiety and animosity being sown in the board rooms is being reaped on the pitch.

Of course this theory is shot to shit by the wonderful play of Carlos Tevez, Dirk Kuyt, and even Javier Mascherano.