After the defensive-minded tension of the initial stage of the Fifa World Cup 2010, at the time of writing we have been treated to seven often thrilling spectacles, most of which would have even made Mark Lawrenson less bleakly suicidal. On the eve of this evening’s Big Game for the Heroic Lions against an Algeria team that Alan Hansen and the disappointingly smug BBC team could not bring themselves to research for before Sunday’s pedestrian loss against Slovenia, most would concur that things are looking quite rosy for fans of excitement. Jong Tae-Se’s tears aside, the defining moment when the tide shifted was Maicon’s staggeringly brilliant strike/staggeringly lucky blasted cross against North Korea. Yes, for the neutral the NK Dons brave chaperoning of their goal was admirable against a Brazil side wrongly viewed to be stereotypically bamboozling in attack, but it had all got a bit too much. It was not that the games before that were bad and not fascinating in their own way, but it had become a shame that coaches all over the world had seen Mourinho as King.
Since then we have seen the simply brilliant Chile 3-3-1-3 formation enriched by the dazzling potential of Alexis Sanchez, Spain’s very own galacticos scratching their heads, unable to get past Phillipe Senderos et al, Mexico deservedly humbling France (leading to Patrice Evra’s feeling of “disgust” at Les Bleus performance), a bedazzling Uruguay breaking South African hearts, Sani Kaita’s stupidity finally providing a Benjamin Massing moment of ridiculousness, and Argentina’s flair juxtaposed with defensive frailties. Even Maradona has provided some homophobia. It is true that there is still a tendency for players to overhit passes, headers are generally poor, shots are largely being ballooned over, and free-kicks regularly laughable… yet things are looking up.
Arguably, it is less clear which country will lift the Jules Rimet trophy on July 11th than before the tournament started. And this is unquestionably a Good Thing. As previously mentioned in this blog in regards to Spain’s limitations in their opening game, the top teams may have to incorporate versatility in their play to end victorious. All in all, it’s been a few days where there has been a lot more to talk about than vuvuzelas and the mood of the England camp, despite Gabriel Clarke’s best efforts. Moments of truth are approaching for the majority of nations competing in South Africa, and the action is enticingly poised.
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