Fiesta for Iniesta

As much as I wanted to use "Viva España" for this title, I couldn't resist the above.

A hard-fought, bad-tempered, nail-biting game it certainly was, but Spain deserved to be World Champions for the first time (as I predicted before the competition got underway).

I also forecast before the game that The Netherlands would finish the game with ten men (it could easily been nine).

My favorite moment was the shot of Queen Sofia's reaction when Spain scored - did she really stand on her seat?

My friends in Málaga certainly won't get any sleep tonight!

Still on track (2)

I can just imagine what it was like yesterday evening and, no doubt, well into the early hours, in Spain generally and in the area where we lived in particular, following yesterday's emphatic win over Germany. . . .

LOUD!

Still on track

I was tempted to title this post "Viva España", but thought that might be tempting fate.

Paraguay were a tough nut to crack, but with "saved" penalties, and the one that wasn't (correctly disallowed), a disallowed (offside) goal by Paraguay that could have been game changing, it certainly was full of drama.

Regulars will know I tipped Spain from the start and an so pleased they are progressing. However, I suspect my friends living in Fuengirola will have another sleepless night. Andalusians know how to celebrate, believe me!

Exit USA

The ball, the referee, bad luck? No, none of these reasons. Today, the US were outplayed after letting themselves down with conceding yet another early goal.

I'm still impressed by their spirit, their determination, their passion and indeed, their skill, but Ghana deserved the win.

Okay, I sincerely hope England win tomorrow against arch rivals of many World Cups, Germany. How can I not hope that?

I'm still tipping Spain to lift the title, but England's other arch rivals, Argentina, look good to me.

World Cup - why the surprises?

New Zealand draw with the mighty Italy. Switzerland beat Spain. England look second rate in their first two games and now there is talk of mutiny in the camp. The French team arguing and performing badly. Why the surprises?

A simple man I may be, but it seems quite obvious to me that these "super football powers" are dominated by prima-donna's, whose egotistical belief that they have a right to play (and I use that term loosely) for their country, is the cause of the "poor results", or more correctly, the lack of.

Let's take nothing away from those "small" countries (in football terms) who have performed well. Apart from their obvious basic footballing skills, such as being able to control a ball, passing it to their own team mates and not to their opponents, they have passion and a desire to do their best for their country.

This is already becoming a memorable World Cup (one which I am watching with the sound turned off) for all of the above reasons and for some appalling refereeing decisions.

Having said that, how I wish players would get on with the game, stop blaming their coaches, the ball, the crowd, stop play acting, stop trying to get opponents booked by dubious falls (oh referee, he hurt me) and yes, stop cheating. When that whistle blows it is their responsibility. Not one player in the history of the game, from whatever team, from whatever country, has ever learnt this simple fact - that a Referee's decision, however good or bad, is almost never likely to be overturned.

Get on with, enjoy it, and follow the example of the likes of Slovenia, the USA, Algeria - play with some pride and passion!

And yes, I still think the USA can qualify from the group stage (and I really hope that England at least will recover some of their pride) and I still have high hopes of Spain being in the final.

World Cup Fever? - 2

Okay, perhaps not fever, more of slight cold. A 1-1 draw was a fair result in my opinion. As one of the commentators said here, "It was a game of two goalkeepers".

Just minutes before Robert Green's Under-9s-style blunder, I happened to say to Gail, "I'm so pleased that Green (ex Norwich City) has been given a chance - I saw him play against Great Yarmouth Town Youth in the mid-nineties and was very impressed even then!" Well, that will teach me to keep my mouth shut - although I doubt it.

One glaringly obvious point about the game was that the USA did play like a team, whereas England played like a load of prima-donas. That will need sorting out before the next game if the banana skin is not slipped on.

I read where in England, ITV audiences actually missed "the" goal whilst commercials were shown. How ironic, that here in the US, where generally, commercials rule, both halves of the game were commerical free. Excellent coverage by ESPN, although I wasn't too impressed with the "Brits versus Yanks" phrase which was repeatedly trotted out. I must remind those here that the "Brits" (Oh, how I hate that term) haven't got a soccer team - there were no Scots, Welsh or Irish playing - it's ENGLAND! And what's more, it's like a red rag to a bull for a Southerner to be called a Yank.

World Cup Fever?

Not quite. I will however later today be watching the match between England and the USA.

Who will I be cheering on? This may surprise a few, but I will be wanting my adopted nation to win. Strange? Well I don't think so. I will have mixed emotions no doubt, but have always considered the country where our home was, to be our home. When we lived in Spain, we considered Spain home. When I was asked there, "Do you go home much?", my stock answer was, "Yes, every evening". We feel the same now we live here in NC.

Do I see the US team winning the Cup? No, although I would love that. Do I see England winning it? No, although I would be pleased if they did. Who then do I think will?

Well, Spain, of course!