They've not played much football to speak about in this tournament. Perhaps, Big Phil looked at Greece in Euro 2004 and said to himself...1-0 every time will do me.
Bright start by both teams. The Aussies might be the underdogs but they look very comfortable. This won't be easy for Italy, SO DON'T DISCOUNT EXTRA-TIME.
Nobody has taken over the tournament like a Pele in 1958, a Garrincha in 1962, or a Maradona in 1986. I am still waiting for Ronaldinho to set the stage on fire. Wouldn't it be strange if the 2006 World Cup did not produce a player that defined the tournament.
Tournaments need more than just great teams; they need great players, one who can produce that little bit extra when it matters most. Remember Paolo Rossi in 1982. He failed miserably in the group matches yet flourished in the second phase, semi-final, and final to become the player of the tournament. Likewise, Mario Kempes, who began the 1978 World Cup slowly, yet scored six goals in the final four matches as Argentina won the trophy.
There is time for a man to emerge from the pack to make a name for himself. It is not just about doing the right things, it is about doing them at the right time. Whatever happens to Ronaldo, his career will probably be defined by the two goals he scored in the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama. He had scored six goals in the tournament prior to that victory over Germany but people will only really remember what he did in the match that mattered most. Which is why '02 was so important to him after the failure in the final in '98.
World Cup tournaments need superstars. They give an added meaning to what we watch. Without a true star, a World Cup is so-so. Italia 90 is widely regarded as the worst of all World Cup tournaments. Significantly, it did not produce a player who flourished at the right time. The top scorer, Toto Schillaci, is largely forgotten. The final was won by a penalty scored by a defender.
And yet, we remember the 1958 World Cup in Sweden because of how Pele, then 17, emerged for Brazil. We remember the 1962 tournament in Chile because Garrincha virtually won the World Cup for Brazil single-handedly. And who can forget what Diego Maradona did for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. This was a clear case of one man eclipsing what all the other 527 players did put together.
If we expect a man to repeat what Maradona did in 1986, we expect too much. All we ask is for Ronaldinho to fulfil his potential, turn the flashes of brilliance into performances that win matches and, perhaps, the World Cup itself. If one man does not emerge from the field to stamp his authority on this tournament, Deutschland 2006 will ultimately fail.
One of our favorite candidates to replace Bruce Arena as national team coach is Jurgen Klinsmann but I don't think we should overlook one of the world's great tacticians, Guus Hiddink.
The Dutchman has taken successive sides to the final four in the world - Holland in '98 and South Korea in '02 and despite the fact that Australia are playing the heavily favored Italians tonight in Kaiserslautern, I for one would not bet against him.
This is a coach who has succeeded at all levels and he's not afraid to make tough judgement calls. You just have to go back to Euro '96 to see that when he sensationally sent Edgar Davids home during the tournament.
Above all, Hiddink wants his teams to play attractive, positive football. Australia may be a limited team but they use all their resources magnificently. That is due to the tactical genius of the Dutchman who was a disciple of the great, Rinus Michaels and Johan Cryuff. He has learnt his trade and the knowledge he would bring to US soccer would be far greater than Klinsmann's limited international coaching career.
To cap it off, he likes the US having played in the old NASL, for the Washington Diplomats and San Jose Earthquakes. Yes, he would be expensive but in world football you often get what you pay for. And as we've seen from Guus, he'll have no problem moving continents, he's been successful on three so far. Just show him the job and show him the money.
Just imagine 'TOTAL FOOTBALL' from the USA, now that would be exciting.
PS. I know he's supposedly going to Russia but coaches are always changing their minds. and I've just heard that it may not even be a done deal...now how's that for up to the minute reporting.
I can't believe I've travelled for almost 12 hours, had no sleep, hardly anything to eat and now I'm watching one of the most boring games in history. What's going on...are both teams playing for penalties. Actually that's unfair on Ecuador who have had the better chances. Over $150 million of talent on the pitch...what are the instructions from the coach. Do they even have any. Whacking long balls up to Rooney...please! The boy wants it at his feet...aw I give up, just pull my teeth out without painkillers anything just don't force me to ever watch that 45 minutes ever again.
That England confidence I was talking about has gone and now Ecuador have some belief and are beginning to keep better possession of the ball. In all honesty the match so far is rubbish. Niether team could win a lotto drawing even if you spotted them all the tickets.
England are dictating the pace playing nice patterns in the Ecuador half. Carrick looks born to play the holding role - he's always available. The South American have started a little nervously, which is not surprising as this is one of the biggest games in their history...but then a ricket from Terry and we get away with one...BIG TIME!
..without a shadow of doubt the most overrated footballer in history. Tonight in Stuttgart Beck's will earn his 93rd international cap. Not bad for a player who has no pace, no dribbling skils, can't score with regularity (sorry Posh) and won't even think about the art of the tackle or heading a ball.
Beckham is a product of a society that no longer cares about the fundementals of sport but is more interested in looks and celebrity. Who honestly thinks that Beckham would get a game for England if Sven Goran Eriksson, another celebrity junkie, wasn't the manager.
One match saving game in 2001 against Greece and a couple of free-kicks goals are the sum total of his England career. Beckham now has a maximum of four games in 2006 to show me and the world that he really does have that little bit of something extra special. The extra class that separates the not bad from the great. If not, I'll be chanting 'are you Landon in disguise'.
I spoke to an English policeman on the train to Stuttgart this morning and he told me that nearly 300 England hooligans, I refuse to call them fans, had been arrested last night for civil disorder in Stuttgart city center. He was hoping that the German authorities would be holding them over night and deporting them on Monday morning. However a Journo I spoke to on the media bus to the stadium said that the British Home Office is trying to sweep it all under the carpet. He also said that the hooligans that were detained, would be released and allowed to go to the game but would be barred from the city center. Now, that's madness...I say lock them up and throw away the key. These idiots are scum and if England should lose tonight the authorities will regret letting these animals back on the streets.
The recipe for more trouble is brewing. It's over 100 degrees and some of the nutters are drinking at world record pace. Once again, keep your fingers crossed.
The 2nd half may not have looked like much on TV but trust me, here in the stadium it was truly gripping stuff. It's impossible to pick a winner but Argentina have the potential match winners on the park. I'll stick my neck out and say this one goes all the way to penalties.
The tension is incredible around the stadium. First one attacks and then the other. Best chance to Argentina as Saviola gets more involved but you can't take your eyes off the 'Desert Fox', Borgetti.
Who will break into the 'B4' and who will avoid the drop. So many questions will be answered over the next nine months because it's back - the greatest show on earth - The Barclays Premier League.
I spoke to an English policeman on the train to Stuttgart this morning and he told me that nearly 300 England hooligans, I refuse to call them fans, had been arrested last night for civil disorder in Stuttgart city center. He was hoping that the German authorities would be holding them over night and deporting them on Monday morning. However a Journo I spoke to on the media bus to the stadium said that the British Home Office is trying to sweep it all under the carpet. He also said that the hooligans that were detained, would be released and allowed to go to the game but would be barred from the city center. Now, that's madness...I say lock them up and throw away the key. These idiots are scum and if England should lose tonight the authorities will regret letting these animals back on the streets.
