Soccer, especially the World Cup, tends to lend itself to generalization.
The Germans always arrive unified, an exercise in brutal efficiency and workmanlike desire.
The South Americans are a sun-kissed, traveling party, dancing with the ball rather than kicking it, happy to engage in impish party tricks, counting applause from the crowd as dear as goals.
The English, the first to give the game its laws--and more mysteriously, that such a move is to be celebrated--count History on their side, though as the clock ticks toward penalties they will no doubt begin to notice she's flirting with the other team, her past indiscretion suddenly more than just mere memory.
The Americans...Well, the Americans try hard. Good keepers.
And yet with the opening games of the World Cup beginning to unfold it's the Germans exploding in offensive efficiency, unraveling what was previously a rather mean Australian defense with such ease they asked their best goalscorer to take a seat barely an hour into the game so as to not embarrass their opponents too much.
They were not alone, either, as Serbia's loss to Ghana no doubt damaged their reputation as one of the toughest defensive teams around, their rearguard's names frequently appearing on the team sheets for the premier clubs in Europe.
In truth, the opening game of group play rarely amounts to anything. England's draw with the United States was a predictable result from two sides desperate to not be embarrassed, though it occurred in such an unlikely way.
Group play is difficult to project for this reason. In a single elimination format, the US likely would've lost by quite a margin, forced to chase the game from the outset due to England's early goal, leaving their soft wings open to an English counter attack.
Instead, with two relatively easy games left against Algeria and Slovenia, the US could at the very least bide its time, hope for a little luck, and maintain a solid defensive shape.
But these are merely the opening lines of a multi-part play, the heroes and villains not yet making themselves clear, though Robert Green will likely get an early nod for either category depending on which national anthem you stand up for.
At the very least, fans of the attacking game can look to the Germans and give thanks that at least one side was able to finally get beyond the early cup jitters and play some true, open football.
It may have taken a Tim Cahill red card to truly put the Australians out of it, but it wouldn't be a German victory without a little luck, "Flourish in this fortune's blessing" and all.
Let's hope those yet to play take a cue.
No comments:
Post a Comment