World Cup Diary – July 8

The Spanish Armada have marched on into the final. After all the twists and turns, we have the favorites in the final finally. And of course they are already most peoples favorite now for the title, but I would say never discount the Dutch. They are finally playing with an efficiency and manner not seen before from them, and they are the only team to have won all their matches in the tournament so far.

All the hullaballoo over the German performance against Argentina had barely died down before Spain gave them a lesson in attacking possession footie and defending staunchly. After their quarter final performance, Germany had been instilled as the new favorites, but I always felt that the Spanish team with all their brilliant personnel were a very effective and efficient, if not as exciting as they could have been, outfit and would probably bring the young Germans down to earth. The Germans have to face the despair of a second successive world cup exit in the semifinals. The past decade, they seem to be becoming the nearly men of international soccer, which is ironic considering in the last century they were one of the most efficient at winning it all. But this past decade, they have reached the final of the world cup once (2002), the euro final (2008) and two world cup semifinals (2006, 2010). Oh, but I expect with this generation coming through they will start winning with their usual efficiency in the next decade, and all will be right with the world again. However, the Germans will probably be too disappointed to make much of an attempt in the third place match, so expect Uruguay to take the honors.

Back to the world cup final. This final will see a couple of deviations from history. These include:
• A new winner for the trophy.
• The first time a European team will win the trophy outside its continent.
• The first time Europe will win two world cups in a row. In a pattern stretching back to 1962(!), the world cup has alternated between Europe and South America.

This will also probably be the last world cup final with the current system of refereeing. With all the controversy that the refereeing decisions have caused this world cup, it would be inconceivable that FIFA won’t institute changes by the next time.

So onto Soccercity for the final. The Spanish have played at times with an almost arrogant sense of their destiny. Even when they lost to Switzerland in their opening match (seems so long ago now), they did not seem particularly perturbed. They continued playing every match the same way and assuredly qualified from each round. But so have the Dutch. It will be, if anything, a very interesting final to watch.

Oh, and I do fear for the safety of the psychic octopus, Paul. Last I heard the Spanish authorities are planning to provide security for him… ;)