Reviews

Day 1: First Impressions of World Cup, From Afar

6/14/2018

Aleksandr Golovin

Sergei Ignashevich

(I am thinking of leaving this World Cup match post up for a while. Please feel free to chime in, whenever. The NYT is doing a great job from Russia. And my former Times soccer pal, Jeffrey Marcus, now free-lancing, has his own learned World Cup newsletter. To sign up: http://jointhebanter.com/about/)

June 14. Russia 5, Saudi Arabia 0. Knowing nothing about either team, I put on Fox five minutes before kickoff. I noticed that Russia had a defender named Fernandes (from Sao Caetano del Sur, Brazil) and a defender named Ignashevich whose face looks like hardened cement and who does not sing the beautiful Russian anthem. (Turned out, he’s 38, hasn’t played for the national team since 2011, so he may be out of practice for singing the anthem. Or his lips don’t move.)

Then I noticed a lanky midfielder named Golovin, with a Lyle Lovett hairdo, who reminded me of one of the most charismatic and talented leaders I have ever met, Mrs. Gollobin, the director of the Jamaica High School choir and chorus back in the day. She once snapped at me, “George, be a mensch,” and I straightened right up, in her presence, anyway.

I decided to root for Aleksandr Golovin. Good choice. He set up the first three Russian goals for adept passes through the gaping Saudi players. I looked him up – 22, and being scouted by Juventus. He showed his youth by picking up a pointless yellow card in the final minutes. By the time he curled a free kick into the corner in the closing seconds for the fifth goal, Golovin had surely confirmed his ticket to Torino. Mrs. Gollobin would be proud of him.

Having covered eight World Cups for the NYT way back when, and having written a book about them, (https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2014/0530/Eight-World-Cups-by-George-Vecsey-decodes-international-soccer-for-newbies,) I tried to compare this day (on the tube) with openers I attended:

The fans were a classic World Cup mix; could have been anywhere -- international types who could afford a ticket. Pretty woman in a red and white folk dress; guys with goofy headgear.

One other observation: how nice it is to hear old World Cup hands, J.P. Dellacamera and Tony Meola, working for Fox, and confirming that one does not need a British accent to call a match for U.S. television.

How was your first match?

bruce

6/14/2018 05:40:37 pm

george,

i watched a few seconds. no interest in either team tho i expect to see your prez watching with a russia jersey and pompoms.

egnashivech might just be a slow learner. don't forget they changed the words. the russian anthem is in my top three.

first time i recall hearing it was in the 'summit' series in 1972.

it was a moving experience.

i always shake my head a little when people think russia/soviet union could be easily intimidated.

did more to beat the nazis than all the other countries combined and lost somewhere around 20 million citizens.

stalin was known to put shooters behind the troops to shoot them if they retreated.

they're tough.

looking forward to portugal and spain tomorrow.

i have my doubts the spanish coaching change will do much damage.

bruce

Alan Rubin link

6/14/2018 05:53:50 pm

Spanish coaching change makes no sense no matter how it is rationalized.It seems that the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, was miffed because he was not consulted by Julen Lopetegui when he took the Real Madrid position.

All these big egos always seem to lack common sense.

George Vecsey

6/15/2018 06:42:04 pm

Bruce, quite right. The old Soviet anthem from 1944-91 was the same tune but different words. First word was "soyuz" - alliance. I had the honor to cover the Goodwill Games in Moscow in 1986 and it was a thrill to stand for the anthem on sunny summer evenings and hear a choral recording of the anthem. From spontaneous tears from older Russians, I also understood their innate love of country.
Russian anthem at the top, musically, along with France and the True North Strong and Free. (I will miss the Italian anthem this month.)

Alan Rubin link

6/14/2018 05:46:30 pm

Agreed, it is nice to have savvy non-UK announcers. Fortunately, we are seeing less and less of Alex Lalas.

I have always liked Tony Meola, both as an announcer and a goalkeeper. He played for the Northern NJ soccer powerhouse Kearny High School. He was all-state as a goalkeeper in 1985, but also made all-state as a forward in 1986.

Teaneck High School occasionally play Kearny, but this was thirty years before Tony. I played against them my sophomore year when our starting goalkeeper was injured. and was thrilled to have only lost 1-0. We played at Kearny and the crowd was unusually large for a high school game.

He starred at Virginia, played in the MLS and three World Cups for the USMNT. I liked the way he took command in the box.

Russia was not given much of a chance to make it out of group play, but with a five goal differential after one game they might just manage it. They should lose to Uruguay but might surprise against Egypt.

As Josh as indicated, most of the fun is in the knockout stage.

George Vecsey

6/15/2018 06:44:08 pm

I've know Tony since he was the Travolta-esque keeper on a hot streak right through qualifying in '89. Heard him the other day -- he has eliminated some of the Joisey in his speech. Very poised. GV

Brian Savin

6/14/2018 10:18:16 pm

This Russian team was constructed for this tournament. They are old and savvy, but they put in fresh young legs with skill to score most goals. In an earilier exchange I put 1,000 roubles on ther Home team. I’m not ready to hire a decorator for my dacha, but it is a fun watch. I

Brian Savin

6/15/2018 10:03:28 am

Heartbreaking loss for Egypt after surviving all game long. What a wonderful goalkeeper they have!

Alan Rubin link

6/15/2018 01:59:05 pm

I began the game rooting for Uruguay and for some reason switched to Egypt midway through the first half. I do not know why as I usually like Uruguay, but Egypt's strong defensive play and goalkeeper won me over.

Also, Suarez acted like it was a lost entitlement where he missed a likely scoring opportunity. A few times he took one touch too many, which often gives the advantage back to the goalkeeper.

Mohamed El-Shenawy played his position very well and his extremely quick reflexes saved several goals. Although his stop on Suarez was great, his diving one hand tip of the shot across the goal was magnificent correctly using his upper arm.

I’m looking for some upsets in this potentially exciting group. Uruguay and Russia advance with everyone tying, but Egypt would advance with two wins.

Brian Savin

6/15/2018 02:05:34 pm

Wasn't Rinaldo's penalty kick a treat for the fans? My gosh!

John McDermott link

6/16/2018 02:11:16 am

The Russian anthem always gives me chills. You can feel the history, the words, which I can't understand, don't really matter. It's up there with the Italian and French anthems as the best, the ones which always get you even more up for the match than you already are. That Portuguese anthem is growing on me too. As is the team. Ronaldo made a statement of intent today. He intends to win the World Cup, and to end all discussion as to who is the world's, or at least this tournament's, best player. Your move, Leo.

Tony Meola has quietly become very, very good in his TV work. And paired with JP Dellacamera gives us a formidable commentary team. Wish I could see them here in northern Italy where I have to content myself with the Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss channels. None of which, thankfully, have yet had Alexi Lalas on any of their shows. Watch out for my friend Derek Rae on Fox as well. He really is one of the very, very best at this.

George, Russian hockey players have a glorious history playing abroad. Russian soccer players not so much. For whatever reason there have been few who have had great success, including a couple who Juventus tried in the late 1980's, and of course more recently Arshavin at Arsenal, so promising but ultimately unsuccessful.Hopefully that is evolving now and Golovin seems a perfect candidate to achieve future glory outside of Russia. Juventus don't make too many poor decisions in the transfer market. If Golovin, and Russia, continue to shine then why not a future for him in Torino? But if he shines too much then Juve might have to fight off the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona for his services. Or if the Brits let Abramovich back into the UK, maybe even Chelsea.

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Day 1: First Impressions of World Cup, From Afar

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