(More thoughts on the final, as told to Jacob Klinger of pennlive.com. GV)
here When I was asked to predict the World Cup last winter, my first consideration was the state of the host country. We kept reading about the turmoil over the huge amounts of Brazilian money and the disruption of Brazilian people to accommodate this party for FIFA and its friends. What nation would have the best chance of surviving seven matches in a charged environment like Brazil during the World Cup? Germany. It just popped in. For many of the reasons I outline in my column in the Times on Thursday, I thought Germany was ready to go further than the semifinals of the past two World Cups. They made superior football look, well, not easy, but possible. My admiration for the German model had grown over the years, seeing them almost always alert and competitive and professional. Like the old Yankees, going from first to third, hitting the cutoff man. Hank Bauer to rookie: “Kid, don’t mess with my World Series check.” Or the old Boston Celtics of Russell and the Joneses. Or the old Green Bay Packers. I also reasoned out that the Brazilian team would be affected by any unrest during the World Cup – if citizens were protesting, if tear gas was wafting. And the expectations were so high. Brazil did not win in 1950, the only other time it was host. Uruguay did. I came into this World Cup business believing Brazil should always win. In my current book, I tell that tale of disillusionment and surprise from 1982 when Sócrates and Falcão and Zico were counter-attacked by Italy. I was still under that spell before the 2010 World Cup when I wrote in the NYT that I would love to see Spain and the Netherlands, the two best teams never to win the World Cup, play in the finals. But in the end, I theorized, there is always Brazil. Well, there wasn’t. This year I indulged in more magical thinking. (The article was for Cigar Aficionado, a handsome magazine; I do not smoke, but I do write, when asked.) I wrote that Spain was due to wear down, citing all the matches – approaching 250 in four full years – played by Andrés Iniesta, its brilliant playmaker. And then like a dope I went against my own logic and picked Spain to lose in the finals to Germany. But first I checked with my doctor, Kenneth Ewing, former captain of Guatemala, who follows world soccer. During my checkup in February, I asked who was going to win. Germany, he said. Okay. I picked Argentina to beat Brazil in the third-place match, somehow sensing Brazil might be soft, or distracted. So I picked three of the four semifinalists, not all that hard because Usual Suspects tend to reach the semifinals. For the record: I picked the United States not to get out of its group, but I did cite the advancement possibility of beating Ghana, drawing with Portugal and then hoping for a draw against Germany. I also picked Manuel Neuer, the German keeper, and Philip Lahm, the German defender, as two of the 10 stars of the tournament. Of course, I quoted Gary Lineker of England in 1990: “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball and at the end, the Germans always win.” Argentina is tough and has Lionel Messi, but it also has one day less rest than Germany. Gary Lineker is having a good World Cup. I’m quoting him again for Sunday. Your comments? Predictions?
Michael Beer
7/10/2014 07:55:57 am
Well, I guess I have to give up my Belgium prediction :)
Ed Martin
7/10/2014 08:39:54 am
"plus ca' change..." 7/10/2014 09:09:00 am
As the teams have progressed, the USMNT’s performance has taken on some additional luster.
Jeff from Jersey; yes New Jersey
7/10/2014 09:40:29 am
Here*s my prediction for the finals. The winner will be either ESPN or Telemundo. The coverage will be fantastic for both networks. As for the teams, after all the surprises, upsets and penalty kick-offs, I haven*t a clue which one will come out ahead. The emotion of Argentina versus the technical coolness of Germany. Whatever happens, it will be a great match.
George Vecsey
7/10/2014 10:00:00 am
Jeff, I hope you are right. One semifinal was a train wreck, fascinating to watch. The other one put me to sleep. ESPN has been terrific; they have wonderful leadership and talent. I have a friend whose daughter-the-college-student makes them watch the WC on Telemundo. Multi-tasking! GV
John McDermott
7/10/2014 02:33:43 pm
Sorry George. I cannot bear Ian Darke, especially when he's commenting on an England game, where he's essentially becomes a cheerleader, or any of the Latin American teams, about which he seems not to know much beyond the superficial and the cliché. His frequent partner, McManaman, is better, but you can't understand him half the time. Derek Rae, on the other hand, is everything I want in a soccer commentator: intelligent, well-prepared, funny when it's appropriate and he never talks down to the viewer. That said, espn has lost this gig and Fox is up next, and that is, frankly, a little worrisome.
John McDermott
7/10/2014 02:40:44 pm
My heart says Argentins. My head(and my wife)says Germany. Just let it be decided in 90 minutes of high quality action and not the turgid, stifling, boring 120+ minute affair we got yesterday from Holland and Argentina. I want to see Messi really shine in what could, and should, be a career-defining match for him. If he has a big day, even if Argentina lose, it will mean a lot for his legacy. If he doesn't the debate will go on...and on. This is his moment. He needs to seize it. Maradona had what was, for him, a subdued performance in the 1986 Final, but he lit up the tournament prior to that game against Germany. Messi has been very good, but never as spectacular as he has so often been for his club, Barcelona.
George Vecsey
7/10/2014 03:50:00 pm
Exactly. I love the way he makes up routes, but he doesn't command a game the way Diego Armando did. He could win a World Cup with a goal or two, and I might still say that. That said, if he does win a World Cup, it would be an upset, and an accomplishment.
Andy Tansey
7/11/2014 12:12:44 am
I thought Holland were the better side against both Costa Rica and Argentina, though not so clearly in the latter match, and that justice prevailed in the virtual lottery of kicks from the mark in their quarterfinal. The same pattern seemed at work at times in the semi, with Argentina less positive for much of the time despite some late near misses to win the game legitimately.
Andy Tansey
7/11/2014 07:45:44 am
The referee for the final is reported to be Nicola Rizzoli, of Italy, the referee of Argentina-Belgium, Argentina-Nigeria, Netherlands-Spain and the 2013 Champions League Final. The official's appointment is not yet official, but so sayeth YAHOO.
George Vecsey
7/11/2014 12:58:43 am
Maradona had a box of four around him when he made the pass to Canniggia in 1990...I was there....one of a kind.
Josh Rubin
7/11/2014 03:14:57 am
George,
George Vecsey
7/11/2014 04:15:59 am
Josh, you can get anything you want in Madison, Wisconsin.
Mendel
7/11/2014 04:32:41 am
I’m going with Argentina. Partly because I own a nice Barca windbreaker and partly because my American soccer ignorance has me convinced that Spanish is the language of champions.
John McDermott
7/11/2014 08:10:52 am
I predicted the ref of the Final would be Rizzoli if Italy were not in the Final, and if he made no major mistakes during the tournament. And so it seems to have turned out. He is excellent, week in and week out in Serie A and is also one of UEFA's top refs for Champions League games.
Tim Waters
7/11/2014 08:20:38 am
George! I pick Argentina...First of all I would like to see Lionel Messi win this World Cup. I also feel Sergio Romero will play amazing. Germany is very very good, But they did beat the USA, and that makes it easy to cheer for Argentina! Honestly I have No idea who will win, just my desires! The real winner of this years World Cup I believe goes to many! First to my Kids who attended three games in Salvador, Rio, and Sao Paolo. Also to those host families in those fore-mentioned cities who took good care of my family and showed great and warm hospitality Brazilian style! And grateful thanks to you for having my Son, Nate have the opportunity to tell his own story through this website! Many Thanks!
George Vecsey
7/11/2014 08:40:50 am
Tim, Nate is a good man, congratulations. 7/12/2014 10:21:27 am
George
Brian Savin
7/12/2014 10:57:10 pm
Somewhere early on I read that the Times had sent 17 people to cover this World Cup. Yet the only coverage of the bronze metal game I find online (physical paper due in a few hours) this morning is an Associated Press article? I'd take a good look at the expense accounts when these folks get home!
George Vecsey
7/13/2014 01:44:24 am
Brian, I don't know details, but the AP is there to file at the final whistle of matches. They are a great and varied service....including promptness. In the time of the web, it is easy to put the AP story on line for minutes..and wait for your person to fine-tune a more complete story. Also, sunday early deadlines complicate the national and regional editions. That is unofficial explanation. When I covered my eight world cups, we had a couple of reporters, somebody from the Tribune, and later on a web person like Naka Nathaniel or Jeffrey Marcus. GV 7/13/2014 04:01:59 am
Another of the joys of World Cup 2014 have been the email feeds from SoccerAmerica, which includes articles by paul Gardner and Paul Kennedy.
George Vecsey
7/13/2014 11:28:36 am
Alan, spot on. All spring, when the soccer buff wanted news of the formulation of the US team, they were like Mission Control. I relied on them more as the tournament went on, too. Ridge Mahoney and Mike Woitalla are also terrific. Mike speaks German, and always has a feel for that team. GV
Ed Martin
7/13/2014 05:17:09 am
Son Bruce has been, like a number of friends here, watching games on univision, primarily, in taquerias around NY. When Mexico lost it was so funereal, a national tragedy. He was out of town for Germany v Brazil, luckily, as he can imagine what it would have been like in the place where he would have watched. The day after Argentina beat The Netherlands he dropped into an Argentine cafe and greeted the waitress with, "Viva Argentina!". She replied, "I am from Brazil."
George Vecsey
7/13/2014 11:30:11 am
And lived to tell the tale...The reserve of Dilma during the medal ceremony told it all.
Andy Tansey
7/13/2014 02:10:52 pm
Nice pick, George! Even better tournament, Brazil and (gags me to say) FIFA. I grinned when Mr. Blatter appeared on the video and got some comeuppance from the crowd. It was nice to see Angela Merkel, there. She's a physicist!
John McDermott
7/13/2014 02:24:24 pm
So Messi won the Golden Ball. I would not have given it to him. He had some strong moments and scored some goals, one of them truly a great one. He might still be the best player in the world, when he plays for Barcelona. But in this tournament he wasn't even the best player in his own national team. That would be Javier Mascherano. I felt that for Argentina Messi was not being used in his best position, similar to what happened to Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley of the USA. Messi will surely come in for some rough treatment now by the press back in Argentina. I hope they cut him some slack. I think he gave everything he had, even though he always looked a little tired to me. It just wasn't enough this time. There were four "poster boys" prior to this World Cup, featured on the covers of all the magazines: Ronaldo, Neymar, Messi and Suarez. They had varying degrees of success, but none of them reached the top or had what I would call a great tournament, not even the guy who won the Golden Ball. I would liked to have seen James Rodriquez make it all the way to the Final. What a story that might have been! Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
|