Next shock will be no surprise
How does one explain a World Cup that has produced more shocks in 19 days than the rest of the 16 tournaments put together? The narrowing of the gap between developed nations and emerging ones through globalisation of the game? The arrogance of bigger nations? The dumbing down of international football? Or the burn-out of big stars playing too many games?
It is all of the above and a few more things besides. But, even given all these factors, it is remarkable that the first- round surprises, which began with the first-day defeat of the world champions France by Senegal and was swiftly followed by the United States’ triumph over Portugal, have continued into the knockout stages.
Italy might have been knocked out by North Korea in England in 1966 in the final game of the group stage but who could have predicted yesterday’s astonishing defeat by the South Koreans?
Such things just do not happen or they did not in previous competitions. The knockout stage, whatever has gone before it, has been the point at which the World Cup grows up and the Authentic Prada Handbags Uk likes of Italy, Brazil and Germany carve up the competition between them as the Authentic Prada Bags For Sale Philippines little guys Apertura Outlet Prada Montevarchi go home or, in Korea’s case this time, stay at home.
Yet even before Italy’s defeat Senegal, expected to leave the Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Online Store stage quietly after their stunning opening, knocked out Sweden, who were semi-finalists in America in 1994. And most people would have expected Mexico to have advanced to the quarter-finals at the expense of the US.
The US achievement is little short of miraculous, considering they failed to get a point in France 98 and, although they have a sprinkling of European-based players like Brad Friedel of Blackburn Rovers, Claudio Reyna of Sunderland and Frankie Hejduk of Bayer Leverkusen, they draw most of their squad from a domestic league close to collapse.
They now fancy themselves to reverse their 2-0 defeat to Germany in France 98 and Germany’s Oliver Kahn is impressed by them. Kahn says: “They will be a very unpleasant rival. They fight a lot like us and they give everything for their country.”
The major footballing powers have certainly paid the price for patronising their smaller brethren. One would have thought the French would have been well aware of the threat from Senegal, whose players almost all perform in France. But then the French international players are nearly all in Spain, Italy and the Premiership.
Players from bigger nations are also so busy chasing the big club prizes that international football Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Uk Sale has become more of a nuisance than the ultimate honour. And the big wages paid by managers responsible to plc boards have shifted the balance of power between club and country.
This was exemplified in the problems the France coach Roger Lemerre had getting players for warm-up games. Though one can understand the reluctance of managers like Arsenal’s Arsne Wenger to release players, one cannot build an international side without international matches.
France, who received automatic qualification as World Cup champions, were hampered not only by burn-out but by the absence of competitive games over two years. They seemed to think they could turn up and play from memory.
Patrick Vieira, Biggest Prada Store London who was one of their many disappointments, said: “We were a bit too sure of our own strength. We went there to win the World Cup when the first goal must be to get past the first round. We were exhausted physically but that is not an excuse. Look at the English; their players played a lot too but they’re in the quarter-finals.
England are almost the exception that proves the rule since Premiership managers are among the most notorious when it comes to not releasing players for internationals. Even when they have co-operated with Sven-Goran Eriksson he has been forced to make ludicrous deals to limit the amount of time certain players spend on the field.
One big advantage for Eriksson, though, is that, Owen Hargreaves apart, his players are not, like the French, part of a great European diaspora. They are all on the same Premiership wavelength and share a mentality undiluted by continental methods.
In contrast to France, Korea’s success reflects preparations more detailed and sustained than those of any other nation. Korea’s coach Guus Hiddink said: “Since March we have worked virtually every day and spent so much time together that we are like one big family.”
That may yet take them past Spain who, in terms of a family, are more like the squabbling Royles. A Korean win would be the biggest shock the World Cup has experienced since yesterday…
How the big guns have been muzzled
France 0 Senegal 1
(Group A, May 31)
The game that set the tone for the World Cup. France lacked Zinedine Zidane but also the desire Alex Pradas Quiles to combat their hungry opponents, who thoroughly deserved their win – Are Authentic Prada Handbags For Cheap Prada Nylon Bags Worth The Money Papa Bouba Diop, the hero. The defending champions left South Korea without even scoring a goal.
South Korea 2 Poland 0
(Group D, June 4)
With an impressive qualifying record behind them, Poland were expected to revive memories of their great teams of 1974 and 1982. Instead, they played as if in a trance and South Korea cruised to the victory that set them on the path to the last eight.
United States 3 Portugal 2
(Group D, June 5)
The US blew the Portuguese away, with Brian McBride’s third goal, leaving Portugal three down at half-time. Despite having plenty of chances in the second half replica prada short wallets, they could not find an equaliser. A 1-0 defeat by South Korea ended Portugal’s chances and the conduct of their players was once again called into question after Joao Pinto’s reaction to his sending-off.
Japan 1 Russia 0
(Group H, June 9)
Oleg Romantsev’s side were Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Sale Uk fancied to progress from Group H, but injury to their playmaker Alexander Mostovoi unsettled Russia. Scraped through their first game with Tunisia but were given a harder time by the co-hosts, who won with a Junichi Inamoto strike.
South Korea 2 Italy 1
(Second round, June 18)
A missed penalty in the fourth minute looked to have ended the hosts’ chances. But Italy were wasteful and should have added to Christian Vieri’s goal. An equaliser with three minutes of normal time remaining swung the game back in the Koreans’ favour and after Francesco Totti’s red card, Ahn Jung-hwan, atoned for his penalty miss with the golden goal.
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