World Cup - Summary of the Group Round
Jun. 28th, 2014 11:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catalyst2Best Goal - Messi's goal against Iran, though Villa's against Australia might be up there for sheer cheek.
Worst missed goal - Probably Busquets' missed "tap in" against Chile.
Most sentimental goal - Cahill's thumper against Netherlands, simply because this is the end for most of that squads's international careers so to go out on that note is great.
Funniest goal - Not sure if it is funny or sad but Akinfeev's fumble against Korea Republic might be a contender.
Best use of new technology - No, not the goal line cameras but the soluble white foam - a wonderful antidote to the creeping free kick (both kicker and wall) phenomena. I was just watching some 1990 replays and it was so common an issue that no-one even bothered to pretend after a while.
Outstanding player - There are number in close running but I think it has to be Messi for his wonderful consistency. There are others who show the occasional flash of even greater brilliance but is just that - occasional.
Most disappointing player - Wayne Rooney again - he was my pick in 2010 too! Sadly, Christiano Ronaldo comes a close second. Suarez for sheer stupidity, of course, but he actually played well until he decided to do his own Hannibal Lecter impression.
Dullest game - not really a game but that Opening Ceremony was so bad it both sucked and blew simultaneously.
Most surprising - For me it had to be the Spain vs Netherlands game. To watch the World Cup holders just torn apart in what I thought would have been a tight close game was definitely a sight to see. The Costa Rica vs Italy game would have been a bigger surprise if it were not for that fact that Costa Rica had already beaten Uruguay who were playing much better than Italy.
Flattest team - Interesting because last time it was between Italy and France - this time it is Italy (again) and Spain but near impossible to pick. I am inclined to Spain since they were the reigning World Cup holders and also because they were eliminated after the second group game. At least Italy were still in the mix until that last game.
Punching above their weight - This has to be Costa Rica who not only finished unbeaten at the top of their group but beat two previous World Cup holders and drew with a third.
Worst missed goal - Probably Busquets' missed "tap in" against Chile.
Most sentimental goal - Cahill's thumper against Netherlands, simply because this is the end for most of that squads's international careers so to go out on that note is great.
Funniest goal - Not sure if it is funny or sad but Akinfeev's fumble against Korea Republic might be a contender.
Best use of new technology - No, not the goal line cameras but the soluble white foam - a wonderful antidote to the creeping free kick (both kicker and wall) phenomena. I was just watching some 1990 replays and it was so common an issue that no-one even bothered to pretend after a while.
Outstanding player - There are number in close running but I think it has to be Messi for his wonderful consistency. There are others who show the occasional flash of even greater brilliance but is just that - occasional.
Most disappointing player - Wayne Rooney again - he was my pick in 2010 too! Sadly, Christiano Ronaldo comes a close second. Suarez for sheer stupidity, of course, but he actually played well until he decided to do his own Hannibal Lecter impression.
Dullest game - not really a game but that Opening Ceremony was so bad it both sucked and blew simultaneously.
Most surprising - For me it had to be the Spain vs Netherlands game. To watch the World Cup holders just torn apart in what I thought would have been a tight close game was definitely a sight to see. The Costa Rica vs Italy game would have been a bigger surprise if it were not for that fact that Costa Rica had already beaten Uruguay who were playing much better than Italy.
Flattest team - Interesting because last time it was between Italy and France - this time it is Italy (again) and Spain but near impossible to pick. I am inclined to Spain since they were the reigning World Cup holders and also because they were eliminated after the second group game. At least Italy were still in the mix until that last game.
Punching above their weight - This has to be Costa Rica who not only finished unbeaten at the top of their group but beat two previous World Cup holders and drew with a third.
