So the remaining teams of the World Cup have entered into the knock-out stage. For some the tension is all too much, like the old lady last night who was completely legless by nine o’clock. I’ve never seen somebody so elderly and so inebriated, although she did manage a ‘come on England’ on the way out. For others, the good times have ended, like our French contingents, who can probably be read all about in L’Equipes obituaries page. They were snuck out of the airport in a coach with blacked out windows and it’s not long before the French public catch up and sentence them to death by guillotine.
At this point then, how have our opinions been shaped of those no longer at the World Cup? It’s sad that our French players had to be a part of such a broken camp and really Les Bleus were doomed before the tournament began. Sometimes these situations can stir anger inside a footballer, to play for himself if not for others. But there seemed no fight in Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby. Diaby in particular looked tidy in possession but rarely made any killer passes and his progression still appears to be meandering along at no great pace.
My only memories of Gael Clichy were of a constantly desperate defender rushing back to tackle his midfielder. Clichy didn’t get much playing time at the World Cup, but when he did, his attempts to get forward and add some spirit to the cause only left him out at sea fighting a losing battle. You can always count on Clichy for this and I expect more of the same next season with Arsenal. As for William Gallas, there were signs of a defender at the start of the end. He looked rusty at best and most Arsenal fans will be happy to let Panathanikos and Paris St Germaine scrap it out for his signature.
It was early doors for Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner. For them, this World Cup hasn’t been much of a learning curve although Bendtner did score one nice typical strikers goal. Emmanuel Eboue is also leaving South Africa. He on the other hand did pick up a few things, but it was more in languages than in the tactical side of football. Apparently Emmanuel is now fluent in Korean … Emmanuel is now fluent in Korean.
Those trudging forward are Carlos Vela, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie. For the sake of my £5 bet on him to finish with the golden boot, RVP began hitting the net in the Netherlands’ last game against Cameroon. I had some football matters of my own to deal with that night, and when RVP took aim from an acute angle, all the mangers at the Essex Combinations League AGM were in total admiration. I know RVP is world class, you know it, the whole world knows it. What we don’t know is what a full unhindered van Persie season looks like although there have been whisperings it does exist.
Xavi Alonso is a doubt for Spain’s last-sixteen game, and it could be the opening Fabregas has been waiting for. He came on as a sub against Chile and bossed it. His game is much more direct than Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta and he began making inventory passes within minutes. Carlos Vela has injuries of his own and we wait to see if he features for Mexico in today’s late kick-off.
Fixtures
Argentina vs. Mexico, Sunday 27 June (19.30)
Netherlands vs. Slovakia, Monday 28 June (15.00)
Spain vs. Portugal, Tuesday 30 June (19.30)
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