THESE ARE disturbing times to be Scottish and watching the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Because, as I discovered when I popped into my little local gentleman's club last night – the view is growing here in fair Caledonia that: shock horror, THEY could win it.
Footballers have never been better paid, or more-completely conditioned and trained than they are now, yet, the general level of the games in Qatar has been piss poor. They pass, and pass, and pass; to give the ball away is almost grounds for immediate substitution, but, I honestly feel, the players we are watching, regardless of how much they are hyped by the adoring commentators, are not as good as those who went before.
Brazilians, Argentinians and Spaniards have all produced their flicks and tricks, but, with the exception of the now waning Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo they don't appear to have the guys up front they once had.
I am certain, had the Germans had a Klinsmann or a Gerd Muller up front, they would be looking forward to the knock-out phase, similarly, Uruguay's early departure I put down to the injury which cost them midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. To me, he was an absolute stick-out as a string-puller.
The sad fact, from a Scottish viewpoint is: of the more-fancied sides – THEY are probably producing the best, most-consistent, football. Of course, they are still being hugely over-hyped by their adoring press, but, as was the case in 1966 – in a generally poor World Cup, without an outstanding team, they just could go all the way and win the thing.
Nae harm to the future Sir Gareth Southgate, who has always been a genuine and likeable bloke. That diamond of a man, Marcus Rashford, would deserve it. What a turn-up having to refer to the very personification of thick English defender as: World Cup Winner Harry Maguire – the one player from The Master Race to have made it, thus far, into the Team of the Tournament.
But, if it does happen, how even-more insufferable will their media be? MBEs and knighthoods all round.
However, look on the bright side – Independence would be a push-over, even the Bonnie Purple Heather Brigade of Proud Scots, But, would vote to get away from them. And, in the passing – should they win - you could put the house on Stevie Clarke's team beating them in this 150th anniversary game next year.
WATCHING Cameroon take down a toothless Brazil, I was again struck by the way football and in particular FIFA and IFAB simply refuse to bring in law changes which will finally answer John Greig's heart-felt plea from the 1960s for: “protection for us ball players.”
The first time he got the ball, the Brazil and Manchester United winger Anthony was hauled down by a tackle which Hawick's own Darcy Graham might have been proud of. The Cameroon tackler was immediately yellow carded.
Back in the day, had that happened to say Jimmy Johnstone, Jinky would have been constantly demanding the ball, determined to run at his opponent, who he knew couldn't tackle him and risk a second yellow and then a red.
Brazil barely played the ball out to Anthony thereafter; and, when they did, he was never in-space and ready to run at his defender.
In rugby, you can cop a yellow card and ten minutes in the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on – sticking a hand out to prevent a pass reaching the recipient. Do that in football, you get a yellow card, but, you stay on the park.
During that Brazil v Cameroon game, two or three Cameroon defenders were guilty of cynical fouls to stop a breakaway, but, the only Cameroon player to get a red card was their captain, on a second yellow after taking his shirt off to celebrate his winning goal – that's how stupid football's use of cards has become.
Call it Association Football, or Soccer, whatever you like, but, the purest form of football, the most free-form, should have the strictest standards on player (mis) behaviour. I would like to see the game's rulers bring in harsher punishments for both technical and cynical breaches of the laws, to better allow the few talented players we now have to thrive.
THE FIRST of the knock-out games eased my concerns over a possible win for The Common Enemy, as, at long last – the real Netherlands showed up, which was bad news for the USA.
Maybe, had the Americans taken a reasonable early chance, it might have been different, but, once the Dutch took the lead, I always felt they would go on to win.
They scored three good goals, but for some heroics from USA goalkeeper Matt Turner, they might have scored more, while Denzil Dumfries had a tremendous game down the right for the winners.
SATURDAY NIGHT'S offering was The Lionel Messi Show, as the Argentinian magician celebrated his one thousandth career game, and his one hundredth as Argentina captain by leading his side into the last eight. Naturally enough, he scored the opening goal of the game, and had the BBC pundits asking how do you stop him.
I can tell you a guy who could have stopped him – the great Ian 'Stinker' Dick of Cumnock Juniors, Auchinleck Talbot and Lugar Boswell Thistle. 'Stinker' – had he been wired properly, rather than he was: wired to the moon – would have been a world-beater. He'd have taken-on Messi in the skills department, then kicked the shit out of him.
I mentioned 'Stinker' because Saturday afternoon featured a Cumnock v Auchinleck Talbot Derby in the last 16 of the Scottish Junior Cup. In what was something of a shock for most people, Cumnock won the tie on penalties and now face Hurlford United in the quarter-final.
Whoever wins that one will probably be installed as cup favourites. However, I fancy, now that perennial cup winners Talbot are out, that the cup will be coming back to New Cumnock.
Get your money on Glenafton Athletic.
No comments:
Post a Comment