The Semis'

Match 1: Netherlands vs Uruguay; Oranje won 3-2


This was too ordinary a match that I felt that staying up till midnight was not really worth it. If one has to achieve a certain quality for a the match Not even close to a WC Finals clash. It was more like a I-pass-the-ball-to-the-opposition-player game. There were a lot of fake falls trying to get fouls on both sides. There was a lot of rough-play and indecent behavior on field from both teams. I know that football is not essentially the gentleman's game and the passion should override everything else. But when passion comes across without flair, it looks grotesque. In other words, passion without flair is not passion at all. Their "aggression" was not backed up by a good game but poor shot-making. Both teams were immature and lacking in respect for both their opponents and the game itself. The longest period that the ball was in play continuously would not have been more than a couple of minutes at best. The Oranje did not look like Total Football; but more like Total Goofball. Every team has their best playmaker in #7. There was Raul Gonzalez, David Beckham, Louis Figo and recently, Bastian Schweinsteiger. However the Dutch #7, Kuyt is nothing but a rough-shodding, brawler who has little play-making ability and a major problem of being a jackass. Arjen Robben was the only one who shone in his good play; but even his sparks came in streaks. The best football in the match was played in the first goal of each team. Both were executed by the captains. Both from a prodigous distance. And both showing excellent control of the so-called disaster ball, Jabulani. However, the magic stopped there. After a racing start, the match was a damp affair. Though the team that I wanted to win succeeded, they were nowhere in the zone. No team deserved to win; but Uruguay blinked first.


Match 2: Spain vs Germany; The Red Devils won 1-0

Another match with lacklustre performances. Seriously, what is the jinx on the semis?? Interestingly, the quarters were a lot more thrilling, whether it was Argentina getting mauled or witnessing Oranje making us go More Oranjy or even Uruguay cheating their way up. This match was boring; not because the team I backed lost - but because they were on the field without a single idea of what was going on. At least half a dozen times, Spain could bring the ball into the Germans' goal-zone using the SAME FRIGGING PLAY!!! How hard is it to mark Villa or better, wise up and change the stupid/repetitive right wing cross to the center. Almost every German pass that looked good was followed up with a German pass that made one cringe. It was a bad day to be a German football fan; not because they lost poorly (which they actually did not - for there were a couple of decisions that went against them); but because they did not play to their potential. The speeed and precision that amazed everyone in the quarters against Argentina, was not there. They were happily losing their plot. Off color is a word that I am forced to use again; but ironically, the Germans were in Black and White. The Spaniards, to give where it is due, were good in parts. The sheer dominance in the ball-possession put a noose around the German team's neck which they themselves tightened by their poor playing. However, the Red Devils were not well-behaved at all. The Podolski-Aamos situation was a classic example for their foul-play. Deliberately stepping on another player's toes is bad enough; but trying to make an appeal for a foul of the other team; how low can you go? But nothing could make a fair excuse for the poor display by the entire German unit.

So overall, which was the better of the two matches for me? Though the pickings are slim; I go with the Spain-Germany match giving it a 2.75 stars out of five for a controlled and even gameplan by the Spaniards. The first Semi gets a barely passing 2.25 stars thanks to the two amazing goals in the first half of the match. Hopefully both the teams that made it to the finals will step up their games. Praying for an explosive final where Oranje and Red cut loose; I sign off!