On the Ball with Mark Wheat: The World is Watching
by Mark Wheat
June 30, 2014
On the Ball with Mark Wheat is a Monday feature on The Current that celebrates the connections between music and soccer, right now with an eye to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Listen Monday at 7 p.m. as Mark plays the music selection of the week.
What a splendid weekend of football action we were graced with from Brazil! Every game was full of drama with two of the four going to penalties and another being won with a dubious penalty in the final moments. And the other almost looked like a mismatch as the feisty Colombians brushed aside the mighty Uruguay to go into their very first Quarter Final. Colombia's star forward, James Rodriguez, is the first player to score in their first four World Cup games since Ronaldo and Rivaldo for Brazil's golden team of 2002. He's elevated himself alongside Messi and Neymar as the most important talisman at the Cup and has continued a trend throughout this competition of the new guard taking over from the old. Attacking tactics and lethal goal scorers have been shown to win the day as the statistics show that it's been a most exciting Cup, with more goals than ever before.
As we talk about inequality pervading our societies at home and abroad, it is miraculous to witness the extra equality of play across the globe. Old-media "experts", like ESPN's Tommy Smyth who predicted Italy to win it all, have been slow to acknowledge this trend, and it will be interesting to see how far it extends in the next few games.
Today Germany and France should take care of their lesser-rated African opponents, but it's the first time TWO African nations have got this far, and I'd love to see one of them advance. France have been rated the strongest team in the competition so far, but they're due their off day — perhaps it will be today. Tomorrow, Argentina should beat Switzerland, who again have never been so far before, and I hope the USA can overcome Belgium, but the hotly tipped outsiders from Europe haven't seemed like they've engaged top gear yet.
At the start of the competition, I predicted that there would be a major surprise, but there have been many. The minnows from Costa Rica exemplify this best. They started in a Group of Death with three former winners of the Cup: England, Italy and Uruguay. Costa Rica were predicted to struggle to get any points! Now the old powerhouses of the world's game are going home and the whole of Costa Rica is energized by the feats of its team. The standard of football across the globe has risen over the years for this to occur. In previous tournaments, it was easier to predict the bracket unfolding; now any of the 32 teams seem capable of beating any other, including the favorites who remain. Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil have all struggled to win through, so perhaps Argentina will have their hiccup when they meet the USA in the Semis?!
It all comes down to passion, to who wants it most. Some of the old pros from the old-guard nations take the game for granted and have a tough time elevating themselves for their countries after long seasons in the highest leagues on the planet. The smaller teams are full of individuals who want to prove themselves and find that little extra to shine for their big day.
I will keep to my original prediction (more of a hope, because I will be there for the final!) that Germany will defeat Brazil in one semi and then beat Argentina in the final. This would be a repeat of the 1986 final in Mexico, which Argentina won 3-2, AND the 1990 final in Italy which Germany won 1-0. That was a horrible, negative game after a competition marred by over-dramatic diving by everyone, especially those two sides. I was living here by then and was so disgusted by that World Cup that I vowed not to watch soccer anymore, and I dived into trying to find an American Football team to follow. That didn't quiet hold, and I drifted back around the turn of the century to re-commit to Man Utd.
Especially these past two weeks, it has been heart-warming to see so many of my fellow Americans enjoying this competition and a relief that it has been so entertaining and drama filled. Thanks to everyone who came down to The Nomad for USA v Germany. I talked to several who were watching their first game ever, which is wonderful!
USA Women's star Julie Foudy does a great job of explaining this hot mess of a tournament.
And I got a chance to chat about it with Cathy Wurzer on our sister station MPR News last week:
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This will be the last OTB for a while as I take a vacation and wait for the start of the new English season. Thanks for reading and get your last comments in on the World Cup below: Who do you think will win it now that you've seen everyone?
Musically, one last chance to play "We Are One", which has more than 150 million YouTube hits!!! The World is watching and what a party it has been so far!
Who do you think will win the World Cup now that you've seen every team? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
