We’ve witnessed some absolutely diabolical games in this year’s World Cup, and statistically it’s proven that teams are playing a very tight game, and International football is officially dull.
We’ve seen 23 goals in 14 games, which is an average of 1.64 goals per game. Compare that to the Premiership last season, which had a mighty 2.77 goals per game.
A lot of people, most notably goalkeepers, complained before the World Cup about the standard of the new footballs, and how these were going to be a huge disadvantage to goalkeepers. I can’t remember one goal from the 23 we’ve seen that has been an advantage for the forwards.
I would argue that the first matches are always the poorest, as every major team is under pressure to win, and they do tend to play a cagey game to ensure they don’t lose. I think the likes of England, France, etc, will find the pressure is slightly off them for their second games, and I guarantee both teams come away with wins.
When was the last entertaining England match anyone watched? I can remember the 4-1 demolition of Holland in 1996 was the last real ‘great’ game. That was 14 years ago. Many people will argue that the 5-1 win over Germany in 2001 was an entertainer, I’ll disagree. Everything went England’s way, that was a total one-off.
Anyway, that’s not important. The fact is, this World Cup is shit!
Regardless of the first game of the World Cup, I am fancying Mexico as my choice to be the surprise package of the tournament.
Arsenal News 24/7
I agree with you, when the teams are obliged to win the game will open up, and we will see more goals.
This world cup start has been way too boring tough…
As far as I can recall, the last few World Cups have been poor? I may be wrong. I can only really recall ’94, which was a stinker, and ’06 which was summed up by Italy winning it. Has international football just died?
“I can’t remember one goal from the 23 we’ve seen that has been an advantage for the forwards.”
I’m guessing you missed 2 of the 3 goals scored in Group C then?
If you’re referring to the goal against Rob Green, then that was just a ridiculous mistake from the goalkeeper, it had nothing to do with the movement of the ball.
The Slovenia goal – actually, I’ll give you that
@Brett
The Slovenian goal maybe you are right , but the USA goal it was all the keeper he had terrible position…
The World Cup has become a joke.
There have been friendlies and friendlies and more friendlies mostly proving nothing but injuries to top line players. Then there`s the warm up friendlies again proving nothing not to mention a new ball, just for the hell of it. Altitude? No you don`t play a WC in the Andes and if Pretoria presents an altitude problem don`t play there, there`s plenty of suitable arena`s around the coast.
Finally, only sixteen teams should be in SA after qualifying in their zones. An aggregate result takes eight to the quarter finals then sudden death to the semi`s and the Grand Final. And for goodness sake play with the same brand ball used in the EPL and Europe, never heard such crap.
personally i think dat the reason the world cup appears dull is because the standard of football has increased significantly on the international level as many foreigners are applying their trade overseas ie. landon donovan steven pienaar mark shwarzer yossi benayoun ..these are just a few examples of players that play for “weaker countries” yet for club they compete at the highest level week in week out. i think we are witnessing the end of europes super powers in international football ..the next 2 world cups will give a clear indication of the progress made by less footballing nations
We outplayed and beat the argies in japan which was good. Beyond that nothing
i think the wc’s wowo zeila horns are destroying the whole shit lol. anyway on a serious point though, it’s been by far the most shittest and it will jst die a very slow and grim death. u can almost predict a score in a match after half an hour, and there are mostly 3 choices at the moment. 0-0, 1-1 or a random goal frm someone might sneak it for a team. even conference south football is probably more entertaining. all the teams in this world cup are playing like arsenal at their shittest.
all team ready and balans