So far this World Cup has been full of surprises. Plenty of boring games in the first rounds, especially since I’m not a big football or sports fan. But I do enjoy seeing excellence, in whatever field that may be. We all want to see somebody, whether it’s an artist or athlete excell, push themselves to the limit and vicariously through them we experience a moment of epiphany, of realizing our true potential.

Very few outstanding moments or players, not like the times when a Pele stormed the field and elegantly destroyed the old notions of how football was to be played. Or the 1974 Dutch team with Cruyff, the 1986 Argentina team with the Napoleonesque Maradonna displaying crazy cojones by outmaneouvering 6 English players and the keeper all the way from his own half. Or a gliding magician like Zidane, who as a British commentator once described him had “the physique of a top athlete combined with the grace of a ballerina”. All these players had a sharp awareness of the game, opponents and team mates around them and often their charisma radiated into their playing.

Most teams and players in 2010 I’ve found rather mediocre and scared to really play ball, to give it all (to use the analogy again, very similar to most cinema nowadays: boring, scared to offend anybody, designed to play it safe, total lack of true creativity). But Chili have shown hungry young players who’re not scared to move forward, the USA been surprisingly effective and motivated, Argentina can still propel to something. Brazil and The Netherlands have the potential and the individual talent, but I find their approach too careful, too comfortable and at times almost lazy. Germany as a team was at times impressive, moving like a well oiled diesel machine, suddenly exploding into offensive mode.

Ghana showed a good spirit at times, but the finish was often inadequate, at least they got to the finals. Ivory Coast has again been unlucky to start in a group with top teams like Brazil and Portugal. Back in 2006 they had to fight with Argentina and The Netherlands to go through. Greece must have been the most painful to watch, heavy and competent defending strategies, man marking Messi e.g. was efficient to smother the opponents game, but it doesn’t create any watchable football, nor chances to score. If there’s a lesson to learn, better to go at it full throttle like Japan did when they outfootballed Denmark. Or Slovakija destroying World Champion Italy, purely by its team spirit and fervour.

In any case, now the finals really start, the knock out phase. It’s perform or go home. One thing is for sure, it’s a proven fact now that the “big” teams can no longer intimidate the smaller ones. Underdogs have a chance, as long as they go at it with gusto and balls. It’s the only way to live.

Check it out:

The living legend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhlwe99GbVI

(balls were much heavier leathermade pieces then)

Solo around the world:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rW-lK9F6TU

Magician strides forward:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QU7U5UKzL4

Bright future for this fearless up and commer, he’s gonna be big, mark my words (another talent from Suriname):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNznDCoTePM

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