Confessions of a Soccer Nobody: What Have We Learned from the 2010 World Cup?
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After a glorious month of soccer, Spain was crowned world champions for the first time following their 1-0 extra time victory over Holland. Throughout the course of sixty-four matches, heroes emerged and history was made. Looking back, what have we learned from South Africa 2010?
After a glorious month of soccer, Spain was crowned world champions for the first time following their 1-0 extra time victory over Holland. Throughout the course of sixty-four matches, heroes emerged and history was made. Looking back, what have we learned from South Africa 2010?
Spain is a complete team. For all of the fanfare surrounding the way Spain possess the ball, their defensive abilities often went unnoticed. But this team surrendered a grand total of two goals in the World Cup. That’s right, just two. The Spanish shut out every opponent in the knockout rounds, registering 1-0 victories against Portugal, Paraguay, Germany, and the Netherlands. In the process, Spain became the first team to lose their opening match, a 1-0 decision to Switzerland, and win the World Cup. While their skillful possession rendered it easier to defend, Spain’s defensive organization was unmatched. Iker Casillas made some brilliant saves when called upon, but overall this team remained tight in the back, possessed the ball at will, and wore down their opponents. Now they have the distinction of winning the European Championship and World Cup in consecutive tournaments.
- The Spanish Liga is the best professional soccer league in the world. This isn’t news to fans of the beautiful game, but the World Cup confirmed what we already suspected. Nearly every member of the champion Spanish team plays professionally in Spain, and so do many of the stars of South Africa, including the tournament’s best player Diego Forlán (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi of Argentina (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (Real Madrid), and Luis Fabiano of Brazil (Sevilla). While La Liga has become a two horse race between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, many international stars play throughout the league. Some, like Cameroon’s playmaker Achillé Emana (Real Betis), even play in the Spanish second division.
- Speaking of Forlán, this tournament cemented his legacy as a world class player. A disappointment for Manchester United earlier in his career, Forlán has set La Liga ablaze the past few seasons, leading the league in goals and creating sensational highlights for fans of Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. This World Cup must feel like sweet vindication for Forlán after enduring criticism from the British press for his play in the EPL.
For all of his flaws as head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter was correct to stage a World Cup in South Africa. This tournament was a smashing success: the stadiums were beautiful, the games were thrilling, and there were few problems with crime or South Africa’s infrastructure. The vuvuzelas might have irritated some, but the cool, winter weather appealed to players more than the scorching heat of past World Cups. The cultural significance of this event in the history of South Africa should not be forgotten either, as a nation overcoming the legacy of apartheid staged a tremendous celebration of sport and global unity
- Many of the combatants of this World Cup have links to Major League Soccer. Most of the American national team either played for MLS teams or currently ply their trade here, including Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Tim Howard. Several international teams also have players with MLS experience, ranging from Ryan Nelsen and Simon Elliott (both New Zealand) to Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Mexico) and Amado Guevara (Honduras). Additionally, Blaise Nkufo (Switzerland) and Thierry Henry (France) are headed to MLS after distinguished European careers. Jeremy Christie even plays in the USSF-2 for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. MLS might not be one of the top leagues in the world, but there are an increasing number of talented internationals who appear domestically in the United States.
- Soccer can generate huge television ratings in the United States. With 19.4 million watching, the match between Ghana and the United States drew a 7% higher television audience than the NBA Finals (18.1 million) and 5% more viewers than the average NFL regular season game (18.4 million). MLS will never supplant the big three American sports leagues (football, basketball, and baseball), but soccer has arrived and the World Cup is a major part of America’s sporting calendar.
- American soccer needs strikers. The national team features several capable midfielders, such as Donovan, Dempsey, and Bradley, but American forwards were non-existent at the World Cup. Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, and Edson Buddle failed to score a single goal in the tournament, and no country can expect a deep run in the World Cup if their forwards aren’t producing. Charlie Davies had demonstrated excellent finishing abilities to match his blazing speed before being sidelined with injuries sustained in a car accident, but none of the current batch of American strikers impressed. And there doesn’t seem to be much coming down the pipeline besides Altidore and Davies. Stuart Holden, Sasha Klejstan, and Benny Feilhaber are promising young midfielders with some attacking flair, but the United States could use goal-scorers in a big, big way.
- The Soccer Nobody didn’t predict the World Cup as accurately as Alexi Lalas, but I wasn’t too far off. In DSB’s World Cup preview, I wrote: “I wanted to pick against Spain because I hate playing the favorite but then they went and demolished Poland 6-0. That's right, 6-0! If Robben gets healthy, I think Holland has a great shot and I wouldn't count Brazil out ever. Argentina has the wunderkid Messi but I'm still not sure Diego Maradona will be able to pull it together as a manager when the game gets tight. When it's all said and done, I see Spain and Brazil squaring off with Brazil claiming yet another world title.” Brazil might not have won the title, but Argentina did crash and burn when facing a tactically superior opponent. Holland and Spain lived up to my expectations, and I was correct in predicting that the United States would advance from their group but not get past the quarterfinals. All in all, I feel pretty good about my picks!
The Harrisburg City Islanders continued their surge in the USL-2 standings with a 3-2 victory over Real Maryland at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday. First half goals by Anthony Calvano, Tyler Ruthven, and Jason Hotchkin paced the Isles, while Danny Cepero earned the win in Harrisburg’s third straight league triumph. In all competitions, the City Islanders have won five straight and boasts an impressive 6-2-3 record since knocking off Charleston on May 22. Harrisburg (4-6-4, 16 points) moved into fourth place in the USL-2 standings and now sits just three points from the final playoff spot. They travel to their interstate rivals, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, next Saturday before facing D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on July 21. The City Islanders are organizing a bus trip to the Open Cup match, email brooke@cityislanders.com if interested.
- Reading United tied Ocean City F.C. 1-1 on the road this weekend. A stoppage time goal from Andrew Wenger (Duke) salvaged the draw as Reading failed to capitalize on a massive advantage in shots (16-7). With three regular season games remaining, Reading (8-1-4, 28 points) continues to trail the Ironbound Express (9-3-2, 29 points) in the PDL Mid-Atlantic standings. They travel to the New Jersey Rangers next weekend before returning home to face the Rangers on July 23.
- During the hoopla surrounding “The Decision,” LeBron James’ announcement of his free-agent signing, ESPN examined the best trios in American sporting history. The television network compared the Dallas Cowboys’ triumvirate of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith to the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade. That got me thinking, who’s the best threesome in American soccer history? My answer: D.C. United’s Marco Etcheverry, Roy Lassiter, and Jaime Moreno during the 1998-99 seasons. In that two-year span, United won the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, 1998 Inter-American Cup, 1999 Supporters Shield, and 1999 MLS Cup. Over two seasons, these three shredded MLS defenses, with Lassiter tallying an incredible 36 goals and 17 assists, Moreno notching 26 goals and 24 assists, and Etcheverry notching 14 goals and 36 assists. Can the trinity in Miami top that? Got a better American soccer trio?
Posted by Soccer Nobody at 7/13/2010 1:00 PM 
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: D.C. United Jaime Moreno South Africa 2010 World Cup Edson Biddle Robbie Findlay Harrisburg City Islanders Lionel Messi Jozy Altidore Diego Forlán FIFA Jason Hotchkin Roy Lassiter Spanish Liga MLS Danny Cepero Reading United Marco Etcheverry Sepp Blatter Spain
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: D.C. United Jaime Moreno South Africa 2010 World Cup Edson Biddle Robbie Findlay Harrisburg City Islanders Lionel Messi Jozy Altidore Diego Forlán FIFA Jason Hotchkin Roy Lassiter Spanish Liga MLS Danny Cepero Reading United Marco Etcheverry Sepp Blatter Spain
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