World Cup Ends on a Low Note

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Well the World Cup is finally over, and Spain took home the trophy in a rather aggressive game filled with 14 Yellow Cards in all. The game for the majority of it was each teams inability to convert on some good chances. Arjen Robben with the best chances on a few breaks wasn’t able to beat the goaltender. The game finally got its goal in the latter half of the second extra time when it looked to be another final returning to the penalty box.

The tournament proved to be a rather droll one, not really living up to the expectations of many, but fans in South Africa and Spain will for sure. Countries like Italy and France, the previous finalists, were both sent home as fast as possible barely putting together a proper game. There were upsets, when the Netherlands beat Brazil, or with Argentina’s defeat to Germany, while Ghana, the lone African team after the first round shocked the US to make it to the quarters where they were knocked out by Luis Suarez’s hand ball in the last minute of the match.

The tournament had many draws in the first round with goals hard to come by, while cards and penalty kicks were given often. From the ejection of Kaka against the Ivory Coast, and the goal canceled out by the USA, officiating was called into consideration, and the need for video replay’s rose throughout the tournament. This lead to the extremely passive English referee in the finals, who was chosen for his lack of giving red cards and penalties.

Many of the worlds stars like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo did not really prove their money’s worth, stars like the Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan who showed his ability to guide his team to the semifinals with some superb goals as well as Golden Boot winner Thomas Muller who was integral in helping his team to the Bronze medal. Younger teams tended to do better at this world cup, with many showing their fans that their respective countries have a lot to look forward too.

The ceremonies to open and close the world cup for entertaining as well as the visit of Nelson Mandela, but these events were the highlights of the tournament. From English players getting robbed, to people being arrested for advertising by wearing orange, the most entertaining part of the world cup happened off the field. I watched the majority of the games though many of them were a bore, but however bad it gets its still the world cup and ill be there to watch it in 2014.