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Reflections

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So another World Cup is coming to a close, and while recriminations, inquests and debriefs will continue - the distraction will stop and life goes on. Sometimes, almost guaranteed, that means dealing with heartbreak along the way. I for one hope Mr and Mrs Birchy have had their share and, the future has in store many more good times to balance out the tough. Wishing you both strength at this tough time.

There's no great segue to get us back to the footie, but I talked about distraction and here is my distracting run down on all things Brazil, team by team, with omissions of those that didn't leave an impression : 

Africa: Algeria weren't bad at all. Great game v Sth Korea and gave the Germans a run for their money. The rest made the squabbles for win bonuses the height of irony...

Asia: Sth  Korea: pelted with toffees upon arrival home. Need I say more. I've forgotten what Japan did

United States of Australia: plucky effort team, sum of parts blah blah..., could run all day but ultimately lacking skill. Scored cracking goal.

European new boys: Lots of Bosnians to appear in the premier league, Croatia and Belgium showed promise but lacked tournament nous

The old guard: Spain, Italy, England, Portugal: overrated bollocks of a performance. 

The winners: Germany look great but don't seem to know how to celebrate a goal. Which is strange, they get lots of practice. Columbia: they know how to do it. Smiled their way through and guaranteed lots of people will be called Jam-ez for the rest of the summer; Argentina: Messi magic, Mascherano taking care of the messy stuff; 

The losers: Brazil - unfortunate to host at a time when their team is shit. Players named Hulk and Fred should have been enough warning for us. Holland - never really took to them, but enjoyed their first game. Spoiled by Robben theatrics; The aforementioned old guard, lacked bite; Uruguay - too much bite.

Sure I forgot some, like the rampaging Costa Ricans, but all in all, a great World Cup. 

Final prediction: (well, I already collected on that as I had money on this final from the start) hoping for Messi to leave his mark. Tight 1-0 win for the Argies

Come on Lionel....over to you






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