The Ball is Round

Category: World Cups

  • 1966 and Not All That

    The England squad that travelled to the 1962 World Cup in Chile had to endure a flight with two separate changes to Lima where they played a warm up game against Peru before moving onto Santiago, then Rancagua where they would play their group games and then bus to their base in the Braden Copper…

  • Five things from….Argentina 0 Germany 1

    Footballers never look comfortable wearing ties but Rio has taken this smart look to a new level, with his blazer and orange tie, last seen on the Easyjet flight from Malaga to Liverpool. Surely, someone in wardrobe must have said to him he looked a little silly? Or did he simply buy the outfit on…

  • The Golden Generation of German football

    Whilst the likes of Martin Cranie, Nedum Onuoha, Mark Noble and Michael Mancienne have failed to progress further than the Under 21’s, the Germans have continued to produce young talent, constantly pushing them into the national team if they are deemed good enough. In the squad that got on the plane for Brazil, nine were…

  • Five things from….Brazil 0 Netherlands 3

    Nothing like being in the spotlight to really show your qualities. I remember punching above my weight when I played for a number of sides in my youth. You naturally raise your game. But here is David Luiz, fresh from leading the Brazilian defence into the worst defeat in their history, perfectly setting up Blind…

  • Five things from….Netherlands 0 Costa Rica 0

    The stars of the tournament so far have been the keepers. Howard, Neuer, Ospina and Costa Rica’s Navas have all been outstanding. In fact every keeper could probably say they have performed on the world’s stage. Well, Iker Casillas excepted. Navas once again put in a fantastic shift, although probably felt that he would have…

  • Five things from….Brazil 2 Colombia 1

    The host nation have stumbled through to this stage, playing unconvincingly in every game, bar an hour of the opening game against Croatia. They relied on penalties to beat Chile whilst Colombia have got stronger as the tournament has progressed, with James Rodriquez the man of the moment. The days of loveable, laughable Higuita, Asprilla…

  • Five things from….France 0 Germany 1

    I am in love with that camera that zooms across the pitch at grass level as the teams walk out…I want to see more of those camera angles during the game, tracking the runs of the players. Apart from the annoying super slow motion replays I think the camera work in the tournament has been…

  • Five things from….Belgium 2 USA 1

    The US should walk away from this match with their heads held high. This team proved to have the grit and guts that has been the staple of US soccer for decades. Losing to a Belgian side (who, going into the tournament, was considered a dark horse to win it all) is not something to…

  • Five things from….Germany 2 Algeria 1

    16 minutes in and Algeria attack again. What a cross from El Arabi Soudani, Islam Slimani gets ahead of Jerome Boateng to fire in a low header in off the post. Alas he is offside and we get a close up of the linesman raising his flag. But hang on. The photographer behind him is…

  • The five best keepers of the World Cup…so far

    Costa Rica have undoubtedly been this World Cup’s surprise package, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas have been integral to the underdogs shocking the world to progress from their group. Levante stopper Navas has been attracting interest and plaudits aplenty during the tournament, and the 27-year old could be set for a big-money move to Atletico Madrid…

  • Five things from….France 2 Nigeria 0

    So I know I was banging on about this last week but it really bugs me. Why do they need to wear the off-white away kit? What colour clash could there be with a lime green kit? Called me an old cynic but I have a feeling that a certain US sportswear company may have…

  • Five things from….Netherlands 2 Mexico 1

    Cooling Break – Preparation for Qatar 2022? Imagine the temperature 10 degrees hotter and you will need breaks every 15 minutes. Whilst I can see the medical sense in it, who benefits the most out of that five minute break in the first half? The TV companies who can sell an additional TV advert break?…

  • Five things from….Colombia 2 Uruguay 0

    Rodriquez’s opening goal – WOW. Wow. wow. Perfect control, outstanding shot and to make it even better it hit the underside of the bar. Goals are always so much better when they hit the underside of the bar and bounce down. Not quite in the Johnny Metgod class but close…

  • Five things from….Brazil 1 Chile 1

    The hottest ticket in Belo Horizonte bar none, with locals lining the streets on the way up to the Estádio Mineirão pleading for any spare seats yet behind the goal (to the left of the TV cameras) there is a large block of completely empty seats. By half time a large number of stewards had…

  • Five things from…Belgium 1 South Korea 0

    I know they are in Rio and I know it is hot but who suggested it would make good television to put the ITV team in shorts?? Children up and down the country will now be having nightmares about seeing Gordon Strachen’s legs. Fortunately someone must have had a word during the first half because…