Now Who Are you Going To Support?

So from Talisman for England and Gypsy Groves with my crystal ball, to jinx all football nations that I support since the demise of England. Indeed three of the four quarter finals went against me and I am debating who to pass on the Kiss of Death to next. As “Anonymous” accurately stated i clearly don’t know nada, vunsun and Sweet Fanny Adams when it comes to football.

For us old time purists the free-flowing, skilled, stella fast action football of both Brazil and the Argentineans added colour and spark from some of the more plodding and technical teams and matches during the 2010 competition. The Brazillian capitulation at the hands of the Dutch who stifled play and out-processed them was incredible, and once again Germany bludgeoned the Argentineans in much the same way as they tore through England’s many frailties in clinical fashion. Who would have thought it would only be Uruguay representing South America in the semi-finals?

Erstwhile maverick and Fidel Castro look-alike Diego Maradona in particular, playing six strikers and no full backs challenged approaches to the Beautiful Game. Whilst Lionel Messi failed to score in their ride to the quarter finals, his individual brilliance is there for all to see, and is clearly operating on another plane.

So where does one turn to for the neutrals of which there are many?

The Dutch aren’t playing the Total Football of their illustrious predecessors of the 1970s but as I said to Dutch Jan, if anyone can out maneuver the Brazilians, the Dutch were right up there.

The Spanish team amazingly lost their first match against Switzerland, but capable of very pretty football, movement on and off the ball and excellent communication and reading.

The Germans lost their second game to Serbia, but have been highly efficient in their lethal pole-axing of both England and Argentina, and with such a young team (especially for Germany) the future looks good for this European team who never fails to over-achieve in the World Cup. Do any neutrals ever support the Germans? It is a rarity indeed.

The Uruguayans only arrived to the World Cup through the play-offs, but they have already won 2 World Cups with a population of around 3 million. Outrageous achievements really.

As we have clearly seen, anything can happen over 90 minutes, 120 minutes and /or penalty shoot-outs.