Well.... with all due respect to Grand Pa’ Franz... -gg
He ought to know about fatigue as I saw him play an excellent game against Italy in the Semi-finals in 1970... And... Well... fatigue got him and his mates for a defeat against Italy 4 x 3 in overtime. To his and Germany's credit, that game has been without a doubt in my mind the best ever fútbol game I ever saw. (Back then it was W. Germany).
As I mention to Steven... he made some good points, however, I would not put it all down to fatigue... I think there is a lack of motivation in some of these teams caused by the inherent risk of a potential injury putting their well-paid careers in danger.
Be that as it may... it is the world cup and there is no tomorrow and such are the circumstances and while no doubt they could be improved, they are (or should be), here to win. I contend that a mental winning attitude is all-important and the best example I can give is the Mexican team.
While in qualifying, they played like losers and they almost got kicked out of these finals... all of a sudden they get a coach with a winning attitude (the first probably ever), and this is a NEW team (same players).
Frankly, I believe dear Franz is beginning to sound like a politician... when I hear a comment like this...
He said Italy, who scraped their way into the second round of the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Thursday, had played as though they were not happy to be at the finals.
I can assure you, those guys were praying to every saint they knew, for a miracle so they could go on to the next phase... and I guess that the Italian Saint Del Piero, and Mexican Saint "I am nervous" gave them their needed miracle...
The former libero, a possible future president of FIFA one day, pinpointed France midfielder Patrick Vieira, who plays for English champions Arsenal, as an example of burn-out. "How many games has he played? Eighty or 90. It is impossible to be fresh with 38 league games, 17 (European) Champions League games and (domestic) Cup games. It is logical that you have to be tired. You could see that they were tired."
See what I mean?
I do not deny that the scheduling could be better, but to give "fatigue" as the exclusive excuse for some team's elimination? I do not buy it. It has more to do with rewards and choice of priorities. (And I am not faulting such choice btw... simply being more honest than Beckenbauer would be willing to admit.),
Now... in my eyes, the more important factors why the surprises in some of the results is a combination of fútbol having being a success as it spreads out all over the world AND HUNGER of some of these teams; they want to win and scoring goals is how you win games.
If these stars that claim to be so "tired" are soooo tired, why not simply pass the opportunity to play in a WC and allow younger (or hungrier players) have a go?
Of course they won't give it up, as they would be absolutely despised by their "loving" public and that would not be good for their future contracts...
So let's bring a little more honesty to Beckenbauer's claims and also some priorities choices for the players...
If you chose to come to play in the WC... don't moan, "I am too tired"
I can certainly do without France and Argentina if they are going to play like prima donnas... give me Japan, Korea and Mexico any day... even Senegal.
Besides... Even the wording of the damned press release... "Warning" LOL !!
Warning to... ? The star's careers? May be.... Not since the Brazil of the late 60's and 70's the overall quality of the game has improved...
We do not have the dramatic dives of Argentina and Italy, or the outright killer instinct playing of the lesser teams when the philosophy was... "Either the ball or the player goes by me, but never both"
Anyway... end of rant... I am enjoying the games and no Franz Beckenbauer is going to persuade me to accept a different view of what my eyes are watching.
As indicated three times already, I am willing to see a different scheduling or even system, but to simply "protect" the status of the super stars and deny the opportunity to play of lesser players, which in all probability they could become as good as the super stars, NO WAY!
And France, Argentina and Portugal and any other Prima Donna that complains "I am too tired" geeeeeez go home man and send in the clowns instead.... They can eat their hearts out -ggg
Of course, that is my opinion and I could be wrong [but I doubt it -gggg] |
