Top 10 FIFA World Cup 2010 Moments Part II

Here’s the second part of my earlier post.

• Leave aside marauding footballers, their feisty managers. What left tongues wagging during FIFA 2010 WC was undoubtedly Paul, the Oracle Octopus. He predicted all 7 of Germany’s games, and the final too. And most importantly he got all his predictions right! He captured the imagination of the whole world. I am not ready to believe that he has some supernatural powers, but if people believe in him, then I have no problem with that. I feel that he has been hyped way too much, and he has received more attention than was required! If it was up to me, Paul would be in the chopping blocks by now!

• Biggest Stars flopped. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney. You name the Superstars of the game, and they all failed to live up to their billing of being Global Superstars. Ronaldo was the sole scorer. Lionel Messi ran past most of the defences only to be stopped at the attacking third. He was the Best of the lot, but he was way off his true colours. This World Cup was surely a stage where new stars were born, and same old Stars like Diego Forlan showed the world what he is truly capable of.

• Larissa Riquelme. That Paragyuan Model. Most of the neutral Football Supporters started supporting Paraguay just because she promised she’d go nude if Paraguay reached the Semis. Spain eventually denied them in the Quarter-Finals, but she went ahead and did a nude photo shoot. She said she was proud of her players. We sure are proud of her! And, needless to say she has already bagged a multi-million dollar deal for a leading Modeling Agency in New York! She took great advantage of the Biggest Stage in the Sporting Arena!

• I will remember this World Cup, because of the World Cup parties we hosted at our home during most of the Games. It was terrific atmosphere at home during the Netherlands – Brazil Quarter-Final game. Everybody was supporting Brazil. Only I was on the side of the Dutch. 45 to 1, the ratio was. And gratuitous to articulate, I was ecstatic. It was one great night for me! It was Sweet , with a Capital S.

My World Cup All-Star Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Manuel Neuer, and Maarten Stekelenburg

Defenders: Gerard Pique, Carlos Puyol, Jorish Mathijsen, Sergio Ramos, Phillip Lahm, Diego Godin, Maicon

Midfielders: Xavi, Nigel De Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Bastian Schweinstiger, Mesut Ozil, Mark van Bommel, Honda, Diego Forlan, Iniesta

Strikers: David Villa, Luis Suarez, Thomas Muller, Asamoah Gyan

Special Mention: I was happy that Spain finally went on to win the World Cup, but I was hoping that the Oranje would be third time lucky. But, that was obviously not to be! Holland gave it their all, and that is what matters. I would be happy, if Welsey Sneijder ends up at United this season. Spain have the Golden Generation playing for them, and appreciatively they have had their taste of success, unlike the ’74 team that Netherlands accumulated.

All in all, FIFA World Cup 2010 was an amazing experience for me. Even though I had no way to be present right in the middle of the action in South Africa, nevertheless, I loved 2010 FIFA WC, and it would always be etched in my memory. “It was a Special World Cup”, exclaimed FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. I can’t seem to agree more.

Top 10 FIFA World Cup 2010 Moments Part I

TOP 10 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP MOMENTS PART I

I thoroughly enjoyed the FIFA World Cup, 2010. And here are my personal Top 10 Favourite moments from the gallant show put up by the Rainbow Nation. Oh Africa!

• The excitement for the World Cup reached the highest level due to two songs. Wavin’ Flag by K’naan and Waka Waka by Shakira. Wavin’ Flag was the Official Anthem of World Cup sponsor Coca Cola. This song went on to become a huge hit with people all over the world. And nobody could stop humming the lines, ‘When I grow older, I will be stronger, They’ll call me freedom, Just like a Wavin’ flag!’ And the Official FIFA World Cup 2010 anthem Waka Waka by Shakira only made an impact during the course of the tournament, with the song being played in TV Channels, the Radio continuously.

 

I personally loved both of these anthems. And these two songs will make me remember the extravaganza that FIFA World Cup 2010, in South Africa was.

• The early elimination of two of last Cup’s finalists was disappointing for everybody, but not surprising at all. The adamant nature of both of the Managers of these two Football powerhouses in this year’s Cup made them perform so appallingly. Marcello Lippi refused to budge from his position of taking players like Antonio Cassano. And Raymond Domenech made a stupid decision in not taking Karim Benzema, Sébastien Frey, Philippe Mexès and even Samir Nasri to South Africa. The tactics they employed were clearly ineffective. Lippi and Domenech, both refused to shake hands with their opposing managers after the end of their group games. Both teams finished bottom in their respective groups. A new low for those proud Footballing Nations.

• Oh, is that a buzzing bee on drugs? Or an aeroplane let lose in the stadiums of South Africa? Surprise, surprise! It’s the Vuvuzela! What did you expect? For me, they were hell annoying, but not unbearable. I could deal with it’s presence. But some people clearly couldn’t, while others caught on to it very quickly. Vuvuzelas became a phenomenon. Debates raged on as to whether they should be allowed in the games involving Non-African teams. FIFA persisted with them. South African authorities said that the World Cup in South Africa should have the distinctive South African feel. And they were allowed at all the games. They sold like hot cakes all around Africa. But, I would like to see them limited to Africa. Thankfully enough, they were banned from Wimbledon, F1 GPs, PGA Tour Events, and the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil too! But FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa belonged to the Vuvuzelas! It was Africa, baby!

And those who want a taste of the Vuvuzela, try this – Blow Me!

• The Ascent of the Young energetic Deutschland team. Players like Muller, Ozil, Khedira, Croos, Neuer  led by their Senior counterparts Klose, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, and the Captain Lahm. They played the Best football in the tournament for me. Better than even eventual winners Spain. They were God-like. Swift movements on the wings, the impromptu interchange of flanks between Özil, and Müller was flawless at certain times. But they were cagey in the Semi Final against Spain, and eventually had to bow out. They have a great future ahead.

• Robert Green. And his howler against the USA. I don’t need to say more. See the video, you’d understand!

• That Superb Frank Lampard goal in England’s Round of 16 match being disallowed, led to a lot of debates about the use of Goal line technology. I personally would love to see technology being implemented in these sort of situations. This World Cup like every other World Cup was marred by referring blunders. USA were disallowed of two goals. Kaka getting that obnoxious red card, are just a few of the shambolic gaffes made by referees in this year’s Cup. But certainly the disallowed Lampard goal was the talking point as far as referring at this year’s Cup is concerned.

That is it for now. Will publish the second part in a different post.

Things I learnt in the past week!

As the title says…

• Boys can’t concentrate nicely, when girls send them love letters. There are exceptions.
• Girls, who don’t like you, always have some problem with you. They just hate you.
• Fox News isn’t News.
• Dhoni has not lost his touch, yet.
• The Kolkata Derby has not lost its sheen. But it is ruining Indian Football.
• The New Facebook Live Feed is lame although innovative.
• Tanmay is a Philosopher.
• Iohannes would chose playing PES 2010 over any other comfort in this world.
• When I love someone, I become mad, and almost too passionate for the other person’s comfort.
• Indira Gandhi still has her share of Haters and Fans, and still is as controversial as ever.
• George Bush is not a hated personality in India. That’s why I say India is different from the World.
• Aamir is going all out for his Next Film’s promotion, 3 Idiots. Maybe taking some cue from the Publicity Freak, SRK.
• My sister has still not grown up. Sometimes, she is such a kiddo.
• People read my Blog, even though I don’t ask them to.
• Iohannes is less lazy than me.
• 2 States: Love Story of My Marriage, is Chetan Bhagat’s life story.
• I can type very fast in my Cell phone. Very fast. At least, faster than others. That’s because I have a proper keyboard in my cell.
• I hate Physics. I never did before.
• I love Biology. I always did.
• If given a chance, I can sleep for 15 hours or more.
• I love School, when I go i.e.
• I get screwed up much more than a normal person.
• I miss my Childhood. Maybe, The moments I had in it more.
• I should have become a Footballer. I was talented.
• Channel [V] is no MTV. MTV is no VH1.
• Pen is mightier than the sword. Sometimes, literally.
• MS Windows 7 is better than Windows Vista. You expected something more? Don’t tell me!
• I like KFC’s brand of chicken. I love McDonald’s more.
• The applications available for iPhone is better, qualitatively and quantity wise too.
• My Maa gains weight very damn fast. That’s more because of her thyroid problems.
• I am very lazy. I cannot keep up to my promises. I forget things easily.
• Mohit aspires to be a teacher.
• Its fun annoying Maheen.
• Everybody in Bengal knows about Classical Music.
• Girls have a fetish for Bags, Shoes, Lip-Stick, Junk [Costume] Jewelery, Kajal. Some exceptions are always there.
• I can love Physics, provided the teacher is good enough. And good-looking.

I need to sleep now. Enough of what I have learnt.

So, farewell then, CR7.

Hi, readers, this is Steve Morgan, a Man Utd Fan since the dawn of my senses. I have been asked to be a Guest Blogger, by Dipanjan. My Guest Article is about CR7 and his departure from Old Trafford.

The long goodbye that began in earnest in summer 2008, with Real Madrid’s entreaties, and the drip-drip of public pronouncements from sloganeers, has finally played itself out. The fabled shirt is vacant once more.

For those who mourn the passing of one of the modern game’s finest talents, a word of advice: don’t dab your eyes as he dots the ‘I’s on his new contract. Memories are wonderful and precious things, but that, ultimately, is all they are. They will not win trophies, nor push us forward; and the quest for fresh challenges has always kept Sir Alex one step ahead of the chasing pack.

Manchester United, as the boss has always said, are bigger than one man. A constant summer of constant speculation would have benefited no-one.

We’ve been down this road before, of course. We were told we should never have sold the goals of Ruud van Nistelrooy; that we would never replace David Beckham’s dead-ball expertise, or transplant the lungs and heart of Roy Keane anew. We did and we have. There will be new names to conjure with, new songs to learn and sing.

Of course, we will miss Ronaldo’s quest for invention; yes we will smile fondly as we recall the astonishing, buck-toothed, spaghetti-haired kid who bewildered Bolton’s defence for 29-minutes six summers back. That initial cameo was a performance so dripping with wit and wonder, those fortunate enough to have seen George Best in the flesh were moved to make comparison. Six summers: half a career.

Will he burn brightly enough to score 42 goals in a season in Spain? Who knows? Will he miss the arm of Sir Alex, the paternal, protective touch in those long, dark moments of the soul? Probably. Will we miss him? Yes, of course – those capable of pinging in 40-yarders to order are in short order. But we can and will move on. The adventure continues.

Goodbye Cristiano and good luck. You will live in interesting times; the times you leave behind may yet prove to have been the most interesting.

Regards,

Steve

Federer – The Greatest Ever?

First of all congratulations to Federer, no-one would disagree he is an amazing versatile all-court player and thoroughly deserves his achievements. I think he is the greatest player ever. Rafa is doing really well too, he is quite a bit younger though. I would agree with what Murray has said about Roger and Rafa being the 2 best players ever.

All this obsession over Roger’s head to head with Rafa is irrelevant – he has beaten Rafa at Wimbledon, clay courts -Hamburg and Madrid Masters and hard courts too. Rafa has also been beaten by Djokovic and Murray.
I believed in Federer last year even when the media started writing him off despite him coming to the final of every Grand Slam bar the Australian (soon after Federer had glandular fever).

I would agree with Mats Wilander that Roger Federer is a fantastic and probably the 3rd or 4th best clay court player ever (after Rafa, Borg and possibly Kuerten) which is also an amazing tribute.

There’s no doubt of Federer’s place in history, his remarkable consistency over the last 5 years is unsurpassed. His all round game is certainly more impressive than Sampras’s, who’s modern day record he beat. Even before the French win, he’d been in the final twice and semis once, Sampras hadn’t made the final.

Rod Laver with 2 real grand slams was the best of his era, but it’s difficult to compare eras, the equipment is so much more advanced and makes for a different game.

I don’t think Federer’s win his cheapened by not having to play Nadal, Nadal was in the tournament and was beat, he can only beat who he plays.

All that said, there’s little doubt he’s been equaled and overhauled by Nadal in the last year, and Fed has broken his French duck in probably his least impressive season of form since he first won Wimbledon.

To paraphrase a quote I heard recently (believed to be from Jimmy Connors)…”‘in the modern game there are clay-court specialists, grass-court specialists, hard-court specialists and then there is Roger Federer”. And I whole-heartedly agree with him.

Federer really is an all round superb player. He and Nadal are a credit to tennis and sport in general – the way they behave, the mutual respect they have for each other and how they don’t run the other down. All sportsmen should follow their fantastic example. I am really glad to hear Nadal will defend his title at Wimbledon – it would not be the same without him or Federer. Federer was so close to winning last year, it was an epic final and Nadal deserved his victory. Here’s to another epic final between them both with Federer reclaiming the throne.

Federer became the 6th player to win a career slam of titles, it won’t be a great surprise to see Nadal become the 7th two tournaments later for all his poor record at Flushing Meadows to date.

Bye,

Dipanjan