SPAIN REIGNS IN AFRICA
Mario Goetze, a second-half substitute in the final, was clinical in converting a half-chance in the 113th minute, securing Germany its fourth world title.
Enjoying a 57 per cent possession in the final, largely due to its influential midfield, Spain allowed its opponent, the Netherlands, just five harmless shots on target, before a moment of individual brilliance from Andres Iniesta in the 116th minute broke the tired Dutch resistance.
Africa, home to 16 per cent of the world’s population, hosted its first World Cup but the continent’s soccer teams failed to take advantage of familiar conditions. Only one — Ghana — of the five qualified African nations made it to the knockout stage. And the Black Stars rightly felt aggrieved when Luis Suarez’s ‘hand of god’ act stopped Dominic Adiyiah from settling the contest late in extra-time in the quarterfinals.
Suarez, standing on the goal-line, used his hand to stop Adiyiah’s effort from a Stephen Appiah rebound. Asamoah Gyan missed the resultant penalty and the redcarded Suarez had the last laugh as Uruguay won the contest on penalties.
South Africa, the first host nation failing to make it past the group stage, ended its campaign in style as it secured an unlikely 2-1 win over pedigreed France — the 2006 finalist — in its last group game. Defending champion Italy, too, had a nightmarish outing, failing to win any of its matches.
The European flag was, however, held high as Spain recovered from a shocking
start — a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland — to cruise through to the finals. The Netherlands, boasting an all-win record, also made it to the summit clash after slaying two South American giants — Brazil and Uruguay — in the knockout rounds. Manager Bert van Marwijk artfully used the pace and creativity of Wesley Sneijder, adjudged the second best player of the tournament, and Arjen Robben, as the Dutchmen raked in 12 goals on their way.
Heavily inspired by the tiki-taka football of Pep Guardiola-coached Barcelona, Spain benefited from its possession-based game as it stymied opponents, conceding just twice in the tournament. Enjoying a 57 per cent possession in the final, largely due to its influential midfield, Spain allowed its opponent just five harmless shots on target, before a moment of individual brilliance from Andres Iniesta in the 116th minute broke the tired Dutch resistance.
The Netherlands’ loss left New Zealand as the only unbeaten team in the World Cup, as it drew all its group games to finish third in Group F.
It was to be a World Cup of South American flair, a World Cup for Lionel Messi to legitimately claim his place in football’s pantheon of greats. The world looked to conspire to fulfil the Barcelona star’s date with destiny as a disjointed Argentina rumbled through the league and knock-out rounds, hardly ever playing inspiring football.
But La Albiceleste, and Messi, were left to regret a slew of missed opportunities as he, Gonzalo Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio were guilty of fluffing chances that looked routine. Mario Goetze, a second-half substitute in the final, was clinical in converting a half-chance in the 113th minute, securing Germany its fourth world title.
Germany, the sixth youngest team in the tournament (average age of 26 years and 114 days), benefitted from its youth development programme, which was revamped following the team’s disastrous EURO 2000 campaign. Seven of the 11 players in the starting line-up came through the Bundesliga clubs’ elite academies, which was made compulsory by the DFB (German Football Federation) for the top 1■ clubs in 2001-02.
Die Nationalmannschaft victory had further gloss in its 7-1 humiliation of host Brazil in the semifinals. Brazil was left in a
state of mourning as the national team conceded 10 goals (3-0 loss to Holland in the third-place play offs) in its last two games, to end the tournament with the worst defensive record for a host.
The all-conquering Spanish team, in South America to defend its world title, too, had a forgetful outing as its exited from the group stage, losing its two opening games.
The tournament, however, was blessed with moments of individual brilliance and also a penchant among teams to play a more fluid, aggressive game. There were wonder strikes from Robin van Persie (against Spain) and James Rodriguez (against Uruguay) and the 20th Mundial accounted for 171 goals, equalling the record set in France 199■.