World Cup 2006
Soccer is a beautiful game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the champions of the NFL, but not the world. The Miami Heat are the champions of the NBA, but not the world. But, on 9 July 2006, at the conclusion of Match 64 of the World Cup in Berlin Germany, there will be a World Champion of Soccer, football in the world outside the continental USA. The World Cup is held every four years and is the largest stage in the world. After one of his Super Bowl victories, when asked about the magnitude of the victory, Joe Gibbs replied that 600,000,000 Chinese could care less about the Super Bowl [It would be 1,000,000,000 today.] Not so the World Cup…the whole world wants in and the whole world is watching.

Soccer is a beautiful game. It is wonderful to see the grace and style of the Brazilians, the precision of the Dutch and Germans, the passion of the Mexicans and Argentineans and the athleticism, stamina and strength of all the players. Unfortunately, in this country, much of the interest stops today. The US was eliminated yesterday by losing 2-1 to Ghana. The one military and economic superpower in the world, defeated by a third world county of around 22 million citizens with 10 television stations and 12 airports…7 with paved runways! Soccer is a beautiful game, for when the players step on the pitch to represent their countries, what their countries represent or possess is of no consequence. Who wins is the team with the most passion, energy, imagination and team work. None of those were evidenced by the US side.

The US had 4 shots on goal in their 3 games. They were credited with 2 goals but one was scored by Italy on themselves [an “own goal” in soccer parlance]. Incredibly, the opposing goal keepers only had to save ONE shot in all three matches! Talk about third world county firepower. How can a team expect to win with such a miserable offensive show? Was it the wrong alignment, the wrong players, the wrong attitudes, that lead to such a miserable showing? One thing for sure, the US looked wooden in their approach and displayed little creativity that the top teams evidence. And, it was all a disappointment considering the expectations from a group of 16 showing in the 2002 World Cup.

Some, including the US coach, are bemoaning the call made in stoppage time [soccer parlance for time added to the 45 minute half for injuries and substitutions] of the first half that lead to a penalty kick converted by Ghana into a second, and ultimately, winning goal. If there is one person and place in the world where there is absolute, god like authority, it is in the referee in the middle in a soccer match. His actions are not reviewable. There is no “upon further review.” He determines whether fouls are committed. He has the authority to overrule the flag of a linesman indicating offside or a foul. He has absolute discretion to give yellow cards or send any player off the pitch with a red card. There is no appeal. And, dissent from a referee’s decision can lead to cards and send offs. His word and action is final. When a player steps over the touch line onto the rectangular playing surface of a soccer field he places himself under the absolute and complete jurisdiction and authority of the official in the middle. That is why you must play with passion, desire, team work and ingenuity to win. Otherwise, you place your team at jeopardy of a referee’s decision that could determine the outcome of the match. That can and does happen. But, only if your team fails to control its own destiny by its play.

I hope our boys stay and take in some of the games in the round of 16. Tomorrow the Germans and Swedes go at it. Two supremely prepared sides who play sound, well prepared soccer with intensity to win. Mexico and Argentina also hook up with their flamboyant and exciting styles…the stadium will be rocking. Sunday Portugal with their collection of brilliant stars and Holland with their tactical “run to space, pass to feet” style meet in Nuremburg. And, later in the week Ghana in their first Cup and Brazil the winner of the most Cups tangle in what should be an entertaining match. And, out of the entire round of 16, requiring victories to advance, will come the champion. In this country with professional athletes with bloated salaries and bodies, the World Cup is a welcome relief. Enjoy the teams left as they play to exhaustion using all their skill and determination to win for their national team the “real” world championship. Soccer is a beautiful game.