Saturday, June 19, 2010

Some sparks at last…!

images (1) The world cup has been as damp and dull as the monsoon till now with only Germany Vs. Australia match having some goals. Argentina showed some signs but could not give the finishing touches. Chile Vs. Honduras game was also the same. This was the story when the first round of the group stages got over and this world cup was going to be the dullest after the 1990 edition.
But finally there has been a thrilling performance. Argentina has just broadcasted a warning to others here that they are pumped to go all the way. 2 small ‘Ms’ are threatening to make the world cup their own. Maradona and Messi are here to win! They just thrashed South Korea 4-1, the one goal which was due to a defensive lapse being the only blemish in otherwise a sparkling performance.
Messi was just too fast and was a class above as he proved too hot to handle for the Koreans. Gonzalo Higuain of all people got a hatrick . 2 of the goals were set up by a fiery Messi who was just getting past the Koreans as if they weren't there. After all that Messi didn't get a goal! He even struck the post which rebounded for Higuain to complete his hatrick which  ironically happened in this edition and is the first after 2002!
images3 Maradona through Messi’s football had an answer to the ‘Taekwondo’ the Koreans played in 86’ !  ;)
In another fast and interesting match, Greece created history by winning their first match in the World Cup finals which comes as some sort of relief for the bankrupt nation!
I dearly hope this trend carries on and Brazil, Germany, Holland and Spain bring their best onto the field as well…What I also hope is the second round not getting fixtures like Spain Vs. Brazil! Sorry underdogs[!] , I just want to see some good football. If you guys can play fast instead of defensive, searching for a point it just isn’t the way…
Later…




Friday, June 18, 2010

‘Asia Cup’ is underway…

images (6) For me, this tournament is a joke! When the Asian Games is being boycotted by the BCCI, what is the relevance of a 4 nation tournament in ‘Asia’ and how on earth can it be called an Asia Cup?! It wont even be a ‘SAARC’ cup! The best it can be called is a ‘Quadrangular’! But anyways, its underway and the first match was between Pakistan and the defending champions and hosts, Sri Lanka.

Pakistan has been more entertaining in their administrative affairs than in their cricket! Even the novices act like superstars and no one is ready to follow another! Afridi, their captain is a prime example of ‘I am-the-king-of-the-world’ attitude. Sri Lanka has a similar counterpart in Sangakkara. His ‘I –swear- I- am -a-British’ accent along with some statements make him a competitor for Afridi.

Sri Lanka huffed and puffed to their total of just over 200. Pakistan as usual chased it dramatically. People wondering about who is writing these scripts should not be surprised if it turns out that the script writer is some bookie sitting at a pub! After the loss of 4 wickets Afridi stunningly, after the last Ice Age, for the first time struck form with the bat! He smacked 109 of just 75 balls WITH 7 SIXES! But the real twist was yet to come as after his dismissal Sri Lanka with the help of Malinga won the game by 18 runs! After the match many doubted whether it was newbie Md. Amer who wrote the script. But ICC has rejected saying it that he was just adjusting his helmet grill and not talking on a cell phone in the dressing room!

Ohh… and I almost forgot! India beat the Tigers, the Fighters, the Shers the Champions- Bangladesh, too in what was a gripping encounter which went so much to the wire that many of the spectators [including and dominated by crows] fainted of a shock from the wire!

ICC, please get rid of these farce ‘tournaments’!

Later…





Like Monsoon the Football is also getting damper…

 images images (2) This edition of ‘the World Cup’ was and is being given added gloss and more and more coverage. This edition is said to be special as it is being held in the continent which is the poorest in the world and where the racial discrimination is largest. So because of all that this is said to be special as it would or it tries to break all the shackles and present the real Africa to the world!

images (1) I agree everything is special! But the question that again and again pings me is about the actual football on the pitch. Is that special? I certainly don't think so. At least after a round of the group matches are done with. Its not that only goals are lacking. The average goals per game is less than 2 when in the last 3 world cups it was nearly 3 at this stage. There are factors as well. Main focus, after of course the ‘Vuvuzelas’ is the ball - ‘Jabulani’. Poor thing is facing a lot of flak from players and coaches alike. Only the South African coach, Alberto Pereira, seems to like it. Casillas says its ‘rotten’ while Buffon thinks its unpredictable. Its clear the players are struggling with it for their radar, as the free kicks are going high over the ball. Adidas maintains that the ball is for accuracy!

images (3) The next concern for many is that there are less Africans even though  the tournament is being held in Africa! Many say there are not many Africans watching on the stands. They say that sale of tickets only online has made it very difficult for average Africans who are not connected to internet quite often, in getting tickets. This added with the fact that there are many empty seats for lesser matches has got FIFA in a spot as they had proudly said that the rickets are sold out and there wont be any complimentary tickets like last time as they want Africans to come in. FIFA maintains that the tickets were sold but its the holders that are not making it to the stadium! Vuvuzelas make a lot of noise even though the crowd is less. But at times it is irritating boring and frustrating to say the least.

FIFA is facing the fact that it is very different from Europe or South America were every country has football as primary sport and people have the passion to travel easily from one country to another to watch football and it is much easier to do so as well, especially in Europe where, countries are at driving distances. But in Africa the financial and political conditions in many countries is not suitable for that.

Today there has been news of FIFAs organizing committee acting like an autocrat and not paying the security stewards their share. So they are on strike and this adds to the growing blemish on the tournament. But the South African police have stepped up and they are providing security as a ‘temporary arrangement’ according to an official.

Coming back to the ‘football’, goals are far and few as there has been only one entertaining performance- that by Germany, even though Argentina Vs. Nigeria and Chile Vs. Honduras were with a bit of flair as well. But overall it has been disappointing. Considering the talent that is on display- Messi, Kaka Ronaldo Torres etc etc, much was and is still expected of the Finals. All we can do is hope that the tournament improves. The fact that Brazil took 55 minutes to score against DPR Korea was a surprise and disappointment for me. May be ‘Jabulani’ is the cause. May be its just the teams playing defensive. Speculations are also there about the higher than sea level grounds taking literally the breath away from the players. Italians also were complaining about the bounce that the surface has and the skidding which also adds to the difficulty in controlling the ball. Even though no ‘classic’ has been played yet, there have been a few ‘upsets’. Biggest being the Swiss getting the better of much vaunted Spanish Armada!

There are also a few positives for the country as well, with timages (5)he addition of a 300,000 jobs and the revenue addition.

  So far the entertainment has been from outside the pitch with the Vuvuzelas , ‘Jabulani’ and of course Maradona vs Pele battle! Lets hope something burns up the pitch as well…

 

Later…and Thanks…





Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It’s Monsoon! But not quite raining goals…

Its been rain all the time all over and its quite heavy. The carnival in South Africa is not quite the same. As the first round matches are going on, the goals are far and few in between. But the last 2 matches are providing hope. Germans thrashed the hapless Aussies 4 to blob while the Dutch from whom I expected goals even in the absence of Robben, did not disappoint as they beat Denmark 2 to nothing even though it had an own goal in it.

Argentina had their entry yesterday and it was electric at the start and I was hoping and thinking about how many will go in. But Messi’s sparks where equally put to death by the fantastic goal keeper’. I particularly liked one corner kick worked out quite in the Argentinean style and almost got Messi his first! But I have to wait for that.

Green_123499e[1]The ‘champions of the hype’ , England had another chance for a ‘controversy’ as their goal keeper was in a mess blocking a shot from Clint Dempsy! USA held the British 1-1! Rooney, again hyped to space was not that good when it came to some real action!

As I said the Germans and the Dutch have started putting some goals in and hopefully Brazil can start as well. I like everything about all the African teams and Africa being a host, except for they play very defensive and not quite riveting football.

I am really hoping for some flair…

Later…





Thursday, June 10, 2010

Cricket and Football...

Hello people,

I was just thinking of the spread of football and the passion it generates in the millions of audience in the world. It has the ‘real’ World Cup with 200+ members and 32 playing in the Finals. Its projected as the ‘beautiful game’ and indeed many millions are attracted to the ‘beauty’! Its undoubtedly the number 1 sport in the world and not even the Olympics generate much interest. Yes the Olympics has much more participation with 200+ delegations at one place. But the fact that Olympics is a combined even with lot of sports together and the fact that all 200+ nations do not participate in all the events gives football a clear edge.
Guess what the number 2 sport in terms of followers is! Cricket! But its World Cup doesn't generate half as much interest and not in this enormity. There are a small number of countries that are playing it and even smaller are really good at it. Shabby administration also doesn’t help. In fact I just wanted to say what the ICC would do well to learn from FIFA or UEFA.
Cricket, now a days is seen as a ‘brand’! This is the most disgusting fact for me. The overwhelming popularity of football is largely due to the fact that its looked upon as a simple game even though large proportions of money are involved. The 2nd line says about its catch line and it says about its simplicity too. ‘The Beautiful Game’ and not the beautiful ‘brand’!
ICC is confused about the popularity and in fact the game itself. They are, in a bid to ‘sell’ the game[which is insane] are trying to modify it and make it saleable! FIFA doesn’t involve in any of that insanity. They are just happy to keep it simple and change the game according to its sporting needs and the changes are not based on the money factor of it. Money and the game is kept separate. ICC in fact has gone to such an extent that it isn’t the same game as before and some more changes would spell doomsday for the ‘Gentleman's Game’. In a bid to attract more people it is in turn projecting cricket as more and more un saleable and boring!
ICC should try to keep it simple. As the suggestions to change the game are rife, you can get an opinion to completely turn around the fortunes from every nook and corner of the subcontinent. Coming to the sub-continent, I get a fine example of why FIFA is not interested in market part while ICC is! ICC never wants to think beyond the sub continent. FIFA never even have thought about China and India as markets which have the highest population in the world. They just want to spread the game in the correct way and not hurry the proceedings with gimmicks as the ICC does.
ICC most importantly has almost no control over its members and is lacking backbone! FIFA on the other hand takes stern stands and strictly imposes the rules. A glaring example was recent France vs. Ireland controversy. ICC’s similar experience is the India vs. Australia test series where an umpire was so easily changed!
IPL is supposed to turn it around for cricket. But what is it actually? Its the grave attempt to turn cricket to football, which would never work. One of the most important aspects comes up here. How many cricket matches are significant? Is it undergoing an overkill? FIFA never organizes any unnecessary or meaningless games! ICC does that so often that most of the spectators now are fed up and confused over what is going on and where! The ICCs lack of authority or planning is clear from the simple fact that some players play for at least 4 teams in the world! The supporters have no idea who will turn up where!
To add to the overkill point, we have had 3 T20 ‘World Cups’ in 3 years! Its nothing but ridiculous! FIFA has single digit tournaments and they are kept so far apart that the spectators are longing for the event when it arrives. ICC lacks commonsense in the scheduling of events. Sri Lanka for example has not played in South Africa for over 8 years! But they have played India almost a 50 times in last 2 years!
ICC is no mood to spread the game or it is confused and insecure about the way of doing it. It is constantly in search of ‘markets’ and not, importantly, of a level playing field and a simple game. It organized the T20 ‘World Cup’[calling thus is a joke] in West Indies in a bid to get the ‘attractive US market’! Horribly it kept matches starting at 9.30 in the morning when every one would be hurrying for their offices! ICC wanted to have its share of the subcontinent market which it was not willing to let go. That’s why I feel its insecure and lacks courage. The audience stayed away from the stands and who would like to watch a match which does not have noise?! In contrast FIFA gives free entry to the host nation to compete and thus it wont be such a case that you wont be a part of the celebration that is happening at your house!
In a bid to spread the game ICC is ‘showering’ ‘funds’ for every associate nation as they are called. But how many matches do these associate nations play? Instead of giving them a chance ICC is happy seeing India play Sri Lanka for umpteen times a week! Another glaring example of ICCs shabby administration is its rule which makes it easier for he players from the associate nations to play for a test playing country, but not as easy for the second string of the test playing country to play for the associates. Irish players are turning up in England colours the next day after playing a match or 2 for Ireland. But England and New Zealand discards, Ed Joyce and Hamish Marshal are made to wait 4 years to turn for a nation which would strengthen enormously by their inclusion. This will help the team to win a match or two against better teams or at least teams like Bangladesh. This would attract its audience. Now, no one likes to follow a no chance team in every tournament.
Asian games is an excellent platform for ICC to extend its reach. But ICC is taking no action against BCCI who doesn't want to send its team as they are busy playing New Zealand in a series. The schedule for the games was known 2 years ago. So why did the ICC not schedule accordingly. It was busy enjoying its T20 revival in 2007! But Allan Stanford has been busted and Lalit Modi is on the verge of it. Now ICC can do nothing in terms of scheduling. This shows how short sighted the ICC is and how greedy the administrators are!
I have no suggestions as such to state as I am no ICC CEO and so it will be of no use. But I would like to see the game which I follow curiously, grow. So I wish ICC retreats from some stupid changes that it is planning and take some notice of the associate nations instead of increasing the number of insignificant matches which takes out the significance of the important matches as well. If it doesn’t it will lose the sub continent as well, which is starting to lose its patience. Zimbabwe series was a good example for that.
As for now, enjoy the ‘Beautiful Game’ for the month!


Thanks and Later…



The beautiful game is here...

Hello people,


Well, the wait is almost over and the the ‘real’ World Cup is here. 32 nations will compete for the Jules Rimet trophy, better known as the foot ball world cup! I had written earlier that my cable operator was in a deep slumber. Guess what! He is awake and has I guess paid a stop gap measure fee to avail the services from ESPN-STAR!
I am happy and so will be a lot of others for to be able to watch the stars battle it out. That is a bit of a positive I am desperately looking for, in this dull and persistent monsoon rain. The rains this time are on time and are qualitatively normal. That’s good for the farmers around. But I am sure they will find some other reason for their laziness and then ask for the compensation for poor yield. I am talking like a frustrated economist!
Let me come back to cricket now. The tri-series I guess is still not finished and there is a small matter of a final between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Even though I have lost interest, whatever little I had, after India lost out, the Zimbabweans are really excited, apparently! They are into a multi-nation tournament final after 7 years and some of them are demanding a half day holiday from work as they got when Brazil played Zimbabwe recently.
There was also Bangladesh playing in England and the matter was by how much. The victory margin for England that is. Tamim Iqbal shone and Shakib had some good moments in yet another disappointment for the Bangladeshis. ICC, in my opinion should really be reconsidering the decision to continue with Bangladesh in tests, at least in the mainstream. They should somehow get the 2-tier structure in place so that some of the lesser nations can be accommodated as well. Instead they are simply trying to mock football and convert cricket to football which is insane and could be disastrous.
Back to the beautiful game to end. My pick is, as always, Brazil!  Dark horses are Argentina and Holland. Spain is also strong and are expected to be in the final.
Rain Rain go away… come again another day!


Later and Thanks!




Monday, June 7, 2010

The Asia Cup...

Hello people,

Asia Cup starts on June 15th. What was the necessity of playing the tri nation in Zimbabwe. It could easily have been an A team competition.
This is where Football gets the better of cricket. They don't organize unnecessary matches like these. An Asia cup after a good gap of a month after the T20 rubbish would have just refreshed the spectators who are already cooked after  a long IPL and another boring T20 world cup, which probably no one noticed!
Cricket administration needs to look into this matter very carefully and intently instead of going after stupid ideas like night tests and pink balls! The reduction in number of games can easily get the public back into the stadiums. The numbers are dwindling outside the subcontinent and even the sub continent wont bear this unbearable diet. People have already started to get sick of insignificant cricket and that includes hardcore fans too, like me and many of my friends. Its getting impossible to keep track of what is happening and why! You see players playing for 3-4 teams and playing all kinds of formats!
I don't think any one will be able to comprehend or explain, what for, the ongoing tri nations is being held. No one knows if its an annual event, or even a periodic event. Thank God, the ODIs between India and Australia are reduced an instead 2 tests are being played. But is that the Border-Gavaskar trophy? If yes, then what about the 4 tests played a year ago? Any ways the 7 match ODI series getting scrapped is a good initiative.  But who knows, it could be the new policy of cutting down ODIs and increasing T20s.
Recently I came about to read about Sri Lanka not playing a test in South Africa, since 2002! That is almost a generation not playing cricket in SA! Sri Lanka has been as high as number 3 in tests rankings. But how can they be if they have played no matches in South Africa?
2011 in India: 2011 Cricket World CupThe ICC is looking to get its schedule right, after the WC 2011. I am hoping for some sanity instead of gimmicks like pink balls and super subs!

Thanks!



Long Wait...

Hello people,

Its been a while since I have been to my[this] blog. I was just not motivated to write and its 'Monsoon' and that is why it was not active. Even now, I am feeling a bit dull and not really in a mood to write. In fact I find noting important or significant to write about. Well, it may be just that I am a bad writer!
The football world cup is due in 2-3 days and the sad part is my cable operator doesn’t think it is very important. They have not paid their dues to ESPN-STAR who is the broadcaster at my place and ES decided to block the supply. The subscribers like me are suffering. Internet might be a good option, but then the clarity is what I am concerned about.
I just dragged myself up to here and don't feel like writing more. The IPL ‘saga’[if I may call it] is carrying on with the muck being thrown on each other like its “HOLI”!
My interest in cricket is dying down because of these frauds and insignificant matches! I mean, right after a “world cup” [which is ‘not’ in any sense of  imagination] India, Sri Lanka go directly to Zimbabwe to play YET another ODI tournament! Just a week after the T20 thing which also started just a week after the IPL!
I am just looking for some positive vibes, as outside its the ‘monsoon’ which is getting stronger and all around its dark and dull!
Later then……

Thanks!



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...