Return of beautiful football
It is not Germany; it is beautiful football that has won the 20th edition of the World up Football (WCF). What Brazil had abdicated 20 years ago, eventual champions Germany has brought back on the Brazilian soil to the delight of billions of soccer fans, and their capability of playing short passes in order to keep the ball under possession reminded me of the Spain’s Tiki-taka technique that charmed the world four years ago.
Germany did not resort to the rough football, which Brazil, once bearer of artistic football, practise nowadays. Truly the current coach has radically reformed the Germany football team.
Truly Germany had more ball possession, compared with Argentina (60-40), and had more shots on the target (7-2). Yet, the South American team should have surged ahead by two clear goals within the first 10 minutes, but strikers’ unwarrantable failure was the hindrance.
On the other hand, the funeral of Brazil as a football playing nation was completed on Saturday with 0-3 goals defeat to Holland in the play-off match for third position. The nation won’t be able to win the Copa America Cup next January unless drastically transformed and the World Cup Football 2018. The first phase of reform is the return to Jogo Bonita.
The 21st edition of the WCF, the greatest show on earth, will be held in Russia, the land of the extreme cold weather. FIFA’s 207 member-states and regions will take part in the qualifying matches after draw in December this year.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
