ZAKUMI'S DIARY: EPISODE EIGHT

“What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.

Whoever said that didn’t have to watch an excruciating football match like the one between Uruguay and Ghana. If you wake up the morning after a football game and you still have tears in your eyes then you’ll know for sure if “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. I’m not dead, TRUE, but I’m not any stronger. In fact I’m weak. The more I think about it, the more it hurts and I just can’t stop thinking about it. But maybe I’m stronger, maybe it’s true that what they say. I’m strong in heart; I’m strong in mind cos today I’ve garnered enough energy to write this episode of ZAKUMI’S DIARY.  So here we go again.  

REVIEW OF THE QUARTER-FINAL MATCHES

BRAZIL VS HOLLAND:

Arguably one of the best matches in the history of the World Cup. A battle of tactics and a game of two halves. Brazil dominated the first half but the Dutch Clockwork took control of the game after the break. It was a very tactical game with both teams showing flashes of their trademark style of play: ‘Joga Bonito’ for Brazil and ‘Total Football’ for Holland.

But when the going got tough, both teams had to abandon their style of play in search of the ultimate prize: a win. That approach favoured the Dutch more than the Brazilians. Robben and Sneidjer were the main architects of the downfall of the Samba boys. Sneidjer won the man-of-the-match award and rightly so because he had a hand in both Dutch goals. I was very disappointed with Felipe Melo, he gave a through pass for Robinho to score the first goal but after scoring an own goal at the other end of the pitch, he became disillusioned with the game. An own goal and a red card was just the recipe needed for Brazil’s disaster.

The blame should be squarely laid at Melo’s doorstep. It was difficult playing 11 versus 11 against the Dutch how much more playing with a man down. After the second goal by the Dutch, Dunga’s boys had over 20minutes to come up with a goal but it’s a surprise they could find the ‘front’ of the net. You’ll have to admire the resolute defending by the Dutch esp. Van der Wiel and Van Bommel. They held the ball very well too, their passes were on point and everything seemed to work in their favour. Even Arjen Robben did get injured even though he was fouled on countless occasions. Now the Dutch have gone 24 games unbeaten starting from the qualifiers through to the World Cup proper. They are the only team with a 100% record at this World Cup. 

Dunga has officially been relieved of his duties as coach of the Brazilian National Team. He’s being criticised for not playing the Brazilian style of football. They should cut Dunga some slack. When was the last time Brazil played joga bonito? Football has evolved and if they (the Brazilian) fail to recognise this then I’m afraid they’ll keep changing coaches without any positive end results. They won Copa America without joga bonito, they won the Confederations Cup without joga bonito, now they want joga bonito? Double standards. I’m not a big fan of Dunga but I think he deserves much more than the mud they are slinging at him. Then there’s the issue of the exclusion of Ronaldinho: I don’t think Dinho could have done much to save the Brazilians. They were simply out-performed. The Dutch were more efficient on the day and that’s what won them the game.

GHANA VS URUGUAY

Honestly I don’t think I can talk about this game without getting emotional. I can’t fake it, “e pain dey pain me ankasa”. When I think about that penalty miss, I feel like crying all over again. We were so close, yet so far away from making history. The Stars were literally an inch away from history. History for Ghana and history for Africa. The hurt, the pain and the emotions, it’s just too much for me to bear. However the defeat doesn’t hurt me as much as when someone tells me “but it’s just a game”. I can’t explain how much I detest that statement. Football is the only thing that I know can make “big boys” cry and you call that “just a game”. You should have been at Accra Mall, it was like a funeral procession except that there was no corpse to be buried. In fact we have corpse to bury cos apparently a couple of people died after the game. Our prayers and thoughts are with their families.  

We didn’t deserve to lose (but who does?). I can blame the ref, I can blame Luis Suarez, I can blame Asamoah Gyan but why should I? This is the game we love so win or lose, we’ll take the joy and the pain as and when they come. We have to move on. I’m still proud of the boys though. Big ups to Asamoah Gyan, he showed exceptional mental strength to take the first penalty kick. He’s still our “Baby Jet” and we love him.

Then again, what was John Mensah thinking when he stepped up to take that penalty? I honestly can’t understand why he chose to take the penalty without a run-up. As Charles Kyeremanten of the “SUNDAY GOSSIP” pointed out to me, Giuseppe Signori (former Lazio and Italy striker) is the only player to have successfully taken penalty kicks in that fashion without missing. Evidently the essence of the run-up before the penalty kick is to give the player some kind of momentum before the kick. It also affords the player a chance to read the movement of the keeper and see where to place the shot away from the keeper’s intended direction. John Mensah should have known better. I cringed when I saw him step up to effect the kick but once stood behind the ball in that “gai-gai” manner, I knew he was definitely going to miss. “Bra Panyin paaa, aden?”

IMO, Milovan Rajevac should stay on as Head Coach. This team needs a few additions, like a goalkeeper and another sharp striker. We’ve got the 2012 African Cup of Nations and the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup to think about. I’m absolutely positive that things will go well for our boys in subsequent competitions.

For our troubles, FIFA has given us $1million as participation fee and $ 14million for reaching the quarter-finals. That’s a lot of money right there, and I hope we’ll use it to develop the football facilities in this country rather than............  

GERMANY VS ARGENTINA

So “Paul the Octopus” got it right afterall. Damn I hate these molluscs. This octopus is now reputed for having successfully predicted all of Germany’s wins in this tournament. Not the exact score-lines though but I’m quite amazed at Paul’s predictions. Is it luck or Paul knows more than we think he does. I confidently predicted a win for Argentina and even though I’m not too surprised they lost, it’s quite a shock they lost by 4 goals to nothing. They were outclassed, out-performed and out-everything. I just love this punch line, “they were beaten like eggs for omelette”. Sorry, I had to bring it back. Even Joachim Lowe was stunned by his team’s performance.

This is where my criticism of Maradona comes in, Diego was tactically bankrupt. He was beaten by a tactically superior German side. Otamendi was leaking like a punctured water hose and it’s surprising he left him on the pitch for that long. Maradona’s decision to play four centre backs in defence finally back fired and I guess he’ll have to bear the brunt of the Argentine (and even the International) press for this gamble. I pity him cos I’m sure this will spell the abrupt end of Maradona’s coaching career. The Argentines never really trusted him and now he’s justified their scepticisms. Even with a World Cup trophy in a trophy cabinet in Buenos Aires, I’m more than certain, the press would have criticised him anyways. Now that he’s failed in his assignment, they’ll offer his head on a silver platter to the people of Argentina. Awww Diego Armando.

Before I forget, do you think this loss will cost Messi his “World Best” title? Let me know your opinion.

PARAGUAY VS SPAIN

Another interesting contest between South America and Europe. At the end of all that drama, ‘King’ David Villa broke the deadlock for the Spanish team. After so long, Spain is now in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Sometimes you need more than a good team to win a World Cup. You need luck. Oscar Cardozo’s penalty could have changed everything but he missed it or rather Iker Casillas saved it.

La Furia Roja are slowly getting towards their primary target: the World Cup trophy. When it comes to short competitions such as the World Cup, it is more about turning up and having a good tournament, rather than being a brilliant team. Brilliant teams win ‘long’ competitions like a league campaign (with over 38games in it). I think this World Cup has proved that you don't need to be a great team to win the trophy, but to have a good tournament. Evidently the Spaniards are having a good tournament. We’ll see how far it goes. 

MY TEAM OF THE QUARTER-FINAL

My team selection is based on the dependable 4-3-3 formation. Not a large pool of players to draw from but I still manage to get my team nonetheless.

GOALKEEPER: Could have been Fernando Muslera of Uruguay but since I’m a bad loser, I’ll rather give it to IKER CASILLAS. Did very well to save Oscar Cardozo penalty and pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to prevent the Paraguayans from scoring. Good game by the Spanish captain.

RIGHT BACK: VAN DER WIEL. The Dutch right back had a solid game against Brazil. Too bad he’ll miss the next match.

CENTRE HALF: ARNE FRIEDRICH. Was fantastic in the rear guard of the German machinery. Got his name on the score sheet too.  

CENTRE HALF(2): That should be PER MERTESACKER. His partnership with Friedrich blossomed in the game against Argentina. As a pair, they did well to keep the Argentine forward quiet.

LEFT BACK:  JOAN CAPDEVILA. Often mistaken for a left midfielder because he wears the number 11 jersey. Make no mistaken about it, he’s a left back. Supports the Spanish attack so often that you’ll wonder if he gets time to defend. Clearly he performed both duties admirably in the game against Paraguay. He’s my pick for this spot.

MIDFIELD:

SAMI KHEDIRA: We know of Ozil, we know of Mueller, and now I think it’s about time Khedira got his due recognition. He’s paid his dues to the German team and against the Argentines he joined forces with Bastian to tear down La Albiceleste. Khedira work rate is impressive and he runs the midfield with minimum fuss.

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER: His last game was by far his best game in this tournament. Operating as a deep lying midfielder he was always around to destroy anything in “blue and white”. He should have won the MoM award. I think he did, or?

WESLEY SNEIDJER: If you watched the Brazil-Holland game, then I don’t think I’ll have to say much about this guy. If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, he could win the ‘best player’ award. I’m positive about that.

FORWARD:

RIGHT: ARJEN ROBBEN: Was the tormentor-in-chief of the Brazilian team. His contribution to the Dutch team since his return from injury has been impressive. He keeps improving game after game.

CENTRE FORWARD: DAVID VILLA: He continued with his goal scoring duties against the South Americans even though he needed help from the goal post. He’s my favourite to land the ‘top scorer’ award.

LEFT: You guessed right. DIEGO FORLAN. I’m a bad loser but Forlan is simply a good player. He was very impressive against the Black Stars, you’d have to admit. He knows a thing or two about the Jabulani cos his shots from dead ball situations are simple menacing. Forlan is having a wonderful tournament.    

LINEUP

CASILLAS

VAN DER WIEL-----FRIEDRICH -----MERTASACKER----CAPDEVILA

KHEDIRA-----SNEIDJER-----SCHWEINSTEIGER

ROBBEN-----VILLA-----FORLAN  

PREVIEW OF THE SEMI-FINALS

URUGUAY VS HOLLAND, 6^th JULY 2010. 18:30 GMT.

So Suarez won’t be available for this game due to (even an unborn Ghanaian child would know). They’ll be without their regular left back Jorge Fucile and possibly their captain Diego Lugano. It’ll be a fairly weakened Paraguayan side. However the Dutch will also be without Van der Wiel and Nigel De Jong both of them have been suspended for the next game due to the accumulation of yellow cards. That shouldn’t be much of a headache for Bert van Marwijk, van der Wart/Schaars and Khalid Boulahrouz should be able to deputise for De Jong and van der Wiel respectively. ‘The Oranjes’ should be buoyed after their impressive win against Brazil. They are unbeaten in 13 competitive games and I don’t expect that to end now. But who am I to be predicting the outcome of football matches? My sense of prediction is officially gone, so please don’t take my predictions too serious. I’ll be routing for the Dutch and that goes without saying. If there’s any justice in the world then the Uruguayans will lose. They should go home. Luis Suarez, please leave this World Cup and go, in fact close the door behind you. Thanks.

GERMANY VS SPAIN, 7^TH JULY 2010. 18:30 GMT.

This semi-final game is a repeat of the 2008 European Championship Final. Back in 2008, Fernando Torres’ goal was all that Spain needed to be crowned European Champions. But this time round I doubt if ‘El Nino’ would be able to provide the goals to seal Spain’s place in the finals of the World Cup. He’s struggling to score but perhaps he’ll end his goal draught in this game.  I’m not the least superstitious but I believe history is going to repeat itself. In 2008, the Spanish defeated the Germans days after Rafa Nadal won his Wimbledon title. My suspicion is that La Furia Roja will win this game because Nadal just won another Wimbledon title. Okay, I understand the look on your face but let’s just assume these things do happen.

The Germans have a very pragmatic/efficient/hardworking/industrious/vibrant team. Also the have a certain octopus on their side. Has ‘Paul the octopus’ said anything yet. Hmmm, maybe we’ll have to wait for the oracle to speak first. I expect a very competitive game on Wednesday. Can’t exactly stick my neck out but I fancy the Spanish to go all the way to their first final. 

And back to my sad story. I couldn’t bring myself to accept the Black Stars exit from the World Cup. I almost lost interest in this whole World Cup business but after a few sessions of ‘therapy’ (Argentina-Germany and Spain-Paraguay), I’ve caught the fever again. Roll on the semis, I’m already drooling.  

That’s it for today. Comments and corrections are always welcomed.

SIYABONGA ZAKUMI