[A-List] Russia's Lost to Japan

[Rob Schaap <rschaap@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

G'day Sabri, Henry and Nestor,

> By the way, I watched the Turkey - Costa Rica game last night. It
> was a mediocre game I must say. A big disappointment for Turkey
> who is hungry for a victory of any kind.

Their coach seems more intent on avoiding defeat; Sukur needs a fast
striker running off him, Basturk needs to get a full 90 minutes behind
the forwards, and I doubt even Wanchope warranted two permanent markers.
 I fear a certain decline in national self-confidence was in evidence ...

> A Turkish football
> commentator, very angry at the Korean referee who gave that
> penalty in favour of Brazil past Monday, wrote the other day: "We
> fought a war for the South Koreans and this is what we get in
> return."

I've been a footballiac for forty years and will still never understand
this sort of rubbish talk.  Sure, the penalty shouldn't have been given
(and, sure, Rivaldo's dying-swan effort was disgusting), but Turkey did
not really deserve a point (and I suspect Rivaldo's header should've
been allowed).  Where's the beef?

> This is probably the most interesting World Cup I have ever
> watched since the 1970s, although not necessarily one of the best
> as far as football quality goes. To me Pele is still the best
> football player. I loved him. At least, it was Pele's team to
> which we lost that game and we did not do that bad either. And I
> am happy for that.

I doubt even Pele could've done anything lovable with this marketer's
excuse for a ball.  Money is killing football dead - from leagues
comprised of three or four super-teams (eg. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce,
&Besiktas or Man Utd, Arsenal & Liverpool) and dozens of doomed
wannabes, to the devastation of feeder-leagues and hundred-year-old
clubs, to a FIFA executive no-one trusts, to the demoralised 'Team Nike'
of Brazil in '98, to a ball with which the world's best players can't
shoot, cross, pass or dribble.  And now Uncle Sam is taking notice, it's
only a matter of time till cavernous goal mouths, ten-minute commercial
intervals and no off-side ...

I don't know if that's my conservative streak or the radical critic in
me  coming out, but football brings it to the surface every time.

I'll still be watching each and every game, of course - 'coz it's all on
public service broadcasting here (as it is in Turkey) in what's left of
the almost great Australian welfare state ...

Ole!
Rob.