World Cup Analysis

World Cup 2006: The Review

After the mind-blowing number of upsets at the previous World Cup, the 2006 tournament - with the odd exception - saw football’s established names rule once more. And, though defences ruled and there were a lack of enthralling matches, there is still much to remember from the 2006 World Cup - good and bad.

Sad though it is, there can be no doubt what the defining image of the 2006 World Cup is: a brutish head-butt from the greatest player of this generation, provoked by taunting from Marco Materazzi.

History will also remember the most unsatisfying of conclusions to the World Cup; Italy’s penalty shoot-out win brought joy to a footballing nation awash with crisis, but, for non-Italian football addicts, the feeling was one of anticlimax. And, amidst all the controversy and debate over what provoked Zinedine Zidane and whether his reaction was at all justified, one burning question appears to have gone unasked: why on earth are penalty shoot-outs used to decide the World Cup winner?

They seem to have become accepted as the best way to find a winner to events, even if they will never be loved. Shoot-outs do test both skill and nerve, and are certainly the only feasible way to decide knockout games after extra-time. However, surely they should be more of a last resort when it comes to deciding the winners of the World Cup? Having a replay three days after the final would not satisfy sponsors and could lead to desperate ticket scrambles, but it would significantly reduce the chances of the tournament ending on such a disappointing note. If nothing else, it is worth discussing.

Fittingly, a defender, in the shape of Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro, lifted the World Cup. But what a defender! Cannavaro’s tackling ability, positional sense and sheer guts made him unquestionably the tournament’s best player. The side he led to glory were certainly not amongst the best to have ever won the tournament.

Lippi’s side were worthy winners; the character they showed in pulling together while four of Italy’s clubs were embroiled in a corruption scandal that affected 13 of their squad merited the biggest prize football has to offer

However, Italy were worthy winners; the character they showed in pulling together while four of Italy’s clubs were embroiled in a corruption scandal that affected 13 of their squad merited the biggest prize football has to offer. After starting the tournament with two strikers, master tactician Marcello Lippi did revert to playing with just one striker. Nonetheless, this Italian side, though they conceded just two goals all tournament, were not the archetypal defensive side we have come to expect, as was shown by their spirited and relentless assault on Germany’s goal in extra time of their enthralling semi-final. Eventually, Italy were rewarded with a brilliant goal from left-back Fabio Grosso in the 119th minute, and were even able to add another from Alessandro del Piero.

As well as Cannavaro and Grosso, Italy’s defence was brilliantly marshalled by indefatigable right-back Gianluca Zambrotta and Gianluigi Buffon. Luca Toni only scored two goals in the tournament but was a willing front-runner; however, it was Italy’s midfielder pairing of deep-lying creative genius Andrea Pirlo and all-action terrier Gennaro Gattuso that allowed the team to control games.

Fellow finalists France started awfully with draws against Switzerland and South Korea, but blossomed spectacularly to advance to the final. Their come-from-behind win over a Spanish side that had impressed so much sowed the necessary seeds of belief in the side. An intriguing game with Brazil was then won courtesy of a brilliant volley from Thierry Henry, but it was Man of the Match Zidane who made the difference.

After an ineffectual start to the competition, Zidane was suspended for the game with Togo, triggering the penning of many a premature obituary. But Zizou returned to inspire his side, aided by Henry, young livewire Franck Ribery and a rejuvenated Patrick Vieira. He kept his nerve to score the vital penalties against both Italy in the final and Portugal in the semi.

Under Phil Scolari, Portugal were much criticised for their play-acting, especially the otherwise excellent Cristiano Ronaldo, but they finished fourth despite the absence of a genuine goalscorer. Midfielder Maniche was probably their finest player, and struck two brilliant goals including the winner against Holland in the Second Round, a match which produced an incredible four red and 16 yellow cards. It was the second huge refereeing controversy of the tournament, following Graham Poll’s now infamous giving of three yellow cards to Croatia’s Josip Simunic.

The incident overshadowed what was probably one of the three games of the tournament. Australia equalised twice to draw 2-2 with Croatia in a dramatic match made all the more intriguing by the close relationship between the two nations, thus securing a place in the Second Round. Although they were knocked out by ten-man Italy through a last-minute Francesco Totti penalty, Australia’s exploits were vibrant and purposeful throughout; their terrific spirit was epitomised by Tim Cahill’s double against Japan, as Australia scored three times in the last six minutes to record their maiden World Cup finals victory.

Ronaldo responded to a nightmare start to score three goals, becoming the World Cup’s top ever scorer in the process. But, like many of the side beaten in the last eight, he is unlikely to return

While no team produced a shock comparable to the 2002 tournament, several less-fancied nations performed admirably. Ukraine got to the quarter-finals, but could not be said to have been amongst the best eight sides in the competition, as they were trounced by both Italy and Spain. Ghana beat Czech Republic and the USA with energetic and refreshingly adventurous play; the side led by inspirational captain Stephen Appiah did then lose 3-0 to Brazil, but the gulf in class was only apparent in front of goal. Ivory Coast were unlucky to be in Group C alongside Holland and Argentina; they were eliminated in the group stages but pushed both footballing superpowers very, very hard. And Angola’s goalkeeper Ricardo was sensational, helping them to draws with Iran and, much more impressively, Mexico.

Of the teams much was expected of before the tournament, Holland and Czech Republic both disappointed, particularly galling for the Czechs as their rampaging Tomas Rosicky-inspired 3-0 rout of the USA in their first game had many believing they could reach the semi-finals. The Dutch played in a physical and relatively unattractive manner, although Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben excelled on both flanks. England, playing predictable football lacking in creativity, scraped into the quarter-finals, where they were resilient with 10 men before being beaten on penalties once more.

Brazil were perhaps even more disappointing. That the pre-tournament favourites performed best when resting most their stars, against Japan, epitomises the side’s troubles. Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira’s excess faith in the 2002 winners, such as Cafu and Roberto Carlos, cost his country, though he was not helped by Ronaldinho’s inability to play with the same instinctive brilliance as when in a Barcelona shirt. Ronaldo, however, responded to a nightmare start to score three goals, becoming the World Cup’s top ever scorer in the process. But, like many of the side beaten by France, he is unlikely to return.

Argentina, meanwhile, impressed immediately in Germany, with a hard-fought win over Ivory Coast and then a spectacular 6-0 mauling of Serbia and Montenegro, who conceded just one goal in qualifying. The highlight of the latter game was Esteben Cambiasso’s goal following a back-heel from Hernan Crespo, the culmination of a spectacular 24-pass move.

Argentina met Mexico in the Second Round during one of the tournament’s finest games. Maxi Rodriguez’s brilliant goal in extra time secured victory over the side inspired by the inspirational play from Rafael Marquez, nominally a central defender. Having taken the lead against the hosts, Jose Pekerman’s negativity left Argentina facing a relentless barrage of attacks against Jurgen Klinsman’s side. Pekerman replaced Juan Roman Riquelme, whose creative genius was apparent all tournament, and also left Lionel Messi on the bench: the ultimate result was a Miroslav Klose equaliser and eventual defeat on penalties.

Jose Pekerman replaced Juan Roman Riquelme, whose creative genius was apparent all tournament, and also left Lionel Messi on the bench: the ultimate result was a Miroslav Klose equaliser and eventual defeat on penalties

As hosts, the Germans were superb. And the football side, so criticised in the build up to the tournament, played an open, expansive game which yielded 14 goals, more than any other side in the tournament; the tone for the style of play was set by the blistering strike from Philip Lahm, so impressive throughout, at the start of the 4-2 win over Costa Rica. Jurgen Klinsman, vilified in the press following a 4-1 defeat to Italy in a pre-tournament friendly, proved a sagacious and innovative coach. But, like Marcello Lippi, he has since resigned.

Despite the efforts of Germany, defensive excellence was the hallmark of the tournament. The average number of goals per game was a mere 2.30, the second lowest ever at the World Cup. The reasons for this are plentiful. 4-5-1 has become the tactic of choice almost worldwide; indeed, this was the formation utilised by both finalists. Holding midfielders are in vogue; there seem to be an unusually fine number of them in the game currently. A striker’s role, meanwhile, is now more focused on running the flanks and bringing other men into play; Hernan Crespo and golden shoe winner Miroslav Klose were the only poachers to really make an impact. Furthermore, this World Cup also highlighted the fact that there aren’t as many ‘international-class’ forwards as tends to be the case.

But the last reason for the lack of goals is certainly a positive change. The general quality of the weakest sides in the group stages has improved a great deal. Sides like Angola, Trinidad & Tobago and Togo proved genuine opposition, not merely sides teams looked to improve their goal difference against, as had been feared. While this is a cause for hope, the flip side is these countries only scored two goals in nine games between them. It would have been refreshing had they shown more attacking ambition and looked to beat teams, rather than simply draw with them. For instance, the Portugal-Angola game made extremely dour viewing. Portugal scored early, and although the Angolans were resilient and fiercely committed, they made little attempt to equalise, even in the last 10 minutes, seemingly content with a respectable defeat.

If such a thing exists, this was an ‘average World Cup.’ The lack of truly memorable games and outstanding attackers means it cannot be called anything more. But nonetheless, this tournament provided numerous great stories; it is these that make it a global tournament, not merely the clashes between traditional footballing powers. Even if the ending was irrevocably tarnished, history will remember this competition as an intriguing one.

Tags: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Holland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, USA

---

Related Articles

• Group Stage Final Match Previews
• A case of 16
• Goals of the World Cup
• Quarter-final Preview: The Case For Upsets
• World Cup 2006: Goals Of The Tournament