By Ian Grant
Arsenal have eleven players at this world cup – second only to Inter Milan with 13. Arsene Wenger is also there with Japanese TV.
He walked into a Niigata restaurant and everyone stood up and cheered. He is seen as one of the men responsible for helping put Japan on the world footballing map.
Explaining to reporters how he managed when he first arrived in Japan, he said that players wanted to know what to do when they got the ball, so he taught them choices, made them responsible.
The success of his charge Junicho Inamoto in today’s game against Belgium, must have put a few million on his head. Inamoto has said that Arsenal’s training methods have made him a better player.
Arsenal have been linked with some players in the World Cup, Julius Aghahowa the Nigerian forward, Saif Diao, the Senegal midfielder, and Viani, the Portuguese midfielder, to name but three. But Wenger has said he doesn’t buy on World Cup performances, stressing that he likes to know how a player will perform in Stoke and Newcastle in February, rather than on a World stage in the summer. He points to players like Karel Poborski who had good tournaments, only to disappoint with new clubs the following season. Besides, if van Bommel and Hofland go through, plus his promise to promote youth players, there’s very limited room for manouvre.
The Press
The press have a lot to answer for as regards England.
The weeks of inane coverage of the team, and the injuries borders on the pathetic, if you step back and take an objective view. The world is in crisis and all we can think and talk about is Beckham’s foot. That spells out volumes on the state of the world.
There hasn’t been much coverage of the fact two vital partnerships have been lost – Gerrard-Owen and Neville-Beckham. That club understanding counts for a lot. And the lack of it is blatantly critical.
Realistic coverage would not have meant perhaps weeks of depression and self doubt as a nation when England get dumped out.
But the papers insist on building up the England team into what they are patently not – ready to be knocked down and potentially on the slide on the back of post-Jubilee emotion.
Ads
There’s a dangerous dysfunction going on here. My son and several classmates are very taken by the Nike ads in the Dome. They are stylish, well directed and edited and clever.
Thierry Henry is a hero in those games. But through the same medium, at the same time we see Thierry Henry against Senegal, not living up to the same billing.
Then after the match we see Thierry Henry trying to sell Renault cars. How much does his performance affect sales of Renaults and Nike gear?
There were 14 million TVs in the country tuned into England v Sweden on Sunday. Yes, we got the Macdonald ads. But where were the Oxfam ads. This is a world event in a world in crisis after all.
TV
The kick-off times alone says the World Cup is proving Television is increasingly the God of Football.
And as far as live spectators go, in some respects it is just like the Premiership – the haves (tickets) and the have nots (no tickets). And of course those who think they have tickets, only to be disappointed.
On the TV teams – was it true Gazza said: “I haven’t heard of Senegal before.”
The BBC has a good team apart from the annoying Mark Lawrenson. He’s utterly terrible with crass jokes, inappropriate remarks and a negative outlook. Why do they persist. Martin O’Neill and Alan Hansen make up for him. Gary Lineker improves. He’s straight and honest if nothing else.
However Robbie Earle made the best joke on the other side when he said: “Suzuki [the Japanese player] motored towards the ball.”
The games
Brazil v Turkey was a joy. Denilson, produced a fantastic display of attacking invention when he came on for the last twenty. And I’m glad for Ronaldo. He could become the player of the World Cup – four years after he was supposed to. But I can’t see Brazil winning it.
Turkey proved a class act too. Basturk and Sas will give England problems in their European Championship group.
I’m impressed by Denmark – their spirit and their speedy wingers. Not, one, or two, but three, Gronkjaer, Jorgensen and Rommedahl who can take on backs outside and in, and send in dangerous crosses or shots. Thomasson has found form in the middle, and can be backed up by Sand. And they have some steel in midfield with Bolton’s ex-delinquent Toftig and Everton hard-man, Graveson. And they have the composed Martin Laursen and experienced Helveg and Heintze at the back. They should go further than expected.
Argentina look both awesome and fearsome with experience running through defence, midfield and attack.
It is notable how Veron has a different role (most things go through him) in the Argentine team which suits him. Notable too the influence of the Valencia midfielder, Aimar when he came on.
Their bench looks the best in the tournament.
The fact they can now grow their hair long under the new regime, with the likes of Crespo, Pochettino, Placente and Sorin could have a subtle liberating influence on their football – and how the world perceives them.
Bielsa the coach probably spends more time analysing videos than Arsene Wenger. Word has it he has taken 1400 videos of games to the World Cup.
Ex-Arsenal back Nelson Vivas says Bielsa gets them edited specially for certain players, and he attributes a general improvement in his game because of it. Like Wenger, the players respect Bielsa’s vast knowledge and attention to detail [like how to attack an opposing defender with the ball in a certain area of the pitch] along with his intellectual nous.
There’s also a political edge and purpose to Argentina winning the World Cup – the dire economic situation back home. Batistuta said that the players should try to lift the spirits of the nation, prior to the Nigeria game. That could be the factor which tips the competition in their favour.
But Italy are well placed, have no major injuries, and generally get better as the tournament goes on. Del Piero has something to prove, and is due a good World Cup. The physical strength and understanding of Totti and Vieri can make up for a potential lack of creativity, compared to side like Brazil.
The winners will probably be either Argentina or Italy.
The World
This could be a great World Cup. There is obvious rampant commercialism, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, which could be an obscene detractor.
There’s a great chance to improve a lot of things – just read the recent UN State of the World report, but I ain’t seen any practical evidence of how football could help, so far. Anyone with any ideas can always email ANR…………