A Funny Old Game

 

“The net was the bridal veil of an irresistible girl. In front of the open goal he licked his chops. And in one fell swoop he stood naked, then bit.” Eduardo Galeano, Soccer in Sun and Shadow

I’m not writing much these days because of the World Cup. For more than a decade I’ve supported Chelsea in the Premier League, rarely missing a match, while also watching as many Italian Serie A matches as I can. Like many football fans, I found FIFA’s award of the tournament to Qatar bizarre and upsetting. First and foremost because of Qatar’s dismal human rights record, and second because of the human cost of building the infrastructure the tournament requires. One report I read claimed that nearly 6,500 workers died in the decade-long effort, most of them poor laborers from India and Nepal. Stadiums, training facilities, hotels, media centers, roads, all financed by some of the richest people in the world, but constructed by some of the poorest and most disposable. 

Holding the World Cup in November and December fouled up the schedules of all the major European soccer leagues, forcing compression of domestic and Champions League fixtures which undoubtedly led to injuries for players lacing up their boots every three days. Chelsea, for example, has been riddled with injuries and is so far having a forgettable campaign. 

Living in the US forces me to watch the tournament on FOX Sports, which means an unrelenting diet of adverts, news, fluff and jingoistic commentary about the US team, which prior to this tournament was ranked 16th in the world by FIFA. Call me jaded, but I simply don’t give a rat’s ass about the US team. Other than Christian Pulisic who for now plays his club football for Chelsea, and Weston McKennie of Juventas, I’m not that familiar with US players. But when it comes to US men’s soccer, and FOX Sports, Christian Pulisic is nearly a god, Captain America with superpowers in his boots and brain. This reputation is laughable for any Chelsea supporter who has watched Pulisic for the past four seasons. Yes, the young American has had moments -- against Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League -- but his highlight reel is brief. The physically slight Pulisic has often been injured, and unlike with the American national team, isn’t an automatic first name on the Chelsea team sheet. I’ve watched him get bundled off the ball by Premier League defenders, fail to convert clear chances in front of goal, and make the wrong decision in the final third more times than I care to remember. So, I’m not a big Pulisic fan; yes, he’s talented and still young, but in my estimation will never be a consistent top player in the physically demanding and very fast Premier League. I think Weston McKennie is a better overall talent, but McKennie doesn’t get the media hype. 

Making it out of the group stage isn’t a sure thing -- just ask Germany or Belgium or Mexico -- so I give the US credit for advancing to the knockout stage, although they got a gift from England in their head-to-head match when the Three Lions played flat, boring, and slow football. With all the attacking talent on its roster, the likes of Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, and Jack Grealish, England managed only one or two shots on target. It was dismal, like watching Chelsea flail about. England, ranked number 5 by FIFA, didn’t appear to be playing to win. The usefulness of the FIFA rankings is suspect anyway because when the tournament began Belgium was ranked 2nd, behind Brazil, which is hysterical. Belgium were soundly beaten by an inspired Moroccan team, and their core players -- the so-called Golden Generation -- looked old and slow. Eden Hazard is a shadow of his former self after two injury-plagued seasons at Real Madrid. Belgium are due for a rebuilding period. 

The World Cup usually provides a twist or two, like Saudi Arabia beating Argentina and Japan topping Germany and Tunisia defeating France. Upsets are what make the tournament interesting and dramatic. Who would have picked Australia to advance to the last 16? 

I'm neutral in this World Cup, interested in watching competitive matches, but I do have a soft spot for France, Croatia, and Portugal. By the depth of its roster, and sheer talent, I think Brazil is the odds on favorite, even without Neymar, but as the saying goes, football is a funny old game. Anything can happen.