LITTLE BOY BLUE`S WORLD CUP DIARY
June 25...Day 26
The past few days have been just like a Timfest, with talk of conspiracy theories materialising left, right and centre. Sure, the South Koreans have enjoyed a couple of breaks and might even admit to having had the benefit of one or two home town decisions but my money was always on the Germans to put a stop to it. Besides, I`m not too sure how strong the Brotherhood is in Korea.
From the moment Gorilla Khan saved Lee Chun Soo`s ninth minute shot, it was clear the Koreans had used up all their good luck charms. They huffed and they puffed but the Germans always gave the impression of being in control. Luck tends to even itself out over a period and it started to go against Korea in their semi. Had they got the first goal, the crowd might have lifted them through to the final but, the longer the scoresheet remained blank, I reckon that even their fanatical fans sensed the game was up.
I certainly wasn`t too unhappy with the outcome. With a wee jaunt to Cologne in the pipeline, I was rooting for the Germans. Sunday in the Altstadt, with the game on the big screen and my pal The Koelsch pouring all sorts of foaming liquids down my neck, just wouldn`t be the same if Germany wasn`t in the final. But don`t dare tell him I`ve got a tenner on Brazil...and at 6-1 too!!!
But suddenly the German people are beginning to believe in Rudi Voller`s team and he has been noised up by some of Franz Beckenbauer`s less than flattering views on his team. Der Kaiser has had too much too say for himself of late. However, I don`t recall too many people sticking their oar in when he was in charge of the national team so he should keep his views to himself and let the man in charge get on with the job. After all, he isn`t doing too badly. C`mon, his team has just won through to the World Cup Final!!! If a certain other German coach was to come remotely close to a similar achievement, the barmy Tartan Army would be queuing up to kiss his feet and various other parts of his anatomy.
Michael Ballack was Germany`s matchwinner and he has really impressed me throughout the tournament. And I certainly admired the way he reacted when he got the booking which will keep him out of the final. There were no Gazzaesque tears. He simply got on with what he does best and just a couple of minutes later he stuck it to the home side good and proper when he got in his shot, was alert to the rebound coming back from keeper Lee Woon Jae to rattle it into the pokey.
Of course, there was no shortage of tears for the South Koreans. They have enhanced the World Cup with the freshness of their approach, positive in everything they do, the passion of their fans brought colour to the occasion and, more than any other factor, coach Guus Hiddink`s brain got the team through more than a few sticky patches, turning several games with his astute substitutions. I feel some relief that the Manky Mob did not pursue their interest in him a year or two back. They might have enjoyed more than a fair measure of success under O`Neill but Big Eck has got the measure of him now and normal service has been resumed on the silverware front. I might not be so optimistic about the future if Hiddink was picking up a pay poke at Breezeblock Boulevard.
I fancy South Korea to win the third-fourth place play-off, assuming they will be playing Turkey. I`m looking forward to the Brazil v Turkey semi which might be interesting if the Turks want to have their pound of flesh from Rivaldo. Look out for a few naughty tackles and I suppose we can expect him to be writhing in agony, mock or otherwise, when he finds himself involved in the occasional 50-50 confrontation. But it would be a great pity if the game developed into a kicking match because both sides have so much to offer and their first meeting was one of the most enjoyable games of the competition. Fingers crossed.
But my mind is more focussed on my up and coming trip to Cologne so please forgive me if this entry is more brief than my earlier efforts. I`ve got bags to pack, Euros to get and aspirins to buy...just in case.
LITTLE BOY BLUE