Loading ...The biggest game of the tournament is upon us. Every World Cup has a game such this — a final outside of the final so to speak. When the two teams that are probably the best — or, at least, the most effective and on-form — meet. Brazil vs Holland in PE this afternoon. Spain vs Argentina in the likely Durban semi is another candidate, but semis don’t really count: I am talking about games that come in the quarters or even sometimes the last sixteen. Portugal vs Spain could, for example, have come close.
But the Portuguese were exposed for what they really are: an aging team with a good defence that is far too reliant in attack on the pouting, diving, prima donna Cristiano Ronaldo (note the spelling, Jack). People that naturally skilled rarely make good captains. They lack the human quality that is best summed up by the French word sympathique. They can’t understand how players of lesser natural talent tick and cope with their limitations. They get all frustrated and irascible, which merely serves to put more pressure on the others. Like when Ian Botham captained England at cricket, or Kevin Pietersen for that matter, they had no idea how to motivate and manage the “lesser” lights. Samuel E’too is the same with the Cameroonians — a very poor choice of captain.
John Mensah, however, is at the opposite end of the spectrum: a journeyman professional, who just about gets a game in the English Premiership with Sunderland, but who is a magnificent leader of the Black Stars. Against the USA in Rustenburg last Saturday he was immensah, if you’ll forgive the pun, and the Ghananians were worthy winners.
Can the Black Stars beat the Uruguayans tonight?
It will be tough. Very tough. The South Americans are very strong in defence, pragmatic in midfield and have arguably the best two strikers in the tournament (bar David Villa), in Forlan and Suarez. They are certainly the most in-form pair: Suarez’s movement and wit, not to mention his finishing skills are top drawer. Forlan, meanwhile, far eclipsed the woeful Rooney as the most ingenious inside forward of the tournament, drawing central defenders out of position to create space for Suarez’s deft little runs. And the Ghanaians will be without Andre Ayew, who was a constant threat on the wing against the Americans. So, if the Black Stars reach the semis — the first African team to do so — it will be an extraordinary achievement, and to do so without Michael Essien, their talismanic midfielder, who missed the World Cup due to injury, would be even more remarkable. My head says 3-0 to Uruguay, but my heart pleads for African success.
