El Fracaso Nacional
29 June 2006, 10:59
Spain has never won the World Cup. The closest they came was in 1952 when they advanced to the final round of four teams. In the championship round robin (there were no knockout games then), they failed to win a match and finished fourth. A lean period for Spanish football set in. They didn’t make the World Cup finals again until 1962.
In Chile ‘62 Spain was led by Barcelona’s Luis Suárez and by outstanding Real Madrid stars Francisco Gento and Ferenc Puskas. Puskas was not Spanish. He had already played 84 games for his native Hungary and scored an astonishing 83 goals. After the Hungarian uprising of 1956, though, he was exiled from his homeland. He moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid.
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Day 19: The golden possum
27 June 2006, 09:14
Will Fernando Torres win the Golden Boot? If the twenty-two-year-old Spanish striker finds the back of the net today, he will keep pace with Germany’s Miroslav Klose in pursuit of the award for top goal scorer. Here at the Newsletter, Torres is officially known as “La Zarigüeya” or “The Possum.” (Thanks to all of you that entered the name-that-haircut contest.)
La Zarigüeya is also called El Niño because of his baby face. He has some peculiar adolescent traits. A tattoo on the inside of his arm reportedly says his name in JRR Tolkien’s invented language, Tenwar. After one of his goals, he slid into the corner and acted like he was wielding a bow and arrow. Perhaps the celebration, which he performed with a combination of boyish exuberance and shy embarrassment, was another Tolkien reference. Whatever the case, his goals (like the breathtaking volley against Ukraine) can seem otherworldly.
Spain faces France today. As a fake Spaniard, I’ll pull for La Zarigüeya.
Elsewhere, Brazil takes on the strong Ghanaians. The game will not feature incredible dribbler Robinho, who is injured, or Ghana’s versatile midfielder Michael Essien. Brazil still has a big carnival of tricks. Ghana still has Stephen Appiah and an excellent team.
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Day 15: My secret identity
23 June 2006, 18:49
Fifty-four minutes into France’s game against Togo, Patrick Vieira had had enough. He’d seen his teammates score only one goal in their last five World Cup matches. They kept running left and right, missing each other and the target. They seemed out of synch and unsure how to proceed. Vieira got up a head of steam and charged into the Togolese defense. When Vieira gets going, it’s an unmistakable sight. He is 6’5” but looks taller. He has elephantine limbs and an immense stride. As he got to the top of the area, the ball was elsewhere, but all eyes focused on him. He barged through, found some space, and turned his back to goal. He was ten yards out when he got the ball. He spun around and curled a perfectly placed shot into the corner.
As soon as he kicked it, he knew it was in. Without celebrating he jogged back toward the center circle and looked at his teammates as if to say, “That’s all there is to it, men. Let’s go.” A few minutes later he headed to Henry, who turned and shot. Goal number two. The French had advanced.
Vieira was born in Senegal, but he is French. I was born in America, but I am Spanish. Actually, that’s not true…
Tunisia v Ukraine, 10:00
23 June 2006, 08:52
I’m live on the Times blog.
Day 15 Preview: Go Switzerland, seriously
23 June 2006, 06:34
Switzerland and South Korea meet in Hanover today, If you’re supporting the Koreans, shout, “Dae-han Minguk.” Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. This is the cheer performed by thousands of Koreans in unison. If it’s the Swiss you love, remember, “It’s Swiss O’clock!” This is the slogan that’s emblazoned on their team bus.
These are different soccer cultures. South Korea, the emerging Asian power, has developed a fervent fan base that performs in choreographed frenzy. It’s like a massive nationwide drill team. The Swiss, stereotypically at least, are less excitable and less unified. I have been trying to find a place in New York where the Swiss get together to watch the games. When I called the consulate, they said, “just about any place shows the games.” But is there any Swiss gathering? “Well, the Swiss are very spread out.”
Over in Europe, the Swiss tourist board is trying to capitalize on the dispassion. They put out a series of ads this year inviting “World Cup widows” (women who are ignored by the menfolk during the tournament) to come to Switzerland, where the men spend less time on football and more time on you.
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Day 11: Contest alert!
19 June 2006, 20:06
Cesc Fabregas turned 19 in May. He is not an imposing looking young man, but he is imposing. When he came into Spain’s match against Tunisia in the second half Monday, his team was down 1-0. When the whistle blew, Spain had earned a 3-1 victory. The first goal was scored when Fabregas fired a wicked shot at the keeper who parried it away. Raul pounced on the rebound. The second was scored when Fabregas played a perfectly weighted ball onto the feet of Fernando Torres who sprinted toward the keeper and shot into the corner. Fabregas once said, “Football is like a rope.” Whatever that means, it must be true….
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Group H Preview
09 June 2006, 09:28
Spain has a great goalkeeper, a solid defense (I love Puyol!), and a world-class midfield. But who will score goals? Raul, who was once incredible now but isn’t now, is a sacred cow. The coaches won’t dare bench him. Fernando Torres will have to pick up the slack. He recently got rid of his multi-colored mullet, and that may help. Or maybe not. Spain is a traditional underachiever, always talented, always a little disappointing. They should get out of the group, but then anything could happen.
The Ukrainian team has six different players named Andriy. Only one of them is Schevchenko. He is the greatest goal-scorer in Ukrainian history and one of the best strikers in Europe. He has been injured, and Ukrainian hopes are pinned to his recovery.
Tunisia are tough. They play direct European style soccer, and are well organized. They have a chance to qualify, and it may come down to their last game against the Ukraine.
I must admit to knowing nothing about Saudi Arabia. A lot of the players come from the same team in their domestic league. The Saudis keep making it into the World Cup, but they haven’t fared particularly well on the big stage. Maybe this will be their year.