Where is the beautiful game??

I started watching football seriously around 8 years ago.First game I saw was EPL(now known as BPL) between Manchester United and Arsenal.Anybody who knows football wiil agree that I chose the right game to commene a serious relationship with soccer.Now 8 years is not a long time but it enough to understand a few nitty-gritties of the BEAUTIFUL GAME.

As the world cup2010 unfolds right now, many are disappointed with the quality of football, including me.There have been painfully few high scoring matches as if the teams and coaches have forgotten that goals is what people want to watch.No one wants to see drab 0-0 draws or 1-0 victories.

The Germans showed a lot of flare in the first game and were duly appreciated.Its a shame that they lost today to a conservative Serbia(1-0!!!).So were Spain stunned by the Swiss despite playing good football with the Swiss scoring with first and only clear chance of the game (again 1-0!!!).And that too after a goal front melee.

As per my understanding, there have always been two varities of football--the South American style and the European method.

1) The South American style---I use the term style coz thats wat this breed of football is all about-flare, skills, panache, astounding dribbling and some ridiculously impossible looking goals.No guesses Brazil have been the pioneers of this style followed by Argentina.Both have a rivalry as to who is the pioneer but we have to hand it to the 5 times champions.

Typical features of this style are individuals going past a legion of defenders and scoring.Very few headed goals.Bicycle kicks and overhead kicks is more used than heads.The few headed goals are also scored after a move which may have involved passes from all 11 players(sometimes more than once!!)

2) The European method--The term method is used because here strategy and a methodical approach pushes style to the back seat.It concentrates more on the effectiveness than the beauty of the game.All in all a conservative approach where sometimes the games are won but the GAME loses.pioneers are Italy.

Typical features are crosses shot into the 18 yard(or 6 yard) box.Lots of headers attempted.Set pieces and dead ball situations used more than open play.Its a defensive style of football successfully which relies a lot on counter-attacks and is employed by weaker teams against their tougher opponents.The teams typically score a goal and sit back defending or grind out the opposition, frustrate them and hit on the break.

Now the European way is to be seen at its best in this world cup.David's are winning against the Goliath's by scoring cheekily or just scrambling the ball into the net and then defending with their lives at stake. Its not THE BEAUTIFUL GAME but THE EFFECTIVE GAME.

But isn't this equivalent to murder.A general strategy is committing a lot of fouls in the center of the pitch rather than close to the goals.At the same time teams are suffocating any swift moves emanating from the midfield.This results in very few MEMORABLE GOALS and also, a famine of goals as we are seeing till now.

As we get into the more serious stages of the cup, we will see more goals becoz initially, teams are a bit skeptical and do not want to start on a losing note.Also the teams with the flare and skill will make it to the next rounds barring a few debacles beocz all understand that without scoring, you cant win.(Every WC needs a few upsets. It just adds to the flavour!)

We all want our favourite teams to win and we wont really care about how they won, how they played as long as they bring home the most coveted trophy in the world.But that will matter only after a team wins the cup.Till then it will be agonizing to see dull matches played under the pseudonym of strategy to effectively weed out a glorious style of playing THE BEAUTIFUL GAME.

NOTE--There is a third way also--Its called Nothing Football.Pioneers are England and France.If this style wins the Cup, it will become THE AWEFUL GAME!