Matchday 9 25/Jun/09

After fifteen days of a tournament that has been criticised to its utmost roots, Brazil rose to be the most winning side in the history of it, equalling a figure of three championships. Kaká earned the Golden Ball and Luis Fabiano, the Golden Boot. The tournament was full of extended highlights and goals. Egypt were supposed to be the black horse but the two-match loosing USA ended putting Brazil to its utmost edge. Iraq were not the surprise that we expected and Italy, a complete fraud. South Africa displayed quite a game in front of their faithful. I think that for a quick glance and a mediocre preview of the World Cup that comes out next year, it served well enough.







As always we are experimenting here at Deviations with the columns and matchday feeds to improve the quality of the information. In any case, each experiment is developed to reach the final "perfect" post for the World Cup next year. Suggestions are always open. And meanwhile I am devising the best way to post on a daily basis a good amount of posts that contain criticism while being succinct and light for the reader.



USA v. Brazil 2-3







The match began with the standard procedures of a diplomatic organization such as Sepp Blatter's: no to rascism, the memoire of a late player etc. If we recall four years ago, the match was in German lands and Argentina was battered by the Brazilians, once more. From the stands a great atmosphere could be felt and the underdogs were trying to emulate Mexico's steps nine years before.
Before any settle or any attempt from the Brazilian side could reach Howard's goal, Dempsey clumsily shot and scored, when Spector crossed. Julio Cesar's defense was off-guarded and the environment of another surprise was lurking Ellis Park. If there was someone who was impressed, rather than the commentators, the poeple at the stands or even the Brazilians, was Dempsey himself: everyone could see the joy and relief in his face.
The following minutes were of tremendous suffering for the Brazilians. While many attempts came from all fronts (crosses, headers, shots, set pieces) not even in one occasion the fierce deadlock was broken, as it was imposed by a three-men center back and a fierce intense. It was obvious that the tactics form Bradley's team, so well-known here in Mexico, proved to be effective when in another counter of the same fashion Donovan stroke the second. To the amazement of the entire football world, the Americans were two-nil up before the half time whistle.







And for the neutrals in the other side of the Atlantic, the following forty five minutes proved to be among the most amusing of the entire tournament. It was obvious that the football machinery was about to be unleashed from the talent and intelligence of the new Madrid signing: Ricardo Kaká.
The first play in the first minute was a goal: it set the mood of the remaining minutes with such a heart-breaking display. Back in the game the Brazilians dominated from box to box and the American team was so confused that at a time, Kaká was covered by five players.
Reaching the 60th minute the Brazilians shot as often as with any arrival to Everton's goalkeeper gate. With the South Americans prowling over the equaliser, some rigorist bookings were made as far as the tempo o the match required them. Kaká was driving mad the defense led by Bocanegra. It was in one of those purely Brazilian plays that in the 73th minute, the Madrid playmaker edged Spector on the right to cross, and after the woodwork shot by Robinho, Luis Fabiano headed past Howard, raising his tally to five goals per game. It was two-two and the best was yet to come.
With some subsitutions by Bradley it seemed impossible that the Americans could have any chance to withstand the behemoth of talent that the opposition showed. With five minutes to go the inevitable happened: Lucio stroke a marvelous header to give the Brazilinas their first lead of the match, and eventually, the trophy.