What makes a World Cup special?
The World Cup is incredible. Whether your country is playing or not, everyone is currently watching the biggest event of the sporting world. As fans are enjoying the football frenzy, let’s look and analyse what makes a World Cup special?
Goals of the tournament
One of the reasons of what makes a World Cup so special and significant is there wide range of goals that are scored. Whether it’s a 30-yard screamer by James Rodriguez, or a well-worked 26 pass move, the sporting event provides wide array of great goals, notably in 2014 starting off with the 2010 champions, Spain, against the 2010 runner-ups, the Netherlands, where an aging Robin Van Persie managed to direct Daley Blind’s cross over Iker Casillas and into the goal.
At the end of the game, Spain had faced a humiliating loss at the hands of the Dutch, however, the main talking point was the goal. While that goal was never mimicked again in that same World Cup, it certainly started the ball rolling and was a prelude of better things.
When you ask people who were some of the star players of the World Cup, many will point to James Rodriguez. James owned that World Cup. He made it his. He made it his stage to shine. In a group stage against Japan, late injury time, James completes a fantastic solo goal of which many would call it “Messi-esque.” As good as the goal was, there was a deeper meaning to it. The idea that James deserves to be playing at the best club in the world. But that wasn’t the only goal that James scored during the World Cup.
The round of 16 match in the 2014 World Cup between Colombia and Uruguay undoubtedly had the goal of the tournament. A young James Rodriguez, hoping to prove himself to prove himself to Europe’s top clubs, controls the balls with his chest and volleys the ball first time as it rattled against the crossbar and went in. It was a moment that’s defined James’ career since, and many point to that moment as the moment that Real Madrid decided that they wanted to sign James Rodriguez. He even ended up winning the Golden Boot with 6 goals.
There were also several other notable long-range strikes. Lionel Messi, arguably one of the greatest players of all time, was one of the primary reasons why Argentina reached the final, single-handedly determining results and ripping defences apart. Joel Campbell, playing for the dark horses Costa Rica, also proved himself on the world stage. While he didn’t score many spectacular goals, he certainly showed his quality and made a case to the elite clubs to sign him up.
However, as good as the goals during Brazil 2014 were, the goal of the tournament has to go to James Rodriguez’s solo effort against Uruguay in the round of 16. With a goal that will make you stand out of your seat, James was able to create something out of nothing, launching a dipping volley and rattling the net. Furthermore, the fact that it was in a knockout match and single-handedly dictated the result of the match attaches further significance to the goal.
Underdogs
A quarter of the teams participating in the 2006 event were debutants, so it was highly likely that there would be at least one of the less-fancied sides having a campaign to remember. Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Trinidad and Tobago were making their finals debut, while the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Serbia and Montenegro were partaking in the competition for the first time as independent nations, having previously been represented as part of Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
Of all these debutants, a Ukraine side consisting of Andriy Shevchenko, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Andriy Voronin went the furthest. Having started off with a 4–0 defeat against Spain, they replied in the next match with a 4–0 win of their own against Saudi Arabia, before crucially winning their final group game against Tunisia to progress. In the next round they overcame Switzerland on penalties after a 0–0 stalemate, but fell to eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals. It was an impressive run, one they could take pride from. To this day, this remains their only World Cup appearance.
In 2014, debutants Costa Rica took world football by storm, getting out of the “group of death” and making the quarter-finals. Out of the debutants at the 2014 World Cup, a Costa Rica side comprised consisting of Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz went the furthest. They started off with a shock 3–1 win against 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay, including a goal from sensation Joel Campbell. Having started off with a 3–1 win and top of the group, than went into the Italy game brimming with confidence, and ended winning 1–0, through a Bryan Ruiz header. The next game was a stalemate against England, but they had qualified for the knockout stage already. They next faced Greece. Despite conceding a late-minute goal to force the game into extra-time, Costa Rica won on penalties. Following their victory, they lost the next game on penalties against eventual semi-finalists the Netherlands. Nonetheless, it was an impressive run, one they could take pride from. It was there first world cup, and they delivered.
Following their success at Euro 2016, Iceland will be competing in the World Cup for the first time. Their team cohesion, camaraderie, and character has been the main strength of their team, and they’ll certainly hope to get out of a tough group, including the likes of Argentina, Croatia, and Nigeria. While Gylfi Sigurðsson is the star player for them, there’s also a part-time film director, Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Iceland’s goalkeeper), and a salt factory worker, Birkir Már Sævarsson (Iceland’s right back). They’ve already started well, stifling Argentina’s attack and managing a 1–1 draw. Due to their “underdog” label, Iceland can certainly use that to their advantage and go far.
The opening game
Remember when Germany opened the 2006 World Cup in style by defeating Costa Rica 4–2? Remember when Brazil came from 1–0 down to beat Croatia in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup? Remember when South Africa and Mexico shared the spoils with a drab draw in 2010? The opening match of the World Cup dictates everything as it sets the tone for what’s expected. In South Africa, the opening match set a tone of drab draws and 1–0 victories throughout the tournament. The likes of Portugal & Brazil were having goalless draws, while Messi, Ronaldo, and others were struggling on the global stage.
Fast forward to 2014 and it was a completely different narrative. The World Cup was happening in it’s spiritual home, with Brazil, 5 time World Cup champions, hosting the World Cup. The opening match between Brazil and Croatia had 4 goals, and the tournament averaged 2.67 goals, whereas South Africa and Mexico had 2 goals, and the 2010 World Cup only averaged 2.23 goals. As seen, there seems to be a positive correlation between the # of goals scored in the opening game and average goals scored in the World Cup.
And the correlation still remains a positive one. Hosts Russia opened this year’s World Cup in style with a 5–0 victory against minnows Saudi Arabia. Even though Saudi Arabia were poor, the opening game set the tone, and has been a prelude for better things in this World Cup. In fact, at the time of writing, only 2 games so far have not had a goal in the last 10 minutes, and all game in this year’s World Cup has had at least a goal.
Players turning up
2006 belonged to Zinedine Zidane and Fabio Cannavaro. 2010 belonged to Diego Forlan and Wesley Sneijder. 2014 belonged to James Rodriguez and Lionel Messi. What will 2018 bring?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are undoubtedly the two best players in the world, and are that their peak, so this could be the last time we see them perform at a world cup. Both in previous world cups have failed to light up the stage the same way that they’ve done for their respective clubs, however, an opportunity beckons. With Messi and Ronaldo reaching the later part of their careers, this World Cup may prove the final opportunity for both of them to win a World Cup. While Messi has more to lose because he hasn’t won any trophies with Argentina, both will be equally determined to go all the way. In 2010, their poor performances set the tone for the World Cup, and many will certainly hope that this is not a repeat.
But, it’s not just about Messi and Ronaldo. It’s also about seeing new players owning the global stage. 2014 was James Rodriguez’s year. Even though he was plying his trade in Europe with AS Monaco, many weren’t expecting too much out of James Rodriguez ahead of Brazil 2014. However, in the absence of Radamel Falcao, he stepped up and made the World Cup his. He proved that he can deliver when it matters, and is an inspiration for other players to go prove themselves on the global stage. Even though we’re only a few days in, Russian footballer Aleksandr Golovin has already show glimpses of his quality, bagging a goal and 2 assists against Saudi Arabia.
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