World Cup 2006
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Harry Harris - Chief Football Writer - The Express
A triumph for Germany
There were a record 29 red cards and the lowest goals per game ratio on par with 1990, but for all of the negatives, I actually enjoyed a World cup full of intrigue, penalty shoot outs and a poetic victory for a nation whose domestic football was in a complete state of turmoil.
Sure, there could have been more goals and less reds, but actually the stats, as usual, can paint a false picture.
The games were more evenly matched in general, and if anything there should have been more yellows and red for the cheats and divers. Here is an element that urgently needs eradicated form the game, not just globally, but more specifically in the Premiership.
And the challenge for Keith Hackett and those who run the domestic game, is to instruct the refs to be bolder in flashing the cards at the divers. Naturally there is an element of doubt. And that's why I have been an advocate of using new technology to aid the officials.
Whether or not monitors by the touchline were used to determine the Zidane head butt, it must be time for those monitors to be utilised by the fourth and fifth officials to give a more definitive view of such major incidents.
I would have loved Henry to be a World Cup winner. There were more fouls committed on Henry than any other player, but this was not the tournament where the big reputations shone. All the leading lights, notably the star strikers, never made much of an impact with Klose finishing with the golden Boot with five goals.
However, Italy were refreshingly attacking and were caught offside the most, which also meant that their keeper Gianluigi Buffon made by far the most saves in the competition.
My main frustration was the inexplicable failure by the England players to match their club reputations by under performing in Germany. In the absence of one outstanding side, this was England's big chance to end 40 years of hurt.
There were flashes of genius from Argentina, fewer from Brazil, lovely football at times from Spain and Mexico.
But the real winners were Germany. Tony Blair made the point that the national team might not have been in the final, but the tournament was still a triumph for the hosts.
The economy has enjoyed a 0.3 per cent increase in GDP, two million visitors revised their idea of the country and Germans are again proud. Günter Grass, the Nobel-winning novelist, spoke of a 'spontaneous embrace of the national colours'. After Germany beat Portugal to take third place, a million fans packed streets near the Brandenburg Gate chanting: 'Germany is the world champion of our hearts.' Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, said: "It pleases me more than I can say that Germany is capable of rejoicing, even though it has not come first."
There had been fears of terrorism, hooligans, neo-Nazi marches and the diplomatic disaster of a visit by the Iranian leadership. And, of course, our own fans. But even England supporters behaved, by and large, thanks in part to the relaxed way that police handled them.
Related Links
Harry Harris archive
- 1. Harry Harris writes for ntlworld
- 2. Can England do it This Time?
- 3. There's only one Metatarsal
- 4. England best for talent
- 5. Bags packed, fingers crossed
- 6. Thrills, spills and intrigue
- 7. Prawn sarnies, cap controversy and Swedish sentiment
- 8. Swedish endurance in Soho
- 9. Scolari has some explaining to do
- 10. Give Rooney the armband
- 11. A triumph for Germany