Keeping it Real

The cocky French are unworthy of winning the World Cup.
The best team didn’t win, unfortunately, but shouldn’t have lost that way.
It’s tough to miss a World Cup final like that.

But it’s fair to say we did everything we could, under the circumstances.
Winning or loosing, we always play the same way, risking very little or nothing…
We didn’t have players that really made the difference, that could use speed or clever passes to break through.
In the two chances we did, we blew it.

Figo, in the most obvious of all, couldn’t find the net with that high-header over the bar, so not in accordance with the skill he showed in the head-butting attempt against Van Dropple…
C. Ronaldo reacted well to the anti-Ronaldo hysteria promoted by the vicious English press, and I dare say he had his best game in the World Cup. Not what we all expected of him, though, but I guess good enough to see him win the Best Young Player Award.
Ricardo, hardly put to test during the all game, even played as a forward – and didn’t deserve to have to save yet another (pretense) penalty…
R. Carvalho, couldn’t find better use for his balls in this last game… but overall, it’s been a pretty grim display, luck and inspiration being away… and that’s two games already without scoring – no one can expect to be champion, without keeping the goals coming...

Except in the match against Australia, the Italians have showed they can provide goals in abundance – they have more than any other team and they make it look so easy…
They are then the natural candidates to lift the cup – for the 4th time.

As for Germany, to settle for the consolation prize, if they win 3rd place, will be meaningless for a country three times World Champion… but there’s always the question of pride and they are playing at home.

Portugal has done quite well, we have to admit.
Let’s face it, no one in the begining – not even the team, probably – expected to get so far, in a competition we rarely visit, being only our fourth presence.
I don’t think this one beats the first one in 1966, even if like then, we take 3rd place. We haven’t been so spectacular nor have our opponents been so strong.

What should count is the obvious advance of the Portuguese Football in the International main stages.
Maybe next time we will actually win something…