Associate AD-Communications Kevin O'Connor checks in with some final thoughts on the World Cup
The World Cup is now in the rearview mirror, having left behind a legacy in Africa and a mind full of memories.
Certainly, the final was not as memorable as all of us might have wished, but I must say that I am not as negative about it as many others have been. Yes, the Dutch played dirty at times and mucked up the play, but that still didn’t stop them from having real offensive opportunities to have won the game in regulation. And, the Spanish could (should?) have scored in the first five minutes of the match, which would have changed the entire complexion of the day’s events. So, fair enough if you thought the match wasn’t an ‘A+’, but I don’t know that I would give it an ‘F’, either.
As for the Cup as a whole, it is hard to come up with too many things that aren’t positive. Even the officiating might turn into a positive if FIFA takes some steps toward technology in correcting the most troubling of errors. But, the quality of play was generally high, especially later in the group stages through the knockout rounds. The star quality was excellent, from the newish (Thomas Mueller) to the more well-known (David Villa). And the U.S. acquitted itself at least to a level of belonging, which has not always been the case.
So now we turn our eyes to the future. For fans who have just caught on to the world’s soccer phenomenon, Euro 2012 is well worth your time and qualifying for it kicks off in a little over a month. The entire tournament in the summer of 2012 will then air on the ESPN family of networks. While the next World Cup is four years away in Brazil, qualifying for the event starts in two years. The drama is different because the matches are so spread out, but the quest to even get in the tournament is extremely intense. On top of all of that, along with the various overseas league that get started in a month, it is hard to beat following the Champions League, which pits the best club teams – and stars – in an event that runs concurrent to league play. And, here in the U.S., one of the more anticipated matches of the summer will pit the MLS All Stars against Manchester United in an “exhibition” match in a couple of weeks. The U.S. MNT also plays Brazil in a friendly in August.
It’s been a fun month. It will be 2014 before we know it.
