Any one find this world cup disappointing?

[russe||]

Not taking anything away from Italy but I have been really disappointed with this world cup. No team really stood out, no player really stood out and TBH it was a bit crap.

Look at the quarters, semis and final - we had three games decided by penalties, one settled by extra time and two 1-0 scores.

EDIT: the moments of the world cup show this too - Poll's 3 yellows, Ronaldo's diving, 4 red card cards in Portugal vs Holland, the fight after Argentina vs Germany, and now Zidane's headbutt

[MUFC]

Apart from the great goals we have seen, its been a dissapointing show. Defensive football has been played in every game and i expected that as international football is poor compared to club competition. Play has been far to slow too.

The fact no big time players have performed just shows how poor the world cup has been.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by MUFC

Play has been far to slow too.

That had anything to do with the pitches not being watered before the games?

[MUFC]

Henry made that point, its definally played a part as it lets defenders to get back easier and its much harder to play those through balls.

[Werdna]

The pitches might have played a part, but I think the refs blowing for almost every infringement caused alot of players to be much more careful of their tackles which also slowed the games...

BUT I am not dissapointed because it was still a World Cup and it was still exciting and it was still a great month!

[Lazarus]

It was a good World Cup, it's jsut that many nations have improved and you won't get the hammerings anymore. Secondly most of the top teams qualified and so therefore the games between the top teams were bound to be tight.

I mean the goals were flying in, in the group stages but as the top teams got through the games were bound to be much more close.

[LAF]

The group stages were good but the knockout games weren't that good (Italy/Germany being the exception). I thought 2002 was worse.

[MUFC]

Every world cup its exciting, the atmosphere etc but the actual place where it matters the gameplay has been poor. World cup 2002 was similar but there was better attacking games in that world cup too.

[LAF]

It says it all when the outstanding player of the tourney has been a defender.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by MUFC

Every world cup its exciting, the atmosphere etc but the actual place where it matters the gameplay has been poor. World cup 2002 was similar but there was better attacking games in that world cup too.

Yes but like I said, in that World Cup some of the top teams failed to perform and some lesser known teams got through but here nearly all the top teams were through and therfore the games were going to be close.

[hanuma]

It was a decent World Cup...not great, far from bad. Only dissapointing if you were fully expecting something great, which you had no right to expect in the first place.

I don't see how negative tactics won through atall - France and Italy were 2 good sides that both defended and attacked in numbers....they aren't GREAT sides, but they are good sides. Germany were an incredibly attack minded side....born out by the fact that neither of their fullbacks can really defend and they always had 4 men in attack.

The only major problem we had at this World Cup was -nothing to do with tactics and tbh I think it's entirely facile to suggest it was- that there was no outstanding teams...plenty of outstanding individuals, only one utterly brilliant one (and defenders don't count ), but then only a small percentage of World Cups have had that.

Probably not as good as 98', but not far behind. About the same as 02' but better because better teams won through and the climate wasn't half as effective.

The group stages were excellent and we had a handful of great matches in the knockouts- Argentina-Mexico...France-Spain...France-Brazil...Italy-Germany...Argentina-Germany. All high quality.

What an individual remembers matches for is entirely irrelevant to any assessment of a World Cup outside the personal.

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a more outstanding and consistent display of defensive skills than was give by Cannavaro and Gattuso, Pirlo, Zambrotta, later on Grosso were all fantastic throughout.

It was great to see Zidane have an excellent WorldCup and noone will ever forget the infamy of his exit....just like the rest of the world cup, Zidane was imperfect...and again, perfection is not something to be expected.

[luis]

In a way, no player stood out because quite a few were pretty impressive but not incredible. But it wasn't a great WC, althoug my nails got very bitten in lots of games, not just those involving my team

[Jager]

Not bad, not great, but definitely better than Korea.

There were some good games, however I feel officiating is still bad.

Honestly, we ARE never going to see club football, so don't expect it. The game has still some issues to fix and resolve, give them time.

[MUFC]

HARRY REDKNAPP has branded this World Cup as one of the dullest of all time.

Portsmouth boss Redknapp says no great teams or great players emerged from the month-long tournament and believes managers have made games poor by playing with only one striker.

He said: "It has been a World Cup without a star team or a star player. I would rate it six out of 10.

"There was no Pele, Maradonna or Cruyff and no one was outstanding.

"There was no great attacking because a lot played with one up front.

"Italy are not one of the great teams and, man for man, they are no better than England."

[NJ10]

Harry Redknapp should stick to signing 354 players a week.