footballspectator

A few years ago, Diego was hailed as the next big thing in Brazil. Forget Robinho, the original Santos starlet was playmaker Diego. He first burst onto the scene as a 17 year old and duly lead Emerson Leao’s young Santos side to their first championship in 18 years and all the wasy to the Libertadores final. The classic Brazilian number 10, Diego had it all. He dribbled, he had an excellent passing range and an eye for goal. In 2003, Tottenham’s bid to bring him to the premiership failed. Instead Diego extended his contract with Santos. The following summer after strong performances during Brazil’s Copa America triumph, he finally moved to Europe and to Porto, the then newly crowned European champions as a replacement for Barcelona bound Deco. During his first season, under Victor Fernandez, he managed 30 games for the Portuguese giants, but when Fernandez was fired and eventually replaced by Co Adriaanse, Diego was deemed surplus to requirements. He played only 19 times last season and missed out on Brazil’s World Cup squad.

It was time for a fresh start and this summer Diego moved to Werder Bremen. Now you would not think that Germany and Brazilian footballers would go well together. Spain, yes. Italy yes but Germany? Well many of Brazil’s finest have thrived here and Diego seems no different. There has been a magical transformation of his form. He has been the star in each of Werder’s first two games, scoring and setting up goals.So great has been his impact that Kicker has even compared him to the other Diego. Still only 21, the €6 million that Werder paid for him is looking like the bargain of the summer. Dunga are you watching?

If last night’s semifinal between Italy and Germany was a celebration of football, tonight’s clash between France and Portugal came close to being an abherration of the beautiful game.

Neither of the teams seemed to be overly bothered with securing a ticket to Berlin: after a lively start, the Portuguese were more concerned about perfecting their diving skills in the hope of being awarded a generous penalty (no presents from the referee but why didn’t he book them once for that?), while France looked like they were always in control, despite no texactly trying very hard.

All in all it was a very boring encounter that resembled more an average group stage match than a semi-final… There was a goal, for France, of course: Zidane coolly slotted in a penalty awarded after Carvalho’s foul on Henry in the 33rd minute. And that was pretty much it. Portugal never looked like a real threat, and the impression they gave was that had the match lasted 180 minutes or more, they would have still failed to put one in.

Maybe had they had a proper striker (can someone explain us how Pauleta managed to score 47 goals in 83 international appearances?), things could have been different. It wasn’t meant to be: the French curse continues for the Portuguese, and Zidane and co are now off to Berlin to face Italy on Sunday 9 July.

Make no mistake: they will have to step up one or two gears if they want to have a chance to beat the mighty Italians.

FIFA must have been hoping that Graham Poll’s comical performance in awarding Simunic 3 yellow cards would be the last refereeing disaster of this World Cup. Step up referee Valentin Ivanov who secured his own place in the limelight by setting two World Cup records: sixteen(!) yellow cards and four sending offs - Deco, Costinha, Boulahrouz and Van Bronckhorst. Luis Figo was extremely lucky to escape being the fifth when he received only a yellow card for head-butting Van Bommel. FIFA then compounded the mistake by declaring that Figo’s punishment was sufficient today.

The match was an ill-tempered affair but Ivanov’s trigger happiness made it worse. Van Bommel had already hacked down Ronaldo before Boulahrouz stuck his studs into Ronaldo’s thigh and should have received more than a yellow. Ronaldo had to be replaced as a result of the challenge and may miss the quarterfinal with England. As the cards began to flow from Ivanov’s pocket, things gradually got worse. Players started to take advantage, exaggerating their dives in order to ensure Ivanov would book the offender. He obliged.

The only goal of the game was scored by Maniche, who combined well with Deco before beating two players and smashing the ball past Van der Sar. Holland had chances to equalise but were denied either by Ricardo or the woodwork. The match also completed Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s remarkable fall from grace this year with Van Basten benching him in favour of Dirk Kuyt.

Here’s Maniche’s goal:

As they did against Angola, Portugal struggled to impose themselves on supposedly inferior opponents. In the first half for all their possession they created few chances. Their best chance came coming from a smart Deco turn which was brilliantly saved by Mirzapour. Ronaldo was once again frustrating, focusing too much on crowd pleasing tricks rather than delivering end product. If he continues playing this way it won’t be long before an opponent takes offence and kicks him.

It was a similar story in the second half until Deco’s 63rd minute right footed screamer which gave the excellent Mirzapour no chance. Iran tried to respond but their players always seemed to need an extra touch by which time they had been closed down and could not get shots off. Cristiano Ronaldo’s late penalty, for a trip by Golmohammadi on Figo, killed them off.

Portugal are frustrating. They have so much talent in their team but at the moment they are not producing anywhere near the kind of football that their talent demands. It almost seems as they are still smarting from their defeat in the final of Euro 2004. Despite having qualified for the last 16, it may be a good idea for Big Phil to give his first choice team another run out against Mexico otherwise they will be playing Argentina and taking the next flight home.

Here are the “highlights”

The last time Portugal met Angola in  a “friendly” 2001 the match had to be abandoned at 5-1 to Portugal as the Angolan had their fifth player sent off. This time the match was much closer with a fourth minute goal by Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer Pedro Pauleta enough to give Portugal victory over their former colony in yesterday’s match.

Portugal started strongly with Pauleta almost scoring after a few seconds and when he eventually did, it looked likely that the floodgates would open. However, the Portuguese became arrogant with Cristiano Ronaldo indulging in unnecessary showmanship and the Angolans grew in confidence. Akwa tried the spectacular with two attempts at unlikely overhead kicks but found only air both times. The second half was a drab affair but Figo showed throughout that he still has despite beig in the twilight of his career.

Portugal will have to improve their attitude if they do not want to suffer the ignominy of an early exit as in 2002.

The much awaited appointment of England’s new manager finally took place last week when Steve McClaren, very much second choice, was appointed following Luis Felipe Scolari’s last minute change of heart .

Felipao was just the type of manager England needed. He is bold, authoritative and not afraid to take risks and drop players with big reputations when they are not performing. He transformed a team, that had been struggling in South American qualifying into World Champions in 2002. At Euro 2004, he did not hesitate to drop Rui Costa or substitute Luis Figo despite public outcry. The result? Rui Costa’s dramatic goal against England and Figo’s superlative performance in the semi-final against Holland.

So why did he say no? Could it have anything to do with the managerial vacancy at Real Madrid? Felipao has always stated that his ambition is to manage one of Europe’s top clubs. His managerial style might also be exactly what is called for to whip Real’s underperforming team of pre-madonnas into shape.