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Tournament Observations: June 26th 2002

The Semi-Finals

- So what did Germany do against South Korea that Poland, the USA, Portugal, Italy and Spain weren't able to?
(1) They didn't go chasing better conditioned athletes all over the pitch. Korea tried to get the Germans to run with them up and down the field for 90 minutes - the Germans weren't biting. Germany knew that it didn't matter if the match day temperature was 90 degrees or 30 below - they weren't going to win a track meet against the home team. So when Germany wasn't in possession they got men behind the ball and stayed in the center of the field, never letting the Koreans stretch them on the flanks. A lot of pundits observed that Korea never took advantage of Germany on the wings. That's because Germany was willing to concede the wings when not in possession. More importantly, though, by closing down the middle of their end of the field, Germany took advantage of the fact that Korea did not have a true creative midfielder, so organizing a back-line that dispossessed Korea every time they came into the German penalty area was astoundingly routine. 
(2) While conceding the wings on defense Germany took advantage of Korea's weaknesses on the flanks on offense. Those long runs on the flanks by Bernt Schneider and Dietmar Hamann coupled with deft one-touch passing spread the Korean central defense thin - and it finally mattered when Michael Ballack scored in the 76th minute. Two teams made the mistake of thinking one goal was enough against Korea - this time a well-disciplined and organized German defense made it hold up.

- By far the best player on the pitch in the Brazil-Turkey semi-final was Turkey's goalkeeper, Rustu. Turkey's did a creditable job defensively throughout the match but on those occasions when even Turkey's tight marking, organization and dispossessing gave way to truly inspirational ball skills by Brazil, Rustu was there to stop shots by Ronaldo and Rivaldo at impossible angles. One by Ronaldo finally got through. A little more organization and creativity by Turkey could have gotten at least one goal, but Turkey clearly spent more time concentrating on tough body-checking and physical presence on Brazil than on any creative offense -- and it showed. Clearly a winnable game for Turkey had they had just some semblance of a concerted attack against a Brazilian back-line that continues to not want to take people on physically but is very well organized. Turkey's offensive strategy -- or lack thereof -- is all the more puzzling when you consider that Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos is really not all that good (why Dida is not the first choice is beyond me). Marcos has been the beneficiary of an awful lot of random luck. He hasn't had to make any stellar or strenuous saves on his own, he hasn't had to take on a breakaway striker one-on-one, and he has had an unbelievably fast back-line protecting him and his goal throughout the tournament. Even without Michael Ballack in the final Germany, with their deft one-touch passing on counter-attacks and very tall forward players, will have no problem testing Marcos. Marcos notwithstanding, this is a much better Brazil side than the team they fielded four years ago in France '98, and Ronaldo looks like he is on a mission to bury what happened four years ago.

- As for the final between Germany and Brazil, I would be much more inclined to go with Germany and their organized and disciplined defense had Michael Ballack been available. But since he isn't, Germany do not have anybody left who can truly create in the midfield, and Brazil is much more able to handle Germany's fast wingers than anybody Germany has played up to now. Don't be surprised if this is a truly defensive match, with the winner being decided in extra time.