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Sunday, July 11, 2010

OK, So I'm No Octopus

As Paul the Octopus went undefeated yesterday, once again correctly picking the result of Germany's third-place match, I'll simply assert, that's why I don't bet on matches/games. Having seen Spain three times while in South Africa, their form just did not strike me as the dynamic juggernaut they have been the past couple years.

Then too, Germany's form, up until the semifinal, had been one of a confident, competent team, playing at the top of their game. Certainly, missing Mueller on the flank, due to his unjust second yellow card, was a significant factor in the result with Spain., but to their credit, Spain did what they do, possess, probe, attack, and ultimately, find a way to get out with a result, which these days, seems to be a 1-0 score line.


Since I was somewhere over the North Atlantic when the semifinal was being played, wanted to take in the recorded match, and the third-place game, before offering any thoughts on the final. In the semifinal, Germany played very differently than they had been playing in the tournament to that point. They absorbed too much possession, and were not aggressively seeking the counterattack opportunities when presented. Again, the loss of Mueller's pace, and finishing form, were factors, as was Miroslav Klose's injury, hampering his effectiveness.

The final should be  different story, as both teams are seeking their first World Cup championship, and both have the hunger of their respective nations fueling them. Holland has been to the final before, on a couple of occasions, but only one of the current players was even alive when that last occurred in 1978. Spain are finals debutantes, having long worn the mantle of an underachieving side, finally shaking that stigma with the 2008 European Championship.

The two teams are both on are on long, successful runs. The Netherlands went through their entire World Cup qualification process undefeated, and are the only team in South Africa that has been through the entire draw undefeated as well.


 Spain too, has grown accustomed to success, only losing twice in their past 56 matches. They look to be the first World Cup Champion to have lost their first Group Stage match (1-0 to Switzerland), then go on to win the title. Their lifeline has been the uncanny scoring touch of forward David Villa, who always finds a way to get the shot off, and almost as frequently, that effort is on frame. Along with Uruguay's Diego Forlan, Mueller and Holland's Wesley Sneijder, he leads the tournament with five goals scored.


Speaking of Sneijder, he and his Spanish counter part, Xavi, represent the modern play-making central midfielder. They are both small in stature, but exceptionally quick, and very decisive on the ball. More often than not, their passes are both forward and attack-minded. Of the two, Sneijder gets the edge from the standpoint of finishing, but Xavi is one of the world's most efficient passers from a completion standpoint.














































Today represents the eighth all-European final in the World Cup. From a historical perspective between Holland and Spain, the series is a stalemate. The teams have met nine times, each winning four, with one draw. Interestingly, none of those matches have been in World Cup competition, and of recent meetings, Holland has won the last two, dating back to 2000, with the last match being a 2-1 Dutch win in 2002.

With that scene set, I am not, predicting a winner, but will merely remind all that last summer in South Africa, #1-ranked Spain took one of their rare recent losses to the U.S., 2-0, in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. In March, Holland beat the U.S., 2-1, in Amsterdam, in a friendly, with one of Holland's goals coming off a questionably-awarded penalty kick, and the other off a shot deflection, which dramatically changed directions on 'keeper Tim Howard.

Those results mean nothing now, and although Paul the Octopus has chosen Spain, this is his first venture into the uncharted waters of predicting a team other than Germany. For both teams, they also look to sail into uncharted waters, hoisting FIFA's World Cup trophy to their countrymen, and the world, for the first time.

Copyright 2010. Contents of this blog, written and photographic, are protected from unauthorized use and reproduction by any means, with All Right Reserved by Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Up in the Air, Out on a Limb

Well, today (and yesterday) are the trip back from South Africa to "the real world". Am currently in Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, awaiting my flight to Atlanta, so figured I'd put up some thoughts on today's semifinal, the winner of which, will play Holland, Sunday.

While having my bag shrink-wrapped, had a discussion with one of the orange-clad guys working that kiosk, as to whom he thought would win tonight, Germany, or Spain. His reasoning was Spain, since they play more like Barcelona, and Germany plays like Bayern Munich. I had to politely disagree, commenting that after seeing Spain three times in South Africa, they weren't exactly playing like Barcelona, more like Athletico Madrid.

Where I think it will go wrong for Spain against Germany is in the midfield, where despite the obvious world-class abilities of Xavi and Iniesta, their diminutive size will be a problem against the athletic, and fast, Germans.

































Another factor working against the Iberians is their one-dimensional offense, which has been David Villa, or nothing at all. The breath-taking finishing abilities of Fernando Torres, so evident in England's Premier League with Liverpool, have been MIA in South Africa. Service to him in the attacking third has been non-existent, and Torres receiving the ball, back to goal in the center circle, as below, is going to accomplish nothing.


While on a furious finishing run at the World Cup, David Villa will be limited against the larger, stronger German defense, which is currently being backed by exceptional goalkeeping. His ability to win headers in the goal mouth, as this one, will not be a factor


















Another attacking option, Cesc Fabregas off the bench, could be of some use, as he is used to the rough-and-tumble Premiership, but he still falls under the category of a technical, 'pretty' player. The athleticism of the German side may well neutralize the ball possession skills of he, and the other central midfielders.


And the physical nature of Spain's opponent will be even more a factor than against Paraguay in the quarterfinals, when 50-50 balls were contested upon receipt on most occasions.


















Indeed, all of these assumptions may prove wrong, as ultimately, that is why they play the match. Spain, however, has not been in the same form they have been the past two years, and the two hot teams really seem to be Germany, and the already-through, Holland.

Spain may be able to impart their possession and match movement onto Germany, but in the end, I believe this young, talented, and confident German side will absorb those possessions, and counterattack to the same effectiveness that did in Australia, England, and Argentina, teams that are not prone to allowing four goals in such critical matches.

I wish I had some Germany images to share in this as well, but despite shooting 15 matches in South Africa, scheduling and locations never allowed for me to get to one of their matches, that, and not being there Sunday for the final, are among my few regrets. Those regrets are balanced though, by a wonderful five weeks, which is now just a nine-hour plane ride back across the pond, from being one of my fondest experiences.

Copyright 2010. Contents of this blog, written and photographic, are protected from unauthorized use and reproduction by any means, with All Right Reserved by Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA

Monday, July 5, 2010

A Different Family 4th

Another break from World Cup is in order, in honor of our country's birthday.

I did shoot the Spain-Paraguay quarterfinal a couple nights ago, but those images, and the related thoughts, can wait for another posting.

My stay with the Wallis family in Pretoria, at their guesthouse, The Thatch Cottage, has been a delightful experience. As their middle daughter, Minette, said, 'I'm afraid, it seems, you've become a part of the family'. Such has been the nature of my stay here.

So as Sunday, the 4th, which is just another day in South Africa, rolled around, it was the suggestion of the son-in-law, Jason, we all travel about 30 minutes the other side of Johannesburg to the Heia Safari Ranch, which is a sort of conference center out in the bush. He had been here once before on a company outing, and knew the family would enjoy it. Upon arriving, the first thing that clues one in this may be a bit of a different experience is encountering one of the resident 'zonkis',  a cross between a donkey and a zebra.


Soon thereafter, another clue. There are thatch-roofed cabins surrounding the conference center, and the sight of an impala ram grazing through the yard, does let one know this is an African experience.
























The view in the other direction, from the front porches of the cabins, is a man-made lake, where a herd of springbok grazed that lower portion of the property.















The main purpose of the trip, other than the unique experience, was lunch, and as I sat down with four generations of the Wallis clan, it seemed only fitting to order something special, consequently ending up with kudu filet, which I cannot put into words, as to how delicious the meal turned out.
























Part of the ambiance while eating was sitting by the pool. Now a number of people eat out by the pool on the 4th of July, but I'm thinking it pretty much suggests you're in Africa, when this turns up as one of the scenes by the pool . . . . .
















Following lunch, we walked it off by a stroll around the grounds, where we encountered a couple other interesting sights, including this 'black' (I'm going with chocolate) variant of a springbok.



A couple of other scenes worth passing along, were this mother zebra helping her foal with a little back scratch, and what trip into the bush would be complete without a giraffe strolling by. This was a 'young' giraffe, probably a two-year old. And we think kids grow up quickly.







































It goes without saying, this will be a 4th that will stick in memory for quite some time. Receiving photos from Helen of her, the kids, Doc, Mimi, et al, from the Florida beach, simultaneously enjoying their weekend, did tear at me, more than a little, wanting to be in two places at once. As that's not possible, though, I have to thank all of them for their help and support in making this place, this place in particular, and South Africa in general, a once, and for all, memory.

Copyright 2010. Contents of this blog, written and photographic, are protected from unauthorized use and reproduction by any means, with All Right Reserved by Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA

Friday, July 2, 2010

Back Into the Bush -- For a Day

With Thursday being one of the 'Rest Days' for the World Cup, prior to the beginning of the quarterfinals, we decided to take a short drive over to Krugersdorp. This is the area where there is a large, private game reserve, which among other things, contained the large cats I'd yet to see in a semi-wild setting. The reserve was a bit crowded, as others with time away from soccer, as well, were thinking the same thing. Nonetheless, we were able to find several species to 'check off the list', and that I had not seen in the earlier outings.


One of the first of the large plains antelope we saw was the graceful, and distinctive, sable antelope, this bull was keeping company with a small group of gemsbok, which we call oryx. The gemsbok have an advantage over most when it comes to having a built-in 'back scratcher'.










Also ever-present were ostrich, everywhere there seemed to be an ostrich, or two, and this couple looked to be as much confused, as curious, of the passersby.


As mentioned this is a 'semi-wild' setting, and the predators: lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, are fed, not allowed to hunt, for the good of the rest of the reserve's population. Naturally, there is clean-up to be done after such feedings, and just to remind all this is not a zoo, or Disney, Katie, the resident clean-up crew made an appearance on cue. Quite ugly, nasty creatures, but a fascinating process to watch, regardless. There is a sort of order in their chaos, with everyone getting their turn, but there is some "discussion" about whose turn it is from time to time.


The official name of the reserve is Rhino and Lion Park, so of course, there were a number of rhino, which are among the most endangered of all mammals in Africa. These creatures are immense and they are usually feeding to keep that huge body fueled. With their eyesight being quite poor, their ears are constantly rotating, looking to pick up any sounds that may announce danger, of most concern when a young rhino is present, as not many predators are a match for the bulk and weaponry of an adult rhino.































Another animal I'd yet to see, and wanted to, as to me, it so symbolizes South Africa, is the Cape Buffalo. One of the "Big Five" species of trophy game, in many ways, this is the most dangerous of all, as it travels in large herds, and is usually never one to back away from a fight. Coming across a group of resting buffalo has an ominous tone of caution attached to such a sighting and they should always be given a wide berth. In this case, a long telephoto lens was just about the right distance.


As the afternoon light grew longer, and more "African", we found a couple more 'subjects' willing to pose just long enough to take advantage of that short time of late afternoon light. The diminutive springbok, the national symbol of South Africa, at least their beloved rugby team, was a stark contrast to the cow eland we came across, which is the largest antelope species on the continent.


































And of course, there were some 'big cats' to be seen, namely cheetahs and lions. These were contained in separate enclosures from the plains game, but could be found with a bit a searching, as their time of day is evening, and during the afternoon, lounging in what shade can be found is their prime pastime.































But just to make sure one is not lulled into some sense that these are warm and fuzzy, cuddly creatures, reminders are never far off that the lion is indeed the king of the jungle, and they are quick to remind any doubters of just that fact. It is a convincing argument, especially when witnessed up close.....



Copyright 2010. Contents of this blog, written and photographic, are protected from unauthorized use and reproduction by any means, with All Right Reserved by Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA