Paul the Psychic Octopus does it again!
08/07/10 03:17
Q: What do you call a German octopus that correctly predicts it's team will lose?
A: Calamari.
Tonight saw the second semi final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and battling it out for a place in the final were Germany and pre-tournament favourites, Spain. The current Euro holders did just enough to see off Paraguay in the Quarters and were going to have to raise their game whilst those canny Germans appeared to be getting stronger and stronger as they brushed Argentina aside in the last round. Well one thing you can say about these teams is they understand the power of possession (far more than some teams I could mention) and from the kick off the Spanish appeared to intent on passing their opponents to death. Germany were happy to soak up this early pressure with a view they'll hit them on the break as they have done so effectively before. The team in red certainly looked more purposeful than they have done so far and Neuer had to be on guard as Villa, Pedro and Alonso attempted to unpick the formidable white defence. I'm not sure whether Joachim Loew's tactics were quite right having his team defend so deep, it just seemed to inviting pressure and after a goalless first half the second session continued much the same way.
Germany weren't without their chances as Klose tried to add to his overall goal tally. Ozil was brought down in the box and appealed for a pen but nothing was awarded. David Villa went agonisingly close, diving a la Gazza '96, as he tried latch on to an Iniesta cross. What the game needed was an early goal and we got one except it was in the 73rd! But what a great goal it was, a power header from the old Spanish stalwart, Carles Puyol who at certain angles, looks uncannily similar to ex Twisted Sister frontman, Dee Snider (for all you ageing rockers out there).
Spain took the lead and the game sprung to life. Germany pushed for the equaliser and maybe they could get it as del Bosque subbed their talisman Villa and brought on the hapless Torres. I think the teams lack of confidence in their frontman was highlighted when Pedro went tearing into the German box with Fernando screaming for it to be passed square for him to take a pop but Pedro thought better of it and attempted to go it alone and eventually tripping over his own bootlaces much like Torres has done in earlier matches.
Well the final whistle blew and once again the scoresheet read Spain: 1 Others: 0 that's the fourth one nil in a row! Who cares, a win is a win and the Spaniards were ecstatic as they celebrated their first ever World Cup Final.
And so to the Footcall league...Yet more points for the man in red (on the league table) Kevin. He managed to predict Spain to play Holland in the final and he's been very impressive in the Groups and continued his good form through the KOs. However he can't sit back a light up that big Cuban just yet because there could be twist in the tail. The man who's been hanging around the shadows of the top spot, Mr Paul Firmston, has also predicted Holland to be in the final and by my reckoning if he does collect the 4 points for the winner and Kevin doesn't, then Paul's Group Stages correct answers could just see him over the line on countback! I genuinely have not looked at anyone's KO predictions this year and I'm just waiting like we all are to see how it unfolds.
Further down the table the valuable 3 points for a Spain win have seen a bit of a shuffle but I was surprised to see how few people predicted them to get to the final. Both Nick Stacey and Keith Firmston have moved well up top, Mark Brown, Chris Amos, James Vallender, Rob Pearson even Jamie Marshall and Ian Pope have all done well today. Lee Baker, Andy Reg Brunt, Martin Acott and Paul Silk-Sleafer have all claimed three sweet little points to move them up page one of the league along with George Relf, David Ginger and Jake Martin. Further down only Julia Virco and Kate Blake stand alone as points scorers on page two.
So that concludes the voting from the East Peckham judges only one game remains, THE FINAL... Footcall is too posh to worry about the pointless third place playoff! So we will have a new winner on the trophy come Sunday evening, the question is, will it be Viva Espana or Hup Holland Hup, more importantly will it be Appleton or Firmston?
Dj