The main objective of playing soccer is to scoring goals. Squads can play as beautifully as they want to, but it will not mean anything without creating goals. American humorist Arnold H Glasow once wrote, “In life, as in football, you won\'t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.”
By
SINDHUNATA
·5 minutes read
AFP PHOTO/ZAKARIA ABDELKAFI
People celebrate France\'s 1-0 victory on the Champs Elysee in Paris on July 10, 2018, after the final whistle of the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final soccer match between France and Belgium.
The main objective of playing soccer is to scoring goals. Squads can play as beautifully as they want to, but it will not mean anything without creating goals.
American humorist Arnold H Glasow once wrote, “In life, as in football, you won\'t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.”
After failing to score more goals than their opponents, the elite football squads of Germany, Argentina and Brazil cannot continue their World Cup journeys this year and were forced to come home early.
Goals are the real manifestation of a team’s effectiveness. Germany may be skilled in dominating the ball and assaulting its opponents’ defenses, but these were proven ineffective as the team could not score more goals. Consequently, they would be forced to evaluate themselves to see if there are mistakes in their playing style.
“Germany’s playing style under Joachim Löw is outdated,” German former footballer said. “We are proud for having a high score of ball domination and this has shaken our opponents. But, in the end, we bring nothing home.”
He reaffirmed that, “Dominating the ball is not the goal in and of itself. We have to leave behind such a practice.”
Brazil is also suffering from the same fate. They played beautifully but was eliminated in the end.
“This is the saddest moment in my career. It will be hard for me to find the strength and play [soccer] again,” said Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar Jr. after his team was defeated by Belgium, 1-2, despite its endless fierce attacks.
The defeat rubbed salt into Neymar’s wound, as he became a global laughingstock for his diving action. Soccer fans sarcastically said he deserved an Oscar for theatricality, that he is a waltz maestro, that he is the shadow of his own ego, or that he may be the most expensive soccer player, but he is truly a two-bit actor.
AFP PHOTO/BENJAMIN CREMEL
Brazil\'s forward Neymar reacts during a 2018 World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia, on July 6.
AFP PHOTO/BENJAMIN CREMEL
Brazil\'s forward Neymar leaves his team\'s hotel in Kazan on July 7, a day after the five-time champions crashed out of the 2018 Russia World Cup soccer tournament after a 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to Belgium.
Due to his notoriety in diving and feigning a leg injury, Neymar has inspired numerous memes, including: “A new drug has been released for extreme pains: NeymarSpirin.”
Such were the global jeers thrown at Neymar. The sharpest criticism came from Mexico’s coach Juan Carlos Osorio: “Neymar’s acts are a disgrace towards [soccer]. This set the worst of examples for the whole world and all the children who watch [soccer] matches on television. In [soccer], there should be no such drama.”
The Brazilian public feels that they have a good coach and a great squad. Why do they have to suffer like this? God only knows.
“God’s path is truly filled with mysteries,” goalie Allison Becker said.
“This is Your will,” Neymar’s mother said.
“We need to accept God’s will,” said team captain João Miranda de Souza Filho.
A good criticism for Brazil’s – and also Argentina’s – defeat can be found in Javier Cáceres’ opinion piece in the Süddeutsche Zeitung: Since 1974, 36 out of 48 (75 percent) of World Cup semifinalists are European countries. Only 11 (23 percent) are Latin American. Since 2002, when Brazil beat Germany in Yokohama, 2-0, Latin America constituted three out of 16 World Cup semifinalists. In 2006, there was no Latin American countries in the top four. In 2010, only Uruguay got in. In 2014, Brazil was thoroughly battered by Germany, 1-7, and then Germany defeated Argentina, 1-0, in the finals.
AFP PHOTO/DPA/KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND
Pedestrians walk past a pavement painting that depicts the head coach of Germany\'s national soccer team Joachim Loew on July 3, 2018 in Wuerzburg, southwestern Germany. Loew will remain in his job despite the World Cup holders\' elimination in the group phase in Russia, the German Football Association (DFB) said on July 3, 2018.
Cáceres said that this is the result of a globalization of soccer. Under the pressures and temptations of globalization, Latin America exported its top players to Europe. Many of them have had no second thoughts in sending away their “young football manpower” to be trained and hired by European clubs. European big clubs are not only investing in great players are also reaping huge benefits from these transactions.
It is as if the Latin American soccer associations have lost their mind. Many association presidents are jailed for corruption.
Brazilian former soccer player José Edmilson Gomes de Moraes said, “There is money, but there’s no plan.”
This is exactly what has happened in Africa, like Otto Pfister of Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote: “In Africa, money is not used efficiently and there is low investment in infrastructure and players’ development.”
Unsurprisingly, many talented African players are running to Europe because of the lack of development programs and promising salaries back home. Many young African soccer players are blossoming, for instance, in Belgium and in France.
“Europe has effectively colonized [soccer],” wrote Brazilian newspaper O Estado de São Paulo.
In the 2018 World Cup, 75 percent of the players play for European football associations.
Cáceres wrote that, “Long before the semifinals, the World Cup has turned into the Euro Cup.”
In football, Latin America has plunged almost as low as Africa. This can be a good opportunity for football in Asia. Asia’s progress in soccer can be seen in the achievements of South Korea, Japan and Iran in this year’s World Cup.
If the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) dreams of participating in global soccer events, it will need to understand that persistence in warding off globalization is important in soccer management.
Without proper investment in infrastructure and players’ development, good financial management and commitment to fight corruption, do not ever dream of participating in a global soccer tournament in this age of globalization.
