After a long and hard 1 month, World Cup 2010 has finally come to an end at abt 5am this morning Singapore time with Spain grabbing the championship for the first time in World Cup history.
Walking down along Clarke Quay at a couple minutes after 5am, I saw many disappointed Netherlands ("Holland") fans. Some were dragging their feet, displaying sad n dejected faces, while complaints of "kelong" were heard abt how the referee of the match was unfair and seemed to side with the Spainards.
As the match had dragged on to extra time after both teams failed to score any goals within 90 mins, I was dead tired when I reached home at 6am, showered and got onto bed only at 6.30am. Luckily I took leave today and could sleep all the way till noon.
For those who saw my Twitter last night, they would remember my complaint abt the restaurant Le Baroque situated at Chjimes, Singapore. Really felt like writing some complaint letters abt the place to some authorities.
I tried calling a few pubs on Sat and Sun, trying to make reservations to watch the world cup but I either couldn't get thru their phonelines or they don't take reservations. Le Baroque is one of which don't pick up their phone.
So, A and I went to Le Baroque early at ard 9pm to find seats n wait for screening of the WC finals. The waitress lead us to some empty seats where we ordered snacks and drinks. It was only at ard 11pm plus when the waitress suddenly came over to ask if we are waiting to watch the WC and tat if we are, there is a minimum spending of $100 per person applicable.
Outrageous! How could they suddenly come up with such rule abt minimum spending which they failed to warn/inform customers abt before they decided to sit down and make their orders?! When I grumbled at the waitress, she merely sulked and said nothing. It was only becoz we were pressed for time to find another spot to watch the WC, that I quickly asked for the bill and left tat STINKY LE BAROQUE restaurant! Now tat I looked back, I think I shld have insisted to speak with with their manager and threaten to sue them for misrepresentation! Worse is...our bill came up to $80+....CRAP LOR!
Anyway, we were fortunate to quickly find another MUCH more ideal and AFFORDABLE place for watching WC - Verve Pizzeria situated at Clarke Quay. They not only serve pizzas and drinks, one can also find Italian ice cream there...yummy! :) LOVE...Do patronize this place, its worth for $ definitely. Unlike some places which are out to fleece pple ("Le Baroque").
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Now for some personal analysis of the WC finals.
South Africa has outdone themselves putting up a spectacular performance for the closing ceremony. A pity I didn't catch the opening ceremony. But I gather it shld be just as good. Shakira also appeared in person to sing the theme song for World Cup 2010. The ceremony plus a lot of recaps on the matches leading to this finals started from 12pm plus. I shall not go into details on those as the WC is more abt the matches anyway.
Holland did not lose a single match since the WC started and they have to many pple's surprise beaten Brazil, the 5 times WC champions. Though I find them rather slacking in certain matches (eg. against Slovakia in the round of 16 and against Uruguay in the Semi-finals), they do pick up their act sometimes.
The Finals? Well, I find that the Holland team was a little disorganized and "rough". They had 28 fouls and got booked by the referee for 7 yellow cards and a second yellow card (red card is issued when the same player gets 2 consecutive yellow cards in a match) which sent 1 of their defender out of the field at a most crucial time during extra time.
Spain on the other hand committed 19 fouls with 5 of their players booked with yellow card. I think Torres was like a lucky charm for the team and he contributed to the singular most important goal of the whole match when he was finally sent onto the field in the last 15 mins.
Though I do not admire Holland's team for the rough playing, I also felt tat the referee might have been biased or overly cautious. He shld have given a yellow card for 2 other occasions to Spain's players:-
1) when Spain's defender Puyol was tackling Holland's Robben when he was heading for the goal, Puyol fell and sort of wrap his hands ard Robben and swung his legs across Robben's legs, making him lose the ball. Though I would not say tat it was intentional, I think it shld have been a yellow card. However, maybe the referee is hesitant abt booking Puyol for tat becoz it would have been a 2nd yellow card for Puyol and he will be out of the match.
2) when Spain's Iniesta got sandwiched by 2 of Holland's player (I forgot their names) and lost the ball, it was supposedly a "legal" tackling (dun ask me...I dun know why its legal...just coz the commentator said so then), after which Iniesta got mad and actually pushed Holland's player down. Now, tat shld have definitely been a yellow. But the referee only decided on a foul and free kick.If the referee had given out the above 2 yellow cards, maybe the outcome of the match might be totally different....who knows?
Eventually this WC Final turned out to be the match with the highest record no. of fouls committed and free kicks given - 47 in total from both teams!
I will not dispute that Spain does have talented players and played a good game...just tat things might have different.
Guess this WC 2010 did take quite a few unexpected turns....Brazil and Argentina out so early in the tournament, England's controversial goal when matching against Germany, Portugal's 7 goals against North Korea, and the many yellow cards given out.
Now for the individual awards for the players:
Golden Ball Award - Diego Forlan (Uruguay) Golden Boot Award - Thomas Mueller (Germany) [He was also awarded the Best Young Player]
Golden Glove Award - Iker Casillas (Spain)
Will Casillas be the next Oliver Kahn? Haha....nah, hope not....I like my idol Goalkeeper as he is...non-replaceable.
PS: Post WC blues....not sure wat to look forward to watch now....so LOST.....
