FIRST REFLECTIONS
As Spain and their tiki-taka brand of soccer get totally discredited, as Portugal's ego gets punctured and flattened, as Brazil's non-samba game gets boring, as Argentina seems to lack self-belief, England seems stuck in perpetual mediocrity and stagnant in their predictability.
Yet, there are some bright sparks. Arjen Robben and van Persie are running circles around their opponents, France seems rejuvenated, Germany's teamwork is even better than before and Costa Rica is surprising us with such joy and fearlessness.
So far, these are my favorite World Cup moments:
1. Cahill's first-time volley goal against the Netherlands. So economical in action and so perfect.
2. Costa Rica's third goal against Uruguay when the striker instinctively placed the ball beyond the keeper's reach from an acute angle. Watching as the ball roll into the net is like watching a golf ball rolling into the hole!
3. Van Persie's diving header goal against Spain, whose action looks more like that of a whale splashing water on the ocean surface.
These are what beautiful soccer is all about.
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