This Is Why We Love It! Contributed by @Olawalium
Football is a game of surprise. I know not every one of us loves football. We prefer other sports and that is perfectly fine. I love other sports too, but football makes me excited. I love the unpredictability of it. Football is never like mathematics. It is never certain what the outcome would be, not even when you put a strong team with a supposed weak team because of their work ethics, discipline, tactics, and precision would always work better than a team full of individual stars. It is a team sport, but I admit one player can always make the difference.
Football (or soccer like many have known it to be) is a game of emotions. We all have various ways by which we show our emotions. Some might cry, some might scream, some might be sad, some gloomy so might even hold malice with you, some would curse, while some might be violent. We all have several ways by which we let out the steam and this is why some people don't like football.
In Nigeria, when our team disappoints, most people would rather curse than cry hahaha. Some cry, definitely, but I have always seen many more curse rather than cry. They find the culprit and rain down abuses on him, hahaha, and yes, the coach bears the brunt too. Football brings out your deep-lying feelings. Football is amazing. You see a perfectly calmed person and you notice how he feels when his team loses or when a decision goes against him.
This World Cup has been full of surprises. Please, this post is not about who is the best between Ronaldo and Messi. I hate that argument. We all have our individual preferences and that is why no one should try to override their opinion on another.
I was particularly stunned by the match between Mexico and Germany. On paper, I was rooting for Germany to win and that's why I didn't even watch it. I felt it was a decided match already and I learned from that. Now I watch every single game or at least keep up with them if I am too busy to watch. I do catch up with all the highlights too, never missed any.
Another shocker came yesterday between Croatia and Argentina. What a match. I watched it from start to finish and I was so impressed with Croatia. Their work ethic, their discipline, their precision, their coordination, and also cooperation. They played together and that made the difference. They sniffled the Argentine’s attack and exposed their defense. Argentina got it tactically wrong. It is always easy to point fingers at people when things go wrong.
Croatia can only dream of a night like this and their talisman; Luka Modric rose to the challenge and he duly delivered. He was also at the heart of everything against Nigeria and we got punished too. I can only hope we can at least get a win against Iceland, and Iceland is so disciplined and organized. I wish I can say that against Nigeria but come what may, I still support my Country.
Croatia is really surprising everyone, and with the way they exposed Argentina, they are willing to make a statement. Only time will tell how far they can go.
Emotions were high yesterday, tempers were flying with the Croatia vs Argentina match with people taking sides and all. The bottom line is, let us focus on the remarkable game that Croatia played because this is their moment, they shouldn't be denied of it. What a game that was! This is why we love football; surprises.
What do you think? Don't you think the coach got it tactically wrong for Argentina? Don't you also think Croatia was impressive? Let's hear your view.
Thank you for your time.
Source: 1
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Olawalium; (Love’s chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor’s order.
Game of football is practically unpredictable when it seems a particular team look stronger than its opponent, luck could go against the stronger team and give the weaker team a chance to shine as if they were king. I realized something concerning this ongoing World Cup, big name doesn't work out, all the other nations are already prepared, no one is there to play, take Iran for example, they did tried their best even when I thought they had no chance. Great Germany lost, Argentina with their notable striker and world class players got the beaten of their life in a more ridiculous way, I couldn't even imagined the humiliation they got, as they were all surprised even the great Messi had nothing to do. Football is not always visible for someone to predict the outcome. Croatia team were so determined and never give room for flop on their side, they converted all desirable chance they had against Nigeria and even Argentina, they are so resolute and tactical.
Nigeria winning today didn't come as a surprise to me after I had watched how Croatia defeated Argentina, we actually played well enough against Croatia we just didn't have luck. Nigeria's performance today was super amazing. Two goals from our amiable striker, Armed musa brought the game to an epic End.
Ahmed Musa definitely brought the game to life!. We have better improvement in the second half and we took the game to them. The turning point for the game was when they lost their penalty. It made it more difficult for them.
You are absolutely right, I can say our hardworking met luck on its way.
Yes brother.
Thanks for the support always brother.
I thank you too, brother.
Yes, I think the same. I think Argentina has not had the best of luck lately. Although it was to be expected since the team does not have that chemistry that is needed to beat a rival, the squad has never convinced me since the tournament began.
For me, players like Dybala should have more weight in the selection and not in the second half, among other players in the midfield who do not finish convincing. Messi is a player from another planet, however, he can not carry the weight always, the passes and plays are far from materialized. On the part of Croatia the team was more united and they knew how to play together with Modric as the engine of the team.
Exactly. They have too many individual players and they are not bonding well. So many factions and that was why M. Icardi wasn't called up, even when he could have given them another options up front.
Croatia were united and they know all they needed to do was look up to their talisman; Modric and he knows what else to do.
Football shoulder to shoulder with the same vision and mission in creating opportunities and achieving the goal of victory. Similarly, life that can not be separated from the dependence of the people around us both in terms of politics, business, social and others of course with a specific purpose.
Football needs the right skills and time to express it. Imagine if the skill is not used in place then the resulting deadlock itself. Likewise our lives certainly require certain skills and can be placed in the desired place. Life without skills then we are just catchers who just stay and live in the shadow of a more skilled.
In the game of football there comes a time when we fall without knowing surrender. Likewise life and we have to fight for our lives though sometimes fall but still wake up again and do not know the word surrender.
In football we can see the speed needed both in terms of running, passing, and others and if lost quickly it will be defeated by others. Similarly in our lives who have to think fast and act faster so as not to want to be taken over others. Fast, precise and accurate is what soccer and life need.
In football there must be sadness. At the moment of goal and win we can see happy and happy expression and if the opponent sees a sad face. Likewise life has joy and sorrow.
Some say football is also like a soap opera full of drama. Remember the words of diving and acting are football players on display. And in that life also happens sometimes we need to act to benefit from our side. Although this is a bit cheat but still this part of the football and life tactics that we live.
In football we know the terms of a breakthrough ball and in our lives also need a breakthrough as well in order to live for a purpose quickly created.
Actually there are many positive meanings that we can take in football that we can apply in this life.
Good analysis. Yes, there are so many lessons we can pick in football and apply them to real life. Thanks a lot for that my friend.
Indeed, football is full of surprises.
For the fact that Argentina needed the three points more than Croatia made me to conclude that Argentina would win with ease, but I was surprised to see the tide turned.
You know I would go for Argentina in a match like that, but I was stunned by Croatia performance. Modric and Rakitic were the master of everything beautiful in that square.
The team spirit, the connection, the dedication, sacrifice and superior tactics are what defined the moment for Croatia.
Argentina coach(Sapaoli) got it all wrong, I still wonder what mascherano was doing in the middle of the park, I wonder while he chose Acuna over Dimaria.
Romeo is a better keeper to Caballero too, I would have loved to see him between the stick. Caballero is only good at stopping penalties!
While would Rojo be on the bench and the guy that wore jersey number 3 (I don't even care about his name) would play a single minute? He was one of their biggest problem, he made back passes more than anyone on the pitch.
Everything was just wrong with their tactics.
Well, that's why it is football.
Absolutely. You analyzed it well. The coach got it tactically wrong. In a match like that, you are to put your best players up front. Di Maria should have played, Ever Banega should have played. He should have doubled his Striker rather than take Aguero out for Higuain. Seeing the look on the coach's face, as a player i don't think i would be motivated. He was jittery and looking worrisome all through.
Ahahaha, he gave up long before the players...
Not an encouraging face and action at all. Hahaha
Presently what's affecting Argentina is that the coach believe in only one man and that's Messi and unlucky for them the men didn't really play with him cuz they believe they are all stars and if they didn't change that attitude they won't win a match
Croatia didn't get too many materials and they played with themselves and won the two matches they prayed cos they played with themselves
Football is a game of unity. Even with them having Messi as their best player, they should have worked more with him and create more space for him to operate since he is always marked when he holds the ball. Like you said, they allowed their ego to get in the way. They want to shine too, they have forgotten there can only be one Messi and no matter how much they try, they still have to queue behind him.
You are very correct bro...
Croatia was more cohesive and they understand themselves perfectly they play as a team and not as individual talent . They were aggressive in attack and also confidence in their passes. Croatia was a better side ad they deserve to win @communitycoin and @Olawalium
No doubt about that. They totally deserve the win. It was a collective work and they did so well to stifle Argentina's attack.
They played better than Argentina...
Soccer is completely perfect, only those who have more heart and claw can beat a team with excellent history, this World Cup has been crazy. And the most beautiful. I think this is approaching another king to the throne with the number 10. I love
It's exciting to know you are into football too and i am happy to hear that. Football is beautiful and more so this World Cup is full of surprises. More still to come.
I myself don't even know they can defeat Nigeria @Croatia
Now we have defeated Iceland. Improved performance and this should help our confidence.
If we play exactly like we did against Iceland, we can defeat Argentina too.
Argentina don't play as team at all, no single link up play!
No doubt at all. This will help our confidence and i hope we win them too.
I hope so too.
I always say that the ball is round, surprise, I do not think, in Argentina, each player wants to be the protagonist, not play as a team. Good for Croatia. Greeting
Yes, everyone has been saying this and you are right. They should have put Messi's chances to use or better still, create better chances for him and he would duly bury them. That's what Portugal do for Ronaldo...they simply create the chance for him and he turns up.
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