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The lack of goals at the World Cup has been the biggest complaint from viewers, and they are right – not much is finding the net and it is making this Cup the lowest scoring in history at the moment. But does that make it boring?
For the neutral one-month loving football fan, it probably does. These fans don’t love surprises and upsets thanks to masterful tactical organization as much as goals.
For football lovers, it probably doesn’t. It’s special to see some of the perennial World football powers be knocked off their perch – even if it is only for the time being.
Many simply want to celebrate the winless run of Italy, which has not won at this World Cup, or this year.
In essence, if you want to see goals or points scored every minute or two, football is probably not your sport.
But at less than two goals a game, this tournament is struggling when it comes to finding the net.
Shock horror, after 29 games, the 57 goals scored at 1.96 per game is the lowest scoring Cup in history.
It falls behind the previous holder of 2.21 in 1990.
But boy has there been some amazing surprises in South Africa so far, along with some late goals.
The biggest have probably come from games involving the New Zealand All Whites.
Previously without a point, a late steal from Slovakia and then holding Italy to draws has seen them pick up two in as many games.
What an achievement. Who would’ve expected it, particularly against Italy?
The other huge surprise was the upset of the European champions first up.
Spain was good without creating anything decisive and Switzerland took its chance for a 1-0 win.
Serbia shocked Germany 1-0 to open up Group D and you could say South Africa’s opening day draw with Mexico was also a surprise, although the host nation has always progressed to the next stage and has never lost an opening game.
England, too, was on the wrong end of a surprise – a 0-0 draw with Algeria with the English unable to break down a stubborn defence.
There have been many late goals, with 14 of the 57 scored in the final quarter of an hour.
That’s almost 25 per cent of the goals, two of which have been match winners.
Three have been late equalizers and five have sealed results late on.
This World Cup doesn’t have the thrashings we can sometimes see.
The climate has helped with the winter tournament allowing teams to defend strongly for long periods of time without too much wear.
Do we need goals for entertainment and do goals decide whether a tournament is good or great?
Are people bored during games, watching powerful nations attempt to break down stubborn defences? Or are we simply happy to watch the minor nations cause huge boilovers?
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