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?
Ken Bailey's Probation Officer
Guest
For me, the 1990 World Cup was the best ever. What it lacked in goals it more than made up for in drama, tension... the England games against Cameroon and Germany were both marvellous, as was England's last kick in extra time win over the Belgians. And it did get going occasionally - 5 goals in the England - Cameroon game and West Germany's demolition of the Yugoslavs. I think this World Cupp has failed to match the last one for excitement and atmosphere though. Maybe the vuvuzelas are spoiling things?
Bazza
Guest
7 goals to Portugal in the world's most beautiful stadium. Boring? Don't think so... GO PORTUGAAAAAAAAALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
Not at all, love an upset. Happy about the NZL ITA result, didn't see the game though. I actually thought DPR Korea was doing pretty well last night, they were doing quite a bit of attacking from what I saw before I went to bed (at my age I can't stay up past 10 pm on a school night any more). I'm from regional Qld so RL is my first love as far as football codes go. I usually watch the socceroos, and keep an eye on the Brisbane Roar when I get a chance. I've got no interest in the EPL, whats the point of a comp that only 3 or 4 teams can win? My point about the boring knockout stage comes from the last WC. I was really enjoying the group stages last time (AUS v Croatia - brilliant) but then I lost interest, everybody just seemed to be playing too safe. I can hardly remember a shot on goal in the AUS ITA game before the Grosso dive
Greg
Guest
I enjoy a close defensive minded game rather than a blow out score such as Portugal's 7 goals against N Korea. I enjoy football for it's unpredictability and drama associated with close games. A chance taken or missed (such as Chipperfield's headed first touch over the bar, and Wilkshire's one on one with the keeper). Those chances become what ifs and add drama. If they are in the context of a blow out result they are meaningless, but with a drawn or one goal game they have real meaning.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I thought the Americans solved this by just reporting the draw as a win. the beat the Poms 1-1
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
That's right Savvas no playing it safe for us. Last minute comebacks, red cards galore and plenty of profanity are guaranteed when the Socceroos are in action. Without our performance the goal average from the first round would have been much worse. It's down to ourselves and North Korea as to who of the teams that aren't that skillful are still doing a good job keeping the neutral punters happy.
James D
Guest
Not a lack of goals for mine instead - a lack of results. Call me old fashioned but i dont see how you can get so excited about games where no one won. Australia drew and they are treated like champions for showing pride in the jersey, NZ drew (in a game that should have been 0-0) and are treated by the media like world champions, SA were treated like champions after drawing the first game... i just dont undersand why drawing is soo remarkable and hence why i have found this draw riddled world cup quite boring. I know everyone will say they performed really well hence the praise but if they performed that well maybe they should have won?? A draw is sometimes an accurate result for the game both teams played as well as eachother and this is fine in small doses - but when there is a draw (especially goalless ones) every single night i find it tough to be excited by that. Thisis just my opinion though. This is the primary reason the American mainstream market (the last market left for soccer to win) is being struggled to be won over by soccer - Americans crave winners - look at all the seven game or five game series finals to figure out a winner and ensure there is no draw.
Savvas Tzionis
Guest
Australia was value because every game they were in was riveting. (I support Greece but want Argentina to win as they play the best football). Chile's win (in spite of the diabolical referee) was far more meritorious and enjoyable than the shellacking handed out to the North Koreans.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Australia was value because you live in Australia !! (I assume..) Did you prefer the 1-0 Chile win or the 7-0 Portugal win?
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
So you preferred the 7-0 Portugal win over an upset then? It's not a criticism, I'm interested in how people are viewing it. Are you a big football fan or just watch every now and then? I don't think teams can afford to play "not to lose" in knockout rounds, it backfires because your opposition is of higher quality and someone has to win.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
I'm not saying they have any other option, the weaker teams are obviously more concerned with getting a result than playing the beautiful game, and who can blame them? Doesn't make for scintillating viewing though. Hopefully in the later rounds we will get more evenly matched teams attacking each other. My fear though is that we will get teams trying not to lose rather than trying to win, and thats when we end up with diving and head butts
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
But what do they do? If Switzerland attack Spain, Korea DPR attack Brazil - they get flogged 3-0, 4-0 or ... 7-0.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
lack of goals in and of itself isn't necessarily boring. Whats boring is defensive tactics, such as one team doing all the attacking and another team defending for 0-0 or maybe pinching a 1-0 win on the break. Last nights Parramatta-Newcastle game was good despite the score finishing 6-4 because both teams were having a crack. If you think the WC is boring now wait until the knock out stages. If it's anything like the last one everybody will be too scared to do any attacking at all, and the dives and headbutts will increase dramatically as that will be the only way anybody can score
Savvas Tzionis
Guest
Overall, of course it makes it boring!!! Just look at Italia '90 and the 2006 World Cup as a guide (except for Australia who provided the best value for money of all the teams there). But individual games have a life of their own, Last night Chile v Switzerland was enthralling, yet was only 1-0. Whereas Brazil's 2-1 victory over Korea lacked drama.
The Special One
Guest
That ten minute spell after the first half was pretty good though, after that it was less of a spectacle. Which is why games with high scores such as AFL or Basketball can get pretty boring once one team starts getting hammered.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
That's the question exactly. Did you enjoy POR v PRK? Or did you enjoy SUI v CHI? I know after about an hour of the Portugal game I just thought ... next.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Well I actually enjoyed the first half of Nth Korea vs Portugal more than the second....
The Special One
Guest
What i dont understand is why people expect at a world cup that the sport will fundamentally change and that games will end up 5-4 etc etc. Besides its more about the chances created. I have seen plenty of chances go begging at this world cup that should be goals. None more so than Switzerland v Chile game this morning where the swiss player missed an open goal to equalise. Dont complain about lack of goals, complain about the standard of finishing at this world cup which has been pretty poor.
PeteHarrison
Roar Rookie
My opinion is that football has always been about drama and tension, and the unpredictable nature of the game. A low scoring game ads to this. While people who don't like/understand the game make jokes about "thrilling nil-all draws", the truth is, that a low scoring game can be enough to make you tear your hair out. I think Australia's last match probably showed that.
Kurt
Roar Pro
Well it looks like the Portuguese did their best to turn around that low goals per game average. I wonder what happened to the Dear Leader's inspirational in-game tactical advice? Perhaps that invisible mobile-phone technology experienced some teething problems.