If World Cups had personalities this one in Germany is suffering from a crisis of identity. We've seen a German nation in the grip of unbridled nationalism. A Brazilian team unsure of itself despite, or perhaps because of, the magic quartet. Argentina full of confidence without a hint of the usual anxiety. Holland united in togetherness. Holland! France performing without the normal swagger. And England, good old England, the last bastion of attacking football, reduced to packing the midfield against mighty Ecuador playing out the last half an hour for a dour 1-0 win.
There has been a lower goals-to-games ratio than in recent times despite the new rounder-than-ever-before-but-swerves-an-awful-lot ball than has led to a rash of long range efforts hitting the back of the net.
Yet, there has been not a suggestion of catennacio at the tournament - except from the Swiss, of course, who departed without conceding a goal. Go figure. Attacking, creative talents are la mode du jour.
Fans have seen red and yellow cards flicker like a bad trip. One too many? No just a Russian teacher with a FIFA accreditation and a Napoleon complex. Time to see a shrink my friends!
Yet, without fear of contradiction, it's a World Cup in which there have been few surprises, actually. Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, England and Germany all made it through to the knock out stages with just a moment's pause for thought.
Finally the Brazilians came to life in their third group game against Japan, with the phenomenal one, Ronaldo, scoring twice despite the grotesque nature of his weight. Remember folks it's a World Cup, not a freak show.
Spain, Argentina and Germany showed an attacking spirit not matched elsewhere. Beautiful football can be winning football. Jurgen Klinsmann also proved that beautiful football can be also German football. Yes you did read that right. But if the most wasteful of nations in world football are Spain and Argentina - in terms of the talent historically on offer - then they are also the best in the tournament so far. It should be no surprise in this cup of contradictions.
England, what of England? Hopes as always are sky-high. Expectations that can only be fulfilled in ultimate victory. 40 years is a lot of hurt; a lot of self doubt. Yet, strangely England are winning. Like the Germany of old, stuttering through matches in which they should never prevail. Name on the cup? A nation hopes but dare not believe.
Then there is the real dark horse, Italy, in the midst of a national crisis. Without a squad fit to compete, so they said, but slowly and surely progressing with a route through to the semi-finals looking clear and obstacle free. Could this be their year? '70, '82 and '94 - history says they will make the final.
The highlight, however, has been the carefree attacking football of the African teams. Without condescension Togo, Angola, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and especially Ghana attacked to a man. Football as it should be played, with a smile on the face and no little panache. Such a pity that Pelé has been proved so wrong about the continent's chances. Africa deserves more success than it has achieved to date.
What of the final two weeks? With the group stages over perhaps the true World Cup has finally begun… this is where it gets real; where every pass, shot, save, decision and goal matter. No second chances now. No time for doubts. Winner takes all. Time for the quality to show. Now it's about personality and the winner will have the strongest, of that there is no doubt. The major nations are in the quarter-finals and from here heroes will come to the fore, reputations made and hearts broken. Who will be the iconic player of 2006?
This has been the tournament in which the hatchet man has finally been forced out of office - voted off by FIFA's 23 chosen disciples in black (or neon yellow, red, green and blue as the case may be). The hate and destruction put in its own little box. Meanwhile, the creative talents of Rooney, Riquelme, Ronaldhinho, Totti, Zidane, Xavi and the rest need not fear the fate of so many of their kin before them.
Perhaps officialdom has gone too far though - 16 yellow cards and 4 reds in a single game that witnessed just 25 fouls suggest that may be the case. Let us hope that the concluding matches are not spoilt by the celebrity of the refereeing cult nor the fear or failure. Lest FIFA and the players forget that this tournament is about the fans' entertainment, after all.
Roll on the conclusion. It should be a ball. Round, that is.
Editorial April 06 | Editorial May 06 | Editorial June 06 | Editorial July 06 | Editorial August 06 | Editorial September 06 | Editorial October 06 | Editorial November 06 | Editorial December 06 | Editorial January 07 | Editorial February 07 | Editorial March 07 | Editorial April 07 | Editorial May 07 | Editorial June 07 | Editorial July 07 | Editorial August 07 | Editorial September 07 | Editorial October 07 | Editorial November 07