I was as excited as anyone about this World Cup, however, as I sit at lunch watching another less than inspiring group game, I have to say that I am finding this World Cup the most boring I have ever seen.

The facts:

Prior to play today, there have been 23 goals in 14 games. That is 5 less than any other World Cup finals EVER after the same amount of games.

There were 31 at the same point in 2006 (and 8 goals in the next 2 games also).

The problems:

The ball
No doubt a good deal to blame for some of this - the players cannot control it, I don't think I have seen one quality free kick yet. The Brazilian left back hit a shot from a free kick last night that behaved in a way I don't think I have ever seen before, and I am sure Maicon's (fluke) goal was at least partly due to the ball.

Squads
We have been unlucky with injuries - Robben, Nani, Ballack, Essien, etc, but...

No Ronaldinho, Pato, or Adriano for Brazil, no Cassano for Italy, no Benzema for France, no Nick Carle for the Roos?!?!? Some of the great entertainers in World Football have simply been left out of squads. Tell me Ronaldinho wouldn't have added a bit of spark to last night's match vs North Korea.

Tactics
4-2-3-1. We are over it. The 4-1-4-1 was bad enough, but what an idea to get a second holding midfielder in there to sure up the back. It is the tactic of choice for the majority of teams at the cup, and the primary reason for fans sleeping their way through matches. Dunga should be shot for putting this style formation into play for Brazil - bring back the flair, ffs, you have the players for it. The muppet nearly got what he deserved against North Korea last night because of his team's style of play. I am holding onto hope that Spain can knock a few in today, but I have read that they too are just going with the one up-front...

The Seeding System
The real problem though, is that the less quality teams are all just trying to park the bus when they play the better opposition in their groups. Is it time for Fifa to scrap this idea of having seeded teams in the group draw? Who cares if Brazil, Argentina and France (for example) were all in the same group? Does it really matter??

If the seeding system was scrapped, we will see more open games in the group stages, at the moment every group has at least 3 out of the 6 games as tepid, defensive affairs, where the unseeded teams try to hold out for a draw against the seeded teams. If the seeding system was abolished, then more groups are open, and more games interesting and exciting.

*** EDIT - I forgot
Vuvuzelas
Ok, great for South Africa's matches and I am all for the culture and all that, but do we have to hear trumpets at every, single, fricken game? When Brazil play, I want to hear the drums, when England, the singing, when North Korea, the politically sensored applause...

Anyway, just putting it out there as I sit here in the middle of another 1-0 snore-fest between Chile and Honduras. Maybe the second half will be better.

Edited by jhayward: 16/6/2010 10:45:23 PM