It's shaving Cream (5 things - Week 65)

Well, I used to think it’s shaving cream. But apparently, it's called, rather imaginatively, the "Vanishing Foam".

Just in case you missed out on the question (from last week’s blog), it was “What is the foamy stuff the referees at the World Cup are using to mark the location of the ball and the human wall during freekicks??”

It is good that it ain't any shaving cream brand on the market. I've found that these said markings on the pitch disappear in a minute or two. Not the best advertisement for any brand. Before we leave the subject, and I know the following is highly sexist, but it's really funny.

And just in case you had a doubt, the topic for this week will also be Football, specifically the FIFA World Cup that is being held in Brazil (see pic below).

I had remarked last week that I’ll be milking the imaginary teats (no pun intended) of this World cup cow. Well, if I had to compare this imaginary cow to another imaginary cow, it would be the ‘Kamadhenu’, the mythical sacred Indian cow. Like its mythical counterpart, this World Cup is turning out to be a gift that keeps on giving.

Last week, we talked about the spectacular goals, the really stupid red cards, the improbable results and the last gasp finishes. It was more of the same, and some more this week. As the first round drew to an end yesterday, and as half the teams got on the flight back home, we'll look at five major incidents from the first round.

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1. The goal of the tournament so far

Okay, there can never be an unanimous decision on this. So, I’m just going to punt for a personal favourite – THAT Tim Cahill goal against the Netherlands. Though Australia must have already left Brazil after their exit, they did themselves no harm with some spectacular, albeit unsuccessful, performances.

Many contenders have already put their names in the hat for the goal of the tournament, and you can expect more as the competition progresses into the latter stages.

2, The save of the tournament so far

Talking about hats, how’s this for one??

The Brazilians must have really felt that such a hat was blocking their path to the inside of the Mexican goalpost. Frustrating is never a compliment, unless you are associating it with a goalkeeper. And the Mexican Goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa earned his frustration badge, as he helped his side to a 0-0 draw with Brazil.

3. The pass of the tournament so far

If I’ve to be totally honest with you, neither did I watch the match, nor did I see this pass until like one minute before. From the match reports and post-match discussions on the social forums, I knew this pass was good. But deep within, I just felt that it was hype. But it ain’t.

This pass from Joel Campbell of Costa Rica to set up his teammate Marco Ureña score against Uruguay was, for a better word, AWESOME. And the Costa Ricans have been the story of the tournament so far. Drawn in Group D with three Top 10 FIFA ranked teams, a group the media was quick to term the “Group of Death”, the minnows Costa Ricans have come out of the group in the first place, without tasting defeat at the hands of the giants.

A “David vs Goliath” story is always an attractive preposition and the story continues as they take on Greece in the next stage of the World Cup.

4. The best defensive unit so far

Again, if I’ve to be honest with you, I like to watch games where both teams are attacking – it gives the match an edge we all like to see. And when I sat down to watch the Argentina vs Iran match, it was basically to see the Argentine attacking quartet of Messi, Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria, take apart the minnows from Asia. Well, it was not to be.

Even though they fell to a brilliant Messi strike in the added minutes of the second half, the Iranians held their fort against the Argentines and was more than a handful when they counter attacked. Another team which left the World Cup with pride in my opinion.

5. The ‘Oh my GOD!! How can he be so stupid?” moment

There was this stupid headbutt from Pepe on a Muller sitting on the floor.

There was then this punch from Song on Mandzukic on his back. (graphics might be exaggerated).

But, like you must have heard, Suarez bit Chelini. Again. For the third time in his career in fact. That's right, Ladies and Gentlemen. A grown man, a professional, playing under the watchful eyes of the entire world biting a fellow professional.

That takes the cake (again, no pun intended).

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Well, there wasn't any match today. So hope this would have sated your football hunger. I know this ain't no World Cup, but at least I tried..:D ;)

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Well, that's all for this week.

Hope you have a great weekend.

'til next week.