The end of football
end
What we witnessed was not just a boring match but the end of football. Two teams with great players running around in the middle of the field. Two (2!) shots on target (UEFA has more on its list but they consider giving the goalie back the ball for a goal kick a shot on target). The first real attack (by Spain) was in the 102nd minute! Both teams were too careful, too organized and never reached their forwards. In fact the forwards were substituted for more middlemen. Who needs forwards when attacking is not what you came to do.
CC
With 52 fouls and 9 yellows it was clear both teams took stopping the others as the main focus of the game. Cakir had a hard time. He was very close most of the time and had to move out of the way a lot which may have caused some loss of concentration. He was right with his cards, but his judgment failed him sometimes, especially with Ronaldo (Ronaldo? Did he play?). Every time the Portuguese star fell, he got a free kick.
Bruno Alves fouled badly and did not get booked (later on he did) and there was one instant where Cakir should have played the advantage. A situation that could have resulted in a goal. Maybe, perhaps, who knows .... yeah right.
CC
Those were incidents, on the whole this has been a good tournament for Cakir. I agree with one reporter saying he lacks charisma. Being small does not have to be a problem but lacking charisma is something else. I like to see Cakir at the World Cup. But not in a final.
(@all those who give 4 10s: can't you guys read? 10s are always automatically discarded by the machine, a 100% perfect match, really?)
Match
It was like playing chess: everyone has his place and his role. There are guys who only move sideways, guys who can only pass the ball to a specific other guy. Guys who's task it is to stop the others from passing a certain point, guys who take over the fouling when a team mate has been booked. Sure, there is also a guy who can do what he wants, but he never does because the other team have two guys whose sole task is to stop him.
It'