Football & Mud
Watching the world cup it always amazing to see how most of the teams play with skill and significant ball control. The English never seem to be able to do it as well. The first time I noticed this was 1958 when I am some mates used to bunk off school to watch the world cup which was in Sweden, It was the time when Pele emerged as a great player.
it was the first time that most of us in Britain had a chance to see on live television the best players in the world and we were not up there with them and the skills were so obviously lacking, I remember the English centre forward try to trap the ball and it bouncing 10 yards to the opposition player.
Why was this the case, my theory is that it is down the the British weather. Remember football is played throughout the winter, no breaks and it used to be played with a laced up leather ball. If it was wet the ball got heavier and heavier as it soaked up water, however much dubbing was put on it.The pitch often got wet and slightly muddy in places. The idea of dribbling the ball and making precise passes along the ground would have been very difficult, perhaps a few talented players could manage. Certainly a defender would take no chances of the ball bouncing oddly or slowing up in the wet ground, so safety first, boot the ball as far upfield as you could. strength and stamina in those conditions were more important than skills.
On a related footballing topic I note that people claim that foreigners are always diving. When I was but a lad I often went to Spurs with my Dad. On one occasion I remember going by myself and being on the train from Liverpool St to White Hart Lane. It was one of those trains with compartments and the conversation turned to a Sours centre forward called Len Duquemin. he scores more goals by falling over tan any other method. but as always in such stories someone said but you should have seen, must admit I don't recall the name, who played before the war! Remember this all took place in the mid fifties. So diving is nothing new and the Brits probably invented it.
it was the first time that most of us in Britain had a chance to see on live television the best players in the world and we were not up there with them and the skills were so obviously lacking, I remember the English centre forward try to trap the ball and it bouncing 10 yards to the opposition player.
Why was this the case, my theory is that it is down the the British weather. Remember football is played throughout the winter, no breaks and it used to be played with a laced up leather ball. If it was wet the ball got heavier and heavier as it soaked up water, however much dubbing was put on it.The pitch often got wet and slightly muddy in places. The idea of dribbling the ball and making precise passes along the ground would have been very difficult, perhaps a few talented players could manage. Certainly a defender would take no chances of the ball bouncing oddly or slowing up in the wet ground, so safety first, boot the ball as far upfield as you could. strength and stamina in those conditions were more important than skills.
On a related footballing topic I note that people claim that foreigners are always diving. When I was but a lad I often went to Spurs with my Dad. On one occasion I remember going by myself and being on the train from Liverpool St to White Hart Lane. It was one of those trains with compartments and the conversation turned to a Sours centre forward called Len Duquemin. he scores more goals by falling over tan any other method. but as always in such stories someone said but you should have seen, must admit I don't recall the name, who played before the war! Remember this all took place in the mid fifties. So diving is nothing new and the Brits probably invented it.
Labels: football skill, World Cup
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