Eljero Elia did not get the goal his cameo deserved, but in 23 minutes he at least enlivened another underwhelming afternoon at the 2010 World Cup.
The tournament reached its fourth day still seeking its first great game.
This certainly wasn?t it; but in Elia it has located its first great surprise, a bundle of pure energy, typically Dutch in his direct approach to goal, sending a spark of excitement around the Soccer City stadium the moment he was introduced.
Not that this could be heard above the world?s most uninspiring noise, of course.
Nuances such as the ebb and flow of the crowd?s connection with the finest players must merely be guessed at, now that the atmosphere has been surrendered to the cursed vuvuzelas.
Too much a part of South African culture to be restricted, we can only tolerate them and hope, in time, fans grow as tired of blowing them as the rest of the planet is of hearing them. Robin van Persie will be a convert, though.
He had already been booked for a foul on Simon Kjaer when he continued playing after Stephane Lannoy, the referee, had blown for an infringement, eventually putting the ball in the net.
The tournament reached its fourth day still seeking its first great game.
This certainly wasn?t it; but in Elia it has located its first great surprise, a bundle of pure energy, typically Dutch in his direct approach to goal, sending a spark of excitement around the Soccer City stadium the moment he was introduced.
Not that this could be heard above the world?s most uninspiring noise, of course.
Nuances such as the ebb and flow of the crowd?s connection with the finest players must merely be guessed at, now that the atmosphere has been surrendered to the cursed vuvuzelas.
Too much a part of South African culture to be restricted, we can only tolerate them and hope, in time, fans grow as tired of blowing them as the rest of the planet is of hearing them. Robin van Persie will be a convert, though.
He had already been booked for a foul on Simon Kjaer when he continued playing after Stephane Lannoy, the referee, had blown for an infringement, eventually putting the ball in the net.
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