Day 29: Of Golden Ball and Brass Band

BERLIN

Ageism: 61 Mundial years
Pallor: Grey
Forecast: 30C (yes, it’s cooling off)

Couple of random items, short post. Let’s start with the personal. Last night, sitting out in the Friedrichstrasse’s Hackescher Market, drinking a Berliner Weisse mit Schuss – a white beer, with red raspberry syrup mixed in (you can also get green). Sort of like sour cream soda with a mild kick -- sounds horrible, but actually quite good.

AP PHOTO

Happy birthday Chris, you big teddy bear.

I’m not a birthday guy, and it wasn’t till around 11 that I mentioned to Brunt – the odd couple from Frankfurt, reunited for a night out -- that it was the b-day. So we had a toast. And that was it. And it was good. As it turned out, it was about to get better.
Eight years ago at France ’98, on the same day, I was with World Cup traveling partner Martin Smith of Journal de Montreal, staying in a small seaside hotel in the little Mediterranean town of La Ciotat, home of cinema pioneers the Lumiere brothers, and had a specially-made bouillabase birthday dinner prepared in a sandy tented restaurant that remains a favourite memory. We were there for three days before the semifinal in Marseille. It was a great way to unwind after the craziness of following this tournament in a leased minivan we dubbed the Hearse.
Apart from the unwinding, this is very different. One of the notable things about being in Berlin for the World Cup final is that it’s like any great and enormous city when a big event comes to town – there are always places where the World Cup doesn’t exist, and this was one of them. After a month here being surrounded by it, this was a welcome escape zone.
A three-piece Latin jazz band played for a while. Then as we were getting ready to leave, a 14-piece brass band moved slowly into the square, playing as they advanced, complete with a baton twirler and a women in a sort-of cowboy outfit tossing a silver hoop up in the air. Tricks and brass no-wave mashing -- a little bit of Latin, a little bit of Lounge Lizards, a hint of New Orleans and more. You can't beat it.
Then they played happy birthday for someone. I mentioned to the cowbell girl that it was my birthday too. So of course they did it again, and at the finish, one of the percussionists came over, threw her cymbals to the ground at my feet and bowed. I hooted and applauded, and the band, Brooklyn’s riotous Hungry March Band (for a WMP sample, go here) are playing tonight and tomorrow here as part of a European tour. So it’s a date, then.
As for the footy, Germany's Lukas Podolski has been named the best Young Player of the tournament, and FIFA released the shortlist for the Golden Ball award given to the World Cup's most outstanding player. I don't have a vote, but if I did I'd go with Fabio Cannavaro, Italy’s stalwart defender and, for my money, the most influential player here. Here’s the field, feel free to tell me I’m wrong and you’re right with your choice:

Thierry Henry, France
Patrick Vieira, France
Zinedine Zidane, France
Michael Ballack, Germany
Miroslav Klose, Germany
Fabio Cannavaro, Italy
Gianluigi Buffon, Italy
Andrea Pirlo, Italy
Gianluca Zambrotta, Italy
Maniche, Portugal

Comments

[amishd]

Without a doubt Zidane...the French are this far because of this playmaking and his leadership......

[alex]

Shouldn't Lilian Thuram be somewhere on that list?

[cy]

I'm with you Alex. I'd put Thuram ahead of Vieira. As for Zidane, he was suspended for the group finale and looked ordinary the previous two matches. He's been amazing in the knockouts - even though he wilted in the semi he was still able to make plays with his smarts and vision. The greatest player of his generation? Yes. The best player at this tournament, start to finish? I think Cannavaro hasn't put a foot wrong up to now. He has been relentless.

[Peter]

I think a case could be made for Buffon. The Italian team has certainly its share of stars that are deservedly being recognized, but above all the outstanding play of Buffon has been the ace up their sleeve. Without his stalwart performace against Australia and his outright robbery of the Germans, Italy is nowhere. It certainly must be frustrating for teams to find a weakness in the Italian defense only to be foiled by the best keeper in the world today, bar none.

[alex]

I'd sacrifice Henry for Thuram...Viera's play against Togo and Spain was too influential to ignore. I think Henry's been threatening this tournament, but his biggest contribution is his reputation, always drawing defenders' attention (except for that goal against Brazil); however, his play has been subpar for me.
I'd love to see Ribery on this list...and Ronaldo would have made a better candidate for Portugal instead of Maniche. As much as I dislike Ronaldo, he's been dangerous the entire tournament.

[Ido Visentin]

Buffon best goalie - made the saves when he had too. Zidane best midfielder - though Pirlo might have been more consistant. Klose the most dynamic goal scorer. Fabio Cannavaro the most dominant, consistant player at any position on any team. Possibly the best defending we'll ever see in a majour tournament.

[Ray La Flèche]

Zizou will be chosen. France will win because of him. If you watch game film of the 1956-1960 vintage Doug Harvey winning those 5 Cups in a row, or if you think back to Michael Jordan come playoff time; you can see how Zizou is that level of player. Like those two all-time greats he can actually completely dictate the play, the cadence, the pace, the ball AND his mates.