Sepp Blatter may not enjoy broadcasting his presence at matches anymore, but there has been much for the FIFA president to be proud of in Brazil so far.
After the kick-off in Sao Paulo 17 breathless days ago, which came amid rising tensions on the streets due to escalating costs, the football has been utterly fantastic.
It’s too early to be applying “best ever” monikers, but it’s difficult to recall a group stage which has had so many fine goals, tense moments and such consistent quality.
The first two days had an element of controversy with Fred’s dubious dive earning a penalty with a distinct home flavour, while Mexico’s Giovani Dos Santos and Edin Dzeko (later on) would have added to their goal hauls if not for assistant referees’ errant flags.
The negative, pragmatic football of South Africa 2010 is a forgotten memory and even if the tournament continues at 75 per cent of its current pace, any predictions over the death of international football would be grossly exaggerated.
Finding a reason for why there have been 2.83 goals per game compared to South Africa’s 2.27 and 2.3 in Germany 2006 is difficult to fully identify.
However, what is true is that those who have set out to attack have succeeded, and those who have not have suffered.
The ‘European’ model of containment first has looked outmoded and stale: Spain undoubtably have a promising future but this current squad looked expired rather than experienced.
Italy paid the penalty for two pretty drab performances against Costa Rica and Uruguay in games they could and should have won, especially after the zesty display against England.
Portugal, meanwhile, may have the reigning Ballon d’Or winner but either don’t know how to get the best out of him or he doesn’t know how to get the best out of Portugal.
Paolo Bento’s unrelenting desire to play three deep-lying midfielders also stifled any creativity outside of Cristiano Ronaldo.
It’s been the energetic, attacking sides who have impressed: the Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, France and the United States.
It said a lot for the tournament that within three hours of Luis Suarez’s bite on Giorgio Chiellini, we witnessed one of the tournament’s great individual displays from Colombia’s James Rodriguez against Japan.
The World Cup, it seemed, was fighting back. Looking ahead to the last 16, long may it continue.
