Soccer - more handball and acting than anything else?

I have to ask myself this question after watching the game between Ghana and Uruguay. I never thought I would find myself writing about soccer, but look at me now. I blame it on the Uruguayan cry babies.

After Suarez stopped Adiyiah's ball with his hand - and before the crucial penalty shoot-out my mum predicted Ghana's loss saying: "football just isn't fair anymore." The penalty shoot-out proved her right. But if it's not fair, what is it then?

Judging from tonight's match, I would say: 20% effort, 60% acting and 20% handball, which explains why it's possible for a bunch of cowards to move on to the next level of ayobaness.

Unfortunately, if that's what it takes to win, Ghana didn't stand a chance with their 100% high performance and non-stop committed team play nor with their (at least) three would-be successful goal attempts if it weren't for the desperate Uruguayan fly-jumps. (Fly-jump is a new terminology in the soccer dictionary due to tonight's match and is described as a player throwing himself in front of an opposing player to prevent him from scoring.)

As if their unprofessional fly-jumps weren't enough, they had a whole repertoire of dirty tricks up their sleeves including a touch of handball, grabbing the opposing team's shorts or tossing and turning on the ground in "writhing" pain like a cry baby (often just because a Ghanian player was breathing too close.)

Throughout the game, Uruguay proved that they can act: not play. They only scored on free-kicks and penalties because they are uncapable of producing their own goal opportunities. There is a reason why Uruguay haven't reached the semi-finals since the 1970's. They can't play ball!! In my opinion they qualify for an Oscar Award rather than anything else. And if they leave South Africa without the golden Oscar, I scouted at least two player on the field who might have a brilliant volleyball career ahead of them.

As Abreu tapped in the final penalty-kick and Uruguay raised Suarez in false triumph and pride as he mockingly re-enacted his hand block, I didn't share their joy. I felt disgust.

Unfortunately, in the eyes of too many the winner is the hero no matter what the means are. That is why we now have to listen to people who say: 'Oh my God, Uruguay is such a great team. They are brilliant. AMAZING' (or worse read it in the sport section in the newspaper, written by a journalist who we're supposed to take seriously.) Somehow a team can get away with anything these days.

Soccer isn't fair.

If it was, Ghana would've gotten their well-deserved goal rather than penalty when Suarez pulled a Maradona. There would have been a rule saying that 'ah, that's a goal. No penalty needed.' Ghana would've gotten their well-deserved place in the semi-final. And if that was the case Guyan wouldn't have to carry the burden of skimming the crossbar.

Ironically, Uruguay "succeeded" with their filthy tricks and won even though Ghana was, without any doubt, the best team (especially during the extra-time when the ball was rarely seen at the foot of an aspiring Uruguyan actor.) Ghana played honest and impressively good soccer with amazing back-headers and graceful interceptions. Soccer like you rarely see it.

At least I know who's the hero and who's the villain of tonight's match. And I hope the villains get what they deserve eventually.

GO HOLLAND!