Maniche’s Strike

6/25/2006: Portugal 1 – Holland 0

What is they say about hockey, especially the brand of it played in North America ? Something about a hockey game breaking out in the middle of a fight ? This soccer game resembled a hockey game from the beginning with its very physical style, harsh fouls, head butts, slapping and pushing, and oh yes, a World Cup record 16 yellow and 4 red cards. When it was over, each team was reduced to nine men, and Portugal had made a 23rd minute strike by Maniche stand up for the victory.

Despite the ugly characteristics of this game, it was that badness that made this game the highly entertaining and dramatic spectacle that it became. Say what you must about the poor performance of referee Valentin Ivanov (FIFA itself thinks he should given himself a yellow card), but I think he had a rough job from the beginning because these two teams do not appear to like each other. While that did not give him license to make himself a major actor in this drama and also influence the future of the winner (for example by giving Deco a yellow card for a silly infraction rather than issuing a warning, a card that now takes Deco out of Portugal’s next game), the players also have to be accountable for their own actions. This game may have been better controlled by a better personality but I’m not sure that is a certainty either.

Maybe the bad blood between the two squads started when Portugal defeated Holland in the 2004 European Championships on a goal by Nuno Maniche. In my opinion, Maniche’s has the strongest shot in modern professional football. In that 2004 game, he showcased his cannon with a brilliant goal that traveled the entire area before beating Van Der Sar at the second post. Unlike Maxi Rodriguez’s magical looping shot against Mexico yesterday, that shot back then was on a rope.

In the 23rd minute, Portugal’s Maniche struck against the Dutch again. Deco sent in a cross from the right side targeted for Pauletta, who passed it to Maniche inside the box. Maniche eluded a defender with a quick dribble, and beat Van Der Sar with an equally quick and powerful shot to the upper right hand corner. This goal was all Portugal would need to win this game.

The shot of Deco and Gio, the two Barcelona teammates watching the dying minutes from the steps leading up to the grandstand, was antithetical to what transpired on the pitch, but it was the closest thing to an image of the “time to make friends” motto that was envisioned for this tournament. The fact is that these two teams have now established a fierce rivalry, one which many fans, including this one, will look forward to with great anticipation in future competitions.