Defensive play
A lot of teams are playing 5 in midfield and choking the opposition. When both teams deploy such tactics it becomes like watching 2 snakes dueling, neither able to maneuver, locked in an embrace to avoid certain death.
Some have said this is down to first match nerves or teams not wanting a negative start to the tournament. I'm not so sure. Teams are coached to play in a certain way, they may slightly alter this from match to match but their general style is based on what the coach feels best utilises the players that they have. Unless up against far superior opponents (where defensive, cautious play is preferable - in the case of North Korea Vs Brazil) teams will generally play their "Plan A" approach, and unfortunately it looks for many teams like that is a negative one (see Japan Vs Cameroon, Slovenia Vs Algeria or even Portugal Vs Ivory Coast)The Jabulani
Allegedly all the wayward shooting is down to the new ball! Anyone who regularly watches football will surely have seen more than their fair share of wayward long range shots, whether it be the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A most shots from distance sail far wide or are ballooned over the bar. The players who regularly execute these shots well are few and far between and at the World Cup it's no different. Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso seemed to have no trouble keeping the ball down.
Vuvuzuelas
Yes, they are annoying and Yes, you do get used to them but the absence of proper crown noise - chanting, singing and general oohs and ahs are sorely missing from this World Cup. What will it be like in latter stages during a penalty shoot-out? The crowd falls silent as the player approaches the penalty spot - not a chance! Whether he scores, misses or strips off it will be the same drone of the plastic horns!
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