Oling torn about Cup

No column about the World Cup can be written without checking in on local soccer nut Guy Oling. The former Aragon boys' coach and now referee on the Peninsula, in addition to still playing competitively, has been to six of the last seven World Cups, dating back to the 1982 Cup in Spain. Oling missed the 2002 event in Japan/South Korea and a trip to South Africa may be in doubt this year because of a torn Achilles tendon suffered while playing in a tournament. Plus, he's teaching summer school. But when it comes to Oling and the World Cup, never say never. "There might be a chance," Oling said, who added he had just gotten off the phone with a buddy as they looked into getting plane tickets. Oling reels off the stories from previous World Cups as if they happened yesterday. Four years ago in Germany, Oling was back and forth about whether to go. I called him one afternoon only to learn that he was walking through the airport at JFK in New York, going to his connecting flight to Europe. He arrived at the U.S.-Italy game three hours before kickoff. He even managed to get interviewed by Univision, the Spanish-language network while on the stadium grounds, looking for a ticket. In 1998, he was to be the best man at a friend's wedding. When he found out the wedding date was the day before the U.S.-Germany game in France, he pleaded with the couple to change the date -- until he found out the wedding was in Frankfurt, Germany. "The next morning, I was heading off to Paris," Oling said. Even better, he convinced the newlyweds to accompany him to the game. They blew off their Mediterranean honeymoon to watch the match. In 1994, it was easy -- the World Cup was here in the United States and many games were played in Palo Alto. He also managed to get a ticket to the Brazil-Italy final in Pasadena. In 1990, Oling was already in Europe on tour with his club soccer squad, 1986 was in Mexico, so that was an easy jaunt. In 1982, he just happened to be in Europe at the time the Cup was being played in Spain. If Oling doesn't make it to South Africa, at least he'll have an excuse -- an injury prevented him from making the trip. But as he said, "You never know." *** The first round of World Cup pool play finished up Wednesday with the biggest shocker of the tournament thus far coming when Switzerland upset tournament-favorite Spain, 1-0. Although I am a huge Spain fan, it was great to see. Why? I have said this many times, but I truly believe in the game of soccer, more than any other sport, the best team does not always win. Spain's loss proves my point. The Spaniards, at one point, held a 3-to-1 shot advantage and, as usual, controlled and dictated the pace of play. Spain dominated the game and, in the first half, it just seemed it would only be a matter of time until Spain found the back of the net. But employing a similar strategy the U.S. team used to beat Spain in the Confederations Cup last year -- maintaining a strong defensive presence in the middle of the field -- Switzerland pulled off the unthinkable. Well, not really the unthinkable. All an inferior team needs is that one lucky break, that weird bounce that catches a goalkeeper off guard or a missed defensive assignment to knock off the superior team. The U.S. accomplished that with a tie against England, a game many experts predicted would be won by the Three Lions. Twelve years ago in France, Iran ended a miserable performance by the U.S. by beating the Americans 2-1. There have been a number of examples this World Cup -- Paraguay's 1-1 tie with Italy, North Korea hanging with, but eventually losing, to Brazil. Never underestimate the will of a team playing for its country. There is nothing that brings out the best of a team than national pride. *** FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the Bud Selig of the soccer world. The leader of a sport who is never proactive and is always reacting to what has already happened. Blatter and FIFA, just by the nature of the sport, are under constant scrutiny for one reason or another. But his latest challenge are the annoying horns -- the vuvuzelas -- being blasted at every game in South Africa. Watching on television, it sounds like a swarms of bees are hovering right above the microphones. Despite constant complaints from broadcasters, players and fans around the world, Blatter refuses to ban the damn things, claiming he would not infringe on any cultural aspect of South Africa. Blatter made this decision, despite the fact cultural experts in South Africa say the vuvuzelas have nothing to do with the African culture. Africans are all about singing and dancing, not blowing on some stupid piece of plastic. If vuvuzelas are part of South African culture, what are they to Oakland A's fans? That's right, there is a small group of hard-core A's fans that blow on those horns and bang drums at home games. As far as I know, they do not call them vuvuzelas -- or I should say, they didn't. I don't know if they call them that now. But if I were those Oakland fans, I'd be sure to let the world know they were using them at sporting events long before the South Africans were. Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.