Have your say: Myanmar deliver

Myanmar delivered an epic game against the United States, and while they lost the game they won the crowd.

Just as my appetite for football was beginning to pall as a reaction to the endemic corruption amongst Fifa officialdom, along came the opening match of the Fifa Under 20 World Cup in Whangarei between USA and Myanmar - a match-up of David and Goliath proportions.

I was well astray with my prediction of an easy victory to the USA.

The pace, skill and tenacity on display from the Myanmar team was a revelation. Myanmar played a shell-shocked US team off the park in the 1st half.

One can imagine the colourful half-time team talk given by the US coach.

In the 2nd half, the US team used their size and experience to better effect and gained a not wholly deserved or convincing victory.

What I did learn tonight in this global sport is that there is an alternative to the somewhat tedious, one-paced, possession-based style currently in favour. Myanmar may have lost on the scoreboard, but they won the crowd over (and weren't the passionate Myanmar supporters great?).

The relieved US coach admits that his team "won ugly".

But, in these dark days for Fifa, football fans get enough of the "ugly" from Blatter & his cronies. It was time to see some beauty.

And on a winter evening in Whangarei an unheralded Myanmar team delivered just that. Thank you, Myanmar! And thank you Whangarei.

Peter Garelja
Whangarei

What did you think of the game? Comment below.