Negative game, positive result

Miller, who looks like a sweet old grandpa but whose cap 8212; procured at some African Cup of Nations 8212; testifies to the grit underneath, was gung-ho about this year8217;s tournament. Every game that he8217;d watched had been excellent.

Then came the rider. 8220;I have nothing against Japan, Korea and the US but I have no time for the football they play. It relies on physical fitness over ball skills and is designed to prevent the other team from playing. It is negative football.8221;

The words came back to me minutes later, as Korea and France went about the business of boring us to death. France, with more talent in Thierry Henry than the entire Korean team put together, were outrun and outfought and, though the match ended in a draw, conceded a moral victory.

Fired by their amazing fan support the Asians never gave up and, as France rested on their one-goal lead 8212; Henry8217;s goal, off a slick pass from Wiltord, breaking an eight-year drought 8212; one sensed that they were leaving themselves open.

That duly happened, and it electrified a match that had gone to sleep, and in which the spectators had more of a presence than any of the 22 men