Sam Malcolmson: Brazilliance drives home why Qatarrible must be ditched

Photo / AP

Opinion

Goodbye Qatar, hello Australia. That's my message to Fifa, which needs to swallow its pride and switch the venue for the 2022 World Cup. This amazing tournament in Brazil has further emphasised why Qatar is a terrible choice.

The World Cup works by far the best in football hotbeds or countries with potential to become one. The supporters in Brazil, emblazoned in national colours, have shown an unbridled passion that leaps across our TV screens and cannot be replicated in a non-footballing country like Qatar.

Many supporters like to go for a drink after games and party on, as is happening in Brazil. I have made friends for life in social gatherings at other World Cups, and I doubt that kind of atmosphere can emerge in a place like Qatar, particularly as there will be alcohol restrictions.

The heat has been problem enough in Brazil. What's it going to be like in Qatar where temperatures rise to over 50C? Fifa's belated plan to change the dates to a cooler period is outrageous - the World Cup should not affect domestic leagues to accommodate a country that will never be a footballing stronghold. For my money, Australia - a committed football nation with huge growth potential - could and should host the 2022 World Cup. How amazing that would be for football in this part of the world.

What else have we learned? Thirty two teams is perfect. It provides an easy-to-follow draw and quality across the board.

UEFA president Michel Platini should scrap his hair-brained idea of 40 teams.

It's been a brilliant World Cup so far but despite the avalanche of goals, many goalkeepers are rightly receiving the kudos.

I can't remember another World Cup where goalkeepers have rivalled strikers for attention.

American custodian Tim Howard made a remarkable 16 saves against Belgium, the highest since statistics were first kept at the 1966 tournament. Brazil's Julio Cesar (now at Toronto with Ryan Nelsen), Colombia's David Ospina and Costa Rican Keylor Navas have also starred. But the goalkeeper of the tournament is Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa who has been sensational in every match.

The quality of the ball has played a big part - it flies much truer than the ill-fated version used in South Africa four years ago. Standards are also rising and clubs increasingly view goalkeepers as an 11th outfield player so they must train as such.

When I was in Barcelona last year, it was amazing to see the disciplines required to be a top-class keeper.

As well as doing the normal training, the amount of flexibility, strength and agility work had to be seen to be believed.

Yoga and pilates have also become important.