I was pouring scorn on the ball issue before the cup started but I've watched about 6 games now and have only seen a handful of long range shots (and crosses for that matter) where the ball has gone where the striker intended. I thought last night Forlan had demonstrated how to strike the ball until the replay showed the defender doing a Paul Parker.
Generally almost all the teams have been disappointing to far. It is interesting though to note that the Germans are the only team to have looked good, all their players play in the Bundersliega and they have been using the ball for a year.
It is no excuse, just an interesting observation. It is not as if everyone else is controlling the ball well except us, it is no one seems to be controlling it but the Germans.