After Wednesday's semi-final match with Spain, Germany's coach Joachim Löw indicated that his team was physically exhausted because they spent 90+ minutes chasing the ball. It made me think of coyotes and the game of squash.
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The coyote will primarily eat small mammals - squirrels, mice, and the like. They stalk these unfortunate animals and pounce to kill.
When hunting much larger prey like deer (much larger than themselves), the game is different, calling for other tactics. Here, coyotes will tend to hunt in packs. One or more coyote will chase the deer while the others wait, then the next group will pick up the chase. Working in teams like this, the deer becomes exhausted, making it easier to kill. Such hunts last anywhere from a few to as many as 20 hours or more.
They are patient, persistent, and committed to the cause with firm belief that eventually they will achieve their goal by simply exhausting their prey.
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Tony Cascarino aptly described Spain as "the squash player who dominates the centre of the court [the "T"], commanding the best positions and dictating the play while the opponent scurries awkwardly and desperately around the edges, struggling to keep up, unable to do anything more than stay alive in the rally."
I know - I play squash. And, it doesn't matter that I'm in very good physical shape - when my opponent makes me run, I lose by a cruel death of exhaustion. Better players beat lesser players by simply exhausting them.
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I've read a few articles/comments posted by various bloggers describing Spain's game as slow and boring. Boring? Well, that boils down to personal taste. Slow? Ask the Germans.
PHOTOS:
Coyote stalking prey (naturalsciences.org).
Controlling midfield (the "T") in a game of squash (fnetravel.com).
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