Technical Down Side Of The World Cup.

The World football shot itself on the foot when it was supposed to have advertised itself as a global number one sport. Refereeing was culprit number one, not that I want to criticise them. It was FIFA's baby. The worst victims to that were hosts South Africa, USA, England and Ghana. I will spare you the details.

There is one concept that all world administrators seem to be blind to. I do not want to think that it is an attribute of theirs to be stupid. Playing football and coaching is not the same. It will not be. Ex-players coaching without qualification is not on. Brazil, of all nations started the ball rolling appointing Dunga. The results of that stupidity speak for themselves.

Argentina broke the moron scale a million times by giving Diego Maradona. That kind of coach usually gets something out of players who want to appease him so he gives less work. Nothing technical. With the talent of that magnitude, they should have reached the semi-final. Diego drew a blank when he really needed to stand up and be counted. I think he should sue the Argentina Football Association for exposing his lunacy.

Foreign coaches for African teams is one thing that should be ended right now. These guys bring in valuable expertise in the game. CAF and Associations must ensure that these coaches from abroad come to give courses and leave. No technical advise and no coaching. We are capable of formulating our way out as per our needs, which we are well versed in. You can only imagine how much money left Africa with these expatriates over the last 4 years and for what? We are yet to see any result from these guys' input. Africa must put on the table the same budget for the next four years and get local coaches and we compare results.

Most teams came to the World Cup very tense. They played not to lose. Italy, France, England and Spain started very negative. Smaller nations like Japan, the two Koreas, Ghana, Algeria, Uruguay and USA pushed the boundaries and were rewarded with performances that we will talk about for a long time.  They attacked relentlessly and were entertaining as a result. It remains to be seen what a FIFA technical committee will have in their analysis in a few months to come.

Barbarism visited Africa in this World Cup, with excessive force applied by many in an effort to win at all cost. We saw raw brutality in the final of the World Cup when the Dutch chopped the Spanish artistes at will. The coach might have encouraged combative appetite from his players, but they surely overdid themselves. Finals are usually extremely tense and negative, but we will not see that senselessness anytime soon.

Those who think know, are saying the standards were low and there were fewer goals scored as a result. The few goals show how not easy the matches were, how much up smaller teams had moved from previous events. The game is revolving and further studies will surely be carried out and tactics are likely to change more in Brazil 2014.

As far as formations are concerned, teams came out with restrictive 1-4-2-3-1 or its several variants like the 1-4-1-4-1. This is a little negative and I hope this dies a natural death. It will not come easy with the loads of money going into the game. No one wants to lose and this will be one sure thing to propagate that negativity. It is the lucky teams that will be scoring goals, and they will need 3 or 4 Diego Forlans and a Suarez.

What was your worst moment in South Africa 2010?

Technical Down Side Of The World Cup.

The World football shot itself on the foot when it was supposed to have advertised itself as a global number one sport. Refereeing was culprit number one, not that I want to criticise them. It was FIFA's baby. The worst victims to that were hosts South Africa, USA, England and Ghana. I will spare you the details.

There is one concept that all world administrators seem to be blind to. I do not want to think that it is an attribute of theirs to be stupid. Playing football and coaching is not the same. It will not be. Ex-players coaching without qualification is not on. Brazil, of all nations started the ball rolling appointing Dunga. The results of that stupidity speak for themselves.

Argentina broke the moron scale a million times by giving Diego Maradona. That kind of coach usually gets something out of players who want to appease him so he gives less work. Nothing technical. With the talent of that magnitude, they should have reached the semi-final. Diego drew a blank when he really needed to stand up and be counted. I think he should sue the Argentina Football Association for exposing his lunacy.

Foreign coaches for African teams is one thing that should be ended right now. These guys bring in valuable expertise in the game. CAF and Associations must ensure that these coaches from abroad come to give courses and leave. No technical advise and no coaching. We are capable of formulating our way out as per our needs, which we are well versed in. You can only imagine how much money left Africa with these expatriates over the last 4 years and for what? We are yet to see any result from these guys' input. Africa must put on the table the same budget for the next four years and get local coaches and we compare results.

Most teams came to the World Cup very tense. They played not to lose. Italy, France, England and Spain started very negative. Smaller nations like Japan, the two Koreas, Ghana, Algeria, Uruguay and USA pushed the boundaries and were rewarded with performances that we will talk about for a long time.  They attacked relentlessly and were entertaining as a result. It remains to be seen what a FIFA technical committee will have in their analysis in a few months to come.

Barbarism visited Africa in this World Cup, with excessive force applied by many in an effort to win at all cost. We saw raw brutality in the final of the World Cup when the Dutch chopped the Spanish artistes at will. The coach might have encouraged combative appetite from his players, but they surely overdid themselves. Finals are usually extremely tense and negative, but we will not see that senselessness anytime soon.

Those who think know, are saying the standards were low and there were fewer goals scored as a result. The few goals show how not easy the matches were, how much up smaller teams had moved from previous events. The game is revolving and further studies will surely be carried out and tactics are likely to change more in Brazil 2014.

As far as formations are concerned, teams came out with restrictive 1-4-2-3-1 or its several variants like the 1-4-1-4-1. This is a little negative and I hope this dies a natural death. It will not come easy with the loads of money going into the game. No one wants to lose and this will be one sure thing to propagate that negativity. It is the lucky teams that will be scoring goals, and they will need 3 or 4 Diego Forlans and a Suarez.

What was your worst moment in South Africa 2010?

2010 FIFA World Cup Standard Very High.

[caption id="attachment_925" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Viva the Champions."][/caption]

The 2010 FIFA World Cup football standards has been seen by many as below par. That is as ill-informed informed as people who first criticised the ball Jabulani because they perceived it to be a South African product, or those who waste their energy on anti-vuvuzela campaigns because the hear the buzz on Television.

By now, you know Germany's Adidas made the ball for FIFA and you saw how the Maanshaft scored with that ball. Crazy enough, the ball was made a year before the World Cup and no league bothered to enforce the use of the ball. South Africa had to use it in the last few games. Next time Associations make sponsorship deals with their ball suppliers, there must be a provision to use a World Cup ball in the year of the World Cup. The Vuvuzela issue, learn to blow one and you are addicted. 

There was so much improvement upwards in the game that those who watched the matches with their hearts and bias to their Superpower teams missed out. In comparison to other tournaments, the gap between the best in the world and the minnows was so huge that matches would be one-sided, making obvious entertainment to an ordinary fan.

In this year's tournament, one needs to look at the Asians teams in particular. They made it difficult for big brothers of the game to play, not by shaolin football of the Dutch, but by raised technical and tactical standards. Korea DPR made Brazil look very ordinary, losing 1-2. Japan almost got to the quarter-final, losing in a penalty shoot-out. South Korea gave excellent performances they can be proud of. New Zealand are the only team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup that did not lose a match. Incredible indeed.

If you look at how the small teams squeezed the results and ejecting big footballing nations off the driving seats, you understand how much of age they have come. Champions Italy, Brazil, Argentina, USA, France and England clearly meant business in their qualifiers until they arrived in Mzansi, but so did Ghana, Japan, Switzerland, Korea DPR and New Zealand.

With light weight Uruguay getting into the top 4, Diego Forlan, and not Messi or Ronaldo getting the Golden Ball and Asamoah Gyan of Ghana out-shooting all strikers are some of the things that must make one think about the level of competition.

When the standards improve, the small nations move up to catch up with those who had monopolised the game for so long. The fact that two teams that had never won the World Cup played the final is another testimony of the high standards of football. It would be nice to see the revolution of football especially in Africa forging ahead.

Where do you think the Asians got it right and what can Africa do to match the Ghana performance?

2010 FIFA World Cup Standard Very High.

[caption id="attachment_925" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Viva the Champions."][/caption]

The 2010 FIFA World Cup football standards has been seen by many as below par. That is as ill-informed informed as people who first criticised the ball Jabulani because they perceived it to be a South African product, or those who waste their energy on anti-vuvuzela campaigns because the hear the buzz on Television.

By now, you know Germany's Adidas made the ball for FIFA and you saw how the Maanshaft scored with that ball. Crazy enough, the ball was made a year before the World Cup and no league bothered to enforce the use of the ball. South Africa had to use it in the last few games. Next time Associations make sponsorship deals with their ball suppliers, there must be a provision to use a World Cup ball in the year of the World Cup. The Vuvuzela issue, learn to blow one and you are addicted. 

There was so much improvement upwards in the game that those who watched the matches with their hearts and bias to their Superpower teams missed out. In comparison to other tournaments, the gap between the best in the world and the minnows was so huge that matches would be one-sided, making obvious entertainment to an ordinary fan.

In this year's tournament, one needs to look at the Asians teams in particular. They made it difficult for big brothers of the game to play, not by shaolin football of the Dutch, but by raised technical and tactical standards. Korea DPR made Brazil look very ordinary, losing 1-2. Japan almost got to the quarter-final, losing in a penalty shoot-out. South Korea gave excellent performances they can be proud of. New Zealand are the only team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup that did not lose a match. Incredible indeed.

If you look at how the small teams squeezed the results and ejecting big footballing nations off the driving seats, you understand how much of age they have come. Champions Italy, Brazil, Argentina, USA, France and England clearly meant business in their qualifiers until they arrived in Mzansi, but so did Ghana, Japan, Switzerland, Korea DPR and New Zealand.

With light weight Uruguay getting into the top 4, Diego Forlan, and not Messi or Ronaldo getting the Golden Ball and Asamoah Gyan of Ghana out-shooting all strikers are some of the things that must make one think about the level of competition.

When the standards improve, the small nations move up to catch up with those who had monopolised the game for so long. The fact that two teams that had never won the World Cup played the final is another testimony of the high standards of football. It would be nice to see the revolution of football especially in Africa forging ahead.

Where do you think the Asians got it right and what can Africa do to match the Ghana performance?

2010 FIFA World Cup Players Awards. Deserved?

King Diego Forlan: (Pic by Getty Images.)

The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Player Awards have been awarded to players in interesting distribution. FIFA awards four honours.

20-year-old Germany striker scooped the Golden Boot award for top scoring. Meuller, beat David Villa of Spain, Uruguayan Diego Forlan and Wesley Sniejder of Holland to the crown, given that he played less time and had more assists than the others on the list

Meuller actually shot 4 times and scored 4 times before his last goal at this World Cup. That is deadly accuracy and he is surely one for the future. It was well deserved to an efficient young assassin.

I am not sure he deserved a Young Player of the Tournament that he also won. It will always be hard to judge in such cases but I really think that a striker that has such few attempts at goal could earn double accolades at such a big stage.

FIFA hit a Bull's Eye with Diego Forlan on the Golden Ball. It was well deserved to a hard worker, excellent and influencial and disciplined leader. Forlan is a great player indeed. He captivated every one with his simple but cunning wisdom and technique on and off the ball. What a mature player!

Spanish Goalkeeper and Captain, Real Madrid's Ike Cassillas was named the Golden Gloves. He conceded only 2 goals in 7 World Cup games. He kept Spain in it when they were still sleep walking in this tournament. Being the skipper and goalkeeper and conceding few goals is a sign of great leadership and organisation.

It is a pity there was not much for Africa, except for the Golden Host award that I give to South Africa. Mzansi, siyakuhalalisela. Do you think these players deserved the Awards?

2010 FIFA World Cup Players Awards. Deserved?

King Diego Forlan: (Pic by Getty Images.)

The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Player Awards have been awarded to players in interesting distribution. FIFA awards four honours.

20-year-old Germany striker scooped the Golden Boot award for top scoring. Meuller, beat David Villa of Spain, Uruguayan Diego Forlan and Wesley Sniejder of Holland to the crown, given that he played less time and had more assists than the others on the list

Meuller actually shot 4 times and scored 4 times before his last goal at this World Cup. That is deadly accuracy and he is surely one for the future. It was well deserved to an efficient young assassin.

I am not sure he deserved a Young Player of the Tournament that he also won. It will always be hard to judge in such cases but I really think that a striker that has such few attempts at goal could earn double accolades at such a big stage.

FIFA hit a Bull's Eye with Diego Forlan on the Golden Ball. It was well deserved to a hard worker, excellent and influencial and disciplined leader. Forlan is a great player indeed. He captivated every one with his simple but cunning wisdom and technique on and off the ball. What a mature player!

Spanish Goalkeeper and Captain, Real Madrid's Ike Cassillas was named the Golden Gloves. He conceded only 2 goals in 7 World Cup games. He kept Spain in it when they were still sleep walking in this tournament. Being the skipper and goalkeeper and conceding few goals is a sign of great leadership and organisation.

It is a pity there was not much for Africa, except for the Golden Host award that I give to South Africa. Mzansi, siyakuhalalisela. Do you think these players deserved the Awards?

World Cup Final Post-Mortem: Why Spain Became Champions.

Introduction.

To those who are not Spanish or indeed Barcelona fans, Spain stole this one.

[caption id="attachment_910" align="aligncenter" width="392" caption=""Spain; 'Catch Thief'.""][/caption]Spain became the first European country to win the World Cup outside Europe and  the third to hold both the European Championship and the World Cup. It was the first nation to lose the first match and win the Cup.  

Statistics.

Holland does not feature mutch in the data that matter. Germany seem to have strong claims in useful statistics provided by FIFA and Castrol.

Spain scored 8 goals and conceded 2, goals coming from 3 scorers, Villa, Iniesta (2) and Puyol (1) and the Netherlands netted the ball 12 times against 6. The Spaniards ran a total of over  767 kilometres passing the ball 4782 passes with an 82% pass completion rate compared to Germany's total 3948 with 2865 passes completed. Averagely, each player ran 9.9 km and touched the ball 62 times a game and an average ball possession of 58% a match. Uruguay were second here clocking 763 km.

Spain were the second least attacked team, for the teams that played 7 games. Germany were the least. However, Spain launched 107 attackes firing 121 shots at goal, 32 of them by David Villa. Torres did not manage even 5 shots though. Germany attacked 91 times and fired 102 shots.

Organisation.

Spain comes as an organised and efficient unit that fight tooth and nail for each component of their well oil machine. The disciplinary levels in terms of stategy were high, players keeping their positions and operating within strict tactical peripheries. They respected their roles and did not get attracted out of their comfort zones as did the Brazilians against the Netherlands.

Technique.

Spain's tactics were based on excellent technique of ball passing and reception. They trapped the ball dead at their feet in tight positions and played the ball off their feet with the first touch if given space. They did not lose possession cheaply and they kept on their feet when defending, without diving into tackles.

Tactics.

Their tactics were simply based on taking the game to their opponents, reducing the risk of attack by other teams. They moved the ball well and almost every time, moving left to right, back and forth probing for cracks in the opposition. The fact that they did not have to score lots of goals or have a lot of players on the score-sheet or taking shots other than than David Villa, shows that Villa was the only player assigned to attacking duties while the midfield was entrusted with clean supply of ammunition.

Opposition.

The World Champions were not convincing in the way they dispatched their victims on the way to the final. Honduras stood by to give Spain hope of going to the second round while Portugal froze in the quarter-final match. Paraguay were unlucky to fall to a last minute sucker-punch. Spain came to life in their semi-final game with Germany. The Dutch imploded in extra time when reduced to 10 men in the final, showing heavy legs just before the goal. One reason for this, was their high tempo matches from the first round till the end compared to Spain's several pedestrian performances. The 1-0 wins with last minute goals tells one simple story. Spain were the strongest mentally and psychologically, and that wins games above all else.

Referee.

Howard Webb was terrible. While the game was tense and physical, he went on to set the wrong tone in a bid to stamp his authority. Instead of taking control, things spiralled out of control, udoing his noble intenstions. Iniesta was not supposed to have lasted 90 minutes intha game. He finally got a yellow card though, for removing the shirt while celebrating the goal he should n't have scored.

Conclusion.

In football, a win is a win. Viva the Champions. Viva Espan'a.

World Cup Final Post-Mortem: Why Spain Became Champions.

Introduction.

To those who are not Spanish or indeed Barcelona fans, Spain stole this one.

[caption id="attachment_910" align="aligncenter" width="392" caption=""Spain; 'Catch Thief'.""][/caption]Spain became the first European country to win the World Cup outside Europe and  the third to hold both the European Championship and the World Cup. It was the first nation to lose the first match and win the Cup.  

Statistics.

Holland does not feature mutch in the data that matter. Germany seem to have strong claims in useful statistics provided by FIFA and Castrol.

Spain scored 8 goals and conceded 2, goals coming from 3 scorers, Villa, Iniesta (2) and Puyol (1) and the Netherlands netted the ball 12 times against 6. The Spaniards ran a total of over  767 kilometres passing the ball 4782 passes with an 82% pass completion rate compared to Germany's total 3948 with 2865 passes completed. Averagely, each player ran 9.9 km and touched the ball 62 times a game and an average ball possession of 58% a match. Uruguay were second here clocking 763 km.

Spain were the second least attacked team, for the teams that played 7 games. Germany were the least. However, Spain launched 107 attackes firing 121 shots at goal, 32 of them by David Villa. Torres did not manage even 5 shots though. Germany attacked 91 times and fired 102 shots.

Organisation.

Spain comes as an organised and efficient unit that fight tooth and nail for each component of their well oil machine. The disciplinary levels in terms of stategy were high, players keeping their positions and operating within strict tactical peripheries. They respected their roles and did not get attracted out of their comfort zones as did the Brazilians against the Netherlands.

Technique.

Spain's tactics were based on excellent technique of ball passing and reception. They trapped the ball dead at their feet in tight positions and played the ball off their feet with the first touch if given space. They did not lose possession cheaply and they kept on their feet when defending, without diving into tackles.

Tactics.

Their tactics were simply based on taking the game to their opponents, reducing the risk of attack by other teams. They moved the ball well and almost every time, moving left to right, back and forth probing for cracks in the opposition. The fact that they did not have to score lots of goals or have a lot of players on the score-sheet or taking shots other than than David Villa, shows that Villa was the only player assigned to attacking duties while the midfield was entrusted with clean supply of ammunition.

Opposition.

The World Champions were not convincing in the way they dispatched their victims on the way to the final. Honduras stood by to give Spain hope of going to the second round while Portugal froze in the quarter-final match. Paraguay were unlucky to fall to a last minute sucker-punch. Spain came to life in their semi-final game with Germany. The Dutch imploded in extra time when reduced to 10 men in the final, showing heavy legs just before the goal. One reason for this, was their high tempo matches from the first round till the end compared to Spain's several pedestrian performances. The 1-0 wins with last minute goals tells one simple story. Spain were the strongest mentally and psychologically, and that wins games above all else.

Referee.

Howard Webb was terrible. While the game was tense and physical, he went on to set the wrong tone in a bid to stamp his authority. Instead of taking control, things spiralled out of control, udoing his noble intenstions. Iniesta was not supposed to have lasted 90 minutes intha game. He finally got a yellow card though, for removing the shirt while celebrating the goal he should n't have scored.

Conclusion.

In football, a win is a win. Viva the Champions. Viva Espan'a.

FIFA World Cup Game 64: The World Has New Champions.

(Pic from Yahoo Sport)

European champions, Spain, are World Champions. The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Holland in Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium closed down curtains to the World's best show. Spain who won 1-0, dominated the beginning of the match, David Villa drawing a fine save from Stekelenburg after only 4 minutes. England referee,  Howard Webb, dished about 15 yellow cards for a foul-littered match.

Sergio Ramos curved a way on the left of the Dutch defence, his cross-cum-shot being cleared to safety for a corner with 10 minutes played. Except for a Mathijsen miss after a Robben corner-kick from 12 yards out in the later part of the half, and a Robben low shot that made Cassilas make his first save of the final, there was not much to talk about.

The start of the 2nd half was a Spanish affair, Puyol miss-timing his jump from a corner-kick. Capdevilla should have complemented him by converting the his hit header, but he was completely flat-footed.  With 2/3 rd of the game played, Arjen Robben's free-kick was headed just wide by Heitinga. He had his best chance of the game 3 minutes later in a 1 v 1 with Cassilas, with the later stretching his right foot to save a sure goal.

David Villa failed to convert a simple tap-in from close-range in the 70th minute. Iniesta was always lucky to survive Howard Webb's free yellow cards a million times in the match. Spain began calling the shots, coming close with Villa and Ramos.

Robben wrestled with Puyol bulldozing his way out to another 1 v 1 with the goalkeeper with about 5 minutes to the normal 90. That was about it in regulation time of a typical final: boring without much flair or offence.

Spain were first off the block in Extra-time, penetrating in the middle and claiming a penalty, Cesc Fabregas coming face to face with the goalie who saved by his right boot and Iniesta taking his sweet time on the ball when he had a goalkeeper to beat. Van Bommel came all the way from the North Pole to dispossess him. Navas also came close bot found the side netting.

The Dutch showed signs of fatigue going forward as the match went on. Frankly, I expected Spain to show heavy legs, but they were pushing for a winner. 

Heitinga held back Iniesta, inviting the wrath of Webb who obliged with a second yellow for the defender who went for an early shower with 11 minutes of play remaining. Sniejder's free-kick deflected off Fabregas but the referee gave a goal-kick.

Spain won it through Iniesta  with 5 minutes of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup final remaining. Iniesta will be the talking point of the final forever, many thinking he should not have been in the game after horrendous fouls committed in regulation time. There were tears of joy and tears of pain the world over as the finest show finally came to an end.

VIVA ESPANA.

FIFA World Cup Game 64: The World Has New Champions.

(Pic from Yahoo Sport)

European champions, Spain, are World Champions. The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Holland in Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium closed down curtains to the World's best show. Spain who won 1-0, dominated the beginning of the match, David Villa drawing a fine save from Stekelenburg after only 4 minutes. England referee,  Howard Webb, dished about 15 yellow cards for a foul-littered match.

Sergio Ramos curved a way on the left of the Dutch defence, his cross-cum-shot being cleared to safety for a corner with 10 minutes played. Except for a Mathijsen miss after a Robben corner-kick from 12 yards out in the later part of the half, and a Robben low shot that made Cassilas make his first save of the final, there was not much to talk about.

The start of the 2nd half was a Spanish affair, Puyol miss-timing his jump from a corner-kick. Capdevilla should have complemented him by converting the his hit header, but he was completely flat-footed.  With 2/3 rd of the game played, Arjen Robben's free-kick was headed just wide by Heitinga. He had his best chance of the game 3 minutes later in a 1 v 1 with Cassilas, with the later stretching his right foot to save a sure goal.

David Villa failed to convert a simple tap-in from close-range in the 70th minute. Iniesta was always lucky to survive Howard Webb's free yellow cards a million times in the match. Spain began calling the shots, coming close with Villa and Ramos.

Robben wrestled with Puyol bulldozing his way out to another 1 v 1 with the goalkeeper with about 5 minutes to the normal 90. That was about it in regulation time of a typical final: boring without much flair or offence.

Spain were first off the block in Extra-time, penetrating in the middle and claiming a penalty, Cesc Fabregas coming face to face with the goalie who saved by his right boot and Iniesta taking his sweet time on the ball when he had a goalkeeper to beat. Van Bommel came all the way from the North Pole to dispossess him. Navas also came close bot found the side netting.

The Dutch showed signs of fatigue going forward as the match went on. Frankly, I expected Spain to show heavy legs, but they were pushing for a winner. 

Heitinga held back Iniesta, inviting the wrath of Webb who obliged with a second yellow for the defender who went for an early shower with 11 minutes of play remaining. Sniejder's free-kick deflected off Fabregas but the referee gave a goal-kick.

Spain won it through Iniesta  with 5 minutes of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup final remaining. Iniesta will be the talking point of the final forever, many thinking he should not have been in the game after horrendous fouls committed in regulation time. There were tears of joy and tears of pain the world over as the finest show finally came to an end.

VIVA ESPANA.

D-Day, Spain vs Holland. 2010 FIFA WC Final.

[caption id="attachment_881" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Giant Ball Man and Ball at Johannesburg Carlton Centre."][/caption]

 

The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup gets officially closed at about 23:00 hrs Central Africa Time. Spain and Holland will play off to see who is inferior in footballing terms, and thank God, we don't need to remember the worst one.    By now you must be as tired about Paul the Octopus as I am. You are surely aware of the Spanish business people and the Dutch porn star.  The Spanish are tabling EUR 30 000,00 for Paul the Octopus. The Dutch actor of sin movies offers her professional services to her Twitter followers in the event of a Dutch victory. 

I usually try to make a point of my bad writing skills with a simple excuse that I am not a journalist. I will not be one. I don't want to be one. So let's get technical.

 These two teams bring nothing much to the think tanks of the game. It will be entertainment value for people of various opinions, (POVO), period. The coaches are likely to give their shortest, least animated and most friendly team talks of their lives today. Basically, the message is, everyone in the world is watching. (They have no clue my wife doesn't care at all). They will be asking the players to relax and enjoy, expressing themselves within a team frame-work. That is it.

 Coaches are likely to ask players to play as they have always done to reach this far. They will then wait for half time to come up with a strategy after observing those who are overwhelmed by the occasion, theirs or the opposition. That is what these guys are paid for. Coaches are there to help players solve their own problems on the pitch. They need to have a special eye to identify the problems as the match goes on.

 You have to forgive me for not understanding the effect and role of the calamari source mollusc, Paul. Well, it's all about faith. I believe in the maker of octopuses, not the product; the octopus. The way the teams have reached the World Cup final, I would not back either of them to win anything. If I was FIFA, I was going to cancel the match and give both of them the trophy, and then ask Brazil to play Japan, Argentina against South Africa or better still, Ghana and Korea DPR to fulfil today's fixture. This gives us the opportunity to study football, checking technique levels versus psychological effects and so on.

 Anyway, being in my position, and with the upsets we have seen thus far, I can not say Holland will win because they won all their games until now, or that Spain passes the ball well therefore they will hide the ball away from the Dutch for 93 minutes. Football does not have 'therefores'. Such things did not count in a lot of matches. It will not depend on anything anyone has seen. It is a new game today. Only for the sake of PAUL the octopus, I will predict that Holland will win this 2010 FIFA World Cup.

D-Day, Spain vs Holland. 2010 FIFA WC Final.

[caption id="attachment_881" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Giant Ball Man and Ball at Johannesburg Carlton Centre."][/caption]

 

The South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup gets officially closed at about 23:00 hrs Central Africa Time. Spain and Holland will play off to see who is inferior in footballing terms, and thank God, we don't need to remember the worst one.    By now you must be as tired about Paul the Octopus as I am. You are surely aware of the Spanish business people and the Dutch porn star.  The Spanish are tabling EUR 30 000,00 for Paul the Octopus. The Dutch actor of sin movies offers her professional services to her Twitter followers in the event of a Dutch victory. 

I usually try to make a point of my bad writing skills with a simple excuse that I am not a journalist. I will not be one. I don't want to be one. So let's get technical.

 These two teams bring nothing much to the think tanks of the game. It will be entertainment value for people of various opinions, (POVO), period. The coaches are likely to give their shortest, least animated and most friendly team talks of their lives today. Basically, the message is, everyone in the world is watching. (They have no clue my wife doesn't care at all). They will be asking the players to relax and enjoy, expressing themselves within a team frame-work. That is it.

 Coaches are likely to ask players to play as they have always done to reach this far. They will then wait for half time to come up with a strategy after observing those who are overwhelmed by the occasion, theirs or the opposition. That is what these guys are paid for. Coaches are there to help players solve their own problems on the pitch. They need to have a special eye to identify the problems as the match goes on.

 You have to forgive me for not understanding the effect and role of the calamari source mollusc, Paul. Well, it's all about faith. I believe in the maker of octopuses, not the product; the octopus. The way the teams have reached the World Cup final, I would not back either of them to win anything. If I was FIFA, I was going to cancel the match and give both of them the trophy, and then ask Brazil to play Japan, Argentina against South Africa or better still, Ghana and Korea DPR to fulfil today's fixture. This gives us the opportunity to study football, checking technique levels versus psychological effects and so on.

 Anyway, being in my position, and with the upsets we have seen thus far, I can not say Holland will win because they won all their games until now, or that Spain passes the ball well therefore they will hide the ball away from the Dutch for 93 minutes. Football does not have 'therefores'. Such things did not count in a lot of matches. It will not depend on anything anyone has seen. It is a new game today. Only for the sake of PAUL the octopus, I will predict that Holland will win this 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Germany (3rd), 3 - Uruguay (4th), 2

(Pics by Reuters)

Full strength Uruguay got into the match with Suarez back in the fold from suspension against Germany in the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup for a Wooden Spoon, in the 3rd and 4th place match. Forlan played with a limp just a little behind him. They started nervously trying to settle.

Germany were without  Podolski,  Klose and Lahm. This was a good tactic by the coach given their mental state of disappointment. The fringe crew is one for the future. they had a point to prove. they wanted to impress their coach, countryman and each other. to show they were not here for a holiday, that they are just as good enough. 

Germany started stronger and pressed hard at Uruguay. The South Americans found their feet 10 minutes on and took the game to the Europeans pushing them against the wall. In the 20th minute, Khadira picked up the ball sprinting from his own half. Shweinsteiger picked up the ball and drove a long shot that the goalkeeper blocked back into play for Muller to score with ease. Germany started to dominate the game henceforth.

Uruguay caught Germany on a counter with Perez robbing Shweisteiger and releasing Suarez who set up Cavani to score in the  28th minute. They took control of the game once more probing the Germany rear guard in the entertaining first half. They looked very dangerous with every attack and created real chances that Suarez squandered.

In the second half, Uruguay wasted the chance of the night when Cavani drew a good save from Butt and laid a rebound to Suarez who missed the target, the goalkeeper pushing the ball for a corner. 4 minutes into play, Diego Forlan volleyed home a perfect Arevalo cross from the right, beating a stranded Butt hands down.

The Europeans got an equaliser when Boateng flighted a cross that was met by Jansen with a header to beat Muslera, who could have done better with the cross. Action moved from end to end with Forlan and Suarez coming close several times. I must say goalkeeper Butt had a really good game.

Germany scored the 3rd goal from a corner-kick headed in by Khadira with 8 minutes to go. Uruguay failed to clear their lines, even Suarez could not get his hands there, being caught static when the ball bounced in the 12 yard box before Khadira pounced. The goal spurred Uruguay for a late surge that only provided entertainment.

Germany (3rd), 3 - Uruguay (4th), 2

(Pics by Reuters)

Full strength Uruguay got into the match with Suarez back in the fold from suspension against Germany in the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup for a Wooden Spoon, in the 3rd and 4th place match. Forlan played with a limp just a little behind him. They started nervously trying to settle.

Germany were without  Podolski,  Klose and Lahm. This was a good tactic by the coach given their mental state of disappointment. The fringe crew is one for the future. they had a point to prove. they wanted to impress their coach, countryman and each other. to show they were not here for a holiday, that they are just as good enough. 

Germany started stronger and pressed hard at Uruguay. The South Americans found their feet 10 minutes on and took the game to the Europeans pushing them against the wall. In the 20th minute, Khadira picked up the ball sprinting from his own half. Shweinsteiger picked up the ball and drove a long shot that the goalkeeper blocked back into play for Muller to score with ease. Germany started to dominate the game henceforth.

Uruguay caught Germany on a counter with Perez robbing Shweisteiger and releasing Suarez who set up Cavani to score in the  28th minute. They took control of the game once more probing the Germany rear guard in the entertaining first half. They looked very dangerous with every attack and created real chances that Suarez squandered.

In the second half, Uruguay wasted the chance of the night when Cavani drew a good save from Butt and laid a rebound to Suarez who missed the target, the goalkeeper pushing the ball for a corner. 4 minutes into play, Diego Forlan volleyed home a perfect Arevalo cross from the right, beating a stranded Butt hands down.

The Europeans got an equaliser when Boateng flighted a cross that was met by Jansen with a header to beat Muslera, who could have done better with the cross. Action moved from end to end with Forlan and Suarez coming close several times. I must say goalkeeper Butt had a really good game.

Germany scored the 3rd goal from a corner-kick headed in by Khadira with 8 minutes to go. Uruguay failed to clear their lines, even Suarez could not get his hands there, being caught static when the ball bounced in the 12 yard box before Khadira pounced. The goal spurred Uruguay for a late surge that only provided entertainment.