Inevitably the Final leaves a lasting impression on our memories of a World Cup tournament as a whole, but that was a wretched game at Soccer City between Spain and Holland.
I cannot recall a major final that was so beset by nastiness, where two teams carried out so many bad fouls.
It’s hard to escape the feeling that Howard
After 30 days, 63 games, thousands of air miles, countless late nights and unspeakably early starts, here we are, waiting for the 64th and final match of the 2010 Word Cup at Soccer City.
Africa’s first World Cup has been a strange tournament. In many ways it has been a huge success, at least off the pitch. On the pitch, there
Four semi-finalists, two tense games, but the right Final line-up in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The two semi-finals could not have more different, producing contrasting styles of football and scorelines, but the right teams will compete in Sunday’s finale at Soccer City.
What makes a good international manager? It’s a question that is currently taxing minds at various football federations around the world, from Argentina and Brazil, Australia and Cameroon, not to mention England.
I also ask the question because I’m not sure there is a clear answer.
Currently the best international managers are, by definition, Vicente Del Bosque, Oscar Tabarez, Bert
An interesting story from England that may have got lost in the World Cup melee.
Harry Redknapp has “allowed” for Tottenham youngsters to join up with England ahead of the European Under-19 Championships in France next month.
Redknapp’s new found enthusiasm for international football may have a lot to do with his status as favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as
International football is increasingly a young man’s game. The success of Germany, who destroyed Argentina in Cape Town yesterday, ending the World Cup dreams of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi in the process, is proof of that.
Germany have the third youngest squad in the competition, with an average age of 25.0, the youngest being Ghana (24.1) and North Korea
Driving on South Africa’s roads is not one of the memories I shall cherish from the 2010 World Cup.
The lack of a public transport system has made driving a necessity to get to many stadiums, especially those outside of Johannesburg.
Ghana’s exit marks the end of the African challenge at this World Cup. They enjoyed the support of the vast majority of the crowd at Soccer City last night. But in the most dramatic match of the tournament so far, their nerve failed them.
No African team had ever taken part in a penalty shoot-out at the World Cup before, let
Sepp Blatter will be content when he reads today’s newspaper headlines. If you believe what you read, the FIFA president has performed a spectacular U-turn on goalline technology after England’s “ghost” goal against Germany in Bloemfontein.
In fact, as with most things to do with Blatter, there is more to it than meets the eye.
Blatter chose his wording very
Discuss the World Cup with World Soccer editor Gavin Hamilton
