So long South Africa!
Share
The day after the night before Euranet's sports correspondent Andy May rounds up the high and lows of the past month, from South Africa's star turn as a host country to the unstoppable rise of the vuvuzela and, of course, Paul the psychic octopus...
Soccer pundits suckered!
I am considering a career change. And so should football pundits Alan Hansen, Patrick Kluivert and Emmanuel Petit. Forget fancy television replays, complicated in-depth research and analysis and those "expert predictions" on betting websites, Paul has only gone and done it. The world's only celebrity octopus knew all along that Spain would be victorious in South Africa!
Slowburning Spain
To be honest, Vicente del Bosque's men only really got going in the semi-finals, when - despite the 1-0 scoreline - they completely outplayed Germany in Durban. In the last two matches of Spain's glorious campaign, Barcelona's representatives have been sensational. Puyol is dominating in defence, Xavi and Iniesta as class as ever in midfield and new boy David Villa has shown us exactly why he is worth more than thirty million Euros, along with the, perhaps, surprise package, Pedrito.
It is both intriguing and ironic that Barcelona have played such a massive part in the success of Spain's national team. Not just in South Africa but also in Austria and Switzerland four years ago, at the European Championship, which Spain also won.
Despite what the critics say - and let's face it, some people just have to moan about anything and everything - South Africa 2010 has been terrific for the game. Argentina and Germany played some great football, in Spain we have a new first-time winner and it will be almost impossible to forget how Africa united in support of Ghana, in their quest to reach the last four of the competition. They were so close as well!
South Africa scores a success
Did we ever really doubt that South Africa would pull it off? Yes, there were some empty seats at the less "attractive" matches but this still happens every week in Europe's biggest three leagues - Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League. It was great to watch Africans, whether they are white, black or in some cases - given the face paint - green, yellow, blue and red, cheering for their country together. The amazing Rugby World Cup win in 1995 united South Africa and successfully hosting the world's biggest football competition has been another superb victory.
In South Africa there was far less trouble than the World Cup in 1998 in France and most people - but certainly not the Spanish - will remember the tournament for one thing. The vuvuzela! This noisy and, at times, really annoying instrument has encapsulated the fun side of this year's World Cup. On the day of the final in Madrid, I could hear the things being blown from nine in the morning!
Even as an England fan, it was good to see some unpredictability, as Fabio Capello and co. joined the French and Italians on an early flight home. Oh wait a minute, sorry, that was predictable.
The fireworks above Soccer City completed an outstanding and historic competition.
Brazil will find it hard to match South Africa 2010. Although everyone could save a massive amount of time money by asking Paul to just put us out of our misery now.
