World Cup Review

I have complained at this World Cup more than any other but if Holland win it, then it will all be forgotten. The hopeless Jabulani beach ball, the horrible vuvuzela, and the scared tourists sleeping on the streets on Sandton just to avoid meeting black people. It has been a mixed World Cup played at altitude in cold temperatures but when the knockout stages came up it really warmed up. Ghana is the biggest disappointment, but though I hate Uruguay with a passion, I must give the devil his due. Uruguay are the toughest team you will ever play, they are big and strong and never give up. Twenty years ago I watched Cameroon get to the quarter-finals, they were leading England 1-0 by a Emmanuel Kunde goal and cruising but Gary Lineker earned two easy penalties to send them home. Then, as now, we were happy and content with that loss just as Ghana is now. If we ever get content with defeat then we will always be losers. What has changed in 20 years in African football? We have world-class players but few world-class teams simply because management at the top is poor. Nothing illustrates this better than Nigeria, they were about to appoint Glenn Hoddle as their coach, but a senior official took him aside and told him that his $1m salary would be announced as $1.5m. So Nigeria Revenue authority would tax him 30% of $1.5m, thus leaving $500,000, then the UK inland revenue would also tax him 40% of $1.5m leaving him - $100,000. So miss-management is costing us. All our teams prepared badly, got players who didn’t fit in a system together. I supported Goodluck Jonathan in his attempts to suspend the team, in the end the whole FA was disbanded and this might save Nigeria football. FIFA allows government funding but rejects government interference; if you pay then you can interfere. THE FINAL Two of the best teams got to the final, the best would have been Germany vs. Holland but Spain provides a tough challenge. Spain hold on to the ball like a child who won’t share a toy, they held Germany off for 90 minutes without them having any meaningful attacks, then they powered in a header from Puyol to win it. Holland have not played fluid total football but they have got to the final on hard-work and intelligent play. Arjen Robben has been the key but he started injured and has been stop-start, but he and Memet Ozil have been the best creative players in SA. Spain will probably play with Villa alone and 5 midfielders and withhold the ball, Andres Iniesta is sitting in the hole and dishing out the ball like an Emperor dishes out favours. Then Alonso and Xavi screen a slow center-back line, Sergio Ramos is great at running forward with purpose. Patience will be the key to Spain winning but for Holland it is the opposite. Holland have to play with urgency and speed, Van der Vaart has to play, with Kuyt, Sneijder, and Robben behind Van Persie. This would mean dropping De Jong or Van Bommel. Other mobile players like Erja have to be given a chance and may be Huntelaar should start. I predict 2-1 to Holland and the biggest party of my life. Ends