The Refs whistle, the maligned ball and blades of grass

There are three talking points that will no doubt be glossed over at the conclusion of this World Cup. The standard of refereeing has been shameful and left even the unitiated scratching their heads in disbelief at some decisions. The second point is the new Adidas ball, ‘Jubulani’ which in Zulu means ‘Be Happy’. The ball has done the complete opposite and been the nemesis of many players at the tournament. The third goes hand in hand somewhat with the official match ball and that’s the state of the art grass used in the World Cup stadiums. The turf is actually a mix between natural grass and artificial turf. For every three blades of ‘real’ grass, one blade of astro turf is added. This seems to have assisted in the surface’s longevity, especially in stadiums like Ellis Park in Johannesburg which has hosted a large number of games. It however may explain part of the reason why the Jubulani takes a wicked bounce and rockets off the turf every time a long or high ball is played. Questions have also been asked about the balls performance at altitude which has been evident watching the number of crosses which have ridiculously skied over close targets. The referees and the argument on whether video technology should be introduced in Football will be a discussion point long after the tournament is over. FIFA have already exacted their wrath by sending some officials home, particularly those who made some serious blunders during the round of 16. Two decisions that will be used as evidence for those pro to having video technology introduced are the Frank Lampard goal that crossed the line against Germany and Carlos Tevez’s first goal for Argentina against Mexico, in which replays show was clearly offside. Video replays, in time will most likely be introduced. We have seen the technology play a huge part in sports like Rugby, Tennis and Cricket. The difference however when you compare the technology used in these sports is usually the ball is not ‘live’ when decisions need to be made, meaning that the ball would normally be still in play. It will bring a new element to the game which will give the match day audience a totally new experience. It will be interesting to watch and see how FIFA introduce what will in effect be a landmark decision and one which will change the game as we know it.

A Footballing lesson

Not only were Chile spanked by their South American neighbors and taught a Footballing lesson, tacticians at heart were also treated to a sublime display and some noteworthy reference points. The Brazilian engines have finally been opened at full throttle and last night was proof that the ‘selecao’ will once again be fighting for the right to lift the trophy on July 11. Brazil has a unique ability make Football look so simple compared to what us mortals would find near impossible. They have such a style which can be adjusted at different moments in the game that make them so difficult to break. In Maicon they have far and away the best attacking full back in the game. His darting runs at pace and his superior fitness allow Brazil to drag defenders out wide and give the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano that extra metre through the centre. Two out of three goals came from the Brazilians capacity to open up through the middle of the park and with some neat interchange movement in the final third were able to create a clear path to goal. After AS Roma defender Juan headed Brazil into the lead, a surge through the middle by Robinho and a deft touch by Kaka set Fabiano through to skip past and slot the ball past Chilean keeper, Bravo. Robinho, who had a terrific match, was on hand score the third and final goal by curling the ball into the far corner of the net. Again, the Brazilians broke wide and then split the hapless Chileans through the middle. All that was left to do was stand up and applaud a sensational performance by the Worlds most successful Footballing nation.

Never pinch a Lion cub

Most things by now had already been ticked off my ‘to do list’. There was only one more place I really wanted to visit and that was the Lion Park situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Narelle, Ron, Claire, Nat, Aaron, Santina and I needed a great way to unwind, away from the Nicol Hotel and Bedfordview so this was a perfect choice. Not only did I get my wish of seeing the king of the jungle in the flesh and up close, I also had the opportunity of playing with the Lion cubs. We also saw a white Lion, Hyena, Cheetah and Meer cat. The Lion cubs lazed on a bed of rocks and grass while we patted them only opening their eyes briefly if someone patted them close to head or tail. To get one particular cubs attention I gave him a gentle pinch in the stomach area and subsequently almost had my hand taken off! It was the fastest I have ever moved I think with reflex actions even Cesar, Casillas, and Buffon would be proud of. It was kind of worth it as it allowed us to take some pictures with the cubs open eyed and bushy tailed. Then it was on to the game reserve and a visit to a large pride. The male Lion was flanked by approximately twenty lionesses and it was clear who was boss. At one point ‘Mufasa’ stood up and even though we were behind glass in our bus, we all took a step back to appreciate the massive creature. It was a rare sight as Lions are mostly inactive for the majority of the day and mostly active between the hours between night fall and dusk.

1966 revisited

When you think to the controversial incidents that have occurred throughout the history of the World Cup, there is none that has been more stifled over or fiercely debated than Geoff Hurt’s goal for England against Germany in the 1966 final at Wembley. The record books tell us that with eleven minutes gone in extra time, Alan Ball put in a cross and Hurst swiveled and shot from close range. The ball hit the under side of the cross bar and either crossed the line, or was cleared off it. The Referee awarded the goal and England went on to lift the trophy for its first and only time. Forty four years later and the incident is still talked about and depending who you speak to, you’re given differing versions. In 2010, for a split second Frank Lampard would imitate Geoff Hurst only this time Germany would be on the receiving end.
Football is like this sometimes. Comparisons are often made between players and teams, tournaments and eras. In the days leading up to the Germany vs. England second round match in Bloemfontein we knew we were about to witness history. The nations have a rivalry which extends beyond Football and the choruses heard walking toward the stadium reminded us of just that. The chant of ‘there were ten German bombers in the air, and the RAF from England shot one down’ is testimony to long memories and a lasting enmity. In a Footballing sense the battles in the past between the two nations have created one of the biggest international rivalries. You only have to look over the clashes between the two over time to realise this.
True to the pundits, there is a reason why many consider the England fans to be the best in terms of numbers. Everywhere the England play, their supporters swarm to see them. Bloemfontein was no exception as a massive English contingent could be seen in and around the stadium hours before kick off. Their passion for the ‘three lions’ they hoped would help beat off their biggest rival and advance themselves into the quarter finals. The Germans though had other plans.
It wasn’t the end result of 4-1 that had the neutral fans talking but it was the manner in which the Germans, at particular stages of the match were able to pulverise their opposition. Oziel, Schweinstieger and Podolski took the game by the horns and began to run the English off their feet. As they had done in games against Australia and Ghana they broke forward quicker than any team has done before. Two goals inside the opening half hour to Klose and Podolski and a double to Muller in the second half would be more than sufficient to bundle the English out of the tournament. As a neutral observer, it was a pleasure to witness the German fluid movement at a venomous pace. The English simply had no answer to the German attack on the counter. Rooney was no where to be seen and an out of position Gerrard couldn’t exact his normal influence.
The English however will and have cried foul over the incident jus before half time, and rightly so. When Frank Lampard’s thunderous shot hit the woodwork and went in, the English began celebrating and the rest applauded not only the goal but the fact that they had been able to over turn a two goal deficit within twenty minutes. However, the referee and the linesman seemed to be the only people in the entire world who didn’t see that the ball had clearly crossed the line. For that period and a brief stint after the half time interval the English had complete control of the game and it was only once the Germans scored their third, against the run of play did the some of the steam come out of the game. After all was said and done, the Germans were clearly the better side over the ninety minutes and deserved the victory, but one wonders what might have been had the goal been credited, just like fans still wonder what would have resulted had Geoff Hurst’s goal been ruled out forty four years ago.

Shosholoza, Sowetan style

As mentioned in a previous blog, Soweto was the spiritual home of the black people during Apartheid and the centre of youth rallies and uprising in the 1970’s. Today, Soweto is the flagship for the people of South Africa and a reminder of the struggles of the past. Soweto is a city within a city, meaning that it forms part of Johannesburg but contains its own thirty or so suburbs. The class divide is something that catches your eye from the time you arrive. In the north east corner there are homes which are not unlike a leafy street back home. Turn the corner however and literally within one hundred metres you will find what the locals call ‘informal settlements’, corrugated iron homes with no electricity or running water stretching as far as the eye can see. The government has pledged that by the year 2015, enough homes will have been constructed so that people living in these horrid conditions will have a proper roof over their head. This seems a massive challenge and I hope it eventuates but after seeing what I have during this trip, I remain skeptical. We visited the famous old home of Nelson Mandela which nowadays serves as a museum and landmark to honor the great man. It was the first time that I felt like a tourist this whole trip. Walking in, it was difficult to move in the tiny home with so many people eager to get a glimpse. Soweto has changed since the fall of Apartheid. It used to be a place where a white person would never be seen but nowadays and with the influx of tourists, Soweto is a place for all. A reminder of the past, and a huge step towards the future of South Africa.
‘Shosholoza’ is a song which has captured everyone’s imagination. Sung by the locals at most World Cup stadiums throughout the tournament, tourists have caught on and now can be heard being sung by people everywhere. The song itself is a traditional folk song which was sung by male migrant workers when making the rail roads. Matthews says that the steel was obviously heavy so they would sing the first line, pick up the steel, then as the second line of the song would start that would signal for the men to raise the steel to their shoulder and start walking. This would be repeated over and over. Today, it’s sung as a song of welcome and was first done so when the country hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. In Soweto it’s a song of the people, to rejoice, to welcome the thousands of visitors that have arrived in their country for the World Cup but more importantly it’s a song from the heart for a people that battled and won.

The battle lost on two fronts

Four years ago in Germany, Australia amassed four points which was enough to qualify as runners up in the group to the second round of the World Cup. Unfortunately, four years later in South Africa, four points would not be sufficient and we would be eliminated. Although Australia showed the grit and determination we have now been accustomed to seeing, a victory over Serbia in Nelspruit in the final match was all academic in the end. Germany narrowly amassed for Ghana to see both those nations advance. Most supporters knew going in to the game that to progress to the knockout stage we would require a near miracle. Having played both Germany and Ghana, we had no expectation that the ‘Black Stars’ could compete with the might of the Germans. Although Ghana did have their chances, Germany put in a workmanlike effort and cruised into the last sixteen, as expected.
How can we not be proud once again of the effort by our Socceroos? Had some refereeing decisions fell our way and if some clear cut chances been converted, we could be singing a different tune not dissimilar to Germany 2006, but we’re not. We’ve been bundled out of the tournament at the first hurdle. Australia’s conservative approach is much to blame for this. Tactically, the first match against Germany is where is got all unstuck and had we been able to grind a result or limit the damage, we would have got through. Proof of what the team was capable of was on show in the following matches when even with ten men we were able to play the Ghanaians off the park and account for the Serbians. I am sure that if Pim Verbeek had his time again he would have gone with a different line up and formation against Germany.
The stadium in Nelspruit is up there with any ive seen. Its close, steep stands in Zebra pattern and Giraffe shaped retainers give it a unique African theme. On arrival we were greeted by Zakumi, the World Cup mascot. I asked for a photo but instead of posing he threw an elbow which narrowly missed my chin. I was beside myself in anger while the others I was with had a good old laugh.
The Serbs defended well in the first half with the midfield able to pivot and squeeze the Aussies through the middle which didn’t allow Cahill and Kennedy in the game. Australia posed no aerial threat so each time the ball was played long; it became easy pickings for their central defenders. When the cracks finally began to open, it was Australia who looked the fitter and stronger. Cahill scored a customary header and shortly after Holman, on for Bresciano, took the ball inside the Serb half, ran at speed before pulling up and unleashing a shot from twenty five yards. The Socceroos supporters in Nelspruit rejoiced while paying close attention to what was going on back in Johannesburg in the other group match between Germany and Ghana. You could feel the adrenalin through the stadium for the following ten minutes before Serbia pulled one back which effectively put a dagger through the hearts of the green and gold and sent us packing for another four years at least.
The most maligned player in the Socceroos squad turned out to be a revelation. Not only did Brett Holman decisively play the link between the midfield and the front line to perfection, he scored two goals and looked the liveliest over the three games.
Supporters are still in good spirits. It’s never easy to exit a tournament like this after spending the time and money to come out here to support the nation. What’s for certain is that the tour group has had a great time and when all is accounted for; we can say for certain that we still witnessed some pulsating Football.


Italy on the other hand was a huge disappointment. Nerves set in well before arrival to Ellis Park for the game against Slovakia. I had no expectation the day prior in Nelspruit and convinced myself that Australia would not go through to spare myself the pain. In Italy though, I expected nothing less than to top, what was on paper the easiest group in the tournament for any of the seeded nations. When we went 1-0 down, I remembered back to Japan eight years ago and the game against Mexico. In Oita that evening, Alessandro Del Piero netted an equaliser in the final ten minutes to see Italy through. I imagined this game would be similar. I would be forced to suffer no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that it would be ok, we’d get through. Once we went 2-0 down, I began to give up the Ghost. I started to question the messiah, Lippi, and exactly how he wanted this team to play. Players look out of sorts and the link up play we’d seen in the opening two matches was non evident. The travelling Slovaks, in huge numbers, were silenced briefly when Di Natale slotted home from close range. Then almost instantly it happened. We equalised. Well we thought we had and the Italians inside Ellis Park went absolutely crazy. It was approximately fifteen seconds before we realised that the goal was disallowed for offside. I can’t imagine anything else in life where you can go from the highest emotion to the almost lowest in a millisecond. Thinking back, it’s like it all happened in slow motion. When Slovakia scored a third, it was all over. Quagliarella pulled one back but it wasn’t enough as Italy bowed out of the tournament at the group stage for the first time in forty odd years.
What did we learn? We learnt that when faced with a world class team, Pim was outsmarted and showed he was out of his depth. Had the Socceroos gone out and played to their strengths then we would have got through. I have no doubt about it.
Italy on the other hand were a shadow of a side that won the tournament four years ago. This World Cup will serve as a transitional phase for ‘gli azzurri’ as they look to build again for the future. Regardless, an exit in the group stage can only be viewed as a massive failure. Marcello Lippi, for all his divine work in Germany seemed to get this one wrong. His selections raised eyebrows from all quarters when he continued to refuse selecting players like Cassano. Whether he would have made a difference is now irrelevant. The baton has by now been past and the future of Italian international Football is now in the hands of Cesare Prandelli.
One of the personal highlights of this tournament now is that I got to see the final appearance in the Italy shirt of Fabio Cannavaro. The record games holder and main stalwart in the Italian defense has been a favorite of many. Grazie Fabio for the memories, one in particular will be etched in our minds forever and that’s the night you became an immortal and lifted the gold trophy in Berlin.

Invasion of the Aztecs

There is only one bus trip as boring as that from Melbourne to Adelaide and that’s Johannesburg to Rustenburg. A relatively straight and long road with baron land and nothing particularly exciting to look at. It’s a trip I am never likely to make again though and I’m quite thankful for that. A small entourage of Australians arrived to a sea of Mexicans in their traditional Green clad, drinking tequila and dancing to the beat of what I know as the ‘speedy gonzales song’. The Mexicans are always huge in numbers at all World Cups and speaking to a native named ‘Pedro’ he explained that for Mexicans, they are not a wealthy people but somehow they are able to put money aside between tournaments to ensure they are there every four years to watch their beloved ‘El Tri’. We stood and took in the fanfare before making our way to our seats. There would be moving around for this one as we had Cat 1 tickets on the bottom tier. The game itself was nothing to write home about. In fact, I missed the only notable talking point when I snuck away in the 42nd minute to beat the queue before the half time break to the men’s bathroom and subsequently missed the games only goal. I heard the roar and rushed back to see the replay on the big screen. Nursing a headache I dozed off on the way home only to be awakened when the bus rolled into the hotel.