The word from South Africa as World Cup 2010 is almost here

My South African collaborator and friend has very kindly sent over some final words before Friday’s opening game. Here’s what Karen Lotter had to say...

“Vuvuzelas, mirror socks, flags all over the place and soccer jerseys on every second person – South Africa is so ready for the 2010 World Cup.

“Most of the teams are here and they seem to be happy with their accommodation. The fans are pouring in. We sent a bunch of football hooligans back to Argentina yesterday – they were on the watch list and thought they could sneak in.

“The South African National team is looking as good as we can hope for – the 1-0 win over Denmark made us realise that Bafana Bafana has a good chance of reaching the second round.

“This wasn’t the case six months ago after Joel Santana had been coaching them. The boys were terrible. Carlos Alberto Parreira stepped into the breach and he has worked wonders, making the boys believe in themselves.

“So what suggestions can I give those going to the Soccer Matches?

• Use public transport or get a friend or cab to drop you as close as you can

• Prepare to walk quite a way. The security is quite efficient, well here in Durban it is, so one doesn’t hang around, it goes quite quickly once you get to the first gate

• No bottles will be allowed in, not even plastic water bottles

• Take a hat/cap and sunscreen – even in winter the sun can be hot

• Always take a jacket or sweater

• If the vuvuzelas really worry you, buy earplugs

• Cash in smaller denominations R20, R50 or R100 is easier at the food and drink stands

Mike, I hope all your readers enjoy the 2010 World Cup South Africa. I know you guys can watch it on HD on Sky – I can’t wait for Friday. I hear the opening ceremony is going to be awesome, so tune in from 2 pm our time".

Visit Karen and her friends now at http://www.vuvuzelasouthafrica.co.za/

(Here’s the blog post Karen put up on her excellent site today)

England ready for World Cup

Hi Karen

It's the final week before the World Cup starts and I have to admit the mood in England isn't quite what I expected. Let me explain.

Here in England we have a history of approaching World Cups with levels of hysteria and hype not seen since the days of Roman bacchanalia.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we all have a drunken mass orgy; the Daily Mail would have a fit. It's just that we tend to get a bit over-excited.

As a result the UK papers are usually packed to the rafters with hyperbolic statements proclaiming 'this is our year' and so on. For some reason this has yet to happen.

Some of the credit must go to Coach Fabio Capello. He laid down the law on expectations last year. 'Keep them modest and plan to win without shouting too much' seemed to be his strategy.

So far it is working, although the mood may change depending on what happens in the group games against the US, Algeria and Slovenia.

A lot will also depend on how the team copes with the loss of Rio Ferdinand. Opinion is, not surprisingly, divided on the possible impact of the defender's injury. Some say he will be badly missed, others that he was an accident waiting to happen, a weak link.

I'm in the latter camp. Ferdinand has hardly played all season and often struggled to play more than three games before breaking down again. Better that it happened now, rather than in a game.

Besides, his replacement as captain is Steven Gerrard. While the Liverpool midfielder didn't have the best of seasons, and the days when he could inspire famous victories such as the Istanbul Champions League Final in 2005 may be behind him, Gerrard's drive and determination still can turn games.

Gerrard also has an excellent on and off field relationship with Wayne Rooney, England's talismanic striker. Much will depend on how they link up; as striker and midfielder, or as striker supported by Gerrard playing in the hole between the opposition's defence and midfield.

The England squad has plenty of other strong players too; from the Chelsea contingent of Lampard, Terry and the two Coles (Ashley and Joe), to striker Peter Crouch, midfielder James Milner, and winger Aaron Lennon. Don't count us out because one player is injured.

That's the picture from here as we count down towards Friday. Confident but not arrogant, relaxed but not complacent. Let's see if I can say the same after the England - US game in Rustenberg on June 12th.

Best of luck to Bafana Bafana and everyone at Vuvuzela South Africa.

Mike

Neal Collins on South Africa and the 2010 World Cup, “the greatest footballing show on earth”

Neal Collins is a London-based sports journalist who grew up in South Africa but has spent the last 25 years working on Fleet Street for the Mirror, Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Daily Express. He also makes regular appearances as an analyst on Sky News and is a regular contributor for South African radio stations, including CapeTalk, KFM and 702 in the build-up to the World Cup. He has just published his first novel, A GAME APART, detailing his experiences as a young footballer and journalist in Apartheid South Africa. It is available from http://www.nealcollins.co.uk/, where you can read more about his background - and the prologue of the book.

Neal leaves for Indaba 2010, the pre-World Cup conference, in Durban next Tuesday - and from there it will be a matter of weeks before the players and fans from 31 nations fly in for Africa's first World Cup.

Here, Neal explains why it is in everyone's interests to get behind the Rainbow Nation as they host the greatest footballing show on earth...

What are we to make of the mixed messages about England’s SA base?

Will the Bafokeng Sports Campus be ready for England in June? Perhaps not, says The Independent. What’s the problem, says the king of the Royal Bafokeng Nation? Well, you’re both giving us different stories. Fans will inevitably ask questions under such circumstances.

Anything to stop me ranting about Rooney

This morning’s World Cup 2010 news round up has a special purpose, one which will hopefully become clear as the post continues...

Can right wing supremacists threaten the World Cup?

Followers of Eugene Terreblanche may retaliate after the murder of the far right leader at his farm in Ventersdorp. What are the possible implications for World Cup 2010 in South Africa?

Rooney, Torres and Messi – can they deliver?

They are probably the three best players in the world right now; Wayne Rooney is in explosive form, Lionel Messi appears unstoppable with the ball at his feet, and an injury-ravaged season hasn’t prevented Fernando Torres from scoring goals when fit. It will be a privilege to see all three in action during the World Cup. The question is: can they deliver?

Crouch makes convincing case for World Cup place

Peter Crouch came off the bench last night to give England victory over Egypt. Two second half goals took the Tottenham striker’s England tally to 20 in 37 games. More importantly, the first gave England a springboard for success in a World Cup warm up which had threatened to go the way of a skillful Egyptian side. So what have the papers got to say this morning?

Cyberpolice to track 2010 World Cup ticket fraudsters

A crack team of cyberpolice from New Scotland Yard is hunting down ticket fraudsters intent on ripping fans off.

According to The Times the London-based e-Crime Unit may have already “helped to save tens of thousands of football fans from being duped into buying bogus tickets for the 2010 World Cup finals.”

The unit has apparently tracked down and closed more than 100 sites, with as many as 20 based in Britain.

England fans have already bought approximately 43,000 tickets and demand is expected to be high when the next batches go on sale.

Some of these buyers may well be fraudsters, which is where New Scotland Yard comes in.

“Once they have tracked a site, the e-Crime Unit alerts police and authorities in other countries to go after the fraudsters by having the sites shut down.”

Unfortunately, some of these sites may go unnoticed. So if you’re going to South Africa make sure you only buy from authorised companies selling official tour packages or tickets.

Have you heard about Rik Mayall's World Cup song?

A giant of British comedy is to release a World Cup song next year – and it promises to give England a patriotic boost ahead of the tournament in South Africa.

Noble England

According to my sources ‘Noble England’ is a serious song which harks back to the days of Shakespeare.

“Football chants are one of the great traditions of following football” says Mayall “...and Shakespeare is also part of our national heritage. It seemed only natural that they should go together.”

Excellent; nothing stirs the blood more than a ‘Henry V French-baiting we put two fingers up to you at Agincourt, Waterloo etc’ song.

“We had to be careful to do justice to the language and not destroy the integrity of the passage,” continued Mayall.

“We think the song does just that yet still being fun and inspiring whilst capturing the nationalistic pride of the World Cup and the enjoyment of the greatest game on earth”.

Not a rubbish Vindaloo-type song

This is all very promising. Noble England certainly doesn’t sound like another mindlessly repetitive hammer-corks-into-my-ears-until-the-blood-runs-dry Vindaloo-type effort.

If it is I will summon an army and together we will burn down the offices of the record company responsible.

To be released by Motivation Records

To their credit, and presumably because inciting a mob of torch wielding loons wasn’t quite the effect they were looking for, the producers from indie label Motivation Records are also touting ‘Noble England’ as a rival to any 'official' FIFA World Cup anthem.

Thankfully there are no plans for Embrace to re-release their 2006 song There’s No One You Can’t Beat, which was of course hastily retitled There’s No One You Can’t Beat Except The Team Which Just Put Us Out when England lost.

I’ll have more news on ‘Noble England’ once it arrives. Keep up to date with the latest on Noble England and the 2010 World Cup by:

Becoming a follower of the World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 blog at:

http://worldcupbafanabafana2010.blogspot.com/

Checking the news and views at World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 on Facebook

Watching out for 2010bafbaf on Twitter

Competition

Visit http://www.nobleengland.com/ and find out how you can share a feast with Rik Mayall on St George’s Day 2010.


Come on you noble Englishmen!

Tips on how to keep fans happy during the World Cup

An ex-South Africa player says fans need beer, food and TV screens to enjoy the World Cup.

Former Bafana Bafana striker George Dearnaley told South African newspaper Cape Argus “Football fans are not after sophisticated food and fancy establishments. Pub, bar owners and anyone who wants to sell anything should keep it as basic and simple as possible.”

Dearnaley says fans at what is expected to be an 80 percent male-dominated event just want to know where to stay, eat and watch the games.

“All they want is to watch the game, drink ice-cold beer, eat good food and have a great night out,” he said.

So his message to anyone hoping to attract fans and grab a slice of the lucrative football market next year is simple: “If you want their attention, put up posters reading 'cold beer here' or 'live games'. Put up generic football images, flags and sell good food at affordable prices.”

Blatter takes aim at World Cup doom mongers

Sepp Blatter has called for the media to think positively about the World Cup in South Africa as yet another FIFA event is plagued by questions about security and crime in 2010.

According to worldfootballinsider.com a visibly irritated FIFA President was once again forced to answer questions on a topic he clearly has little time for.

“Please support us by saying let’s go there and trust the South Africans and South Africa,” he said.

“They are ready to organize the game and your security. But 100 percent security you will never find it anywhere in the world.”

Blatter cited the successful Confederations Cup and the country’s staging of rugby and cricket World Cups and other international events as evidence that South African law enforcement organisations can cope.

“There was not one single incident in security [at the Confederations Cup] and still questions are coming ‘what about security’.”

Security isn’t the real point, says worldfootballinsider.com. No-one doubts “there will be high-level security in and around the 10 stadia in nine host cities. The problem lies in ensuring the safety of the 450,000 visitors expected to attend matches.”

Blatter was speaking at the launch of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. The solid-gold trophy will soon embark on its longest ever global tour, visiting 86 countries during a 225-day journey.

This excellent initiative is designed to “allow thousands of fans to enjoy a close-up view of football’s greatest prize.”

What a shame they ruined the idea by getting a well-known fizzy drink company involved.

Their spokesman said “Our programs to support the 2010 FIFA World Cup, such as the Trophy Tour, will leave a lifelong impression on consumers that helps to reinforce loyalty and preference for our business and our brands.”

World Cup organiser unhappy at Western coverage of preparations

The head of the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee has expressed his concerns about Western media coverage of preparations for next year’s finals.

According to a report by The Patriotic Vanguard, a “Sierra Leone News Portal”, Dr. Danny Jordaan told a reception for visiting African journalists to “report objectively about the infrastructure, security and other things connected to the 2010 World Cup.”

Jordaan also reportedly “disclosed that the organising committee of the 2010 World Cup was not happy about the way western media were reporting about South Africa hosting the tournament.”

The journalists were visiting the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

The full report is available at http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/spip.php?article4553

No pre-tournament party for Capello’s England

In another welcome move England players have reportedly cancelled their pre-World Cup party, according to one of today’s papers.

The news follows a crackdown on the WAGs, the wives and girlfriends who traditionally accompany players during the tournament.

According to The Times the days of David Beckham hosting lavish parties at “Beckingham Palace” in Hertfordshire are over.

The paper says that “will be very welcome news for Capello. The England manager dislikes extracurricular distractions, with the players spending far more time in their hotel rooms while on international duty under the disciplinarian.”

Capello has already said he will “limit the number of visits from the WAGs in South Africa next summer.”

“We are there to play football, not for a holiday,” Capello said.

The only risk now is the trouble the WAGs might get up to if left unattended. At least the players distracted their attention; left to their own devices, the shopping and partying junkies might actually cause more off-field problems.

Veron admits play-offs may suit Argentina

Juan Sebastian Veron has said he would be happy to settle for fifth-place in the South American qualifiers.

The midfielder knows this would see Argentina face the fourth-placed team from the North, Central American and Caribbean group over two legs for a place in South Africa.

“It gives us another chance to qualify. To qualify directly we will have to win ourselves and we need other results to help us, but for the playoff we depend on ourselves,” Veron told Goal.com.

Veron, who will miss the qualifier against Peru next month after being sent off against Paraguay, also had a few comments about Lionel Messi and why Argentina are under-performing.

“If you see how he [Messi] moves at Barcelona, and how they move at Barcelona, it is very different to the national team. What he has at Barcelona is players in front of him who arrive from the sides and important players inside of the area, where he supports, switches off and then continues.”

The implication is that Argentina don’t play this way, and Messi suffers as a result.

“What I see is that there are players who aren't at the level which everyone expects for the national team. And maybe for their clubs they have this. Maybe they feel more comfortable in one place than the other.”

Xavi eyes World Cup contenders

Barcelona's Xavi has begun the job of highlighting the teams which might threaten Spain in South Africa next summer.

To nobody’s great surprise the 29-year-old has picked out Brazil, Italy and Germany. He also believes England and the Ivory Coast are potential dark horses.

“We have a superb generation of players, we have already qualified for South Africa and also have the experience of playing there,” Xavi told Reuters.

England, says Xavi, “appeared to have found a new swagger and a solid foundation for possible success”.

He also likes Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, and said a defence including captain John Terry and Rio Ferdinand would be hard to penetrate.

“England were the big absence from Euro 2008 and I expect they are itching to show they can win the World Cup.”

England win World Cup tie on penalties shock

That’s right, some England players do know how to take a penalty... at the Homeless World Cup in Italy.

People who are homeless and socially excluded are enjoying a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever.

This annual international football tournament was first held in Graz in 2003. 18 national teams took part. Just six years later and 48 nations have come together for Milan 2009.

The event now supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations and works with over 25,000 homeless and socially excluded people throughout the year.

Teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are squaring up against the likes of Argentina, Germany, South Africa and Spain.

They play Street Soccer on courts 22m long by 16m wide. The maximum number of players on a team at any one time is four (three outfield and one goalkeeper). Halves last 14 minutes and winning teams receive three points. Drawn matches are decided by a sudden-death penalty shoot out.

In this year’s tournament England advanced through the Preliminary stage after winning four games and scoring 37 goals in Group D.

Yesterday the Secondary group stage saw England draw 3 – 3 with Rumania before winning a thrilling penalty shoot out. Earlier in the day the team had lost 4 – 2 against Portugal. Matches against Hungary and the Ukraine take place today.

After the Secondary stage, the teams are split into six groups of eight according to their results. England will be hoping to become one of the top eight ranking sides to play for the official Homeless World Cup trophy.

Let’s hope the players involved in a penalty shoot in South Africa can cope just as well.

For more on the Homeless World Cup visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org/

Early qualifiers for next year Pt 6

South Africa

Urged on by the vuvuzelas, next year’s hosts earned a creditable third place in the Confederations Cup.

In fact, only a late strike from Brazil’s Daniel Alves and an extra time stunner from Xabi Alonso denied Bafana Bafana the glory their enthusiasm and tenacity probably merited.

Of course Alonso publicly belittled the African trumpets, complaining that the noise they generate is hideous.

With this one comment the Basque midfielder almost certainly guaranteed he and his team mates will hear a lot more of them in 2010.

That said, Bafana Bafana will need more than trumpets and a prodigious work rate to make much progress next summer.

Much will rest on the form of Steven Pienaar and a posse of Europe-based players who will probably drag them to the last 16 but no further.

Then the angry bees will swarm around Spain and Alonso, forcing an early exit. After all, this is the World Cup.

World Cup anti-doom-mongering kicks off

Last Friday I noticed and posted an article on the crime, disease and transport problems in South Africa. According to the journalist, next year’s World Cup should be moved to Egypt or Antarctica or Neptune. I forget which. The point is it should go anywhere other than the actual location.

In the interests of balance, here’s another article from the same newspaper. This one has a slightly different perspective. Personally, never having been to South Africa, I can’t say whether this contribution has more or less credibility than last week’s. However, I do know this tournament is in danger of being blighted by fear before a ball is kicked. What do you think?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/16/south-africa-2010-football-world-cup

World Cup doom-mongering kicks off

A recent Guardian article graphically highlighted the dangers awaiting fans in the urban warfare experience that is modern South Africa.

The journalist first quotes excerpts from official Foreign Office travel advice:

“In all areas of South Africa you should be cautious when out after dark.” “Vigilance” is demanded “at all times” in Durban.

On the subject of transport, the picture isn’t much better. A road heading towards Jo'burg is described by one source as “like snorkelling in a sewer filled with squid ink”.

Later, we read that an Austrian ex-footballer was shot dead in Durban during the draw for the qualifiers. Oh, and nearly 20% of the population has HIV.

Add all this up and the tournament should have been awarded to Egypt or Morocco instead. This is interesting, because the same Foreign Office the journalist quoted says “There is a high threat from terrorism in Egypt. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, such as hotels and restaurants.” Or football grounds.

As for Morocco, “You should be aware that there is a threat of kidnapping in the immediate and wider regions and particular care should be taken in remote regions and border areas. You should have confidence in your individual security arrangements and maintain a high level of vigilance.” Especially if you’re a foreigner heading to a football match.

I could go on. Anyway, here’s the article in full:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/07/louise-taylor-south-africa-2010-world-cup?commentpage=1

Early qualifiers for next year Pt 1

Here’s the first part of the World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 quick guide to those teams who have bookmarked the Ibis South Africa website and are already looking forward to the Jo’burg equivalent of the continental breakfast:

The Netherlands

Seven games and seven wins; 16 goals scored and only two conceded. Let’s not get too overawed by these stats. Their group included FYR Macedonia, Iceland and an Archie Gemmill-less Scotland, and he gave up scoring goals against the Dutch after that one back in 1978. The Oranjes are a good outside bet for next year but will have to do more than beat former Yugoslav republics and bankrupt rocks in the North Atlantic.