Update: Ard Matthews has already apologised -

“Seriously, I am utterly devastated by tonight. This was a HUGE honour for me and I could not be more embarrassed and sorry…”

But the argument about these 2 players is bigger than just being a selection conundrum: it’s about making a World Cup win this year something bigger than just a World Cup win.

Certain events on a sports field transcend the contest and the result, and add to our national psyche. They reaffirm for all of us a larger truth about the potential for greatness residing within all of us, and not just the genetically fortunate sport heroes we chose to idolize. Nothing does this more so than an underdog coming out on top against the odds – and in his own way, John Smit is a bit of an underdog; public opinion has him pegged as not being the best selection for the Boks, past his sell-by date as a player with a younger, fitter player ready to assume his position in the team. Add to that the fact that he is leading the Boks later this year to attempt a successful defence of the RWC crown – something never achieved before – and all the elements of a potential fairytale are there. And it is these sporting fairytales that are so closely linked to our perception of what it means to be uniquely South African.

Take Graeme Smith coming out to bat with a broken hand in a cricket test match against the Aussies at the SCG in January 2009; we’d already won the series, and the result of that particular game was thus irrelevant in the context of the series’ outcome, yet out he came in no small amount of discomfort to try and draw a game – not win it, draw it. Now, the more cynical amongst us might contend that Smith was being self-serving, building his own reputation as a hard-as-nails scrapper and sending a clear message out to the Aussies that the South African cricket team doesn’t give an inch ever – investing in future contests one might say, but I beg to differ. The rub-off effect of that particular action affected all of us who saw him come out to bat, and the effect was clear: an ordinary guy who has chosen to dedicate himself to something can, with a little bit of self-sacrifice and the sac to front up, achieve greatness. History books show us that we lost that test by 103 runs as Smith eventually succumbed in the dying moments of the game – but the truth is I sure as hell didn’t feel like we’d lost after watching all 29 minutes of his innings.

Or consider the image you no doubt have burnt into your memory at a formative age of Nelson Mandela coming down the tunnel at Ellis Park in Francois Pienaar’s number 6 jersey before the 1995 RWC final. This particular image is clearer to me than even that of Pienaar and Madiba actually lifting the cup – and the message is clear: we are uniquely South African, and if we stand together we can overcome big obstacles.

These individual fairytales made true by the individual larger-than-life sports icons that featured as protagonists in them are the stories that make the impossible seem possible in our own mere mortal lives, and certain lessons come through as universal: perseverance, hard work, self-belief and support make us achieve things individually and collectively that may be better than we think we are capable of; making excuses and not taking ownership of your actions are out of place and unacceptable.

Maybe this attitude won’t make you win at everything all the time (how boring would that not be as a spectator), but it is possible for you to change a predicted outcome and reverse the odds.

I believe that John Smit particularly has had circumstance present him with a unique opportunity. Lifting RWC 2011 and defending the crown for the first time in history is not something that too many rugby players will ever be able to do. True, the backbone of this SA squad will all be there for a second time, but none of them are under as much pressure for their place in the team as Smit is. What he has is the chance to earn glory on aninternational stage against the odds, and forever write his name in the history of SA rugby as probably our greatest captain ever (which he probably could claim irrespective of the outcome of this RWC.)

The message here is universal, and more instructive than any description of his physical durability to last as long as he has in top flight rugby, and larger even than Smit’s long list of achievements: if John Smit lifts the RWC again, and plays a significant on-field role while doing it, it will be proof of the fact that nice guys actually do win. Not of world cups or rugby games, but in life itself. Forget the Hollywood myth about life being full of morally ambiguous anti-heroes and the like, because we have a chance as South Africans to see one of our own prove that perseverance, humility and all-round niceness combined with a work ethic and dedication can get you somewhere in the world. And win us another World Cup, of course.

Against public opinion, coach Peter de Villiers has backed Smit as his first choice selection, thereby making it clear that in his opinion his “unmeasurable” contributions outweigh any edge that du Plessis may have in his on-field stats. Is John Smit the best hooker in country? Debatable: Bismark du Plessis would probably be the first choice pick for any other country on the planet.

But John Smit does stand a chance of making South Africa winning the RWC 2011 much more than just a rugby success story, he can make it a South African fairytale.

A. von Mollendorff

Source: sport24.co.za

Russia won the right to put on the 2018 World Cup, the first time it will have been staged in Eastern Europe after 10 editions in the western half of the continent.

Qatar, which has never qualified for the World Cup finals, will stage the 2022 tournament, a first both for the Middle East and for an Arab country. It will also be the smallest nation ever to host the World Cup.

Both new hosts are major energy producers and both had planned larger and costlier investment in infrastructure and new stadiums than all their respective rivals.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter, who announced the winners after a vote of his executive committee in the Swiss financial capital, said: “We go to new lands.

“Never has the World Cup been in Russia and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Arabic world have been waiting for a long time so I’m a happy president when we talk about the development of football.”

Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin flew in to Zurich immediately after the winning vote and held a news conference before going on to meet and thank Blatter and Fifa.

“We are honoured to win in this tough and fair fight,” he told reporters. “Thank you for supporting Russia. Together let us make sure football supports fair play, tolerance, honour.”

Putin said he had made the right decision to stay away from Zurich for Russia’s final presentation so Fifa executives could make their choice in peace after corruption allegations against some executive committee members in the British media.

“I did this out of respect,” he said. “There was unacceptable campaigning that was deployed for the World Cup in 2018. People were accused of corruption. They were accused without any grounds, without any reasons, no justifications.”

Football’s governing body’s executive committee voted for the two winning bids after a fierce lobbying campaign which saw world political leaders and top sports personalities gather in Zurich to press their case for one of the biggest prizes in global sport.

Russia defeated the challenge of three other European bidders, England and the joint bids of Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal.

Qatar took the honours for 2022 over rivals Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

They committed in their bid document to Fifa building nine new stadiums and renovating three existing grounds at a cost of around $3 billion.

Qatar bid chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani told the Fifa executive: “Thank you for backing us and expanding the game. You will be proud of us and you will be proud of the Middle East.”

Russia won on the second round of voting in which an absolute majority was required. England, motherland of football, was humiliated, going out in the first round with just two votes despite three days of lobbying in Zurich by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Observers said they may have suffered from an adverse reaction by Fifa to the corruption allegations and to Wednesday’s serious outbreak of soccer hooliganism at a cup match in Birmingham.

The Russians, leading with nine votes on the first ballot, obtained 13 votes on the second round, ahead of Spain/Portugal on seven and Netherlands/Belgium with just two.

Qatar led in the 2022 ballot on each of the four rounds, obtaining 14 votes against eight to the US in the final round.

“I think it was the wrong decision,” US President Barack Obama told reporters.

Australia made a first round exit with just one vote and Japan and South Korea fell out in turn on the next two rounds.

This is how Thursday’s vote unfolded:

2018 World Cup:

Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)

Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)

2022 FIFA World Cup:

Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)

Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)

Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)

Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

England now look to be neck-and-neck with Spain/Portugal though bid leaders accept there is still much uncertainty surrounding the secret ballot of the 22 FIFA executive committee members.

Holland/Belgium are also in the running, though they are very much the outsiders.

The scenario of England facing Spain/Portugal in the final has been backed up by the Iberian bid’s chief executive Miguel Angel Lopez.

Lopez said: “We are confident, we are not certain. We think we will win, we have eight votes for sure and it looks like it will be against England in the final round.”

Russian prime minister Putin’s announcement that he will not be travelling to Zurich was accompanied by an apparent attack on British media investigations into FIFA.

Putin’s absence will be in stark contrast to the activities of Prime Minister David Cameron, who has been in Zurich since Tuesday along with Prince William and David Beckham meeting FIFA members.

Cameron even flew back to London for Prime Minister’s Questions before returning to Switzerland today for more last-minute lobbying while Prince William finished one meeting after midnight last night before having breakfast this morning with Nicolas Leoz.

The meeting shows England 2018′s determination to overcome any backlash from Panorama – Leoz was one of the three FIFA members accused by the BBC programme of taking bribes in the 1990s.

England’s hopes that the lobbying has paid dividends has been intensified by Putin’s remarks.

Putin said: “We have watched with disappointment as an obvious campaign was being unleashed against members of the FIFA executive committee.

“They are being dragged through the mud and smeared. I interpret this as unfair competition. We believe that such methods of competition are entirely unacceptable.

“Under these circumstances, I think it would be best not to go out of respect for the members of the FIFA executive committee, so that they could make their decision in peace and without any outside pressure.”

England will have William, Cameron and Beckham as part of their five-man team for tomorrow morning’s bid presentation along with bid chief executive Andy Anson and Eddie Afekafe, a bid ambassador who works with a Manchester City community football programme.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson believes the lobbying and presentations will have an effect in later rounds of voting when the bid with the fewest votes are eliminated.

Robertson said: “If you get your lobbying right over the three days beforehand and you get your presentation right then you have a genuine chance of moving those second and third preference votes. That’s going to be the key to winning.”

Sebastian Coe, who negotiated London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid, is a 2018 board member and has been advising England on tactics.

Coe said: “There were IOC delegates who said to me after the vote in Singapore that they thought they were voting one way, and they actually shifted their ground during the presentations.

“I think it can happen here. There may well be ExCo members who think they are absolutely fixed in their view, and this is where they are going to go but a really strong presentation, with a really clear message and some emotional appeal can make a difference.”

Spain/Portugal are likely to win the first round of voting but England’s strategy is to secure enough support to stay in the running and pick up the votes when Holland/Belgium are eliminated.

Putin’s input has increased confidence that England can now secure enough second-round votes to get past Russia and go into a final vote against Spain/Portugal where the winner takes all.

Source: football365.com

Ma’a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger and Israel Dagg all scored tries for the All Blacks, while flyhalf Daniel Carter, who had a poor goalkicking performance in missing five attempts at goal, slotted two penalties and a conversion.

Piri Weepu also added a penalty for the home side, who had beaten the Springboks 32-12 in Auckland last week.

Danie Rossouw and Schalk Burger scored tries for the world champions, while Morne Steyn added a penalty and two conversions.The Springboks, who had Bakkies Botha sinbinned early last week, again fell foul of the referee, with Rossouw shown a yellow card in the fourth minute for kicking All Blacks’ captain Richie McCaw.

The New Zealanders took advantage of their extra man, with Nonu and Muliaina finishing off sweeping moves that had begun inside their own half.

Carter, who had missed an early penalty, missed both conversions and the All Blacks had to settle for a 10-0 lead while Rossouw was off the field.

The flyhalf slotted his first successful penalty in the 31st minute before Rossouw barged over in the 37th minute after the Springboks had got field position from a penalty against Ranger for not using his arms in a tackle.

Steyn converted to make it 13-7, while Carter missed another penalty attempt into the swirling southerly wind in the final seconds before halftime.

The Springboks flyhalf added an early penalty in the second half but Ranger managed to dot down in the corner after a long pass from Muliaina to give the All Blacks an 18-10 lead.

Weepu, who temporarily replaced Carter as goalkicker, slotted a long-range penalty to extend the lead, before the All Blacks were forced to soak up immense goal line pressure from the Springboks.

Dagg then produced a mercurial run down the left touchline, turning four defenders inside out to score his first test try and Carter finally found his kicking boots, slotting the conversion and adding a penalty.

Burger added a consolation try for the Springboks late in the game, with Steyn converting to end the scoring.

Scorers:

New Zealand:
Tries: Nonu, Muliaina, Ranger, Dagg
Penalties: Carter 2, Weepu
Conversions: Carter

South Africa:
Tries: Rossouw, Burger
Conversions: Steyn 2
Penalties: Steyn

Teams

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Substitutes: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg.

South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Oliver, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.

Substitutes: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon.

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRL)

Source + Pic: sport24.co.za

South Africans can hold their heads up proudly after the 32-day, 64-match 2010 Fifa World Cup™ and say “See, told you you could stick your Plan B”, as the tournament was a roaring success on all fronts and rightly earned a ’9 out of 10′ rating from Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

The naysayers were left choking on their words and the organisers and security forces will be patting themselves on the back long after the final bewildered World Cup tourist has left these shores. There was barely a disappointed word to be heard — until the Durban airport fiasco — and Brazil will do well to take a leaf out of SA’s ‘Believe completely in your own abilities, even if the rest of the world doesn’t’ manual.

Of course, everything that goes on off the field is completely focused on providing the perfect platform for the world’s best players to showcase their talents inside the lines, and though many of them left their adoring fans scratching their puzzled heads, there were many others who used the winter fields of South Africa to announce themselves in stunning fashion. We here at SuperSport.com have put our heads together to try and provide you with a summary of all that made this the greatest sporting spectacle the continent has ever seen.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

Several outstanding candidates here. Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, whose five goals – some of which were the World Cup’s best – left Manchester United fans wondering what they feed him in Spain. The Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder, who lived up to Dutch legend Ruud Gullit’s pre-tournament prediction that he would outshine the Messis and Ronaldos. Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, who took over the midfield reins from the injured Michael Ballack and helped make Germany perhaps the team of the tournament with his powerful performances, and teammate Thomas Muller, who showed there is no substitute for youthful exuberance. Spain’s David Villa, whose goals carried his country to the brink of glory.

Our top man, though, did not set the scoring charts alight. At the business-end of the tournament he dominated the midfield for Spain, running the well-oiled machine as La Furia Roja ‘possessed’ their way to victory. Andres Iniesta, along with cohorts Xavi and Xabi Alonso, denied their opponents any meaningful possession (Germany being the most notable), and while their keepy-ball may not have yielded a flood of goals, it worked a charm. Iniesta also delighted with many sublime touches and brilliant trickery, and his winning goal in the final was the icing on a most delicious cake.

GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT

When an emotion-free review of the World Cup is done in a few months time, it will probably be acknowledged that the Jabulani ball – along with the officiating – was not one of the finer aspects of the four-week festival. The players struggled with its unpredictable swerve, steep bounce and tendency to just keep on climbing, particularly at altitude, and the tournament was robbed of who knows how many goals from free-kicks around the area.

Still, as demonstrated by these stupendous efforts, some of them managed to make friends with Jabu…

5: Maicon: 15 June, Brazil v Korea DPR, Ellis Park. One of those that scored by any other team would have you believing it was luck, but when it’s Brazil, you just shake your head in wonder. Their first goal of the tournament, and one that had you thinking there was plenty more magic to come.

From just inside the box, and not a yard from the goalline, he beat the keeper at his near post. Can’t blame him though — no one scores from there. Do they? Click here for the video clip

4. Siphiwe Tshabalala: 11 June, Bafana v Mexico, Soccer City. The goal that got a country believing. There will have been plenty of non-football fans in SA wondering if this tournament would raise any passion within them. After 54 minutes of the opening clash, they knew the answer. A stunning strike at just the right time during a thrilling opening act, and tens of millions of South Africans clenched their fists and let out a collective roar of belief and pride. Click here for the video clip

3. David Villa: 21 June, Spain v Honduras, Ellis Park. After being shocked in their opening game against Switzerland, the highly fancied Spaniards could ill afford another slip up in their second game. After 16 minutes their star striker came to the rescue with a superb individual effort, and the 2008 European champions never looked back. Click here for the video clip

2. Carlos Tevez: 27 June, Argentina v Mexico, Soccer City. What is it with the Argentinean side and their ability to score controversial goals and absolute gems in the same game? This time is was the terrier Tevez who followed his ‘so far off it’s gone all the way back to on’ goal with this net-busting rocket. Click here for the video clip

1. Giovanni van Bronckhorst: 6 July, Netherlands v Uruguay, Green Point Stadium. World Cup semifinal time. This is obviously going to be tight with the teams playing it safe and feeling each other out for an hour. Ja right. Just 17 minutes in and the Dutch skipper, some 40 yards out and near the left touchline, tapped it forward then unleashed a left-foot thunderbolt into the top far corner that left ‘keeper Muslera with no chance. It opened up the game and gave us a five-goal semi. Blistering, and our Goal of the Tournament. Click here for the video clip

Other notable efforts:

• Spaniard Carles Puyol’s bullet header that won the semifinal against Germany;
• Villa’s 40m effort against Chile after ‘keeper Claudio Bravo had charged out of his box to clear from Fernando Torres - Video clip
• Asamoah Gyan’s extra-time winner against USA for Ghana, staying strong on his feet when many others would have engaged in back-arching theatrics
• German Mesut Ozil’s exquisite strike against Ghana, which took them through as group winners. Ozil was outstanding in this tournament, and no more so than when he demonstrated here how deadly that left foot is
• Luis Suarez’s curler against South Korea in the 79th minute that took that Uruguayans into the quarterfinals for the first time since 1970.
• Lucas Podolski’s goal for Germany against England, rounding off a marvellous team effort with a precision finish from a tight angle.

TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

Keeper: Iker Casillas (Spain). Hard to argue against two goals conceded in seven games, and his save against Robben when the Dutchman was clean through late in the final was top class.

Defenders: Garcia Sergio Ramos (Spain); Carles Puyol (Spain); Per Mertesacker (Germany); Jerome Boateng (Germany).

Midfield: Iniesta (Spain); Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany); Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands); Mesut Ozil (Germany).

Forwards: Diego Forlan (Uruguay); David Villa (Spain)

Substitutes: Carvalho Eduardo (Portugal); Philip Lahm (Germany); Xavi (Spain); John Heitinga (Netherlands); Diego Lugano (Uruguay); Thomas Muller (Germany); Miroslav Klose (Germany); Asamoah Gyan (Ghana).

CONTROVERSIES

There were numerous incidents that got tongues wagging and FIFA dishing out Diplomacy 101 answers, but these were three that will long be remembered:

3. Luis Suarez’s ‘save’ against Ghana, an instinctive reaction that made him a sacrificial hero back home in Uruguay and the most popular voodoo doll in Africa. The striker, in the last minute of extra time in the quarterfinal, first saved a goal-bound effort on the line with his feet before blocking the follow-up header with his hands. The resulting missed spotkick from Gyan led to the penalty-shootout demise of Ghana, and the creation of another ‘Hand of God’ episode. To be fair though it’s what anyone would have done, and he did pay the price with a red card, though try telling that to the seething support around Africa. Click here for the video clip

2. Carlos Tevez’s opener against Mexico in the round of 16, a goal so clearly offside that it just beggars belief. The frustrating thing about all this though is that FIFA will not be looking at this sort of situation when video technology is discussed later this year (they will be focused just on goalline decisions), so these type of goals will still be standing come 2014. Come on, step up Sepp and at this level give the teams one TV-ref challenge per match. The tiny bit of ‘human element’ sacrificed will be more than made up for by the tense anticipation created while awaiting the decision, and the knowledge that many wrongs will have been righted. Click here for the video clip

1. Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ against Germany, a situation that could have been rectified by checking a replay in less time than it takes to take a throw-in. It was at such a crucial stage in the match that even Blatter could not brush it off as part of what football is all about. On the upside, it will eventually be seen as the catalyst for the use of TV refs in goalline decisions at the highest level, and the elimination of one of the sport’s most obvious flaws. Click here for the video clip

Honorary mentions:

• Fabiano’s basketball effort against Ivory Coast, using his hand twice to control the ball before slotting home for Brazil’s crucial second on the night
• Brazilian Kaka’s sending off against Ivory Coast. Sure his elbow was raised, but it wasn’t used in anger and Kader Keita’s clutching of his face while rolling around in agony – this after being hit in the chest – left football as the loser. This is what puts people off the game, so FIFA, while you’re discussing TV technology in the near future, please bring post-match citing to the table too. The sooner this play acting is eliminated, the better for the currently rather ragged-looking beautiful game.
• Referee Carlos Batres’s handling of the penalties in the Paraguay v Spain quarterfinal. He didn’t order a re-take when Spanish players were encroaching during Oscar Cardozo’s miss. Then he did order a re-take when they entered the penalty area for Xabi Alonso’s successful first effort, and then he failed to see a another blatant penalty for a foul on Cesc Fabregas when following up the saved re-take. A bizarre five minutes of play.
• Mali referee Koman Coulibaly disallowing what would have been the USA’s winner against Slovenia in the final minutes of their group match, awarding a free kick to the Europeans when all the replays could show was three reasons to give a penalty to the States
• Vuvuzelas. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they were a massive part of World Cup and have changed the face of world sport forever. Rugby has recently taken up the fight, but if the fans really didn’t like them, they wouldn’t have bought them.
• The disgraceful Durban airport episode ahead of the Spain v Germany semifinal. The rambling excuses were a source of national embarrassment, and we can only hope that those who missed the match because the King Shaka parking lot was full will hopefully be fully compensated for their monetary loss and frustration.

THERE’S MORE…..

Super Blooper: England coach Fabio Capello obviously went with Robert Green in goal for the opening match against USA as he was hoping to avoid any ‘Calamity James’ incidents. Green’s howler though made all of David James’s previous shockers look completely forgivable, and it cost England top spot in the group and sent them on to face Germany in ‘that’ KO match. Green fingers will never have quite the same meaning again.

Mentions must go to Algerian ‘keeper Faouzi Chaouchi’s dreadful error against Slovenia, gifting Robert Koren the winner; Yakubu’s open-goal miss for Nigeria against South Korea; Gyan’s penalty miss against Uruguay that cost Africa its first semifinalist, and Nigeria’s Sani Kaita, whose petulant kick out at Greece’s Vassilis Torosidis meant Nigeria had to play for an hour with ten men, and handed the Europeans their first-ever World Cup victory.

Cry me a river: the fields around the country received some much-needed watering from the eyes of grown men, but two stood out as staying in the penthouse suites of Heartbreak Hotel. Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo was inconsolable after his penalty miss against Spain contributed to their 1-0 quarterfinal loss, and Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan brought tears to many eyes other than his own with his distraught behaviour on the field after the shootout quarterfinal loss against Uruguay.

Mystic mollusc: Paul, the oracle octopus in Germany, correctly predicted the winner for every Germany match, and then topped it off with a correct prediction for the final. He became world famous, and his morsel-selecting predictions were carried live on television. He became the No 1 requested seafood dish in his homeland after the semifinal loss to Spain.

The Bakkies Botha ‘chicken flesh’ awards: two standout moments: SA’s amiable arch, Desmond Tutu, dancing during the opening ceremony at Soccer City, and one month later the sight of the world’s greatest humanitarian, Nelson Mandela, greeting the crowd at the final. He was the major factor in the event coming to SA, according to Sepp Blatter, and it is heart-warming to know that the great man got to see his dream come true. For the two of them, the struggle against apartheid must now seem just that little bit sweeter.

Kudos to:

• New Zealand. One of the minnows of world football left with their undefeated heads held high after three draws, including one against world champions Italy
• USA. What fighting spirit. Scored in injury time in their final group match against Algeria to top Group C; came from two behind against Slovenia to snatch a draw, and were only denied a winner through a nonsensical refereeing decision, and pushed Ghana into extra time in the Ro16 clash. Their never-say-die attitude won them a lot of fans
• Germany. Their fantastic mix of youth and experience enabled them to score four goals three times in the World Cup, the first time that has been done since Brazil in 1970. Watch this side over the next decade.
• Gonzalo Higuain. Provided us with the tournament’s only hat-trick, scoring three in Argentina’s 4-1 pasting of South Korea in their opening game.
• The LOC. There may have been worldwide scepticism at the planet’s greatest event coming to a developing country, but everything from transport to security, the opening and closing ceremonies and the arrangements for the fans were world class, resulting in a spectacle that won’t soon be forgetten. Respect.
• The fans. In particular the Dutch and Argentineans, who brought so much colour and joy. The bright-orange fancy dress of the Netherlands supporters for the final was a sight to behold, with ostriches, the Pope, air hostesses and countless other characters bringing the pre-match mingling alive.
• John Barnes. The former England star may talk like he’s just had three or four double espressos before coming on air, but he offered fantastic insights into the game and added great value to SuperSport’s blanket coverage of the event.

Thumbs down

• Officiating. Enough has been said already in this article, but it really wasn’t up to scratch. Other sports have moved with the times and brought the incredible world of technology into their mix. Football now has to play catch up and do the same.
• Italy and France. A tournament to forget for the European giants. World champions Italy were just aged and poor, while the French did their best impressions of sulking teenagers, and the tournament was better off without them. Oh to have had tens of thousands more Irish supporters here for a few weeks.
• Big names. Rooney, Ronaldo and Torres were just plain old let downs, and will hopefully have learnt the lesson that at this level there are no weak teams anymore. Bring your A-game, even if you are a superstar, as you are just going to be watched more closely than ever.
• Portugal v Brazil game. They may have earned a few yellow cards to try and demonstrate there was passion, but this match – the most anticipated of the group stages – was dreadful, with both teams quite happy to take the point from a 0-0 draw. Forgettable is the nicest description we can come up with.
• African teams. Though Ghana may have been within a whisker of a last-four spot, the continent let itself down badly in its home tournament. In the cold light of day, the stats are depressing, and in the 20 matches that African sides played in, only three were won inside 90 minutes (Ghana v Serbia, SA v France and Ivory Coast v Korea DPR). Time for a little introspective thought, as there is no doubt the strength, skill and talent is there. Something, though, is clearly missing.

So there you have it, the SuperSport.com wrap of the greatest sporting month in our country’s history. We’re sure there are many more incidents and memories you would like to share, so don’t hesitate to post your comments below.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

The mega-party finished close to midnight on the Explanada del Rey on the banks of the Manzanares river, with players dancing to Queen’s classic We Are The Champions and thanking fans for their support.

Reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina became an impromptu master of ceremonies, introducing the players to the delighted crowd one by one and cracking jokes about all of them.

Spain won the World Cup for the first time by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in an ill-tempered final Sunday in Johannesburg with an extra-time goal from Iniesta.

Their victory flight from Johannesburg landed three hours behind schedule in Madrid.

Hundreds of delighted fans went out to Madrid’s Barajas airport to welcome their heroes home, but Iniesta and company were quickly driven to the Zarzuela royal palace for an official audience with King Juan Carlos.

The king, a keen sports fan, was unable to attend the final because he is recovering from a lung operation.

He told the players: “You are an example to all of us, an example to the new generations of nobility, of teamwork and of fighting spirit. Thank you, champions, in the name of the royal family and of all Spaniards.”

After the royal audience, the players went to the Moncloa palace, seat of the government, to receive the thanks of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his ministers.

The prime minister said: “This cup belongs to all the Spaniards and players who have tried to win it for many generations.”

Zapatero singled out Iniesta for special praise, not only for Sunday’s winning goal but also for showing, straight after the goal, a shirt in memory of Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol defender who died of a massive heart attack in August at age 26.

Iniesta responded by saying: “Thank you for the reception. I am proud to form part of this team. This World Cup belongs to everyone.”

Zapatero praised national manager Vicente del Bosque, who had said that the trophy was “for all the Spanish football family, for the small clubs as well as the big clubs.”

Spain captain Iker Casillas said: “The name of Spain is going to be in the highest place for four years. This cup is for all of you.”

Casillas and company then embarked on a victory parade through the streets of the capital, which took almost five hours because of the sea of fans who had turned out to greet them.

The parade started in Moncloa, then continued through key parts of the capital before finishing by the Manzanares river with the inevitable chorus of We Are The Champions.

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: telegraph.co.uk

European champions Spain looked the more assured early on in the clash at Soccer City as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their slick opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards while Spain forward David Villa crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfield enforcers Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.

The Netherlands battling approach meant the Spanish were unable to reproduce the swift-passing possession football that got them to the final.

The Dutch offered little in attack and the nearest they came to a first-half goal was a bizarre incident after 38 minutes when Gregory van der Wiel attempted to give the ball back in an act of sportsmanship.

The fullback’s 60-metre punt bounced up and over Spain captain Iker Casillas, forcing the startled keeper to leap and tip it to safety.

The game continued in the same deadlocked vein after the break, with frequent stoppages and few chances, until Wesley Sneijder split the Spanish defence with a perfectly-weighted ball into the path of Arjen Robben after 62 minutes.

The winger bore down on Casillas and must have thought he had scored when he sent him the wrong way with a low shot but the keeper stuck out a leg and diverted the ball to safety.

Spain then began to take control, moving the ball forward more quickly, and created two good chances.

First, a cross by lively substitute Jesus Navas reached Villa at the far post but his shot was blocked on the line, and then Ramos headed wildly over the bar from five metres out after being left unmarked at a corner.

Neither team has won the World Cup before though the Dutch are playing in their third final.

The game went into extra time and in the 115th minute of the game Andrea Iniesta scored a scorching goal after an assist from Fernando Torres, handing the Spanish the victory.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Paul, the German Octopus that have been spot-on with all his predictions thus far in the World Cup (including Germany’s shock defeat to Serbia in the group stages), have predicted that Spain will win the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Sunday when they come up against the Dutch.

Pic: timeslive.co.za

This evening at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, the Official Emblemfor the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil was unveiled in the presence of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Brazil 2014 Organising Committee and FIFA Executive Committee member Ricardo Teixeira, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter as well as former Seleção players Cafu, Carlos Alberto Torres, Romario and 1994 FIFA World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Prior to the emblem unveiling, 500 guests, including international media, were treated to a small taste of what they can expect from the first FIFA World Cup in Brazil since 1950. Brazilian music groups Barbatuques and Bossa Cuca Nova and Grammy award-winning singer Vanessa da Mata appeared on stage in an hour-long show hosted by the Brazilian celebrity couple Fernanda Lima and Rodrigo Hilbert.

FIFA and the Brazil LOC invited 25 Brazilian-based agencies to submit designs for theOfficial Emblem of the 2014 tournament and the task of picking the winner was awarded to a high-profile seven-strong judging panel. The panel was made up of one of the most influential figures in Brazilian architecture Oscar Niemeyer, designer Hans Donner, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, author Paulo Coelho, singer Ivete Sangalo as well as Ricardo Teixeira and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

The winning design was “Inspiration”, created by Brazilian agency Africa. The design stems from an iconic photograph of three victorious hands together raising the world’s most famous trophy. As well as depicting the humanitarian notion of hands interlinking, the portrayal of the hands is also symbolic of the yellow and green of Brazil warmly welcoming the world to their country.

The next major milestone on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the preliminary draw to be conducted in Brazil in July 2011.

Source: shine2010.co.za