WORLD Cup football is the greatest, most competitive, exciting and viewed international sporting event.
This recently concluded tournament was and will be remembered as unique even among World Cup finals. Firstly, South Africa has proven to the world that as a nation they are capable of performing at the highest level with respect to organizing and executing major sporting events. World Cup cricket, rugby and now football were all successfully staged within this very proud nation.
It is no surprise that South Africa is now vying for Olympics 2020. I sincerely hope that Nelson Mandela lives long enough to ensure a successful bid.
Among the benefits to this host nation is the exposure to the world of South African culture, enthusiasm, love of sport, hospitality and beautiful sites and sceneries within the many cities where football games were played.
The uniqueness of this World Cup was evident from the early stages where traditional power houses were eliminated such as Italy, former champions, France, former runner-up and England.
In the round of 16 and quarter finals, the trend continued with Brazil, Argentina and Ghana, the last hope of African teams, sent packing.
The much touted, highly paid “stars” such as Ronaldo, Rooney, Kaka, Canavaro, Messi and Robinho did not shine.
New names and new teams provided the highlights of the tournament. Golden ball winner Diego Forlan of Uruguay, golden boot and best new comer Thomas Mueller, along with midfielder Ozil of Germany; Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta of Spain and Wesley Snijder of the Netherlands were exciting to watch.
The usual strengths of technique, skill and tactics proved not to be the key ingredients of the successful teams (last four). However, characteristics such as physical and mental strength, discipline and determination proved to be vital.
With the introduction to the world of the “vuvuzela,” those present in South Africa, whether player, commentator or spectator, had to adapt to the disturbing, disorienting and often penetrating sounds emanating from this getting-used-to instrument.
Communications were limited to body language, eye contact, and movement since verbal and other forms of communication were rendered ineffective and useless.
This made many supposedly good players appear mediocre. The deafening noise from the vuvuzelas prevented even the best from concentrating and therefore performances were reduced to mediocrity, affecting technique and execution.
In addition to the mental toughness required to perform credibly in South Africa, physical strength and endurance proved to be pivotal. Many of the games were very physical in nature with the finals being the most physical with a total of 14 yellow and one red card handed out.
The unusual and uncharacteristic weather, elevation and topography also proved detrimental to many teams.
Many pundits, fans, commentators, as well as players, arrived in South Africa with an expectation of business as usual, where the traditional dominant teams and their star-studded players would have stamped their authority on the proceedings.
At the end of it all, of the two teams that were vying for the crown, neither had ever won the title of world champions and it was Spain, who had never previously advanced beyond quarter finals, who registered their first win.
Among the unique qualities of the World Cup finals, Spain is the only team in World Cup history to have won the championship after losing their first group game.
They are also the only team to have won the crown with only five goals. Germany, Argentina, Brazil and Portugal had more goals but ended up losers.
This World Cup also proved unequivocally that great players (such as Dunga and Maradona) do not necessarily make good coaches. To further strengthen this point, only two coaches have ever won the World Cup after winning it as players — Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbaur of Germany.
Africa’s first World Cup and the 19th edition have now added an eighth country to the list of winners; Brazil 5, Italy 4, Germany 3, Argentina 2, Uruguay 2, France 1, England 1 and Spain 1.