Expert Blogs

Finally there is a break in the action at the FIFA World Cup.  After 19 consecutive days of high stakes soccer, the clock has ceased to tick and the eight teams that remain reload for the quarterfinals.

It seems so strange.

The main problem for Portugal was that such a defensive mindset against Spain minimized the impact of their best player, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid star has rarely looked like re-creating his club form for his country at the World Cup, and it is no wonder given the tactics they employed.

It is 10:15 in the morning and five-year-old Noluthando Mahlaugu cannot keep her eyes off me.

I catch her gaze and she puts her left hand across her face and peeks through her fingers. I pretend to look away and she sticks out her tongue through a smile she cannot hold back.  She wrinkles up her nose, squints her eyes and pulls down on her earrings trying to look like a monster but then she cannot help but break into another broad smile.

Surely, the myth has been shattered once and for all.
 
We were told by England time and time again in the build up to this World Cup that the trophy was finally coming home, 44 years of hurt ended courtesy of the "Golden Generation," the greatest collection of Premiership stars ever assembled on one national team.
 
The Golden Generation? More like cheap tin.

Another day, another controversy. Or, in this case, two for the price of one which the 2010 World Cup and the watching world could have done without.

Like the goals England sloppily conceded to Germany, these mistakes were entirely preventable. Yet FIFA continues to score own goals by ignoring the issues. When will football's rulers wake up and accept their resistance to change is seriously damaging their product?

The first two quarterfinalists were decided Saturday, as Uruguay and Ghana booked their places in the final eight.  

Uruguay got the better of South Korea by a score of 2-1, while Ghana needed extra time to best the United States by the same margin.

For Canadians it's difficult to side with Americans when it comes to fun and games.

It's an even more problematic alliance at global sporting summits.

In the beloved passion of hockey, at the most critical moments, the men and women clad in uniforms bearing "Old Glory" present the greatest threat to those who don the Maple Leaf.

When things are going wrong, you know who you can really rely upon. Just when we needed him the most, he stepped forward. In our darkest hour, he was there, rescuing us, coming forth to carrying us home. A true patriotic hero.

The Great English Pint.

Day 13 of the World Cup is in the books, and the round of 16 is starting to take shape.

On Tuesday Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina and South Korea confirmed their places in the knockout phase of the tournament. On Wednesday, we added the United States, England, Germany and Ghana to the mix.

The United States finished first in Group C, and in a sense, I am not surprised. I had predicted England to top the group ahead of the Americans, but our neighbours to the south fully deserve the top seed based on what I saw over the three group games.

German relief at overcoming a tough Ghana side in Johannesburg on Wednesday night was somewhat tempered by the nervy manner of the 1-0 win, and even more so by the worry about its least dispensable player: Bastian Schweinsteiger.

So there was to be no miracle, but at halftime on Tuesday it certainly looked on the cards.

Hosts South Africa was unable to extricate itself out of an almost impossible position and defy all odds by going to the knockout phase.

I've always said that wherever you go, 99% of the people you meet are good.  Well, I decided to go watch the Bafana Bafana game this week with the other 1 percent.

It was after dark and near freezing when I made my way to Johannesburg's Leeuwkop Prison for kick-off. The well-lit upscale streets of Sandton were well behind me when I pulled into the gate.

A week into the 2010 World Cup, it's time for a few random observations.

North Korea tried to sneak an extra outfield player into their squad by registering him as a goalkeeper and hoping that FIFA wouldn't notice. Shouldn't England have done the same? And played him in goal?

There's been a palpable sense of joy about Argentina's first two games in the World Cup.

Lots of questions surrounding Spain

"I defecate on Saint Blas, the blessed one!"

"The consecrated bread!"

"The mother that gave birth to me!"

It seems appropriate that the first World Cup in Africa has an increasing number of players with their roots on the continent but playing for European sides.

On top of a record representation of six African countries in the 32-team field, six other counties have also picked players with Africa heritage for whom the 2010 finals in South Africa will have added resonance (vuvuzelas not withstanding).

Brazilian coach Dunga came under criticism from the press yesterday following his team's 2-1 victory over North Korea. Apparently, winning is not sufficient for the Brazilian media - it has to be done in style, as well. 

The first day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is over and the tournament is under way, much to the delight of football fans across Canada. 

Hosts South Africa scored the first goal of the tournament, a wonderful strike from the left foot of Siphiwe Tshabalala. They had chances to extend that lead, and even after Rafael Marquez equalized for Mexico, the Bafana Bafana could have sealed a memorable victory through a 90^th minute Katlego Mphela breakaway.  

Three players, nineteen touches, fourteen seconds, and one completely bemused defence. One completely undone defence and one completely exposed goalkeeper.

If ever a goal defined a team, this goal defined Spain.

Fewer than 50 fans turned up at Milan's Malpensa airport the other night to see reigning World Champions Italy off to South Africa on their attempt to defend the title they won in Germany four years ago. 

To say that the national mood surrounding Marcello Lippi's team is one of skeptical apprehension is to say the least.

I have said it before but it is worth repeating, the current mood reminds me of the summer of 1986 when Enzo Bearzot's 1982 winners went to Mexico with almost no Italians believing that they could pull off back-to-back World Cups.

The World Cup stands alone.

There is no need to qualify the title of this tournament with FIFA, (the governing body of international soccer), or to identify what sport we're talking about in the first place.

We all get it.

So it is here. It's unbelievable really, given the rocky road South Africa has traveled over the decades.

But the world's biggest sporting spectacle is about to commence and the reality of the impending spectacle has now truly set in.

Johannesburg, South Africa - It's the countdown to the World Cup.

This time Friday will be madness, as a select 94,700 people rush to Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium (the largest stadium in Africa) for the opening match - South Africa versus Mexico. Millions more, who don't have a ticket (me included), will swarm to open-air fan parks around the country and take in the crazy on giant screens.

For the last week, the atmosphere on the streets of Johannesburg has been electric. After 12 undefeated friendlies, the South African team, nicknamed Bafana Bafana (a term of endearment meaning 'The Boys'), have been elevated to all-new heights of stardom. South Africans are donning the side's yellow and green jerseys not just on the government-pushed Football Fridays, but every single day, washed or not.

He has spent an entire career being abused and criticized. We can all think of a reason or two why Emile Heskey should be on the beach and not in South Africa. The fact he is preparing for his second FIFA World Cup, eight years after his first, is a testament to his durability.

It also proves Heskey has something coaches like. He's never been a prolific goal scorer so it can't be that. He's not the most mobile or speediest striker the world has ever produced. Despite his shortcomings, however, Heskey continues to win the approval of England managers.

Turns out wearing the captain's armband for your national team is not quite what it's cracked up to be.

On Friday, England's Rio Ferdinand (knee) and Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast (elbow) reportedly joined the unlucky list of sidelined skippers at this World Cup, a list that already included Michael Essien (Ghana), Michael Ballack (Germany) and former England captain David Beckham.

Hopefully, this South African "curse of the captaincy" has done all of its evil work now.

When afforded the opportunity to meet a bona fide World Cup legend nervousness ensues.  It's like encountering Bobby Orr or perhaps Jack Nicklaus.

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira is, after all, just a man.

But he happens to be the most revered player in Portuguese football history. So famous that he is referred to throughout the world by a single moniker.

Everyone in this game knows Eusebio.

Douala, Cameroon - During breakfast I was entranced by the Cameroonian jersey-clad dancers, rhythmically hip-thrusting their way across my television screen. It was the music video for local musicians Ebel La Gloire and Macha's latest song: "The Lions in the image of a lion."

"Let's go the Lions, the Indomitable Lions. You are the joy of the country. Cameroon is behind you," sung Macha in the first verse. Enlightening as much as it is entertaining.  I've uploaded a clip of the music video to YouTube, so you can try your luck at the accompanying body vibrations.

I headed out on to the streets, where I waded in a sea of green, red and yellow soccer jerseys, shorts, tracksuits, caps, wristbands and bandanas and that is just the beginning.