I'm not going to South Africa. So instead I'm gonna try and watch a bit if not all of every game at work, or at home or in a bar or wherever. On the telly. With a beer. And I'm gonna predict who I think is gonna win. And talk about football stuff. So there.

Tuesday 22 June 2010

29th: SOUTH AFRICA

The strength of Mexico and Uruguay meant the hosts had given themselves a very tricky group to negotiate their way out of. Every host team before that had managed to do that, and but for goal difference, the South Africans could well have kept that tradition going.

It wasn't to be. The hosts will probably be remembered for introducing the vuvuzela to football grounds, more than their performances on the pitch. Will the vuvuzela endure for as long as the Mexican Wave has - still in evidence at nearly every game during this tournament? It's unlikely.

Any tournament will mourn the loss of its hosts, but the South Africans must double their efforts to ensure the stadia in the knockout phases are full to bursting with fans, flags, and yes vuvuzelas.