World Cup Fever - at last!

Well folks, the World Cup is finally underway and I for one am absolutely loving it!!! I have made a pledge that I will watch or listen to all or at least part of every game and 20 games in I'm delighted to say that I'm on target. It's quite a tricky ambition. Luckily we have a TV at work, so no problem there. In the car it's on Radio 5 - again, no problem. It's at home were the negotiations have had to take place and I'm sure I will be paying for my stubborn stance for many months to come! I'm not sure how long the rest of my family will go for "but our 8 month baby daughter loves football" line, particularly as she is usually in bed before the last match of the day kicks off!!!

Anyway, let's deal with the first serious issue of the World Cup - the Vuvuzela. My view is this - will everyone please stop criticizing the South Africans over this!!!! Sit down and shut up!!!! The great thing about a World Cup being played in different parts of the world is that we can get exposed to different cultures. We see new stadiums, different scenery, languages, cultures, fans and music. The South Africans have been fantastic and the Vuvuzelas is part of their football culture as the whistle is part of the South American samba, the drums in Spain or that awful "England Supporters Band" trotting out the Great Escape theme at every England match - I wouldn't mind if they played in tune! So, if you don't like like the sound of a swarm of bees at every game - turn the sound off or don't bother watching!

The second serious issue we face at the World Cup is of course FIFA. I'm going to draw your attention to two sides of FIFA, what do you think? The first concerns this bevy of beautiful ladies above. Read the BBCs David Bonds blog here for the full story. This is all about the commercialisation of our game. The protectionism of the sponsors. The creation of a huge amount of income. Now read this from Kevin Eason of the Times. It has always worried me just what South Africa will get out of hosting the World Cup. Yes, it's great that as a nation they are on the front page of every paper, on the TV hourly, but in reality what benefits will this bring the country? Will the new stadium's be utilised after the event? Will ordinary South Africans gain financially? Will even their football teams improve? I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Okay, let's finish this blog on a lighter note -yes, the return of that phenomenon - the England Football Team! I write this blog on the morning of our second match, the "must win" one, in case we face the embarrassment of first round exit. I have successfully avoided getting excited about England as quite simply after years of frustration I gave up on the entirely a year or to ago. I took the view that with our Premiership teams becoming increasingly cosmopolitan, then what possible could be wrong with me choosing to follow a different country then my own at the major tournaments? Ahead of this World Cup I tossed and turned over a few options. Should I support South Africa as I used to live there? How about Ivory Coast, after all they could win it for the African continent? Maybe France as it's full of Arsenal players? On the morning of the 12th June I had a vision. The Crusades, Sir Francis Drake, the red and white flag - I AM ENGLISH! Geoff Hurst's, Bobby Moore, Bobby Robson - I AM ENGLISH! Italia 90, Gazza's tears, David Beckham's sending off - I AM ENGLISH!! Land of Hope and Glory...... So, as with all previous World Cups (regardless of sport), I donned by England shirt, I gathered in the harvest of beer and peanuts, I polished the TV screen, hung out the flags and bunting, I WAS PROUD. England would not fail me this time. THIS TIME WE WOULD BE TRIUMPHANT!!! And then this......

What ever you are up to this World Cup, enjoy

Madgooner