Spain, Holland clash a perfect final

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I'm feeling a bit pleased as we head into the World Cup final because more than a month ago, in my first column I named Spain and Netherlands as among the favourites for the event. My reasoning then was that Spain was very much the team of the moment. They were European champions and in very good form coming to the world cup. Netherlands have always been a good team, a tough team, but at the same time they are thought of as the underachievers. Despite always turning out a squad of very good players, they failed to form as a team. As the tournament went on, I questioned the performance of all-time favourites Brazil and Argentina. Those two Latin American giants, I believe, needed a coach named "Maradunga". A man with the mixture of the passion of the Maradona style of coaching and the discipline of the....

Germany vs Spain: a mouthwatering prospect

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By the time you read this, one World Cup finalist will have been identified. As far as I see it, it is the winner of the second semi-final, between Germany and Spain, who will go onto to become the world champion. I am pretty sure the quality of football from Durban will be a worthy of a final itself. Spain vs Germany is mouth-watering. Spain has always been a football power in the world. They have an excellent youth system and produce quality players. In the last decade they finished in the top three at the Under-17 World Cup, Under-20 World Cup and at the Olympics. Yet they were under-achievers at the senior level, but I think winning the 2008 Euro Championships has helped them make a shift in the mind when it comes to major competitions. Their rivals though are a different kind of team, footballers who....

GER vs ARG: pity one won't play the semis

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I have been often been asked which team looks the strongest to win the World Cup. There are no clear answers for such a question as all the teams that have made it to the quarterfinal stage are all strong and have an outside chance to progress further. Some of them started slowly but have got stronger with matches, while others have performed well since the group stage. The four teams who definitely have the edge over the others are Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil. It is rather unfortunate that between Germany and Argentina, one of the teams will not make it to the semis. Germany boast of a strong defence having conceded just two goals so far and an equally strong attack with nine goals to their credit. The other important thing is that their goals have come from different players, both forwards and midfielders. Germany also have....

Brazil, Argentina need 'Maradunga'

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The most controversial parts of this World Cup until now, apart from the referee decisions, have been the Vuvuzela trumpet and the Jabulani ball. We are all used to controversy in big sporting events and at the same time, must the culture of the country in whose events are held. Every country has its own way of encouraging its team, England are famous for their chanting and singing, South America is known for its Mexican wave, the Spanish are famous for Manolo and his drum and we now know that South Africa's way is the vuvuzela. We have to be open minded about it. Yes it is too noisy specially when thousands are using it, but football is not tennis which requires silence when play is on. Players and coaches will just have to adapt. Coming to the Jabulani, I feel the teams who are the most vocal....