³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Johannesburg

Manchester City misfit Robinho might have failed to justify his £32.5m billing in the Premier League but in South Africa he is a pivotal part of .

Rested against Portugal, he returned to the Selecao in Johannesburg on Monday as to book a mouth-watering quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.

Robinho was named man of the match after a performance that saw him score his first goal at the tournament - a right-footed strike of exquisite precision from the edge of the box. The 26-year-old almost added to his tally. A low, angled shot was saved by Claudio Bravo before he was later thwarted by a marginal offside decision.

Robinho started on the left but constantly switched with Kaka as the attacking duo rotated either side of central striker Luis Fabiano. We did not see a particularly high number of mesmeric stepovers from Robinho, who at times in the past has appeared to be addicted to them, but I thought it was nonetheless an adventurous performance in which he was constantly seeking out space and trying to make probing, attacking runs.

Read the rest of this entry

Johannesburg

Argentina coach Diego Maradona suggested after that it had felt like a World Cup game.

has ensured that the Albiceleste will meet Germany for real in a quarter-final tie at 1500 BST in Cape Town on Saturday.

However, between now and the Cape Town showdown, Argentina's charismatic leader has some serious thinking to do.

Maradona has sent his team out in a 4-3-1-2 formation in South Africa, with Lionel Messi playing behind two strikers. Argentina have played with vim and panache, and are now regarded as one of the favourites to win the competition.

They have now won their last nine games but their form was less convincing back in March.

The victory in Munich was based on a more defensive 4-4-2 system that saw the team set up with two banks of four and Messi play alongside Gonzalo Higuain as Argentina attempted to hit their opponents on the counter attack.

The question is, does Maradona revert to the formation that helped his side to a much-needed victory at a time when - or does he stick with the attacking principles that have seen his team win all four of their games at the World Cup?

Read the rest of this entry

Rustenburg

The reaction that followed on a smoky Rustenburg evening told of the joy, excitement and, perhaps, relief that an African team remains in the World Cup.

Ghanaian journalists jumped up and down in the media area yelling "Africa" over and over and over, while several of the Black Stars players fell to their knees in prayer and goalkeeper Richard Kingson, excellent on the night but third choice at club side Wigan, raised his arms in thanks.

Down on the running track that surrounded the pitch at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, John Pantsil did his familiar lap of honour with the Black Stars flag.

Not far behind was Samuel Inkoom, who waved the flag of South Africa. The gesture was in recognition of the support his team had received from the huge number of local fans inside the ground and across South Africa.

Most locals that I had chatted to before the game had expressed their support for Ghana but, even so, I was astonished by the sheer number of Ghana flags being proudly waved inside the stadium after the final whistle.

Make no mistake, Ghana's 2-1 extra-time victory over the USA will resonate far beyond the borders of the west African nation.

Read the rest of this entry

Johannesburg

It might have been a slow burner but Thursday's match at Ellis Park eventually exploded into life and provided the most drama, desperation and edge-of-the-seat excitement that we have seen so far at the World Cup.

However, won't be remembered fondly by Marcello Lippi and his players - most of whom could not get down the tunnel and into the very private sanctity of their dressing room quickly enough after the final whistle.

Only retiring skipper Fabio Cannavaro hung around, heading towards referee Howard Webb to vent some of his fury and frustration in the direction of the English official.

Eventually, as Slovakia's players and their entire backroom staff congregated in a giant huddle in the centre of the Ellis Park pitch to celebrate their extraordinary victory, Cannavaro was teased off the field by a member of the Italian delegation.

It was a sad end to a great career for the 36-year-old central defender, who has won 137 caps for his country, but the referee was not to blame for his team's exit.

The sad truth for the Azzurri is that in 2010 they were simply not good enough. Italy and and lost to Slovakia. They did not deserve to qualify.

Read the rest of this entry

Nelspruit

Adam Federici was preparing for Reading's game at Cardiff in early April when the text messages started arriving. Had he really been ? Was he about to sensationally switch allegiance from Australia to the world champions?

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has an Italian father and, having not made a senior appearance for the Socceroos, was eligible to play for the Azzurri.

Federici, coming to the end of his breakthrough season, quickly played down talk of a switch, but then nothing has been particularly straightforward in his journey from Jervis Bay - a small seaside town 90 minutes from Sydney - to the World Cup in South Africa.

His eight-year quest to make it as a professional has taken him to Italy, an Olympic Games, a sprinkling of non-league clubs in the south of England, the bottom of a well and a team-mate's sofa.

Read the rest of this entry

Polokwane

In other circumstances, Greece's Sokratis Papastathopoulos might have been arrested for harassment. Like a faithful dog following his master, he shadowed Lionel Messi to every corner of the as he took to his man-marking brief with some gusto.

Messi has clearly relished the roaming enganche (roughly translated as playmaker) role that he has been given in South Africa, playing behind two forward players in a 4-3-1-2 formation. But his ability to influence Tuesday's contest was tested by the intense attention he received from a physical - and at times cynical - opposition.

It was all part of a familiar ploy by Greece manager Otto Rehhagel, who makes no apology for the negative tactics that he adopts against superior opposition.

Read the rest of this entry

Cullinan

A dusty football pitch on a warm Monday morning 25 miles outside Pretoria is not the place where I expected to find an American-style marching band - but then again, I am quickly learning that anything is possible in this diverse and often inspiring country.

With the excavated earth of a in the background, the Cullinan Field Band went through the routine that they will be playing at the closing ceremony of the World Cup at Soccer City in Johannesburg on 11 July.

The song was called Amavolovolo and was a soulful, uplifting number that was performed with skill and passion by children from the Refilwe township on the outskirts of .

A steel band stood to one side, dancers smiled at the front, with brass and percussion following behind them; it was a surreal sight, the sort of thing I would expect to see at an American high-school football game.

Read the rest of this entry

Pretoria

The Sunday morning service at the Holy Cross Anglican church in was in full swing when I sheepishly appeared at the door.

I had been drawn in by the sound of singing, whooping and laughter (but no vuvuzelas) - and could not resist investigating.

I was immediately struck by the sight of a smiling, happy congregation who genuinely looked to be having a wonderful time. Moments later an old man dressed in his Sunday best appeared and invited me to join the procession working its way along the centre aisle towards the altar.

My attempts to politely refuse fell on deaf ears and I suddenly became a small part of a service that was vibrant and uplifting.

Read the rest of this entry

Pretoria

Cameroon manager Paul Le Guen - but at the World Cup in South Africa he could not mould a team with anything like the required staying power.

The Indomitable Lions, , became the first side to be knocked out of the tournament when they surrendered a 1-0 lead to .

"It is really disappointing both for us and the continent of Africa," said defender Sebastian Bassong afterwards, the Totttenham defender speaking in a virtual whisper.

Bowing out so early was not the in the script for a nation with a proud World Cup history, having qualified for the tournament six times with a best finish of a quarter-final place in 1990. Le Guen himself had described emulating the achievements of 20 years ago as a "reasonable objective".

It also continued the disappointing form of African teams at this World Cup, with .

Read the rest of this entry

Bloemfontein

Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita had the thousand-yard stare and weary, monotone voice of a man who had quickly grasped the impact of his actions as he answered questions about the red card he was given during Thursday's match against Greece.

The match turned completely on his moment of madness after 33 minutes, with the Super Eagles 1-0 lead eventually becoming .

"I am sorry for the whole of Nigeria," said Kaita, who understandably looked like he would be just about anywhere else rather than in front of the semi-circle of journalists attempting to establish with almost forensic detail his version of events.

"It was not the right thing to do and I hope it will not happen again. I made a mistake. That is all."

Read the rest of this entry

Colesberg

Out they streamed after the final whistle, desperate to escape the freezing cold by boarding a bus from the Civic Centre in , a small town on the edge of the , a six-hour drive north of Port Elizabeth.

It was an evening that had started with hope, optimism and expectation as in their second group match at the World Cup.

There were times during the night when I felt I glimpsed the importance of the tournament taking place in South Africa. There has been much talk of empty seats, over-powering vuvuzelas, boring games and the uncontrollable .

Then there are the arguments about the wisdom of staging the World Cup at such huge expense in a country that has so many social problems and .

But the sight of so many supporters heading from the nearby townships to watch Wednesday's match on a big screen in Colesberg's Civic Centre was in itself a cause for celebration in a nation keen to show how much it has changed since .

Read the rest of this entry

Port Elizabeth

The first World Cup in Africa might have many unique and original qualities - but there are some very familiar characteristics in evidence.

was . It was the sixth draw, while another four of the previous fixtures had finished 1-0.

The sound of the vuvuzela might be something new for many football fans, but on the field of play, the fear of losing your opening group game is as strong as ever.

"There have been a lot of draws," Portugal defender Paulo Ferreira told me shortly after full-time at the Nelson Mandela Bay Arena. "Everybody knows it is important not to lose.

"Our match was between two teams that wanted to avoid defeat and, because there was a lot of respect on both sides, there were very few chances."

Read the rest of this entry

Port Elizabeth

Sven-Goran Eriksson is the man who messed up with Mexico but managed to end up at the World Cup in charge of Ivory Coast.

No wonder the 62-year-old looked pretty pleased with life as he spoke to the media at late on Monday.

Read the rest of this entry

World Cup 2010: Mossel Bay

was the first place that Europeans landed in South Africa - but a sub-standard training pitch ruined the town's hopes of hosting a modern-day World Cup invasion from South America.

Paraguay had agreed to use the attractive coastal town on the from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth as their base for the tournament, much to the delight of the local population.

Local hoteliers, tour guides and businesses desperately hoped to capitalise on an estimated 6,000 supporters who were expected to follow in the wake of their team.

, locals took evening classes to ensure they would be able to communicate and expectations were high that Mossel Bay really would have a significant role to play during the World Cup.

Read the rest of this entry

World Cup 2010: Cape Town

As far as forgettable World Cup group games are concerned, is right up there.

In fact, I'd love to hear if you think there are many that would rank below it.

We ought not to overlook the fact that for Uruguay it was a tricky first match against the 2006 finalists from which they took a potentially very valuable point.

As Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez put it: "Considering France's history and that some of their players reached the final in Germany, and with their greater financial resources, then we have to face reality and say that a draw is not a bad result."

But what Friday's match most definitely did do was make a mockery of a recent claim by France skipper Patrice Evra .

Read the rest of this entry

World Cup 2010: Cape Town

Cape Town brings to mind a student indulging in some desperate last-minute cramming prior to an exam that could have a big impact on his or her future.

The immediate vicinity around the magnificent £40m is a hive of activity, with many last-minute touches being undertaken, as well as some slightly more drastic action.

On Wednesday, I saw the empty shells of several large kiosks in front of the ground. The banners advertising their respective products hung across the different frontages but there was nothing inside them except frantic workmen holding an assortment of drills, hammers and various building tools.

When I walked past again on Thursday afternoon, significant progress had been made.

As for the media accreditation centre, that was awash with firemen, security, police, medical and service staff, all waiting patiently in line as Cape Town gears up for the opening of the World Cup and .

Read the rest of this entry

Never heard of ? They are the father and son team plotting England's downfall when Fabio Capello's side meet the United States in their opening World Cup fixture on 12 June.

Bob is the US coach and 22-year-old son Michael is a key midfielder - and both are determined to spoil England's party.

"When we step on the field in Rustenburg, I'm sure that both teams will go after it," Michael told me. "Right now I feel fresh and excited. The US team will be ready to give everything."

Read the rest of this entry