World cup 2010

So it gets better and better. In the space of a week, we have witnessed the world cup go from a ‘boring tournament’ to one of, if not the most, entertaining fiascos of football ever witnessed. The football itself has been slightly under par, but the circus off the field has been bloody brilliant. This has been a tournament which has completely done away with the rulebook and shredded the guidelines as to what have come to expect. The so called ‘big’ sides have been a shambles, chucking away points and tearing themselves apart with internal squabbles, whereas the African and South American minnows have blown us away with their grit and dogged determination. Such are the unexpected results so far, that most of the groups are still wide open going into the final round of group matches. As for an overall winner, one would imagine (going by the tournament so far) that a South American team will prevail this year, with Argentina and Brazil only joined by the eventual-disappointing Netherlands in the elite group of teams that have taken 6 points from 6.
As far as England go, they head into Wednesday’s game knowing a victory is essential against a lifted Slovenia side that, far from being the group’s whipping boys, have qualification aspirations of their own. Whilst yes, our performance against Algeria was shocking, and we should have beaten the USA, I can’t help but feel excited. After all, going into a game needing a result to qualify, the tension in the build up, the elation of the result or the despair of the missed chance, that’s what football is all about. Our ill-fated final match of Euro 2008 was a brilliant spectacle, if not for John Motson’s infamous ‘say something Mark..Say something’ speech of disbelief. But that drama, the agony of Carson’s mistake and our desperation in trying to get that final goal, was football at its best. Fast forward to South Africa, and our qualification was sealed with a few games to spare. We qualified? Yes. We were entertained and on the edge of our seats? Not so much. So I ask ye, all those who support our dull and functional national side, enjoy Wednesday night, as it promises to be one of those rare nights where anything is possible.