The 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament was an astounding success as both a sporting and socio-cultural event.
Today, the sporting heroes of soccer return home and South Africans begin cleaning up after the month-long party.
“If you win,” noted Dutch star Arjen Robben, “you become immortal.”
more by Arjen Robben
Giraffe. One of the rare nods to the location as the designers incorporated giraffe-shapes into the supports for Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium
The big game is finally here, as Spain and the Netherlands battle for all the marbles. Spain are the favourites, and if they play like they did in the second half against Germany, then the Dutch are in for a very frustrating time.
If Holland win today, they could be the most workmanlike world champions ever. Tactically, of course, they bear no relation to the sides Cruyff led in the 1970s. Back then, it would have been an aberration to even conceive of having not one, but two midfielders solely deputised to stopping the opposition. It’s not that the Clockwork Orange midfielders shirked a tackle or did not know how to defend; rather it was just another facet to their game, unlike Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, who have made it their bread-and-butter.