FIFA and France Football’s separate ‘world player’ awards merged in a startling union of cooperate filth-slinging last year and we’ve had to come to terms with it over the last 12 months. Surely now, we’re all over it. In fact we should be over lots of things. Maybe Joey Barton being a footballer will settle in at some point. Maybe England being rubbish at penalties will be taught in schools and maybe, just maybe,Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won’t win everything this year. Of course, some things we do not accept and I should think because of that universal condition, the little Argentinian will. Of course that is just one award and this year, Messi, his team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated. Who will be crowned ‘The Best Player in The World EVER… for a year until next year when we’ll choose another one who will probably just be one of these three again!’

So, enough mindless posturing and rebellious girth, we like goals goals. So, here we’re going to focus on FIFA’s Puskas Award which as the titles suggests, is about The Goal Of The Year. Here are this year’s nominations:

Lionel Messi v Arsenal: Messi’s chip against Arsenal’s goalkeeper is the goal of focus but here at WCS we like the finer things in life. So, here is a short video of one of his best European performances. Do, as we often so say when we’re about to smash a sausage roll in our faces, enjoy:

Wayne Rooney v Manchester City: Next up is Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. His overhead kick versus rivals Manchester City caught the eye for it’s spectacular execution as well as being the goal that gave the reds a win. Fancy looking at it? Well, do ya, punk? [forgive the quality...apparently there's some kind of legal 'thing' in play when showing copyrighted video material]

Neymar v Flamengo: Last, but not least (as you will see…) is the Brazilian Neymar. His solo goal for Santos…oh just watch it will you?

So, who do you think should win Goal of the Year?

Sepp Blatter’s time in charge as FIFA president could come to end, that is if vice president Mohamed bin Hammam is successful in his bid to become the new president, after Sepp Blatter’s thirteen years in charge of football. Hammam believes that football has come to a ‘virtual standstill’ and will run against the Swiss national on June 1st for the presidency. FIFA have been dogged with allegations of corruption, backhanders and vote rigging in recent years – with many fans citing Sepp Blatter as a major problem in world football today.

Mohamed bin Hammam was once a close ally of the current FIFA president and Blatter owes a lot to the Qatari for his time as the Asian confederation chairman, for his backing during the controversial 1998 and 2002 presidential election campaigns, but one of his oldest supporters is aiming to replace him. Hamman was quoted as saying the following:

Mohamed bin Hammam will give football a breath of fresh and hopefully restore some respect in football’s world body. One of the main issues is the transparency in voting and decision making, which of course is still clouded in mystery and controversy. FIFA’s decision to award a country that has no football history, soaring summer temperatures and some quite ‘un-liberal’ laws – the 2022 World Cup finals is still or a sore subject with many fans. Sepp Blatter has surely been at the top far too long and his obvious fascination with his own self importance is clearly what is feeding his ever increasing ego. Although the main governing body has lost its way and abuses it position, many fans still believe in the good of the game and hope that Brazil 2014 will be about the football – not FIFA.

There is widespread concern that the 2022 World Cup scheduled to be held in Qatar could be moved to the winter months due to the hostile Qatari weather conditions. June and July are considered to be the hottest months of the years, with temperatures set to rise to 50 degrees Celsius. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has also revealed, surprising since he was reported to have voted for Qatar, that the heat could ‘prove too great a handicap’.

Blatter, who is attending the club world cup , was quoted as saying: “I definitely support playing in winter here [in the Middle East] when the climate is appropriate. I’m thinking about the footballers, not only the fans but the actors.” FIFA’s general secretary Jerome Valcke was even more adamant that the tournament would benefit from the move to winter. He was quoted as saying: “Why not? It means you open the World Cup to countries where they can never play it in June and July because it’s never the right period of time. If you can do so, it would be a solution to open the organisation of the World Cup to a number of countries in this period which is winter in Europe but not winter in the rest of the world. It means you have to change completely when the leagues will play, mainly I would say in Europe. It’s less difficult in the rest of the world.”

There was a time when hosting the hosting of a World Cup may have been more of a hindrance, however FIFA’s traveling circus that expects bidding nations to grovel at the feet of 24 delegates (22 now that two of them have been exposed by the Sunday Times) have stagnated the international game. There was a time when International football ruled the roost, not now. Club football has surpassed that of the international game, ironically since 1986 when FIFA stepped into mix up the bidding process (after Colombia withdrew from hosting the 86 finals three years before the event). Why doesn’t FIFA allow footballing people to run the sport, rather than a bunch of old men who are only looking at their own financial gain whilst being wined and dined in the process. The World Cup to be held in winter? Another nail in the nearly closed coffin of International football.

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has labeled England as ‘bad losers’ following the announcement that Russia will host the 2018 World Cup. England were eliminated in the first round of voting after only obtaining two votes even though many delegates insisted they would be voting for the 1966 winners. FIFA have received harsh criticism from the English press over the past decade, which was apparently the main reason as to why the nation was unsuccessful. Many others also claim that the English “don’t integrate” with the other nationalities on the committee. Both Germany and France have legendary players Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini, whereas England have Geoff Thompson.

Blatter, who once stated that women footballers should “wear more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball”, was quick to criticise the English as ‘bad losers’ and rejected allegations of corruption within football’s governing body. The FIFA chief was quoted as saying: “I was surprised by all the English complaining after the defeat. England, of all people, the motherland of fair play ideas. Now some of them are showing themselves to be bad losers. You can’t come afterwards and say so and so promised to vote for England. The results are known. The outcome came out clearly.” He also spoke about the allegations that corruption is rife within FIFA: “There is no systematic corruption in Fifa. That is nonsense. We are financially clean and clear.”

Many are quick to pin this on English arrogance rather than actual address the real problem. Football is spinning out of control, away from its humble roots are origins. Foreign ownership, debt ridden clubs and rising ticket prices are among a few of the problems in the football world. FIFA’s arrogance, distance and lies epitomises the state of the game in some quarters. The argument is not whether or not England should have won the right to hold the World Cup over Russia or any other nation – but it is the process in which this is decided. Blatter was far more concerned with the fact that an English newspaper uncovered that two FIFA delegates were accepting financial reward in return for votes – rather than focusing on actual corruption that is rife within football’s governing body and it is rotten to the core

Russia have seen off challenges from England, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands to host the 2018 World Cup finals. Russia have promised to ‘make history’ as the first Eastern European nation to stage the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930 – which was won and hosted in Uruguay. Russia comfortably defeated Holland/Belgium and Portugal/Spain in the second round, whilst seeing off a humiliating first round exit by England. The 2022 World Cup hosts were also announced, with Qatar beating off challenges from the United States and Australia.

England’s poor showing was surprising considering the level of improvement for the 2018 finals compared to the ill fated 2006 bid, which ultimately went to Germany. In bidding for the World Cup for 2006, England were eliminated in the second round following five votes in the first and only two in the second. However, the English FA were accused of arrogance and not doing enough to ‘win over’ the FIFA delegates. This time round, England pulled out all the stops and were considered to be the strong favourite ten months ago. Since then then Lord Triesman accused Spain and Russia of bribery, the Sunday Times identified two delegates of cash for votes and Panorama’s infamous documentary entitled ‘Fifa’s Dirty Secrets’ – which reportedly irked the majority of the FIFA committee. Other than England’s very own Geoff Thompson it is believed that Japan’s Junji Ogura may have provided the other.

There was also shock in the announcement of the World Cup for 2022, which was grated to the smallest nation ever to host a tournament – Qatar. The country’s population is around 1.5 million and will reach sweltering heats in June/July time. This sparked a cynical reaction on Twitter earlier today – with some football fans stating that FIFA may opt to move the finals to the more cooler winter months, which of course would disrupt the domestic season for a number of European teams.

There is no doubt that football is the World’s game and should be loved and enjoyed by everyone – including both Russia and Qatar. However, it would be naive to believe that this was FIFA’s main objective when awarding the finals. I salute the Sunday Times for bringing this to the attention of the World, despite Sepp Blatter’s clear annoyance at the story. Blatter and Warner are untouchable in today’s game and are making vast sums of money out of the game – ensuring their own rules are adhered to as they go along. Both men are one of the biggest dangers to world football and the future of the game. The sooner FIFA is regulated and up front about finances – we will be able to improve the game world wide. Until that day Blatter and co will be laughing all the way to the bank.

World Cup Statistics can reveal that 1966 World Cup winners England are in pole position to host the 2018 World Cup finals – 52 years after hosting their last World Cup. The one time winners chance of hosting the World Cup in eight years time will be boosted by the publication tomorrow of technical reports, by FIFA, which will categorise the bid as a low legal risk with a high potential financial return. However, it isn’t all rosy for England as it is also expected to highlight four contractual areas where government guarantees are not currently met.

Karren Brady, who is the head of the 2018 advisory board, said the publication of the reports will help England’s bid refocus attention on its strong fundamentals and its ability to generate a healthy return for Fifa, football and the wider economy. Brady was quoted as saying “Our hope is that the executive committee’s vote is based purely around sporting credentials. If that is the case, we know we have a very strong chance. If it is based solely on that, we should win on 2nd December.”

England and football

Ok I live, work and play in England – the country that self proclaims it “invented football” and brought the game to the world. I own two football websites, this one and www.stretford-end.com, so it is clear to see that I am in love with the game. Not to sound like a pretentious romantic, but I do believe the enthusiasm and passion for football as a whole is ingrained into your DNA from a young age as a kid. Whether it be Maradona’s solo goal, Gazza’s tears or Roberto Baggio’s penalty – iconic moments like this remind you of why you adore the game.

With that out of the way I want to raise the question – why shouldn’t England hold the World Cup finals again in 2018? The laughable and downright moronic claims that the British press may expose far greater details surrounding the corruption in FIFA is hardly surprising from an organisation that continues to employ a crook like Jack Warner. Since 1966 there have been eleven World Cup tournaments, with Germany hosting the tournament twice, Mexico twice, Italy and France once (which makes a grand total of two a piece). So why is there a danger of England being overlooked for the 2018 finals? There were reports today that FIFA have concerns over the training camp and hotel facilities in England – something so ludicrous it is hard to believe.

I’m not one of these football fans blinded by the unhealthy patriotism and arrogance that is displayed by a number of England fans that expect glory because we are England – the masters and creators of the game. It is always hard for the ‘master’ to accept that his students, many of them, are in fact miles ahead in all areas of the game. The original basis of England’s game was based on power, strength and pace – something that although is vital in the modern game, is the main focus of England’s ‘British Bulldog’ appeal.

Glenn Hoddle was a master of the football, who could unlock teams with a visionary pass or a breathtaking piece of skill. Michel Platini once stated that Hoddle, if born a few hundred miles south, would have won 120 caps at international level as opposed to the 53 he won for the three lions. His successor at Tottenham, Paul Gascoigne, was adored by the English public for his god given talent and his jester like attitude towards life. However, his past time of boozing was also an English trait – which in my eyes – hindered his progress and he inevitably failed to reach his full potential. Paul Scholes, a World Class player who was the best all round midfielder of his generation, was often asked to play in a role that alien to how he lined up for his club – where of course he won countless titles and European honours. So why are the more talented English players, or foreign players like Ronaldo for example, play second fiddle to the likes of the tough tackler who ‘gives his all’ for club and country?

I spoke with an old school friend, who was a technically very good footballer now doing professional coaching, recently who stated that he was concerned by the high amount of kids at academy level who are born between September and December of a normal school year. There kids are of course more physically advanced than kids born later in the year – highlighting the emphasis that is being placed on results over performance. This is only one aspect of the problem – the other is far more serious and is enriched within English football culture. As a child playing Sunday football you are encouraged to ‘get rid of the ball’ as quickly as you can and get it forward, rather than promote ball retention. The recycling of the football has never been more important at the top level, which was highlighted by Spain’s 2010 World Cup win in July.

The purpose of this criticism isn’t to highlight the shortcomings of English football, which to me are more obvious to any keen football enthusiast, but to show that I understand as to why England continue to fail when crunch time comes. When I was younger I used to think England were up there with the Brazils, Italys and Argentinas of this world. I used to feel a sense of injustice every time England painfully exited a tournament. It was always someone else’s fault, a conspiracy against the crown – we were always the victims. As I got older and obviously matured, I realised the problem was with everyone else – but the problem was within. The arrogance and stubborn to accept change has restricted the development of a number of youngsters throughout the years, which is why the percentage of foreign players in the Premier League has increased no end. Unimaginative, uncreative tactics and a direct football philosophy are as old as the dust on Howard Wilkinson’s first coaching manual and simply do not cut it at the top level – which could be a reason as to why there as a limited amount of top class English coaches.

Zidane, Platini, Zico, Maradona, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Pele, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Messi and co all have one thing in common – they aren’t English and are some of the best players ever to grace this planet. So what helps to produce this talent? Nurture vs. nature is too big a subject to discuss right now – but a current genius such as Lionel Messi – didn’t get to where he is today without a mixture of both God given talent and a vast amount of practise. Can England produce a Lionel Messi? Of course – but remember that society, environment and culture help to produce players and therefore if England are serious about challenging for major International honours – then mother England really does need to take a good look at herself and review the attitude, philosophy and general opinions of football in this country.

The Premier League is one of the greatest leagues in the world. England are not one of the best teams in the World. England is a football institution who have produced some of the finest footballing club sides to have ever graced European competition. When you compared England’s record to Germany or Italy in terms of final appearances (1:7 for Germany and 1:6 for Italy) then the evidence speaks for itself – have England been that unlucky or are we simply not as good as the media and majority of fans claim England to be?

The people of England deserve to witness, first hand, the wonders of the World Cup like they nearly half a century ago. Russia still have a major issue with racism and hooliganism – something that England has worked on massively over the past twenty years with some superb result – both inside the stadiums and on a social level. In my eyes there is only one candidate, in my eyes England don’t deserve it based upon football pedigree – but because England can and will put on a superb tournament for the watching world. Football’s coming home? We’ll see on December 2nd – but I still doubt that eight years will be enough time for England to reassess its football foundations.

World Cup 2018 candidate Russia defended the country’s 2018 World Cup bid against allegations of corruption and of racism among their fans. Sports minister Vitaly Mutko spoke to the media but didn’t specifically state whether or not England or Russia are the leading candidates in the bid to host the finals in eight years time. It is only two months until Fifa’s executive committee holds a secret ballot in Zurich.

Mutko expressed his exasperation with the negative coverage of Russia’s bid. He specifically declared that it was wrong for other countries to “gloat” at each other’s negative press coverage. Although, he spoke of his admiration for English football “We respect English football. We respect the English more than they respect us. I can’t find a reason for such dislike [in the British press] for Russia’s bid.”

It is reported that the Kremlin is extremely sensitive to western criticism, especially from England, with the sports minister claiming that corruption and racism among fans exist in numerous countries, including the Britain. He went on to add “Sometimes in the non-Russian press we read that there is also corruption in England. People sometimes cross the road in the wrong place.” His comments come after Lokomotiv Moscow fans celebrated Peter Odemwingie’s recent sale to West Bromwich with a banner showing a banana and the message: “Thanks West Brom”.

This tournament has been historic. It will always be remembered as the first World Cup to go to Africa, in particular, to South Africa – a country that has suffered so much oppression, that has fought to show the world that it is safe and that has shown the world that white people and black people are co-existing in peace.

The competition started slowly as teams seemed to be still adjusting to the conditions and there were clearly some nerves. The first round of group stage matches produced only two games where three or more goals were scored (out of a possible sixteen games). The first round was so dull that two games ended 0-0; there were six 1-0 wins; and four 1-1 draws.

The first round of games did produce some special moments though. The opening goal of the World Cup was fittingly scored by a South African – Siphiwe Tshabalala. It was a fantastic goal that got the country dancing – their competition had finally started. Elsewhere both finalists from 2006 were held to draws, France by Uruguay and reigning champions Italy had to come from behind against Paraguay. There were shocks as New Zealand scored a last minute equaliser against Slovakia; and no one foresaw that Spain would lose to Switzerland.

My favourite game of the first round was Brazil vs. North Korea. The Brazilians played some brilliant football in patches but it was the North Koreans who intrigued me. They were incredibly disciplined and were not at all in awe or afraid of the five time winners. North Korea kept possession well, defended with passion and had the confidence to shoot from any distance. The North Koreans deserved Ji Yun-Nam’s fantastic late goal and very nearly snuck a draw.

The individual performance of the first round belonged to Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama. The goalkeeper pulled off save after save after save to thwart Argentina who could never add to Heinze’s early goal. If it wasn’t for Enyeama then Argentina may well have hit double figures!

The second round of group stage fixtures saw some normality return to the results. The higher ranked nations started to grind out wins but not everyone was having it their way. The French followed up a draw against Uruguay with a 2-0 loss to Mexico; whilst Germany lost against Serbia by a single goal after Klose was harshly sent off. Like France, Italy were still finding it tough and they once again had to come from behind to draw with New Zealand.

Argentina provided an attacking masterclass to beat South Korea 4-1, but the game that everyone will remember from the group stages was the 7-0 drubbing that Portugal handed to North Korea. It was the largest winning margin and the game that product the most goals in the tournament. North Korea held their own for an hour and looked like they may find an equaliser to Meireles’s first half strike. However, the wet conditions and slick pitch allowed Portugal to play quick attacking football and the North Koreans fell apart.

The last round of fixtures in the group stages became a knockout situation for some countries. South Africa bowed out of the tournament, becoming the first host nation failing to progress from the group stage. They did however give the country a reason to party as they beat France 2-1, extinguishing the World Cup campaign of the 1998 winners as well as their own.

Nigeria disappointed at the tournament but at least walked away with a point as they drew 2-2 with South Korea in a game that provided the miss of the tournament. Somehow Yakubu put the ball wide from no more than 4 yards out, in the centre of an open goal and under no pressure. Elsewhere, the USA left it till the last minute to get a winning goal against Slovenia that meant they topped their group. Serbia just needed to win to qualify but fell to a surprise defeat against Australia – both teams went home.

One of the most exciting games of the tournament could have been Portugal vs. Brazil. Portugal were confident after annihilating North Korea, and Brazil had been comfortable so far. What was witnessed was a dull 0-0 that meant both sides qualified. Spain were the last team to qualify. They beat the 10 men of Chile 2-1 but were arguably given a dose of their own medicine as Chile even reduced by one, passed the ball well and used space fantastically. Both teams qualified.

The biggest surprise of the last round was Italy’s 3-2 defeat against Slovakia. It meant the 2006 champions were sent back to Italy having been knocked out at the earliest possible opportunity with only two points from three games.

I haven’t mentioned the trials and tribulations of England until now. I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the fortunes of my country over the past month and didn’t want to drag myself into the details of it all over again. So, if you didn’t already know…England qualified second in their group having played poorly in the group stages. They ended with a record of played three, won one and drawn two. It meant a date with Germany awaited in the last 16.

Off the pitch, both France and England ensured that drama ensued. The French sent Anelka home and so the players revolted and refused to train. As if that wasn’t enough, Ribery decided to interrupt a live interview with Domenech and he emotionally addressed the watching French nation himself. Meanwhile, in the England camp, John Terry lead a very English revolt – in which no players actually revolted. Terry told the media that some of the players were not convinced by Capello’s tactics and they would confront him in a team meeting. It became apparent that there was no player confrontation and Capello publicly said that Terry had made a “very big mistake”.

With the group stages over a look at the teams in the last 16 showed that Africa’s sole representation now lay with Ghana. In the meantime all the talk was of how impressive the South American teams had been, all five had made it through beyond the group stages.

The South American success at the tournament continued as the knockout stages began. Uruguay beat South Korea whilst Ghana kept the African dream alive as rising star of the World Cup, Asamoah Gyan scored in extra time to knock out the USA.

The games on the 27th June will be remembered for three things: German ruthlessness; English disappointment; and linesmen. England were outplayed, outclassed and emphatically beaten 4-1 by old foes Germany. Argentina removed the Mexican threat by beating them 3-1. Both games hinged upon incorrect decisions by a linesman. With Germany winning 2-1, Frank Lampard’s shot clearly crossed the line but the linesman did not see it. At 0-0 in the Argentina vs. Mexico game, Tevez was incorrectly considered onside (by some margin) and he put Argentina ahead. These two events lead to an apology from Sepp Blatter and Fifa admitted that technology may have to be seriously considered after the World Cup.

The World Cup managed to continue without Mexico and England. The Netherlands progressed by beating Slovakia 2-1. They had gone rather unnoticed through the early stages of the tournament and along with Argentina were the only other nation to have won three from three in the group stages. Brazil ended Chile’s run by beating them 3-0. Chile became the first South American nation to be knocked out.

Paraguay vs. Japan lasted for 120 minutes and not a goal was scored; so the competition had its first penalty shootout. Paraguay won 5-3 and ensured that half of the teams in the quarter finals would be from South America. Spain were the last team to secure a quarter final spot as they beat neighbours, Portugal, by a single goal.

Even before the last 16 games were completed, the inquest into English football had started. Whilst a lot of the focus had been on brilliant Brazil and awesome Argentina, Uruguay had confidently stridden through to the quarter finals and the prospect of a first semi final in 80 years was just one game away.

Whenever a World Cup comes around, Brazil are always considered a team who have a good chance of winning the competition. This year was no different. I was a little bemused by the confidence that the media had in them. This was a Brazilian side whose star player was underperforming and who had only produced patches of good football. Brazil in my mind were there for the taking, but I did not expect the Netherlands do be the team who troubled them. Brazil were excellent for 55 minutes and then a Sneijder goal for the Dutch signalled the end of the Brazilian challenge. The Netherlands controlled the remainder of the game and Sneijder whose influence on the tournament was growing, got his second. Brazil, unthinkably, were out of the tournament at the quarter final stage.

Uruguay and Ghana were paired in the least attractive of the four quarter finals. Ghana had the backing of the neutrals as Africa’s last nation. A poor game had one of the most dramatic of finishes. In the last added minute of extra time Ghana pressed for a final chance. Stephen Appiah had an effort blocked by Luis Suarez, following up was Dominic Adiyiah who thought he had scored until Suarez blocked his attempt, but illegally with his hands. Suarez was sent off and Asamoah Gyan had the chance to put Ghana into the semi finals. The image that will remain with me, is of Luis Suarez celebrating like a martyr as he walked down the tunnel having seen Gyan’s penalty thunder away off the crossbar. The game went to penalties and Uruguay triumphed 4-2.

Ghana come out of the World Cup as one of the success stories. Without their star player, Michael Essien, they found new heroes in Kevin Prince-Boateng and Asamoah Gyan (even after missing the penalty). This Ghana side will have inspired a new generation of African football fans as one of their teams made it to the last 8 in the world.

The quarter finals threw up a classic match, a game where two footballing giants would meet. Argentina vs. Germany is a game with a lot of history, pride and passion. This year it pitched the form side, Germany; against a team managed by a footballing icon and legend, containing the best player in the world, Argentina. Maradona’s men were quietly fancied by a lot of people as favourites to win the competition. They found themselves up against a young, hungry and typically disciplined Germany side though. I would imagine that watching this game made English fans feel a tiny bit better about losing 4-1 to Germany. Schweinsteiger dominated the midfield and in ruthless fashion, Germany won 4-0. For Argentina, history repeated itself and this loss will now add to growing list of defeats that Germany have inflicted upon Argentina in recent World Cups. Miroslav Klose bagged two goals to equal Gerd Muller’s record of 14 goals at World Cups for a German player.

Paraguay took on Spain in a closely fought and intense last semi final. Both sides missed penalties (although Spain did score their penalty it had to be retaken and was then missed) and it took a late goal from David Villa to seal a place in the semi finals for Spain.

Having had a South American dominance in the quarter finals, the semi finals saw a shift of power towards the European teams. There was now a real possibility that the final would be an all European affair, as it was in 2006. Only once before had two successive finals been all European, 1934 and 1938. Another final like this would break a curse that seems to hang on European countries – never before had a nation from Europe won the World Cup in another continent. Now there was a real chance of that.

The World Cup manages to go in stages where the public, often swayed by the media jump on the bandwagon of a certain country, believing they will get to final and surely won’t be beaten. In this tournament Brazil and Argentina were the two sides that couldn’t be beaten. Then, after beating Argentina it was Germany. Going into the semi finals there was a real belief that Germany could upset the European champions, Spain.

The first semi final saw the Netherlands take on the last non-European nation left, Uruguay. The progress of the Dutch had gone rather under the radar. In a way they were fortunate in the group stages, winning a game through an own goal and another through a goalkeeping howler. Their progression though had highlighted the importance of Robben and Sneijder to their team. Uruguay would be without the suspended Luis Suarez, but talismanic captain, Forlan, was in great form at the tournament and would try and lead his side unbelievably to the final.

This first semi final produced for me, the goal of the tournament. Dutch captain, Gio van Bronkhorst was high up the pitch from his left back area. There seemed to be nothing on for him, so with a little shift of the ball in front of him he decided to give it an almighty whack. From 35 yards out, on an angle, the ball flew into the top right corner. It was stunning. The much criticised, World Cup football didn’t even wobble about that much, no keeper was ever going to have stopped that shot.

Uruguay gave as good as they got and were level before half time. Forlan continued his form with another good goal. Holland controlled the game, but until the 70th minute, Uruguay were never troubled. However over the course of the next three minutes the game was over. Two quick Dutch goals from Sneijder and Robben meant the Oranje were all but in the final. A late second goal for Uruguay was not enough and the Netherlands were in their first World Cup final for 32 years.

Semi final number two saw form side Germany (minus suspended Thomas Muller) take on tournament favourites, Spain (minus Fernando Torres who was dropped for Pedro). Whilst Germany had found the perfect balance in their recent performances, Spain had not hit form yet. David Villa’s goals had got them this far and at times they had looked vulnerable. Fernando Torres had not scored at all and whilst still recovery from an injury he had none of his usual sharpness. This game was a repeat of the Euro 2008 final fixture.

The game turned out to be another close one. Spain, as they so often do, controlled large patches. Once again though, they failed to create good chances. The longer the game went on, the deeper Germany sat, allowing more Spanish pressure. Spanish persistence and possession eventually paid off, but from a set piece. A Xavi corner was met with a bullet header from Puyol and with 17 minutes to go, the game had its only goal. Germany may regret not pressuring Spain as hard in the second half, but the Spanish did produce a masterclass in how to keep the ball.

Spain have been the best side in the world over the past four years and their place in the final was richly deserved. It is a testament to the individual quality of their players that the team had not really performed that well in the tournament but still had made it to the final. A final of Spain vs. Netherlands awaited, and the tournament was guaranteed a first time winner.

Spain’s progress, playing their possession football has reignited the debate about whether it is the best type of football. Like, club side, Barcelona, Spain can keep possession for long periods of the match and when they need to, they can unlock a team with swift, deadly passing. This type of football has been labelled by some to be boring. Watching Spain in the tournament had at times been a nit painful – mainly due to the fact that the team hadn’t actually been playing well. There is something dull about watching a ball move between players in the middle area of a pitch for five minutes. At the same time it is incredibly admirable that Spain can do that. Few nations are able to keep a ball so easily. Is this the elite form of the game though? Germany are able to soak up pressure with a disciplined formation and then counter attack at great pace – arguably due to the patience, discipline and speed of attack, that type of football at its best is equally impressive, maybe not as easy on the eye though. I believe that because the way Spain play football is so rarely tried and achieved, it becomes slightly overhyped in that it is the best way to play. A nation should play the way that best suits the players available; in Spain’s case, this is the way to get the most from their players. It had got them to the final where they would hope to finally hit top gear and win in the fashion that many had expected before the tournament – with style and a sense of entertainment.

Before the final, there is the slightly meaningless playoff for third place. Germany changed their line up and withdrew Klose who wouldn’t have the chance to get a 15th World Cup goal and pull alongside Ronaldo as the tournaments greatest ever goalscorer. Uruguay and Forlan wanted to be able to say they are the world’s third best team and named a strong side. The game that followed was very watchable and entertaining. Germany took an early lead through Muller but went in level at half time due to a Cavani equaliser. In the second half Forlan volleyed Uruguay into the lead but Germany were level within five minutes as Jansen equalised following an error from goalkeeper, Muslera. Khedira got the winning goal for Germany, eight minutes from the end but there was still time for Forlan to hit the bar in injury time. Germany won the ‘bronze medal’ and ended finishing the tournament third.

The third place playoff is often considered a waste of a game but this year it turned out to be very entertaining with both sides wanting to win it. Uruguay exceeded all expectations in finishing fourth. Germany have a young, talented team that will be together for the next few years. The signs are that German football is in a good place at the moment and can only get better.

And so to the final…Netherlands vs. Spain

The big news ahead of the final was that Fernando Torres would once again be only on the substitutes bench. The game was tense and cagey. Howard Webb, the referee in charge had to stop play more often than anyone would have liked as the Netherlands gave away their tactics early on. Some would call it ‘anti-football’ but the Netherlands realised they would have to break up the Spanish possession however possible.

The first half was feisty. Five players had been booked after half an hour and no clear openings had materialised for either side. Sergio Ramos came close twice in the opening five minutes but otherwise long distant efforts were saved well by both goalkeepers. Nigel de Jong was lucky to escape being sent off after he planted a foot into the chest of Xabi Alonso.

The best chances in the second half fell to Arjen Robben. Twice he was played through clean on goal and twice he missed. Iker Casillas has come in for some criticism during the tournament but he was truly in form to deny the Netherlands on a couple of crucial occasions. The Netherlands learnt from Germany and made sure they pressed Spain high up the pitch. The problem with doing that however is that fouls and free kicks are inevitably given away.

As the game went into extra time, John Heitinga made on foul too many and he received his second yellow card of the match, followed by a dooming red card. With four minutes remaining, substitute Fabregas was able to slide a ball through to Iniesta who drilled the ball into the net to seize the winning goal for Spain. As the final whistle went, the jubilant Spanish players poured onto the pitch, some shedding a tear, some not knowing how to celebrate at all other than to hug the nearest person.

The final was not a classic. The football played was not exceptional. What is important is that the best team, the most consistent team over the past four years came out victorious. Spain may not have played some of the football that everyone is aware they are capable of, but there is no doubting their quality. It was fitting that Andres Iniesta got the winning goal. He has arguably been one of the best players in the world over the past few years and no one is as important to Spain as he.

The Netherlands in my opinion overachieved in this tournament. Their squad was strong but not as good as some. Apart from their match against Brazil, they had an agreeable route to the final. On the night they simply didn’t take their chances. Their tactics of fouling the Spanish worked until deep into injury time when one of their players was eventually sent off. Their squad is not old, and they will be able to bring through a few young players to solidify what they already have. This was sadly their third defeat in a World Cup final, but if they were to lose to anyone it would have had to have been this talented Spanish side.

As it all comes to a close, congratulations must go to Spain for winning the competition; Diego Forlan for winning the best player award, the Golden Ball (with nearly a quarter of the vote); and to Thomas Muller for winning the Golden Boot (5 goals and 3 assists). Spain won this tournament by only scoring 8 goals in 7 games, but that was enough. I am proud to say I predicted that Spain would win the competition (I’m less proud about some of my other predictions!). The competition ends with a first time winner and amazingly the only unbeaten side in the tournament was New Zealand!

Now the World Cup is finished until Brazil 2014. We have learnt that performances count for little; individuals put together don’t make a team; Africa can host a major tournament; European nations can win the tournament on another continent; the best team always wins the competition; Spain are the best team in the world…and of course, always believe an octopus called Paul!

Congratulations to worthy winners Spain, and see you in 2012 for the qualifiers!

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The build up to this World Cup has been as much about who may not be there as to who will be there. Players have been ruling themselves out of matches or getting serious injury scares. It seems that a high proportion of these players, often influential players, are based in England and play in the Premier League.

Consider five groups international players can slot into: PL players who are fit and have been selected; PL players who are selected but have picked up big concerns; PL players whose injury status meant selection was impossible; PL players who have been selected unfit; and non-PL players who were selected but have picked up injuries. Straight up one can point out that any argument I make is flawed in that my focus is on quite clearly Premier League players. I’m sure it is possible to do a similar experiment with many of the world leagues. However, the Premier League is the world’s biggest league with the world’s best players – a very high proportion of players selected to play at the World Cup come from the Premier League.

Into those groups we can add names. The Premier League players who are fit and have been selected I will ignore as there are many. Into Premier League players who are selected but have picked up big concerns goes: Cahill (Everton, Australia), Altidore (Hull (loan), USA), Behrami (West Ham, Switzerland), Skrtel (Liverpool, Slovakia), Palacios (Tottenham, Honduras), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Ferdinand (Man Utd, England), Bendtner (Arsenal, Denmark), Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Heitinga (Everton, Holland), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Nani (Man Utd, Portugal). Without going into individual cases all of those players are either out of the World Cup through injury having been selected or are very big doubts.

Into Premier League players whose injury status meant selection was impossible I will only give a few examples: Brown (Man Utd, England), Hargreaves (Man Utd, England), Zamora (Fulham, England), Anderson (Man Utd, Brazil), Bosingwa (Chelsea, Portugal), Woodgate (Tottenham, England).

Into Premier League players who have been selected unfit can go: Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Rooney (Man Utd, England), Barry (Man City, England), Fabregas (Arsenal, Spain), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Mikel Obi (Chelsea, Nigeria).

Finally, into non-Premier League players who were selected but have picked up injuries can go: Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Robben (FC Bayern, Holland), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan, Brazil), Forlan (Atletico Madrid, Uruguay), Karhan (Mainz, Slovakia), Streller (FC Basel, Switzerland), Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain) – Iniesta was selected unfit.

Too many Premier League based players are included in these lists. It begs thinking about whether Premier League players play too much.

The structure of football in England means that a player can play 38 league games, 14 domestic cup games (excluding replays), and between 15-19 European games – totalling a potential 67-71 games in a season. That is a very heavy schedule.

In a World Cup year, the number of games a player plays is even more crucial. To the clubs it is the same as usual, the season is no different. To the governing bodies, in England – the FA, their motives are split. They want a competitive domestic system but they also want the national side to progress.

What can be done about the amount of football played in a World Cup year to try and stop these injuries from occurring? The two most common suggestions are to start the season earlier and incorporate a winter break. This would not change the number of games played but would allow for the players to have time off either at the end of the season or mid-season to recuperate. La Liga has adopted a full-time winter break. Such an idea has been advocated by club managers here. Sir Alex Ferguson said in January of this year:

“My experience tells me that when you get to December, it is draining for players to continuously play matches every Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. It is difficult to play football through heavier grounds in cold weather. By December, everybody needs a break. With a break in January you can repair the small injuries the players pick up. Even the coaches need a mental break. Why don’t we use the whole of May to make up for the loss of matches that are held in January?”

Of course, Ferguson has the progress of Manchester United at heart when he made those comments but they become applicable to the national sides too.

One other suggestion I have heard is to cut the number of teams in the Premier League to 18 and have only one domestic cup. I don’t advocate this idea – other countries have leagues with 20 teams in, the Premier League should be no different.

When clubs do try and rest players in the Premier League, even if the motive is not for the sake of the national team, the idea is not supported by the FA. Wolves were fined £25,000 for fielding a changed line-up at Old Trafford which included all 10 outfield players being switched. Mick McCarthy believed Wolves would not win the game with his strongest team out so wanted to save them for the next, more important game against Burnley.

The Premier League clubs will be concerned by how many of their players will come back from the World Cup and find a season starting in the very near future. Many will not have a proper break from football and be thrust into pre-season training soon after returning. Such is the concern that Manchester United have admitted that all their players at the World Cup will be given a month off and the club have accepted that they will be forced to start the new season without some important players.

This all makes for nice reading – in hindsight we can make suggestions to counter all these injuries that are happening to players associated with the Premier League. However the reality is a little bit different.

Premier League based players are professionals. They are monitored, primed and shaped to play a lot of football at an intense level. Players in Europe’s other top leagues will be playing as much football as Premier League players. There are more Premier League based players at the World Cup than from other leagues therefore the proportion of players injured who play Premier League football is higher.

The biggest factor I believe is conditioning and the nature of the Premier League. English domestic football has become frantic, quick, strong and very competitive. Players who want to play in England at the top level must be at the top of their game. There is more chance of a player being injured in the Premier League than other leagues for this reason.

When a Premier League player now goes on international duty he will find the standard of football and the speed of the football fall from what he is used to. Premier League players are conditioned to play at a high tempo. At a World Cup, the training sessions are so controlled that the players are finding they are have to hold back. The matches are so different from what they play week in week out that the body has to make an adjustment. No longer are tackles flying around. The players find they have a tiny bit more time on the ball. These conditions lead to injuries.

I would argue that the Premier League has become too strong. No longer is international football the ultimate form of the game. Injuries will occur at international football – because of the strict conditioning a Premier League player is used to; their bodies are so in tune to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League that when it stops, the body can’t handle it.

I find it amazing that the FA do not try and support a more drastic type of break in the season, especially in a World Cup year. The Premier League may be the strongest league in the world but it may also be prohibiting some of its biggest stars from appearing on the biggest stage in football.

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Arsenal captain and Spanish international, Cesc Fabregas has been the subject of a lot of transfer speculation linking him with a return to his home-club, Barcelona. Today, Barcelona have confirmed that despite the imminent World Cup, they have made a formal written offer to Arsenal for the transfer of Fabregas.

A statement on the club’s website had this quote from Club Director General, Joan Oliver:

“Everybody knows that Cesc wants to sign for Barca and that we also want him to come here, but there is also a third party involved –Arsenal. Any agreement has to be with them. The official window for transfer negotiations opened on June 1st and although we’d had unofficial conversations with them before yesterday, we’ve now made a formal written offer, which we presented to Arsenal yesterday afternoon.”

A second quote from Club Vice-President, Rafael Yuste reads:

“I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to sign for Barca as soon as possible and it’s clear that everybody here will give him a warm welcome. We’ll do nothing that might make it more difficult for him to come here and we won’t rush things – but we won’t stop either!”

This deal may even be concluded before or during the World Cup as Txiki Beguiristain and Raül Sanllehí lead the negotiations for Barcelona. Spain, one of the favourites for the competition, will be hoping that it will not affect the performances of Fabregas during the competition. Barcelona are renowned for trying to conclude transfer dealings as quickly as possible once a target is identified and the first bid has been made – with that in mind, there may be more news to report soon.

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