Bear with me ‘cos it’ll be another 4 years before I get another opportunity to pen my thoughts on another FIFA World Cup.

This 3rd in a series of football articles I published should end my “rants, raves and ramblings” on a game I was not following until almost the end of the elimination rounds.

And all my so-called “conspiracy theories” (yup! I’m a regular modern-day “Sherlock Holmes”) in my last article regarding Germany’s defeat by Spain in the Semi-Finals should perhaps also include the fact that Germany without Thomas Mueller on that crucial match contributed to their lack-lustre performance and eventual loss. For whatever the real reason might be, on their next game which was the fight for the 3rd placing, the German squad’s footwork suddenly quickened to a more exciting pace with Mueller scoring the first goal. However, it came a little too late ‘cos they had lost the opportunity to fight for the ultimate position of being “2010 FIFA World Cup” Champion when they lost their earlier game to Spain in the Semi-Finals round. But being “third” is no mean feat either. So, they do get my applause. I am first and foremost always a German fan.

Anyhow, this last game alerted me to the fact that Thomas Mueller will be one heck of a player to be looking out for in the immediate future. I must also applaud Uruguay who put up a great show but eventually lost to Germany at 3-2. It was indeed a close fight and one with more action though I must admit that Miroslav Klose’s absence was sorely missed by “yours truly”. And no Michael Ballack among the spectators (here I go again… could I ever publish a “football”
post without mentioning my German “idol”??). Indeed no!! How boring football would be without Ballack. How indeed!!

In closing, I’d like to include a few lines with regards to the Finals between Spain and Netherlands. Although the one and only goal appeared in the “extra time” making Spain the “2010 FIFA World Cup” Champion with only a 1-0 win over its opponent, I must say that Spain truly deserved to lift the cup. With such a display of “good sportsmanship” as compared to the “antics” of the Dutch, the whole world watching should in all honesty sing praise for a team that has shown tremendous strength and “spirit” in this final match.

When a game, any game, is over, we sometimes remember the names of the teams who have participated, or the players that stood out. But more important than this is the feeling that’s left behind. If a game is won “fair and square”, the respect of even die-hard non-fans will be attained. And in the aftermath, we can only admire those who accept defeat with grace. But it would not be so in this year’s World Cup. The sour look on most of the losing team’s faces did not warrant any sympathy from me. It just showed that “class” cannot be bought.

I remember not too long ago when Germany lost a crucial match. But they still managed to display such sportsmanship. And since then, they had found a life-time fan in me. So, forgive me if I still sing praises for the likes of Oliver Kahn (good ol’ Ollie who had since retired from professional football) and Michael Ballack, without whom I would not have watched any more football matches. On the field and off, their actions will forever be ingrained in my mind.