Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time in what many described as a bruising encounter. Fouls after fouls after fouls would test even the most conservative referees. At times the Dutch replaced the round ball for an ankle, chest and what ever else got in the way.

The Dutch plan was simple, unsettle the Spaniards and catch them on the break. To their credit, the game plan would have worked if it weren’t for the brilliance of Casillas who denied Robben on two crucial occasions at the death.

But like every Good vs Evil tale, Good prevailed and the Spanish were crowned champions of the world.

Most would agree that Spain were worthy winners and played the most attractive football. At times they resembled a PlayStation game with the ease they kept possession and passed the ball around.

After all is said and done, the World Cup in South Africa was a success.

Having watched the majority of the tournament from Australia, it amazes me how little respect the Australian media has for the game. Conspiracy theories (yes Lampard’s goal did cross the line, get over it), lack of knowledge for the game, lack of video technology, lack of flair, lack of this and lack of that. Why so negative?

Do these reporters know anything about the game?

Have they played the game?

Chances are their silver spoon kids that went to a prestige college and got into Journalism because their grades didn’t get them into Medicine. Pffft (not a word, rather a sound effect))

What the media needs to understand and to some extent the public, soccer is the world game. Nobody actually cares if it takes over Rugby or AFL here in Australia because it has conquered the world. The purpose of the world cup is not to sell soccer to countries like Australia, New Zealand and America, it doesn’t need you. If you think it’s boring, YOU’RE A MINORITY!

You don’t embrace it, so what!

You don’t want to write about it, so what! Millions upon millions fall over themselves to get the latest soccer news from every inch of this world.

Australian media needs to wake the fuck up!

On the eve of the biggest sporting event in the world, the Australian papers were filled with stories how an Australian Rules player fell victim to sleeping pills. How Mathew knights, coach of Essendon is feeling the pressures of coaching. How Arkemanis is playing in the VFA.

P-l-e-a-s-e, can we have some soccer coverage? 20 pages of AFL for every one page of soccer during the world cup is criminal. For those in the media that continue to mask the world game, FUCK YOU.

If you asked a handful of soccer fans to describe Diego Maradona what would they say?

Depending on their age and nationality, the answers would differ, that’s for sure. With the World Cup just around the corner I wonder what Diego Maradona is cooking.

My memories of Diego begin in Mexico, the 1986 World Cup where Maradona, lets face it, won the cup with his own boots and hand.

Then I remember the days in Italy where he put Napoli on the map. A small club from Naples all of a sudden became the heavy weights of European Soccer. Anyone my age would remember the sky blue jumpers with the Mars logo on the front.

Now we arrive in Rome 1990 for the Italia World Cup. Maradona has become a God in Italy but is now public enemy number one as he stands in the way of the Azzurri. As fate would have it, he scores a decisive penalty and Italy is bundled out of the world cup.

What I remember the most from that world cup is Maradona crying as they lost the final to Germany. A German by the name of Jurgen Klinsmann stole the cup from his grasp when he conned the referee into a penalty and a red card.

If you look back at the footage, you can’t help think the song “Don’t cry for me Argentina” was written for that very moment.

After the world cup, angry Italians demanded revenge and decided to crucify him for cocaine usage. Did the Italians know this before the world cup? If you think they didn’t, then you should be also expecting the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Father Christmas to pay you a visit this year.

Maradona banished into the wilderness only to make the news by shooting a cameraman in the face with an air rifle.

In preparation for USA 94, he hired the services of, wait for it, Ben Johnson the disgraced Canadian drug cheat. Do you remember what happened after the first game against Greece? That’s right, the nurse grabbed him by the hand and led him to the rest rooms for a drug test. I still can picture his face, laughing and smiling at the nurse as if to say, do you know who I am?

What followed after that was a serious cocaine addiction that nearly killed him on several occasions. He also battled with his weight and at times looked like a bloated beast that escaped from the depths of hell.

After several failed attempts in rehab, Maradona found comfort in his long time friend Fidel Castro and beat the habit.

When ageing Alfio Basile quit the national job, Maradona was given the nod to everyone’s surprise.

Argentina just qualified for the World Cup and Maradona took aim at the media after being called everything under the sun.

Translated he said,

“I’m sorry ladies for my words and keep on sucking it. I’m either white or black, but I will never be grey in my life, right? You treated me like you did, now keep on sucking dicks…”

“I’m grateful to my players and to the Argentinian people, I thank no one but them. The rest, keep on sucking dicks. You too Pasman, right, you also have a dick inside you.”

For those that have been living under a rock, go to YouTube and type in “Maradona Press Conference” and watch it for yourself.

After being harassed by the media and being criticized for his team selection and coaching abilities, Maradona had this to say,

“I know how to win the World Cup. You have to put all your heart in it, you’ve got to give your life”.

When all is said and done, Maradona is a survivor and his love for Argentina can never be questioned. Throw Lionel Messi into the mix and you just never know.

Lets see what Maradona has installed for us in South Africa.

Fabio Capello has done a fantastic job as England coach and has shown his class with several, lets say, unconventional situations. England was one of the first countries to qualify for the World Cup and look destined for a deep run in the tournament.

Capello has done a great job preparing the squad and players like Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard are ready to take on the world.

So why does Fabio “Discipline” Capello look worried?

For those that have been living under a rock fasten your seat belts.

Ashley Cole has separated from his wife Cheryl Cole after X-rated photos of him surfaced in the hands of adoring, big-breasted models. Cheryl has been living in a London hotel and the couple are definitely facing troubled times. Nothing like a woman scorned just before a major tournament.

To add to Capello’s pain, Ashley Cole regarded by most as the best left back the country has to offer broke his foot against Everton. While in hospital, he admitted to taking the photos with his mobile phone.

This is the second time Ashley has been caught fooling around. In January 2008 hairdresser Aimee Walton claimed she had engaged in some drunken fun with him.

With all this going on, Capello better find a replacement for Ashley in case things go pear shaped.

Hang on a minute!

I know what you’re thinking. Wayne Bridge is the number 2 left back for England.

Oh dear.

Preparation for the World Cup is crucial with fitness, strength and organization being the key. Wayne Bridge publicly refused to shake john terry’s hand before their clash and has claimed that he will not go to South Africa with the England squad.

So what has Wayne been up to?

The Manchester winger has been drowning his sorrows with beer and ciggies in Miami of all places with a flock of women. Looks like his recovering and might have a change of heart.

John Terry continues to receive abuse from the England faithful and the jitters and boos continue to haunt him. Surely this will affect his form leading to South Africa. Carlos Tevez also added salt to the wounds by claiming Johnny would have been killed in Argentina for his sins. Sounds a little dramatic but no one needs reminding of the Andres Escobar shooting in Medellin.

In a nutshell, Capello has stripped Terry of his captaincy and has no proven left back at International level. The majority of the fans want to kill Johnny and Wayne Bridge is partying in Miami.

What else could possibly go wrong?

Well, according to EuroSports and the beauty of Sky television, the Football Association has released a statement claiming that the England team was secretly recorded before the Egypt game.

The recordings range from player conversations to tactical discussions of the coaching staff. Good times.

On a positive note (sarcasm), England has two more matches before travelling to South Africa for the biggest prize football has to offer.

Can Capello hold the England team together?

The England squad will be named on May 16 and his final 23 will be unveiled June 1.

For the recorded discussions go to

www.england-has-no-chance-of-winning-the-world-cup.com (giggle)

You pressed the link didn’t you?

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

If you listen to the rumours and the bloggers from Nigeria, don’t worry; I do not need your banking details to put millions in your bank account for a small fee, giggle, believe something fishy is happening to Nigerian Soccer.

If you had the pleasure of watching some of the African Cup, you couldn’t help but notice that Nigeria, the once power house of African Football looked slow, timid and to be honest, they looked old.

So what could be the problem?

Nigeria was labelled the sleeping giant and the next powerhouse of Soccer. Strong showings in the Olympics and the youth World Cups suggested that the Nigerians were ready for world dominations with big scalps, which included both Brazil and Argentina.

Soccer great Pele declared that Nigeria would easily win the World Cup before the turn of the century after electrifying performances in the U-17 and U-20 age groups.

So what are the whispers that have escaped Angola?

Nigerians have a bad reputation in the Internet world and are the proud owners of some of the biggest scams. But here’s something new. The whispers that have grown to international angst claim that the Nigerian players have falsified their age with fraudulent passports.

Don’t believe me?

The President of a leading Nigerian club was quoted,

“What happened in Angola is a confirmation of what has been happening in the past where most of our players falsified their age during competition. Most of the players are beyond the age they professed and this made it impossible for them to withstand the pace of teams like Zambia and Benin.”

A former national doctor Ken Anugweje said,

“Our boys are old, we are paying the price for age cheating.”

This is hilarious and very amusing. This could be the second biggest scam in the sporting world. I know what you’re thinking, second? The cake definitely has to go to the Spanish basketball team that won Gold at the Paralympics. The only problem was that the players were neither physically or mentally handicapped.

This scam was around 20 years ago when Nigeria got banned from internationals for a period of 2 years. FIFA banned Nigeria back in the 1988 Olympics for presenting falsified passports. Makes sense looking back at some of the results at youth level. Even Brazil looked second rate compared to the Nigerians.

The plot thickens even further. With the World Cup just months away, the Nigerian Federation has decided to sack their coach and discard 15 players from the squad. Mmm, a little suspicious don’t you think?

The immigration department of Nigeria can change your name, place of birth, and date of birth for around 7,000-10,000 naira. Naira is Nigerian currency and is the equivalent to $46.53 US or the hefty price of $51.79 AU.

So for $50, you can have a new passport and they will throw in a new identity and if you’re a footballer, they will dip you in the fountain of youth.

An American journalist quizzed a Nigerian player and nearly fell off his sit by the reply. The Nigerian said his real age was 34 but his Football age was 21.

If you follow the Premier league chances are you remember Jay Jay Okocha who finished his career with Bolton. How old do you think Jay Jay was when he retired? Speculation has him at the age of 42. What about Obafemi Martins who was picked up by Inter Milan as a 14 year old and played his first senior game when he was 16. His passport declares that today he is 25, but Newcastle believe its 34.

For all you American soccer fans think about this for a moment. Does the name Fredua Koranteng “Freddy” ring a bell? He was the youngest player to sign a professional contract for DC United in the 2004 Draft at the age of 14. Sorry but I don’t believe it.

Nike proudly sponsored Freddy and America fell in love with him.

Where is he now?

Freddy now plays for Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League and I use the words Super League loosely. After cracking the MLS at the tender age of 14, he now plays with all the other pensioners in the Greek Divisions. Players go to Greece to prolong their careers, as they can no longer get a game in the big leagues. Freddy at the old age of 20 is playing in Greece and will inevitably fit right in, if you know what I mean.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”