Goodbye Africa, Hello Brasil.

The FIFA World Cup 2010 ended last Monday morning with Spain emerged as the latest country to hold the gold cup as World Champion by beaten the Nederland. Spain followed France footsteps by winning the double – European Champion in 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, France won the Cups in 1998 and 2000.

Amazing isn’t it, yours truly had predicted Spain as no. 1 contender to win the World Cup long before Paul the Octopus and Mani the Parakeet stole the spotlight. Read my entry here. 

On the whole the 2010 edition was a huge success, despite few refereeing mistakes which need to be rectify through the introduction of latest technology, with many fans calls for the Goal Replay to be introduce in the next edition.

Although my favourite team - die mannschaft @ the German team lost the semi final, they won the third spot by beaten Uruaguay in a pulsating game, which should be considered as the Final that never were. As in 2006, Germany retains 3rd spot but the young players they have will last another 3 world cups, considering most of team are in early 20’s. The Golden Boot winner and also Best Young Player of the tournament – Thomas Mueller is only 20 years old.

The fans was hoping the big stars players such as Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi would leave a big impact in the tournament, but all of them flops with the rise of new and young superstars such as Mesut Ozil, Sami Khadira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luis Suarez, Hernandez, Dos Santos etc.

Spain is the worthy champions in my view, they beat Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at round 16, at Semi Final they beat free flow young Germany which took out Messi’s Argentina earlier, then at the Final they beat the Nederland’s Golden generation which sent Brazil home at Quarter Final. You can say Spain is the winner of the winners and the only team to win the World Cup after losing its 1st game. Another interesting fact, although New Zealand went out earlier in the groups stage, it’s the only unbeatable team in the tournament with three draws in three games.

Good bye South Africa, see you soon Brazil in 2014 and my next prediction is that Brazil will win this cup at their home soil. By that time, i’m sure Paul will already be “sotong goreng tepung” eaten either by the Germans or the Dutch, or maybe both.