My 2010 World Cup Diary : The Aftermath of the World Cup Final

At 2.30am yesterday, I was part of the crowd at Chong Pang CC , hoping to witness history in the making of a new World Cup winner in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finale. The final game, however didn't do justice to the world most beautiful game. Howard Webb, the English referee made history first by dishing out the most yellow/red cards ever for a Cup final. Once again, a football game has been marred by this referee, never failing to cause controversy especially during big games. The Cup Final was a negative one, football shouldn't be play and officiate in such manner. It doesn't deserve a mention in my personal blog as I wish to remember the positive side of the first ever World Cup tournament held in African continent.

Shakira sang at the closing ceremony with hot number Waka Waka, This Time to Africa. Will always remember this World Cup song, very sporting song.

Here's a list of Golden Ball (Player of the World Cup tournament nominees:

And the Golden Ball goes to Diego Forlan of Uruguay. He has been voted by the football world as the best player in South Africa 2010 World Cup. For me, he thoroughly deserve the award. The former Man United flop has found a new lease of life in the La Liga and has displayed his talent & goalscoring power in the biggest football tournament. Bear in mind, he's playing in a team that is consider weaker than the other big boys. With Forlan, they progress till the semi-final, a remarkable 4th place finish.

For 2010 World Cup, I also remember the beautiful Paraguayan model who became the most popular World Cup fan in this year competition. She definitely enjoying all the media attention but there are plenty of beautiful babes out there from different nations, beautifying the South Africa 2010.

While pretty babes are common sight on the television screen during world cup matches, there are some crazy fans too. Remember during Slovenia vs Algeria game, there is this Algerian fan that climb to the top of the stadium lighting. How did he get up there in the first place ?

Denmark was the team that I wanted to support for the tournament but the once mighty Danish dynamite didn't have the best of luck with injuries to key players. Age has caught up with the once dangerous Martin Jorgensen and Tomasson. They were eliminated in the group stage after losing to surprise package Japan. The Japanese surprised me and played very well in the tournament. No more Nakamura, this is the times of Keisuke Honda and Tulio.

The team that I enjoyed watching the most is USA. Well, the Americans is no longer weak in soccer. They are fast, skillful , talented and has great fighting spirit. Really enjoyed their draw with England and fightback against Slovenia. Great future for USA football.

Let's relax and enjoy some of the greats goals of South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Finally, this is the biggest star of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Paul the Octopus who holds the 100% record of right predictions for all Germany matches. He also correctly predicted that Spain will win the World Cup. A retired legend now.

My 2010 World Cup Diary - Q/F Result : Argentina 0 Germany 4

3 friends met up and decide to spend an evening together for dinner and world cup action in Chong Pang. Before going there, stop by the Sembawang centre of hope to collect yesterday's winning. Chatted with the malay guy in front of me in the queue, asking him for tips. He think Argentina will win tonight but he's helping a friend to place a bet for a 3-0 Germany win scoreline. Discuss it with my pals and all of us think he's wasting his $$$ for this bet. How wrong we are to be later in the night. ^_^

While having dinner at Chong Pang, met ZQ, who seems to be on the side of the Germans but commented this Argentina team is very different from the team that he seen in the past. Argentina has good defence, YQ and myself couldn't stop but disagree coz we think the weakness for Argentina is in defence.

After food, off we go to Chong Pang CC but there was no queue. Why? Becoz there isn't going to be a live telecast becoz there's a on-going indian community event. We had to switch venues. Tried the foodplace near Jeluntung CC but the place was packed & the crowd seated there look at three of us with the "don't come near us" look. Not very friendly. So we headed for YQ house.

Game start and Argentina defence falls at the first hurdle, Thomas Muller giving Germany an early lead. We knew Argentinians will have an uphill task from this moment as their defence doesn't look solid. Immediately sms ZQ, hey what happen to the good Argentinian defence that he mention? The first half ended 1-0 to the Germany and I think my total goals bet is off, I thought there is going to be a goal feast. I need 4 more goals in 2nd half to win my bet.

Germany was playing their usual efficient football, allowing very little fluidity in the game. Messi did show some nice touches but didn't really threaten the German goal except a good through pass that was slightly too quick for Tevez. From the way the game was going, it is gonna take some special magic to prise open the German goal. That moment never arrive and Germany scored a killer second goal. Once again, the Argentinian right defence was exposed as Klose made it 2-0. The commentator say that Klose has just move past Pele in the world cup goalscoring chart. It was game over and HY & myself were bored with the result. We spoke about the Malay guy at Singapore Pool who has placed a 3-0 Germany win and how much he could have won if another goal is to be scored. That goal came later and we're all cheering for the Malay guy who have won good $$$ but I was hoping for more because I have a 5 goals bet. Near the end, Klose got his 2nd goal of the game to make it 4-0. One more goal please, be it consolation for Argentina or Messi. It nearly came but the German keeper made a simple save. Whistle end, 4-0 to Germany. I think the Malay guy who bought a 3-0 Germany win must be absolutely gutted to narrowly miss out. I also miss out narrowly but he's probably got a much higher odds than mine.




Looking back at this result, actually England put up a much better fight than the Argentinians if based on the English 1st half performance. All of us agreed that if Frank Lampard's goal has stood, it would have been a completely different picture of the 2nd half collapse that happen as England push forward. The Argentinians fall into the same trap today by conceding a soft early goal. I didn't think the Germans were too fantastic with this win but the tactics & discipline won the game for them again. They're another boring team. Looks like many are expecting a Germany vs Holland final, the battle of the boring teams. I'm hoping for Uruguay vs Paraguay.

Tomorrow morning, have a football tournament to play & will probably skip the Spain vs Paraguay encounter. Come on Paraguay, kick the Spainards out!

My 2010 World Cup Diary - Q/F : Argentina vs Germany Preview

For the Singapore folks, this is the most eagerly awaited quarter-final of this year World Cup. Reason is very simple. The Argentinians is the most attractive side of the tournament with their attacking play and Germany with its so-called youthful side is earning rave reviews after their emphatic (for me - controversial) victory over the very popular England team. Many expect this match to be match of the tournament. Just like the layman on the street, I'm expecting goals in this game and have place a 5 goals bet with the center of hope.

For the benefit of good football, Messi & company which play attractive football must triumph over the German machines that play efficient yet cold football.

Another reason why I wanted Argentina to win is because of Diego Maradona. This man has already won the World Cup as a player and was the best footballer that the world has ever seen during this era of mine. He is a classic example of life is full of ups and downs. Though enjoying huge success and fame as a footballer, Maradona has his fair share of problems related to drug abuse, heart attack, relationship issues,a poor World cup qualifying campaign etc that tarnished his reputation. He's certainly no angel and a big motormouth but one thing is certain, he is a survivor. After all the highs and lows he has gone through, he is one that stood strongly by his ideas such as bringing 6 strikers to the world cup. His team is proving to be the best in this world cup though they've not really been tested against a big team. Others may say the reason why Argentina is doing well is because of the many good star players of this current generation. In the football world, it is never easy to manage a star-studded team. Maradona has done very well to get the stars to gel & produce attractive attacking football and most importantly, winning games.



He has won the World Cup as a player, can he do it as a coach?

Come on Argentina !

My 2010 World Cup Diary - Day 21

So far, my coverage of the FIFA 2010 World Cup was done regularly in my facebook account until Day 17 when my dear VIP decided to play a trick on me by changing my password & I can't access my facebook account. Actually, it was a good move as indeed, I'm probably spending too much time on facebook. So I spend few days away from facebook but still did follow the world cup. Had expected goalless draw between Japan & Paraguay and it really turn out to be a goalless game which Paraguay won on penalties. The payout for zero goal is 8. The Japanese surprised me in this tournament and more than held their own against the defensive Paraguayans. In the other game, I had expected a draw game and bought HT/FT bets with good odds for either side but it didn't work out, my 2nd loss in this year WC. David Villa 4th goal of the tournament ensure Spain a quarter-final berth. The Portugese leftback impress me though and had a very good game.

That was old news for the past few days. Today is the start of the quarter-final stage where the Netherlands will play mighty Brazil. Was @ the centre of hope yesterday and saw the odds for those win/draw/lose bet weren't good. Decided to play the higher odds bet such as HT/FT. My gut feeling tell me the Dutch-Brazilian encounter should be settle by 90mins and somebody should be leading at half-time. Wanted to buy Holland (HT) and Brazil (FT) but I think I mark the wrong tab and it turned out that I bought Brazil (HT) and Holland (FT). This mean I had to hope Brazil will lead at half-time while the Dutch need to secure a win by 90mins in order to win it for me. This is the ticket that I bought:




Being really kiasu, I decided to also buy Holland (HT) and Brazil (FT) just to make sure that my original intended bet was also placed with the centre of hope. In this way, I'm well-covered whether Holland or Brazil win. But it is really a long shot for me and the Dutch too as they attempt to defy history to beat the Brazilians. One of my former buddy who's a big Dutch fan even advice me via sms that Brazil has no weakness in the team. I replied his sms that football is not about theory, the Dutch can win. Just trying to justify my bet.

Once again, Chong Pang CC was the venue where I caught the game together with Yongquan. At 9pm, there was already a long queue, awaiting to get the entry stamp on our hands. I was bringing my grandpa to see a doctor @ Chong Pang and hence, was early for the stamp. Yongquan came later and the queue was long & we performed some magic before gaining entry into the live telecast venue. During queuing, I notice quite a few fellows wearing Brazilian jerseys. When inside the hall, there's was a Dutch jersey guy with Bergkamp words on his jersey. I shouted, Come On Brazil ! I need them to score an early goal to lead at half-time. Brazil did it through a very simple goal by Robinho, courtesy of some very bad defending by Holland. Yongquan was blaming the Blackburn Dutch defender Andre Ooijer who was a last minute replacement for a dutch defender called Mathijsen. Actually, I never notice this lad Mathijsen during my observation of the Dutch team. I think they're the most boring team in the world cup. For me, Robinho goal was a mistake in positioning by John Hetinga, not Ooijer. Nevertheless, it was 1-0 at half-time and I'm on track with my ht/ft bet with highest payout odds of 34 times. The Dutch didn't really threaten in the first half. Somehow, I feel Dutch will equalise in the 2nd half but not too sure if they can win it because Brazil looks very slick in their passing and counterattack.

The 2nd half was very exciting as Dutch equalized early with an own goal by Brazilian player Felipe Melo. Wesley Sneijder, imho, the best dutch player added a 2nd goal midway through the 2nd half. I jumped in jubilation together with the Chong Pang crowd, who are now supporting the dutch. Melo later got red-carded by the very polite Japanese referee who has a reasonably good game though I feel he is too polite. Also impressive 2nd half performance by dutchman Gregory van der Wiel. Melo did a stupid step on Robben. Brazil was down to 10 men. After that, it was all Dutch and they could have scored a 3rd goal in injury time but silly Hunterlaar and Robben wasted the golden chance as they were 2 on 1 with Julio Cesar, the Brazilian goalkeeper. That was the last piece of action and the final whistle blew seconds later. It make me $160 richer today with my bet yielding a return of $170 for a meagre $5. It was a blessing in disguise as I had marked wrongly on the scoresheet.

Hope the extra money can be put to good use in my final attempt to rescue the stray cat from AVA death sentence. I happen to run into a stray cat being trapped by Panasonic factory today during my customer meeting. Wanted to get it out but it was collected by AVA before I could do so. Tried with multiple phonecalls with their personnel but no success. Will try again on Monday.

Need to listen to Waka Waka..thinking of catching the next game Ghana vs Uruguay. My gut feeling is Uruguay will make it through but I heard the great Nelson Mandela will be there to support Ghana. His impact may be significant for the Africans.

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