World Cup 2010 Preview: French Not Getting Into the African Spirit

Andrew McNair continues his count down to the World Cup from Port Elizabeth with just 48 hours to go.

8^th June 2010

The weather has taken a turn for the worse here in Port Elizabeth. It has been a mixed day of rain and sunshine but the temperatures failed to break the 20 degrees Celsius barrier and it’s a lot colder than that now at 8pm.

One thing not affected by the weather has been the South African spirit for this World Cup and I’d like to encourage all of you out there not from a country involved in the competition to get behind the hosts Bafana Bafana.

I’m with them.

The news that Manchester United winger Nani has been ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury will come as a blow to Portugal but it also affects those who have placed bets on the Portuguese to win or do well in this competition.

I do not really get the betting on big competitions weeks, months or years in advance as you simply have no idea what is going to happen. I’d much rather bet from game to game knowing who was injured and take previous matches in the competition into consideration, so I will not be betting on an outright winner of the 2010 World Cup until the final at Soccer City on July 11.

My money will however, be on South Africa not to lose the opening game.

9^th June 2010

A miserable day today was brightened up by some more World Cup fever. At midday today the city ground to a halt for a simultaneous blowing of the now famous vuvuzelas.  

People stopped their cars in the streets, left their offices and houses and either blew or listened to the fantastic drone of cheap plastic horns.

Viva Bafana Bafana!

Check out the featured video on the homepage of http://www.theherald.co.za/ .

I’ll definitely be purchasing one and getting some practice in before my first game on Saturday.

As I drove around the town today, I’m still amazed at the affect of this tournament is having on this country. Let’s not pretend otherwise, South Africa has some deep cracks under the surface, and indeed on the surface in some places, but just like in 1995 (as described in the movie, Invictus) sport is uniting this nation.

Let’s hope they can do better and work together after 2010 to stop the cracks from reappearing after the competition.

There is always one person/ group spoiling everyone’s fun and it probably comes as no surprise that group are the French. They have never been known as nation looking to make a good impression and the French Squad are refusing English in media conferences at their base camp in the small coastal town of Knysna between PE and Cape Town.

In fact, they are only sending the bare minimum of players to press conferences to speak French which makes things awfully difficult for the local media. William Gallas has even refused to speak to the press for the entire WC. Why? I wonder if he would like not to be mentioned in any match report for the duration of the tournament.

In fact, the French media have been forced to visit the neighbouring Danish camp to get enough decent content for their organisations, with the entire Danish team available for press situations on an almost daily basis.

Well done to the Danes I say.

The French will undoubtedly suffer a media backlash when their inevitable failure occurs.

Andrew McNair has written for broadcasting giants Setanta and Fox Sports as well as Scottish newspapers the Evening Times and Sunday Herald. If you have any questions about the 2010 World Cup or this blog you can contact him at [e-mail] . If you enjoy his work you can join his group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=35412076250 . He will writing on an almost daily basis for the duration of the 2010 World Cup from South Africa. Previous editions of the blog can be found on this website.