World Cup Results 2010: Day One

After an exhilarating pre-tournament party on Friday and a heart-warming opening ceremony (although our thoughts are with Nelson Mandela, whose great-granddaughter died in a car crash died on Thursday,) we actually got some football to watch.

Well, some football, anyway.

If we're honest, our Christmas present—the one we've looked forward to for four long years—wasn't that great to start with, and we can only pray for better as South Africa continues.

But some points from Day One:

The Horns

Forget the atmosphere it will bring to half-packed stadiums, the 'Vuvuzela', the horn that has already become synonymous with the quest for the trophy, is already ringing my ears. I can't wait for it to give me titanus by mid-July.

If any of you England fans are reading this, don't bring one back to your home club for August and the start of the football season. It might get planted somewhere exceptionally uncomfortable.

Points go to the South African supporters, who managed to keep blowing them for a relentless, headache-causing 90-odd minutes in the 1-1 draw with Mexico.

The Ball

Again maddening, because everyone except Adidas and FIFA absolutely hate it. Did they not even test the thing?

Almost to a man, every keeper has described this as a piece of [excrement], and it soon became apparent that free-kicks outside the box, shots outside the box, and long over-the-top passes were not going to be the order of the day.

While we can't blame the ball for France's inability to score against 10 men, it can't have helped either. Mexico will be frustrated since most of their balls from one side to the other of the pitch ended up going out for throw-ins, and Uruguay will probably blame the ball for the fact that they spent the latter-half of the France game kicking the opposition.

Believe in the conspiracy theory that Germany have been secretly playing with this ball for four years, folks!

Goals. Two—or was it three—of them?

Siphiwe Tshabalala's cracker for South Africa was wonderful and sent the South African fans into a new world of craziness. What will also drive them crazy is their team's lack of marking for Rafael Marquez's equaliser. And was Mexico's goal offside? Borderline, if you believe half of the would-be commentators in a London bar we visited for the game.

South Africa also contrived to hit the post, which would have been goal three of a terrific opening game. France and Uruguay cancelled out any first day love by being plain awful—both of them.

France

Dear God, it's no wonder the French fans hate Raymond Domenech—their team's absolutely rubbish.

Usually you wouldn't say that about a team that fields some of Europe's best players, but it's absolutely true. They were awful. They couldn't break down ten-man Uruguay, and their shooting was woeful.

Uruguay

Snore.

Game Ratings

South Africa vs Mexico: B-

France vs Uruguay: D

Can't wait for tomorrow though!