Has Fifa World Cup 2010 been worth the wait?

Published: 8 July, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT

WAS it worth the wait? A four-year countdown for football’s grand showpiece and I’m curious to know who else feels like they’ve been short changed?

We’re on the eve of the big World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain and I’m still waiting for the billionaire big boys to show their faces.

I’m still waiting for Kaka to strut us his samba, Messi to mesmerise us and Rooney to thwack the ball into the back of the net.

Although I admit I haven’t watched every game, I have seen enough to decide that the World Cup was by and large a flop.

A few shock results and a handful of good goals won’t justify the fact that I was 25 when I started looking forward to this big kick-off.

If only the players had put as much effort into their football as they have done their excuses.

They’re tired or nervous, the ball was too light and those damn vuvuzelas were too distracting.

Although the constant buzzing was at times painful to bear, I thought the fans did a good job of adding a much-needed carnival atmosphere, especially as the overall standard of football gave them very little to celebrate.

There have been a few highlights. Spain’s David Villa showed us just how to handle the heat when the pressure is on and the fans are expecting.

Arsene Wenger hailed Japan’s Keisuke Honda a “genius” and rightfully so. It would be great to see him in the Premier League this season, along with Germany’s Mesut Ozil and Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, who for some unknown reason played just a cameo role in South Africa.

I did, however, miss a couple of games.

So perhaps I should email Cesc Fabregas and find out his thoughts on the World Cup as he has spent most of the tournament watching the action unfold from the bench.

The Arsenal captain is still reportedly keen on switching to the Camp Nou despite the fact that Barcelona boys Xavi and Iniesta have kept him on the Spanish sidelines.

If he is still eyeing a move  then Arsenal should cash in on the 23-year-old because clearly the football brain that he uses to carve open defences isn’t as sharp as it needs to be.