Following last night’s kick-off concert (did that use to happen?), today sees the official opening ceremony and first match between the host nation and Mexico.
I have already downloaded my vuvuzela iPhone app (it really exists. Not just one either – there’s a choice of six) and will be shaking my phone fervently in support of South African midfielder Steven Pienaar.
It might annoy a few people; I’ll be at the L&G Awards at the time.
Pienaar is the only member of the Bafana Bafana I have in my Fantasy World Cup side, which, perhaps contraversially, doesn’t include any English players. Some people have alleged that this is unpatriotic but I would argue that it’s a hedge against almost inevitable World Cup disappointment. There’s no point putting all of your eggs in one basket.
So here it is, the starting line up you’ve all been waiting for – my Fantasy World Cup XI:
Goalkeeper: Casillas (Spain)
Defence: Lucio (Brazil), Tanaka (Japan), R Song (Cameroon), Bougherra (Algeria, and ex Charlton)
Midfield: Pienaar (South Africa), Özil (Germany), Xavi (Spain), Sneijder (Netherlands)
Forwards: Podolski (Germany), Messi (Argentina)
It probably won’t be any good of course…
Good luck with your teams this weekend and good luck England.
