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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014 SPORTS What did the WCup do for you, Bafana? CAPE TOWN: In two or 10, or even 20 years’ time State Stadium on their way to beating former The same five African teams that made the a visitor to South Africa might turn to a football world champion France. A dysfunctional France last World Cup - Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, fan and ask: “So, what did that 2010 World Cup do team, maybe, but South Africa also almost beat Cameroon and Algeria - qualified again. South for you?” Mexico in an exhilarating opening game. No one Africa, with no hosting rights to save it this time, The South African, with vuvuzela (remember doubted the hosts belonged at the World Cup. couldn’t even win a place in Africa’s 10-team final them?) gripped proudly in one hand, could cite Now, South Africa is nowhere - not even World Cup playoffs, beaten out by Ethiopia, no increased investment in the country. He or she among the 31 teams that qualified for this year’s less. could maybe say there are more tourists coming World Cup in Brazil. Well, not exactly nowhere. It is The last time South Africa qualified for a major than ever before. And, with a satisfied blast on the on FIFA’s radar for an investigation into match-fix- tournament it didn’t host was 2008. It only vuvuzela point out that South Africa has the best ing allegations. And it is still in the news at home - returned to the African Cup in 2013 because no one else could fill in for troubled Libya at a moment’s notice. There are other countries who haven’t repeat- ed for Brazil: Denmark, New Zealand, North SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (left) reacts with Athletic Korea, Paraguay, Serbia and Slovenia. But none of Bilbao’s players during their Spanish League soccer match. —AP those have the richest football leagues and best facilities on their continents. South Africa does. The South African team of today plays with- Real held by Bilbao, out its best player after former captain Steven Pienaar gave up internationals to concentrate on his club career with Everton in the Premier Ronaldo sees red League. The national team is now a compact side BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid took advan- conference. drawn mainly from the domestic league, with a tage of Barcelona’s slip-up to go top of La “It was difficult game despite the result sprinkle of Europe-based talent. Liga with a 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad and the goals at the end. Real Sociedad So, do fans want too much from their team? as Real Madrid drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao caused problems for us despite not having Did the World Cup produce unrealistic expecta- and Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on good chances to score. It doesn’t bother tions? A friendly win over Spain in November - a Sunday. me to defend but we were finding it tough Spain containing the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xabi Ronaldo was dismissed with 15 minutes to attack and create openings.” Alonso, David Villa and others - says no. It was a left in a hard-fought clash with Bilbao for game that screamed - louder than the vuvuzelas pushing Carlos Gurpegui in the face and LITTLE ROOM at Soccer City - of South Africa’s potential. getting involved in a confrontation with Mario Suarez was fit to play his first What’s missing is a little stability. South Africa Ander Iturraspe. game after almost three months out for DURBAN: In this file photo taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, South Africa’s goalkeeper hasn’t had that in the four years since frantic Real were looking to move up to second Atletico who were frustrated by a Sociedad Itumeleng Khune (right) celebrates with fellow goalkeepers Wayne Sandilands (left) World Cup preparations were followed by even with their sixth successive league win and side that packed the midfield and gave and Senzo Meyiwa after a draw with Morocco to advance to the quarterfinals of the more frantic attempts to live up to a new reputa- Jese put them ahead after 65 minutes them little room to build play. African Cup of Nations. Now South Africa is nowhere — not even among the 31 teams tion. South African football needs to take a deep before substitute Ibai Gomez responded A mistake by full back Carlos Martinez that qualified for this year’s World Cup in Brazil. —AP breath. for the Basque side. allowed in Costa who slipped the ball back Salvation may lie again with former World Cup “It is difficult to judge, the pictures sug- for Villa to side-foot home from close stadiums in Africa. “Look at our Soccer City and for the wrong reasons. head organizer Danny Jordaan, now South gest it was all a bit exaggerated,” Real coach range. our Cape Town Stadium.” Sports minister Fikile Mbalula last month African Football Association president. Jordaan Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference of Villa pulled up holding his leg minutes No doubt about that. All valid points, and called the national side “a bunch of losers” and has delivered before, those six shiny new World the Ronaldo red card. later and had to be replaced by Raul Garcia. thanks FIFA. But for now perhaps the most impor- “useless, unbearable individuals” after early elimi- Cup stadiums built and finished on time despite “It was a good game played at a high After the break Sociedad showed more tant thing is still lacking. The thing that really nation on home soil from the lower-level African all the doubters. tempo and we did well in the second half. It attacking intent but Garcia set up Costa to makes football followers proud - a winning Nations Championship. The stark reality for the Fans now want to talk more about goals and could have been different after we went finish clinically and Miranda headed home national team. plastic horn-wielding fans from the big city of wins - like Bernard Parker’s delightful chip over ahead but then they scored a great equalis- a corner with the visitors’ resistance broken. Nearly four years ago, South Africa was the Johannesburg down to the shores of Cape Town Victor Valdes and the glorious 1-0 victory over er. Overall I am happy.” New signing Diego, having come on as a center of the football world. Its players bowed out is that Africa has settled into a football rhythm the world and European champion - and less Atletico moved three points clear of substitute, was also on target three min- of the World Cup group stage with a bang not a and South Africa can’t keep up, no matter how about how many people their Soccer City can Barcelona with victory over Sociedad at the utes from the end. whimper, dancing and singing their way into Free good its stadiums. hold. Even if it is a very nice stadium. —AP Calderon where fans gave an emotional Real began against Bilbao with the in- send-off to former coach and player Luis form Jese on the right wing and Gareth Aragones who died on Saturday. Bale still not fully fit from a calf injury. United must win Real remained third, behind Barca, who The visitors made a good start as both lost at home to Valencia on Saturday, on Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria went close all matches to reach goal difference. After a cagey opening with efforts and Athletic looked shaky at David Villa put Atletico ahead on 38 min- the back. Europe — Smalling utes before going off injured and second- Gradually Athletic came back into the half goals to Diego Costa, Joao Miranda game and began to put pressure on the LONDON: Manchester United must win their 14 remaining and Diego sealed the win. Real defence with Aritz Aduriz turning well Premier League matches to keep alive their hopes of quali- There was a poignant minute’s silence but missing the target from the edge of the fying for the Champions League, according to defender before kickoff for Aragones, the coach of area. Chris Smalling. Spain’s Euro-2008 winning side, and who Jese got the breakthrough when he slid The champions remain marooned in seventh place, sev- put in place the tactics and mentality that home a Ronaldo pass but Gomez equalised en points off fourth-placed Liverpool and England’s final helped them win the 2010 World Cup and with a fine strike from the edge of area spot for Europe’s premier club competition, following Euro 2012. which nestled into the corner. Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Stoke City. Their first league loss to Aragones, who died on Saturday, played Ronaldo then lost his temper as he Stoke since 1984 was their eighth of the season and came for Atletico for over a decade during the clashed with Gurpegui and Iturraspe and despite United being able to start Robin van Persie, Wayne 1960s and early 1970s as well as coaching was given his marching orders. Earlier on Rooney and Juan Mata together for the first time. the side on four separate occasions. Sunday, Christian Herrera gave Elche a 1-0 The Old Trafford club last missed out on Champions “From above he will be wearing the red win over Almeria and a Ruben Castro dou- League qualification 19 years ago. “Each point that we drop and white and be happy with our effort,” ble gave bottom side Real Betis a 2-0 victo- makes it difficult for ourselves,” Smalling told the club’s Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news ry against Espanyol.