By Manfred Hertenberger
Preparations for the FIFA 2010 World Cup tournament are ongoing. There are only 240 days remaining until South Africa hosts one of the world’s most-watched and anticipated sporting events. For residents of this fine country, those 240 days mean more and more frustration on the nation’s roads as construction work continues, primarily the expansion of the ring road around Johannesburg to accommodate multiple lanes. Frenetic activity to make sure all venues, hotels, shopping centres and the like are completed in time to welcome visitors. In the end, such small sacrifices for an improvement in our infrastructure are certainly worthwhile.
And then, a rather nerve-wracking weekend during which a batch of important matches took place that would decide which teams would go forward to compete in the actual event. With our first attempt at a ticket purchase having been thwarted, we tried again during the non-draw ticket sales and were rewarded with a team-specific set of tickets to follow Germany. Six games, no less, from start to the semi-finals. The Germans performed well, but had some strong competition from a decidedly tenacious Russian team who were competing for a place in the tournament. Saturday’s game would be a make or break: for the German team, the possibility that they would not be visiting South Africa. For holders of the team-specific tickets and fans alike, the possibility that our team wouldn’t make it loomed large. Funny how sport can become a serious affair when one has something to lose…
It took 34 long minutes for Klose to get the ball after a great combination from his team mates. From eight meters away, he plugged the ball neatly past the Russian goalkeeper.
Though the single goal would suffice, the Russian onslaught never let up. A bout of nervous twitching from all of us watching the game after a German player was sent off for a foul with about twenty minutes to go.
A very long twenty minutes, that finally ended with the certainty that our team has made it through and will be competing in 2010.
The excitement of the qualification matches mirrors in many respects the excitement of the actual tournament. Anything can happen. Any team can either fail or succeed. Fans agonize and rejoice. And even once a victory has been savoured, a far more trying time lies ahead. Though Germany has qualified for the tournament, their time in South Africa will be a real test: they will be facing some very tough competition.
Ensconced at their local retreat, the team hopefully have the opportunity to discover some of South Africa’s splendour and its friendly inhabitants.
Maybe even be willing to part with some autographs…
2010 is almost here. Whether or not the team you’re supporting will be competing should be irrelevant. It’s the beautiful game, and it’s coming to South Africa!
I’m looking forward to it!
Original post: