HAVE YOUR SAY: Sport Rant - cannot blame vuvuzela or World Cup ball (From News Shopper)

HAVE YOUR SAY: Sport Rant - cannot blame vuvuzela or World Cup ball

12:25pm Friday 18th June 2010 in Sport

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Welcome to this week's News Shopper Friday sport opinion column. Read our rant and join the debate by adding your comments.

EXCUSES, excuses, excuses.

So far during this summer’s World Cup, the so-called big teams have simply not performed.

Italy, Spain, France, Brazil and if I may, England, have all put in unconvincing displays with many yet to pick up three points.

Aside from Argentina and Germany, football fans across the globe are still waiting for the world’s elite players to live up to all the hype.

But some of the explanations for the disappointing displays are frankly a load of Jabulani balls.

These balls are being blamed by some as the reason for goalkeepers spilling shots and strikers missing the target, an excuse as crazy as that time Man United blamed defeat at Southampton on the colour of their grey shirts, saying they couldn’t see each other.

And if that wasn’t ridiculous enough, France full-back Patrice Evra has even cited the buzzing-bee noise of the vuvuzela horns as another excuse, claiming players can’t hear their team-mates.

Judging by last night’s 2-0 defeat against Mexico, the reason France didn’t win wasn’t because of any blaring mosquito sounds or because the ball is too round.

They didn’t win because they’re just not that good.

Perhaps the same can be said of some of the other teams in South Africa.

The top teams are simply over-rated and the encouraging performances by North Korea, Switzerland and Greece suggest maybe there isn’t such a gulf between the bigger boys and the minnows.

Blaming balls and horns cannot cover up or excuse the sub-par showings by the big teams.

Instead we should ask whether they’re as good as they’re hyped up to be.

This column is produced by an independent writer and in no way reflects the official position of News Shopper or its parent company.

Are the vuvuzela horns or Jabulani balls valid excuses for poor performances at the World Cup? Are you enjoying the tournnament so far? So you think the vuvuzela horns add some something positive to the atmosphere or are they a nuisance? Add your comments below.

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