World Cup exciting and wonderful - but no "winter tale" (Feature)

By Arne Richter and Laszlo Trankovits Jun 25, 2010, 15:21 GMT

Cape Town/Johannesburg - There is no chaos and hardly the exotic nature that so many were expecting and fearing. When it comes down to it, South Africa 2010 is little more than a normal World Cup - with plenty of highs and lows on the pitch.

With the world's largest sporting event reaching the half-way point, the host nation of the first World Cup on African soil is extremely proud and the sport's ruling body relieved, while football fans around the world are celebrating wildly just like every four years.

The raging debates about the controversial vuvuzelas and Jabulani World Cup ball have even subsided.

'The rainbow nation is united like never before and full of pride to be the centre of the world,' said South African President Jacob Zuma about the development in his nation.

But South Africa will not be experiencing a 'winter's tale' comparable to 2006 host Germany's 'summer tale,' when they reached the semi-finals.

The winter weather has pushed evening temperatures at times under the freezing mark, leaving conditions less than optimal for street parties and fan zones like four years ago from Munich to Berlin.

In addition, hosts South Africa were eliminated in the first round and Africa's other teams have also disappointed with the exception of Ghana, the only representative of the continent to reach the knockout stages.

Despite all of the organizational clout that FIFA has, developments on the pitch have been quite surprising.

For the first time ever, the finalists from the previous World Cup have failed to get out of the group stage - both reigning champs Italy and runners-up France were eliminated in the first round.

'There were quite a few surprises. It wasn't expected that the world champs and the runners-up would bow out. The United States, Uruguay and Germany have been a picture of closeness,' said German national team coach Joachim Loew.

'There have been a lot of emotions in play. I have seen a very, very intense level at times. The tempo has been extremely high.'

And outsiders such as Uruguay, Paraguay, South Korea and Japan have made a strong impression by reaching the knockout stages.

Away from the pitch, FIFA has done an excellent job with corporate management despite mishaps in security, transportation and ticketing.

The sport's ruling body is thrilled that the experiment of its president, Swiss native Joseph Blatter, has worked out. He has said very little about the tournament since it started but will likely be celebrated as a champion of development when the World Cup winners are crowned.

And the administrative bodies are satisfied as well.

'It's an African World Cup that began on an unexpected level. Those in charge can be proud to have mastered this task,' said Horst R. Schmidt, a top FIFA advisor from Germany.

But it is too early for a final recap, Schmidt added.

'We still have plenty to do. But the people are happy and proud.'

The many empty seats in the stadiums, however, are a thorn in the sides of World Cup bosses. A reported 97 percent of tickets sold is no help if seats remain empty. The normal tickets were too expensive for South Africa's predominantly poor football fans. And the poor economy turned VIP tickets into dead articles.

'Unfortunately we can't hide the picture of empty sky boxes,' Schmidt said. 'Of course the visual appearance is a decisive point.'

And acoustics as well. And Europeans have struggled mightily to get used to the monotonous vuvuzelas.

'Horrible. That kills every atmosphere that is part of football: cheering, booing, whistling, singing, everything,' said Ruediger Liedtke, author of a book about acoustic environmental pollution.

The horns provide a blunt egalitarianism - but are part of football in South Africa.

The joy surrounding football also cannot hide the bitter contrast between rich and poor. While bars near Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town are packed with people watching televised games, there are loads of homeless outside with their noses to the windowpanes on a cold night.

Some 90 percent of those inside are white while all of those outside are black.

Still, many South Africans believe the World Cup is playing a big part in nation-building.

'For the first time in 16 years of freedom and democracy, we are seeing black and white South Africans celebrate together in fan parks and stadiums,' Zuma said.

Others, however, are warning not to overestimate the effects of the World Cup euphoria.

'It can play a part in better understanding, but it won't solve the enormous social problems,' said professor Ari Sitas.

But South Africa has already proved to all 'Afro-pessimists' and sceptics that the nation has the capacity to organize a World Cup.

The crime rate - a major sore spot for South Africa - has yet to cast a large shadow on the World Cup.

'That is really an exemplary development. The decisive key is presence and the ability to educate,' said Schmidt.

'The criminal scene has seen the signals that it's dangerous to act. I hope that holds up until the end of the tournament.'