The game that was played this afternoon between South Africa and Canada may have been the most boring sporting event in recent memory.
In a traditional 32 team World Cup, where the group stage features stiffer competition, both of these teams would have been grouped.
I'm sorry to say this, I love Canada, and Canadian football has come a long way in my brief lifetime, but Canada and South Africa had no business gracing the World Cup Knockout stage this Sunday.
This sacred arena was reserved for the elite of the elite of international football. This was not the best of the best on display. It was poor advertising for a great sport. Guys from the local YMCA would have given us a better game.
If I'm not mistaken, South Africa had 1 shot and 1 corner all game. It was the most shameful and cowardly performance by a national side in a big tournament that I can remember. These guys were passing it back to their goalkeeper all game. I don't know how South Korea lost to these bums.
And Canada wasn't much better. They played awful football. Poor execution. The striker was a ghost again. The manager looked lost. They got extremely lucky South Africa made it out of their group. If I'm Morocco or the Netherlands tomorrow night's game counts for two. Whoever wins that game will be automatically through to the Quarter Finals. They should lay it all on the line tomorrow night. Other than Argentina no other team would have an easier path to the Quarters and potentially the Semi Finals.
Hopefully the games this week will deliver the goods and make us forget this game was ever played.
Going forward I hope FIFA revises this 48 team nonsense. The World Cup should only feature the best of the best. I think they should only accept 24 teams. 12 European teams. 3 South American teams. 3 African teams. 2 Asian teams. 2 teams from North America. And 2 playoff winners to fill out the rest of the spots.
