Fear factor the spoilsport

Much of the football played at the World Cup in South Africa has failed to live up to the expectations and hopes of many. So what is to blame? Altitude? Jabulani? Or, the weather?

The official ball has certainly received more than its fair share of criticism, particularly from the goalkeeping fraternity.

Outfield players have also complained that they are unable to control the movement of the ball, leading to inaccurate passes and wayward shooting. Adidas, the ball manufacturers, has responded by stating that the ball is bound to behave differently in the thinner air experienced at altitude. FIFA has endorsed the ball's technical components stating that the ball is the 'best ever'.

However, one other factor to consider is the weather. The South African winter has produced a wide variety of elements. At the time of kick-off in the Italy v Paraguay match the temperature was recorded at four degrees Celsius. The rain was pouring down as well although this was preferable to the intermittent hailstorms. The players were hardly purring and the game ended in a turgid draw.

The bore-draw between France and Uruguay was also played in grim, wintry weather. Conversely, Germany's emphatic 4-0 win over Australia was played in temperatures in the sub-tropical climate of Durban on the Indian Ocean soaring into the 20s!

So where does the truth lie? Probably, somewhere in between. The World Cup is the pinnacle of a player's career where pressure reaches the highest levels.

Teams are often set up to avoid defeat rather than to score as many goals as possible but the biggest reason for the disappointing football so far (apart from Portugal's thrashing of North Korea on Monday) I believe, has been the nervous tension.

The fear factor that accompanies players onto the pitch makes avoiding mistakes far more important than any sense of adventure or willingness to take risks.

However, exciting football is about more than just goals, as the surprises have proved. Top of the shocks was the defeat of favourites Spain by the unfancied Swiss, although the Kiwis's resolute draw against defending champions, Italy comes close.

Spain had been supposed to dismiss the Swiss with the minimum of fuss and maximum of style yet, on 52 minutes, Gelson Fernandes scored what might prove to be the most unexpected and unlikely goal of the tournament, leaving the vuvuzelas silent for the briefest of moments. This was the first time that Switzerland has ever beaten Spain and only the second defeat in three years and 49 matches for the European champions.

Slovakia scored their first ever goal in the World Cup finals when Robert Vittek nodded in an accurate cross from Sestak. However, despite dominating possession, Slovakia sat back on their lead and allowed New Zealand to equalise deep into injury time through Stephen Reid, backing captain Ryan Nelson's pledge to 'make every New Zealander proud'. Yet they will be prouder still with their shock 1-1 draw against current holders, Italy.

In another World Cup first, Chile achieved their first World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Honduras. Honduras also became the first country in World Cup history to select three brothers in their squad after calling up Jerry Palacios on Tuesday. He joins brothers Wilson and Johnny in South Africa after replacing injured Torino star Julio Cesar de Leon.

The eagerly-anticipated opening game in the Group of Death saw incessant rain that ensured no fireworks were lit on the pitch although there was surely not a large enough downpour to warrant the number of dives from the world's most expensive player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Didier Drogba, cast in the role of saviour and second half substitute, failed to provide the winner for the Ivorians.

The final match on Tuesday saw the much awaited entry of top seed Brazil against the unfancied and unknown North Koreans. The Koreans defended in numbers until a scintillating strike from Maicon with a viciously swerving shot from a seemingly impossible angle.

On another bitterly cold evening that saw many of the Brazilians donning gloves, their second came from Manchester City star Elano following a perfect pass from club colleague Robinho who have both clearly benefited from their time in damp and cold North England. In a final twist that delighted many neutrals, the North Koreans scored a well-worked opener when Ji Kun-nam lifted the ball over the diving Julio Cesar to set up a nail-biting finish. Shame they forgot how to do it against Cristiano Ronaldo & Co.

However, the Brazilians came into their own against African hopefuls, the Ivory Coast with an excellent 3-1 victory. While Fabiano can claim to be twice the player Maradona was (he handled with both his left and right arm in the build-up to the second goal) there can be few complaints with the result.

Drogba netted a consolation goal against a Brazilian side that had not conceded to an African side in its last five outings. However, the talking point after the match surrounded the ridiculous sending off of Kaka by a French referee seemingly determined to under-perform his national team. Ivorian Kader Keita ran into Kaka and then writhed in agony on the floor for several minutes ensuring Kaka misses Brazil's final group match against Portugal which, ironically, the Ivory Coast need Brazil to win!

At the other end of the performance spectrum comes the farcical French, although don't expect to find any tears being shed in Ireland. Their dismal performance against the Mexicans needs them requiring a win and a positive result in the group's other match to qualify.

Following complaints last week about the vuvuzelas, they have ensured it is not only the Jabulani ball that is being accused of a poor revolution with arguments, walk-outs, Nicolas Anelka being sent home and attempts to find the 'traitor' in their midst.

For their match against the Algerians, England's own Scarlet Pimpernel, Robert Green, was replaced by David James. The lack of potency displayed by the English forwards is perhaps best assessed by a bird that chose to watch the game, untroubled, from the Algerian crossbar, even changing ends at half-time. England's performance was as flat as the top of Table Mountain and leaves them, well, a mountain to climb in their final match against Slovenia, who need only a draw to qualify.

In the same group the US found that luck evens itself out. Having benefited from some horrendous goalkeeping that gifted them a point in a match in which they never looked likely to score, they found themselves harshly denied a winner against Slovenia having fought back from 2-0 down.

Holland became the first side to qualify for the second round with a business-like victory over Japan, while Cameroon were the first to be knocked out following a 2-1 defeat by Denmark. As the atmosphere reached fever pitch, the Indomitable Lions squandered a number of chances as they went in search of a late equaliser.

The week ahead brings the business end of the Group stages where the struggling powerhouses France, England, Italy and Spain will have their summer holidays decided.

Aside from these matches, brotherly love could be in short supply should Kevin-Prince Boateng's Ghana knock out brother Jerome Boateng's Germany of the World Cup later today.

It was Kevin-Prince who knocked out German captain Michael Ballack from the Cup with a poorly timed tackle in the FA Cup Final.