I personally thought the final would be a South American affair between Brazil and Argentina but Holland and Germany put that theory to bed.

Just goes to show that nothing is really that predictable in football but as we’ve said before to any budding Asian soccer star, self-discipline matters.

Brazil started strong against the Dutch but lost their way as soon as Holland scored their first goal. From then on Brazil went into panic mode and lost their discipline in defence, an area on which the 2010 Brazil had been built.

Brazil plays best as a team of individuals with flair and creativity who are allowed to play fast one-touch football the South American way.

The world cup 2010 Brazil team looked more like a European team and it didn’t suit them.

Germany on the other hand have always looked like a strong, disciplined unit that have grown stronger throughout  the tournament. Their passing is accurate and they play as a team both in attack and defence.

Germany destroyed Maradona’s Argentina with a 4-0 victory dominating most of the game. Again, the South Americans lost their discipline.

Germany has been the most impressive in the tournament so far, growing in confidence and as a strong unit match by match.

But their discipline is what sticks out most, each player knows what their job is and they get on with it in an effective and efficient manner.

Asian soccer star learning point

Self- discipline is the cornesrtone of success. Discipline will give you freedom.

As Stephen R. Covey once wrote, “the undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites and passions”.

And as we already know and have seen from the South American teams that play with passion and flair, once they lose their self-discipline they lose the freedom to play with flair and creativity. They give in to their emotions.

In the longer term, a lack of discipline equates to a lack of freedom to develop particular skills and abilities which are required to play professional football.

Brazil topped the table with Portugal taking second place into the last 16, but the teams were booed off the pitch in what was a cautious but listless performance from both sides.

The first half saw a flurry of yellow cards but no real passion was seen on the pitch, the cards were more for tit for tat fouls from both sides. It’s been a long time since i’ve seen such a boring match especially from two teams that are known for their flair and attacking football.

But, because the outcome of the group had more or less already been decided the fans had to put up with a performance that was just ridiculous.

From a tactical point of view it’s completely understandable, but when the match has been hyped as probably the best fixture of the tournament and the stadium is packed to capacity the palyers have a responsibility to play with a will to win.

Anyway, I hope the rest round really picks up in the quality that is expected from world cup 2010. We want to see the passion, hunger, desire and will to win.

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Both France and Italy have made world cup history by being the first finalists from a previous world cup by both failing to get past the group stages.

Unlike France, Italy didn’t succumb to major problems within the team camp. They just weren’t good enough throughout the world cup 2010 tournament.

They looked slow and lethargic and their passing was well below world cup standards. In fact they were as bad as England in their now forgiven game against Algeria.

The difference between England and Italy’s crucial games was that England came out fighting and full of hunger and desire. England had the will to win because there was no other route for them to take; they had hit rock bottom and faced elimination from the competition and an unforgiving nation waiting for them at home.

Italy were in the same position as England, they needed to win or at least come out with a draw to get into the last 16. They had also hit rock bottom and knew that failure would mean facing an even more unforgiving nation than the English on returning home. But, Italy did not come out fighting and the result was elimination from world cup 2010 and bottom of the group table.

Italy had the hunger and desire to win, but they only showed this in the last minutes of the game when they scored their first goal. Once that goal went in for the Italians it was like watching a completely different side playing world class football.

The passing was crisp and accurate and the movement fluid. The challenges were hard and determined and they looked like the champions of 4 years ago.

But, by this time it was too late.

So what do all you budding Asian soccer stars think went wrong for Italy?

By now it should be fairly obvious. If the same team can play like a low division side for most of the game and completely change after they scored it’s got to be down to belief.

Belief is what gives you the confidence to move forward and achieve your goals. If Italy had played with the same belief for 90 minutes instead of leaving it to the dying minutes of the game they would have had a chance to retain the world cup 2010 cup.

Again, I want to drill it in all you budding football players looking to play professional football and become Asian soccer stars, work on your mental toughness and have a hunger, desire and belief to win.

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Why is it always so hard to watch England play?

The ecstasy always seems to be preceded by agony, but it’s what makes watching football exciting.

England came out with a new found confidence that resembled the sort of play we see week in, week out in the English premier league, and could have been a couple of goals up in the first half. Every one of the players had a determination about them and each played his part.

What was it that made the difference?

There must be something here that future Asian soccer stars could learn from.

Was it the red kit that gave them a new found confidence. If that was the difference than they need to keep wearing the red kit.

But, I think it had a lot more to do with being in a place where they were completely at rock bottom; a place where they needed to rally together and usher the belief that comes out of being completely dissatisfied with their performance.

It’s like being in a pressure cooker that builds pressure to a point where there is nothing to do but let the steam out. This is where I believe the England world cup 2010 squad were. Now, the momentum should be used to carry them forward with confidence and belief.

So, as I wrote in my last post and something budding future Asian soccer stars need to continuously be working on is mental toughness; because if you can keep your belief even when everyone around you is losing it, you will become an outstanding football player that can change the outcome of a game.

That is how you will keep on the journey to realise the dream of becoming an Asian soccer star playing professional football; mental toughness and belief.

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But there is a lesson to be learned for budding footballers looking to become Asian soccer stars of the future, but more on that later.

I’m sure like us, fans all over the country and around the world, sat down in anticipation of a thrilling world-class football game that would have us at the edge of our seats.

England’s performance certainly had us on the edge of our seats, but more in anger and frustration targeted at the poor show being broadcast from our TV screens. There was no hint of a world-class performance from any of the England players, in fact they didn’t play like a team at all, while Algeria showed fluency and good technical ability.

The big players didn’t turn up for England and the rest of the team were in disarray looking for some leadership or moments of inspiration, but there were none.

Watching the players running around the pitch, what really came to mind was “headless chickens”.

So where does the problem lay?

We know the players put in impressive performances week in, week out at club level. May be the problem is the formation which fails to bring the best out of individual players strengths. Certainly, England’s management team need to evaluate the situation and make the necessary changes before its too late and England fail to qualify for the next round.

I believe England’s players also have to accept responsibility for the poor performances at world cup 2010. The body language of the players shows a lack of belief and confidence which opponents can easily sense. They seem to choke under the pressure and their decision making seems to desert them

The highly paid England players don’t seem to have the hunger and determination, on an international stage, that they have at club level. Working on core mental toughness and performance is as important, if not more, as working on physical and technical ability.

This is where budding young footballers dreaming of playing professional football and becoming an Asian soccer star can learn an invaluable lesson,  it’s probably more important to work on mental toughness as any other part of football training.

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As Germany’s ex-International Jurgen Klinsmann so eloquently put it, “It was an impressive performance by Argentina, they controlled the game for long periods and could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up by half-time. It was risky, because Nigeria had chances in the second half, but they deserved to win.”

Messi lived up to his reputation and the crowd sensed something would happen every time he got the ball. If Maradona has done one thing well, he’s managed to give the whole team an emotional uplift and confidence that they can win this world cup.

Where the living legend lacks in tactical understanding he more than makes up in providing the glue to gel the team together. As they say, ‘ the proof is in the pudding ‘ and we wait and see if Argentina can get better with each game or lose direction trying.

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Reports of a dispute among some players with manager Raymond Domenech had already emerged before the match and seemed to unsettle the French team camp. Chelsea‘s Florent Malouda has had a wonderful season with his club but after publicly criticizing the French Coach the player paid the price by being relegated to the bench.

But with all the international talent and experience within the French team, much more was expected and not delivered.

Not to take anything away from Uruguay, a team that showed strong defence and creativity through their experienced linchpin Diego Forlan. Playing with 10 men for the last 10 minutes of the game Uruguay players showed they were serious about getting through to the next round.

With everyone in the group on a single point it’s all down to which team shows more mettle to get through to the next round.

Asian soccer star – British Asian Soccer Blog

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But the great African party lost some of its oomph with the announcement that Nelson Mandela’s great-grandaughter was fatally injured in a car crash returning from the pre-world cup 2010 concert.

Understandably, Nelson Mandela was unable to attend the opening ceremony that would put South Africa centre stage in world news for the next 4 weeks.

The game lived up to the hype surrounding the buildup to the FIFA World Cup 2010, with South Africa putting on a great show for all of Africa.

The sounds and energy within the stadium is unique to Africa and while it can get irritating to those not used to the atmosphere certainly spurred on Bafana Bafana, as the South African team are affectionately known, to give a competitive perfomance.

Bafana Bafana started nervously and with Mexico calling the shots nearly conceded several times in the first half. But they started the second half more confidently with some great one-touch football, taking the lead from a great counter attack and stunning finish from man of the match  Siphiwe Tshabalal. The goal was celebrated with a stadium eruption that resonated throughout South Africa.

Feeling the game slipping away from them Mexico turned up the pressure and were rewarded with an equaliser from a set-piece with the game ending in a draw.

So the benchmark has been set for an exciting month of footballing action we’ve all been waiting 4 years for, and hopefully we won’t be disappointed.

South Africa World cup 2010 [HD] official anthem

Related stories:

Cup party starts, mourning Mandela absent : Drummers and dancers wowed fans at South Africa’s Soccer City stadium in a glittering prelude to Friday’s World Cup kickoff, but Nelson Mandela’s absence after a family tragedy cast a cloud over the party.

Hosts South Africa held 1-1 by Mexico : A stunning goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala almost gave hosts South Africa the perfect start to the World Cup before they were held to a 1-1 draw in front of almost 85,000 fans at Soccer City on Friday.

Bafana Bafana held in opener : South Africa were denied a dream start to the 2010 World Cup after their opening Group A encounter with Mexico ended 1-1.

Nelson Mandela great-granddaughter killed in crash caused by drunk-driver : A suspected drunk-driver caused a car crash today that killed the 13-year-old great-granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, according to police.