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I received a funny email yesterday. Do you remember the “Now that’s what I call music” CDs? Well this years’ World Cup in South Africa is already causing mixed views over the Vuvuzela.

Love It or Hate It?

The Vuvuzela is an instrument that is used by blowing, much like you would with a brass instrument like a trumpet. The instrument makes a monotone bee type buzzing sound and the whole world is split into a love it or hate it debate. Rumours were that they may be banned from the World Cup but I personally love them. They don’t annoy me when I’m watching the games, and I actually think they add to the atmosphere. I went to the Soccer Aid 2010 match at Old Trafford in support of Unicef and there were thousands of vuvuzelas being blown throughout the game and it was a much better atmosphere than the match at Wembley a couple of years ago. For this reason, I’ve attached the CD cover (it’s not a real CD) from the email I received entitled “Now that’s what I call Vuvuzela”. If it ever got to the high street I think that some people would actually buy it!!!

The World Cup is well underway now, and yesterday the ‘group of death’ kicked off their first group games. There’s always a group of death in every tournament, and this year it consists of:

Brazil

Ivory Coast

Portugal

North Korea

I didn’t intentionally write them in this order, but I actually think that this will be the order that they finish in the group. Brazil, had a supposedly non-tricky tie against North Korea last night and in fairness the North Koreans played exceptionally well until the deadlock was broken in the second half and Brazil went on to win 2-1. In the other game, there was a stalemate between Portugal and the Ivorians. Looking at the highlights last night I think Ivory Coast should probably have just about won it. The main reason I think Portugal will finish third is because I don’t rate their manager Carlos Queiroz. I’m a Man Utd supporter and highly rated him as an assistant coach, but I think his team always lacks something when he’s the main man in charge. Sven Goran Eriksson manages Ivory Coast now, and with his experience, and their strength with Drogba, Kalou, and the Toure brothers I think they’ll come second in the group. Which means that arguably the best player in World Football Cristiano Ronaldo will be getting an early flight home.

So, we’re underway at the 19^th FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I’m writing following the 1-1 draw in the opening game between South Africa and Mexico and cannot wait for the rest of the tournament. I’ve been thinking of late about the players I want to watch at this year’s World Cup, and the players I think will shine. Looking at the teams who I believe will progress to the knockout rounds, and those who have been on form all season, I’ve come up with the following list.

My Top 5 Players To Watch During World Cup 2010

The World Cup is nearly upon us and this year there will be no Sheepskin Jackets in South Africa as John ‘Motty’ Motson is no longer commentating on International Football following his retirement after the Euro 2008 final. Hanging up his jacket leaves it open for other commentators to get themselves in the history books. From “they think it’s all over…..it is now” made infamous by Kenneth Wolstenholme in 1966, commentators have been trying to make their mark on the biggest stage.

Do you remember Motty’s quote against Belgium in Italia ’90? Gazza played the free kick into David Platt, who turned and volleyed the winning goal that got us through to the quarter finals against Cameroon.

England have done it, in the last minute of extra time!

Or when Becks put us ahead in 2002 against Argentina from the penalty spot:

Hold on to your cups and glasses……..You can smash them now, David Beckham has scored!

Good old Motty will be remembered fondly amongst England fans for his charming, witty punditry on games but this year in South Africa it’ll be left to Jonathan Pearce, Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson et al to live long in our memories in a year when we hope football will finally come home.

Come on England!!!

Joe Cole is officially a free agent. Chelsea confirmed yesterday that they will not be renewing the contracts of Joe Cole or Michael Ballack for next season, therefore both players are free to join other clubs. For me, Joe Cole is one of the best players in England, and would be one of the first names I put on the team sheet for England’s starting eleven at this years World Cup.

Cole has enjoyed much success with Chelsea, winning 3 league titles, 2 under Jose Mourinho and 1 under Carlo Ancelotti this season. However he has become frustrated by his lack of first team action since he returned from long term injury recently.

Clubs lining up to sign him are Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham. Harry Redknapp has come out saying he would love to sign his former West Ham player but believes an agreement may have already been reached with another club. Personally I REALLY hope it’s United. They really need a player to take over from Paul Scholes and Joe Cole has the natural talent and vision to be a perfect replacement.

Over at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson is being very quiet about who he wishes to sign – even insisting he will rely on the development of his current squad next season. Hopefully, he’s going to pull a rabbit out of the hat, and Cole could be just the man.

So, it’s D-Day for many of the current England squad as Fabio Capello today announces his final squad for the World Cup in South Africa. The decision means that seven players from the provisional squad will receive the bad news as Capello names his final 23 man squad.

Personally, I think that the most likely names to not be included will be:

Stephen Warnock – Aston Villa
Adam Johnson – Man City
Michael Dawson – Tottenham
Scott Parker – West Ham
Tom Huddlestone – Tottenham
Shaun Wright-Phillips – Man City
Darren Bent – Sunderland

Personally I agree with Sir Geoff Hurst’s comment saying that Darren Bent deserves to go ahead of Emile Heskey due to his regular appearances for his club and the fact that he’s scored 25 goals this season, although I don’t actually think this will happen. I remember the day Glenn Hoddle told Paul Gascoigne he wasn’t going to World Cup ’98 and that was a massive shock. Maybe there will be a shock or two this time. Let me know what you think!!!

Today we ask a simple but pertinent question – Will Mancini last the season?

The furore surrounding the Italian’s arrival at Manchester City perhaps overshadowed the good work that his predecessor Mark Hughes had done over the last couple of years. ‘Sparky’ was not just a great player but also a great manager and his untimely demise left us wondering if the City board had made the right choice.

After their dumping from the Carling Cup by neighbours United and now their untimely exit from th FA cup by Stoke City, silverware seems a long way from the empty tropy cabinets at Eastlands. Will Mancini last to the end of the season – probably. But it remains to be seen if sucess will happen quickly.

There is a well known joke in Manchester that involves City’s trophy room being broken into and the police searching for a man last seen carrying a light blue carpet over his shoulder. If Mancini doesn’t improve soon the only carpet he will see is the one onto the plane home.

Time is slowly ticking away for Portsmouth FC. Unless they can find a buyer before Friday the club will go into administration.

Portsmouth owes debts of around 70 million pounds and their players have not been paid on many occasions this season. If they enter administration the club would be hit with a points reduction which would leave them floundering at the bottom of the premier league with no real possibility of staying up.

It is a sad state of affairs that a club with a history as illustrious as Portsmouth’s should end up in this position; we only hope a buyer is found soon.

While Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal all battle for the top three places in the premier league, perhaps the most difficult position to guess come the of the season is fourth.

This weekend saw a no bore draw between two of the clubs aiming to finish in fourth, Manchester City and Liverpool. Liverpool have been in poor form recently and with City not playing talisman striker Carlos Teves, the action was always going to be a little stiff. The BBC were reduced to showing the highlight of the game which was a misplaced free kick from Steven Gerrard that nearly hit the corner flag.

Everton and Tottenham are the other two clubs to back if you think you might have a flutter and with Tottenham in top form and Everton beating Manchester United at the weekend you wouldn’t back against them.

The FA cup quarter-final draw was made yesterday after some cracking action during FA cup weekend. Crystal Palace nearly did a giant killing act and missed out on going through because of a late equaliser from Aston Villa. Bolton and Tottenham will have to play again after Tottenham missed a penalty. Man City and Stoke will also have to replay after a dull draw at Eastland’s, whilst Chelsea calmly swept away Cardiff, in perhaps the game of the weekend.

Here is the quarter final draw in full:

Chelsea v Manchester City/Stoke City
Fulham v Bolton Wanderers/Tottenham Hotspur
Reading/West Brom v Crystal Palace/Aston Villa
Portsmouth v Birmingham City