Ryan Greenaway, Fan Blogger, 10th June 2010

15 years on from the last worldwide event hosted by South Africa, we eagerly await this year's production of, arguably, the biggest show on earth.

In 1995, South Africa went under the spotlight as it hosted the Rugby Union World Cup. Just a year before Nelson Mandela had been elected President of the country in an election that totally reformed politics in South Africa. The reversal of the ban on the African National Congress (ANC), and other anti-apartheid movements, by State President F.W. De Klerk, in 1990, under growing international pressure, saw Mandela released from prison and negotiations followed that led to the country's first multi-racial elections in 1994. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Rugby World Cup was a huge success for the country as its national team triumphed and Mandela championed the World Cup as a massive step forward for relations between whites and blacks as he encouraged black South Africans to support the Springboks, a team dominated by white players in a predominantly white sport. The inclusion of black players such as Chester Williams, and his success in the tournament further helped, and when the Springboks triumphed over New Zealand in the final, and Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar, dressed in a Springbok shirt and cap, it seemed as if South Africa had made a giant leap forward in cooling the racial tensions in the country.

This time round it's different, Chester Williams himself admits that the Football World Cup is ten times bigger than the Rugby World Cup, but it's also a role reversal for the people of South Africa, he states that "Nineteen ninety-five was all about getting the black majority to accept the white man's game. This is about getting the white man to accept the black man's game". He adds that "I hope one day within my lifetime, nobody says that kind of thing anymore."

So, what impact do we expect this World Cup to have on the country? There has already been some disquiet about the amount of money being plunged into the stadiums and infrastructure to support the event, whilst there are clear demonstrations of poverty in the country existing alongside these new stadia. It's hoped that revenue from the World Cup will not just pay for these costs but will filter right down to improving the quality of living for the locals.

There are also the well-known crime issues in some of the cities, with most countries issuing guides to their fans on what to expect. It doesn't paint a particularly pretty picture of the country, and with the country not having a symbolic figurehead like Nelson Mandela at its helm this time round, and with the national team considered the rank outsiders of the tournament (more so than the Springbok back in 1995), what will be the lasting impression left on and indeed, by South Africa?

For me, a distant viewer with very little knowledge about the country and its history, I can imagine one way that will make this a hugely successful tournament. If the tournament concludes and all we talk about is the football, then I believe it will have been a success, no off the field distractions taking the headlines, and no footballing or national politics being involved and no talk of race or indeed racism. If we finish the tournament talking about the festival of football, the packed stadia and flamboyant parties in the crowd then South Africa will have done a fantastic job in producing a World Cup worth remembering, and one that has justified the decision by FIFA to hold the World Cup there, a decision seen by many as a risk. More importantly, it will be a World Cup that marks South Africa down as a country of real progress.

Now, on to the business of England, well what do we expect? It's difficult to tell really. We qualified for the World Cup in a thoroughly professional and convincing manner, and that threw us really. Unfortunately it also did that very dangerous thing of building up expectation. Luckily, the always professional Fabio Capello had just the answer. 3 unconvincing displays in friendlies in the weeks leading up to the tournament has helped temper the enthusiasm of the nations press. Our national press is not known for their "middle of the road" approach to reporting, so it shouldn't be a surprise to see some "rollercoastering" from them as they write off our chances one day, and then talk us up as potential champions the next day on the back of a victory over one of our group opponents. All I can say is don't buy into it too much, as the press is the master of being proven wrong and then backtracking without any sign of admittance to its misjudgment.

For me personally, I am caught in two minds, you'll not be surprised to hear. So I apologize for the unashamed display of fence sitting that is to follow.

As the England team was led out by Rio Ferdinand against Mexico at Wembley, I commented to a friend that "I can't envisage Rio Ferdinand lifting the World Cup for England". I've always thought of him as a high class defender, and one of the best in the world on his day, but his recent form has bought into question his place in the team, but as captain it was always assumed he would play. It was with a mixture of worry and relief that I heard the news he would be ruled out of the competition with a knee injury, worry about our options in replacing him, relief that I would no longer have to worry about that difficulty of picturing him holding the World Cup aloft.

Let me explain why I find this so difficult. He's a bit of a character, a self-confessed prankster, and he has a chequered history with authority, and he doesn't have an ounce of the "Bobby Moore" character about him. Now I would be quite satisfied with myself if I could say these were my genuine reasons, but I'm afraid that's not the real reason. The real reason takes me back to 2002, when England trounced Denmark 3-0 in the second round of the World Cup.

Our opening goal was celebrated by Ferdinand, despite it actually being an own goal, with this most ridiculous and embarrassing dance. Rio has since said that he was "trying to keep it cool, keep it real", and it might just be the country boy in me, who struggles to understand why you'd do that after scoring in the World Cup. Sorry Rio, but you took goal celebrations to a new low with that one. No, there's no two ways about it, when an England World Cup winning Captain scores it should be something dignified, take Alan Shearer's "single handed salute whilst running around aimlessly" celebration. A celebration often mimicked by our new captain, Mr. Steven Gerrard. It simple, it's passionate, not too flashy, in the words of Monty Python "It's a good woody sort" of celebration.

Away from goal scoring revelries, Steven Gerrard is also a lucky footballer. Those last minute strikes for Liverpool that have so often rescued them, let's hope he brings some of that to South Africa with him.

Anyway, back to my thoughts on England's chances, part of me expects the usual England showing, decent in the group stages, but inevitably failing by the time the last 16 come around, in the usual heart-breaking manner. The other half of me thinks one man, and one man alone seems to make a lot of difference to England, and it's not a player. Fabio Capello is a winning manager, he doesn't tolerate losing and his attention to detail throughout the qualifying and preparation period is hopefully something that has rubbed off on our players. There's no coincidence that the Germans are so highly noted for their meticulous planning, and that they've faired an awful lot better than us in the World Cup. If his planning and approach to game is circumspect as we believe it to be, then maybe this has been what's missing for the past few years.

Many England fans have felt we've had a team worthy of competing much deeper into a tournament than we have done in the past, so maybe it's the "Fabio Factor" that will swing things our way. He seems to have a good balance of the tactical nous that saw Sven appointed as England manager, but also knows how to whip out the "hair-dryer" treatment a la Ferguson, when required. I think this balance is perfect to get England playing to a plan, but ensuring they are motivated if they start underperforming.

I'm afraid there will be no bold prediction of us winning the World Cup, I've just decided to try and enjoy the ride as much as possible and not get too depressed if England get knocked out because the competition is bigger than the England football team.