Winners
The ones who made a mark in the minds of many
Football: The universal language has done it again. Football has provided unlimited joy to people of all ages, races, languages and ethnicity. According to Fifa, four guys from Antarctica had checked its website for results.
Shakira: The Colombian star’s Cup song is a rage. She has transmitted her energy and enthusiasm to the lines and moves.
Diego Forlan: The Atletico Madrid forward was one of the stars of the World Cup by the way he inspired Uruguay to fourth place. He will be a Uruguayan hero forever.
Thomas Mueller: The German has become a star from nowhere. Isn’t that the most enduring aspect of a sporting event?
South Korea and Japan: For making Asian football respectable to the world.
Durban’s stadium: The shell-shaped venue was the best of the 10 World Cup venues. Spain were, perhaps, inspired by the beauty of the Moses Mabhida Stadium as they put it across Germany in the semifinals.
South Africa: For organising a memorable World Cup. The Rainbow Nation can now prepare a bid for the Olympics.
Paul: The German octopus is a global celebrity now. Fans love him, as do punters.
Fans: The most beautiful aspect of international football is it doesn't foster hatred like its club cousin. Fans, local and foreign, have made the month-long tournament a cracking one.
Vuvuzelas: Some hate its single-pitched sound but many love the instrument. Few can, however, deny that the vuvuzela is the iconic symbol of South Africa’s World Cup.
Volunteers: The green brigade has done South Africa proud with an ever-present smile.
Germany: For playing breathtaking counter-attacking football with a youthful side until the semifinals.
Earplug sellers: They made decent money thanks to the vuvuzela craze even though Fifa had not approved them as official partners.
Kulula.com: The SA budget airline scored with its tongue-in-cheek campaigns against Fifa’s ambush marketing.
Losers
Those who failed to score amongst the fans at the football carnival
France: Going home after the first round is no shame because 16 teams have done it. But making an exit under a cloud of acrimony is not enviable.
England: For failing to punch their weight in yet another World Cup.
Durban airport authorities: King Shaka airport in Durban witnessed turmoil on the day of the semifinal between Germany and Spain. The inability of Durban airport authorities to allocate space for incoming flights meant planes carrying a few hundred ticket-wielding Spanish fans had to return to Johannesburg. The number of private jets (600) parked at Durban wasn’t an excuse the Spanish fans were ready to accept.
Referees: According to Fifa, refereeing success rate in 62 matches is 96 percent. England, Mexico and USA will not share Fifa's happiness.
Felipe Melo: Scoring an own-goal is not a crime but stamping on an opponent is.
Diego Maradona: He thought his aura would be enough to win Argentina their third World Cup. He was horribly wrong.
Jabulani: Its flight caused problems to many players.
Luis Suarez: Handling the ball on the goalline is one thing and playing volleyball is quite another. Ghanaians were rightly aggrieved.
Sepp Blatter: An apology to England and a decision to consider goal-line technology showed that Blatter cared for justice. It was only an illusion as the Fifa boss went back on his word even before the tournament ended.
Makarapa: The decorated miner’s hat is as prominent as the vuvuzela in local football matches. But it didn’t become a rage as the metre-long pipe did.
Foreign coaches: The 19th World Cup has shattered the myth of foreign coaches. Capellos and Erikssons fell by the wayside in early rounds.
Fifa: The world body made many enemies by protecting its commercial partners with a hostile approach.