1. First up is the strike by Simphiwe Tshabalala in South Africa’s opening match against Mexico, a game South Africa should have won. Given the state of African teams in the competition–only Ghana made it into the second round–its a good thing the tournament’s first goal was scored by a continental player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA0IzdTADdI&w=500&h=307

2. This is South America’s World Cup instead. All five representatives from that continent have qualified for the round of 16. And Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze’s headed goal–the only one of a match in which the Nigerian goalkeeper stopped everything else kicked his way–announced their dominance..

3. Maicon’s wonder goal for Brazil against North Korea from what appears to be an impossible angle. Did he mean it? Wow.  (The commentator, in Arabic, in the clip below, is about to lose it.)

4. Keisuki Honda’s free kick goal for Japan in their final, and decisive group match against Denmark. There’s nothing wrong with the Jabulani ball.

5. Finally, Landon Donavan’s goal for the USA in the extra time of a final must-win game against Algeria. At least now we’ll be spared endless replays of the disallowed goal against Slovenia and the jingoism that accompanies it. Actually, on second thought it has further stoked the nonsense on ESPN about how the USA will win the World Cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XTDClCdCY&w=500&h=307

Honorable mentions: Germany’s Mezut Ozil against Ghana, Italy’s Fabio Quagliarella against Slovenia, and David Villa against Chile.

Hopefully the World Cup will shine the light on South Africa’s rich football history. Like the story of of Simon “Bull” Lehoko, a star defender of the 1970s and 1980s with Vaal Professionals and Kaizer’s Chiefs. In this video profile by journalist Leoni Marinovich (for the Twenty Ten project), Lehoko talks about the annual “multi-racial matches”–specifically the 1981 edition–arranged between the White XI and African XI as a sign of political “reform.” It was all politically dubious and some of the white players were often openly racist, but the players enjoyed these match ups. And saw in them what could have been. So did some white football fans.

The opening match of the 2002 World Cup in May 2002 in Seoul, South Korea. Defending champions France against World Cup first timers Senegal. France had a uninspiring run to the World Cup (world champions don’t qualify). Senegal has a young team–standouts: Papa Bouba Diop, Kalilou Fadiga, El Hadji Diouf. France threatens first. David Trezeguet hits the bar. Then that goal. Watch for yourself.

* Senegal finished second and France last in their group. In the round of 16 Senegal beat Sweden 2-1, then lose 0-1 to Turkey in the quarterfinals (after extra time). Most of its players moved to the English Premier League (most notably El Hadji Diouf to Liverpool), but the team declined soon after. Oh, and France they’re in the World Cup after Thierry Henry used his hands.

African players are at the heart of the top clubs in Europe: Chelsea revolves around John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien in the middle and Didier Drogba upfront. All three left Africa as teenagers or earlier. Some through family members or through football agents. Similarly take Samuel Eto’o who has been common to the recent success of first Barcelona and now Inter Milan. Eto’o went to Spain as a 14 year old to Real Madrid. None of these players had to deal with sham agents or had to come through unofficial football academies, common all over West Africa. But these players are exceptions in a lucrative trade of trafficking African players to Europe.

And they will never play at the World Cup, less a lucrative European league.

Via Al Jazeera English.

Driving in Soweto, film maker Dumisani Phakathi talks about the connections between the 1970s American professional soccer league and professional football in South Africa:

He also reflects on next month’s World Cup:

Via ThisIsAmericanSoccer (h/t Chimurenga.co.za)