A square in Buenos Aires following the Germany-Argentina match July 3, Photo: www.lanacion.com.

This was somewhat expected. In Buenos Aires, days before the match there were comments with an undertone like, “mmm…now we’ve reached one with Germany”. The Argentines celebrated all the victories of Diego Maradona’s national team: the first one in the match against Nigeria, then the one with South Korea, with Greece and then Mexico. But the schedule said that Argentina had to meet Germany in the quarter finals yet again. Perhaps there was an assumption of a defeat for the Argentinean squad. And we didn’t exaggerate.

Ghana’s Isaac Vorsah (l) consoles his teammate Kwadwo Asamoah after their defeat in penalties at the World Cup Quarter Finals against Uruguay July 2. Photo: picture alliance / dpa

Friday, July 2 is a day many African football fans would love to forget. Holding onto hope for 90 minutes and then for another 30 minutes, everything faded into a sense of hopelessness.

After Asamoah Gyan squandered a last-minute penalty kick by hitting it wide to the crossbar, and a further sheepish kick by Captain John Mensah, everything went silent here in Mombasa City.

The Black Stars have none but themselves to blame for their exit. They painted the entire African sky black with darkness.

John Pantsil of Ghana celebrates the team’s victory with a national flag after the 2010 World Cup round of 16 match against the United States June 26, 2010. Ghana won 2-1 and qualified for the round of 8. Photo: picture alliance / Photoshot

It was a weekend like no other in Nairobi. With only one African team left in the round of 16, the match between Ghana and the United States was a must see. Everyone in town was talking about the clash. After the final whistle, the US saw stars, black in colour I guess. Truly, the superpower had been outdone.

Germany fans are hoping for another win in Saturday's game against Argentina. © ATP Yoshihiro KOIKE / dpa

So-called experts are notorious for getting it wrong. As soon as they open their mouths, a curse is cast on whoever has the misfortune to be spoken about.

“Ronaldo’s in great form. He’ll bring Portugal far.” Cue Portugal’s exit.

“Franck Ribéry will take the competition by storm.” Cue France’s ignominious exit.

“Wayne Rooney will explode into action at any time.” Cue England’s exit following Rooney’s perplexing lack of combustion.

Klose after a goal in Germany's game against England. Photo Franck Faugere / © dpa

 “Here’s the man who is on the track to history,” said a commentator of German footballer Miroslav Klose during the Germany-Australia game.  At first I thought he was talking about the World Cup title, but, unsure, I asked a Brazilian fan sitting next to me.  Klose, he explained, is just four goals away from snatching the title of most World Cup goals scored from Brazilian player Ronaldo.

It was news that made me silently curse the referee who, in a match against Serbia, gave Klose a red card, effectively kicking him out of the game in the 36th minute of play. Germany lost to Serbia 1-0. But that’s all part of the game.

Japan's Yuichi Komano (Top) vies with Paraguay's Edgar Barreto during the 2010 World Cup round of 16 match on June 29, 2010. Japan lost 3-5 in a penalty shootout. Photo: picture alliance / landov

I like the Asian teams this year; they are real racers in this World Cup, always ready to bring their opponents to task, sometimes just by running for their own lives. Although North Korea’s role in the loosing column looked to possibly end with their promising start and their relatively small defeat by the Brazilians, this was not to remain so in the following group matches.

2010 World Cup, Photo: (c) Rick Bosch

A World Cup experience is unique, regardless of its host nation. South Africa is putting its best foot forward and here are some of my thoughts after being lucky enough to attend two of the group matches in Cape Town. The first game I attended was the very first game to be hosted in the Mother City and it was on a bizarre kind of day. One of those unique ‘never-to-be-repeated’ kind of days. “Why?” I hear you asking, well, let me tell you.