gethampshire - Reading Evening Post

Even though we are driving on the main motorway that connects the two biggest cities in South Africa there is still only one lane on each side of the road and lorries often politely pull into the hard shoulder to let cars pass. This one lane issue is obviously one of the main reasons the accident rate on the roads in South Africa is so high, that and the fact that many people disregard drinking and driving laws here.

The drive has thrown out a few Africanisms along the way. Rather than stopping for say a pheasant in England, we occasionally come across baboons and ostriches roaming the road. Just another friendly reminder that we are in a very special place.

But there is a stark contrast to the fun we are having as we approach each town along the way to Bloemfontein. On the outskirts of almost every built up area we come across there are what South Africans call townships, or as I learnt in A-level geography shanty towns. These places are where some of the poorest people in the world live under corrugated iron tin shacks, pieces of wood or seemingly whatever is at their disposal. These places are largely unregulated by any authority and are riddled with disease and crime. You might say the townships in South Africa are what gives the country such an alarmingly high murder rate.

Earlier this week I visited a township and I will write a piece after this extraordinarily long roadtrip about how hope is still maintained among the many who live in the awful conditions that exist in these communities.

But back to our journey, the scenery has been jaw dropping ever since we set off from our base in Cape Town yesterday morning. We stopped two thirds of the way at an olive farm which was a lovely haven away from the long road and a great place to watch Ghana make history by being only the third African nation to progress to the World Cup quarter finals.

It’s a long trip for this game today but I think this is where following England starts to pay off. This is just about as big as it gets for me, a knock out match in the World Cup against Germany. What a huge stage for our national team and I feel quite optimistic about our chances today.

We have somewhat dwindled our way into the round of 16 so far but I think the likes of Gerrard and Lampard will shine on this stage against our old rivals. Also I think Rooney may finally open his World Cup account today and put in a decent performance as he as much as any knows how big this game is.

Germany have given us England fans great woe in recent years both in Euro 96 and the 1990 Italian World Cup. So revenge is on the cards today and I think if England set the tempo from the off we should be able to progress within 90 minutes.

Germany have a lot of flare to their attack at present but aren’t so strong at the back so if we play solidly as a team today we will progress to the quarter finals at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

COME ON ENGLAND!