Having only one World Cup win below our belts, in 1966, it seems that whenever the nation gets its hope up, we are dropped in a pit of devastation and more often than not after a nerve racking penalty shoot out. No one can deny that England has had its share of bad luck. In 1958 the Munich Air disaster claimed the lives of some of England’s major players such as Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, leaving the nation with an inexperienced squad.

Mexico 1986 saw England arrive at the quarter finals only to be eliminated thanks to Diego Maradona’s 2 goals one of which was referred to as the infamous ‘hand of God’. Then in Italy 1990 England lost to Germany after 2 missed kicks in a semi final penalty shoot out.

England made an exit in the second round against Argentina in France 1998, again after a penalty shoot out. But this world cup was perhaps remembered for Beckham’s red card after a foul on Simeone.

England triumphed against Argentina in Japan/ South Korea in 2002 after Beckham sealed a 1-0 victory but it was Brazil who stopped England in their path to the semi finals. The last World Cup in Germany 2006 again saw England reach the quarter finals but it was Portugal who went on the make the semis. Rooney was given a controversial red card preventing him from taking a penalty in the penalty shoot out following a 0-0 tie.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth was in fact the first stadium to be officially opened on June 7 2009 and since its grand opening it has already been venue to 4 major sporting events.

However, work still remains externally in the surrounding area of the stadium and work has already commenced to lay down new brick paving, grassed areas and vegetation. In addition, a precinct area nearby is being modernised and developed in order to fit in with the spectacular effects of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

But the real pride of joy of the host nation South Africa is its Soccer City Soweto in Johannesburg. Built on a hilltop in Nasrec, this stadium is bigger than the new Wembley stadium and has the seating capacity for 91,500 fans. The stadium and its setting is a true marvel and with over 85 percent of the work already completed all that remain to be done is the planting of the grass on the pitch. The Soccer City Stadium Johannesburg will be one of the biggest venues ever to host a World Cup event on the history of the tournament.

The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Peter Mokaba in Polokwane and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit all look set to be fully completed between October 2009 and March 2010.