As we bid farewell to Group D let's admit one thing : Fozz was right.

Yeah, I know it's tough but face the facts : Fozz knows at least as much as the octopus and that lesser known psychic parakeet.  Maybe they could join forces and create a new reality show "Psychic Pets FC".

In hindsight, Fozz was right to raise alarm bells about the limitations of Pim's defensive tactics and he was certainly right about Spain. No doubt we'll be reading his extensive analysis about just how right he was for many months to come. Or perhaps it will be a dvd boxed set. 

Don't get me wrong, the man is a veritable fountain of football knowledge and his passionate speech after Germany beat the Socceroos ("bring in Charlie Yankos !") will live long in the memory. But after innumerable hours of his in-depth pre AND post match analysis, I just need some time in a Fozz-free zone.

Other World Cup experiences I will be glad to bid goodbye to :

  • Attempting to function on four hours sleep a night
  • Going to ludicrous lengths to avoid seeing scores of unwatched matches
  • Falling asleep on the couch and missing controversial moments
  • Enduring the ignorant comments of people who know nothing about 'soccer' (at work, on the train, in coffee shops: I nearly killed someone)
  • Attempting to have conversations that don't involve football ("Julia Gillard ? What ? When did that happen ?")
  • Trying to hear commentators above vuvuzelas

Very much outweighed by the World Cup experiences I will miss :

  • Trying to hear commentators above vuvuzelas
  • SBS's Cup Fever (so entertaining, especially those impersonations. We need these guys to do a similar show for the A-League.)
  • Seeing the Socceroos fight back with so much determination
  • Seeing Shane Smeltz score against Italy. A glorious moment and the best ever advert for the A-League.
  • Listening to the effervescent Ned Zelic - give this man his own show !
  • Watching the bizarre antics of fans - how do you fit a Kiwi costume in a backpack ?
  • Seeing the drama and heartbreak of Maradona and other colourful managers

After weeks of such exhilaration, the third and fourth place play-off seems like a terrible anti-climax. There's something rather undignified about it, like those Monopoly cards where you win "Second prize in a beauty contest".

Maybe FIFA could simply be honest and call it "The Losers Final".  The winner could receive an inflatable trophy or one made from cardboard covered in tinfoil. At the end of the match spectators could be allowed to invade the pitch and have a massive "Losers After Party" to cheer up the players (sponsors beer only).

But I'm being cynical here: it was a cracking match with thrills from start to finish. Forlan scored both a beautiful goal and a classic miss in injury time and you can't get better value than that. Muller is still deserved front runner for the Golden Shoe and watching him has surely been one of the highlights of the tournament.

While the purists will be thrilled with seeing a new name on the Cup, Germany have brought excitement and youthful energy wherever they played (except maybe against Serbia) and were worthy bronze medallists.

SBS coverage has been fantastic as ever, the undoubted high points being Les Murray's interview with "Mr President" Sepp Blatter and Craig Johnston's advice to the Socceroos "get back to route one football !" (Cue Fozzie looking faint)

Time to take down the World Cup Charts and wrench the Socceroos flags off the car.  It's been a long exhausting party but South Africa were amazing hosts and the Aussies did us proud. Being there in four years time is what matters most, but is it too radical to suggest we might even have a home grown coach by 2014 ?