The Fifa World Cup has always been one grand party, from the calles of Montevideo to the strasses of Berlin, but having hit African shores for the first time, it has reached a never before seen crescendo. A plastic trumpet with a foghorn noise has been at the centre of it all. The atmosphere created by the vuvuzela, is unparalleled, but South African culture is about more than just a blow horn. The tone of the World Cup was set even before it kicked off as a grand carnival was held in Nelson Mandela’s

South Africa is an amalgamation of a vast collection of ethic groups, each diverse in its own way. The Rainbow Nation has 11 official languages, but in this World Cup there has only been one voice for the country — the din of the vuvuzela.

Five-time world champions Brazil, with fans and ex-players angered at their style of play, can deliver the one thing that matters most to their pragmatic coach Dunga — the sweet taste of victory. The Samba Kings will look to build on their ‘efficient’ 2-1 over North Korea and book a berth in the Round of 16 when they lock horns with Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group G match at Soccer City here on Sunday.

A year ago the USA were leading Brazil 2-0 at halftime in the final of the Confederations Cup only to see the Latin Americans fire home three unanswered goals in the second period. At the Ellis Park Stadium at Johannesburg on Friday, it was the Americans’ turn to produce a memorable second-half rally, which save for a disallowed goal would have ended in victory.

In the end, Argentina beat South Korea by a comfortable 4-1 margin at the Soccer City Stadium here on Thursday. But, for over an hour the match was very much in the balance and a couple of late strikes by Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, who became the first player to notch up a hat trick at the 2010 Fifa World Cup, sealed three points for Diego Maradona’s men in a tricky encounter.

The current Brazil team doesn’t have the all-conquering attack of the victorious 1970 side, nor does it have the romanticism involved with the 1982 and 1986 squads who played beautiful football only to fall short on both occasions. But, for national team coach Dunga he wouldn’t have it any other way.

When South Africa locked horns with Mexico in the first match of the 19th World Cup it wasn’t just a proud moment for the entire nation, it was also a moment of gratification for beaming families who welcomed little ones to their clan.

South Africa may not have any tulip trees, but with the seats of the Soccer City Stadium painted orange and a sea of fans all decked in the same colour, Holland started their World Cup campaign here on Monday with a 2-0 win in front of partisan fans on what seemed like home field.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi came to South Africa as a 23-year-old barrister in 1893 with little interest in politics, however within weeks of his arrival he was moved from a first-class berth in a train to third class despite holding a valid ticket. Outraged at the injustice meted out to him on the basis on his skin colour Gandhiji first sowed the seeds of his civil rights movement and passive resistance in the Rainbow Nation.

In a match that was punctuated by defensive solidarity, it was a lapse inside the penalty box that ensured a 1-0 win for Ghana over Serbia in their World Cup Group C opener at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium here on Sunday.