After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

World Cup: Ten Questions after the Spanish Celebration

Spanish Supporters Celebrate Spain's Victory on Commercial Drive

1)     Has the science of defending made the game too fragile? The final was dramatic, but not beautiful. At the highest level very few goals are scored and so much depends on referees decisions. If the unlucky Heitinga had not been sent off with less than 5 minutes to go as a result of Iniesta’s quasi dive, would this have likely been the 3rd of the last 5 world cups ('94 and '06) to be decided on penalty kicks?

2)     Will FIFA finally allow goals to be reviewed by video replay? With so much depending on the referees decisions, is there anything else that can be done to make them more reliable?

3)      What good soccer books and films can I fill my days with over the next 4  years?

 4)     How good is Spain really? Can they repeat? Will they score more goals if they do?

 5)      Soccer is Canada’s most played sport. A country with a population almost 1/10 of our size (Uruguay) made it to the semi-finals.  What can Canada do to qualify for 2014?

 6)      Will the existence of 3 Canadian MLS teams by 2012 help Canada qualify for the World Cup?

 7)      (Asking as an English fan) Are England good enough to have any pretensions of getting past the quarterfinals?

 8)      What has to happen for the African teams to succeed at the highest level?

 9)      Has South Africa benefitted from holding the World Cup?

 10)    Who will pay my ticket to Brazil to cover the 2014 World Cup?

More in The Beautiful Game

Homeless World Cup Parade

Video of the Homeless World Cup players opening parade. More videos can be found at http://www.homelessworldcup.org/news/

Homeless World Cup draw deconstructed

Team Canada seen relaxing with coconuts on the beach in Rio. But things get more serious on Monday. The draw for the tournament was held Saturday. Canada will be in tough against Ireland and Mexico, b

Homeless World Cup: Coach's Report Day 1 by Alan Bates

Team Canada Coach Alan Bates sent this report directly from Brazil on day 1 of the team's journey...
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.