Henry Winter

#Winter cheer for #Green

I was given a brief window of opportunity to interview Henry Winter today. Brief of course because Henry is busy out in South Africa, watching three games a day, penning columns for the Daily Telegraph, having run-ins with bull elephants, bigging up the Cup of Good Hop, keeping fit in the gym, appearing on BBC 5 Live and relentlessly updating his much talked about Twitter account.

His Twitter feed has attracted many admirers, over 22,000 of them no less but has also attracted a few dissenting voices. Critics point to the fact he doesn't follow anyone on Twitter - which is meant to be a two-way conversation - and doesn't reply to his followers. Others argue that he's one of the few big name journalists good enough to be on Twitter in the first place.

There's no doubting that along with his work in the Telegraph, his Twitter feed is thoroughly entertaining. His #hashtags #have #become #stuff #of #legend, something picked up by the hilarious spoof from @Harry_Summer. Winter has mastered the art of the "#" now though which is a shame as it amused me for months.

Anyway, enough of Twitter for now. We've an insight into Fabio Capello to talk about, an England player to name and shame and redemption for Robert Green, who as it turns out is the nicest man in football, unlike, well, read on and find out as Henry and I chatted during half time of the South Africa v Uruguay match this evening:

Hi Henry, how are you enjoying your time out in South Africa? Loving it. Ive been covering World Cup matches since 1998 and I love countries that are obsessed with it.

Close encounters with bull elephants, going on safari, better than the football at the moment no? Nothing beats the football, although I'm told the elephant hasn't forgotten. I go to 130 plus games a season and love every one, even the rubbish ones are useful because they keep the sport's hype in perspective.

How much pressure are you under to deliver the England starting XI to your editor prior to matches? Pressure from myself, though its usually a team effort. Capello is difficult to read.

Do any underhand tactics take place to ascertain information from the England camp? Not sure what underhand is. We make calls and use our initiative.

Expectations on England are considerably lower this time around, more so after the USA match. Can this actually work to their advantage? Yes. They have a point to prove.

There were a few England players after the USA game who strolled through the mixed zone pretending to use their phones or listen to music so as not to answer questions. That must be frustrating for you press guys? The players are pretty helpful as a rule.

Any exceptions? Ashley Cole (always the ones you least expect - Ed.)

Conversely, Robert Green came out to face the press and held his hands up
(maybe he could have done that a bit earlier - just kidding). He's a top man
off the field though I hear? Patrick Barclay of the Times even said he had nice table manners. He's a great guy, curious about life and good professional. He didn't deserve the personal stuff.

How does dealing with Fabio differ to the Sven or McClaren? I'm always slightly suspicious of friendly managers and have yet to detect any warmth from Capello, so that's good.

The vuvuzelas are ok out in South Africa obviously, their tournament, their party. Could your ears stand their bashing back in the Premiership next season? I like vuvuzelas. People are too prim. This is Africa. Its the sound of the stadia. I prefer the horns to some of the abuse at English grounds.

The ball is too round, empty seats, ITV missing goals, negative tactics, James Corden, tell us this World Cup will improve Henry! The first games are always cagey. Relax. The party will get going.

Now then Henry, Twitter. You famously don't follow anyone or reply to your 22,000+ followers. Care to explain? I never thought about the great debating chamber Twitter has become. I just thought people might be interested in a little bit of a flavour of life on the road as a football hack. It's just a bit of fun and the occasional bit of info.

You're aware of Harry Summer - the spoof version of your Twitter feed - all good fun eh? @Harry_Summer is hilarious. I even tweeted his link. My kids say its far better than mine. I know my place.

.

Follow, follow, we all follow Henry. And Harry.

And with that the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second half in Pretoria and Henry was back to doing his day, and night job. I had hundreds of questions for him. Maybe if they weren't all as long as one of Garth Crooks efforts, I could have squeezed in a few more.

Follow EFW and Henry on Twitter.

Click HERE to read some of his work on the Daily Telegraph

Also in this series: Gabriele Marcotti, Barry Glendenning, Sid Lowe and John Ashdown.

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Fatboy Slim World Cup Tour Diary

A letter from Johannesburg

Holland 2-0 Denmark (15:06:10)

Stuart Mair is at the World Cup with Fatboy Slim and friends. Here he continues his exclusive World Cup Tour Diary from South Africa having landed in Johannesburg:

James Corden, poor punditry, empty seats, ITV missing England goals, ITV, negative tactics, endless moaning about the vuvuzela, dull games and a ball that is too round (too round). They were the early thoughts of the World Cup I'd left behind in Blighty. It was a relief to finally get here and see and feel the World Cup through South African eyes.

First thing to say is that our hotel is superb. Based in Boksburg, it's in the middle of what's known as the International Football Village (IFV) and it has giant screens, African markets, a Brazilian beach bar, loads of live music and - don't tell Sepp Blatter this - a Bavarian Beerhouse. Nod to Robbie Earle and his scantily clad Dutch girls.

My first impression of Jo'burg is that it is just packed jam full of football maniacs of every nationality, size, age, sexual orientation and it's ready for a FANtastic celebration of a wonderful sport. My second impression is that about 98% of them are brandishing vuvuzelas and I cannot hear myself think, but, more of them later.

Our first game was Holland v Denmark at the Soccer City Stadium. As we arrived on the shuttle bus there was a collective gasp from the rest of the squad. We're seasoned football fans who have travelled to many parts of the globe following the beautiful game but we were struck by the sheer magnitude of this - the biggest calabash cooking pot in town.

Inside the stadium it was clear that the match was not the sole property of the Danish Vikings and the orange army of Dutch. We sat next to Argentinians who are giving presents to the French who were hugging Spaniards who were making a South African laugh. I cant begin to describe the joy of all those that were there, they just wanted to celebrate and it was wonderful.

Before the match I was offered a number of vuvuzelas painted in the colours of every team aside from one - I guess they figured the North Korean ones wouldn't sell. Remarkably, the same chap that will sell you a vuvuzela will also sell you ear protectors, albeit in the shape of mini vuvuzela. Its like buying cancer insurance with a packet of cigarettes.

You couldn't get within a country mile of a hot dog stall before the game or at half time which was a shame because everything else was great. Access in and out was easy, the stadium had broad sweeping concourses and our seats - in the middle of the second tier - afforded great views in amongst the hardcore of the Danish and Dutch support.

The vuvuzela is of course the source of much debate and some people want to see them banned. Our parties view is that it is part of the African football experience. You give South Africa the World Cup then let them party on their own terms. After the game we went back and watched Italy v Paraguay in the IFV - as you do.

Today I went and spent some time in Soweto which offered a chance to reflect on where this country has had to drag itself from and the sacrifices its made to become a modern democracy and stage this type of world event. Norman and I went to Nelson Mandela's house where he lived before and after his incarceration. I say after, but really it was only 12 days as he found it hard to live there for all the people singing non-stop outside his house despite him asking them to stop. Desmond Tutu was a neighbour incidentally.

Tonight we are going to Brazil v North Korea at Ellis Park Stadium. I'm all for supporting the Koreans, that's if I can get hold of an limited edition vuvuzela in their colours. I am sorry for the lack of photo's so far on my trip to planet football. There are a few technical issues this end which I hope to resolve as soon as possible. Speak soon....

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USA wins 1-1 according to the New York Post

Erm........

I'm not one to knock soccer in the USA, in fact I've championed it on these pages in many an article about the MLS but this is just ridiculous isn't it? The New York Post - not normally famed for their soccer coverage - stick up a front page declaring a 1-1 win for the USA. Radio rental? Bonkers?

Actually, neither. Evidently, the headline is a play on the a 1968 headline from the Havard student newspaper after Havard came from behind in an American football game against rivals Yale "Harvard beats Yale 29-29".

So they've not quite taken leave of their senses although the do seem to think they were playing Britain and not England. Whatever, well played USA! USA! USA! and England weren't quite as bad as everyone is making out either. A draw was a fair result. Onwards and upwards.

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