7. The 4-2-3-1 formation

Having been the template for success at club level for a few years now, the 4-2-3-1 formation finally made the shift to international football in South Africa.

And, while England stubbornly stuck to their rigid 4-4-2 formation, for the leading countries of the tournament, something a little more flexible was required.

Employing two defensive midfield shields and allowing width for rampaging full-backs, the 4-2-3-1 had many advocates this summer.

But whether mixed with the counter-attacking edge of Germany's approach or the possession football favoured by the Spanish, there's no doubting that all the 4-2-3-1 is set to stay.

Watch and learn, Fabio, watch and learn.

6. England have problems

Just one game into England's World Cup programme and the alarm bells were already ringing.

For a team of supposed world-beaters, an opening draw against the US was hardly the tonic to calm the fevered expectations of England's success-starved fans.

But, it was to get worse and following abject performances against Algeria and Germany, England departed South Africa with their tails between their legs having suffered their heaviest ever World Cup defeat.

The Premier League, too many domestic foreign players, stars with overblown egos, Fabio Capello's tired tactics and inadequate youth development have all been blamed to try to explain England's problems.

But, whatever the result of the Three Lions' World Cup post-mortem, it's clear that something drastic needs to change.

5. South Africa 2010: A FIFA success

There were many doomsayers predicting a mini-disaster when football's governing body awarded its showcase tournament to South Africa in 2004.

Critics warned that crime, security issues, a poor infrastructure and half-finished stadiums would tarnish the reputation of the World Cup as it landed in Africa at the 19^th time of asking.

But instead we were treated to a tournament that left the world marvelling at South Africa's achievements.

Whether the legacy of the FIFA event will be to use the money to help South Africa's most needy, remains to be seen.

But, for now at least, it's hats off to FIFA and South Africa for putting on a show to remember.

4. Europe 10-9 South America

Never before had a European country triumphed in a World Cup tournament held beyond its own borders.

It's a jibe that South America has long fired at their European rivals as part of the long-running rivalry between the two continental football superpowers.

But, that all fell apart this summer with Spain's win on African soil.

It also means Europe can claim more World Cup winners than South America for the first time since 1954.

It's a statistic South America will aim to put right when the tournament heads to Brazil in four years time.

3. Psychic molluscs

There are no excuses for the sorry mess that the England football team served up this summer.

The Three Lions flopped out at the second round stage in spectacular fashion, thus provoking a whole load of media soul searching.

And, what should rise from the ashes of such tortured self analysis?

No, not a dawning realisation that team England are simply rubbish and that the Premier League is eating away at the very soul of our game, but a mass media campaign to hype up animals that specialise in predicting the bleeding obvious.

Paul and Mani, a nation salutes you both.

2. The drone of the vuvuzela

Its not so subtle vibe became the soundtrack to the tournament, much to the chagrin of many a disgruntled commentator.

Whether you were in the stadium or tuned in around the globe, there was no escaping the monotone eardrum invasion, like a swarm of killer bees or your TV on the blink.

One French TV station did manage to improve the viewing pleasure of its public by siphoning out the din, although the pain of watching the national team perform more than outweighed any positive return.

In reality, most fans were happy to put up with the horns for a month but as the 64th game neared, World Cup 2010 was crying out for just one witty terrace chant, even if it did involve the long-departed Emile Heskey.

The really bad news? The similar sounding corneta is a fans' favourite in Brazil. And you know where we are heading for 2014.

1. Total football to total disgrace

After the unsatisfactory ending on spot-kicks of the 2006 tournament, South Africa 2010 badly needed a good send-off, but it was the talk of sending-offs, or the lack of them to be precise, that dominated the headlines.

Even the great Johan Cruyff was left lambasting his countrymen after the total football final between Spain and the Dutch turned into a kicking match.

The fact that the final itself became the latest in a long line of anti-climatic finales was not a shock, but Bert van Marwijk's deliberate tactics to ruffle the European Champions, showed the future, far from being orange was just a mix of red and yellow.

Fifteen cards were handed out in all by referee Howard Webb, who was so frazzled by the end he signalled a goalkick after Wesley Sneijder had smashed a free-kick into Cesc Fabregas in the wall with Iker Casillas even tipping it past the post.

It was the Oranje's third defeat in a World Cup final but unlike the two losses in the seventies there will be no mourning for Van Marwijk's class of 2010, and that includes his son-in-law henchman Mark van Bommel.