Now the world will have a new soccer champion, a complete service for eight, which is a very good thing for the sport because it takes away a layer of mystique from the usual suspects who come into every World Cup with the label: won it before; can win it again.
To those who champion a complete or sudden exit, I urge them to look through the fog and apply something that has been missing from the Afghanistan conflict for several years: context.
Ahmadi Muslims champion a complete separation of mosque and state (4 60), condemn any compulsion in religion (2 257), promote universal religious freedom (22 41), believe in spiritual equality and practical equity between the sexes (4:125), preach universal salvation (2 63), and teach that war can only be in self-defense (22 40) and as an absolute last resort (4 98).
"He's thrown a world title away for being a complete tactical numpty," said Olympic champion Alistair, who saw his own ambitions fade after the ankle injury he has nursed all season left him unable to compete for the title, he doggedly crossed the line in a distant 52nd place.
But his Wagner and Strauss have loomed large in recent years, his Mahler symphonies recorded in concert and released on the LSO Live CD label are approaching a complete cycle, and he happily champions his preferred singers in Italian opera.
Lawrenson: "The defending champions suffered a complete collapse in the second half against Netherlands but if David Silva had scored from a great chance when they were 1-0 up before half-time, I am sure they would have gone on to win from there.
The streaky Czech lefty lost 12 of the next 13 games to fall 7-6(2), 6-0, a complete derailment hardly befitting a Wimbledon champion.
Italy were deserved champions in 2006; a complete shambles this time round, finishing bottom of a low-quality group.
County champions Warwickshire suffered a complete wash-out of the second day's play in their season-opening game against Derbyshire at Edgbaston.
His triumph was sealed by winning the Bet365 Gold Cup Sandown feature race on Just A Par. Bowen, tipped as a potential future champion, was completing a double on the day after victory on Lil Rockerfeller in the opener.
