Wassup my people? World Cup is upon us. Some good games and some not so good. My basic assessment of the state of world football is that it has not improved. In fact, in some instances it has declined. Stay tuned for after the top 20, wherein I have given my assessment of the overall play, the ball, the host nation, the officials and the fans.

Finally into the top spot is Neighbors Know My Name by Trey Songz. Rude Boy by Rihanna is finally dethroned and tumbles to #2. Up to #3 is My Chick Bad by Ludacris featuring Nicki Minaj, which is improving every week. Falling to #4 is Hard by Rihanna,

Over, by Drake, improves to #5. Slipping to #6 is Hey Daddy, (Daddy's Home) by Usher featuring Plies.

Up to #7 is Unthinkable by Alicia Keys. Alicia Keys' talent is undeniable and proof that you just can't keep a good woman down. Up to #8 is Nothing On You BoB featuring Bruno Mars. Falling to #9 is Everything To Me by Monica. Tumbling to #10 is Tik Tok by Ke$ha, a popular dance/club/pop sing along hit of the first half of the year.

Climbing to #11 is L'il Freak by Usher featuring Nicki Manj, a former essential new jam and a hot song. Up to #12 is There Goes My Baby by Usher. Down to #13 is Say Something by Timbaland featuring Drake, a former essential new jam.

Now the new jams. Last week's essential new tune, up to #14 is I'm Not A Superstar by Remady. This is a banger which rocks in the clubs and on the radio in the cool places on the planet, where they actually do have a nighttime entertainment scene. Improving to #15, its Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris. This is a poppy cool, dancy, clubby track for the summer with a cool video.

Slipping to #16 is Sexy Chick by David Guetta Featuring Akon. Up to #17 is OMG by Usher featuring Will I AM. Improving to #18 is California Girls by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, a bangin' pop club track about which you will be hearing more for the rest of the summer. On the way out to make room for the next one at #19 is On To The Next One by Jay Z and Swizz Beats.

Now this week's essential new track. In at #20 it's a new dance track entitled Commander, by Kelly Rowland featuring David Guetta.

Now back to this week's word – World Cup. I played a good bit of football, both here and at university and can say without fear of contradiction that I was one of the most feared defenders during my career. I've also remained an avid follower of the game.

One of my faithful and devoted readers is the wife of Mr. Glynn Gilbert, one of the best referees Bermuda has produced and a true gentleman. He would have blown his whistle many times after I had aggressively roughed up opposing strikers. But I digress.

This reminiscing about tough defence brings me to the state of defending in the world cup. It is just appalling. They all play so square at the back such that one ball beats them all. The game between Denmark and Cameroon had to have the worst defending so far, with defenders giving the ball away in and around their own penalty area. I wasn't quite so skillful so when in danger I would often kick the ball high, long and wide, clear of goal.

The problem is that many of the defenders on these teams think that they are more skilful than they really are and are making critical mistakes that are creating goals or clear shots at goal for their opponents. The standard of defending has dropped over previous world cups to a sorry state. Even Brazil and Argentina, so far the two most impressive teams in my view, are susceptible at the back and prone to the kinds of defensive lapses that will cost them games in the later stages of the Coup du Monde (World Cup in French – bear with me – just back from Geneva). Overall, the defences get a D.

Now the ball. The ball, aka the Jabulani, gets an F. No, I haven't kicked it but even the best players in the world can't keep it down and it swerves too much. The ball is causing goalkeepers nightmares and attackers frustration.

The officiating has been dodgy at best. I'm still not convinced that the Mexico goal against France wasn't offside. Also, the refs are all trigger happy.

I understand the need to protect the world's best players but for Heaven's sake let defenders who actually want to tackle a player do so without being whistled for getting too close to an opponent or carded if they dare to tackle.

I always tell people that a soccer pitch on a Sunday afternoon is not a place for little boys. Little boys play on Saturday mornings. Men play in the big leagues on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and in the evenings. The refs need to understand this and keep their whistles in their pockets more and until they do, their grade is a D.

The Host Nation, South Africa, gets an A. They've put on a spectacular show. The marketing of the event has been great, the stadiums are first class, they created a World Cup Dance, their fans have been unbelievable, the vuvuzeles have become an icon (I even have two, although I haven't been able to produce the sound yet) and it has been an awesomely spectated tournament. I guess I will include FIFA in this paragraph of the hosts, but FIFA gets a B for not sorting out the refs and for not properly inspecting the football.

I have two teams for World Cup – Argentina and France. Argentina have been outstanding and I hope to see a matchup against Brasil, who have also been impressive. This would be the best game of football played in years. I also adore having Maradona present. He has added colour and character to the Cup, which is often lacking in football. His passion and leadership of his team have been second to none and he is proving his critics wrong with every pass, goal and game. His comments against Pele and Michele Platini were excellent. Some purists say he was disrespectful but I wish to share with those critics a quote that we in the military use. It goes: "The best thing for a retired General to do is to hand in his suit along with his opinions". Basically, it means once you're out of the army, go and stay in retirement and keep your opinions to yourself, letting the current crop of soldiers get on with the job. You had your turn; so now shut up and let someone else have theirs. This applies to even Pele and Michele Platini, both former giants of the game.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not diss the state of French football. Les Blues have been for me the most disappointing act in the 2010 World Cup. They have been horrible to watch, unthreatening to opponents, in total disarray and look nothing like the team that beat down Brasil in the 1998 final and eliminated them in 2006! They miss Zidane and don't have a playmaker like him. Well, lets be real, no team does, but France might not even beat Bermuda the way they are playing. They have also failed to replace the quality players from Zidane's era with other competent players. The coach has lost the team that he has led since I can remember. His best player, Thierry Henry, sits on the bench, a suggestion that the coach doesn't want to win and is making a point. Nicholas Anelka continues to disappoint when playing for France and makes me glad that Arsene Wenger (doesn't Wenger now look like a genius – yes I support Arsenal) sold him for millions years ago.

Also, the Anelka saga and the turmoil in that team are proof that French football has hit rock bottom. Evra looks lost as a Captain and at left fullback and I correctly predicted last Sunday that Gael Clichy is a better choice at left back. Anyway, the coach has to go and the team has to rebuild. They should include Zidane as a consultant/technical advisor because he would have the instant respect of the players, none of whom can question his technical ability because none of them are half as good as he was and probably still is. Also, notwithstanding his own dismal ending at the last World Cup, his criticism of the team's disobedience to the coach suggests that he understands and will instill discipline. So, au revoir France until 2014, if they make it.

I'm advised that the issues I'm having are because we're in the early stages and that the quality of 'ball will improve as the tournament progresses. We will see. In the meantime, enjoy the most beautiful game in the world. Tutsince (means goodbye in Africans and Dutch)……………….DJLT.