Black Country man in South Africa Paul Geiss believes England’s progression in the World Cup gives his adopted host nation a cause for cheer.

It has been a significant 48 hours in South Africa, with the hosts exiting the competition but finally an African side in Ghana sneaking through into the knockout rounds.

Sandwiched in-between, there is relief that England also have put their problems aside and remain alive in the World Cup.

As Tuesday’s game went into the second-half, it really seemed possible that South Africa were going to beat France by the four goals required.

In the end victory but elimination on goal difference is being viewed here as a heroic failure and local supporters remain disappointed but proud of the teams efforts.

The fear of course is whether or not the country remains behind the tournament. In the previous game against Uruguay, the sight of hundreds of South African fans streaming for the exit after the visitors went two goals up has worried everyone that fickle football supporters will lose interest once the hosts depart.

It is certainly clear now that there are fewer South African flags flying from cars here and the sounds of the vuvuzela are muffled. It was common to hear them being blown around the streets and shopping centers over the past couple of weeks. Now the country is returning to normal.

This is why it is so important that both England and Ghana have progressed so soon after the hosts left the tournament.

It was expected of course that the hosts would struggle and many locals have adopted two teams to follow in the knowledge that South Africa would not go far.

Many cars have been flying two flags – often South Africa on the driver’s side and England on the passenger’s side. The blanket coverage of the Premier League has made England the most recognizable side for neutrals.  Other countries whose flags are flying include Brazil – the world’s favourites – and the other African nations.

So it’s with a sense of relief rather than any huge excitement that England and Ghana now go forward.

By not winning the group England could now play a quarter and semi final at sea level ,but it has not gone unnoticed here that the likely path to the trophy now requires defeating Germany, Argentina, Spain and then Brazil.

Pull that one off and England may just have the respect of the entire planet, let alone South Africa.