Saturday, 19th May 2007 at 11:04 am

Tony Blair pats Wembley on the back

It’s three years late, several hundred million pounds over budget, and a worrying omen for the 2012 Olympics… but Wembley has been completed at last, and on Saturday afternoon will see its first Cup final since reconstruction began in 2000. Manchester United and Chelsea wrap up the English season with a battle for the FA Cup - and the world at large gets its first proper look at the new Wembley.

And already its got a cheerful, if slightly hesitant message of support from Tony Blair, who won’t be at the game (Gordon Brown’s coming round to measure up Number 10 for new furniture), but is sure it’ll be a wonderful day out. Feverpitcher doesn’t doubt that, although Wembley will have fierce competition for attention from two of the more incendiary managers in the game; while the football is star attraction, however, South Africans will cast a few glances at the new ground, and wonder how similar our own 2010 constructions will look.

Particularly those football fans in Cape Town, where the Green Point Stadium is currently a swirl of dust, rubble and pillaged fairways, the old Metropolitan Golf Club slowly making way for the city’s soccer showpiece. The example we’ll want is Wembley the finished product, as opposed to Wembley the construction process; perhaps, before he heads off to tour America’s lecture circuit, Tony could spare a moment to wish the Green Point Stadium all the best. We’d all be most appreciative, Mr. Blair.