The extremes of the 2010World Cup are best illustrated when viewed from South Africa and England. On the one hand, we fret about a friendly match against Iceland; on the other, they are already speculating on how much money they will pocket by winning the thing.
Within those scenarios exist a host of truths and realities that define the respective ambitions and aspirations of two worlds apart.
Indeed, perhaps South Africa's biggest failing is to think that somehow we can compete on equal footing with nations who constitute football's monarchy.
It is good to be confident but it is foolhardy to base projections on confidence alone.
Each time we are told that Bafana Bafana have now lost so many games on the trot, there is a strong urge to want to say 'please discount those defeats against Brazil, Spain and Germany!'
In short, as automatic entrants to the 2010 World Cup, we have to hope for a few lucky breaks.
That's why the attitude of those who prepare the team is so critical and why the head coach's first-hand knowledge or even acquired understanding of the South African football psyche is central to the plot.
What makes our players tick, what makes them happy on a football pitch, are they content playing a defensive game, would they like to be freed to express themselves?
Once we've answered those questions, and a few more besides, we may have a team with the style and belief to create its own luck and maybe score the odd upset.
Once that starts to happen the nation senses some sort of identity and starts to rally around. There is a bit of a buzz and a sense of occasion and suddenly people are having fun and enjoying themselves. This all presupposes that we may well be beaten but that we won't lie down for anyone.
We saw glimpses of that, you know, during the Confederations Cup earlier in 2009 when, together for a stretch for the first time, Bafana began to find some kind of rhythm and actually looked to be relishing the ride.
The sense one gets right now is that South African football is an awful place to be.
Officials walk around with long faces making statements they think are positive but are terribly negative, the team's management resides below the sword of Damocles and the players look like they'd rather be someplace else.
So, how much do England's players stand to win if they win the World Cup? Well, their FA has reportedly budgeted R64-million in win bonuses, which, when shared out, is probably about three weeks' wages for the likes of Wayne Rooney.
A different world, indeed.