World Cup 2006 Blog |  |
- Death To The Vuvuzela
- Photo: Team Melli Show Support for Iranian Protestors
- Confederations Cup: Spain to the Semis and Redemption for Bernard Parker
- The Giuseppe Rossi American Hate-A-Thon Commences
| Posted: 18 Jun 2009 04:00 AM PDT
What you may not know is they were actually banned before the Confederations Cup, what with multiple FIFA officials pouring blood out of their ears during initial visits to South African domestic matches. But given that they are now so rooted in the South African football experience, FIFA decided to allow them after all. Much to the dismay of a number of people, including the players, like Xabi Alonso:
But Sepp’s defending it. Sort of.
Funny, I thought its lack of rhythm was precisely the problem. It’s not harmonious, nor is it in rhythm whatsoever; it’s just one long 90 minute droning sound. To the point you begin to wonder when the B-list horror movie is going to break out before your eyes. I’ve personally begun watching the games on mute - what with the combination of ESPN’s commentary team and the vuvuzela capable of being substituted for lethal injection and all. Certain portions of South Africa are even poking fun as a method of marketing their tranquility for tourism… …so they surely realize it’s a bit of overkill. So while it’s wonderful that they want to impart the true South African experience upon us, we can also assume they’d like us to return in the future. No one will return if we associate South Africa with impending deafness. Death to the vuvuzela.        |
| Photo: Team Melli Show Support for Iranian Protestors Posted: 18 Jun 2009 12:40 AM PDT
But because of Team Melli’s high profile in Iran, and the fact that the game was broadcast for all to see, this might be one of those rare occasions where what the players wore was much more important than the result.   |
| Confederations Cup: Spain to the Semis and Redemption for Bernard Parker Posted: 17 Jun 2009 07:56 PM PDT Spain sealed the deal today by negotiating past a defend at all costs Iraq, while a certain South African striker made sure not to become the Confederations Cup version of Mario Gomez. Highlights and explanations below, plus a look at how Group A stands…
Iraq went out to defend against Spain, and - as you can see from the highlights - spent most of the game doing exactly that. And it nearly worked too, with Spain winning just 1-0 through David Villa’s 55th minute header. Apparently Villa finds it easier to score if the commentators are speaking English.
Spain’s win puts them through to the semis (yeah, I’m as shocked as you are) and now unbeaten in 34 games - just one short of Brazil’s record of 35. Spain also have 14 consecutive international wins, a record they share with Brazil, France and Australia. Either way, Spain are doing very nicely. South Africa 2-0 New Zealand In the later game, South Africa got their first win of the tournament by beating the Confed Cup Group A points ATM that is New Zealand. And guess who got both the goals? (I know, you probabaly already know, but humour me…) Bernard Parker. After his embarrassing off-the-line clearance cost Bafana Bafana two points in the opener, the Red Star Belgrade striker restored his reputation with two well taken goals. All of which leaves Group A looking like so: [via FIFA.com] For the Group A finale (Saturday, June 20th) it’s: Iraq vs New Zealand Both games kick off at 8:30pm local time, 7:30pm UK time, 2:30pm US Eastern time. If South Africa can get a point vs Spain, then they’re through and the fans go wild. If they lose and Iraq bets New Zealand, then it all comes down to goal difference (first Confederations Cup tie breakers is head to head, but Iraq and South Africa drew 0-0 so goal diff it is.) Thursday’s Confed Cup action is Brazil vs USA (which USA pretty much have to win to stay alive) and Egypt vs Italy (which Egypt pretty much have to win to stay alive). We should have LiveBlogs of both those games.   |
| The Giuseppe Rossi American Hate-A-Thon Commences Posted: 17 Jun 2009 01:30 PM PDT [From Objectivo via Who Ate All The Pies] Let’s be frank: much of this is more sour grapes due to Rossi’s supreme skill versus the relative lack in the US and less principle. Were he, say, Simone Pepe, no one could bother to stop a moment and care. Does England gripe about WC winner Simone Perrotta born outside Manchester? Nope, but it’s the exact same situation. Born in England to parents who’d relocated merely for employment purposes and now back playing football for the country of his blood. (He’s even got that whole name ends in a vowel thing.) People make fun of France for poaching Africa, but it’s often shrugged off because these players have the chance to play for a superior team. Same case here. And then there’s the footballing aspect which tilts the balance wildly in favor of Italy. With the United States, he would’ve had the chance to maybe make a WC quarterfinal. With Italy, he can win a World Cup. Giuseppe might even have the opportunity to lead Italy to a World Cup title. No contest. So you feel Italian, you are Italian, you learned your trade in Italy, and you have the chance to do vastly superior things with the Italian national team. Put down the flags and stand in Giuseppe’s shoes: what would you do?
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That giant swarm of insects you’ve been hearing at every Confederations Cup game is not, in fact, one of the Biblical Plagues migrating south. It’s actually called a 
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