Wow, strange feeling for me to write about the Round Ball Game called POOFBALL… errr sorry I mean FOOTBALL, or SOCCER as it is more properly known in South Africa.
The world’s biggest sport, today starts it’s biggest tournament, the FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 in Brazil.
Being a Sports lover, I suppose is what it’s all about, so here goes with a SPECIAL ARTICLE on the world spectacle!
Gooooooooooo Bafana Bafana…. errr sorry, they’re not there, right?
Hahaha
Excuse the ignorance, me maties… but at the same time enjoy yourselves!
Here’s more about the tournament of Oscar-Driven stars on Tik:
Brazil kicks off the World Cup on Thursday hoping to unite the football-mad country after a chaotic seven-year build-up plagued by violent protests.
The 32-team extravaganza gets under way in the teeming mega-city of Sao Paulo, where the host nation’s beloved ‘Selecao’ faces Croatia at 17:00 Brazil Time (22:00 SA Time) in front of 61 600 supporters and a worldwide television audience of several hundred million.
Thursday’s Group A match signals the start of a month-long football fiesta taking place against backdrops which showcase Brazil’s breathtaking diversity, from the picture postcard beauty of Rio de Janeiro to fading colonial grandeur of Manaus, deep in the Amazon.
After years of apathy and simmering resentment at the tournament’s record $11-billion price tag, Brazilians were grudgingly embracing World Cup fever in the final hours before the big kick-off.
SuperSport
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari urged compatriots to unite behind his players as they launched their bid for glory.
“To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup,” Scolari said in an eve-of-tournament rallying cry.
The popular Scolari, who masterminded Brazil’s last World Cup win in 2002, said his team were seven matches from immortality.
“The first step is Croatia,” he said. “After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup.”
As the last of the 32 teams who will contest the greatest prize in football arrived in Brazil, mounting evidence of World Cup fever was visible.
Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue has been illuminated in the colors of all nations taking part while Brazilian flags fluttered from cars, bars and apartments as excitement built.
In Rio de Janeiro, some of the 600 000 foreign fans travelling to Brazil thronged the famous Copacabana beach, staging impromptu football matches.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio was among the overseas multitude jetting into the country, taking in the tournament from the luxury of a mega-yacht offshore.
Twelve government leaders or heads of state will be among the VIPs at Thursday’s opening ceremony.
But even though more Brazilians are sporting the yellow jersey of star forward Neymar, discontent continues to bubble.
Scattered protests are planned in several host cities during the tournament.
And while Sao Paulo subway workers late Wednesday voted against a repeat of the strike which plunged the city into gridlocked paralysis last week, airport workers in Rio were planning a partial 24-hour walkout.
“We’re Brazilian and we continue to root for Brazil, but it’s our duty to fight for workers rights,” union leader Rui Pessoa said.
The multi-billion-dollar cost of the World Cup has angered many in a country which has chronically under-funded health and public services and violent crime.
Rage at poor public services morphed into a nationwide movement during last year’s Confederations Cup test event, with deadly clashes rippling across the nation.
For the World Cup, a vast security blanket is being deployed, with 150 000 soldiers and police on duty along with 20 000 private security officers.
Brazil’s leader Dilma Rousseff warned that her government will not tolerate a repeat of last year’s protests.
“We will guarantee the security of Brazilians and of those who come visit us,” she said.
Football’s governing body Fifa begins the tournament under mounting pressure over allegations of corruption linked to its decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has responded to the scandals by shoring up his power base.
On Wednesday he signalled his intention to seek a fifth four-year term next year, despite calls for him to step down.
“My mandate will finish next year… but my mission is not finished,” he said to boos from sections of the Fifa Congress.
For all the off-field problems dogging the build-up the tournament itself has the makings of a classic.
Reigning champions Spain are bidding to make history by becoming the first side from Europe to win a World Cup in South America, which last hosted the tournament in 1978.
Vicente del Bosque’s side have dominated international football for the past six years, winning two consecutive European championships either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph.
Nouja, there you have it, your Soccer thread!
Goooooooooooi Mielies, do the samba, blow the vuvuzelas!
I believe the Opening Ceremony is around 20:00 or 20:15 SA Time somewhere.
Brazil 3- 1 Croatia
Well, I hope so, that was my pick
Any truth in the rumor that Bafana has contacted Frans Steyn?
Apparently they heard he is quite good at kicking a ball and excellent at over reacting, all the traits they love in a soccer player
Nice to see this article here…well done!
We will forgive you for calling the game poofball… it’s only due to ignorance 🙂
Apparently the England team’s jet is waiting on the runway with it’s engines idling as they don’t expect them to be long in Brazil…..
Nevertheless…. Go England!!
And once the inevitable has happened I will support the Dutch and Uruguay.
Germany or Spain will probably win it though…. maybe Brazil but I expect them to crumble under the pressure..
@Rob
Lol, did you also see that e-mail with the “keep the engines running, we won’t be long” caption
@ robzim:
Germany or Spain will probably win it though…. maybe Brazil but I expect them to crumble under the pressure..
You talking about the stadiums or the team?
😉
nortierd wrote:
Heard it on the car radio this morning to work…
I’ll send the photo to GBS and ask him to put it up here, there is another nice one with the ladies
Here are the Photos from Nortie:
Gooooooooooo Brazil!
Go Germany….ze Germans Tommy, ze Germans
I’m backing Spain, no specific reason… just like the way they play… “Tiki-taka” is what they call their style I believe.
Oh and I’ll have Miss Korea
13 @ Rage:
I think their front row is weak, their locks suspect and their flyhalf a bit iffy!
Hahaha
14 @ Rage:
Oh, you love big numbies…. hehehe
grootblousmile wrote:
Swop the word “suspect” with old, and you could be talking about the Bokke
😮
Miss Brazil is jail bait and miss Portugal is photoshopped, no hair under the armpits….c’mon, we know better.
Jeeez, I’m busy eating a marvelous soup here… helps to have a qualified Chef in the house!
5 @ robzim:
Hi Rob nah don’t believe the ignorance bluff from GBS he is actually quite the football fundi, has an impressive collection of replica kit seen with my own eyes, from Man City to Mamelodi Sundowns, not to mention the giant framed poster he has up of Neil Tovey hoisting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy all those years ago
20 @ Bullscot:
I know the basics… but I will not purport to know soccer in detail.
All I can say is “Up the Bucs!”
GO COTE D’IVOIRE, COME ON ENGERLAND!
@ grootblousmile:
The great Patrick Viera and Lee Dixon part of the studio pundits on the tele here. And now the even greater Ian Wright doing some crazy scene setting on the beach.
24 @ Bullscot:
Oh, I know who Ian Wright is, skinny chap, black dude, pointy nose… afdraende gesig soos ‘n hartseer weeluis….
Well, I think that’s him!
Opening Ceremony about to begin, I think
Yeah, there we are, Opening Ceremony up and going
Blommetjies & Boompies, Varings & Kak & Hare
25 @ grootblousmile:
Know I think you got the wrong man there GBS, certainly wouldn’t describe him as skinny, a great character he is and one of the best strikers to have played in England.
Some magic Ian Wright moments:
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