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.
88 @ Nama:
Ek is nogal nie ‘n kak skaakspeler gewees nie, maar ek moet bysê, ek het jarrrre, der jarrrre laas skaak gespeel… ek het darem meer onlangs gholf gespeel, maar ek dink my stokke is al besig om te roes… en ek het juis sulke lekker Adams Golf Hybrids…
Maar om ‘n prokurower te wees, is mos maar baie soos skaak… jy maak ‘n skuif, ek maak ‘n teenskuif, jy maak ‘n kak skuif, ek moer jou met ‘n klomp papiere, jy pis in jou broek… jy weet, daai tipe van ding.
Ek hou van squash… maar het nou ook seker so 2 maande laas gespeel.
Ek speel nou maar net couch rugby, so gereeld ek kan…
@ grootblousmile:
There you go. Hou die bal, frustreer die opponent, maar maak seker dat jy ten minste ‘n doel skop.
Net soos by rugby kan die span wat die minste balbesit het in die laaste minuut omdraai en die wenpunte score. So, jy moet gebruik maak van jou geleenthede terwyl jy die balbesit oorhheers, soos Brasilie nou doen.
92 @ Nama:
Ek grap sommer net oor die sokker man, ek is darem nie heeltemal dom met wat die outjies probeer doen nie!
Maar hulle kan maar lekker rondfok ook, as jy my vra…
@ grootblousmile:
“couch rugby”…daais ‘n goeie ene. Herinner my aan myself…. of die meeste van ons seker.
Ekt nou weer beginne coach. Nie baie goed gegaan die jaar nie, maar ek troos my daaraan dat dit my “base line” is. Ek verwag beter oor ‘n jaar of 2/3/
@ grootblousmile:
Jou geheim is vroeer uitgelaat, soos jy weet.
94 @ Nama:
Rugby beginne coach of sokker… of “Couch Rugby”?
Jinne, ek gaap nou dik stukke…
@ grootblousmile:
Rugby.
98 @ Nama:
Kleintjies, skole, Club?
I would like that spray being used in rugby as well after the 1st warning of the 10m, before the ref send somebody off.
Penalty for Brazil, in the penalty Box… hier kom kakkas vir die Kroate!
Laduuuuuuuuuuuuuuma!
Nehmar…
Brazil 2 / 1 Croatia
@ grootblousmile:
Let’s not go too far into it.
Gunther will be able to tell you.
What I can tell you is that club rugby, high scools rugby and primary schools rugby is alive in Namaqualand, despite all the challenges re finance, distance etc. With not a sponsor in sight.
Nortie issie ver uit nie. Hy’t gese 3-0. Sal heel moontlik 3-1 eindig.
104 @ Nama:
Nice man, enjoy the coaching…
One day, when Rugby-Talk makes money, we’ll sponser a side.. the Rugby-Talk Namatjies!
@ grootblousmile:Kwas Craven Week side within the next 3 years.
That is, if RT is still alive and kicking.
107 @ Nama:
RT will be farking big, huge, in 3 years time… watch this space….
Neymar still doesn’t have the passing skills of the master (Messi) in terms of pace and direction.
What better final than Bra vs Arg, as it was predicted. That would be the ultimate.
@ grootblousmile:
I hear you and hopefully I’ll still be here.
Can’t play the keeper while he is in the air.
Sorry Croatia.
Croatia still have a chance with Bra playing AC/JW game in playing to defend the lead/not to lose.
Croatia not lying down… but less than 2 min of ordinary time left
Brazil 3 / 1 Croatia
Totally against the run of play… sniper!
There it is:3-1
Brazillllllllllll……
Samba…samba….
Nouja, time to go doedoe…
Well Done Brazil… you got a good scare early on though
@ grootblousmile:
Ja, ek gaan nou net ‘n med lemon drink vir die verkoue wat my wil vang, dan gaan ek slaap.
Gesels weer.
Unfortunately I could not watch the full match but from what I have seen it was quite an entertaining event.
Only thing that bugs me is the “protection” home nation Brazil seems to have received from the referee…. The penalty against Croatia that basically ended the match as a contest was really pathetic in the eyes of a neutral observer… another referee might even have carded Fred for the dive he took.
Anyway…..that is soccer…. Always drama.. let’s see how the South American teams do when they have to face a ref from Europe
@Rob
I’m happy, predicted Brazil to win 3-1, so off to a good start
Did you see the photos on the first page of the thread?
@ nortierd:
@ Nortier
Lol, I have just paged back… maybe I must start supporting another team.. I don’t want to meet her in a dark alley late at night after England has lost.
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