Brazil, in dispatching North Korea 2-1 on Tuesday, made clear that we should not expect to see “samba soccer” at World Cup 2010 — and not only because the players couldn’t possibly hear their fans’ traditional rhythm section above the drone of the vuvuzelas. Dunga’s team may have some supremely gifted players — none more so, on the …
South Africa can have its vuvuzelas… as long as it promsies to keep them!
A friend in London reports that the infernal horn has found its way to British supermarkets, where it’s selling like the proverbial hotcakes at two pounds a pop. This raises the dreadful possibility that the vuvuzela will become South Africa’s export to the rest of the soccer world. That’s what happened to the Mexican wave, remember?
If …
Kaiserslaughtering: Is Beckenbauer Right About England?
Once upon a time, criticism of English football by the enemy (well, one of a fair few enemies) would have caused consternation. “How dare they take us to task?” would have gone the cry. But in light of German legend Franz Beckenbauer’s less than kind comments, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to raise an eyebrow, let alone get upset.
Winter Blasts the World Cup
After four pleasant days in the mid 60˚s F, winter arrived in Joburg today. Temperatures dropped like a rock overnight, plunging into the high 30˚s F around noontime, with the wind whipping at 20 mph and gusting to 35 mph. It was 37 ˚ two hours before the Brazil-North Korea match. So much for that mild South African winter we were …
What the World Cup Means to the Burmese
Yaya Toure Makes the Ivoirians Contenders
The media’s narrative frames for World Cup showdowns usually pit one side’s star goal-scorer against the other: Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Didier Drogba, and so on. But the most important player on the field on Tuesday was Cote D’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure, the imperious midfield general who repeatedly won the ball for his side, dictated the play …
Live Blog: Ivory Coast vs. Portugal
The hopes of a nation can now rest on a protective cast. The Ivory Coast’s — and TIME 100 cover star – Didier Drogba has been given special clearance by FIFA to wear it on his broken right arm for his side’s group game against Portugal. Reason enough to live blog this massive match!
Forget the Noise; South Africa’s a Success
Blame it on the vuvuzelas. The noise level of these plastic horns in the stadiums—think about attending a game in which every fan is operating a leaf blower— became the first big story of the tournament. The horns have been criticized by players, fans and some officials, leading Danny Jordaan, the boss of the games, to consider …
Assessing Asia’s World Cup Performances
The Chinese may have racked up the most gold medals at the last summer Olympics, but Asians haven’t had anywhere near the same impact at the World Cup.
Taking On Vuvuzela Inc.
One thing seems certain as the great global debate continues to rage over whether the South African vuvuzela should be banned from World Cup stadiums or not: someone is going to find a way to make a truckload of money out of the rumpus. And a couple of companies are already seeking to do just that by moving fast on what’s become the …
Away from the Hermit Kingdom, North Korea Faces the World
Every World Cup needs its mystery team, usually a side of minnows few know very much about — in 2006, the “Soca Warriors” of Trinidad & Tobago played that role with cuddly, heart-warming gusto. It’s a bit harder to attach that sort of sentiment to North Korea, whose dictatorial regime is one of the most alienated and vilified in the …
Eljerio Elia, the New Flying Dutchman
He hasn’t made too many of those “five young players to watch at the World Cup” lists, but that didn’t stop Dutch winger Eljero Elia – in his 30 minute cameo on Monday – from briefly setting the tournament alight with some breathtaking skills and thrills. Coming on as a substitute for the listless (and, IMHO, overrated) Rafael Van Der …
Cameroon’s Domitable Lions: What Was Their Coach Thinking?
Samuel Eto’o and Cameroon look like they’ve booked an early flight home from South Africa after an abysmal performance that saw them lose 1-0 to Japan. And that result was a fair reflection of a game in which the “Indomitable Lions” simply failed to play the game necessary to make the most use of the talents and athleticism of some of …
