World Cup predictions for DUMMIES

There is one off-the-pitch scene of the Beautiful Game that has only been touched upon once (I think) by my fellow bloggers  - predictions. 

They can sometimes be as wrong as can be, but they still fascinate football fans everywhere.

Forget Nostradamus, who is well known for his predictions for range of worldly events, people and places. Football predictors both humans and non-humans take their art very seriously.

Now that the stakes are high for both the teams and for the respective fans of the quarter-finalists match ups for this year's FIFA World Cup:

Uruguay vs Ghana

Germany vs Argentina

Netherlands vs Brazil

Paraguay vs Spain

Let's take a look at some of these predictions, predictors and some methods used to make these predictions - to make your footballing watching experience even more exciting, why not try some of this interactive methods for yourself.

WARNING: Pro-line players, addicts you did not hear this from me OK. Bet at your own risk. I don't want you go pawn your treasured grandfather's clock.

Do not ask me how, but somehow Octopus Paul of the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, has an uncanny talent for predicting World Cup Winners. Paul predicts by placing shells in designated boxes or getting into the winning team's box.

How many of us would have predicted Germany being upset by Serbia, especially after merciless trashing of Australia??

Octopus Paul did! - 

In fact, The Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany reports Paul has predicted World Cup winners with 100% accuracy so far.

Mmmmh....Quick defeat indeed.

Paul's pick for Sunday game? A German win. Really Paul?

WARNING: Pro-line players, addicts you did not hear this from me OK. Bet at your own risk. I don't want you go pawn your treasured grandmothers's crockpot.

In England, they’ve gone a little more high tech. The Mirror newspaper used the Football Manager video game to simulate the match, which ended in a 3-2 England win. Gerrard got two, Rooney one for England, while Germany’s reply came through Thomas Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

We all know who came on top on their prediction: Paul the Octopus.

Way long - back in the days in Tanzania, there was a intriguing method of predicting football matches:

Two flags of opposing teams would be hosted at an open area, side by side by their respective supporters and each side would put a frankincense burners under the flags. Most of the time the flags were of Simba and Yanga, country's two major clubs and traditional rivals both based in Dar-es-salaam.

Fans of two clubs from all over the city would flock the area known as 'Kariakoo,' an uptown suburb to burn the frankincense, the aromatic gum native to East Africa and Middle East formerly used for worship.

The outcome of the game would depend on which team had burned more frankincense, under the team's flag post. Hundreds of shillings worth of frankincense would burn while the game is played and listened to on the radio-there was no TV broadcast of the matches in those days. The fans danced, cheered and also taunted each other. Some big shots and businessmen would also visit briefly to burn the aromatic substance hoping for better luck for their teams.

And then there is Sheikh Yahya Hussain, a renowned East African astrologer who claims to even have Pele himself visit him for the outcome of some matches he was involved in. His method is mathematical one:

He takes the numerical value of an alphabet letter plus the date of the match. The team numeric value that divides by two is the winner. Let's try one:

Let's take Spain VS Portugal

The first letter in 'Spain' is 'S' the numerical value of the letter 'S' is 19 alphabetically.

For 'Portugal' is letter 'P' numerical value of 'P' is 16 alphabetically.

Lets see if 'Spain' can be divided by 2, after adding Tuesday's date, the 29th. (note  if the first letters of both teams you are trying to predict divide by two, then  take the second letter, add the first letter's value+date to get your prediction) if that number does not divide 2 keep on going until you get one team's number that divides by 2 . The team that has the odd number that does not divide by 2 is the loser.

SPAIN = 19 (numeric value of 'S') +29 (Tuesday's date) = 48 Can be divided by 2

Now let's see Portugal

Portugal = 16 (numeric value of 'P') +29 (Tuesday's date) = 45 Can not divided by two - we all know Portugal sent home on Tuesday after being eliminated by Spain. Simple!! try it.

Let's do Germany vs Argentina

G = 7+3 (Match date)= 10

A=1+3 (Match date)= 4

Both can be divided by two, so we take the second letter from each team add the first letter's numeric value then add the date value.

G+E=7+5=12+3 (Match date) = 15

A+R=1+18=19+3 (Match day 3rd July) = 22

Sorry Octopus Paul - Bye Bye Germany. 15 is an odd number that can't be divided by two.

Good Luck!

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine not very long pondering the state of Canadian Football. How Canada, with all the mosaic of people from all over the planet and the footballing world has a potential to be a football powerhouse. Yet football seems to have an awfully hard time to take off in the country.

May be similar off-the-pitch football antics could be the answer to our football blues.

About Khalid Magram

"Having a Hoot in Little America" or "Ghana-na-na-na! Hey Hey Hey! Goodbye!"

Down to the final 16 in the World Cup, and my attempts to find out more about Algeria ended with their failure to advance.  So, I took it upon myself to find out more about the smaller countries not expected to advance this far in the competition.  I focused my attention on a little-known country that surprises everyone by their presence in the final 16, the United States of America.  Had it not been for American internationals Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley who play for Rangers, I'd never have known the USA existed.  Armed with my Rangers 'Edu' top, I ventured into the city trying to find an American bar and hopefully have better success meeting Americans than I did Algerians.

Doing a quick bit of research to find an American-centric bar, I found a pub, common in most American urban centres, called "Hooters".  Upon entering, I noted that there was no sign of any estuary.  Nor owls, as the name might suggest.  But the staff is not only friendly, but attractive, and I'll also assume, American.  Paydirt!

Hooters: A Slice of Americana in Toronto's Back Yard!

Some background on the United States:  You may be surprised to know that this country actually shares a border with Canada to the south.  Not as commonly known, Canada briefly occupied them circa 1812.  They also possess the largest population of all the competing countries, and thus surprising that it's a shock that they're doing this well.  One would think that such a large population would allow them to have a much larger pool of players to choose from for this competition.  It seems in talking to the Americans I find, the country tends to prefer supporting other competitive sports, such as "Basketball", "Baseball" and "Competitive Eating."  I am also informed that in the USA, they watch another game, also called "Football".  However, in their version of the beautiful game, it is played at a much slower pace on a much smaller field, and the players are able to use their hands to pick up the ball.  This is not only alien to me, but unheard of in proper football, but Toronto being the multi-cultural centre that it is, I remind myself not to make fun of other country's customs.

I order what I'm told is a common American beer, a "Budweiser".  I quickly note that this microbrew has, through sheer determination and American pluck, found its way into a sponsorship of the World Cup.  Hooray for the successes of small business!  American Dream indeed!  It is Ashley that brings me my pint, with a side of true American hospitality.

 
Ashley with a Budweiser. Sepp Blatter Would Be Proud.

I find myself sitting beside two Americans named Peter and Ted, from Colorado and Chicago respectively.  Both cities have MLS teams, and knowing of the Chicago Fire and their away support at TFC matches, they are well aware of the importance of this match.  They are cheering like they're at a Lakers game.  Five minutes in Boateng scores for Ghana, commencing the burrowing of the hole the USS have to climb out of.  There's a lot of fight in the US team yet, and they wisely bring on Rangers Edu to bring some more punch into the midfield, towing with him his Scottish Premier League experience.

 
Two Americans Knowing Why the Ball Isn't Being Picked Up

The US begin the second half, still a man down, but are pushing forward, forcing Ghana to defend and rely solely on the counter attack in the opening minutes.  Balls are being threaded into the box.  There are no Ghana fans here it seems, and it's all-American.  Finally, a fruitful search.

USA Away

Suddenly, the US gets the play that they want, Dempsey gets brought down in the Ghana box, and a penalty is awarded.  Landon Donovan, no stranger to being part of US success, slots home the penalty to equalize.  A more open match is now expected and delivered.  Both teams now seem to be trading equivalent blows, this game now mirroring the South Korea-Uruguay match earlier in the day in that this may be the first game that goes to extra-time if not penalty kicks.

 
Plucky Little USA Still Fights On

At the 81st minute mark, the US are awarded a free kick that hope to put them forward.  No such luck.  The Americans in attendance are willing their side forward, hoping to advance to the quarters.  If they do, I wonder what the streets of Little America in Toronto will look like.  I'm sure we'll be able to find them with their chants of "USA! USA! USA!"  It is mentioned that the US is the largest purchaser of World Cup final tickets, second only to Africans.  As it goes to extra time, it may turn out that their purchases are warranted.  Or not.

In the opening moments of extra time, a goal by Gyan puts Ghana up after 93 minutes.  It appears that for the US, this plucky little nation's tournament may be over.  Africa, meanwhile, hang their hopes on the Ghana result staying.  The US seems to be fumbling, frantic to notch the equalizer.  Each free kick awarded is lobbed forward on net, the Ghana defence still holding on.  Consistently.  The US continues to press up to the dying moments, culminating in a corner in the 120th minute of added/injury time.  The punched shot is collected and returned to net with a volley, Howard the US keeper up to add strength up front.  No avail.  The Hooters crowd groans at the miss.

Ghana comes forward again, hoping to kill off the tie.  The US meanwhile keeps missing with every attempt.  The whistle blows.  The US is out and Ghana goes through.  Their hopes, including those of my fellow Rangers kin, are dashed.  I look up and Peter and Ted are nowhere to be found.

Sadly, it appears that I'm the Death Knell for teams that I cover.  First Algeria.  Now the USA.  Let's see what Germany does.  I hope their Hooters is as nice as this one.

Slovenia: Broken hearts and a heroes' welcome

Hearts were filled, but for a moment, when the game ended, and Slovenia conceded but one goal to the English. They were going through to the group of 16.

Then, moments later, in the US match versus Algeria, Donovan scores in extra time and Slovenia had their hopes squashed, as the Americans advanced.

Biggest congratulations to both Slovenia as well as Algeria on playing lovely and brave football. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both these teams battle it out in group C. Each team possessed fantastic moves, great defence, and brave goalkeeping. We had small teams, with little funds, and we battled giants. Both England and America had the power, training camps, supporters and outfits. Their fans demanded nothing but success.

A special Jane award goes to Slovenian keeper Samir Handanovic, who kept shots at bay, even clearing a John Terry header (one of my favourite moves by that man). Never mind Handanovic's fine looks, he saved the Slovenians with style and swiftness. Very nice to watch.

It was a must win for England, with throngs of devout fans across the globe all demanding their team finally offer results. Success was their only option. Rooney, red-faced and hungry, seemed out for blood. His pass to Dafoe proved to be the teams only goal and with it, Slovenia lost the match. I will miss watching Slovenia, and Algeria. I liked both teams and their smooth passing.

To all the Slovenian supporters out there, remember the boys are already champions. For the smallest country in the World Cup, getting so far, qualifying and battling giants to the end..they proved more than able, they rose to the challenge and fought to the end. Eleven brave hearts to the end. A hero's welcome surely awaits. Perhaps there will be Lipizzaner awaiting on the tarmac when their plane touches down in the capital. Those famous horses, if you didn't know, originate from Slovenia.

About Jane Jamnik

Algeria: Wrong place, right time

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  My attempts to find a full on, no-holds-barred, no-one-here-but-us-Algerians bar/restaurant/club/wholesale furniture store to watch the game at have failed up to this point.  My mentions of Rangers player Bougherra have only gotten me so far in this city, so I pulled the "Gotta find it" Hail Mary.  I Googled it.

Up popped two results under "Algerian restaurant", one called JaJa Mediterannean, the other Roi do Couscous.  Result!  However, if my dealings with Toronto restaurants have taught me anything it is this: Unless you see a very well maintained website telling you about the trivia night results from last week, make sure that the places are still around.  Glad I did.  JaJa has turned into some sort of a fire-pit meat grilling place, and Roi de Couscous, the best-named restaurant ever, is now a sushi joint on Baldwin St, something that street has desperately needed (I note dipping my comments in hot buttered sarcasm).

So, back to the old-new 'hood and back to Bloor and Shaw.  I decide to try a new venue for football but a place that I have been to before, Lalibela Ethiopian restaurant.

 
Lalibela - Where One Would Think All African Teams are Welcomed

As before, not as highly attended, but again, people appear to have to work at 10:00 am on a Wednesday.  Over the course of the match, people do begin to file in.  I also note that Algerian manager Rabah Saadane must make this a very important game as he's wearing a suit in lieu of the tracksuit from the previous matches.  I'm hoping it's that, because I also note that some folks also dress up for funerals.  Ugh.

I'll Assume Everyone Else is a Blogger as Well

The restaurant has both games on; the England match has the audio on, but all in attendance focus on the muted Algerian game.  To add to the mixed media of the experience, the Algerian game is split with a white line down the middle of the LG screen with something called "TruMotion" on on one side, and off on the other.  I see no difference.  More like "FalsMotion".

Can You See The Difference? Yes. One Team Will Score.

With the two screens broadcasting the two games being on opposite sides of the restaurant, I begin to feel like I'm watching tennis not football.  I finally decide to keep my eyes glued to the Algerian match, while eavesdropping on the England match audio.  No choice really.

When the first USA chance is called offside, there's no reaction from the viewers.  Everyone appears to accept it.  I begin to wonder why and then I hear the England goal. 

Damn. 

I fire up my Excel spreadsheet of results that also calculates the group table places and start tinkering with possible results.  Slovenia need a goal and so does Algeria.  Thankfully Bougherra is not seeing that much of the ball, leaving it to the midfield and forwards whose job it is to pop the Jabulani into the net.  That said, in typical Bougherra style, any attempts to tell him to stay back fall on deaf ears.

The passes are being fed into the box by Algeria but to no effect, Algeria not able to get on the end of one and slot it home.  Which, admittedly, has been the story of this campaign for them, having not scored a single goal in the tournament.  At the six minute mark Algeria chanced it off the bar, but that's the closest they have gotten.

The half-time hit, and if I hadn't a lunch appointment, I'd be tearing into a Foul, a stew of beans with sauteed onion and green pepper in butter, that comes with a side of fresh bread that is making my stomach growl with vuvuzela-intensity.  Also in the key of B-Flat.

Still-Life With Laptop and Coffee. See, Ma? I'm a Proper Journalist Now!

Second half continues and the USA and Algeria are trading blows back and forth, both landing chances on either side that are not hitting the mark.  It's a hard thing, keeping an eye on one game and willing another team to score one in another match.

I keep hearing about the Slovenian pressure, but I'd love to hear the crowd silenced to make Algeria's task easier.  As it sits with England up 1-0, Algeria have to win by two, two more than they've scored in a previous 180 minutes of play.  Except now they have less than 20 minutes to do it in.  Algeria begin to remind me of my hairline; decent at the back, really thin up front.

Torn further am I as a Rangers fan as seeing Maurice Edu subbed off early on the US side, but now in the dying moments, seeing DaMarcus Beasley, another probably-soon-to-be-former Rangers player take the field.  Ugh.  Fouls are marking the end of both games, making both games increasingly tough to watch.
  Two goals are needed in the dying moments, one from Algeria, one from Slovenia, that will make the freshly yellow-carded Algerian Lacen actually able to miss the next match.  Still nil-nil, and there are no happy faces anywhere in the stands, both the Yanks and Algerians needing a goal to advance.

Suddenly it all happens very very weirdly.

The England game ends 1-0.  As soon as the match ends and they announce the win, a US strike on goal, a rebound, and Donovan slots hit home behind the Algerian keeper.  1-0 USA...and the place erupts.  Not only do Algeria lose, not only do the US go through, but to add to it, I've been hanging out in a place that was cheering on the US.  No one wanted Algeria to win except me.  Injury is added to insult as Algerian captain Yahia is given a red card in the dying moments.

So thus ends not only an unsuccessful World Cup for the Boughie-Boys, but also for me in trying to find out more about the Algerian community in Toronto.  Not unlike Algeria in this group, I never came close to hitting the net.

About Todd Van Allen

Finding Algerians? Drawing a Blank.

Finally back in Toronto, full on World Cup fever pitch, and I'm still looking to find Algerian fans.  And I'm not having much luck.  And I'm getting stranger and stranger looks from folks when I pose the question, "Hey, you know any Algerians?"  They don't.  So, where are they hiding?  Knowing that the Bloor and Shaw neighbourhood houses several African restaurants, I figured of any area in the city to try, that's got to be worth an honest shout.  Short of wearing a "Hey, you Algerian?" t-shirt, I opted for the most recent Rangers top for recognition with the hope that if they've heard of Bougherra, they know who he plays for.

 
I know it doesn't specifically say 'Algerian', but...

Now admittedly, I have had a brief and foggy history with the neighbourhood, in that I vaguely remember being there in the wee hours during the 2002 Japan/Korea World Cup chasing venues to watch the matches at 3:00am battling lager and lethargy.  Again, hazy.  But there are definitely places to be found.  Rumour also had it that the restaurant African Palace was the place to be.  I was assured that all African nations would watch their matches there.  Anticipating a mobbed bar, waiting to stand Monday-morning-on-the-King-car crammed in with Desert Foxes' fans, aching to be the one to fire up chants of "Bou-gher-ra!  Bou-gher-ra!  Bou-gher-ra!", I bundled into a cab and headed to African Palace.

There were three people.  Two were staff.  I guess Algerian fans have to work mid-afternoon on a Friday as much as everyone else.

 
DOWN IN FRONT!!!!

This doesn't bother me in the least, and it is definitely not the first time that I've been the only white guy in a place watching football.  And it's not the first time that people have questioned my allegiances.  Immediately after being asked if I'm here to watch the game, I'm asked if I'm cheering for England and am not believed when I tell them I'm all Algeria.  "You're cheering for Algeria?  No.  Really?"  Not only am I Boughie-daft, I find it hard to support England.  They remind me of annoyingly die-hard Leafs fans (think they invented the game, feel entitled for no reason, haven't won anything since the 60s...the similarities are glaring).  The Rangers top didn't appear to have the instant recognition that I'd hoped.  I'm told that the samosas are the best in the city and am brought a plate promptly.  They are fantastic, sided with a salsa verde that is spicy.  Green sauce.  Green beer bottle.  Green Point Stadium.  Algeria in all green.  This has to happen.

 
Green dough and plate and this would have been perfect.

The national anthems kick off and the woman beside me starts singing along to the Algerian national anthem.  Result!  I ask if she's from Algeria.

"No.  Monaco.  We're neighbours."

Dammit.

That said, that is wickedly neighbourly.  I don't know about you but when the US played Slovenia, I wasn't karaoke-ing "...and the rockets' red glare".  Apparently I'm a horrible neighbour.

The match kicks off, both sides resorting to back-up keepers after their first match gaffes.  So no one has any idea what's going to happen at the back.  It could be a match peppered with fantastic goal mouth saves.  It could be Hoover Dam replaced by the screen door from the cottage.  It becomes glaringly obvious that Algeria has the size advantage as England's Gerrard stands beside Algeria's Yahia; Yahia towering over Gerrard like he was taking his lunch money at the coin toss.

One scoop of pudding and I taste proof.  Algeria have way more player-for-player physical strength for sure, but not as much control coughing up balls like passes to cinder blocks.  Bougherra did not disappoint, putting his mark on the game, pushing forward and immediately tracking back to defend.  As the match wore on, it wasn't just the viewers, players, or even Capello that figured out that England would be ineffectual.  During England's first corner, the bird perched atop the Algerian net obviously knew about Heskey's heading ability and elected to stay.  The longer the match wore on, the more there was the sense that if Algeria couldn't win this, they could at least tie their way to safety.  The close-down of England became more and more sustained.

The game hit the dying moments and Algeria are keeping the draw in their sights, still looking as if they could sneak a late winner.  So too could England at this point, but they don't have the confidence, it being eroded gradually over the course of a match they had the arrogance to believe would be a no-brainer.   Suddenly, the traditional African treat of Ruffles potato chips hit the table.  My English mates are texting me about how England are a "million-dollar pub team", and that they should "bring Prince Harry on!"  It's all going crazy.  Bougherra falls backwards into David James and has an awkward neck-bending moment.  Were it anyone other than Boughie I'd be worried.  I spend the final minutes thinking up Chuck Norris-style jokes using Bougherra ("Why was Britain's navy considered the best?  Because Bougherra never decided to take a swim.").  At this point, a full-time draw is palpable which will bring Algerian safety.  Boughie coughs up a corner in the dying minutes and dread creeps in as the aching suspicion that Crouch could awkwardly poke in a winner
 just won't go away.

 
The elephant's right into it. The giraffe can't bear to watch.

Algeria stave off the pressure and the ref blows the final whistle.  I listen intently to Bloor St.  No horns.  No cheers.  No hope of me finding a guy driving his car with a flag sticking out of the win
dow so that I could share a moment.  Or failing that, another find a location crowded with Algerians.  It's becoming more and more apparent that in the African communities, here, not unlike in South Africa, you support all African teams, not just your own.  Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, it doesn't matter.  You're part of the family.

Now that is neighbourly.

 
I'd appreciate if you quit asking why Morgan Freeman is on the window.

Algeria: Ghezzal's 15 minutes of fame

So, if you thought trying to find people to watch the Algeria team play was hard in Toronto, try Halifax.

I found myself on the East Coast for the first time in years not knowing really anyone, and really no hope of trying to find Algerians to watch the match with.  My attempts to find any one Algerian person, let alone a full-on venue, had a very Australia-against-Germany feel to it.  No returns.  I found a guy in a convenience store who said, "I think I know a guy who's Algerian."  Turned out he was Armenian.  Thanks.

So, the story so far.  Finding a venue in Halifax to watch the Algerians: Yellow card.  Finding people to watch the match with: Red card.  In Halifax, you couldn't swing a vuvuzela without hitting someone in an England Three-Lions shirt.  Trying to find the green-and-white of Algeria, not good.

So, I found myself setting my alarm and rolling over to find the remote for the TV in my hotel room, alone and feeling no closer to the Algerians who know way more than I do about this side.  But that said, I am getting better and better and finding Bougherra on the field.  The game kicked off and I was immediately impressed by how thick the midfields were for both sides, with barely enough space for the ball, let alone solid run of play.  The blows were traded right off the bat and already I was feeling pretty confident about Algeria's chances.  Of course I still had no one to validate this with.

Things seemed still doable, Algeria still trading blows throughout the game with more and more confidence.  When Ghezzal came on in the second-half, I thought "Cool.  Fresh legs, young guy, plays in Italy.  We've got a good chance with him on the field."  What do I know?  No sooner had Ghezzal headed onto the field than he was asked to perform a 180-degree turn and return to the bench.  Fifteen full minutes he spent on the field and was then told his services were no longer necessary.  Turns out a beautiful, and I do mean beautiful hand-ball can pretty much cap your game.

Down to 10 men, morale hanging by a thread, it began to show that Algeria were pretty down on their luck.  They still made runs in and even after the not-as-bad-as-Green's-"save"-but-still-poor-attempt-by-Chaouchi goal by Slovenia's Koren, Bougherra and Co. did not give up at all, still trying and punching at the Slovenia goal.  It mattered for not.  The whistle blew.  1-0 the result.  Bottom of the group.

Next up is England who have proven that they're very touchable, but are still brimming with talent.  They say that Green is likely to remain in net for the Three Lions.  Let's hope that if Algeria keep hammering the goal, that'll be enough to get Algeria off the group floor.  And hopefully I'll have better luck finding Algerians in Toronto.  They hide in Halifax.

About Todd Van Allen

Embrace the Vuvuzela

"buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" 

Get used to the sound...Vuvuzela is here to stay.

Vuvuzela  has become a favourite topic of conversation at the FIFA World Cup and on the streets of Toronto.

As a fan of beautiful game and of African football I must come to Vuvuzelas' defense.

Critics say the Vuvuzela is too noisy and it should be banned from the World Cup. Their complaints have ranged from outright alarming — Vuvuzela spread viruses faster than coughing, to the absolute laughable players will not hear referees’ whistle!. And oh, TV viewers can't hear the commentator.

C'mon.

Vuvuzelas, drums and singing are part of African football culture. It is part of African celebration, it is part of African traditions and history. Accept it.

Blowing the Vuvuzela was also meant to blow away the injustice of apartheid.

For me taking away or hating the Vuvuzelas - that even the apartheid regime in South Africa did not seem to mind, is really being narrow minded, it will symbolize to South Africans intimidation, and restriction on their hard-fought freedoms after decades of racism, prejudices and abuse by the brutal apartheid regime.

Vuvuzela also symbolized and enabled Black South Africans to Dream about 'Freedom One Day.' It was the blowing of Vuvuzelas freely in football stadiums during the apartheid that gave Blacks in South Africa a minute taste of freedom.

There is an old African saying that goes like this: 'The baboon is killed by a lot of noise'.

South African football fans make as much noise as they can to confuse the opposing team on the field. Its gradual increase in loudness capable of striking fear into the hearts of the opposing team or maybe just to give their own team a wake up call.

Football is not like golf or tennis, where you are actively encouraged to keep quiet. This is a loud game Guys!. And I bet most of the Vuvuzela critics and haters have never ever before been to the football stadium or watch Liverpool play at Anfield, that is why they yawp.

I am not advocating that it makes a lovely sound, but you cannot deny the atmosphere it creates within the stadium. It can be incredibly intimidating for opposing teams at a packed Soccer City with 94,000 people blowing their lungs out in support of their boys. It gets the crowd going, and gives them an identity.

I am glad the Vuvuzela is out there, loud and proud - regardless of how it sounds. It stands for a bit more than that. Do I expect the critics to understand it? may be!

This may be the World Cup, but it is Africa's World Cup just like previous 18 were Europe's, Asian and South and North American. Taking away the Vuvuzela would be nothing short of another page of cultural imperialism exercised by Europe on Africa.

There are many who are struggling to find anything African in the stadiums except the infamous Vuvuzela.

So lets enjoy the African culture and beautiful game and Let the fans blow their Vuvuzelas during the World Cup.

About Khalid Magram

Abject goalie brutality and those buzzing bees

Over the past three days, I've seen some really poor displays of quality goalkeeping. After watching that England/USA game, I was filled with feelings of horror, disgust and nausea all combined with the shame of a nation. After watching the Algeria/Slovenia, I felt some pity for the goalkeeper but not that much. Watching the Italy/Paraguay match felt like a kick to the gut, since the goalie tried to play Superman, when he flew through the air, but in his flailing attempt to punch the ball, he looked like a slow motion cartoon.

I'll chat about the English calamity, since that is still in the headlines. I'm surprised by the level of "support" for the goalkeeper, since the British media talking heads are usually devastating in their criticism. In the Telegraph, Michael Owen claims "Nobody should blame Robert Green for America's goal and he certainly shouldn't blame himself." Former England goalie David James claims, "We all make mistakes." while the Times bellowed "Green fingers: One disastrous spill the Yanks won’t complain about"

There seemed to be more criticism about the Rugby team than the Football team. However it seems that Robert Green's World Cup is over ... but who to throw the gloves to?

Could it be that there is something to this "it's the ball" theory? The quality of the football has been poor, aside from the German exhibition against an overage, out of depth Wallaby side, however 4-0 is still 4-0. That being said, I really hope that the next couple days brings about some quality football. The Dutch side played as poor a first half, as I've seen in the last couple years. Even the Argentines displayed panache but no killer instinct.

However from the goalie perspective, it could be worse.

The other story so far is the buzzing bees.

On many football forums, there is the presence of the "I hate the Vuvuzela" thread. Personally, I find the noise extremely annoying, but that being said, who are we to tell South Africans how to celebrate. It would be highly colonial of FIFA to do such a thing. The ICC banned drums and musical instruments for the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and the tournament turned into a colossal failure and I for one was glad. No one should tell people how to celebrate in their own countries.

So here is my question, why can't the TV guys simply filter the sound out? With all the sound engineers and technology, why can't the buzzing sound be filtered out of the TV broadcasts?

About Rishi Sankar

Getting to Know Algeria

 So, first up, the question: what is a guy with a Dutch last name doing blogging about Algeria?  Well, here’s the thing.

I’m born Canadian with Scottish and Dutch roots which gives me a wonderful list of candidates to support when World Cup years happen.  Firstly I will support Canada.

1986 was a great year.

Moving on.

I also support Scotland (stop laughing at the back, please) and support not just Toronto FC locally but also Glasgow Rangers to the point that me and two Scottish friends decided to put together the “We Are The People” podcast (http://wearethepeoplepodcast.com) which is a weekly podcast about the team’s on-and-off-the-field exploits.  This year, the Dutch side gets my attention as well since the Netherlands found their way convincingly into the finals.  So, yeah.  Hup Holland Hup!

So, what then of Algeria?

Well, it comes from my love of Rangers and the banner year they had claiming a Premier League and League Cup double this year with a team that on paper should have been worried about not making the top six, let alone claiming a berth into the Champions League next year.  This was done with a team made up of mostly Scottish players and a few other nationals.  One guy that shone for us this year and was fundamental to that task was Madjid Bougherra, a 27 year old Algerian international that worked hard for us and made this year possible.  The man, as you will see on Sunday, is impressive.  He’s a defender that hates to stay back but, unlike me defending, is able to get back quickly to defend and not stop for a snack break at the halfway line.  So good was he that he is an icon for the Rangers support.  One wink and he won the crowd over, and not that he had far to go to do so.

And this happens a lot when supporting club teams.  You always have a soft spot for the international sides that make up your team.  That is, unless they are Ronaldo.  This is that case for me.  When I see a player that has played for Toronto FC or Rangers put on their nation’s shirt, I want to see them and their country do well.  Unless they are Ronaldo.  At the beginning of the year, I could say that I couldn’t name one other Algerian player other than Boughie.  But now I’m keen to learn.  So riveting was his play that I wanted to find out more about this guy, his fellow countrymen, and knowing how hard it is to watch Rangers in this city, figure out how Algerians fare trying to watch their side play.  Rangers' fans complain about getting up at 7:30am to watch matches.  If you’re a fan of an Algerian side, where do they go?  Do they strictly support Algerian sides like ASO Chlef and ES Sétif where the national keepers Lounès Gaouaoui and Faouzi Chaouchi are from respectively?  Or do they find themselves supporting the French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Greek and English sides that also are home to Algerian players (See?  They play everywhere.)?  I don’t know.  But I’m ready to find out.

Algeria snuck in as underdogs, narrowly edging out Egypt for the prize of a spot at the World cup.  This then makes it even more important for the Algerian supporters, since many are surprised that they’re in this tournament in the first place.  They’re kind of like that guy that you never thought would make it to the house party, and next thing you know, he’s doing funnels by the keg.

I’m taking it on as my task to find these folks and get the lowdown on how and where they support their fellow countrymen and hope that Algeria makes it out of the group.  Admittedly, the road is tough, but there’s always hope in the group.  I think they’ve as much chance as anyone in that group.  Heck, if England has a shot...

I’m looking forward to poking around the city looking for the places that the Algerians watch their games.  If I see a guy with a Rangers top on, I’ll pretty much know I’m in good company.