The future of FIFA World Cup

With the success of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which broke barriers and records, several countries are now bidding to organize and host the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Eleven bids were submitted in 2009, covering 13 nations, with two joint bids: Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain. Mexico also submitted a bid, but withdrew theirs in 2009, while Indonesia had their bid rejected for lack of government support.

For 2018 and 2022

England

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he would welcome a 2018 bid from "the homeland of football." England has previously hosted the 1966 World Cup which it won and Euro '96, as well as previously bidding for the 2006 World Cup. Should England succeed, it would be the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time.

United States

With all good audience results, soccer gaining more popularity and supported by the financial and attendance records of previous hosted 1994 FIFA World Cup, the United States are going to be a big England's competitor for the 2018 bidding. The US Soccer has submitted two bids: one for 2018 and in case they don't get it, another for 2022. The 18 host cities were already chosen: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington DC.

Russia

Russia comes strong for the bidding due to the FIFA's rotation policy. However, they are not as well structured as the USA and England, but the country is ready to spend some $10 billion on the tournament, especially to build stadiums following FIFA standards. Russia hopes to have five stadiums fit to host World Cup matches ready by 2013, which will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Portugal and Spain

The joint-venture consists in Spain leading a 12-stadium project with eight of the venues, and the opening and final games would be held in Lisbon and Madrid, respectively. Spain has previously hosted the 1982 World Cup, while Portugal organized the Euro 2004. If the Portuguese-Spanish joint bid succeeds, Spain would become the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time.

 

Belgium and the Netherlands

Using the same model as per Portugal and Spain, Belgium and Netherlands would share the building of stadiums which comply with FIFA standards. Luxembourg will also help in the World Cup organization in case the bid is the winner, however it will not host any game neither be automatically qualified for the event.

 

 

 

For 2022 only

Australia

Initially Australia confirmed a bid for 2018, which was eventually withdrew months later. One possible stumbling block to the bid is that almost all of Australia's largest stadiums are used by other major Australian sports (Australian Football and Rugby) whose domestic seasons overlap with the World Cup. Australia has hosted several tournaments: U-20 Soccer World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics, 2003 Rugby World Cup among others.

 

Japan

Japan is bidding to become the first Asian country to host the World Cup twice; they co-host the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. They have also withdrew the bid for 2018 and analysts say that their chances for 2022 are very low as well.

 

South Korea

As their previous partner of 2002 World Cup, South Korea has put forth an offer to host the 2022 edition. Due to the rotation policy and FIFA willing to take soccer to places that it needs to be developed, the likelihood is not good for South Korea's (and Japan's) bid.

 

 

Qatar

Qatar is attempting to become the first Arab nation to host the World Cup. Qatar is planning to promote this bid as an Arab unity bid and hope to draw on support from the entire Arab world, and are positioning this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Arab and Western worlds. Some concerns with Qatar's bid deal with the extreme temperatures especially in June and July, but according to them, this is not a problem at all, stadiums with controlled temperature will be built, once they win the bid for 2022.

Canada Soccer Association was also willing to pull together a bid for 2022 edition. With the expectation that the United States will land the 2018 or 2022 event, while other continents will also get to host it as it rotates from one region to another, they decided that it does not worth to move forward with an official bid. However, the 2015 Women's World Cup is more likely.

Whether Canada's chances to host or not a World Cup is low, I do hope see Canada team being part of the 32 nations in Brazil 2014.

About Paulo Porto

England: It was over before it even started

It has taken me a couple of days to come to terms with the loss on the weekend, and I'm pretty certain that most England fans did as I did today, went to work and discussed if the game would have been different if the second goal that England scored had been allowed.

There is no question in my mind that our team would have come out a bit more pumped than they did in the second half, but we all know that games are not won or lost on kinda-sorta-maybes.

Regardless of the goal or not, England really did get outplayed by the German team, and in the end, the result was reflective of their entire tournament. For a team that had great potential coming in, they really were one of the major underperformers of the tournament.

Sadly, I took my England flag off the car after Sunday's match.

In another 4 years I'll get my hopes up for a new and improved England squad - it should be quite a different team by then.

About Wendy Vile

Germany v. England: Finally, backing a winner

I appear to be the death knell for teams in this year's World Cup.  I began with Algeria (not one goal scored) who dropped out of the group stages in the dying moments.  This was capped by not being able to find one single Algerian in Toronto.  I'm sure they're out there, but I sure couldn't find them.

I'll hang my hat on the fact that I met a Moroccan woman that was cheering for them, and a bunch of people that I met that swear that they'd heard of "Albania or whatever the hell country you're writing about". 

Nice job.

Next up, was the USA.  Having already advanced out of the groups, I was asked to cover their success from the Final 16 onwards.  So, hats off to Ghana who provided me a dandy work shortcut.  USA! On Your Way!  At least I was able to find some actual Americans in this city.  And it only took a tacky sports bar to make that happen.

So, what's the next country whose citizens I badger to find out more about their culture?  Step forward Germany.  This should be a no-brainer.  I actually know Germans in the city and add to this the first match I get to cover is Germany v. England in the Final 16.  Yes!  Brilliant! 

However, if my history of covering teams in this tournament is anything to go by, if I were the team manager, I'd be seeing if I could put tickets to Munich on Monday on stand-by.  Why?  Because I have decided to pay attention to you and as a result, you are doomed to advance about as far as Canada in this tournament.

The beauty about a Germany v. England match is the lemon-rind bitter rivalry.  These two teams have apparently hated each other for ages and the matches are always a fantastic display of hope and fury.  A small bit of research returns the fact that a lot of Germans will be watching this match at The Musket on Advance Road in Etobicoke.  In the early hours of Sunday, I slide on the only German shirt I own (a Hertha Berlin top) and head to the West End.

 
"Right, mate.  Hide your Three Lions Shirt..."

I arrive well over an hour before kick-off and already I see queues forming to get inside and parking already appearing desperate.  Already I'm greeted by German adherence to rules and order when I'm ordered out of the Dimpflmeier Bakery parking lot by a small elderly gentleman who merely waves his fingers at me, points to the sign indicating "Customer Parking Only" and then shrugs his shoulders.  This would never have happened if I was driving a VW.

Upon entering The Musket, the place is already packed and I find the only chair in the entire establishment in the company of three generations of German men; grandfather, father, grandsons.  Brilliant. 

I ask if the last seat is available and they beckon me in.  I attribute it to my team-formerly-in-the-Bundesliga shirt.  I'm immediately asked "Are you a reporter?"  So I guess I don't look German.  Or failing that, I look like the sort of guy that's going to ask you an annoyingly large number of questions.  Instead of trying to explain the difference between a "blog" and a "printed article", I simply say "yes".

I now look forward to meeting genuine journalists at their meetings or whatever the hell they are, take your abuse, and buy you all a Diet Sprite.  It's a white lie.  Deal.

I ask the men at the table if they also cheer not only for Germany but also any German club sides.  The two grandsons support Bayern Munich, which makes sense, them being by far and away the most famous of the sides.  The grandfather says he supports a horrible team, Hertha Berlin.  I smile and point to the crest of my Hertha Berlin shirt.  The elder at the table winces and asks "Why would you cheer for them, they're awful?"  I'll be honest; they were from Berlin and the colours were that of Rangers.  Not the best reason, but that's the one I've got.

 
"Dudes.  I can see your England tops under your Kraftwerk hoodies..."

The more I get to talk to this Toronto-based German family, the more I realize that they are not just fair-weather German fans.  They truly enjoy the game of football.  The one grandson plays for the Ontario Under-21 side.  Impressive.  So this must be a table that understands the rivalry between Germany and England, a rivalry almost as old as the World Cup itself. 

When I ask if the rivalry against England is as hostile with the German people as the English seem to hold it, I'm told "Real fans watch the beauty.  No fan cares about the fighting."  Nods from his kin all around.  So, as far as this table is concerned, England bigs this contest up to shopping-the-day-before-Christmas intensity.  Germany it seems couldn't be arsed.

Two things hit me as I sit among the fans in attendance.  First, being the sheer number of people that have filed into The Musket since I got in.  It is now standing room only and I did truly get the last seat.

In my "You're not from around here" paranoia, I can't help but think that at some point I'll be asked to leave on account of being as German as the sushi chef at Nami. Thankfully, that will probably not happen since I am in buying pitchers of lager from Munich with the German three-Gen'ers. 

Secondly, people's support of the World Cup varies as much as their knowledge of it.  I'm in the company of four men who appreciate the game, see its elegance, who nod in appreciation when they see that Germany is countering England's 4-4-2 formation with a 4-5-1 giving Klose the lone sniper role.  We discuss this over sips of beer appreciatively. 

This is painfully contrasted like a Morning Zoo DJ jarring you from a dream involving you and the female Dutch Bavaria-dress-wearing models by the person beside you who obviously doesn't know that soccer is most commonly known as "football" and is truly just along for the patriotic ride. 

I may be quick to judge here, but the fact that I'm asked about the offside rule ("Do they have to go back behind the halfway line to get onside?"), the concept of 'extra time' ("Half an hour?  Well...that's just way too long.  They should shorten it"), and of course fouls ("Is the black card the worst one?").  I half want to ask how they think each side will fare in the swimsuit competition.

During the national anthems, they show Mick Jagger in attendance at the match.  He is blithely signing autographs, smiling and cajoling with fellow fans, hardly aware about what is to happen. 

The first 10 minutes show the match as a clumsy affair, neither Germany nor England playing like they want to be creative or challenging for fear of a mistake.  This lasts not much longer as Germany shows more elegance creeping into their game, more "1-2" passes connecting and possession solidifying. 

Come the 21st minute, everything stops and gets loud.  Klose takes a single shot from the keeper and shoulder-barges his way through the England defence like a man negotiating a subway turnstile.  The ball is slotted past Calamity James and suddenly my ears are ringing like I'm wearing vuvuzela earmuffs.  Germany are 1-0 to the good and I take this opportunity to buy a replacement pitcher for the table.  It's the least a reporter could do.

In so doing, I run into Helmut, the owner of The Musket who I surmise will be played by Max Von Sydow when the movie of this day is made. 

By the time I return to the table with fresh beer, Germany are playing more fluidly.  England by contrast are a team chasing it and not doing so very well.  Come the 33rd minute, the ball pokes through the England net again, 2-0 Germany. 

At this point it becomes violently clear that England are a shambles at the back, four men incapable of handling a single lone striker with a small supporting cast.  The England defence has become so porous it should be used to drain pasta.  One-third of the match gone and Germany finding their footing.

When the 37th minute goal by England is scored, it is met by silence, save the two or three England fans that found their way inside the very-pro-German bar.  Bravery and stupidity.  Never has a combination been so visible.  Well, outside of the Black Bloc.

 
Hey, England.  See that green stuff?  That's "space". It's desired.

Next up: 38th minute goal and the call that wasn't.  We've seen this moment replayed more times than all of the other goals in the World Cup combined.  And I'm also going back to the Pele years.  Lampard took a screaming shot at the German net, hit the crossbar, the ball went into the net and bounced out, no goal called. 

From that point on, the Germans in attendance knew that a bullet was dodged and they got away with something awful.  Maybe it was that, or perhaps they were just preparing themselves for the years and years now of England fans complaining it was over the line. 

You know what?  Use this as the opportunity to finally call "Karma!" on the Geoff Hirst goal 40+ years before.  It's done.  Tit-for-tat.  Forget it.  But probably not a chance of that.  Halftime features an English-accented pundit screaming for FIFA to install video validation of all goals?  Why now?  Oh, because it's England.  Were South Korea denied a pure chance like this, would mention be made?  Nope.  Once again, I think of Leaf fans...

The second half begins and in my mind there's no way that this score can stand in order to bring about a degree of fairness for all involved.  A clear and out-and-out winner has to be defined.  England appear to be well up to the task, firing chance after chance at the German goal, the defence and keeper soaking up the pressure with relative ease.  So much so, I hate to turn to my notepad to take notes. 

Finally the dam bursts.  3-1 and missed England goal or not, it's academic from here on in.  England are truly beaten, sink holes appearing in the defence allowing Germany to notch their fourth goal of the game.

Two minutes of added time and that's that.  The Germans advance, the English call for Capello's resignation.  A day of definite contrasts.  The Germans showed themselves as a team with youth, vigour, and support of a well-honed, well-groomed structure.  The English team that of a collection of egos forced into ill-shaped holes.  How the German side will fare against the likes of a talent-clogged sided managed by a maniac is anyone's guess.

A quick shot of the stands shows a very dejected Mick Jagger.  He of all people should know you can't always get what you want.  I feel the same way.  I have to leave before I can order a sausage and sauerkraut.  At least with this team I'm covering, I get a second chance.

"So who's next?  Argentina?  Are they good?"

About Todd Van Allen

Best ... 1st round ... ever!!!

For the first wave of matches, there were complaints about things like the vuvuzelas (That would be a cool band name), special children saying that "1 + 1 = Butterflies" and not 2, the Jabulani/Zamboni/Pastrami Ball, a misalignment of Neptune with Mars and a general lack of goals.

Then the drama started with all the upsets in this World Cup. I cannot think of a World Cup in the last 40 years where so many favourites and European teams started so badly or conversely where so many "No-Name" teams played so well. If anyone told me that New Zealand (!) would be undefeated at the end of the first round ... I would have asked you for some of what you were smoking ... cause it surely would have been good.

If someone had predicted that both France and Italy would have CRASHED out of the World Cup without winning a single match ... I would have said that you were dreaming in Technicolor.

Oh how I wished I was on College St Thursday to see the shattered dreams, to know that every time Slovakia scored, an angel wept in joy. Even though the Italians scored the best goal of the WC so far with Fabio Quagliarella's 91st minute finesse, it was too little, too late.

There has been a lot of other drama in this first round also. As much as the world hates to see Americans do well in football, you couldn't help but rise to your feet when watching the US v Slovenia match ... just brilliant drama! 

As for the English and their hopeful "Barmy Army", there was nothing in Rooney & Co's first round performance that suggests that the English could overcome yet another meeting with their Argentine nemesis in the quarterfinals, provided that they were to possibly beat Germany.

Right now, we are on for possibly the greatest final ever ... Brazil v Argentina for all the marbles. My fingers, toes and future children's toes will be crossed in the hope of witnessing this possible miracle, as I am sure millions of Argentines are walking, thumbing those rosaries to death, while millions of Brazilians are happy digesting their Feijoada and Flan in anticipation of this event.

While this is all happening, let's not forget the second coming of the Spanish Inquisition, if "Las Furias Rojas" doesn't beat Chile by more goals than Switzerland is expected to beat Honduras by. The Spanish are also teetering on the Italian/French precipice!

I guess Spain can no longer be considered as the leader in the Choker World Cup standing ... and if they did choke, they aren't the abject failures that the French and Italian football teams were.

About Rishi Sankar

England: And the winner is....

England fans at a downtown pub waiting for the start of the game yesterday.   

All eyes glued to the game.

About Wendy Vile

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

Slovenia: Making their mark

Slovenia, (no, not Slovakia) currently leading their group, take on England in a very short time. Hopes are high as Slovenia has so far proved to all that they can compete in the international arena. Last Fridays match versus the Americans seemed to me to be the most exciting match of the tournament, with Slovenia settling for a 2-2 tie. I will not forget the opening goal from Capt Robert Koren of Slovenia. A real howler.

The match versus England will surely be even more exciting. RIo is out, JT is still without arm-band. Carrigher, with two yellows which makes red is out. Frankly, the entire English team seems, to use a pleasant word "seasoned".

Although the Three Lions are a favourite of mine, they seem to be lacking in leadership. Rio didn't fit at all, even if he was not injured. Stevie G seems lost, quiet and subdued as captain. Capello and his last second choices as to who plays which position and when seem absurd for a competition of this calibre. JT, I know he tries. I had great hopes for England, like many footy fans, but Capello has ruined the team spirit I think.

But for this match, I am all for Slovenia, taking on another lion. A tie or a win would be absolutely lovely.

By the way, the Slovenian flag on my car has proved to arouse much curiosity. Most people ask if it is near Slovakia. No. Is that question posed because the name of the country also starts with an S? Next thing I know, we will be a neighbour of Sweden (who I am missing in the World Cup actually).  Slovenia is actually a very small country  but they are curently in the best economic position in the European Union.

The flag consists of three equally sized stripes, white, blue and red. In the upper left corner rests the coat of arms featuring the three peaks of the highest mountain, Triglav. Some supporters even feature the mountainside..steep jagged mountain outlines painted on their faces.

Slovenia is due south of Austria. Another neighbour is Italy. I will not comment on their performance for fear of the wrath of the multitude of Italian descendants here in Toronto, but for defending champions, it's a sad state of affairs and hard to believe the poor results.

Anyway, feel free to give me a wave if you spot me waiting for construction on our busy streets..best of luck to the handsome and brave Slovenia lads, meeting England on Wednesday, live at 9:45...Toronto time. I can't wait for this match!

About Jane Jamnik

England: Would Beckham have helped?

I guess I should start off by saying this:  At the very least, it wasn't the goalies' fault. 

I was one amongst many who were genuinely worried when I saw that David James was to play in net, but realistically, I think that we would have been worried, no matter who was playing between the posts.  After all was said and done, it wasn't our goalkeeping that let us down, it was the team as a whole.  There isn't much of a positive spin that can be put on England's performance on Friday.  

The tie on Friday might just as well have been a loss, and to many an England fan, that is precisely how it was perceived.  Everyone seemed to be moving in slow motion,  and there was no urgency to anything that they did on the field.  I had such high expectations for Wayne Rooney at the World Cup, and for the most part, he has been non existent on the field. To me, he almost seems uninterested at times, and he's not the only one.  Gerrard has to step up as captain and provide leadership and a spark for the England team.  Something needs to change, and Capello has to find the right mix of players to make that happen.   

Here's something to think about.  Would things have been different if David Beckham had been playing?  There are quite a few people that I have been speaking to that seem to think that he could have made a difference. 

About Wendy Vile

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.