In this 2-day break without games, I was thinking to write another post about the best moments of this World Cup, but when I found this video on Youtube produced by BBC-London, I thought that it doesn't only show all these moments but it is comprised of wonderful images as well.
First, Ronaldinho wasn't even selected to be part of the Brazilian team. And then, Cannavaro, Drogba and Ribery were eliminated in the first phase. In the round of 16, it was the turn of Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to be knocked out. None of these superstars were able to write the future, as the Nike slogan in its recent commercial says. (Just hope the next one isn't Robinho).
Chile and Brazil are playing one more time Monday and everyone must be remembering that they played in the same round 12 years ago, in France 1998, with a win for Brazil.
However, there are many other significant games between this two squads. One of the most important confrontations took place at Maracaná, Brazil, in 1989, and it is the most significant embarrassment for the Chilean football.
Chile was losing 1-0 in the match for the Italy World Cup Qualifying when around the 70 minute mark, suddenly, a Brazilian fan threw a firework on the pitch and the Chilean goalkeeper, Roberto "Condor" Rojas, fell to the ground and started bleeding. The rest of the team, led by Fernando "León" Astengo, refused to keep playing, out of safety concerns. The match finished earlier.
Months later, it was discovered that the firework did not do anything to Rojas. His was a self-inflicted injury.
The case has been the worst scandal for the Chilean football. FIFA eliminated Chile from that qualifying for Italy 1990 and also for the USA 1994. Only in France 1998, Chile could go back to play a World Cup. Destiny? Maybe, but Chile had to face Brazil once more. This time in the second round, losing 4-1.
I represent Brazil in this blog, but I am going to comment about US Team briefly.
Today US play against Ghana. One of the most emotional moments in this World Cup so far was the "last-minute" goal scored by Donovan against Algeria.
Up to the 90th minute, US team was packing their stuff and preparing themselves to head back home. One minute later, the Americans were cheering and hugging one to each other, celebrating the qualification.
The TV audience for US games in this World Cup is reaching 14 million people, which is better than NBA and NHL finals. This demonstrates that soccer is gaining more popularity among our southern neighbours.
The video below shows how Americans from all around USA reacted to that goal:
Fabian Moritz is a die-hard soccer fan. And, it seems, a budding film maker.
The 19-year-old student is the brains and creative force behind the Lego World Cup animation videos being run both by the British newspaper The Guardian, as well as onhis own website and on YouTube.
Brazil have made their way to the last 16 of the World Cup and hold the record of never losing to an African team (6 games with 6 victories and 16 goals for and now 1 goal against). The phantoms were exorcised and the 3-1 win showed a Brazilian team with a consistent defence and precise attack.
I knew it would be a good game (and it was, for Brazilians at least). I tried to watch the game in a Brazilian restaurant, but it was impossible. The restaurant was packed. A crowd standing outside, squeezing into watch the game through the window. Then, some friends of mine and my family decided to go to a friend's place and watch the game from there. We had a lot of fun:
My son offered me a special brunch to celebrate Father's Day. Thank you Wife and Son.
Everybody was thrilling for the game kick-off.
Brazil 1 - 0 Ivory Coast
Chilling out during the break
Brazil 2-0 Ivory Coast
Brazil 3-0 Ivory Coast - Fans go crazy!!!
The fans went crazy not only at my friend's place, but in the Toronto as well. Check this out (video from the last game):
And the party took over the streets at Corso Italia and suddenly the Toronto Police were part of the Brazilian supporters:
For those who were complaining about lack of emotion, here it is. A second round full of emotion as I had imagined in this post. Maybe the net wasn't hit by the ball as many times as we would like to see, but, the World Cup is not only about a ball and the net. This first week was marked by historical moments that will stay forever on people's minds all around the World. Here are my top 10 moments of this World Cup so far:
10. Robert Green, England's goalie wrote his name onto the list of blundering England goalkeepers, after his gaffe in the game between England x USA
09. The noisiest World Cup ever, thanks to vuvuzelas
08. France was losing the game against Mexico, and Thierry Henry who is one of the best strikers in the world, sits on the bench. (can someone explain why, please?)
07. Drogba entering in the second half of the match, 11 days after he had his arm broken.
06. Serbia team listening their anthem as an independent country for the very first time in a World Cup
05. Slovenia won their first match in the history of World Cups (Algeria 0-1 Slovenia)
04. Greece scored and won for the very first time in the history of World Cups (Nigeria 1-2 Greece)
03. Switzerland celebration after beating Spain (Nothing against Spain, but it was an incredible emotion for the swiss)
02. The striker Jong Tae Se crying during the execution of the North Korean anthem
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.
Toronto is home to people from all 32 countries vying for the 2010 World Cup — and the most passionate soccer fans among them will be here, blogging about their countries’ performance throughout the tournament June 11 to July 11.
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