Our 2010 World Cup Blog

Get an answer sheet at the MMC, write down your answers and put it in the ballot. The winner will get a national team official T-shirt.

Here it goes:

1. Who’s this, and which animal is it?

2. What was the World Cup’s first mascot (England, 1966)?

3. What does Jabulani mean, and in which language?

4. How many times has Africa hosted the World Cup?

5. How many national teams will participate?

6. How many stadia will serve as venues?

7. Which stadium is this, and where is it situated?

8. Who is this man, and why is he important?

for photos of our football event tomorrow.

worldcupreport:

Though currently still playing for Corinthians in Brazil, Ronaldo has admitted that he is not in good enough form to play for his homeland. 

The former Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, and PSV Eindhoven striker said, “I don’t deserve the national team. This is evident and obvious.”

However, Ronaldo did also state, “I continue to be available because Brazil is my country and I would be proud to defend it.”

Ronaldo, who was recently deemed the Best Player of the Decade according to a Goal.com poll (Ronaldo gained 43.63% of all votes), has been under constant scrutiny over the past Brasileirão Serie A campaign for not being up to Corinthians’ fitness standards. Still it will be sad for the three-time FIFA Player of the Year and highest all-time World Cup goalscorer (15 goals) to not return to the game’s biggest stage, although it is hardly a surprise.

Brazil coach Dunga has already made it clear that the 23 best players, not the 23 biggest names, will be in South Africa in June. Brazil are World Cup favourites alongside Spain, and is expected to be captained by Inter Milan defender Lúcio. 

Will you miss ‘O Fenomeno’ at the World Cup? Here’s a little compilation of his glory days.

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worldcupreport:

 

Group A will be the tightest group this summer.

Much interest is always taken in Group A. Not necessarily because it offers much excitement, but because it offers us the opening game, which we have far too long to build up to. As traditional, it will be the hosts, and SA will face off against Mexico. 

This draw might just have left the Bafana Bafana weeping into their Vuvuzelas, though. It’s a really tough draw, and on paper they are to worst side in it. Having said that, you’d be a fool to put the hosts down because, as South Korea showed us in 2002, anything could happen.

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worldcupreport:

Group B should be easy to call. The winner should be obvious to decide, surely a great draw for a great nation.

But, apparently not. Argentina should be odds on favorites for this one, with the likes of Messi, Aguero etc. but they’re not. For this surprise openness and unexpected puzzlement we have only one man to thank. El Diego strikes again.

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worldcupreport:

By Fernando Sell, writing from Brazil

You can look anywhere in the world and you will find fierce rivalries. However, there isn’t a rivalry that can be compared to a Brazil vs Argentina, known as “The Battle of South Americans”.

Even though football is the most popular sport between the two South American neighbouring countries, the rivalry is not only disputed between a football match. Since we’re born, we rapidly learn that a game against an Argentinian club or national team, even if it’s a friendly, can’t be lost as it is a question of pride.

There has not been a football match between Brazil and Argentina which has not been memorable. Even if the result is 0-0 draw, the entire 90 minutes are exceptional and always creates stir debate. A defeat can always create a crisis and this happend the last time O Canarinho played against La Albiceleste at the legendary Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires. Brazil won the match 3-1 and it put Argentina’s World Cup hopes on a string.

The balance of results in the ferocious rivalry is impressive. Although Brazil have had enjoyed the better results over the past decade (I’m sorry my fellow Argentinians, but it’s true!), they have won a total 35, Argentina victorious 33 times and 28 draws in official matches. And what exhilarating matches they were!

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