LIVE from So. AFRICA: WORLD CUP FUTBOL

[Roy Hersh]

Immersed in finishing up issue #52 of the newsletter and although awake during the games being played in the last 48 hours, I have so far missed all of the games, but keep tuned into the progress.

It was very sad to hear that the young granddaughter of 92 year old Nelson Mandela was accidentally killed just a few hours before the SA team's opening game. What a heartbreaking death and it is a déjà vu reminder of the recent events at Vancouver's Winter Olympics, when that luge racer died tragically during his last warm up run. But back to futbol, er ... soccer.

Of course I am rooting for Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and it has nothing to do with his growing up in Madeira, although that is a plus.

Lots of "ties" so far, including 0-0 scores and 1-1 games in at least three of the initial games.

So are you watching, do you get up early (if in No. America) to view the games? Any fun stories about heading out to a great restaurant or sports bar in the wee hours of the morning to catch a game? What about our European=based friends and those on other continents, are you watching early and often?

Shortly after you receive the newsletter, I am thrilled to be heading to Spain for a few weeks and there's nothing like being in Europe to see how the countries there go wild during this festive time. In 2006, I spent two weeks in Portugal during their deep foray, making it to the semi-finals for the first time since 1966. Will I bring the same luck to the team of Spain? I'm not quite that invested in their success, but it would be great to be there while they are playing and I'm sure I'll be able to drag my wife to sit amongst the throngs of people watching in the local tavernas.

This thread will remain at the top of the page here throught the entire tournament!

Good luck to all teams!

[Niklas J]

Hi Roy! For most europeans this is the no. 1 world event and soccer is the only thing we talk about at work right now There's even companies allowing tv's turned on if matches are played during working hours!

Sadly Sweden is not playing but for me, with roots in Denmark, that's fine since the Danes are taking part. Starting with Holland on Monday. Tough one.

Yesterday's match between England and USA was a disappointment. Not the American team but I thought the English were supposed to be good?

Spain or Argentina I think will win. I must say being in Spain durin WC is quite cool so look up a local bar and have some cerveza's with the locals while watching

And yes, I follow most of the matches trying to learn the three year old daughter the sport as well!

Best,

Niklas

P.S. SA and Sweden are in the same time zone!

[Andy Velebil]

I've watched a little and one big surprise to me (who only lightly follows the sport) was that South Korea beat Greece. I didn't realize soccer (football) was such a big sport in South Korea and had assumed Greece would have won.

[Andy Velebil]

A funny Nike commercial of Portugal vs. Brazil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBcFReNutN4

[Moses Botbol]

USA had a gift from God on their England draw.

I can't wait for the Brazil and Portugal games!

[Roy Hersh]

Portugal looked like a heavyweight champion fighting with one hand tied behind their back. A miserably boring 0-0 tie, not because of no scoring ... but because the lackluster play of both Portugal and the Ivory Coast team, resulted in the goalies practically being able to fall asleep on the pitch.

[Moses Botbol]

Portugal looked like a heavyweight champion fighting with one hand tied behind their back. A miserably boring 0-0 tie, not because of no scoring ... but because the lackluster play of both Portugal and the Ivory Coast team, resulted in the goalies practically being able to fall asleep on the pitch.

Ivory Coast is no joke either. Would love to see an African team go all the way... Well only if Brazil got knocked out early.

[Marco D.]

Yeah... that Portugal v IC game was dreadful. 90 minutes of my life I can't get back.

Portugal looks bad... which doesn't surprise, given their lackluster qualification campaign against relatively easy teams.

I thought the only team they had a chance to beat in their group was North Korea, but given how they showed against Brazil... who knows...

[Luc Gauthier]

Just finished watching Brazil vs Côte d'Ivoire .
Now I know what footwork is all about .
I enjoyed the passing .
To bad the Frech ref. missed a good game .

[Marco D.]

Oh.... My.... Goodness... Just finished watching Portugal dismantle North Korea 7-0. What a complete 180 from their previous game. Friday's game against Brazil should be interesting. I wonder which Portugal is going to show up?

[Tom D.]

Roy, I'm trying to watch as much as I can. I rarely follow soccer most the time, but I appreciate watching the best in the world at ANY sport. I admit the viewing gets a little tiring sometimes, with drunken idiots blowing those freaking horns nonstop, blotting out all the real sounds of the game...

I do envy you being able to watch while in Europe. By sheer chance, I was in France twice during World Cups past, and ended up spending most of my non-working time in the local bar watching with the locals -- a real treat. Enjoy!

[Glenn E.]

Oh.... My.... Goodness... Just finished watching Portugal dismantle North Korea 7-0. What a complete 180 from their previous game. Friday's game against Brazil should be interesting. I wonder which Portugal is going to show up?

Hopefully this last one! That was quite the display, and I think it shows what Portugal is capable of even if it was only against North Korea.

[Glenn E.]

GOOOOOOOOAL!

Brilliant stop and relay by Howard in the 91st minute. Donovan got the score, but really that was all Howard.

[Eric Menchen]

Brazil was a shoe-in and Portugal was pretty sure no matter the outcome, so are we surprised by the 0-0 final? Where is the sleepy yawner emoticon?

[Marco D.]

The Brazil-Portugal game was pretty boring... but I think both teams were not pushing it as they both were going through with a draw. The Portugal/Spain match should be interesting,

Overall... the dutch look pretty dangerous...

[Andy Velebil]

The Portugal/Spain match should be interesting,

.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to this one.

[Marc J.]

After watching the Japan/Denmark game it looked as though Denmark had nothing in the way of offense and Japan made the most of their penalty kicks. I've heard that Ghana is force to be reckoned with so I'm lokking forward to seeing their next match against the United States.

Marc

[Roy Hersh]

I watched the 2nd half of the Portugal game and a bit more than that of the Spain game last night, in two different bars last night. The Portugal game was a "gimme" by Brazil allowing their Portuguese brethren an easy game, or so it seemed. The last 10 minutes was pretty darn exciting though. Spain's 2-1 victory pissed off the locals as they felt Spain should have won by a larger margin and were playing lethargic futbol.

I am not sure of the date of the Spain v. Portugal match but hope I'll be here. I have my Portugual team shirt with me, which I wore yesterday and would wear again when they play next. It would be a ballsy thing to wear that shirt in a bar, as I would be unable to sit quietly when Portugal scores, or the goalie comes up with a save. Having my wife present and seated beside me, might just save my life ...

[Roy Hersh]

Team USA vs. Ghana ... so many chances, but ultimately, failure to succeed.

[Derek T.]

As a Scotsman I know how World Cup failure feels all too well. So I empathise with my American buddies this evening. However, every cloud has a silver lining and it is now very possible that an African team will reach the Semi finals. This is a very good thing for world football and for this tournament. The fact that all African nations now seem to be getting behind Ghana is delightful to see. Can you imagine that happening in north or south American or in Europe? Not a chance.

Go Ghana!

Derek