Showing posts with label FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010. Show all posts

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Monday, July 12, 2010

How was your World Cup experience...? What did you think of the Final...?

At the start of last night's Soccer World Cup final, I really was indifferent in terms of who I wanted to lift the trophy.
As the game progressed, however, it became increasingly apparent how dirty the Dutch were playing.
Sure they play a more "physical" game - I get that, but guys this is soccer, not rugby.

I also felt that all the cards that were handed out were justified - well done Howard Webb.
I had the chance to see Howard Webb in action at the Italy - Slovakia game as well, and I must say that the man has significant presence on the field.
To keep it together under immense pressure from 22 pumped up players on a volatile field (and 90 000 crazed fans!!), is a feat to be admired and a job which I must say, it takes a brave man to do.

Viva Espana and Viva Howard Webb!


Zakumi, the official mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

Well done South Africa - we hosted a kick-ass World Cup, we silenced all the doomsday prophets and changed perceptions worldwide.
I don't think that we even fully realize the process of transformation that has been put in motion in our country as a result of this massive event...

As one of the ushers at Soccer City was chanting to the queue at the Rea Vaya station: "Forwards ever, backwards never!"

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The FIFA debate continues...

Between radio, TV, people around me and media in general, one of the main topics that is currently on tongue-tips seems to be the errors and controversial decisions that the FIFA refs are making during this soccer world cup.

Yup, you know all about it by now - I was going to put up the FIFA logo here but I dare not, for fear of persecution à la Kulula...!

The bottom line is that there have been some shocker decisions in games played during this world cup - sure it's nothing new. Refs are human, and they miss things, or they get it wrong sometimes.
Soccer aficionados will be quick to point out that "it has always been like that",
or "that's just the way the game is"...

Come on - if "that's just the way the game is", then why bother even watching?
Why bother supporting a sport which is clearly unfair?
The other argument is that the use of technology in the game to assist refs "would not stay true to the game..." or some other generic bull.
Honestly, this is the frikkin FIFA WORLD CUP guys! This is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet and FIFA can't pull their finger out to make the sport credible?

Here's a thought - FIFA should use a panel of TV-refs, and for every suspected goal scored, the ref gets a message in his earpiece - goal / no goal. End of story.
Forget fouls, penalties and the like - purely for goals. At the end of the day goals are probably the most controversial point here - need I even mention the Germany vs. England game this weekend...? :)

Friday, June 25, 2010

Italy vs. Slovakia in pictures... thoughts on the match?


So Italy is on their way home after a dismal performance at the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

All in all Italy did not put on the much-anticipated performance of the World Champion Azzurri team that took the trophy in 2006.
They did not really shape up in the first half, and only kicked into gear once they were 2-0 down!
We had some superb seats, and had the privilege of being positioned right behind the Italian bench - a great spot from which to watch a nervously-pacing Buffon... :)

Granted, again - Italy did not play well and did not really deserve to go through. Even so, a fair dig must be made at the Slovakia keeper, who messed around a great deal (that's putting it nicely) during the second half especially.
From rolling on the ground for no apparent reason (with an impatient ref hovering above him, ordering him up), to frolicking around in the corner of the net after the second Italian goal, to generally wasting huge wads of time (yes yes I know that this is just "part of the game"), from my perspective at least, his performance was decidedly un-sporting and unprofessional.
I have seen replays of the alleged "punch in the face" in the Slovakian goals - sure the punch did not look quite strong enough to floor the Italian player, but watching the game live from the sidelines, you could sense that the goalie was just doing his best to stuff around, for want of a more insulting term to use.

Again, soccer lovers out there will be quick to point out that all of this is, and always has been a part of the game of soccer, but it sure is a bitter pill to have to swallow when your team are on the receiving end.
So it's Buon Viaggio to the Azzurri, and congratulations to Slovakia :)

Here are a few snaps I took while at the action-packed game:
Early birds... the place was empty when we got there :)

Canavarro and the boys checking out the pitch before the game.

Singing their songs...


Marchetti warming up, not that it did him any good...


Buffon looking confident for his team... before the game that is!


Pirlo on the field before the game.


Lippi offers up some advice to Fabio Quagliarella at half time.


The eyes say it all... the Italian bench was a picture of despair towards the end of the game.


Too little, too late, as Pirlo warms up to try and salvage the game for the Azzurri...


Buffon leaning heavily on the drinks bin as he watches his boys go down.


2nd-Half action.


Last minute action...


It's almost over as Buffon and Gatusso share a few (nervous) words...


Pointing into the air 'aint gonna change nothing Mr. Gatusso!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Even the Google Streetview guy is blowing a Vuvuzela...!

By now it is old takkie that Google Streetview is active in JHB and elsewhere in South Africa (and the world of course).

Google are always on top of their game, and in the spirit of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, their little guy who you drag around in Streetview is even blowing a red Vuvuzela!

Check it out - bottom right of the picture:

Monday, June 21, 2010

I got me a Flag Tag!

You got a what? A Flag Tag - that's what!

It's that hovering South African flag that floats up at the top left of my blog - it just helps to "spread the feva!", as they say on www.flagtag.co.za. :)

Head on over there to get your own Flag Tag now - you can choose a Flag Tag for any of the countries competing in the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. 

Super cool!

Watch how the ref "asks" Luis Fabiano if he handled the ball in last night's game...!

Soccer City was abuzz last night in the match between Brazil and Ivory Coast, and I was very lucky to have been there.
Watching Brazil play is always a treat, but I watched a Youtube video this morning which shows the ref smiling and actually asking Luis Fabiano if he handled the ball in order to score his goal...(after the goal had been awarded)!

This kinda makes you wonder what the heck is going on?
The ref must have at least suspected that there was a handball, if he actually took the time to jokingly ask Luis Fabiano if a handball was involved...?

Don't get me wrong - Brazil were the better team by far and the totally deserved to win, but incidents like this cast an interesting light on the referees and linesmen who actually control the game.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The coolest online 2010 World Cup Calendar...

Click the link below - someone with a serious amount of time put this gem together to follow all the games, teams, venues and dates in the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup:

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

Monday, June 14, 2010

Did you know that you can collect your World Cup tickets at OR Tambo International Airport...?

I was cringing at the prospect of heading into Sandon this week to collect my World Cup tickets... Apparently the queues there have been the stuff of nightmares.

Then yesterday I heard a useful tip, that there is an un-documented FIFA ticket collection point at the OR Tambo International Airport!
Not entirely convinced, I called the airport last night and they confirmed that this is in fact true.

So I headed over to the airport this morning, and in all of about 10 minutes I was on my way out, smile on face and tickets in hand!
So if you want to save yourself a bit of "Sandton stress", head to OR Tambo International Airport and go to International Arrivals (the huge circular area with the giant soccer ball hanging overhead).
Then get in the lift and go up to level 2. As you exit the lift, you will see the FIFA ticketing signs on the opposite side of the level.
If you purchased your tickets with a credit card, or if you have the barcoded card which came with the application form, all you have to do is scan your card and your tickets are printed straight away.

Now aren't you glad you read this before you wasted a day queueing in Sandton? :)

Google Streetview is alive and well in Johannesburg... even on cellphones!

Almost everyone has heard about Google Streetview by now - and if you haven't, it is Google's way of peeping into backyards all over the world :)
Basically Google sent out a whole lot of Google vehicles with special 360-degree roof-mounted cameras, to take photos of roads and highways in various areas of the world. 
As far as I know they started off in the USA of course, and then moved onto Europe.

More recently, and in time for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, Google invaded South Africa with the result that most of Johannesburg is now available to view using Google Maps.
I tried out the Google Maps mobile app, and the results were spectacular. 
No matter which road I chose in JHB, whether a major highway or a tiny back road, Streetview popped up in all it's glory, revealing Johannesburgers going about their daily lives while Google stealthily went about their way, imaging every piece of road in the city that they could access.

Interestingly, all vehicle number plates are blurred out, as is all vehicle branding, as far I could see anyway.

In the spirit of the World Cup, I took these cellphone screenshots of Google spying on Soccer City...

...and these near OR Tambo International Airport (that's the new Gautrain track overhead).

Did you notice the shadow in the last pic? It clearly shows the upright camera atop the Google vehicle.
Can you imagine the amount of work / logistics / effort that went into this? 

Google just continues to amaze... what's next I wonder?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Just in case you didn't get to see Sandton today at 12:00...

It was a crazy, crazy day today in Jo'burg... and that is one MOERSE understatement :) (if you are not sure what "MOERSE" means, click here to find out :))

12:00 today heralded the arrival of an absolute flood of noise, as the whole city gorged itself on a Vuvuzela orgy... for want of a better description!
No matter where you were, Vuvu's were audible all round - isn't it just awesome??

Sandton, I am told (for I was too faint-of-heart to brave it :)) was insane, and if you needed to get anywhere near Sandton today, it was simply not going to happen.
The cause of the all the commotion of course, was a Bafana Bafana street parade, attracting thousands of loyal supporters who wanted to show their dedication to the national team.

In case you have not already seen the many photos doing the rounds, check these out:



Bafana Bafana are to face Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup this Friday, at 16:00 (GMT +2).
The game will be played at Soccer City in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

FIFA still offline for ticket sales...

So I spent the better part of this morning playing the waiting game at several FNB branches - some had no ticket application forms, others had forms but it was no use since the FIFA ticketing system has been offline the whole day.
I wonder if any tickets at all have been sold today?
FNB Park Meadows ran out of these babies... not good when you have a horde of soccer-crazed fans at your door!

After witnessing some "mob-mentality" style tactics at FNB Park Meadows (people went crazy when they realised there were only 25 ticket application forms available... first grab first get :)), I decided to head off elsewhere before it got too hectic.
Waiting my turn @ FNB Park Meadows

...and more waiting...

Thankfully things were more civilized in Primrose, where the FNB staff even brought out mints and cooldrinks for those of us patiently waiting for FIFA to get their butts out of the gutter...
FNB staff served cooldrinks to patient ticket-wanting-customers :)



Kudos to FNB for trying to ease what could become a tense situation - people get pretty worked up around events like this, especially when their prized tickets are on the line.

The system went online for literally about 4 seconds, and everybody sprang up as if Bafana Bafana had just scored the winner in the Final... and then it all died again :)

Fun times! :)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

100 days to go... and so we update our Nybbles and Bytes Poll :)

So today marks 100 days until the kick-off of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa, and we are all totally stoked and gearing up for the most amazing time ever!
Soccer shirts everywhere, South African flags flying high and all that :)

I'm not going to expand on the exhausing amount of press around the "100 day countdown" today, but what I have done is create a new poll on my blog - check it out on the right, and have your say about the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.

Are you a doomsday prophet who believes that the World Cup 2010 spells disaster for our 3rd-World malaria-infested jungle...? ;)
Or perhaps you are a bit more upbeat about the event, and think that it holds huge potential for South Africa, in terms of uplifting the country and getting all of our systems up to where they should be on the international stage...

Go on - vote now - let's see what people really think :)
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Grab your inverter now and be prepared for Load Shedding!

Shop HP Printers here!

Low on ink? Shop Genuine HP Ink and Toner here!

Shop Targus laptop bags, USB hubs, accessories and gadgets here!

Popular Posts