2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

[Speak-Ez]

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2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is finally upon us and it seems the best way to start coverage here on Speak-Ez is to provide an image that allows everyone to easily see the teams and what groups they are in.





Then it is only fitting that we provide FIFA's link here.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html

And then we must provide the link for the website in South Africa.

http://www.worldcup2010southafrica.com/

Finally, I should note that we do have many posts covering the runup to the World Cup in our Soccer/Football (Footy) Section which you may want to read. But now ...


Let the matches begin!

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[Speak-Ez]

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Now we will post the schedule of the first 48 matches.
All starting times are local.







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[CielOnTap]

Hamilton readies for World Cup fever

Immigrant population set to lead party
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 11, 2010)
Bars and restaurants will open earlier, parades will clog city streets, ethnic neighbourhoods will show their flag colours and sports clubs will host viewings, as Hamilton becomes a part of the global soccer event.

With about 70 per cent of the city's population connected to a country playing this year, a fanaticism not normally seen in Canada is spreading into all pockets of Hamilton's diverse makeup.

"The World Cup fever itself is really spearheaded by the immigration population," said McMaster business professor and volunteer soccer coach Nick Bontis. "That is one of the fundamental differences between what you see with the World Cup and what you see in the NBA and NHL championships. Those are driven by geography, whereas (with the World Cup), it is simply the ethnicity background you possess."

The most visible congregation of soccer fans will be along James Street North, where Hamilton's Italian and Portuguese communities will watch and celebrate the games in bars and social clubs. When Italy won the 2006 World Cup, police had to shut down James Street North to allow for exuberant fans to celebrate and hold an impromptu parade.http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/786576

Soccer and pubs-a winning combination. There might even be patios that can still show the game from inside the venues. Torontonians can console themselves that if they cannot be in the downtown core in late June, there are other neighbourhoods keen on having their trade.

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A death in the Mandela family is cause for sorrow today--a younger family member was killed in a car crash.

Tragedy mars World-Cup opening for Mandela
Great grand-daughter killed in crash after opening concert

June 11, 2010
Matthew Tostevin
JOHANNESBURG—Nelson Mandela’s great grand-daughter was killed in a car crash on Friday hours before the World Cup kicks off in South Africa, a tragic note amid revelry for the biggest sports event the continent has held.

Former President Mandela, 91, is credited with helping South Africa win the World Cup bid in 2004 as well as ending apartheid, and South Africans hoped he would be at the opening match between the hosts and Mexico despite his frail health.

Zenani Mandela, killed two days after her 13th birthday, was one of Mandela’s nine great-grandchildren. The car crashed after a concert by a bevy of international and local stars at a stadium in the Soweto township outside Johannesburg.The driver of the vehicle has been charged with impaired driving. http://www.thespec.com/CanadaWorld/article/786686

[fishandchips]

South Africa is 6 hours ahead of Ontario--three matches tomorrow. The English fans will be taking over the pubs for certain tomorrow! One more match coming up in 90 minutes with Uraguay. Missed the South Africa vs Mexico match--hoping for highlights or replay on one of the multicultural networks.

[Speak-Ez]

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First of all, our condolences to the Mandela family upon the death of Zenani Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s great grand-daughter.

As for the opening day's matches, it seems either the competition is evenly matched, or the opening match nervousness got to the players, or somebody isn't in the winning mood yet. Or should that be the winning mode?

Anyway, two draws to start the tournament.

South Africa vs Mexico ended in a 1-1 draw.

Seems that Rafael Marquez of Mexico equalized what was a great goal by South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala. Seems also that South Africa's goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, is bemoaning the lack of excitement shown by his country's fans. Little lame, if you ask me, to place any blame at all upon the fans. Winning spirit shouldn't rely on anyone but yours and your teammates' own desires. I'd look inward before striking out at the fans. Bad play there, Mr. Siphiwe Tshabalala, in this writer's view.

Then we have Uruguay and France ending in a 0-0 draw. Yep, no little white spere legally crossed the white line.

But we did have one notable highlight, or lowlight, Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro picked up the tournament's first red card.

I am also informed that some fans were displeased that it appeared that Uruguay played a 3-2-5 formation and on counterattacks was sending only three forwards past (Why not passed?) the midfield line. Guess whose fans were displeased?

So there we have it, two draws in the record books to open this tournament.

Now how about this for an interesting problem ― all 48 of the first matches end in draws. Anyone got odds on that happening?

And let's not forget ― again, condolences to the Mandela family.

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[Smitty]

Ciel I think your first post, is dead on as being correct, & first line reading "--Immigrant population set to lead party---" for after all to them soccar is THE important sport to immigrants, while hockey to baseball simply is not.

Please not I am not being harsh about immigrants for soccar is something they have been watching for some time & yes some have played in various teams, even if home teams or just fun teams around town, & loved the sport. When you think of it a maze of money is not spent to keep the kids in soccar teams COMPARED TO HOCKEY for so many Cdns & American parents suffer yearly.

It has been a FUN game & sport as long as they have had a ball to use. Good for them & hope that their enthusiasm also means more young people. of all types, will become some of the leading players for Canada in some yrs.

[CielOnTap]

I did manage to see South Korea score its first goal a few minutes after beginning to play in the first game today. I have to watch the outcome of that match and the Argentinian match later.

Thank goodness that CBC Sports is streaming live on their website for the England/USA match. The little portable TV does not have the signal to pick up the game. Someone told me that this game is important due to a match these two teams had in 1950--so there is some score to settle. http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Articles/2003/05/90-Year-Anniversary-Articles-Soccer-Wire-Decades-1950-59.aspx

During the South Korea-Greece match, the sound of the horns sounded like a swarm of angry insects or bees.

1-0 for England--missed that goal...

[CielOnTap]

1-1 now and England had an attack blocked on the US goal in attempting to change the score. David Beckham's watching the game from the English team side (the coaching staff gear in blue was confusing me as to which team Beckham's with).

[Smitty]

Ciel, I think that most of us realize Beckman was a ghastly waste of money by someone. For there are so many other good football players avaliable at a sensible price.

So Beckman can be on any side according to my outlook on him & the waste of money.

[CielOnTap]

I'd like to know how he scored the Yahoo deal that was announced two days ago to be the global soccer ambassador. That would explain Yahoo's little soccer image running in the top left corner of its Canada portal and an attempt to get soccer attention without being a soccer sponsor.