the kinds of football in the world: 2010 World Cup

Showing posts with label 2010 World Cup. Show all posts

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Netherlands vs Spanyol

Hot and Sexy Fans at 2010 World Cup

Germany vs Uruguay 2010 World Cup

2010 World Cup Adidas Ball

Streaming Live Football 2010 World Cup

Thursday, July 8, 2010

2010 World Cup Soccer

2010 World Cup Soccer Jersey

Watch Streaming FIFA 2010

FIFA 2010 World Cup Hand Book

Mascot for 2010 World

Thursday, June 10, 2010

1 Day To Go: Who's Winning the 2010 World Cup?

Less than 24 hours to go ...

All the hype and hoopla ends tomorrow when Mexico kicks off against host nation South Africa in the first match of the 2010 World Cup ... (check out some INCREDIBLE photos of South Africa in the run-up to tomorrow's opening match, courtesy of boston.com)

Once the ball starts rolling, it doesn't stop until someone lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy on July 11th.

So who wins it? Let's find out!

First, the groups. The teams in bold are in the order I think they'll finish.

Group A - France, Mexico, Uruguay, South Africa.
Group B - Nigeria, Argentina, South Korea, Greece.
Group C - England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia.
Group D - Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia.
Group E - Holland, Cameroon, Denmark, Japan.
Group F - Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia.
Group G - Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal, North Korea.
Group H - Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Honduras.

So, that gives us these matchups in the round of 16.
First team listed is my winner.

Argentina-France
England-Australia
Holland-Paraguay
Brazil-Chile
Nigeria-Mexico
Germany-USA
Italy-Cameroon
Spain-Ivory Coast

That gives us these quarterfinal matchups. Same as before. Winner goes first.

England-Argentina
Brazil-Holland
Germany-Nigeria
Spain-Italy

Ok, semifinals. Same rules as before.

Brazil-England
Spain-Germany

The Final pits Spain against Brazil.

Wow ... imagine that matchup. The two favorites fighting it out for the championship of the world!!!

The winner?

SPAIN

I can't wait! Let's get this started!!
See you soon!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Where to Watch the 2010 World Cup in New York City

So you're in New York and you're looking for your World Cup fix ... where do you go?

If you can't make it to South Africa, New York City isn't a bad place to be.

Just about every country in the world is represented in the city's five boroughs. The city will certainly be bustling during the world's greatest sporting event.

So where do you go?

First on the list is the bar 'Where Football is Religion' - the great Nevada Smith's in the East Village.

Bar manager/football minister Jack Keane will graciously take care of you, showing the matches on 15 high-definition TV screens that line the bar's walls and a 12-foot projection screen in the rear.

This is my local and I love it. Make sure to see me there.

But let's say you're craving something different ... where to?

Some suggestions abound ...

First off, the Huffington Post has '25 Bars to Watch 25 Days of Soccer' in New York City. Make sure to check out places such as The Red Lion, which is also a great music venue in the evenings; Eight Mile Creek, an Australian restaurant/bar and Floyd's in Brooklyn, which also has a great bocce court. Addresses and pictures are provided on the link!

Next, the New York Daily News has suggestions on great places to watch the matches.
How about Madiba, a South African restaurant in Brooklyn? Or Zum Schneider, the German beer garden in the East Village?

Let's not forget Mr. Dennehy's in the West Village, home of the Real Madrid supporter's club and maker of great hamburgers!

Jeez, some great places already!!

But there's more!!

Time Out New York is not to be outdone, with their list of places to watch the great tournament!

If you're a USA fan, how about heading to Dempsey's downtown?

As TONY says:

This convivial Irish pub has been slowly gaining a loyal following of East Village soccer fans, and it plans to make the World Cup its official coming-out party. Every game of the tourney will be shown live on eight HD screens, and the morning games (which begin at 7:30am) will be accompanied by full audio—no one needs U2 that early—and breakfast specials. The boozing comes cheap too: Cash in on $3 pints and $10 pitchers of Coors Light throughout the competition, as well as $3 shots to calm your nerves during the nail-biting moments.

Count me in!!

And if you want a virtual stadium experience? (Only in New York, people!) Check out PlayBeautiful.

This pop-up space is looking to re-create a stadium atmosphere, with 70 flip seats facing two projector screens. It’s free, but you need to book your tickets in advance through its website. Don’t worry if your team loses: World Cup cakes from How Sweet It Is bakery will cheer you up, as will copping a T-shirt from the retro FIFA Collection ($25–$70). PlayBeautiful is the only shop in the city to stock these designs from yesteryear’s World Cups; a gentler time when World Cup Willie didn’t have an alternative meaning.

You're in Brooklyn and don't want to hike to New York City?

Besides the places I've mentioned, how about Woodwork which just opened up in Prospect Heights? An awesome space.

Then there's the Black Horse Pub in Park Slope, one of my personal favorites. An official partner bar of the World Cup, the Black Horse is kicking off the Cup with an opening-day party at 6pm, offering $4 pints, fish and chips specials, and the chance to win signed English football jerseys and two tickets to an upcoming Red Bull-LA Galaxy game. The deals continue with $4 Radeberger pints throughout the Cup. And the bar will open early enough to show every game.

And that's without listing the great Brazilian and Portuguese restaurants in Newark, NJ and the wonderful African enclaves in Brooklyn and Harlem and the list goes on and on and on ...

Any other suggestions? Please let me know or post them in the comments section!! Let's share this tournament with the world!

2 Days To Go: How to Stay Safe in South Africa

2 days to go! Can we just fast forward to Friday?

Today, some scary news out of the host country South Africa as three foreign World Cup journalists were robbed at gunpoint early on Wednesday morning.

According to ESPN Soccernet, the three journalists escaped the ordeal unhurt, although they were a bit shaken.

Portuguese photographer Antonio Simoes was woken early in the morning by two men entering his room at the Nutbush Boma Lodge outside of Magaliesburg and two other reporters were also robbed at the same hotel.

"One of the guys pointed a hand gun at my head, and then they took all my gear - cameras, lenses, laptop," Simoes said. "Then they told me to lie on the bed and they covered me with a blanket, pressed the gun against my head and told me to sleep.

"The whole thing took one or two minutes, but it felt like hours."

There's fear that crime will run rampant in South Africa while the World Cup ensues.

So how does one stay safe should they be traveling there to watch the world's greatest sporting event?

Here, some tips from the Christian Science Monitor, provided by Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies and from the South African Police Service.

1. Don’t advertise that you are a stranger in town. Criminals look for those who may seem fearful or unfamiliar with an area, or who may not know to take certain precautions, such as putting your wallet in your front pocket, rather than in the back pocket. Try to get directions from people you can trust, such as hotel staff, police officers, or store personnel. If someone is pestering you, politely refuse to take their help, and keep moving toward your destination or to a place of safety.

2. Hide the bling. You may have beautiful taste in watches or jewelry, but South Africans know to wear costume jewelry, if they wear any at all. Keep most of your valuables (including passport, cameras, etc.), locked away either in a hotel safe or locked in your bags at the hotel room. If you are withdrawing money from a bank, stand close to the automatic teller machine to obscure the view of others on how much you are taking out.

3. Travel in groups. There are areas that are safer than others in South Africa, as in any major city of the world. But you can still pay visits to historic monuments in South Africa – many of which are in older, urban areas – or to poorer townships such as Soweto and Alexandra, if you travel in a group organized by a tour operator recommended by your hotel.

4. Listen to locals. Ask the concierge or manager of your hotel or guesthouse for recommendations of what to see and when it is safe to travel. Many restaurants and nightclubs are clustered in areas that are generally safe, but it is always good to take the advice of local people on where to visit and when it is safest to return home.

5. Stay alert for carjackers. In most cases, it is the car that is the target and not the drivers or passengers. If you find yourself facing a gunman, simply get out of your car and hand over the keys without argument or delay. If you are being followed by someone who appears to be acting suspiciously, try to drive to the nearest police station, or to a public place like a shopping mall where there may be more protection and visibility.

6. Watch for “smash and grab” robberies. Try to keep valuables such as cellphones, purses, computer laptops, or other valuables out of sight, or better yet, locked away in the trunk of the car. Again, if you are the victim of a smash and grab, do not add to your risk by resisting the robber.

For more tips, check out the South African Police Service’s website.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to World Cup 2010 on the Web

This is a cool guide to the 2010 World Cup on the web, courtesy of First and Goal.

You'll find links to relevant news sites, wikis, games, phone apps, video sites and Twitter accounts!

Is that enough for you?!?

Make sure to check out the link and bookmark it. It's one you'll be going back to often during the World Cup.

Friday, May 28, 2010

14 Days to Go: Almost There!

14 days away!

Two weeks to go until the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa! Can you believe it? Time flies when you're having fun.

South Africa v. Mexico opens the biggest sporting event in the world in two weeks time and I'm wondering: Will the casual fan watch?

Now I know many people could care less about soccer/football in the United States. But this is the World Cup. This is as big as it gets.

Even the soccer hater has to at least gaze at the TV screen to see how the Italys and Brazils of the world are doing, no?

Even someone who doesn't understand the 1st thing about the 'Beautiful Game' must want to know what the hub bub is about, eh?

Ahh, what do I know?

What I DO know is that I can't wait ... two weeks away!!!!

Today's Tidbits

1 - How will the host country do at the 2010 World Cup? South Africa have been widely tipped for World Cup humiliation but Carlos Alberto Parreira has forged a new team spirit, according to David Smith of the Guardian.

2 - Jose Mourinho is the new coach of Real Madrid. Yawn.

3 - Meet the soccer studs of the 2010 World Cup. This one's for the ladies.

4 - Who are the top 10 teams to never win the World Cup? Holland? '82 Brazil?

5 - France will host Euro 2016. Road to 2016 Euro, anyone?

What I Think I Think

Days after Argentina coach/Greatest Player of All-time Diego Maradona promised to run naked through the streets of Buenos Aires should his country win the Cup, more salacious news from the South American power.

Now, word that the Argentina team is allowed to have sex with their wives and girlfriends during the World Cup.

Joy!

It's common practice to sequester players during a tournament. Honestly, who wants athletes wasting energy on their significant others when they should be trying to win matches?

Apparently that's not the thinking of the Argentinians.

"The players can have sex with their wives and girlfriends during the World Cup," Dr. Donato Vallani said on Radio Del Plata (via AP). "Players are not Martians."

But the doctor did have one set of restrictions, saying the players' sex "should not be at 2 a.m. with champagne and Havana cigars."

So what would his words to former President Bill Clinton be?