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Here’s a good article from FIFA.com – 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ – News

FIFA.com takes a closer look at some of the hottest young properties unearthed at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The rest is here:
Ten to watch for 2014

Here’s a new article from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “The Physical Transformations Of Maradona & Dunga” . More:
The Physical Transformations Of Maradona & Dunga

A Brazilian tech company doctored these transformations for our amusement. Something which may be very simple but to the technologically unevolved (present!) still stands in the end as wonderfully cool. At least in the case of Dunga.

Diego’s (below), however, is artistic metaphor. Someone whose transformations have run the full spectrum of one human’s physical appearance capabilities; almost as though he suffered through a drug problem somewhere in the middle. A man aptly summed in roughly 30 seconds, with not a single word to be found.

The physical transformation of Maradona – Argentina’s coach from iG Internet Group on Vimeo.

More:
The Physical Transformations Of Maradona & Dunga

Here’s a new article from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “The Summer’s Next Blockbuster: “Kill Paul Octopus”” . Link:
The Summer’s Next Blockbuster: “Kill Paul Octopus”

Between being named the honorary friend of a Spanish town which holds an annual octopus festival and Russian betting syndicates attempting to purchase his special powers, Paul’s plate is getting rather full. Not just of mollusks, but of opportunities the most limelight-hungry celebrity could only dream of.

So clearly he doesn’t have time right now for such things as movies, which is why a Chinese film company was forced to cast an ‘actor’ in his stead for the upcoming “comic suspense” Kill Paul Octopus.

It’s a good thing this all hasn’t become ridiculous yet.

The Chinese comic suspense film “Kill Paul Octopus,” about the well-known German psychic octopus known for his precognitive abilities will open in China in August, ifeng.com reports.

The film was originally named as “Ran Qing Shi Jie Bei” (The Legend of World Cup), but director Xiao Jiang changed the name when an octopus in Germany named Paul predicted the results of several football matches.

“We planned several topics to shoot about, like black horses, prediction results, gambling, misjudges, terrorism and football hooligans. And we chose to shoot the prediction results when the amazing prophet Paul appeared,” said Xiao Jiang.

Xiao Jiang said they have sent invitations to the aquarium in Germany inviting Paul to attend the film premiere in China. The octopus appearing in this film is an ‘actor’ who looks similar to Paul.

Judging by the fact that they switched themes mid-filming, this obvious cinematic masterpiece has the low, low ceiling of being about as good as anything Adam Sandler has ever done.

But tell me you won’t at least sneak a peak on YouTube in late August after it’s come out just to see who exactly – besides the Germans and anyone who bet against him – is trying to kill Paul Octopus. And that, ladies and gents, is the genius behind it all.

A film destined to be so successful Paul’s agent Chris Davis – no really, he has one, even if “Chris” is really just a starfish – will be fielding calls left and right for the world’s hottest dish, whose latest celeb endeavor is buffing up his image by saving sea turtles off the coast off Greece. You really can’t make this stuff up.

It’s good to be Paul.

Link:
The Summer’s Next Blockbuster: “Kill Paul Octopus”

Here’s a new post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “U19 European Championship: Day 2 Wrapup” . Here is the original post:
U19 European Championship: Day 2 Wrapup

Spain celebrating their win over Portugal…

Spain became the first team to qualify for the semifinals on Day 2 of the U19 European Championships Group Stage.  Spain’s second consecutive win means they will feature in the semifinals for the first time since they won the tournament in 2007.  Meanwhile, Italy failed to score in their second consecutive game, Croatia failed to take advantage of an extra man against Italy, France continues their scoring streak with five more goals against Austria and Netherlands rebounded from their game 1 loss by beating England (making Group A very interesting going into Day 3).

SPAIN 2 – 1 PORTUGAL

In a rematch of the World Cup round of 16 between the two neighbors on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain once again emerged victorious.  The Portugese team was confident going into the match having beaten Spain 1-0 in the qualifying round, but couldn’t best the two goals scored by Daniel Pacheco (Liverpool).  Pacheco’s second goal, which was scored in the final minutes of overtime, was the reward of a game largely dominated by Spain not only by possession but by quality of chances as well.  Portugal can thank their goalkeeper, Tiago Maia, for keeping them in the game as he denied several promising shots by Spain in the opening minutes of the match.

CROATIA 0 – 0 ITALY

The losers of both Group B matches from Day 1 faced each other, with both sides appearing desperate for a win.  In the opening moments, Croatia looked to be leaving Italy in the dust as they got themselves into several dangerous positions- particuarly a freekick from Ozobi? and a shot Vukuši? that just barely sailed over the goal.  But, in typical Italian fashion, Italy managed to absorb the Croatian attack and slowly inched their way back into the match, despite being a man down for the last 30 minutes of normal time once left back Michelangelo Albertazzi received two yellow cards in less than 2 minutes.  The top goal scorer from qualifying, Destro, managed to force a few saves from the Croatian keeper but ultimately neither team were rewarded for their diligence and entertaining performances.

ENGLAND 0 – 1 NETHERLANDS

After losing 4-1 to France on Day 1 (including conceding an own goal), the Netherlands team definitely had something to prove in this game.  The England team being from England almost always have something to prove- especially after some harsh criticism in the press on their first game against Austria.  Given the pressure on both teams, the stage was set for an entertaining game- and though the Netherlands dominated most periods of the game, the score line is an accurate reflection of how the game felt to watch.  Throughout the game, England managed to carve out a few good opportunities, but didn’t manage to become dangerous.  While the Netherlands only had 4 attempts on goal, England didn’t manage a single shot on goal except a goal that was a ruled to be a result of a handball, voiding the equalizer.  Both England and Netherlands have the opportunity to advance – though the Netherlands will be facing almost certainly eliminated Austria while England face the group’s top side (and tournament host), France.

FRANCE 5 – 0 AUSTRIA

Two doubles by Antoine Griezmann and Alexandre Lacazette and a single effort by Enzo Reale helped to continue the winning streak France established in their Day 1 game against the Netherlands.  In the first two qualifying games, France have score 9 goals- which is 2 goals more than the sum of goals scored by their Group A competitors combined (NED=2,ENG=3,AUT=2).  So while France seem to be thriving in front of a home crowd, it remains to be seen if they can sustain both the motivation and these types of performances for the rest of the competition.  Fortunately, the U19 tournament is much shorter than senior tournaments and thus the fear of “peaking too soon” is much less dangerous.  Fans of France will be happy to know that the goal scorers in this game weren’t the only bright spots-both Mavinga (formerly Liverpool,now PSG) and Gael Kakuta were also a pleasure to watch…

Here is the original post:
U19 European Championship: Day 2 Wrapup

Here’s an interesting article from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Lack Of Goal-line Technology Strikes Again For Germany” . Read more from the original source:
Lack Of Goal-line Technology Strikes Again For Germany

Tell us if you’ve heard this story before: a ball which clearly crosses the line against Germany is not given as a goal as the Germans run out 4-1 winners in the end.

No? Didn’t think so.

This completely original plotline occurred in yesterday’s u20 Women’s World Cup – being held in Germany – match between France and Germany. It’s been difficult finding the context of this non-goal, the score and time are nowhere to be found, most definitely not on FIFA’s match report, but can we assume it was somewhere during the period Germany was up 2-1? Sounds about right.

Oh, and the referee was English (who likes literature and cats). Just whistle, look to the sky and walk away.

Read more from the original source:
Lack Of Goal-line Technology Strikes Again For Germany

Here’s a good post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Euro 2012 Qualifying Group C” . Go here to see the original:
Euro 2012 Qualifying Group C

The six teams competing in Euro 2012 qualifying group C are: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, and the Faroe Islands. Italy will be anxious to prove they are better than their horror exit from World Cup 2010, and Slovenia will have the opposite goal – to prove that their 4-point performance in their World Cup group wasn’t a one-off, and they can compete for a spot. It should be an interesting group.

Group C Fixtures:
11 August 2010: Estonia vs. Faroe Islands
3 September 2010: Estonia vs. Italy
3 September 2010: Faroe Islands v. Serbia
3 September 2010: Slovenia vs. Northern Ireland
7 September 2010: Italy vs. Faroe Islands
7 September 2010: Serbia vs. Slovenia
8 October 2010: Northern Ireland vs. Italy
8 October 2010: Serbia vs. Estonia
8 October 2010: Slovenia vs. Faroe Islands
12 October 2010: Italy vs. Serbia
12 October 2010: Faroe Islands vs. Northern Ireland
12 October 2010: Estonia vs. Slovenia
25 March 2011: Slovenia vs. Italy
25 March 2011: Serbia vs. Northern Ireland
29 March 2011: Northern Ireland vs. Slovenia
29 March 2011: Estonia vs. Serbia
3 June 2011: Faroe Islands vs. Slovenia
3 June 2011: Italy vs. Estonia
7 June 2011: Faroe Islands vs. Estonia
10 August 2011: Northern Ireland vs. Faroe Islands
2 September 2011: Faroe Islands vs. Italy
2 September 2011: Slovenia vs. Estonia
2 September 2011: Northern Ireland v. Serbia
6 September 2011: Italy vs. Slovenia
6 September 2011: Serbia vs. Faroe Islands
6 September 2011: Estonia vs. Northern Ireland
7 October 2011: Northern Ireland vs. Estonia
7 October 2011: Serbia vs. Italy
11 October 2011: Italy vs. Northern Ireland
11 October 2011: Slovenia vs. Serbia

Go here to see the original:
Euro 2012 Qualifying Group C

Here’s an interesting post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Martin Hansson Stars In Rättskiparen (The Referee)” . Excerpt from:
Martin Hansson Stars In Rättskiparen (The Referee)

In some strange turn of fate, Swedish channel SVT1 decided in early 2009 that it would behoove their nation to get a glimpse into Martin Hansson’s run up to the World Cup just finished. One year under the camera’s glare for a look into the life of Sweden’s best referee. You’ll know, of course, of the sharp turn the focus took in the late fall, when Thierry Henry handled the ball which became the goal which sent France to South Africa at the expense of Ireland. What was a simple documentary became a year in the life of the man who oversaw one of the biggest botched calls in recent footballing history.

This isn’t the first documentary about a ref, nor will it be the last, but it’s certainly very excellent – with some very curious foreshadowing – and very much worth the half-hour you had earmarked for circumventing your employer’s firewall.

Rättskiparen [The Referee] from Freedom From Choice AB on Vimeo.

Excerpt from:
Martin Hansson Stars In Rättskiparen (The Referee)

Here’s a new article from FIFA.com – 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ – News

Never out of the news, Paul the octopus held the FIFA World Cup’s only 100 per cent record and has become one of the tournament’s most sought-after stars.

Read more here:
South Africa 2010′s unlikeliest star

Here’s a new post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Will Ferrell as Jeff Vuvuzela” . Here is the original post:
Will Ferrell as Jeff Vuvuzela

The World Cup is very much over. Which means the complaints about vuvuzelas are also very much over. Or at least they should be. So who better to have the last World Cup Blog word on the whole topic than plastic horn inventor Jeff Vuvuzela, appearing at the ESPY Awards last week. Enjoy.

Here is the original post:
Will Ferrell as Jeff Vuvuzela

Here’s a good article from FIFA.com – 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ – News

Amid the feverish post-match celebrations of Spain’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands, world famous operatic tenor Placido Domingo made time for an exclusive chat with FIFA.com.

Follow this link:
Domingo: Proud to be Spanish