World Cup Fans
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 07:06
Written by Urbanatomy

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Pictures of last weekend football fans, out to support Australia and Ghana, by Phoebe Wu

World Cup Fans
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 04:06
Written by Zippy

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“Cometh the hour, cometh the man” but just as 9^th century Anglo Saxons experienced, so did the Slovaks yesterday with cometh the 93^rd minute, cometh the Viking - Winston Reid.

Now, in footballing terms I can’t recall a famous Winston (normally reserved to a British statesman) and as for the footballing Reids of this world Peter Reid is well known for jogging alongside Maradona in Mexico (and being associated with the missing link between man and monkeys) while journeyman Andy Reid is better known for his consumption of pies than footballing prowess,  but now there is a new hero in NZ and he comes in the form of Winston Reid.

In a World Cup that has lacked many moments to get you out of your seat, Reid’s last minute header off the post got every Kiwi in the room at The Camel off their seats, even if it was in sheer bewilderment that the All Whites had actually scored in a World Cup against far higher ranked opposition and had secured their first point at a World Cup ever in their history. To put Tuesday's performance into perspective, New Zealand had only ever beaten European opposition three times in 28 attempts.

In a game of pedestrian football and very little creativity, the wheels fell off the Slovaks at the death - after they had appeared midway through the second half to be getting the better of the Kiwis. Even if the Slovak goal was shown on replay to be offside the Kiwis had shown very little up front after the first 15 minutes and after the Slovak goal that sinking feeling was beginning to set in. However, the Slovak’s attack wasn’t much better and if both teams had had 6 shots at John Lennon he’d still be alive today.

With both teams showing the imagination of a B porn storyline, the sun was setting on the 1-0 Slovakia win and then in the 87^th minute (I called it) NZ’s Shane Smeltz missed a golden opportunity with a clear cut header from a perfect cross. Hearts sank, but suddenly there was a glimmer of hope for NZ and air of vulnerability amongst the Slovaks defence. And then, in a bizarre play 5 minutes later, deep into stoppage time, centre-forward Smeltz turned from villain to hero to provide an enticing cross for right back Reid to tuck away his header in off the post. Why the right back was in the box and not the centre forward we’ll never know. Get in and I love you Winston Reid, I love Denmark’s FC Midtjylland youth system, and I love Slovakia for producing better female models than male football players. 

Italy here we come - be prepared for another hard on the eyes footballing experience.

World Cup Fans
Thursday, 03 June 2010 09:06
Written by Wole Omole

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Another installment of our World Cup Fanzone, where we catch up with Shanghai-based fans of each nation to find out about their loves and loathes, expectations for the summer, highs and lows from yesteryear, what they'll be singing and where they'll be singing it, and which of their heroes is ultimately going to blow it.

Out Super Eagle is football mad man about town, Wole Omole

FIFA World Ranking: 21st
Odds: 125/1
Nickname: Super Eagles (formerly Green Eagles of Nigeria but got elevated to rank of Super Eagles after the African Nations Cup conquest of Tunisia 94)
Qualified: Top of Africa Group B
Group B: Argentina / Nigeria / South Korea / Greece

Greatest moment: Our first world cup appearance in USA 94 where, inspired by such names as Yekini, Amokachi, Amuneke and George, the Super Eagles almost made it to quarter final stage but for a controversial loss to Italy in the second round stage.

We don’t want to talk about it: Ironically for the Super Eagles, our greatest and worst moments were experienced simultaneously! Like a great love movie that ends in a tragedy... imagine having leading Italy by one goal to nil up until the 90th minute of play and then the referee awards a dubious, controversial penalty. The only time in my life that football made me cry!

World Cup Fans
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 10:06
Written by Zippy

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I was about to begin with many clichés describing how the wait is now over and what an important day it is for NZ football, but is seems TVNZ has beaten me too it – “After months of preparation, the day where the 2010 All Whites take to football's biggest stage is finally upon us.” Press team interviews have had not much else to report so at least the arrival of this day will end banal NZ media commentary, with reporters - faced with of a lack of content - having sunk to news depths by quoting Chris Killen complaining about pre-match meals and the state of stadium showers.

I’d like to have said I was kept up all night with feverish anticipation but sadly methinks it was more a combination of the laziji and bangbang chicken at Dishuidong for dinner.

World Cup Fans
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 09:06
Written by Tabo Medina

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Another installment of our World Cup Fanzone, where we catch up with Shanghai-based fans of each nation to find out about their loves and loathes, expectations for the summer, highs and lows from yesteryear, what they'll be singing and where they'll be singing it, and which of their heroes is ultimately going to blow it.

FIFA World Ranking: 38th
Odds: 1000/1
Nickname: Los Catrachos / La “H”
Qualified: Third in CONCACAF Group
Group H: Spain / Switzerland / Honduras / Chile

Greatest Moment: The 1982 World Cup in Spain, and under the watchful eye of then coach Jose de la Paz, Los Catrachos surprised the world by drawing 1-1 with the hosts and then with Northern Ireland, before exiting the tournament after conceding a late goal in a 1-0 defeat by the former Yugoslavia.

We don’t want to talk about it: Not making it to the nextsix World Cups after Spain 82.

Who we hate: In CONCACAF, of course Mexico. In the World Cup… the other 31 teams.

Sing your hearts out for the lads: "Adelante selección, pongan garra y corazón, entusiasmo y decision"
("Forward national team put claw and heart enthusiasm and determination")

Star Man: Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Wilson Palacios.

One to Watch: Striker Georgie Welcome who plays for local team Motagua - he's got four goals in his 14 games for the national team.

Bad Boy: Attacking midfielder and free kick specialist “Rambo” Julio Cesar de Leon. He's falling out with the coach before, but he'll be there in the World Cup.

Boy Blunder: That would be El Pery Martinez.

Heart Throb: That would be Carlos Pavon - he's even tried his luck in the music scene!

So what are our chances: Life is “Full of Surprises”. Un Pais, una pasion, five estrellas en el corazon. (One Country, one passion, five stars in the heart.)