When The Telegraph ran a headline proclaiming that it is ‘virtually certain’ some England fans will die in South Africa, we were intrigued to discover the source of this frightening oxymoronic phrase. After closer inspection, it turns out the journalist was actually quoting his own words from the sub-headline, and the ‘virtually certain to die’ phrase appears nowhere in the actual article.
A solid effort from The Telegraph, but shouldn’t this kind of unsubstantiated and borderline xenophobic scaremongering be left to The Daily Mail?
At the time of Fabio Capello’s appointment, a Spanish acquaintance of The Spoiler balked in fear, for he knew that the Italian would give the Three Lions their best chance of winning a trophy since the seventies.
Fast forward two years, and it looks like our amigo was right.
Inheriting a group of players who mostly looked like they didn’t care much for the spectacle of international football (we’re looking at you, Stevie G), Capello has created an air of confidence that has led to a 100 per cent record and the highest goal tally in European World Cup qualification.
It’s very easy to get swept up in the hype of England’s recent rude health, but in most positions, it feels like they can match any of the world’s top nations player-for-player.
So, can England finally bring football home next summer, or are capello’s men still not fit to topple the big boys in a major tournament? Votes and comments below, please…
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The constant droning foghorn din that was audible during every single Confederations Cup match was the result of an instrument known as a vuvuzela. The noisy plastic trumpets are very popular in South Africa, and are often blown by home fans in a frantic attempt to “kill off” the opposition.
Not only are they irritating, but they could also be used as a weapon, and perhaps a cynical instrument of marketing by opportunist companies who plaster their logos all over them.
After crashing out to the USA amidst a deafening chorus, Xabi Alonso made his views on the vuvuzela clear:
“I think they should be banned. We’re used to when people shout but not to this trumpet noise which doesn’t allow you to concentrate and is unbearable.”
Alonso’s Spanish team-mates obviously didn’t share his opinions, as these pictures from Madrid Airport show. Fernando Torres must have been a particular fan of the insufferable noise, as he was proudly carrying two of them on his trolley.
Many have asked for vuvuzelas to be banned during World Cup 2010, but in-touch-with-the-people FIFA President Sepp Blatter opposes the idea, saying we should not try and “Europeanise” the World Cup.
*We apologise for the thoroughly crappy modifications made to the top pic. Blame ONTD for that.
The reaction of the American media to their national side ending Spain’s 35-game unbeaten streak may have been unbearable but it would have been just as bad - if not worse - over here if England had done it. The USA have made this pretty meaningless tournament worth watching and they will fancy their chances of winning it after seeing Brazil stumble past South Africa last night in the other semi-final. The bookies don’t though and some of the trends identified by our friends at chickendinner make it easy to see why:
1. Brazil have won 14 of their 15 matches against USA (one after extra-time). The USA’s one win over the holders came in the 1998 Gold Cup Final, with former Everton winger Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic scoring the winner.
2. USA haven’t scored against Brazil in three previous Confederations Cup meetings, with Dunga’s side beating them 1-0 in 1999 and 2003 and winning 3-0 against them last Thursday.
Spain 0/ USA 2
It’s lucky for Spain that no one really cares about the Confederations Cup, otherwise last night’s defeat to the USA would rank as one of the biggest international upsets in recent memory.
Last night, the Americans ended La Furia Roja’s 35-game unbeaten run and 15-game winning streak with a solid performance, helped by some woeful defending. If Sergio Ramos can pull himself away from the mirror long enough, he should watch that second goal a few times. Even a schoolboy wouldn’t take a touch inside the six yard box in that situation.
Congrats all the same to the USA, who will now face either Brazil or South Africa at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Park on Sunday.
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