The other side of the World Cup
- 22 Jun 06, 09:51 AM
LEIPZIG - verses never looked like a match which would live long in the memory and the quality of the football in the Zentralstzadion means it certainly won't, but it at least showed that even in the cut-throat, mercenary world football now chooses to live in, the Olympian ideal of simply taking part re-sufaces now and again.
Iran were already out but it didn't stop thousand of their fans clogging up Leipzig's pretty market places at lunchtime, while Angola had a slim chance of beating Mexico into second place but in their heart of hearts they seemed to know they weren't going to be good enough.
Even when the goals starting flying into the Mexican net Angola refused to alter their tactics based around a five-man midfield but their fans - all decked out in the national colours of red, black and yellow - didn't seem to mind. to see your team play at the World Cup perhaps the style of play doesn't really matter but should the team have rewarded those who'd make such a long and expensive trip from the West African coast with a bit more ambition?
Ze Kalanga clearly thought so. His lives in a house in without electricity or running water so can perhaps appreciate the sacrifices made to get to Germany. His dash down the right and perfect cross was headed in by Flavio. Cue estactic scenes as Angola scored their first goal where it really matters.
For 15 mad minutes the miracle looked possible but Iran punctured the optimism with a poorly defended equaliser and that was that.
Both teams go home but neither ended with no points which for most of the supporters in Leipzig was reason for celebration in itself.
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This is the single greatest thing about the World Cup.
A war torn country and another in the political news for all the wrong reasons in the same competition as all the major footballing countries (Russia aside).
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Agreed with the post from followingengland that the World Cup is such a great unifying event. It's such a great shame though that we have to rely on the likes of the World Cup to bring this kind of unity and friendship about, when citizens from countries across the globe get together and have such a great time. Perhaps someone should start the World Political Cup where the wealthiest and most affluent nations get awarded points for helping out their more financially impoverished counterparts, and points deducted for going back on original promises?! As for England's progress in the World Cup itself, I'd be genuinely amazed if they got as far as the semis, really I would.
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Just wanted to mention that Angola is in Southern Africa, not West Africa as Nigel Adderley claimed in the weblog.
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I was at a beach bar in Luanda to watch the match with a large crowd of flag waving and whistle blowing Angolans. The whole match was a pure samba party and the place erupted when Angola scored. Even after Iran equalised the DJ encouraged the crowd to bouce back with some clapping and chanting. At the end although Angola were out of the world cup you wouldn't have known it and it looked like the party had only just began!
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I have just been at 3 games in the world cup. The atmosphere was something I never imagined it could be. The iranians were almost inline with the english support, countries unified in celebration before and after each game. The photos I have taken convey what it was like, also managed to see Prince William ! See them at www.benspage.co.uk/worldcup
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I've worked in Angola for almost 7 years - & have witnessed first hand the challenges & adversity this society faces on a daily basis. They are only just emerging from a cholera epidemic that has claimed over 1600 dead.
To witness the unrestrained joy, pleasure & hope that this world cup run has brought to the people has been humbling; but also an immense honour. Most of them have nothing; but they are still able to achieve happiness & unity. Like all African nations in the competition, they are emerging with pride & dignity.
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I have just been at 3 games in the world cup. The atmosphere was something I never imagined it could be. The iranians were almost inline with the english support, countries unified in celebration before and after each game. The photos I have taken convey what it was like, also managed to see Prince William ! See them at www.benspage.co.uk/worldcup
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Having just come back from 3 worldcup games. I saw the support in Frankfurt for the Iran-Portugal game. I never expected so much support for the iranians even when their team lost. I have posted some photos from the worldcup here:
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Just wanted to point out that Angola is in Southern Africa, not West Africa
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I think English reporters are living in self delusion to suggest england as a favourite to the world cup. The goals against trinidad and tobaggo was publicised as a recent wonder of the world. Iam sure they can not beat Iran that was supposed to make up the number as Niggel wrote.How I wish they were placed in argentina group to see their obvious deficency exposed. As for African countries, some of them were victims of bad officiating that is so rampant in this tournament. All in all they held their own despite their poor level of human and financial resources which actually is a product of European colonization in the immediate past.
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Angola had trained to play as a defensive team in the World Cup. And they got what they worked on hardly.The sadest part of it is that this is just not good enough to win anything and to go anywhere.
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Angola had a chance but Iran had nothing to lose and there was no reason to fell depressed as it was a world cup match. It is true that Angola fans have done a great job as they managed to come to Germany in spite of having some internal problem in their country but I do not think that Angola players could play better because in world cup match everybody wants to give his best and they also did it but they failed because they are new and need to have more experience. Iran also played great and attacking football.
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I agree that the world cup is probably the most unifying sporting event in the world. At my high school here in southern Ontario, Canada, I can walk down the halls and see kids in Brazil, Italia, Ghana, Poland, France, England jerseys. But the best part of it is that I can talk to people I've never met before about Cote d'Ivoire's amazing game, or Michael Owen going down after only a minute. Plus, we all support our friend's teams as well as our own!
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I agree that the world cup is probably the most unifying sporting event in the world. At my high school here in southern Ontario, Canada, I can walk down the halls and see kids in Brazil, Italia, Ghana, Poland, France, England jerseys. But the best part of it is that I can talk to people I've never met before about Cote d'Ivoire's amazing game, or Michael Owen going down after only a minute. Plus, we all support our friend's teams as well as our own!
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could you please tell me what happens to all the used footballs after each game.
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Bravo! Germany Win!!! I m enjoy to watch world cup 2006. All countries went to join for friendship and honestly games. But for the last two games I and my friends was shocked what is going on.
1. Germany : Argentina 1:1,( 4:2) Seems like referees are blind (recommend watch this game carefully). Yellow cards enough only for Argentineans players.
2. Ukraine : Switzerland 0:0, (0:3) (was wonder for Ukrainian team stay strong ). Referees must not be any more on the field.
We disagree with referee鈥檚 decisions. And hopefully 鈥渇ifa鈥 find much better way than big business;
Another case we don鈥檛 want to watch setup games.
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Bravo! Germany Win!!! I m enjoy to watch world cup 2006. All countries went to join for friendship and honestly games. But for the last two games I and my friends was shocked what is going on.
1. Germany : Argentina 1:1,( 4:2) Seems like referees are blind (recommend watch this game carefully). Yellow cards enough only for Argentineans players.
2. Ukraine : Switzerland 0:0, (0:3) (was wonder for Ukrainian team stay strong ). Referees must not be any more on the field.
We disagree with referee鈥檚 decisions. And hopefully 鈥渇ifa鈥 find much better way than big business;
Another case we don鈥檛 want to watch setup games.
Complain about this post