The greatest sporting event on earth
- 2 Jul 06, 10:26 AM
Just what is it about the World Cup? Why does it inspire people to travel around Germany in a smelly campervan for a month throwing personal hygiene to the (down) wind?
Why do fans die their hair their national colours and wear silly costumes? Surely that chainmail worn by England fans dressed as St George must chafe?
I've spotted several examples of people acting rather strangely and explaining it away with: "It was the World Cup that made me do it." Grass verges across Germany have been littered with slumbering fans prepared to crash anywhere just to be there. One guy got so swept up all the emotion that he proposed to his girlfriend in a motoway layby in Germany live on UK radio station ±«Óãtv Radio Five Live.
We want to hear from you about what you've been through in the name of the World Cup whether you've travelled to Germany or have been watching it at home. What is it that makes the World Cup the greatest sporting event on earth and what lengths have you gone to to make sure you've taken part?
Have you wrestled the television remote control from your other half to watch that absorbing clash between Switzerland and Ukraine? Or just how much money have you been prepared to pay for a ticket to see your team?
We're on the final stretch of the tournament now - just four matches to go then it's all over for another four years. So we're also interested in finding out how you'd improve the World Cup to make it better for South Africa 2010. Some rule changes perhaps? More teams or maybe fewer?
Email us or leave a comment below.
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I have been waiting 10 mins after switching onto News 24 for real news. You have to remember that less than half the country have any intrest in football. We require news on a news channel. Any one who wants to know about the world cup will watch a sport channel, and those people dont have to wait 10 mins of hearing how many solders were killed in Afganastan to hear Beckhams feeble statement.
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Saturday's two World Cup matches, back to back on the TV, showed the absolute paucity of talent and leadership in the English team. Compared with the French against Brazil, England were as third rate as Trinidad and Tobago or Iran. David Beckham's resignation came not a moment too soon given his complete lack of leadership on the field in all the games England played.
Zidane on the other hand was magnificent. He owned the midfield and was controlling the play everywhere else. What a difference it would have made to England if Beckham had been able to step up to the plate in similar fashion. Alas Beckham proved to be as totally colourless as the England coach and therefore was completely useless.
Rooney, hailed as the great hope, turned out to be yet another in a long line of runty hardnuts (think Gazza et al) who were trumpeted as the great hope but showed their true selfish and completely unacceptable colours just as their team needed them. I went for a 10 minute walk after the foul that lead to the red card. You just can't do stuff like that when you're playing for your country.
I fancy a France / Germany final. It will be an absolute classic football match. Germany will probably win, but France will give them a real run for their money.
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Re: 'More teams or maybe fewer?'
In this World Cup there were 5 teams from Africa, and 14 from Europe (13 qualified plus the hosts). There are 52 teams in Africa (CAF), and 52 in Europe (UEFA) , surely the qualifications procedure needs to be reviewed as it is not representative?
What do you think?
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