Interesting stuff at the World Cup… TGO
Refer to information below. Source: Associated Press
JOHANNESBURG – A look at Day 21 Thursday at the 2010 World Cup (all times EDT):
RESULTS
No games scheduled.
On Friday, Netherlands plays Brazil at Port Elizabeth, and Uruguay plays Ghana at Johannesburg in the quarterfinals.
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MORE TRASH TALKING
A day after Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accused quarterfinals rival Argentina of showing no respect for opponents and referees, captain Philipp Lahm continued the trash talk by essentially calling the Argentines hot heads. Germany eliminated Argentina on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals four years ago, and there are lingering hard feelings from a fracas afterward in which both sides exchanged punches and kicks.
“We have to concentrate on our own game. They are temperamental, we’ll see how they deal with defeat on Saturday,” Lahm said Thursday. “They are impulsive, temperamental and they don’t know how to lose.”
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NIGERIAN FALLOUT
FIFA is studying Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to ban the national team from international competition for two years to see if it constitutes government interference. If FIFA finds it is, Nigeria could be suspended from international soccer. The penalty extends beyond the national team to club teams playing in international competitions.
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LOOKING BACK
South African great Jomo Sono takes immense pride in seeing the World Cup staged in his homeland. But he can’t help but think of the opportunities apartheid took from him and his teammates. South Africa was banned from international sports in the 1970s and ’80s because of its apartheid policies, costing Somo’s generation — white and black players alike — the chance to play in a World Cup.
“We could have made a big difference in the world,” Sono mused. “But we cannot be sad.”
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HISTORY
Brazil coach Dunga was captain of the Brazilian teams that beat the Netherlands at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
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QUOTABLE
“You can’t compare with today. Today football is commercial. You can count the good players on one hand.” — Portuguese great Eusebio, whose nine goals led the 1966 World Cup.
