Read it on the BBC Sport website a few months ago after concerns were being raised regarding the number of tickets that had been sold. IIRC, FIFA assured that at least 90-95% of ALL tickets would be sold.

Did they say 90-95% of tickets for every game, or of all tickets available? Because if it's the latter, around 98% of tickets have been sold.

I blame Clegg personally

lol

this is the reason why staduims are not full. alot of poor games. pliz brazil saves us

Love or hate the vuvu

1. It was first in RSA a rugby vs football issue. That argument failed when the Blue Bulls played at Orlando.

2. Now its a RSA vs. foreigners debate. FAIL. Its everybody blowing it.

I do not defend the sound but when anthems are played everybody stops blowing and tourists blow the vuvu in airports and everywhere else.

Kids love them too

^^ It's essentially a TV vs in-the-stadiums issue actually. Nearly everyone watching on TV hates them, people in the stadiums don't seem to mind them. That's the impression I get.

Trouble is, I suspect, for TV the crowd volume has to be limited so the commentary can sit on top, and of course when there's one element that's so much louder than another that's the only thing you'll hear. So you lose all the nuances and the cheering when it's broadcast and it just becomes an annoyance.

Did they say 90-95% of tickets for every game, or of all tickets available? Because if it's the latter, around 98% of tickets have been sold.

I don't know to be honest. It shouldn't make any difference. But if indeed it has then someone has to take the blame. The SA's on here seem to think that has to be FIFA.

this is the reason why staduims are not full. alot of poor games. pliz brazil saves us

I don't think that's quite a valid excuse, especially given Patrice Evra has partly blamed the vuvuzela's for France's poor performance.

Love or hate the vuvu

1. It was first in RSA a rugby vs football issue. That argument failed when the Blue Bulls played at Orlando.

2. Now its a RSA vs. foreigners debate. FAIL. Its everybody blowing it.

I do not defend the sound but when anthems are played everybody stops blowing and tourists blow the vuvu in airports and everywhere else.

Kids love them too

No.

It's a debate between those who are actually in SA and those who are watching on TV from afar.

It seems as though many of those foreign fans who are there have decided to enter into the spirit of the tournament by blowing vuvuzela's along with all the South Africans. Fair enough.

But those watching on TV back in their home countries hate the monotone sound of the vuvuzelas and the lack of any observable crowd reaction to what is actually happening on the pitch.

Let's put it this way - those foreign fans who are happily blowing their vuvuzelas now...........don't expect them to be doing the same when their domestic season starts in August. Any who try will soon have their vuvus taken off them and snapped in half!

^^ It's essentially a TV vs in-the-stadiums issue actually. Nearly everyone watching on TV hates them, people in the stadiums don't seem to mind them. That's the impression I get.

Trouble is, I suspect, for TV the crowd volume has to be limited so the commentary can sit on top, and of course when there's one element that's so much louder than another that's the only thing you'll hear. So you lose all the nuances and the cheering when it's broadcast and it just becomes an annoyance.

That's so weird, though. On TV over here, at least, I can hear both fine. The commentary is clear, but I can still hear the vuvuz and cheering in the background.

I don't think that's quite a valid excuse, especially given Patrice Evra has partly blamed the vuvuzela's for France's poor performance.

There doesn't have to be an excuse. There are empty seats for the lesser games at pretty much every World Cup.

I slept watching Slovenia x Argelia.... What Terrible match :wallbash::wallbash:

That's so weird, though. On TV over here, at least, I can hear both fine. The commentary is clear, but I can still hear the vuvuz and cheering in the background.

As Rob has said, over here the vuvuzelas are so loud that crowd volume has to be turned right down for the commentators to be heard. This means that you cannot really hear any difference in crowd noise when, for example, a goal is scored!

No.

It's a debate between those who are actually in SA and those who are watching on TV from afar.

It seems as though many of those foreign fans who are there have decided to enter into the spirit of the tournament by blowing vuvuzela's along with all the South Africans. Fair enough.

But those watching on TV back in their home countries hate the monotone sound of the vuvuzelas and the lack of any observable crowd reaction to what is actually happening on the pitch.

Let's put it this way - those foreign fans who are happily blowing their vuvuzelas now...........don't expect them to be doing the same when their domestic season starts in August. Any who try will soon have their vuvus taken off them and snapped in half!

Of course people on tv have issues. I was not debating that simply shedding light that at matches, which I have attended it IS being embraced by most spectators from RSA AND abroad.

What is happening is that the actual match atmosphere is not being captured on telly, with singing by Ozzies and Germans at times certainly louder than the vuvuzelas.

UPDATE
CURRENT PITCH RANKING SOUTH AFRICA 2010

1-POLOKWANE
9/10
2-ELLIS PARK
8/10
3-RUSTENBURG
7/10
4-PRETORIA
7/10
5-SOCCER CITY
7/10
6-CAPE TOWN
6/10
7-BLOMFONTEIN
5/10
8-DURBAN
4/10
9-PORT ELIZABETH
3/10

NESUPRIT NOT YET USED

http://www.antivuvuzela.org/
http://www.antivuvuzela.org/header.jpg

:stupid:

UPDATE
CURRENT PITCH RANKING SOUTH AFRICA 2010

1-POLOKWANE
9/10
2-ELLIS PARK
8/10
3-RUSTENBURG
7/10
4-PRETORIA
7/10
5-SOCCER CITY
7/10
6-CAPE TOWN
6/10
7-BLOMFONTEIN
5/10
8-DURBAN
4/10
9-PORT ELIZABETH
3/10

NESUPRIT NOT YET USED

Cape Town at 6 haha. Ill trust FIFA's experts and my own eyes at matches.

Paraguay! :banana::banana::banana:

Tell me about your gun crime rates... ;)

PS: Why would you not use the tube? :lol: :nuts: A bomb went off in a building once - do you not use them either?

Big problem yes....and we know that....problem is that you have not accepted the fact that the UK is a ticking time bomb for another terror attack and 2012 will be a massive target.....

Fact is that the UK is always on a high terror alert.....SA is not. So 2012 is a big risk.

UPDATE
CURRENT PITCH RANKING SOUTH AFRICA 2010

1-POLOKWANE
9/10
2-ELLIS PARK
8/10
3-RUSTENBURG
7/10
4-PRETORIA
7/10
5-SOCCER CITY
7/10
6-CAPE TOWN
6/10
7-BLOMFONTEIN
5/10
8-DURBAN
4/10
9-PORT ELIZABETH
3/10

NESUPRIT NOT YET USED

Haha what BS.

Cape Town has the best pitch at the moment. FIFA have even said that themselves

2012 will be a massive target.....

I agree but we'll handle it I'm sure.

Haha what BS.

Cape Town has the best pitch at the moment. FIFA have even said that themselves


TURFINATOR says- please explain your statement

TURFINATOR answer- you cant

TURFINATOR says- what expertise does fifa have

TURFINATOR answer- they dont

TURFINATOR says- you are not qualified or entitled to have an opinion

TURFINATOR says-you and fifa should be locked up on robben island and the key thrown away

Cape Town at 6 haha. Ill trust FIFA's experts and my own eyes at matches.

TURFINATOR says- get some glasses

TURFINATOR says- fifas experts are not fit for purpose

I FEEL SLOVENIA!!!

Slovenia is the only country with LOVE in it's name. And those stripes on shirts represent our biggest and also a kind of a holy mountain Triglav. Triglav means "three heads".

^^

(Potentially NSFW if you have sound on):

x3tbB-pzMm4

You've been targetted for turfination!

:lol: :lol:

For me the EURO is almost important as the WC. It is more difficult to win the EC than the WC!
The EURO is a world cup without Argentina and Brazil:cheers:
(Remember, the semi final of the 2006 WC was a EC!)

btw., the EURO with the highest average attendance was Germany 1988 (60,000 / 8 Teams )

That is why I included the term "16 team championship" :)

My main point was that in 1996 English football was just entering the good times, (attendance wise). Attendances at club games were not at the level they are now.

I FEEL SLOVENIA!!!

Slovenia is the only country with LOVE in it's name. And those stripes on shirts represent our biggest and also a kind of a holy mountain Triglav. Triglav means "three heads".

http://www.ljubljana-life.com/media/pics/slovenia-slovakia.jpg
Slovakia and Slovenia alway confuses me :lol:

it is the worst world cup organizations I have seen... Bad , old style stadiums , , even new stadiums have not good illimunation. no athmosphere, no good organization...

it is the worst world cup organizations I have seen... Bad , old style stadiums , , even new stadiums have not good illimunation. no athmosphere, no good organization...

Ummmm, sour grapes much? :nuts:

old style stadiums

:hilarious :hilarious :hilarious :hilarious :hilarious

That is why I included the term "16 team championship" :)

My main point was that in 1996 English football was just entering the good times, (attendance wise). Attendances at club games were not at the level they are now.

There's no need to make excuses, fella.

It doesn't matter that there were empty seats at some Euro 96 games. As already pointed out, there have been empty seats at pretty much every other World Cup, Euro Championships, ACN and Copa America. It's nothing unusual.

Besides, SA could say the same.....perhaps their domestic game is also at the dawn of a new boom.

it is the worst world cup organizations I have seen... Bad , old style stadiums , , even new stadiums have not good illimunation. no athmosphere, no good organization...

Other than the vuvuzelas (and I accept that those in the stadiums seem to enjoy them), the only thing that's wrong with the World Cup so far is that the football hasn't been great. And that's got nothing to do with the South African organizers - not to mention that the drama and the quality of the football is sure to pick up as the competition progresses.

UPDATE
CURRENT PITCH RANKING SOUTH AFRICA 2010

1-POLOKWANE
9/10
2-ELLIS PARK
8/10
3-RUSTENBURG
7/10
4-PRETORIA
7/10
5-SOCCER CITY
7/10
6-CAPE TOWN
6/10
7-BLOMFONTEIN
5/10
8-DURBAN
4/10
9-PORT ELIZABETH
3/10

NESUPRIT NOT YET USED

Rubbish list. None of them are below 50%. All of them are 8 or above except for Port Elizabeth at 6 and Durban at 7.5.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCFanFestBeachSundayAerial.jpg
- Aerial of Durban World Cup Beach FanFest from Sunday

Rest of pics Friday, Sat & Sun; Photos:AP, Reuters

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCFanFestBeachSunday.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCBeachFanFestFans2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCWestStreetlights.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCBeachFanFestGerman1.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCBeachFanFestGerman2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCFanFestBeachFriday1.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DBNWCFanFestBeachFriday2.jpg
^^ Friday - opening Match

Paraguay! :banana::banana::banana:

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_paraguaygirlissuperhot.jpg

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_paraguaygirl.jpg

Paraguay, indeed. . .

^^ Vamos Paraguay!! Yes she wants me. I wish I sat beside her, the only thing I would watch is her!

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_paraguaygirlissuperhot.jpg

Oh look it is my mobile on her breasts :P

jk

I slept watching Slovenia x Argelia.... What Terrible match :wallbash::wallbash:

It was a combination of bad techniques of football and a weird geographical condition. If you paid attention you could see the ball bouncing too high and the player were like kicking a balloon. You could see the ball flying everywhere if it got kicked by the players.
SO if someone said that Polokwane has the best pitch condition than that's rubbish.

the whole vuvuzela thing wouldn't be as big a deal if the media didn't hype it up so much. most people i know who dislike them, don't care anymore after one game. there was one guy (yes ONE) with a cymbal in ellis park today and you could hear him on the tv broadcast (amongst the vuvuzelas). i don't have a problem with it, just saying, there are plenty of things that fans do, that we could complain about.

Says who? Until now I hate those vuvuzela noise. And can you imagine watching 64 matches in a month with the same sound all the time. There's no atmosphere.

the whole vuvuzela thing wouldn't be as big a deal if the media didn't hype it up so much. most people i know who dislike them, don't care anymore after one game. there was one guy (yes ONE) with a cymbal in ellis park today and you could hear him on the tv broadcast (amongst the vuvuzelas). i don't have a problem with it, just saying, there are plenty of things that fans do, that we could complain about.

Says who? Until now I hate those vuvuzela noise. And can you imagine watching 64 matches in a month with the same sound all the time. There's no atmosphere and all of the games becomes the same, boring!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hehehehehehe, typical Italian play right here....

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4671/flop.gif


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Bunch of cheating, whining, diving bastards.

Don´t remember that play on the match but watching the gif looks like the guy touched him...at least he tried...look to his left foot. And if he touched him I can assure you that hurts like hell...

Just don´t understand why the ref didn´t showed the second yellow card to Camoranesi...Cahill got a red card for less.

A friend in Canada just emailed me this (The latest buzz word in The US and CANADA)

What do you call a loud drunk and obnoxious person that won't stop doing what he enjoys most ? ....... a Vuvuzela

Love them or hate them, the word "vuvuzela" is bound to stay on long after the world cup.

^^ The latest BUZZ word eh?

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_paraguaygirlissuperhot.jpg

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_paraguaygirl.jpg

Paraguay, indeed. . .

Why cant I be that mobile phone... that is one fine mamasita

Originally Posted by Kuvvaci
it is the worst world cup organizations I have seen... Bad , old style stadiums , , even new stadiums have not good illimunation. no athmosphere, no good organization...

Ummmm, sour grapes much? :nuts:

:lol: He is jealous, because Turkey 1) has lost the race for the 2016 EURO
2) is not in SA !

Rubbish list. None of them are below 50%. All of them are 8 or above except for Port Elizabeth at 6 and Durban at 7.5.

TURFINATOR says- what qualifies you to make this statement

TURFINATOR says- this is the world cup, this is 2010 nothing below 10 is acceptable

TURFINATOR says-fifa need to choose their experts more carefully next time

It was a combination of bad techniques of football and a weird geographical condition. If you paid attention you could see the ball bouncing too high and the player were like kicking a balloon. You could see the ball flying everywhere if it got kicked by the players.
SO if someone said that Polokwane has the best pitch condition than that's rubbish.

TURFINATOR says- what qualifies you to make this statement

TURFINATOR says- poor matches are not always if at all linked with poor pitches

TURFINATOR says-polokwane is best pitch so far and the ball is to blame plus altitude

FIFA ARE RELEASING TICKETS FOR SOLD OUT GAMES TWO HOURS BEFORE THE MATCH!!!! WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM :bash:

FIFA are the biggest idiots ever!!!!!!! All the problems with this tournament have been FIFA linked....

TURFINATOR says- please explain your statement

TURFINATOR answer- you cant

TURFINATOR says- what expertise does fifa have

TURFINATOR answer- they dont

TURFINATOR says- you are not qualified or entitled to have an opinion

TURFINATOR says-you and fifa should be locked up on robben island and the key thrown away

Okay let me try this again...

CAPE
TOWN
HAS
BEST
PITCH

:)

TURFINATOR says- what qualifies you to make this statement

TURFINATOR says- poor matches are not always if at all linked with poor pitches

TURFINATOR says-polokwane is best pitch so far and the ball is to blame plus altitude

Rosaudio says- what makes you opinion on best pitches so correct

Rosaudio says- what qualifies you to make that list

Don´t remember that play on the match but watching the gif looks like the guy touched him...at least he tried...look to his left foot. And if he touched him I can assure you that hurts like hell...

Just don´t understand why the ref didn´t showed the second yellow card to Camoranesi...Cahill got a red card for less.

I do remember, he didn't touch him.

Hehehehehehe, typical Italian play right here....

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4671/flop.gif


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Bunch of cheating, whining, diving bastards.
http://i46.tinypic.com/33be4jd.jpg

:rofl:

http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/data/500/32230_401075401373_68698461373_4471148_7483976_n.jpg

At least Maradona loves the Vuvuzelas

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/7586/26667405485042411178928.jpg

^^:lol:

At least Maradona loves the Vuvuzelas

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/7586/26667405485042411178928.jpg

:lol: What a **** that man is!

Hahaha.

Anyway, the Wheel of Excellence in Cape Town courtesy of our mayor:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs605.snc3/31875_127283213971016_100000680149518_181115_6459112_n.jpg

GideaParkHammer

a-ha-ha )))))

from same serias

http://apikabu.ru/img/NDY4OD.jpg

Reactions of attack,goal,great defense,win or lose

Germany 2006, first 13 games: 2 draws
RSA 2010, first 13 games: 6 draws :mad:

So true Vandoren.

Saw the pitch at Port Elizabeth on TV today - it was terrible and cut up all the time. I have no idea what that guy saying all pitches are at least 8/10 was on about!

One thing SA cannot control is the shocking displays of football we've had so far. I think the ball is as much to blame as anything else tbh. So far only Ronaldo has been able to shoot from outside the box and get the ball anywhere near the goal.

Germany 2006, first 13 games: 2 draws
RSA 2010, first 13 games: 6 draws :mad:

Even worse:

First 13 games in 2006 - 30 goals (2.3 per game).

First 13 games in 2010 - 20 goals (1.5 per game).

The WC is very disappointing so far, boring football, a lack of goals, annoying Vuvuzela, Jabulani behaving like a balloon, Bavaria babes arrested by the maFifa.

:ohno:

"FIFA- BAN THE ANNOYING VUVUZELA (HORN) FROM THE SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP !" on Facebook. Over 200.000 fans in 3 Days.

The Portugal game wasn't bad. Had fun watching it....even without goals. Let's talk about public viewing....any pictures of that? There were some of Durban beach...but are there more places were people can watch the games?

The WC is very disappointing so far, boring football, a lack of goals, annoying Vuvuzela, Jabulani behaving like a balloon, Bavaria babes arrested by the maFifa.

:ohno:
Shame. Agree some of the matches have been somewhat mundane... but we and all the international fans are having a blast down here. :banana:

The Portugal game wasn't bad. Had fun watching it....even without goals. Let's talk about public viewing....any pictures of that? There were some of Durban beach...but are there more places were people can watch the games?
I don't have any pictures, but they cut to the Fan Fest at St George's Park (Port Elizabeth) during the coverage of the NZ/Slovakia game today and it was dead. The only people who were there were the reporter, the guy who runs it and a dozen or so kids having a kick about infront of the two huge screens. :lol:

Hardly suprising given the time, the teams involved and that the game was being played miles away. It would have been interesting to see what it was like during the Portugal/Ivory Coast game, though.

On a very cold, windy, wet winter's day, but still... the vibe was amazing and the fans were partying up a storm in the Cape of Storms!

Leaving the house (80km from Cape Town), in very cold conditions...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc101.jpg

Driving on the N1 freeway into a sunny break in Cape Town...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc102.jpg

MyCiti BRT to the Stadium Station...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc103.jpg

Stadium Station...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc104.jpg

Fan Walk looking towards the City...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc105.jpg

Under the Granger Bay Circle on the fan walk after a downpour, hoards of fans were huddling behind me from the storm... but still laughing and carrying on like mad, wet loonatics!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc106.jpg

Stadium forecourt...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc107.jpg

Walk towards the south gate...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc108.jpg

The Game... during a "little bit of rain."
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc109.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc110.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc111.jpg

The countryside around Cape Town today... tons of fans on the roads, some even came to play in the snow (even Brits! Weird... though they had enough winter :) )...
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/wc112.jpg

Gorgeous photos, thanks. Hope you've dried off now! :D

Shame. Agree some of the matches have been somewhat mundane... but we and all the international fans are having a blast down here. :banana:

Don't worry, fella.

Nothing that SA can do about the quality of the games. Let's all hope that they get better as the tournament progresses.

Keep having fun!

All Whites make history with late goal
NZ HERALD
4:00 AM Wednesday Jun 16, 2010

http://rlv.zcache.com/new_zealand_kiwi_tshirt-p2351855623600359394btn_400.jpg

A great day for New Zealand sport and a moment to live on in history. Winston Reid's name will live on for many years after his last-gasp goal kept alive the All Whites hopes of making the second round of the World Cup finals. His goal gave the All Whites a 1-1 draw against a Slovakia side who were the clear favourites. It also gave the country its first World Cup point. I have seen many great New Zealand sporting moments over the years but nothing to match this. It all seemed dead and gone - until Reid's header with seconds remaining.

The crowd erupted with so much noise that they even drowned out the vuvuzelas. Ricki Herbert's men have created history but now they must try to go on with the job at hand - face Italy and Paraguay. On a bright day it was also made clear that the All Whites will need more than their one attacking option - the aerial route. After the final whistle, Herbert said: "It's just phenomenal. We are going to enjoy the next 24 hours and then back on the pitch and working hard." Asked about Winston Reid's goal, he said: "I think he got on the wrong side of the [Slovakia] guy for them to score so he's made amends for me."

They created early chances, but couldn't take them. They also need to be sharper in front of goal, to make up for their lack of world class creativity and dribbling ability. As the game progressed, Slovakia's speed and ability on the ball took over, whereas in the early stages, and with midfielder Simon Elliott magnificent operating from deep, the All Whites had looked very likely. There were no World Cup Goliaths in Rustenburg, more like a Big David versus a Little David.

And while Italy and Paraguay weren't exactly fearsome in their match, they remain favoured to qualify from Group F. Italy are an ageing but battle-hardened side who would not dare return home having been lowered by a team such as New Zealand. So the All Whites have broken their World Cup duck, after three losses in Spain 28 years ago. The 42,000 capacity stadium, a three-hour drive from Johannesburg, was close enough to full. It nearly witnessed one of the great goalkeeping blunders, when Mark Paston slipped on the edge of his penalty area. Instead, the faithful walked away with heads held high, full of belief that we can compete at this level.

Rosaudio says- what makes you opinion on best pitches so correct

Rosaudio says- what qualifies you to make that list

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR is best in the world and no one knows better about football pitches

TURFINATOR says- what is your ranking, but before you answer even if you were the next best you would still be one place behind TURFINATOR

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR has been paid millions of euros for his work and opinions on grass

TURFINATOR says- how much have you been paid for your work on pitches

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR was responsible for 2002 wc pitches that 8 years ago with less technology were far superior to both this world cup and germany 2006, TURFINATOR is not boasting, TURFINATOR is dissapointed south africa appointed persons not capable of producing required standards

So true Vandoren.

Saw the pitch at Port Elizabeth on TV today - it was terrible and cut up all the time. I have no idea what that guy saying all pitches are at least 8/10 was on about!

One thing SA cannot control is the shocking displays of football we've had so far. I think the ball is as much to blame as anything else tbh. So far only Ronaldo has been able to shoot from outside the box and get the ball anywhere near the goal.

TURFINATOR says- Luke80 is talking sense

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1756/bzzzzc.jpg

www.stopwuwuzela.pl STOP THAT NOISE!!!! End of the wuwuzelas! VOTE!!!

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1756/bzzzzc.jpg

You get this pic from 4chan.org

^^ nope. found it someplace else.

:lol: He is jealous, because Turkey 1) has lost the race for the 2016 EURO
2) is not in SA !

do you know me personally that you think I am jealous? If I was jealous I would be with France, or Germany.

So, you like those stadiums and you find them modern. If you do, you don't know anything. I watch World Cups since 1982, maybe you don't even remeber 2006 or 2002.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01Rj8tGdh7bXu/900x.jpg

http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/3617612/640/3617612.jpg
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/3617800/640/3617800.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7497.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cZZ8hE2JBbhg/x900.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02H2bLL4iV4cx/900x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09rNfr06Aq9NU/900x.jpg



even the stadiums that have modern architecture has no athmosphere and good illimunation.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/4697375518_fa9e90942b_b.jpg

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR is best in the world and no one knows better about football pitches

TURFINATOR says- what is your ranking, but before you answer even if you were the next best you would still be one place behind TURFINATOR

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR has been paid millions of euros for his work and opinions on grass

TURFINATOR says- how much have you been paid for your work on pitches

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR was responsible for 2002 wc pitches that 8 years ago with less technology were far superior to both this world cup and germany 2006, TURFINATOR is not boasting, TURFINATOR is dissapointed south africa appointed persons not capable of producing required standards

Rosaudio says- What proof do you have to back-up your statements

do you know me personally that you think I am jealous? If I was jealous I would be with France, or Germany.

So, you like those stadiums and you find them modern. If you do, you don't know anything. I watch World Cups since 1982, maybe you don't even remeber 2006 or 2002.
^^ South Africa is a 3rd world
STOP MORNING

Turkey National Stadium
http://www.kaliteliresimler.com/data/media/1278/Atatrk_Olimpiyat_Stad.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/36876944_663d50cc83.jpg

SA National Stadium
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4629877458_c49791dea0_b.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stadiumsoccercity.jpg

Turkey stadium better than SA. Oh yeah Im agree with you....NOT:ohno:

S.Africa 2010
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/3617800/640/3617800.jpg

Spain 1982
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/La_Rosaleda_Malaga_Spain.png

S.Africa 2010
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02H2bLL4iV4cx/900x.jpg

Spain 1982
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Estadio_de_Riazor.A_Corunha.Galiza.jpg/800px-Estadio_de_Riazor.A_Corunha.Galiza.jpg

S.Africa 2010
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01Rj8tGdh7bXu/900x.jpg

Greece 2004 Olympics (Salonica)
http://www.stadia.gr/kaftanzoglio/kaftanzoglio2.jpg

S.Africa 2010
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/4697375518_fa9e90942b_b.jpg

Mexico 1986
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Azteca_008.gif/800px-Azteca_008.gif

S.Africa 2010
http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/88468966.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB266D249713D7220E2DEE30A760B0D811297

Mexico 1986
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Jalisco_Stadium_panoramic_retouched.jpg/800px-Jalisco_Stadium_panoramic_retouched.jpg

S.Africa 2010
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc40/andresannman/WC27.jpg

Portugal 2004 (EURO)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Alvalade.jpg

^^ South Africa is a 3rd world
STOP MORNING



Turkey stadium better than SA. Oh yeah Im agree with you....NOT:ohno:

Do you have reading and understanding problem? Where did I compare S.Africa to Turkey?

I compare S.African stadiums to former tournements and world cups. And S.African stadiums are very old style and bad.

Rosaudio says- What proof do you have to back-up your statements

TURFINATOR says- 95% of the worlds population believe in a god, what proof do they have to back up their belief

TURFINATOR is a 13 year old kid watching the world cup in his mothers house

Big deal about the stadiums, more important news: all the South African security employees are on strike... (good timing). The security is a joke in the stadiums, a number of Dutch reporters and supporters could enter the VIP-room without an accreditation-pass. During Denmark-Holland a spectator could enter the Dutch bench near the pitch making pictures and a security-officer even helped the women to take a picture of her...

Do you have reading and understanding problem? Where did I compare S.Africa to Turkey?

I compare S.African stadiums to former tournements and world cups. And S.African stadiums are very old style and bad.

I don't think you realise how silly you're being.

Do you want to know why quite a few of the stadiums are "very old style" and look like stadiums used in former tournaments and World Cups? Because they were built then too. Do you expect us to floor the existing venues we've had for decades in order to make them pretty, when they function perfectly fine? That would be stupid. You can hardly discredit South Africa for having had excellent stadia infrastructure in place for decades. It's logical that stadiums that were built years and years back are going to look dated.

The large majority of the brand new venues are completely modern, which once again is logical, because they're new and the world has progressed architecturally and technologically. Yet you're not comparing any of them to the older stadiums...I wonder why.

But, on another note, I must admit, I find your little comment about the new stadiums having bad illumination quite funny. Cape Town Stadium has a ring of 360 lights that provide probably the best illumination of any stadium in the world. The whole stadium glows at night - one of the key aims behind the entire stadium's design.

Below are the 4 major new stadiums built for the World Cup. Somehow I think you're talking absolute nonsense about them having "bad illumination."

Cape Town
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4508887572_8f9e13f57e_b.jpg

Joburg
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_sow_experts__6/ept_sports_sow_experts-181638218-1275680903.jpg?ymHyuPDD.uwQmDIQ

Port Elizabeth
http://blog.sa-venues.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nelson-mandela-stadium.jpg

Durban
http://2010.adapt-it.co.za:9000/StadiumGallery/Nov/pic12.jpg

TURFINATOR is a 13 year old kid watching the world cup in his mothers house

TURFINATOR says- prove it

TURFINATOR says-you are in the 95% of the deluded

TURFINATOR says- TURFINATOR takes no pride in making humans look stupid but the fact is most are

http://allafrica.com/stories/201006140009.html
Johannesburg — WORLD soccer body Fifa pledged yesterday to investigate transport problems in Port Elizabeth that may have prevented thousands of World Cup ticket holders from taking their seats, after a weekend in which some matches were played at partly empty stadiums.

Tournament organisers have repeatedly urged fans to use public transport when travelling to matches, but fans have complained of erratic service to some matches.

Fifa said on the morning of Saturday's game between Greece and South Korea that it had distributed more than 39000 tickets for the match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which has a capacity of 42486. At least 8000 seats were empty during the game, however.

Asked whether ticket holders had found themselves unable to reach the match, Fifa spokesman Nicolas Maingot said: "Those are the first results of our investigations."

Fifa had identified possible problems before the tournament and had requested and financed an improved bus service, he said. "But apparently that has not completely worked."

Lencedo Njezula, spokesman for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, denied there was inadequate transport, saying there was no need to overhaul the bus service. "These tickets were apparently sold to large organisations. Issues around ticketing are Fifa-related."

Fifa reportedly sold cut-price tickets in bulk to businesses and public bodies after demand proved slow for some less glamorous games.

Local Organising Committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo said group bookings accounted for many empty seats in Port Elizabeth. "The only explanation is that those people did not have transport," he said.

Yesterday's Algeria vs Slovenia match in Polokwane had thousands of empty seats, as did the Ghana vs Serbia game in Pretoria

If Turfinator really did work at the 2002 world cup I would've loved to see him at work.

"Turfinator says cut the lawn", "Turfinator says turn on the sprinklers" LOL

I don't think you realise how silly you're being.

Do you want to know why quite a few of the stadiums are "very old style" and look like stadiums used in former tournaments and World Cups? Because they were built then too. Do you expect us to floor the existing venues we've had for decades in order to make them pretty, when they function perfectly fine? That would be stupid. You can hardly discredit South Africa for having had excellent stadia infrastructure in place for decades. It's logical that stadiums that were built years and years back are going to look dated.

The large majority of the brand new venues are completely modern, which once again is logical, because they're new and the world has progressed architecturally and technologically. Yet you're not comparing any of them to the older stadiums...I wonder why.

But, on another note, I must admit, I find your little comment about the new stadiums having bad illumination quite funny. Cape Town Stadium has a ring of 360 lights that provide probably the best illumination of any stadium in the world. The whole stadium glows at night - one of the key aims behind the entire stadium's design.

Below are the 4 major new stadiums built for the World Cup. Somehow I think you're talking absolute nonsense about them having "bad illumination."

Cape Town
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4508887572_8f9e13f57e_b.jpg

Joburg
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_sow_experts__6/ept_sports_sow_experts-181638218-1275680903.jpg?ymHyuPDD.uwQmDIQ

Port Elizabeth
http://blog.sa-venues.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nelson-mandela-stadium.jpg

Durban
http://2010.adapt-it.co.za:9000/StadiumGallery/Nov/pic12.jpg

why do you insult personally? Your insult proves that I am right.

Only four modern stadiums are not enough, this is world cup! though even those modern stadiums have terrible illimunations and have architectural mistakes and you can't feel the athmosphere.

^^ South Africa is a 3rd world
STOP MORNING

Turkey stadium better than SA. Oh yeah Im agree with you....NOT:ohno:

So wat difference does that make?
Being III World and still hosting it better than France did in 1998 is testimony to the spirit.
Only Stade De France is comparable to any of the 4 listed above.
Marselles looks like a Toilet without a seat.

Coming back to Turkey, well they have been constructed considering the Summer Olympic Games which Turkey has successfully lost in initial rounds unlike other cities. Only comparable frequent loser to Turkey is Detroit.

Turkey as a nation has been balanced be it political/economic or sporting wise.
But dumbheads like you pull the national image into discussion with denigrating comments about other nations.

Fans around the globe celebrate All Whites' historic result

NZ HERALD
9:32 AM Wednesday Jun 16, 2010

The All Whites seem to have won over a few new fans around the world after their historic effort overnight, with messages of support pouring into nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand drew 1-1 with Slovakia on a last-minute header from Winston Reid, giving the team its first-ever point at a World Cup.

Below is a selection of messages sent in from abroad:

Florian La Petite - French Polynesia:
"I jumped up of joy when Winston Reid scored. What a team. The French commentator usually very blasé and arrogant said: 'What a breath of freshness and humility were those All Whites we discover with you in this World Cup.' So All the Best guyz. I'm not a supporter of the French divas team but really my heart beats for NZ/Aotearoa."

Lisa - United Kingdom:
"Had the game on in the corner of my screen at work in London. Wasn't entirely discreet as I kept leaping out of my seat! May be a draw but felt like a win! Keep up the amazing work guys, bring on Italy you can beat them!"

Nicolas, French Australian in United Arab Emirates:
"Can I get your nationality and become a kiwi? Please!"

Jenny Morgan - Greece:
"Well played All Whites. You made us proud!"

Antony Crayk - United Kingdom:
"Well done lads. You silenced everyone and got the praise of the English commentators. Work gave me the afternoon off to watch the game and I am so proud to be Kiwi!"

Roberto - Uruguay:
"Way to go! I was rooting so hard for you guys! I jumped off the couch to celebrate! Congratulations from a Uruguayan fan."

Sara - Barbados:
"Well done today boys against Slovakia. Excellent game with an even better result! You have done all Kiwis around the world proud. Good luck with the rest of your games."

Chris - Germany:
"Congratulations from Germany. Me and my wife were on holiday in New Zealand this February and immediately fell in love with your beautiful country. "Tried to buy an All Whites shirt in Auckland but they were all sold out! Seems that they're not only rugby supporters in NZ. So I'm supporting the team wearing my Germany-Shirt. I hope you don't mind. Good luck against Italy and Paraguay."

Daniel - Brazil:
"Go All Whites, hope you guys get as far as you can, always doing your best. Cheers from a Brazilian who loved and loves New Zealand still."

Adam - Krakow, Poland:
"So I'll speed up filling up immigration papers! I knew it was good decision, well done All Whites! I'm happy as if I was already part of the nation."

Vivienne - Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
"Well done boys. I am a rugby fan first and foremost, but of course whenever NZ are playing internationally we are behind them /you all the way. Good luck for an enjoyable and successful world cup."

Mark - Dundee, Scotland:
"Smashing, well done to the All Whites."

Richard - Switzerland:
"I've just seen the game live on TV in Zurich (Switzerland). Congratulations All whites! A game is going 90 minutes! Until the last second, never give up. Go for it. Now beat the Italians on Sunday!"

Peter Hall - Pennsylvania, USA:
"Well done from a Kiwi in Pennsylvania. We are all meeting in New York this Sunday morning to see you serve it up to Italy!"

Lida - Croatia:
"All the best to All Whites from Croatia!"

Karen Hawxhurst - United States:
"So, you boys give it all you have got, stand tall and proud, and remember Kiwis all around the world are rooting for you all."

Michael - Germany:
"You guys dominated the first 14 minutes then drifted into a solid work mode for 60 minutes before bringing a warrior-style burst of give-it-all for the last 8.4 minutes."

Ian - London, England:
"F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c! Wonderful result for the better side. Keep the spirits high."

Only four modern stadiums are not enough, this is world cup! though even those modern stadiums have terrible illimunations and have architectural mistakes and you can't feel the athmosphere.


Ah, jealousy it is then :lol: Absolutely none of the above is true.

But I'll let the architects know you said they made mistakes :hilarious

World Cup Match Reports: (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1152135)

Follow spectators from their homes to matches. Learn about their match day experiences.

Fans around the globe celebrate All Whites' historic result

NZ HERALD
9:32 AM Wednesday Jun 16, 2010

The All Whites seem to have won over a few new fans around the world after their historic effort overnight, with messages of support pouring into nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand drew 1-1 with Slovakia on a last-minute header from Winston Reid, giving the team its first-ever point at a World Cup.

Below is a selection of messages sent in from abroad:

Florian La Petite - French Polynesia:
"I jumped up of joy when Winston Reid scored. What a team. The French commentator usually very blasé and arrogant said: 'What a breath of freshness and humility were those All Whites we discover with you in this World Cup.' So All the Best guyz. I'm not a supporter of the French divas team but really my heart beats for NZ/Aotearoa."

Lisa - United Kingdom:
"Had the game on in the corner of my screen at work in London. Wasn't entirely discreet as I kept leaping out of my seat! May be a draw but felt like a win! Keep up the amazing work guys, bring on Italy you can beat them!"

Nicolas, French Australian in United Arab Emirates:
"Can I get your nationality and become a kiwi? Please!"

Jenny Morgan - Greece:
"Well played All Whites. You made us proud!"

Antony Crayk - United Kingdom:
"Well done lads. You silenced everyone and got the praise of the English commentators. Work gave me the afternoon off to watch the game and I am so proud to be Kiwi!"

Roberto - Uruguay:
"Way to go! I was rooting so hard for you guys! I jumped off the couch to celebrate! Congratulations from a Uruguayan fan."

Sara - Barbados:
"Well done today boys against Slovakia. Excellent game with an even better result! You have done all Kiwis around the world proud. Good luck with the rest of your games."

Chris - Germany:
"Congratulations from Germany. Me and my wife were on holiday in New Zealand this February and immediately fell in love with your beautiful country. "Tried to buy an All Whites shirt in Auckland but they were all sold out! Seems that they're not only rugby supporters in NZ. So I'm supporting the team wearing my Germany-Shirt. I hope you don't mind. Good luck against Italy and Paraguay."

Daniel - Brazil:
"Go All Whites, hope you guys get as far as you can, always doing your best. Cheers from a Brazilian who loved and loves New Zealand still."

Adam - Krakow, Poland:
"So I'll speed up filling up immigration papers! I knew it was good decision, well done All Whites! I'm happy as if I was already part of the nation."

Vivienne - Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
"Well done boys. I am a rugby fan first and foremost, but of course whenever NZ are playing internationally we are behind them /you all the way. Good luck for an enjoyable and successful world cup."

Mark - Dundee, Scotland:
"Smashing, well done to the All Whites."

Richard - Switzerland:
"I've just seen the game live on TV in Zurich (Switzerland). Congratulations All whites! A game is going 90 minutes! Until the last second, never give up. Go for it. Now beat the Italians on Sunday!"

Peter Hall - Pennsylvania, USA:
"Well done from a Kiwi in Pennsylvania. We are all meeting in New York this Sunday morning to see you serve it up to Italy!"

Lida - Croatia:
"All the best to All Whites from Croatia!"

Karen Hawxhurst - United States:
"So, you boys give it all you have got, stand tall and proud, and remember Kiwis all around the world are rooting for you all."

Michael - Germany:
"You guys dominated the first 14 minutes then drifted into a solid work mode for 60 minutes before bringing a warrior-style burst of give-it-all for the last 8.4 minutes."

Ian - London, England:
"F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c! Wonderful result for the better side. Keep the spirits high."

Brilliant, a very festive mood in the city today :cheers:

All Whites played a very good even though they were a bit nervous. Keep up the good work, I couldn't believe it when me and friends jumping for joy when they equalised. The same can be said about the goal scored by North Korea, underestimated teams always brings excitement to the World Cup when they do good.

The crowd erupted with so much noise that they even drowned out the vuvuzelas.

:ohno: ...did the reporter ignore the fact that the same people making noise were the ones blowing Vuvuzelas? I guess he/she hasn't been watching other games...

I don't know what's worse, playing at noon during the summer or playing at night during the winter.

Conditions were frigid!

I warned everyone this is winter... A-F-R-I-C-A is a continent, South Africa is a country way at the bottom, close to Antarctica that does have seasons. HE HE :nuts:

Ah, jealousy it is then :lol: Absolutely none of the above is true.

But I'll let the architects know you said they made mistakes :hilarious

I told you, if I was jealous, I would be with France that we lost EURO with one vote against them. Or Greece, our western neighbour wich host a wonderful Olympics although it is a small country. Or Germany for amazing stadiums for WC 2006. But I am not. You close your eyes and ignore what I want to say and always persolize the situation to escape from the reality. Just look at all those pictures I sent and understand the situation. I say something very rastional.

TURFINATOR says- 95% of the worlds population believe in a god, what proof do they have to back up their belief

They don't have proof and neither do you. If you are saying your work is like the existence of god then... yup I guess you are a 13 year old kid

why do you insult personally? Your insult proves that I am right.

Only four modern stadiums are not enough, this is world cup! though even those modern stadiums have terrible illimunations and have architectural mistakes and you can't feel the athmosphere.

What's the matter with you ?
What's wrong with having old-style stadiums?

This is World Cup, not a stadium architecture contest.
It's the the football games that matters.

Stadium is always a stadium, fans go to the stadium to watch games. After the game is done, then they leave the stadium. It's that simple. Why would you build a stadium with spectacular appearance features with no meaning to it which cost too much. The sensation of having a great appearance stadium is only temporary, after a while you get bored of it.

And the atmosphere thing, it has nothing to do with the stadiums itself. If you hear thousands of spectators blowing vuvuzelas or other kinds of trompets in other stadiums in the world then you won't get the atmosphere right.

And the atmosphere thing, it has nothing to do with the stadiums itself. If you hear thousands of spectators blowing vuvuzelas or other kinds of trompets in other stadiums in the world then you won't get the atmosphere right.

Yeah well something could have been done about that. The organising committee was foolishin it's stubborness over the issue IMO.

BTW that Jordaan guy said if they play them in the national anthems they're banned, well I heard them in the N. Korean national anthem so is he going to ban them now? :)

^^ Due to UN sanctions against N. Korea, vuvuzelas are permitted during their national anthem, as UN sanctions stipulate the rest of the world is not allowed to hear the "ode to Kim Jong."

JK! :)

I told you, if I was jealous, I would be with France that we lost EURO with one vote against them. Or Greece, our western neighbour wich host a wonderful Olympics although it is a small country. Or Germany for amazing stadiums for WC 2006. But I am not. You close your eyes and ignore what I want to say and always persolize the situation to escape from the reality. Just look at all those pictures I sent and understand the situation. I say something very rastional.

What "situation?" There isn't one. Stadiums that were built in 1980 are going to look like they were designed in 1980. That's logic. Suggesting that South Africa build more new stadiums, when current stadiums are perfectly capable of hosting matches, but you don't think they're pretty, is nothing short of ludicrous.

I know very well how our stadiums look without you digging out the absolute worst photos your could dig up on the internet, thanks, and I find no problem with them. You can hardly preach rationalism when you're making baseless comments like the new stadiums we built have "bad illumination" or "architectural mistakes." Both of those comments couldn't be further from the truth, so don't be surprised if people presume you're jealous.

It's clear you're going to think what you want regardless of what the actual facts are, though, so I couldn't care anyway. Believe what you want :lol: No need to reply as I'm certainly done humouring you.

^^ As I have said... no need to listen to one person's criticism who may or may not even be remotely related to the architectural or football-management fraternity. Thus, their opinion is completely personal and ungrounded in the associated profession.

All stadiums impress the world's media, have the international architecture fraternity harping praise and most have wowed Jerome Falke and Sepp Blatter. Their opinion holds more sway than one disgruntled person. They've even called Cape Town Stadium of the planet's best.

What you also need to consider is the overwhelming criticism comes from those not attending the World Cup. I have yet to meet one discontent fan in Cape Town.

As much as you hate Loftus, I think at one stage it hit 1 million spectators in 1 year.

^^ Due to UN sanctions against N. Korea, vuvuzelas are permitted during their national anthem, as UN sanctions stipulate the rest of the world is not allowed to hear the "ode to Kim Jong."

JK! :)

Tbf it was a nice anthem actually!

Only Stade De France is comparable to any of the 4 listed above.
Marselles looks like a Toilet without a seat.


I'm sorry but even if I admit that some of the stadiums used during France '98 were not "brand new", they all have been renovated or partially reconstructed and you have to keep in mind it was during the mid-90s = An eternity in terms of stadium infrastructures, back then most of stadiums around the world were crappy (except maybe the NFL stadiums) !!!

Do you remember some of the stadiums used 4 years before for USA '94 ???
They were absolutely comparable, or even worse than the Vélodrome (although I liked them back then)....

Marseille, Stade Vélodrome in 1998 (which had seats BTW ;)):
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6659/stadevelodromeprojetagr.jpghttp://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8915/25290527454c3fc5f112bco.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8995/fil3520copie.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/7629/3567englandcopie.jpg



San Francisco, Stanford Stadium in 1994 (which also "looked like a toilet" without a seat + an athletics track): :puke:
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7434/800pxstanfordstadium200.jpg



Boston, Foxboro Stadium :puke:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5218/fbfull.jpg



DC, RFK Stadium: :puke:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6613/rfkstadiumaerialphoto19.jpg



Orlando, Citrus Bowl (quite ugly):
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5245/citrusbowlaerialview.jpg



Dallas, Cotton Bowl (not good, not bad, but quite old):
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/2610/aerial.jpg



etc

etc


P.S In terms of atmosphere in and out the stadiums, in the cities etc, France '98 was a Great WC, at least as much as Germany 2006 :yes: !

Due to UN sanctions against N. Korea, vuvuzelas are permitted during their national anthem, as UN sanctions stipulate the rest of the world is not allowed to hear the "ode to Kim Jong."

JK! :)

Says the guy who's from the post-Apartheid country (country banned from all international competitions during that time) !! ;)

Says the guy who's from the post-Apartheid country (country banned from all international competitions during that time) !! ;)

Says the guy who's from the post-Nazi-occupied-France-during-the-II-World-War..... ;)

^^ Not the whole France !!!!!

Alger la Blanche, for example, was never occupied (just like our empire/overseas territories: aka "la France libre") ! ;)

Annman is an American expat.

why do you insult personally? Your insult proves that I am right.

Only four modern stadiums are not enough, this is world cup! though even those modern stadiums have terrible illimunations and have architectural mistakes and you can't feel the athmosphere.

yawn. you are boring us

Frankly, my favorite stadium is Ellis Park, not a new one my the style a like very much and I think it really doesn't matter at a World Cup what stadiums are around as I believed before. Of course, maybe some people may be bugged about the Moses Mahiba or others stadium having the stands so far away in the back of the goal even though there's no athletics track. The stadiums look superb though, my favorite new one for the WC.

I quite like Ellis Park myself, as well as Loftus and Free State Stadiums. The only one I specifically don't like is Royal Bafokeng.

Says the guy who's from the post-Apartheid country (country banned from all international competitions during that time) !! ;)

"JK" does mean something...

Feel bad for the thousands of people dying to get tickets. FIFA=FAIL

Fifa explains empty seats

Posted: 2010-06-16 16:27

Fifa has blamed overseas ticket holders for the thousands of empty seats seen at the initial games of the World Cup in South Africa.

Fifa spokesperson Nicolas Maingot said: “We have made some group sales and those group sales are for large organisations and companies.

“What we have realised in our investigations is that some ticket holders, including international ticket holders, have not turned up,” he added.

But Maigot stressed that the “bigger picture” was that the average attendance in the first 11 games was 53 019, second only to the 1994 World Cup in the US, with 68 991.

Mzansi Football and KickOff.com

P.S In terms of atmosphere in and out the stadiums, in the cities etc, France '98 was a Great WC, at least as much as Germany 2006 :yes: !

Too right. France '98 was a fantastic tournament. :cheers:

yawn. you are boring us

I just say my opnion... you don't have to read!

SA 0-3 Uruguay, I think Bafana Bafana will not pass the group stage

SA 0-3 Uruguay, I think Bafana Bafana will not pass the group stage

yes....would be the first time the host nation does not make it to the second round.

Its a shame. Inexperience really showed tonight. As a South African I am sad however well played to Uruguay.

I quite like Ellis Park myself, as well as Loftus and Free State Stadiums. The only one I specifically don't like is Royal Bafokeng.

I do like Royal Bafokeng, it fits perfect with the surround area. I think it's better on tv when the game is played at afternoon.

But yeah, Ellis and Loftus are true beauties. Loftus is looking so classy in this world cup.

It was quite funny seeing the mass exodus of the South African fans after that penalty went in. I just hope they get a result against France in their final game...

It was quite funny seeing the mass exodus of the South African fans after that penalty went in. I just hope they get a result against France in their final game...

Not sure why you find that funny....pretty typical scene at UK fotball stadiums....

"JK" does mean something...

";)" also means something.....

Not sure why you find that funny....pretty typical scene at UK fotball stadiums....
It sure is.

It sure is.

Yeah, suppose it is funny. Suppose I should also have a laugh next time at Wembley or OT. :) What would be funnier at Wembley is if they still have not replaced that disgraceful pitch...:lol:

Don't get too worked up, mate. I was only saying that I found it slightly amusing... :nuts:

Yeah, suppose it is funny. Suppose I should also have a laugh next time at Wembley or OT. :) What would be funnier at Wembley is if they still have not replaced that disgraceful pitch...:lol:

TURFINATOR Says Wembley has the best pitch in the world

TURFINATOR personally carries the fertilizer bags for the head grounskeeper

TURFINATOR is sometimes allowed to turn on the sprinklers all by himself

The Internet has done its job. They have found out who "Paraguay girl" is.

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/2/2010/06/500x_custom_1276701951593_larissa-riquelme-socder_fan-001.jpg

Yeah, her. Her name is Larissa Riquelme and she's a model. Some topless modeling also. Google to your heart's content.

When I die, would it be too much to ask to be reincarnated as that mobile phone?

:runaway:

Too right. France '98 was a fantastic tournament. :cheers:

OK, because of your post: I won't bash the English team....at least during the next week........ anyway, I will try... :D

Why are the lowest seats of the african stadiums coverd with a blue "blanket" during de WC games?

They have obstructed views.

I quite like Ellis Park myself, as well as Loftus and Free State Stadiums. The only one I specifically don't like is Royal Bafokeng.

Agreed. Bafokeng is the only stadium that I don't like either. Shame that England had to play there - maybe twice!

It's bizarre that some people feel the need to piss on South Africa's parade. The stadiums are great - both old and new. It's one of the finest collections of stadiums in the entire history of World Cup tournaments. What does it matter if some of the stadiums aren't brand new? Do people think if England, for example, were host that the likes of Old Trafford should be discounted on the grounds that they're old? Nonsense!

SA is a great host and, by all accounts, the enthusiasm, passion and excitement of the South African people is infectious and makes for a very special atmosphere around the country.

Keep it up, guys. Don't let the haters get you down.

^^ Thanks man. Glad someone notices. Thing is we know what it's like on the ground and everyone is having a blast here, foreign and South African. Many fans saying the vibe at this WC is unique and unmatched. The complaints always come from overseas (non-attending fans), so we do realise we have to take it with a pinch of salt and realise the criticism has no basis of experience on-the-ground.

Sad thing is, Uruguay had a stellar performance (wonder where that spirit was against France?) and SA showed their lack of experience. It was a real pity, the spirit ran at an all-time high during the pre-game and then it was extinguished by half time. I hope the crazy, happy WC vibe continues in SA and this doesn't damper local enthusiasm for the tournament.

Think the weather this morning around most of South Africa emulates the mood. It's well below freezing, but it's still bright and sunny. C'est la vie! :)

^^ Thanks man. Glad someone notices. Thing is we know what it's like on the ground and everyone is having a blast here, foreign and South African. Many fans saying the vibe at this WC is unique and unmatched. The complaints always come from overseas (non-attending fans), so we do realise we have to take it with a pinch of salt and realise the criticism has no basis of experience on-the-ground.

Sad thing is, Uruguay had a stellar performance (wonder where that spirit was against France?) and SA showed their lack of experience. It was a real pity, the spirit ran at an all-time high during the pre-game and then it was extinguished by half time. I hope the crazy, happy WC vibe continues in SA and this doesn't damper local enthusiasm for the tournament.

Think the weather this morning around most of South Africa emulates the mood. It's well below freezing, but it's still bright and sunny. C'est la vie! :)


Nobody doubts that you guys have a blast down there. I would also do, if I were in SA. But for those people who are not able to travel to SA this WC has some disappointments...this is not only my opinion. This is what I hear when I talk to friends, to colleagues in the office, to collegues in the offices in Turkey and the Netherlands....

and talking about a unique and unmatched vibe...have you been to Germany 2006 oer even 2008? ;)

http://www.bundesliga.de/media/images/em2008/07_finale/fanmeile_berlin_345x468.jpg

http://www.bilderbuch-koeln.de/img/87/fd/82092.978x1304xin.jpeg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_em_2008/images/news/1212489850.jpg

http://www.europavillon.de/images/WM%20Schlossplatz%20Zelte1.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_business/images/news/1210255908.jpg

It's funny when Maradona goes to hug someone, and no one wants to hug him.

The guy from Turkey is dumb. 2010 has the best stadiums ever used for the world cup. 2014 in Brasil is mostly old stadia.

Nobody doubts that you guys have a blast down there. I would also do, if I were in SA. But for those people who are not able to travel to SA this WC has some disappointments...this is not only my opinion. This is what I hear when I talk to friends, to colleagues in the office, to collegues in the offices in Turkey and the Netherlands....

and talking about a unique and unmatched vibe...have you been to Germany 2006 oer even 2008? ;)
Look, you obviously have a biased view and you're completely convinced this cannot be as good. So be it... your opinion is yours. I've seen and been in the middle of crowds that look just like the pics you've posted. People are obviously convinced this World Cup has been a disappointment. Problem is, you're always talking to people on the other side of the equator and getting their opinions to back up yours, yet disregarding those coming from where the event is actually held.

It may have been the jaundiced media that tainted all views up north (particularly the British and German media), because they hardly gave us a chance to succeed... It even had Sepp Blatter seething with anger! However, now that things are actually going to plan, they criticize everything else possible to vindicate their original view that the World Cup in South Africa was a mistake. You're also disregarding that you're from Germany, the previous host; so obviously you're going to view the "out-of-the-ordinary" next host through overly critical and contemptuous eyes.

Maybe we'll do the same to Brazil, but I really hope we don't and we can also be proud for them and wish them only the greatest success.

It's like Pavlovian Conditioning, you keep hearing one thing over and over again, you'll become convinced and believe it. It's sad really, because it's tainting the way you view the World Cup, it's breeding resentment and disappointment here for the way the world views us and it's harming an event that should be uniting the world, not polarizing it over tiny issues.

^^ That's absurd. You can't accept an opposing opinion to be anything other than "Pavlovian Conditioning". Please, this world cup has had its faults, as well as many good things.

Easy for you to say, when you did not have to put up with:


SA on Verge of Machete Race War
Killer Snakes Infest English Camp
Earthquake Warning for World Cup
Angola: Terrorism Warning for SA World Cup
Stadiums Won't Be Complete
Nelspruit Stadium Pitch Won't Be Ready
Plan B: Australia Steps In


We have had to put up with the most disgusting form of disinformation and lack of journalistic credibility of any World Cup. When that's the majority of the articles your populous has read for 2 years, most people will be conditioned to "expect the worst." I'm not blaming anyone other than those media outlets that lack integrity.

The reason we do not accept the criticism is not because it's opposing our view, it's that it's not coming from on-the-ground. Show me criticism from a fan attending the World Cup, then we will address it with understanding and we will address the issue a quickly as we can. I come from a position of extensive knowledge and connections in Cape Town and Western Cape province. I KNOW what's going on. I'm not going to inflate my own ego by stating my position, but all I can say is... I'm doubtless that I'm more informed than those throwing accusations and baseless criticism around.

Sorry it sounded conceited, however there seems to be a complete lack of empathy for the complete misinformation that surrounded this tournament and South Africans' subsequent frustration, a lack of support for a successful hosting and a continuing of grasping-at-straws to discredit anything pertaining to it.

So the only opinions which count are people who are there, in other words?

Nobody doubts that you guys have a blast down there. I would also do, if I were in SA. But for those people who are not able to travel to SA this WC has some disappointments...this is not only my opinion. This is what I hear when I talk to friends, to colleagues in the office, to collegues in the offices in Turkey and the Netherlands....

and talking about a unique and unmatched vibe...have you been to Germany 2006 oer even 2008?

Why the need to posts pictures of WC 2006? It's yesterday's news. Yes, it was a great World Cup but this is South Africa's time. It's all the more special for being the long awaited first World Cup finals to be played in Africa.

Come on, people. Stop being so selfish. Imagine how you would feel if your great moment was being soured by persistent sniping from people in other countries. Sure, this World Cup isn't perfect. What World Cup ever is? But can't we just allow South Africa to enjoy their moment in the spotlight without petty minded digs and slurs? Do you not have any generosity of spirit? Shame on us all if we don't.

The South African people deserve our thanks for the way that they have embraced their opportunity to host the world. The only right thing to do is to celebrate with them.

The guy from Turkey is dumb.
Apparently you can't produce any answer without personal insults !!! :ohno:
He gave his opinion, and you don't agree..OK, but keep your insults to yourself !

2010 has the best stadiums ever used for the world cup
:lol: Although I disagree with "the guy from Turkey" (Kuvvaci), I wouldn't say that South Africa 2010 "has the best stadiums ever" !

You called me "clown and fool" in another thread... But now I really wonder who is the biggest clown here ???

Have you ever heard of a WC hosted 4 years ago in Germany ? Did you see their stadiums ??


P.S Not to mention the 10 Japanese stadiums which have hosted a "half-WC" in 2002

Let's go Mexico!!!!!!! México 2 - 1 Francia...


""".... avec des oeufs contre les bleus......"""

The guy from Turkey is dumb. 2010 has the best stadiums ever used for the world cup. 2014 in Brasil is mostly old stadia.

what about 2012? :D You guys are gonna be shocked and amazed when you will see these brand new stadiums! And the atmosphere is going to be terrific! YAY EURO 2012. :)

SA has not the best stadium compilation in the WC history!

Soccer City, Moses Mabhida, Cape Town and PE are state of the art, the rest definetely not!

Compared to Germany 2006, SA 2010 is a step back in stadium developement.

The atmosphere: Every world cup has its own special atmosphere, but SA is not unique! Remember, the Fifa Fan Fest was an idea of the Beckenbauer's WC 2006 OC, millions attended the official FIFA Fena Fests in Germany 2006, the biggest one was in Berlin, space for 900,000 (!!!!!) WC fans!

May be SA WC is special for you, but a WC in a "heart of football country" is unbeatable. Believe me, it was unbetable to watch with 900,000 people the quarter final GER vs. Argentina. btw, 30°C/sunshine on that day:cheers:

Dale, dale México!! MEX 2-0 FRA

It pains me seeing some people not giving credit where it is due. South Africa is hosting a great world cup and our country will host it the only way we know how.

So the only opinions which count are people who are there, in other words?

Not necessarily. However, the fans that have made the effort to be here, experience the World Cup first hand and who have experienced the vibe, stadiums and country first hand will obviously have more of a knowledgeable point-of-view and more valid criticism to make than those just looking through a TV screen from 10,000km away.

The minor point I was making was also: We have been subjected to the most ludicrous misinformation and unfounded criticism since our preparations began; the continuation of the constant whining now, are making South Africans tired, irate and downright disappointed in the collective-intelligence of the foreign media.

You can maybe imagine if I reversed those headlines (which were all published in major British newspapers) and made them aimed at London's Olympics for example:


England on Verge of Immigrant-Right-Wing War
Poisonous Tube-Web Spiders Infest Olympic Village
Earthquake Warning for Wales and Southern England
Russia Attack: Terrorism Warning for 2012 Olympics
London Stadia Behind Schedule, No Chance of Completion
London Transport System Won't Cope
Plan B: America Steps In

*Sounds crazy doesn't it: That is exactly what the media did to us, over and over again for over 2 years.

The point I've been trying to make for ages, that seems to always fall on deaf ears, but it seems you may be grasping the gist of, is: Why are the overseas fans moaning the most, but those international fans who are here, aren't?

The atmosphere: Every world cup has its own special atmosphere, but SA is not unique!

How would you know? Have you set a toe in a local Fan Park?

People like you are amusing :hilarious Attempting to lecture people who are actually here what the atmosphere is like :nuts:

SA has not the best stadium compilation in the WC history!

Soccer City, Moses Mabhida, Cape Town and PE are state of the art, the rest definetely not!

Compared to Germany 2006, SA 2010 is a step back in stadium developement.

The atmosphere: Every world cup has its own special atmosphere, but SA is not unique! Remember, the Fifa Fan Fest was an idea of the Beckenbauer's WC 2006 OC, millions attended the official FIFA Fena Fests in Germany 2006, the biggest one was in Berlin, space for 900,000 (!!!!!) WC fans!

May be SA WC is special for you, but a WC in a "heart of football country" is unbeatable. Believe me, it was unbetable to watch with 900,000 people the quarter final GER vs. Argentina. btw, 30°C/sunshine on that day:cheers:

Seriously.................get over yourselves. WC 2006 was four years ago. Stop trying to steal the limelight. Your time is gone. It's South Africa's time now. Constantly harping back to 2006 to congratulate yourselves is very tedious - not to mention highly disrespectful of South Africa.

Besides, who gves a shit if not all the stadiums are brand new? A stadium doesn't have to be new to be a good stadium. The likes of Ellis Park and Loftus Versfield are highly atmospheric and both are famous and iconic within world sport.

How would you know? Have you set a toe in a local Fan Park?




I know, cause I was in several Fan Parks in Germany 2006 (Berlin, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen) Especially the Berlin experience was amazing!
Sry, but SA is too far away for me for a WC, I would like to visit SA, but not in your winter!

Have you been in Germany 2006? Have you set a toe in Fan Park here in Germany in 2006??

I know, cause I was in several Fan Parks in Germany 2006 (Berlin, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen) Especially the Berlin experience was amazing!
Sry, but SA is too far away for me for a WC, I would like to visit SA, but not in your winter!

Have you been in Germany 2006? Have you set a toe in Fan Park here in Germany in 2006??

For fuck's sake! Can't you just for once shut the fuck up about 2006. Saying that SA 2010 has a "unique" atmosphere is not a slight on Germany 2006. Why does it have be about you the whole time? Stop being so egocentric.

Ellis Park and Loftus Versfield are highly atmospheric and both are famous and iconic within world sport.


I've never heard of them before the World Cup started!

For e.g La Bombonera is highly atmospheric, but not state of the art:)
btw, la Bombonera is famous and iconic:)

^^ Ig'nance is bliss, GEwhinenen

I've never heard of them before the World Cup started!

For e.g La Bombonera is highly atmospheric, but not state of the art:)
btw, la Bombonera is famous and iconic:)

Well then........you are only proving your ignorance as well as your selfishness.

Not necessarily. However, the fans that have made the effort to be here, experience the World Cup first hand and who have experienced the vibe, stadiums and country first hand will obviously have more of a knowledgeable point-of-view and more valid criticism to make than those just looking through a TV screen from 10,000km away.
.
.
.

The point I've been trying to make for ages, that seems to always fall on deaf ears, but it seems you may be grasping the gist of, is: Why are the overseas fans moaning the most, but those international fans who are here, aren't?

because if you are 10.000km away and you take away the vibe, the stadiums, the country (which is of course a beauty) first hand....all that remains is what you see on TV!
..and watching the WC on TV you state a lack of atmosphere. Are there any pictures of the local Fan Parks? The only pictures I saw were from Durban beach where some hundret people were sitting in the sand.
Then of course the stadium atmosphere. I watched many WCs and always enjoyed it. This constant vuvuzela sound is so annoying.

The problem is that people tend to remember only bad things. I'm afraid that when people talk about this world cup in a few years they'll say "ah yeah it was the wc with the horrible atmosphere"

I know, cause I was in several Fan Parks in Germany 2006 (Berlin, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen) Especially the Berlin experience was amazing!
Sry, but SA is too far away for me for a WC, I would like to visit SA, but not in your winter!

Have you been in Germany 2006? Have you set a toe in Fan Park here in Germany in 2006??

No I haven't, and I don't pretend to know anything about the atmosphere at the German fan parks. As a result I am not qualified to judge whether South African fan parks are unique, as I don't have any personal experience of other fan parks to compare them to.

Neither do you, so you shouldn't be making ill-informed judgements either.

Well then........you are only proving your ignorance as well as your selfishness.

He? Have you ever heard of all (sry for mentioning:) ) WC 2006 stadiums before?
I' m not interested in Rugby.

Ignorance is indeed bliss.

The likes of Ellis Park and Loftus Versfield are highly atmospheric and both are famous and iconic within world sport.

Hey, they have never met Gilbert: http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1047/ballonvapourffrgilbert.jpg in Germany !!! So, they don't know that the stadiums you mentioned above were/are "iconic" ! :lol:



In France, we know these truly iconic stadiums (thanks to Gilbert :yes:)

the games are getting better. Maybe the players were all too excited in their first games.

Ps. Who is Gilbert? :D yeah rugby isn't popular in Germany

The problem is that people tend to remember only bad things. I'm afraid that when people talk about this world cup in a few years they'll say "ah yeah it was the wc with the horrible atmosphere"

Then, the media ain't showing sh*t again and pushing our World Cup towards public-opinion failure. I've been to every single Cape Town match. The streets were packed, the fan parks so full, you couldn't get in hours before a match, the music blared on every corner, people were dancing in the streets, people were cheering in the stations, on the trains, on the fan walks. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric. Even at Monday's match, in the worst weather conditions (gale force wind gusts, sudden downpours and 6degrees) you could imagine, spirits were high, fans were noisy and the fan walk, forecourts and stadium was packed.

They're misleading to you once again. How can you tolerate such ineffective media in a democracy? What point are they trying to prove? Are they so petty, that because they made predictions of a SA World Cup failure earlier, they have to vindicate themselves now by showing the German public a selection of the worst images only?

The attempts to discredit South Africa are nothing short of pathetic. That a G7 nation would feel so threatened by a developing country, they actively pursue a negative agenda. I do not know if that's the intention, but it's seeming more and more likely to us here in the host nation. I actually feel sorry for Brazil and what they may have to endure at the hands of a media that feels, "If it isn't in Europe, it simply isn't good enough, regardless."

Ps. Who is Gilbert? :D yeah rugby isn't popular in Germany

Gilbert is THE Rugby ball.. Just like Wilson is in other sports ! :D

He? Have you ever heard of all (sry for mentioning:) ) WC 2006 stadiums before?
I' m not interested in Rugby.

It doesn't matter what I have or haven't heard of. I'm not the one who is trying to denigrate another country's stadiums. Therefore, unlike you, I don't have to justify myself.

Then, the media ain't showing sh*t again and pushing our World Cup towards public-opinion failure. I've been to every single Cape Town match. The streets were packed, the fan parks so full, you couldn't get in hours before a match, the music blared on every corner, people were dancing in the streets, people were cheering in the stations, on the trains, on the fan walks. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric. Even at Monday's match, in the worst weather conditions (gale force wind gusts, sudden downpours and 6degrees) you could imagine, spirits were high, fans were noisy and the fan walk, forecourts and stadium was packed.

They're misleading to you once again. How can you tolerate such ineffective media in a democracy? What point are they trying to prove? Are they so petty, that because they made predictions of a SA World Cup failure earlier, they have to vindicate themselves now by showing the German public a selection of the worst images only?

The attempts to discredit South Africa are nothing short of pathetic. That a G7 nation would feel so threatened by a developing country, they actively pursue a negative agenda. I do not know if that's the intention, but it's seeming more and more likely to us here in the host nation. I actually feel sorry for Brazil and what they may have to endure at the hands of a media that feels, "If it isn't in Europe, it simply isn't good enough, regardless."

If it's any consolation, other than the vuvuzelas and the quality of the games thus far, the English media coverage of SA 2010 and the infectious enthusiasm of the people has been overwhelmingly positive.

It doesn't matter what I have or haven't heard of. I'm not the one who is trying to denigrate another country's stadiums. Therefore, unlike you, I don't have to justify myself.

You've never heard of them, but some of our stadiums are famous and iconic in the football - world.

I don't want to denigrate SA stadiums, but imo they are not state of the art!

A world famous stadium should be knwon in the world, like Estadio Bernabeu, Maracana or Wembley Stadium.

They're misleading to you once again. How can you tolerate such ineffective media in a democracy? What point are they trying to prove? Are they so petty, that because they made predictions of a SA World Cup failure earlier, they have to vindicate themselves now by showing the German public a selection of the worst images only?

The attempts to discredit South Africa are nothing short of pathetic. That a G7 nation would feel so threatened by a developing country, they actively pursue a negative agenda.

The main critics are about the vuvuzelas! They're killing the atmosphere in the stadiums, no chants and not goal celebrations by the spectators, just the horrible sound of the vuvuzelas.


In the media are no complains about the stadiums, Soccer City, Durban and Cape Town are commended as world class stadiums,
Green Point is seen as one of the finest stadiums in the world.

Ignorance is indeed bliss.

You've never heard of them, but some of our stadiums are famous and iconic in the football - world.

I don't want to denigrate SA stadiums, but imo they are not state of the art!

A world famous stadium should be knwon in the world, like Estadio Bernabeu, Maracana or Wembley Stadium.

I didn't say that I hadn't heard of the German stadiums. I said that, unlike you, I didn't have to justify myself because I wasn't trying to denigrate another country's stadiums.

And I repeat, what does it matter that the likes of Ellis Park and Loftus Versfield aren't state of the art? Was Stuttgart's stadium state of the art? Was Berlin's? No. They were both old stadiums. But they were still perfectly good enough........just as the South African stadiums are.

And how many of the 2006 stadiums were famous to the same extent as the Bernabeu or Maracana? None. So why insist on that level for South African stadiums?

Please.....................enough of this tedious one upmanship. This isn't a pissing contest. Germany did a great job in 2006. But this is 2010. And South Africa are also doing a great job. Time for you to move on and let South Africa enjoy its moment.

getting people on Skyscraper City to stop arguing with eachother is like rounding up all the Vuvuzelas and burning them. Ain't ever gonna happen.

We need special "i hate vuvuzela" thread for all this talks ))))


I like World Cup logo

http://www.b3tards.com/u/223fffe836ec818c3ab0/cdm.gif

Was Stuttgart's stadium state of the art? Was Berlin's? No. They were both old stadiums.

Stuttgart was the only "old" stadium, Berlin was essentially new.
The pitch was lowered, the stands were demolished and rebuilt. The roof was new aswell.

http://www.aip.de/image_archive/images/olympiastadion.jpg

ENOUGH! :mad2:

and those same German architects that worked on several German venues, GMP, designed Cape Town Stadium, Moses Mabhida Stadium, AND Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

In fact they learnt lesssons from the venues in Germany, hence no retractable roof in Cape Town, no columns inside the venue holding up the roof etc.


In addition, FIFA's venue requirements were refined and finalized due to South Africa placing pressure on FIFA to fix the stadium requirements so that this could be applied to any venue. These requirements will be even more strict for Brazil 2014.

HOK were involved in Soccer City.

AFL architects who have worked on Old Trafford/New Nou Camp designed Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Rustenburg is a community owned venue funded by the community.

Loftus is a very well used rugby/football venue.

Ellis Park is historic and seats over 60,000, why would we not use it?

Bloemfontein's upgrade is great, with all seats close to the action. Its grandstand is wonderful given the "traditional feel" it still provides.

My love for the Peter Mokaba Stadium is still strong - looks even better under the floodlights. The Mexicans are making a decent amount of noise too, there's thousands of them.

great game so far...AND the first one with atmosphere. Thanks to the mexican fans

The best atmosphere´so far, thumbs up!

Stuttgart was the only "old" stadium

hmm... Only ???

Are you sure ??

So, what about Franken Stadion ? :D

P.S I'm so stressed about France's game... so I post about Germany 2006 with my iphone ! :lol:

Love the one guy's poster at the Mexico/France game:

Instead of the LOC slogan: "Feel it, it is Here!" He wrote, "Feel it, it is COLD!"

great game so far...AND the first one with atmosphere. Thanks to the mexican fans

Indeed.
I was quite "shocked" to finally hear some chants in decent volume.
What do they shout after the french keeper makes a goal kick? I guess it's nothing to nice...

Btw there was a news article about which nations bought the most tickets for this WC somewhere in this thread. I think USA surprisingly had the most. Anyone can find this news? I did a quick search but with no luck so far.

South Africa 2010 has the best stadiums along with France 98. Good balance between new and "old" stadiums. In fact, besides Soccer City and perhaps Durban, the "old" venues have the best atmosphere so far. Ellis and Loftus look classy.

^^Yes, America did buy the most tickets, followed by England.

hmm... Only ???

Are you sure ??

So, what about Franken Stadion ? :D

P.S I'm so stressed about France's game... so I post about Germany 2006 with my iphone ! :lol:

Franken Stadion was refurbished in 1991 (new stands, new roof) and again for the WC 2006.

@parcdesprices: :-(

...... has the best stadiums along with France 98. Good balance between new and "old" stadiums.



:ohno: ...because of this mix between old and new France will build loads of N E W stadiums for the 2016 Euro:ohno::ohno:
Even the stadiums built or refurbíshed for the 1998 WC (except SDF) are not good enough for the EURO 2016 with 24 teams...

Dale, dale México!! MEX 2-0 FRA

oh yea... :cheers:

I can hear the celebrations in Ireland already!

How can a team with those talented players play so poorly and fail even to look like scoring a goal in their first two games? Domenech is clueless.

Great performance by Mexico, though. If Giovanni Dos Santos can play like this in the Premier League, maybe he does have a future at Tottenham after all!

Indeed.
I was quite "shocked" to finally hear some chants in decent volume.
What do they shout after the french keeper makes a goal kick? I guess it's nothing to nice...

Btw there was a news article about which nations bought the most tickets for this WC somewhere in this thread. I think USA surprisingly had the most. Anyone can find this news? I did a quick search but with no luck so far.

The atmosphere looked great, I am very happy with my compatriots for it.

When the rival goalkeeper kicks the ball, we shout: 'Put00000000', a terrible insult :lol:

Franken Stadion was refurbished in 1991 (new stands, new roof) and again for the WC 2006.

@parcdesprices: :-(

Only reason you have newer stadiums is due to the fact that the shit was blown out of them in 1945....

Now let me pull my dick out and say ours is better than yours.......stupid argument, isn't it!

Just enjoy the games.......

Indeed.
I was quite "shocked" to finally hear some chants in decent volume.
What do they shout after the french keeper makes a goal kick? I guess it's nothing to nice...

Btw there was a news article about which nations bought the most tickets for this WC somewhere in this thread. I think USA surprisingly had the most. Anyone can find this news? I did a quick search but with no luck so far.

There were 20,000 mexicans in attendence today., They shout "putooooooo" at the goalkeeper when he hits the ball., it is (pardon me, i'm just explaining) a gay slur.
And, yes, the US is the county that bought more ticktes outside SA (many of them are mexican-americans).- fallowed by the UK, Brasil, Mexico and then Japan, I think.

There were 20,000 mexicans in attendence today., They shout "putooooooo" at the goalkeeper when he hits the ball., it is (pardon me, i'm just explaining) a gay slur.
And, yes, the US is the county that bought more ticktes outside SA (many of them are mexican-americans).- fallowed by the UK, Brasil, Mexico and then Japan, I think.

Viva Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana: :cheers:

South Africa 2010 has the best stadiums along with France 98. Good balance between new and "old" stadiums. In fact, besides Soccer City and perhaps Durban, the "old" venues have the best atmosphere so far. Ellis and Loftus look classy.

Germany 2006 stadiums were far better than most south africans IMO, you had Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Köln and big three, all of them, athletics left, with all stands closer to the pitch :)

SA 2010 has brand new big three plus Polokwane and P.Elizabeth, but pitch is pretty far from the crowd specially at the goal ends

Reading some of the racist comments by blogggers on BBC 606 and how they ridicule South Africana and its people, I will be pleased to see getting knocked out sooner and there supporters go home....bloody good riddance.

they dnt shout "putoo" they shout "duro"

Reading some of the racist comments by blogggers on BBC 606 and how they ridicule South Africana and its people, I will be pleased to see getting knocked out sooner and there supporters go home....bloody good riddance.

??

You will be pleased to see who getting knocked out?

Germany 2006 stadiums were far better than most south africans IMO, you had Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Köln and big three, all of them, athletics left, with all stands closer to the pitch :)

SA 2010 has brand new big three plus Polokwane and P.Elizabeth, but pitch is pretty far from the crowd specially at the goal ends

Thats so far off its not even funny.

Germany 2006 stadiums were far better than most south africans IMO, you had Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Köln and big three, all of them, athletics left, with all stands closer to the pitch :)

SA 2010 has brand new big three plus Polokwane and P.Elizabeth, but pitch is pretty far from the crowd specially at the goal ends

I see, but i'm not talking about how modern the stadiums are. I'm simply saying that i rather have a good balance with new and "old" stadiums with nice atmosphere (just like France 98) than plenty of modern stadiums with none (just like Korea/Japan 2002).

Well my only criticisms of the games are 1. Vuvuzelas.. and 2. The thousands of ticket holders that didnt show up to games.

Spin it any way you want.. People didnt arrive in South Africa.. or whatever, bottom line is, empty seats every where.


Oh yea.. few pages back someone said these stadia were the best in all of the WCs of all time. Please... this I really dont care about... But that stadium with the track going around it is awful!!

??

You will be pleased to see who getting knocked out?
I'm assuming he meant England.

Trying to find a decent post on the 606 boards is akin to trying to find a needle in a haystack so I wouldn't put it past some of the numpties on there to have made some snide comments regarding SA. It'll be interesting to see what was actually said though, I've always been under the impression that the boards over there are moderated quite intensively?

All three games today had much less vuvuzela noise, I think it's the broadcast filtering out much of the noise, it's not like it's hard to filter out one note :D MEX-FRA had a great atmosphere.

I think it's a matter of less people blowing them. That just proves that tourists are blowing them too! The Mexicans decided to sing instead.

I think it's a matter of less people blowing them. That just proves that tourists are blowing them too! The Mexicans decided to sing instead.

Noup., the Southafricans are the ones blowing the vvzls., Today there were 20,000 mexicans at the stadium that didn't have vvzls. Less southafricans means less vvzls. Mexicans, Germans, Brits, Agrentinans, Brazilians, etc. like to shout and sing, not blow vvzls.

I just loved how México was almost the home team at polokwane. If moré than 20,000 mexicans werent enough, some southafricans were supporting México. Also the "cielito lindo" was sung quite loud.

Today all México is crazy about the match, celebrations everywere.

What a shambles this World cup has been!! Poor security, poor attendance, annoying bee sound every time you switch on the TV...god help us all if this is what Brazil will be like in 4 years (highly doubt it). I bet FIFA are sorely regretting giving this even the light of day!


Thats so far off its not even funny.
I would say this easily appears to be the worst stadium infrastructure of any world cup in recent times. Maybe its the contrast of Germany hosting such an amazing world cup but from looking at it I can't believe these stadiums are considered worthy of FIFAs standards! Seats look far, stadiums lack security (on Australian news the showed how a guy many times could get into the matches without even having a ticket...and bypassing all security checks!) but worst of all its the vuvuzelas or whatever they are called which has put me off this event. Oh and the Jabulani...oh dear.

Mexicans today thought everybody else how to silence the vuvuzuelas with REAL atmosphere! :D

This is how games are supposed to sound like!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI6_QqOJvf4

(from 06 WC)

What a shambles this World cup has been!! Poor security, poor attendance, annoying bee sound every time you switch on the TV...god help us all if this is what Brazil will be like in 4 years (highly doubt it). I bet FIFA are sorely regretting giving this even the light of day!



I would say this easily appears to be the worst stadium infrastructure of any world cup in recent times. Maybe its the contrast of Germany hosting such an amazing world cup but from looking at it I can't believe these stadiums are considered worthy of FIFAs standards! Seats look far, stadiums lack security (on Australian news the showed how a guy many times could get into the matches without even having a ticket...and bypassing all security checks!).

Overall thaats going abit far. The attendances have surely been down and the atmosphere has been deafed by the horns, but overall this is Africa's WC. It was never going to be a mirror image of a European version of the event.

In many ways I rate the US '94 and this in similar veins, with the former quite flat in atmosphere compared to usual WC's, mainly because large numbers of people were non-football fans. This one its opposite in that it goes the other way as theres too much going on. They are at the extremes which means that they are not typical WC atmospheres. In saying that there is nothing wrong with that .. it is the sporting atmosphere of those countries. It would be boring if all events were the same.

Overall thaats going abit far. The attendances have surely been down and the atmosphere has been deafed by the horns, but overall this is Africa's WC. It was never going to be a mirror image of a European version of the event.

If it takes a constant, ear numbing buzz from a few cheap trumpets to differentiate an African world cup from a European one, then I sincerely hope the event is never hosted in Africa again. I admire the passion that the Africans show outside of the arenas but why should they compromise on security? And as far as I know, tickets were made cheap to accommodate for the poorer demographic of the country...so there really is no excuse for the poor attendances.

BTW completely agree with your comments on the 94 WC. The US has a tendency to draw out all excitement from international events which they host ala Atlanta '96.

What a shambles this World cup has been!! Poor security, poor attendance, annoying bee sound every time you switch on the TV...god help us all if this is what Brazil will be like in 4 years (highly doubt it). I bet FIFA are sorely regretting giving this even the light of day!



I would say this easily appears to be the worst stadium infrastructure of any world cup in recent times. Maybe its the contrast of Germany hosting such an amazing world cup but from looking at it I can't believe these stadiums are considered worthy of FIFAs standards! Seats look far, stadiums lack security (on Australian news the showed how a guy many times could get into the matches without even having a ticket...and bypassing all security checks!) but worst of all its the vuvuzelas or whatever they are called which has put me off this event. Oh and the Jabulani...oh dear.

Worst stadium infrastructure of any in recent years? What a load of bollocks!

SA's stadiums are up there with the best. So what if they're not all brand, spanking new? The likes of Ellis Park and Loftus Versfield are still excellent, atmospheric stadiums.

As to empty seats, blame Fifa for that. Security? I couldn't say. But I dare say that if a journalist tries hard enough to get into a stadium illegally anywhere in the world, he will succeed.

And as for vuvuzelas, the noise from those people complaining about them has now officially become more annoying than the noise from those people blowing them.

Yet again, I find myself having to ask why some people are so mean spirited and small minded that they have to carp and snipe perpetually from afar. Can't they just let the South Africans enjoy their moment? By all accounts, everyone in SA is having a fantastic time and I'm quite certain that Fifa are thrilled to be there.

If it takes a constant, ear numbing buzz from a few cheap trumpets to differentiate an African world cup from a European one, then I sincerely hope the event is never hosted in Africa again. I admire the passion that the Africans show outside of the arenas but why should they compromise on security? And as far as I know, tickets were made cheap to accommodate for the poorer demographic of the country...so there really is no excuse for the poor attendances.

BTW completely agree with your comments on the 94 WC. The US has a tendency to draw out all excitement from international events which they host ala Atlanta '96.

The empty seats are because of tickets that Fifa sold to companies (mostly foreign). They simply haven't turned up at the games.

As to the tickets being cheap, everything is relative. FIFA did take the recession into account but a ticket for a World Cup game still costs a whole week's wages for the vast majority of South Africans.

I just loved how México was almost the home team at polokwane. If moré than 20,000 mexicans werent enough, some southafricans were supporting México. Also the "cielito lindo" was sung quite loud.

Today all México is crazy about the match, celebrations everywere.

Most incredible thing I ever saw was Portugal v England in Portugal (at the Stadio da Luz) during Euro 2004. The English equalled or outnumbered the Portuguese in their own stadium!

Same thing happened at the 2003 Rugby World Cup final in Australia. There were as many English in the 80,000 crowd as Australians!

less than 4 hours to go :banana:
http://bundesliga.de/media/images/wm2010/cacau_aus_jubel468x345.jpg

And as for vuvuzelas, the noise from those people complaining about them has now officially become more annoying than the noise from those people blowing them.


Amen.

What a shambles this World cup has been!! Poor security, poor attendance, annoying bee sound every time you switch on the TV...god help us all if this is what Brazil will be like in 4 years (highly doubt it). I bet FIFA are sorely regretting giving this even the light of day!



I would say this easily appears to be the worst stadium infrastructure of any world cup in recent times. Maybe its the contrast of Germany hosting such an amazing world cup but from looking at it I can't believe these stadiums are considered worthy of FIFAs standards! Seats look far, stadiums lack security (on Australian news the showed how a guy many times could get into the matches without even having a ticket...and bypassing all security checks!) but worst of all its the vuvuzelas or whatever they are called which has put me off this event. Oh and the Jabulani...oh dear.

You're a right big ass! And showing your utter ignorance and reliance on Network Nine or Seven for all your opinions rather than your own intellect. Just you stating that the stadiums suck shows how unread and uninformed you truly are. Cape Town, Durban, PE and Johannesburg's stadiums were designed by Germans. Have been lauded left-right and centre by FIFA and most international media, have been showcased from architecture mags around the world to Discovery's Extreme Engineering.

You give Aussies a bad name... that type of mentality belongs in Coober Pedy, not a city like Adelaide.

You're sitting in Adelaide passing judgment. Again, relying on biased media (that predicted a World Cup failure in the first place - so now trying to vindicate their original reporting) to garner your tarnished information.

I'll have you know, I have met tons of Aussies on the ground here in Cape Town and the feeling couldn't be more opposite.

They said, verbatim: "Cape Town is awesome. I cannot understand why S.Africans emigrate to Australia now that we're here, could you tell us why? This place is like a laid back Sydney. Just as vibey, exciting and world class. We could easily live here."

PS. I mentioned one of my mates commented it looked like Adelaide with a mountain. These Sydneysiders said, again verbatim, "No way, Adelaide is a boring hole... there's nothing to do there, Cape Town ain't anything like it."

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Your fellow Aussies talking who actually made an effort to be here, rather than you, who chose to look at the TV and pass negativity. We love all the fans but are sick of those passing ill-informed, hearsay judgment from 10,000km away.

^^ I don't know why you South Africans keep feeling the need to justify everything. You will never be able to please everybody and you will never be able to change the minds of those who have already made up their minds.

Let it be, confident in the fact that you have put on a spectacular show and proven all the naysayers wrong. Also be fully aware that nothing is going to be perfect - nothing ever is.

Australians (and I am generalizing) have the biggest ego in the world - nothing compares to them, they are so blissfuly ignorant and so far up their own asses that they have forgotten what shit smells like yet it surrounds them on every level.

Let the people bitch - you as South Africans should sit back and enjoy the show, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity - don't let some ignoramus tell you otherwise.

The more you try to justify things, the more desperate you look. Just let it be and have FUN ! ;)

^^ You may be right. I should actually just stop coming to SSC till after the World Cup. Just visit the South African section for development updates.

It's such a pity though. So much negativity over nothing. South Africans intrinsically want to please, so we do get upset when we're under constant public-opinion attack.

Maybe we need to get over that and be a little "up our own asses" for a change, even if it's just for a month. :)

Noup., the Southafricans are the ones blowing the vvzls., Today there were 20,000 mexicans at the stadium that didn't have vvzls. Less southafricans means less vvzls. Mexicans, Germans, Brits, Agrentinans, Brazilians, etc. like to shout and sing, not blow vvzls.

No, that only proves my point. Mexicans aren't the largest ticket-holding foreign nation by far. What about the England vs. US game? There were vuvuzelas there, and England and the USA was perhaps the game with the most foreigners there.

^^ You may be right. I should actually just stop coming to SSC till after the World Cup. Just visit the South African section for development updates.

It's such a pity though. So much negativity over nothing. South Africans intrinsically want to please, so we do get upset when we're under constant public-opinion attack.

Maybe we need to get over that and be a little "up our own asses" for a change, even if it's just for a month. :)

Good boy - you learn fast ;) Have fun mate :cheers:

This is a satirical website (before anyone goes into mass panic :hilarious )

-----

Bafana-Uruguay referee spends night sleeping with one eye open

http://www.hayibo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MassimoC.jpg

PRETORIA. Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee who officiated over Bafana’s loss to Uruguay last night, was said this morning to be “a little tired” after a night spent cowering under his blankets waiting for a machete to split his door open. Soccer pundits have responded that it is probably customary for Busacca to sleep with one eye open as he also appears to referee with only one eye open.

Following South Africa’s decisive 3-0 loss to Uruguay in their second game of the World Cup last night, a nation united by grief has unanimously voted to adopt the Swiss referee as official scapegoat.

“The other option was Diego Forlan,” explained Bafana Supporters’ Association chairperson Revenge Madoda. “But we believe that man has very powerful muti in his alice-band that we don’t want to be messing with.”

Massimo Bussaca, whose name is rumoured to translate into English as ‘Maximum Butt-Sack’, awarded a controversial penalty in the 76th minute after a foul which saw goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off. (:hilarious) A lengthy gap ensued, during which time someone in the crowd who once brought on the halftime water-bottles for Kaiser Chiefs volunteered to become the replacement goalie.

“It was really nice of him,” confirmed coach Carlos Parreira. “We weren’t sure if he would fit into Khune’s shoes but as it turns out, they’re both a size ten. So that was a relief.

“And we asked him what he’s doing next Tuesday night, and he said he had plans to go to a braai but he could probably get out of it, so we’re sorted for a keeper for the France match too.”

Large portions of the home crowd began leaving the stands after Uruguayan striker Forlan netted the penalty for Uruguay’s second goal.

They have since been criticised for poor spectator etiquette, but Revenge Madoda explained that this is a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Many of them had arranged to get a lift home with Khune,” he said. “He has a sweet pimped-up kombi and you know what it’s like, when your lift leaves, you have to leave too.”

Since the game, South African police officials have announced that the Swiss referee will be assigned “around-the-clock security”.

“By which we mean that if he agrees to stay in a small holding pen around that big clock in the central courtyard of Sandton Square, no serious harm will come to him,” explained a spokesman.

“If the holding pen happens to have large gaps between the bars, through which a passer-by might want to poke a sharpened stick, or hurl an over-ripe tomato, we probably wouldn’t notice because we’ve got our hands full tracking down FIFA copyright infringements.”

Source: Hayibo.com (http://www.hayibo.com/bafana-uruguay-referee-spends-night-sleeping-with-one-eye-open/)

Good boy - you learn fast ;) Have fun mate :cheers:
*PAT PAT* When I'm not here, I actually do... the WC has been a blast. Cape Town is insane now, in the best kind of way.

*PAT PAT* When I'm not here, I actually do... the WC has been a blast. Cape Town is insane now, in the best kind of way.

Good to hear, have a drink for all the Saffa's in New Zealand :cheers: .... that will be quite a few :lol: as they say here - get flat on the tiles ;)

Despite France's best attempts, that game last night was actually quite entertaining. Mexican's could be heard on TV which was great. Tonight Cape Town will get a real atmosphere too. :)

"However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say – nothing can stop us now! ” : Thabo Mbeki former president of the Republic of South Africa

We are Africans

http://y.delfi.lt/norm/6375/1532421_M0yA1P.jpeg

http://y.delfi.lt/norm/6375/1532421_M0yA1P.jpeg

^^ :hahaha:
I remember warning fans a year ago already in the World Cup threads, that South Africa is not a jungle. We were getting questions then about if "Africa has winter?"

Yes, Antarctica is just south of us (we are on the very southern tip of Africa - not the Serengeti-Africa you see on Discovery), we are not a tropical country, it does get cold. Yes, some places, it does snow.

I laugh some less-well-read fans rocked up in safari outfits with khaki short-sleeve shirts and shorts! HEHE :) Guess it does our retail and mall sales good! Jacket and Scarf sales skyrocket.

today the weather is great in PE. I hope it will be a great game. Go Germany

Cape Town is nice today too :) A comfortable 20 degrees Celcius. Glad the weather's cleared up for the England vs. Algeria game tonight! I can only imagine the mass movement of tourists up Table Mountain while the sun is shining :lol:

I see, but i'm not talking about how modern the stadiums are. I'm simply saying that i rather have a good balance with new and "old" stadiums with nice atmosphere (just like France 98) than plenty of modern stadiums with none (just like Korea/Japan 2002).

I fully agree, but Germany 2006 had both !

SA 2010 has brand new big three plus Polokwane and P.Elizabeth, but pitch is pretty far from the crowd specially at the goal ends

Maybe because of Rugby ;) ????

Well that might be a timely dose of reality to those who had already awarded the World Cup to Germany.

Having said that, a dreadful performance by the ref. And what on earth was Loew thinking of when he took Ozil off? Germany were cutting Serbia to shreds for the first 20 minutes of the second half and Ozil was at the heart of it. After he went off, Germany totally lost their rhythm and threat. Marin and Cacao did nothing and Podolski had a shocker.

Well that might be a timely dose of reality to those who had already awarded the World Cup to Germany.

Having said that, a dreadful performance by the ref. And what on earth was Loew thinking of when he took Ozil off? Germany were cutting Serbia to shreds for the first 20 minutes of the second half and Ozil was at the heart of it. After he went off, Germany totally lost their rhythm and threat. Marin and Cacao did nothing and Podolski had a shocker.

Well Özil was far behind his abilities today. Müller was stronger. It was a bad performance by the German team at all. The biggest mistake of Löw was to bring Klose from the start. Klose played a terrible season...Cacau should be the starting striker

But talking about the referee...9 yellow and a red card in one game that had not one vicious foul..... a red card in nearly every game. The FIFA refs. are really overacting. maybe they should play a little bit more british

Well that might be a timely dose of reality to those who had already awarded the World Cup to Germany.

Having said that, a dreadful performance by the ref. And what on earth was Loew thinking of when he took Ozil off? Germany were cutting Serbia to shreds for the first 20 minutes of the second half and Ozil was at the heart of it. After he went off, Germany totally lost their rhythm and threat. Marin and Cacao did nothing and Podolski had a shocker.

A poor performance by Germany and the referee. May be our team will take an A380 back home with France.........:bash:

Referee was poor but so were Germany. Still I'm not complaining!

Commentary just said FIFA have claimed the USA have the most tickets after RSA at the WC. Not really sure what to make of that tbh - minority sport but then the largest population of all the competing teams. Then again knowing the incompetence of FIFA's ticketing I wouldn't trust that information anyway...

No, that only proves my point. Mexicans aren't the largest ticket-holding foreign nation by far. What about the England vs. US game? There were vuvuzelas there, and England and the USA was perhaps the game with the most foreigners there.

Oh, c'mon.- The foreigners aren't the ones blowing the vvzls, you know that.- I'll bet you anything that in the round of 16 and later games we will NOT hear the annoying buzzing because more of 80% of the attendence will be from the playing countries. And Mexico is the 4th largest ticket holder after US, Eng and Brazil.

Oh, c'mon.- The foreigners aren't the ones blowing the vvzls, you know that.- I'll bet you anything that in the round of 16 and later games we will NOT hear the annoying buzzing because more of 80% of the attendence will be from the playing countries. And Mexico is the 4th largest ticket holder after US, Eng and Brazil.

Dont worry dude, we as a nation are still down after our loss to Uruguay. We wll be back with our VUVUZELAs ... starting from tonight in Cape Town stadium

Oh, c'mon.- The foreigners aren't the ones blowing the vvzls, you know that.- I'll bet you anything that in the round of 16 and later games we will NOT hear the annoying buzzing because more of 80% of the attendence will be from the playing countries. And Mexico is the 4th largest ticket holder after US, Eng and Brazil.

Erm, I'm actually here. I think I can trust my own eyes :lol:

I'm not saying that South Africans aren't blowing them. I'm saying South Africans certainly aren't the only ones blowing them. That Mexico match simply proves my point to those thinking we're talking nonsense. Even as you said, the US and England are the two largest ticket-purchasing nations, and there were certainly vuvuzelas being blown at the match between them.

Even as you said, the US and England are the two largest ticket-purchasing nations, and there were certainly vuvuzelas being blown at the match between them.

The kind of England fans that travel to world cups are 'real' England fans and I'd have thought a very small minority, if any, would use a vuvuzela during a game.

Clearly foreign fans have also embraced them, but let's not forget that there are large numbers of neutral RSA fans at every game.

The kind of England fans that travel to world cups are 'real' England fans and I'd have thought a very small minority, if any, would use a vuvuzela during a game.

Clearly foreign fans have also embraced them, but let's not forget that there are large numbers of neutral RSA fans at every game.

Yes I definitely agree with you on your second point, but foreign fans have certainly embraced them too. Considering no one seems to believe us I was comparing the England vs. USA and Mexico games as an example :D

Slovenia v USA...............by far the best game of the World Cup thus far.

The US will be aggrieved that the ref disallowed Edu's goal for no good reason. But the Slovenians might say that the US were lucky not to go down to ten men in the first minute of the game when Dempsey caught one of the Slovenians with his elbow. So probably a fair result overall.

I can't decide, though, whether it's a good result for England.

We was robbed, man! We was R-O-B-B-E-D !

The Mexico fans were superb in the France game. I expect the England fans to be better tonight. GSTQ sounded quite loud in Rustenburg but it should sound fantastic in Cape Town! :D

Maybe not quite this loud though:
F8ZlVj-5l5s
(turn your speakers up)

I think at last this world cup has really kicked off, US -v- Slovenia was a great game! The Germans losing to the serbians, France losing to Mexico. England..

We was robbed, man! We was R-O-B-B-E-D !

Don't worry, we're working on finding that ref down here and giving him drug resistant herpes for his "efforts" during the match. :nuts:

WTF! Weak start, weak defence, lucky to get to 2-2, score the winner and what it's called back for we still don't know! Two horribly officiated games in a row.

Did any neutral fans, or even any Slovenian fans see a reason for that goal to be dissalowed?

^^ yeap, that was a totally legal goal.. but what I saw was a lost referee making mistakes for both sides.. so not much to complain about!! fair result IMO :cheers:

WTF! Weak start, weak defence, lucky to get to 2-2, score the winner and what it's called back for we still don't know! Two horribly officiated games in a row.

True, but I think the U.S. will beat Algeria and classified, the U.S. also did something that Slovenia can not, draw with England.

Support my northern neighbors, the U.S.

So we learn something that we learn each and every World Cup. Referees from small countries are always overwhelmed by the high quality of play at the World Cup and are flat out awful. When will FIFA stop allowing these referees into the World Cup. You're either the best referee or you're not, no matter what country you're from. Don't bring referees from Mali and other small countries for representation so they can do a horrendous job.

So we learn something that we learn each and every World Cup. Referees from small countries are always overwhelmed by the high quality of play at the World Cup and are flat out awful. When will FIFA stop allowing these referees into the World Cup. You're either the best referee or you're not, no matter what country you're from. Don't bring referees from Mali and other small countries for representation so they can do a horrendous job.

I was just going to say the same thing. Watching Honduras/Chile the other day the ref was from Seychelles and didn't have a ****ing clue what he was doing out there.

Serbiaaaaaaaa....