Posts Tagged ‘ Paraguay ’

SPAIN vs. PARAGUAY: ‘La Roja’ look like red-hot favourites to win!

    The NETHERLANDS beats BRAZIL. GERMANY demolishes ARGENTINA. And so I weep for South America.  I wanted a Latin-American team to lift the World Cup.  But it looks like Europe are bouncing back after the exits by ENGLAND, ITALY and FRANCE.  

Tonight, in the Ellis Park ‘bull-ring’ in Johannesburg, it looks almost certain that SPAIN will go through to the semi-finals supported by the fan cheers of “Ole! Ole!”  (They are FIFA-ranked # 2 in the world and PARAGUAY are ranked # 31.) 

The Reds (‘La Roja’, as they are known at home) have been in 4 World Cup quarter-finals before and have never made it to the semi-final rounds. ( Twice they lost matches in those tournaments on penalty shoot-outs.)  

On the other hand, PARAGUAY has never made it to the WC quarter-finals before.  So they come in as the ‘under-dog’ team.   In fact, some betting odds I’ve just checked have SPAIN on offer as firm favourites with odds of 1-2.  Now that looks like an almost “racing certainty” in my books.   

If you’ve been following my blogs, you’ll remember that I always try to fancy the ‘small nation’ teams, where they seem to have a chance, but – phew! – SPAIN’s record is quite daunting. 

I would love nothing more than PARAGUAY, with its 6.5m people, to party in the streets after a win tonight, but sadly I think the Ellis Park ‘bull-ring’ will see the Spainards as the victorious matador. 

A quick search online of game commentators and tipsters shows that SPAIN should win by 3 goals to 1, as an average across 8 predictions.  I’m not forecasting that final score exactly, but it certainly does look like a great night for the ‘reds’.   (As a lover of South Africa’s fine red wines, I look forward to toasting their success accordingly!)   

To our Paraguayan team and their fans – thank you for spending time with us here in sunny South Africa and for showing us your skills and warmth, both on and off the field.  Fly home safely and we’ll see you at Brazil 2014. 

Hasta la vista!  And – VIVA espana! 

(Brian – in Durban, South Africa.)

2010
07/03
CATEGORY
FIFA 2010 World Cup
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JAPAN vs. PARAGUAY: They’re gonna SAMBA in ASCUNCION!

…Will this be the first-time ever that PARAGUAY makes it to the quarter-finals of a FIFA World Cup?  

I think so, and I reckon they’ll win narrowly by 2-1, in a tightly-fought match.  

JAPAN are really plucky and their game has improved considerably, but I think that South Africa 2010 will see yet another South American team do well.   Sadly, I would love to see an Asian team in the top-8, but I don’t see it here.  Maybe in Brazil 2014?  

I must admit, I was very impressed with JAPAN’s 3-1 win over DENMARK, who beat CAMEROON 2-1. 

But what gives me faith in PARAGUAY was their 2-0 win over SLOVAKIA and the fact that they drew 1-1 with ITALY.

Anyway – if you’ve been following my blogs, you’ll know that I generally back smaller nations.  Paraguay has less than 7m people and the Japanese population is about 18 times that size.   (I know football is not the dominant national sport in Japan like it is for the South Americans, but I’m going to stay with backing the ‘small guys’ in this match!) 

VIVA Paraguay and I hope they samba in the streets of Asuncion today – big time – whilst I fear Japan’s rising sun, will set on them, here in Pretoria this evening!

(Brian – Durban, South Africa.)

2010
06/29
CATEGORY
FIFA 2010 World Cup
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In less than 20 minutes, Paraguay kicks off against New Zealand.  Two small nations come together to test their hearts and minds on the football field.

Now, that’s AYOBA! (This means “awesome” – in South African street-lingo!)

Here is Paraguay with her roughly 6,5 million people against NZ with their almost 4,5 million people.

New Zealand lamb and mutton against Paraguayan veal and beef!  Ooohh! I get hungry at the thought…

But, seriously – here are two of the smaller nations at this FIFA 2010 World Cup playing for the match of their lives.  What happens here today – plus in the Italy vs. Slovakia match in Johannesburg at the same time – determines their destinies in this global tournament.

Eish!  I can’t chose sides…for me it is all about HEART.

To get here, BOTH teams have shown big commitment and massive spirit, and so I will salute them both.

As a rugby fan, I want New Zealand to show they can do more than just play rugby and cricket.  As a new-age football fan, I really want South America to stamp their footprint on this tournament…for the ‘people of the south – Mzansi!’

So – may the best team win, and may our hearts still be with whoever might go home after this match.  For they’ve brought pride and more into this game.

(Brian – in Durban, South Africa.)

2010
06/24
CATEGORY
FIFA 2010 World Cup
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Should we get ready to Samba?

As a South African, I’m just lovin’ this World Cup! 

As an African, I cried when Brazil beat Cote d’Ivoire last night, but then I heard great reports this morning of Brazilian fans teaching our African brothaz and sistaz to SAMBA at Soccer City and around Soweto after the game.

My buddies from Bloemfontein said the same thing happened there after the great win by Paraguay yesterday.

This is what makes this tournament all so vibrant and utterly spectacular!  Different peoples from around the world, singing and dancing and blowing their vvuvzelas like crazy for the ‘beautiful game’.

I’ve read much criticism in the European media about the noise and the exuberance of our local and international fans at the games. But, hey – this is Africa, and no one understands this better than our fellow “southerners” of the world, the South Americans!

So I say – bring it on, people of the south.  This is Mzansi, and we LOVE being from the south!

Good luck to Honduras and Chile today. (I know Mexico and Honduras aren’t shown in our blog image, but they’re all there…in spirit!)

Methinks we Africans need to learn to Samba quickly, ‘coz that looks like where some of the real winners are coming from!  And Brazil 2014 is looking really, really exciting!

(Brian – in Durban, South Africa.)

2010
06/21
CATEGORY
FIFA 2010 World Cup
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BRAVO Paraguay – VIVA South America!

Eish, but Paraguay did it in style!  Now that’s AYOBA!

In South Africa, we say “Eish!” when we’re a little bewildered, and caught off guard.  We say “Ayoba!” when something is ‘awesome’.

So BRAVO, Paraguay.  This afternoon’s 2-0 win over Slovakia ensures you’re through to the last 16!

That makes you the first South Amercian team in the FIFA 2010 World Cup to qualify for the knock-out stages.  Sensational stuff!

I’m sure every one of your 7 million people have shut down work for the day. I’d love to see the parties in Ascuncion tonight.

I hope this inspires your national neightbours, Brazil and Argentina to also do great things.

In case you guys don’t know – here in South Africa we call our land ‘Mzansi’. This refers to ‘the south’.  So you guys are also from ‘the south’.

Now that is truly AYOBA!  Viva MZANSI!

(Brian – in Durban, South Africa.)

2010
06/20
CATEGORY
FIFA 2010 World Cup
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