The World Cup began on Thursday when Brazil took on Serbia. Whatever else you were watching were just novelty matches.
Did you see Brazil beat Serbia 2-0? Were you not entertained? That is what the World Cup is all about. That game took us back to Brazil of 1970, 1982 and 1986. It was football in its purest form. Welcome to the World Cup.
But on the flip side, Neymar’s World Cup in 2014 ended in tears as a Colombian player went knee deep into his back, ruling him out of the rest of that quarter final game and then the competition. I see something similar happening in this World Cup if care is not taken.
Neymar was a sorry mess on Thursday against Serbia. He was kicked, he was shoved, and at a point, he had his shirt taken by a marker. Eventually, he was subbed off with a swollen ankle. Sad.
At some point in the game, the commentator said he was the most fouled player in the World Cup.
Does he need the referee’s protection? Certainly he does. If the referees do not protect him, he could be bludgeoned to death in one of the games. Neymar is the poster boy for Brazil and the World Cup. #PrayForNeymar
What is the betting syndicate doing in this World Cup?
I believe in conspiracy theories, even though a lot of them can be very silly. However, what is happening in the World Cup makes me think. I hope there is nothing untoward going on in Qatar?
Just before the opening match, there was a report that it was fixed in favour of the hosts, Qatar. LOL! Qatar would have failed to win that game even if their opponents did not turn up, but we waited to see how they would fix that game for the host team to win. When Ecuador had their goal disallowed, the voices even became louder.
But since then, there has been no stories or rumours about match fixing. Could that have been a decoy move? To take our minds off the real issues?
Did anyone remotely believe that Argentina would lose to Argentina? Okay, a guy dreamed about it and wrote on twitter a few hours to the game that it was going to end that way. Did the Saudis think they were going to win? Remember that Argentina even scored first in that game, yet they lost to a Saudi team?
As if that was not enough, the Germans peppered Japan all through the first half of that game, led 1-0 only to eventually lose 2-1. What is really going on at the World Cup?
Certainly, these games are not fixed. No way! Certainly the bet companies have not been involved somehow, so what is going on? From? Preparation? Weather?
Why Africa’s World Cup slots should be reduced
African teams are once again failing to deliver at the World Cup.
After the first round of game, it has been two draws and three loses. Infact, four of the teams have failed to score. Why do Africans think we need to get more slots at the World Cup when we have not justified what we have been given previously?
The first time and African team won a game at the World Cup was in 1978 when Tunisia beat Mexico 3-1. The first time an African team moved past the group stage was in 1986 when Morroco beat Portugal in the final group game to make it to the Round of 16. Then the first time an African country got to the quarter final was in 1990. Since then two others, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 have reached the quarter finals.
Never have more than one African side gone past the group stage at the same World Cup. Why then do we think we need more than five at the World Cup.
The African countries act as though they are not aware of the World Cup and all of a sudden start preparing a few weeks to the mundial. As the second round of games begin, we will be watching to see how things change for Senegal, Tunisia, Morroco, Cameroon and Ghana. But if it is the same old thing, we need to ask ourselves tough questions in Africa.
Oh Dear, Cameroon
I saw a video on Facebook that alleges Cameroonians tried to attack the home of Breel Embrolo after he scored the goal that ensured Switzerland won 1-0 in their World Cup encounter.
Now, for those who do not know, Breel was born in Cameroon and his father lives there till date. What was their anger? That he scored against their country? Football fans should understand that as much it is a very important game, it is still just a game.
Did you see Brazil beat Serbia 2-0? Were you not entertained? That is what the World Cup is all about. That game took us back to Brazil of 1970, 1982 and 1986. It was football in its purest form. Welcome to the World Cup.
But on the flip side, Neymar’s World Cup in 2014 ended in tears as a Colombian player went knee deep into his back, ruling him out of the rest of that quarter final game and then the competition. I see something similar happening in this World Cup if care is not taken.
Neymar was a sorry mess on Thursday against Serbia. He was kicked, he was shoved, and at a point, he had his shirt taken by a marker. Eventually, he was subbed off with a swollen ankle. Sad.
At some point in the game, the commentator said he was the most fouled player in the World Cup.
Does he need the referee’s protection? Certainly he does. If the referees do not protect him, he could be bludgeoned to death in one of the games. Neymar is the poster boy for Brazil and the World Cup. #PrayForNeymar
What is the betting syndicate doing in this World Cup?
I believe in conspiracy theories, even though a lot of them can be very silly. However, what is happening in the World Cup makes me think. I hope there is nothing untoward going on in Qatar?
Just before the opening match, there was a report that it was fixed in favour of the hosts, Qatar. LOL! Qatar would have failed to win that game even if their opponents did not turn up, but we waited to see how they would fix that game for the host team to win. When Ecuador had their goal disallowed, the voices even became louder.
But since then, there has been no stories or rumours about match fixing. Could that have been a decoy move? To take our minds off the real issues?
Did anyone remotely believe that Argentina would lose to Argentina? Okay, a guy dreamed about it and wrote on twitter a few hours to the game that it was going to end that way. Did the Saudis think they were going to win? Remember that Argentina even scored first in that game, yet they lost to a Saudi team?
As if that was not enough, the Germans peppered Japan all through the first half of that game, led 1-0 only to eventually lose 2-1. What is really going on at the World Cup?
Certainly, these games are not fixed. No way! Certainly the bet companies have not been involved somehow, so what is going on? From? Preparation? Weather?
Why Africa’s World Cup slots should be reduced
African teams are once again failing to deliver at the World Cup.
After the first round of game, it has been two draws and three loses. Infact, four of the teams have failed to score. Why do Africans think we need to get more slots at the World Cup when we have not justified what we have been given previously?
The first time and African team won a game at the World Cup was in 1978 when Tunisia beat Mexico 3-1. The first time an African team moved past the group stage was in 1986 when Morroco beat Portugal in the final group game to make it to the Round of 16. Then the first time an African country got to the quarter final was in 1990. Since then two others, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 have reached the quarter finals.
Never have more than one African side gone past the group stage at the same World Cup. Why then do we think we need more than five at the World Cup.
The African countries act as though they are not aware of the World Cup and all of a sudden start preparing a few weeks to the mundial. As the second round of games begin, we will be watching to see how things change for Senegal, Tunisia, Morroco, Cameroon and Ghana. But if it is the same old thing, we need to ask ourselves tough questions in Africa.
Oh Dear, Cameroon
I saw a video on Facebook that alleges Cameroonians tried to attack the home of Breel Embrolo after he scored the goal that ensured Switzerland won 1-0 in their World Cup encounter.
Now, for those who do not know, Breel was born in Cameroon and his father lives there till date. What was their anger? That he scored against their country? Football fans should understand that as much it is a very important game, it is still just a game.
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