Doesn't start too well the soccer World Cup, which will begin in South Africa by 11 June 2010. Fierce controversy after the qualification of France who beat Ireland thanks to a clear hand foul by Henry, but FIFA has officially ruled that the match could not be repeated. In Algeria 18 deaths in the celebrations after the historic qualifiers against Egypt, almost a war between rival fans, and a disciplinary procedure against the Egyptian Football Association.
A bit too much for a game, you might say, but of course football is not just a game: it's a business that moves huge numbers and triggers angry nationalistic rivalries. Eventually the games are now made and the names of the world finalists will not change. Ireland coached by Trapattoni lost against France in Dublin, but in Paris won 1-0. During extra time the Irish national fails to double and eventually with a hand assist by Henry, it comes the French goal and qualification. Two days of protests in Ireland and admissions of guilt even by the French side, but FIFA will not reverse the outcome: the referee's decisions, even wrong, do not change. Poor showing and a thousand hyphotesis of conspiracy, because obviously France has significance far greater at the top of the soccer world than Ireland.
The small Slovenia surprisingly beats with merit the great Russia, FIFA loses a lot of money but this time could not help it, and the Slovenian prime minister Borut Pahor holds the promise of polishing the shoes of the players. Portugal, with a bit of suffering, beats Bosnia and fly to South Africa and Greece, having almost lost hope with a 0-0 at home with Ukraine, manages to win in Donetsk and disillusion the hosts, ready to celebrate. The other European teams qualified in the first round were Denmark, Serbia, Switzerland, Holland, England, Germany (in these days in shock after the suicide of goalkeeper Enke), Italy, Spain, Slovakia. The latter is the only team that will be for the first time to the world cup after winning its group over Slovenia, leaving out Czech Republic and Poland.
The Africa brings to the soccer world cup, besides hosts South Africa, also Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Algeria. The last name was uncertain until the end because after the victory of Egypt at home on November 14 the two teams were level on points in their group, and therefore had to be a playoff. The match was held in Sudan on 18, Algeria won, but the aftermath of a challenge that has long transcended a simple game of soccer will last long. In Cairo on 14 Algerian players were attacked, so the next few days there were attacks against Egyptian nationals in Algeria and renewed fighting between fans in Sudan after the playoff. Egypt withdrew its ambassador in Algeria and has also quarreled with Sudan, which had to deploy 15,000 men to keep fans separated but according to the Egyptians did not do a good job. In Cairo 11 policemen and 24 civilians were wounded in clashes around the Algerian embassy. Fortunately, Egypt and Algeria are physically separated by Libya, or the region could had risk a war. Absurd for a game, but we must not forget that both countries are not democratic nations and authoritarian governments could find very convenient to use sport to direct the population's anger against a foreign target.
In Asia and Oceania the qualified teams are Japan, South Korea, Australia, North Korea and New Zealand, which has some surprisingly beat Bahrain in playoff. The All Whites, so nicknamed for the color of shirts and in contrast to the much better known national rugby team, the All Blacks, now hope to have a not too hard group in the cup. The participation of the two Koreas hopefully could have positive effects in diplomatic dialogue with the dictatorship in Pyongyang.
North and Central America bring to the world cup the United States, Mexico and Honduras: the small Central American nation beat Costa Rica and at least found a bit of national unity after the coup that has dragged on for several months and hopefully can be resolved with the upcoming elections of 29 November.
In the World Cup South America will have Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay (who won the playoff with Costa Rica), Paraguay and Chile. Maradona, now coach of Argentina, was suspended for two months by FIFA for the insults after the victory of his team against Uruguay which ensured qualification in extremis. He'll just miss a friendly match against the Czech Republic, but not the world cup.
Meanwhile in South Africa were raised the flags of the 32 qualified teams. The calendar is ready and to fill it the next appointment is December 5, when will be held the draw for the World Cup groups.
Francesco Defferrari
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