The World Cup, USA shocked England in 1950 and the Haiti, Papa Doc connection

Thought we could take a respite from political stuff.

As everyone knows, the World Cup competition began today. So far so good for Latin American teams, Mexico (vs. South Africa, 1-1) and Uruguay (vs. France, 0-0) each gained a valuable point with the draws. Tomorrow Argentina takes on Nigeria and should win.

But the big game tomorrow is USA-vs-England. The Brits will be seeking revenge for the 1-0 loss to the USA in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. It is considered the biggest upset in World Cup history. It was the only time USA-England have played in the World Cup. Until tomorrow.

The player who scored the USA goal was named Joe Gaetjens. He was a native of Haiti living in the USA at the time. He returned to Haiti after the World Cup but Papa Doc's Ton Ton Macutes kidnapped him and executed him. Very sad story.


Brazilian fans carried Joe Gaetjens off the field after the U.S. shocked England in the 1950 World Cup. AP photo

Short story on Gaetjens.

http://www.angelfire.com/sc/englandA/Gaetjens.html

I will be cheering for USA to make it 2-0 against the Brits in memory of Joe Gaetjens.

:-)

... there is a massive difference between Brits and the English. Okay?

that because England is part of Britain, the word "Brits" applied to both. But if there is John Bullishness about it among some English, so be it. No problem for me.

Btw, it is about an hour before the start of the match as I write this and ESPN broadcaster in SA has been saying "Brits" in describing fans. Others are using English.

who was clearly a "civilian".

Very, very sad, but I'm very glad you have told us about it. It was something which should have been remembered in this country.

Will be crossing our fingers, too. The game will have more meaning knowing what it really represents, now. Thank you.

There is a player on the U.S. squad named Jozy Altidore. He is the son of Haitian immigrants who live in New Jersey.

He is one of the top scorers for the team. Maybe he will be today's Joe Gaetjens.

That would be sooooooo cool, and be a big shot in the arm for the suffering Haitian people.

Go Jozy.

Are they playing on astroturf? Damn, that field is FAST.

Can't tell about that field but it looks unyielding.

U.S. got the point. Amazing it was so easy.

Posted: June 14, 2010
Status of U.S. goalie Tim Howard unclear for next match
FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES

IRENE, South Africa -- U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was injured after a collision with England's Emile Heskey on Saturday, underwent further evaluation Sunday. In an afternoon news conference, coach Bob Bradley said he did not know whether Howard fractured any ribs.

Team spokesman Neil Buethe said Howard had not undergone an X-ray or MRI as of Sunday evening. Howard received treatment Sunday and will be evaluated today, Buethe said.

Howard played almost 60 minutes in pain and later said the cleats-up hit felt like "agony." Given that Howard played superbly, it's likely only a significant injury would keep him out of Friday's game against Slovenia.
"When you see the way Timmy handled himself after the collision, you'd certainly expect he'll be on the field again," Bradley said.

Howard, a starter for Everton in the Premier League, is backed by Wolverhampton's Marcus Hahnemann and Aston Villa's Brad Guzan. However, the U.S. can't afford to lose Howard, one of the world's best goalkeepers, especially if the team advances to the second round as expected.

More:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100614/SPORTS18/6140358/Status-of-U-S-goalie-Tim-Howard-unclear-for-next-match

on Friday against Slovenia. Saw TV report out of SA this morning that he suffered a chest bruise but no broken ribs. He has until Friday to recover so that is good news.

You may have seen today's stellar game, Italy v. Paraguay. The Italians are the defending World Cup champions and think the Italians may have badly "misunderestimated" the Guaranies. Paraguay was very good in the South American qualifications last year.

No Latin American team has lost so far, plus the United States, so the hemisphere is doing good so far. Argentina is the only winner so far.

Keeping fingers crossed.

Surely could do worse! I did get the impression the Italians assumed that game would be theirs. Best wishes to Paraguay.

Definitely the time for crossed fingers.

should allow vuvuzelas at the games so fans do not fall asleep

:rofl:

Oh, FIFA is thinking of distributing 3,000,000,000 sets of earplugs around the world

:rofl:

http://static.guim.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/10/1276190910492/South-African-boys-blow-t-006.jpg http://www.teamvitesse.com.nyud.net:8090/images/SmallAaronVuvu.jpg

http://www.timeslive.co.za.nyud.net:8090/multimedia/dynamic/00688/09-06-2010-17-06-00_688897b.jpg http://www.rnw.nl.nyud.net:8090/data/files/images/confederations%20cup.jpg
They may be vuvuzela's like they've never been vuvuzela'd!

Jun 16, 12:58 PM EDT
Confident Mexico determined to upset France
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOC_WCUP_CONFIDENT_MEXICO?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-06-16-12-58-41

Uruguay vs. South Africa about to get under way as write this. The Uruguayans are going to run into a ear-shattering cacophony of vuvuzelas.

There was the upset of the World Cup so far this morning. The Swiss blared a vuvusela at Spain's zarzuela, turned the Spaniard's sangria sour and stunned them 1-0. Spain has been one of the favorites to win the World Cup ... and it still may do so but today was a disaster.
:shrug:

Earlier, Chile took care of Honduras 1-0 but it should have been at least 3-0. Chile plays football to score, not to defend or not lose as many teams have so far. Honduras the only Latin American team to lose so far and too bad it had to come at the hands (feet) of another Latin American squad.

because Uruguay hangs around in a very tough football neighborhood -- Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay, all in the World Cup too. In addition, Uruguay has a World Cup tradition, it won the 1950 edition played in Brazil (much to the shock of the Brazilians !!)

Historical notes:

The 1950 World Cup was the first since 1938. The 1942 and 1946 Cups were canceled because of World War II. So the Cup was held in Brazil because most of Europe was still in ruins in 1946.


Charruas is the South American nickname for Uruguayans. The word comes from an indigenous tribe that was wiped out in the 1830s by presidential order because, according to Uruguayan lore, the tribe had the best lands and in order to achieve racial purity in Uruguay.

Remember they organized and won the first one in Montevideo, 4-2 against Argentina in 1930.

Love the old poster:



The team:

For such a tiny country to have two WC titles is amazing. I was in Montevideo one time (work related) and went to see Penarol and Nacional play their classic in the Centenario Stadium, which of course was jammed. Liked that poster and photo, had not seen them and it is the Centenario Stadium.


Meanwhile, south of the border

Watched the Mexico-France game today and the tequila is flowing like a river tonight across Mexico. It looks like Mexico and Uruguay could advance from that group. It was good to see Cuauhtémoc score that penalty, at 37 years old.

First time Mexico has beaten France in 80 years !! Mexico did draw with France in 1930 but France had defeated Mexico five times since.

Oh that was sweet to see them try to score a third goal against the vice-champions until the end of the game like warriors. European teams could NEVER play that way.

You went to the clasico in Montevideo??! Lucky!

s

I'm all with Mexico for the 5 de Mayo replay this afternoon.

They know how to do things well in Chile. Giant screen on La Moneda today for Chileans to watch "La Roja."


This cool lady was at the game in South Africa. She said she was very happy at the result.

Btw, this was Chile's first World Cup victory in 48 YEARS. The last one was on this day, June 16, 1962 when Chile won third place beating Czechoslovakia. The Cup that year was held in Chile.

Next up is Switzerland. Then Spain ufffff ....

Very long time since Chile had played good football. Their chances to go far in the tournament are good if they keep on the offensive game. Now that Spain lost its first game, the qualification is very near. Unfortunately they'll play against the toughest group in the next round, Brazil, Portugal or Ivory Coast.

But Valdivia, Fernandez, Sanchez are fast and smart players, waiting to see Suazo now.

1-0 against the small team of Switzerland. As usual, the pre-WC arrogance makes them look ridiculous.

Btw, did you people noticed how many swiss players were from Turkish parents? I guess they love them only when they play football for their country, not when they feel like praying in a mosque by the Alps.

Winning tournaments breeds a winning mentality that can only be a good thing for international sides, right?

Wrong.

Spain's defeat to Switzerland on Wednesday is not the first time the reigning European Champions have come a cropper in the following World Cup - indeed the last FIVE Euro champs have had a 'mare at the next tournament, with a couple not even qualifying...

1988 Holland
1990 World Cup – Having missed back-to-back World Cups since their 1970s glory days, the Dutch came in with high hopes only to draw with Egypt, England and Ireland. They got a wild card into the second round but fell at the first hurdle to Germany in the infamous Voller-Rijkaard spitting match.

1992 Denmark
1994 World Cup – The Danes won Euro 92 as a late replacement but failed to make the World Cup in 1994, losing out in qualifying to Spain by a point and Ireland on goal difference.

1996 Germany
1998 World Cup – Victory in England in 1996 was no use two years later. The Germans topped their group and then beat Mexico only to crash to Croatia in the quarter-final, who the Germans beat at the same stage in the Euros.

2000 France
2002 World Cup – France won Euro 2000 as world champions but the defence of their crown in 2002 was a disaster as they lost the opener to Senegal, drew with Uruguay and lost to Denmark, going out without scoring a goal.

2004 Greece
2006 World Cup – Greece delighted fans with their remarkable Euro win in 2004 but they stumbled through qualifying and missed the trip to Germany after finished fourth behind Ukraine, Turkey and Denmark.

final 7-0 and some other things happen

so Argentina is not mathematically in yet and Nigeria not quite out.

France like South Africa is very close to elimination. They need to hope that Uruguay and Mexico do NOT tie and then make up a 4-goal differential. cool!!!

17/06/2010 20:56, Report by Steve Bartram
Chicharito steals the show

United new-boy Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez scored the most important goal of his career to date on Thursday evening, opening the scoring in Mexico's crucial World Cup group A clash with France.

The 22-year-old was introduced as a second half substitute as coach Javier Aguirre sought victory, and Chicharito needed less than 10 minutes to spring the French offside trap, expertly control Rafael Marquez's through-ball, skip past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and slot into the untended goal.

When fellow substitute Cuauhtemoc Blanco added a late second goal from the penalty spot, Mexico were assured of an historic victory. They now need only a point from their final group game against Uruguay to secure a berth in the second round.

Aside from the goal, Chicharito's 35-minute cameo was littered with neat touches and intelligent movement, lending further weight to arguments in Mexico that he should regularly start in Aguirre's front three.

His goal also added a new chapter to his unique family history. The third generation of his family to feature at a World Cup for Mexico, Javier has now emulated his grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, who scored in the 1954 World Cup against France.

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=6649983

best game I've seen so far without a doubt. the US is somewhat fortunate but fought back and of course Slovenia is extremely fortunate to not lose due to the most inexplicable call I've ever seen. still, the result puts the US in the mix.

now that the Italians could only manage a 1-1 draw with the Kiwis. Just saw Asuncion newspaper ABC and they are celebrating across Paraguay.

Meanwhile, up in Bogota alvarito uribito this morning issued a call for Colombians to NOT watch the World Cup today so they could go vote. Good luck with that :spray: :spray: :spray: