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By Javier Cabrera / Sports Editor
The pride of a nation (Games Press)
By Javier Cabrera / Sports Editor
For one month every four years, the world gathers at one specific location to witness 32 national soccer teams compete in the FIFA World Cup.
This year the World Cup returns and it is located in South Africa from June 11 through July 11.
The matches will be played in brand new stadiums all across South Africa from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Durban to other cities nearby.
For a month citizens of the participating countries will be full of patriotism, and will cheer on their country as they try to win the World Cup’s 18-karat gold trophy.
The chase for the gold trophy begins on June 11 as the host nation, South Africa, plays the first 2010 World Cup match against Mexico in Johannesburg.
After the opening match, the competition begins and the top ranked teams like Spain, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy will begin their domination against the rest of the pack.
The teams that are projected to win the World Cup this year are Spain and Brazil.
Spain is looking for its first World Cup trophy as Brazil looks to add a sixth to its collection.
Americans have proven that they do not like soccer, but if they had to watch a single soccer match this summer, it has to be the match on June 12 vs. England.
With a documented history between USA and England that resulted in America coming second to England in past soccer matches, a win against England on June 12 will be a sweet victory for the Yanks.
The Americans are expected to advance past the first round, because after England they play Slovenia on June 18 at 7 a.m. and Algeria on June 23 at 7 a.m.
Either way people view the World Cup, it is not the average soccer tournament; it is the Olympics for many countries who are grateful to compete in the World Cup.
A team like Honduras, that does not have a chance to advance in the tournament, is excited enough to be able to play in the World Cup after squeezing in at the last minute in the qualifying.
Countries that are fortunate to make an appearance in the big tournament treat their all star players like royalty by showering them with super star status.
World famous soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Andres Iniesta, Frank Ribery, Arjen Robben, Michael Ballack, Gianluigi Buffon, to name a few… are well known around the globe as celebrities but are unknown to Americans.
These world class soccer players have proven time and time again that they can lead their countries to promising success, which is followed by the super status they receive by their countries after performing heroic plays.
For an underprivileged country like South Africa, the World Cup serves as a symbol that their country has met the status of the elite countries like the United States and England.
Despite not being one the best international soccer teams in the world, South Africa hopes to bring the world together and become a rising nation that the international community can acknowledge.
The World Cup demonstrates more than the values of soccer;.
It demonstrates values like being proud of the country a person comes from, respecting the pride of others and their country and bringing peace on earth for the short time the exciting soccer match is on.
Win, lose or draw, everyone who is a part of the World Cup is a winner, because everyone goes into the tournament as individuals but comes out as a whole.
For daily coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, visit http://viewpointssports.blogspot.com starting June 11 through July 11.
USA rival (Games Press)
