*Please note that while this blog post says it's from Gayle Bryan, it's really from the always eloquent, Jen O'Neill. We're not smart enough to figure out how to change the name in the author field, but we'll get the web guys right on it when they wake up this morning.
So, we all made it to China in one piece. Ok, we maybe each arrived in rather large sleepy pieces but we are all safe and sound and looking forward to the soccer – so we’ll stop whining!
Our hotel is just across from the Hongkou Soccer Stadium where this evening’s opening ceremony and first game, between reigning champs Germany and Argentina, will take place in just a few hours. Speaking of the opening ceremony’ it looks like it will be a fun one, as from the media centre where I’m sitting typing this, I can see various groups of performers skipping, running or marching past. They include posses of young men in white sailor-type suits and also gaggles of girls in funny little costumes that makes them look like the tournament’s mascot (the one with the soccer balls growing out of her head).
It’s all getting rather busy (security, press, officials, you name it) and the growing buzz is helping add to the swelling excitement. Argentina will be under-strength, as one of their flair players has had to be replaced at the last minute (FIFA allowed the squad change) Mariela Coronel has been forced out by injury and in comes Emilia Mendieta. They will also be without Cataline Perez who is still suspended following a red card received in the hot-tempered final of the South American qualifying tournament, against Brazil. (Brazils’ Elaine was also ejected from that game and so misses their opener.)
What with Germany already being one of the potential winners of the World Cup and Argentina really here for the ‘experience’ it could be a one-sided game. The importance of the ‘occasion’ can have an effect in such games (even for the ‘robot-like’ Germans…and we mean that not in a derogatory sense), however, and so it could be a tight one but it would seem highly unlikely we witness a shock upset on the first day.
We have also spotted Chinese women’s soccer legend Sun Wen being mobbed outside the stadium at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Stamp ceremony (they have launched a special stamp) and then later driving back into the stadium in her big black four wheel drive. She looks well enough. Shame she can’t still be doing her stuff out on the field for the Steel Roses (age and injury often come hand in hand – something we useless FG hacks know all about, ha ha).
Right….time is ticking on…maybe we need another coffee….
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