World Cup Week 1 Recap

Logan and I are half way through our World Cup dream-trip. So far we've seen four games. Blogging has been difficult here... the World Cup coverage is 24/7, so Logan and I are taking full advantage. Here's a quick recap of our action here so far.

Sunday June 13 - Ghana v Serbia.
Our first live World Cup game, we ordered tickets to this match because of my support of the "Black Stars" after my time spent in Ghana last summer. The Ghanaian crowd was incredible. Ghana flags flew proudly throughout the stadium, drums played alongside the vuvuzelas, and the match provided some tremendous action. In the final minutes Ghana broke the deadlock by scoring a penalty kick. They went onto win, making them the first African team to win a game in the first World Cup on African soil. Appropriate post-game celebrations followed, as fans from Ghana and South Africa stayed long after the final whistle to celebrate and cheer on the players, who acted as if they had just won the World Cup. We enjoyed the game at the Luftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, a phenomenal venue. It was a great World Cup debut.

Monday June 14 - Netherlands v Denmark.
Our second game was Holland v Denmark on Monday. This was a hugely anticipated game in the group-stage, which made it exciting to watch. The highlight for us may have been just taking in the sights, sounds, and sheer size of 'Soccer City' in Johannesburg. 83,000 fans were present for the match, mostly South Africans and Dutch supporters. We cheered on the Dutch in our orange as well. Holland had the clear advantage going in - in support, in skill, and even in the chairs in Soccer City (which are painted orange). They went on to win the game 2-0, and Logan and I enjoyed it from great seats in the lower-level. This was the first of four games we have at Soccer City while here.

Thursday June 17 - Argentina v South Korea.
Lionel Messi is one of the most entertaining players in the world to watch, which is why Logan and I ordered tickets to the Argentina v Korea fixture Thursday. Our seats were in the highest section, which gave us more of a tactical perspective on the match than the more typical up-close-and-personal action shots you get when you watch a game live. The game was of huge importance to both teams, as they entered tied at the top of the table in Group B. Messi was spectacular, and was involved in each of Argentina's four goals. The Argentine's won 4-1 in a match that was hugely entertaining to watch. 82,000 fans were on hand, with most supporting Messi's Argentina.

Friday June 18 - USA v Slovenia.
USA-Slovenia was our most anticipated match coming into the tournament, as we were psyched to get the chance to cheer on the Yanks in person. We woke up nervous Friday morning, both knowing that the US could not afford to lose to Slovenia, or their tournament would effectively be over. Our South African hosts came with us to the match as well, which made it that much more exciting for all of us. We had incredible seats - eight rows up from the action. The only down side was the way the first half unfolded. Slovenia scored twice. All of a sudden, our high hopes for the US side seemed pretty bleak. But my favorite US player, Landon Donovan, provided the spark three minutes after halftime with a great goal to turn things around. All of a sudden the crowd was alive and optimistic, though still on edge. Michael Bradley's late goal brought euphoria to the mostly pro-American crowd, and Maurice Edu's late goal would likely have caused celebratory riots had it not been called back. Still, a 2-2 draw was satisfying. The US lives to play another day (Wednesday, vs Algeria). The good news? Logan and I bought tickets to the Algeria game in Pretoria. We can't wait.

And that's how it stands after our first four matches. We used our better judgment and decided to purchase extra tickets to US-Algeria and Spain-Honduras this week, meaning we're just half way through our games. Lots more pictures, stories, and memories to come.

Kruger Park Safaris

I didn’t expect to have a staring contest with an elephant on this trip. Our time in South Africa was intended to revolve around the World Cup. But with three full days to travel and settle-in before our first live game Sunday afternoon, our hosts decided to surprise us with a trip north. Cue the elephants.

More accurately: cue the animal kingdom.

During our first Safari Thursday afternoon, we saw four of the ‘big five’ in less than three hours. Elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes were among the incredible animals we saw. At times, we sat and waited as elephants crossed the road in front of us. We watched giraffes eat from treetops, zebras and impalas grazed in the open plains, and hippos splashed around in the water. Baboons and hyenas made their way along the sides of the roads we drove down, taking no interest in our vehicle.

At times it felt like I was dreaming. Songs from the soundtrack of The Lion King made their way through our heads, as we took in the phenomenal scenery and unbelievable wildlife. The soccer games will likely still be the highlight of this trip for us. But my staring contests with the elephants, giraffes, and buffalo of Kruger Park are engraved in my memory forever.

To prove that a) I wasn’t dreaming, and b) I’m not making this up, I’ve posted the best pictures from our time on Safari below. Enjoy!

Bafana's Opening Match Fan-Fest

"Viva Bafana Bafana!"

Logan and I didn’t have tickets to the opening match of the World Cup. And in some ways, I’m glad. The experience we enjoyed at a gathering of some 30,000 South African locals in the northeastern part of the country was one that I’ll never forget.



South Africans, who had been anticipating the start of this World Cup since they were named the 2010 hosts six years ago, woke up Friday morning ready to support their home side. Gardeners, shop-keepers, taxi drivers and everyone in between wore their yellow and green jerseys. South African flags lined the streets, hung in store windows, and flew on cars throughout the country.

We watched the opening match at a rugby stadium in Nelspruit, one of the host cities. Arriving a few hours before game-time, we bought some replica South African jerseys, and prepared for the most anticipated soccer game ever to be played on African soil. Prior to the game we watched the official opening ceremonies for the tournament, and as it neared game time the stands and playing surface of the Nelspruit stadium became entirely jam-packed, shoulder to shoulder with South Africans. Game on.

The match didn’t disappoint. South Africa’s team, nicknamed “Bafana Bafana,” had the entire country behind them, including the fan-fest’s crowd. With Vuvuzelas blaring, the fans danced and cheered through a scoreless first half. Logan and I made friends with a few locals and enjoyed the passion in the stadium as South Africans savored the moment.

When the second half started, we made our way to the middle of the mayhem to take pictures of the scene. As we started to move back towards our seats, we caught a glimpse of the play building up on the big screen: a South African player broke loose with the ball in the mid-field, and played it through to a Striker who received it well in space. Two beautiful touches later, the ball was in the back of the net. South Africa’s team – the unlikely underdogs – shocked Mexico and scored the first goal of the tournament in beautiful fashion.

It was at that moment that Logan and I were given a true South African welcome to the World Cup. I watched a grown man, cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth, jump on my younger brother – throwing his arms around his neck and his legs around his waist. Logan – unfazed – proceeded to twirl the two of them in circles, cheering uncontrollably. It would have made a great picture; and I would have taken it, had I not been in the middle of a series of my own hugs and screams of “Viva, Bafana! Bafana!”

The colorful crowd, the proud flags, and the ear-shattering noise set the tone for an exciting World Cup in which the home team will be a true competitor. Enjoy the pictures!