The World Cup so far, how are things going?
By The Associated Press
18 hours ago
Brazil World Cup 2014 |
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- In the
weeks leading up to the World Cup, reports of strikes, demonstrations,
unfinished stadiums and inevitable traffic problems dominated the news.
But since the first match kicked off on June 12, goal-filled games,
superstar performances and upsets have delighted fans - particularly
those from Latin America.
By
Sunday night, 32 of the 64 matches will have been played. Nearly halfway
through this World Cup, The Associated Press takes a look at how things
have stacked up so far.
SAFETY - Tourists have complained about muggings and pickpockets, but overall the safety for fans so far has been solid. Brazil's
reputation for violence - a United Nations report says the country has
more annual murders than any other - has many fans on high alert and
taking special care of where they travel. There have been incidents of
gunfire near areas where fans are watching matches or staying, but none
targeting World Cup tourists. The clashes between drug gangs and police
that often result in shootouts have been muted in Rio - as has often
been the case during big events. Skirmishes between rival fans have been
rare, with hooligans from any country not yet making an impact. The
mass demonstrations that sent millions into the streets during last
year's Confederations Cup tournament have not reappeared, and the
scattered protests have mostly been dispersed quickly by police.
TRANSPORTATION
- Despite transportation strikes leading up to the World Cup, subways
in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have efficiently carried fans to
matches. The other host cities rely on roadways, and they've been
congested. That's normal for Brazil's metropolitan areas. Pele himself
complained that he missed the first half of the Brazil vs. Mexico
match because his car was stuck in traffic on his way to a viewing
party in Sao Paulo. Brazil's airports have handled the load of tourists
traveling around the continent-sized nation although there have been
complaints of delays and cancelations. Terminal expansions weren't
completed in time for the Cup, but there have been no major problems for
flying fans around - just fewer of the creature comforts found in
airports elsewhere.
STADIUMS -
The state of the stadiums was a major concern before the tournament
started. Workers died in construction, organizers gave up on some
finishing touches and temporary seats were brought in just days before
the games began. The stadiums have performed better than expected, but
not without some problems. A rickety staircase at the Maracana was
repaired after video showed it swaying under thousands of fans. The
grass at the Manaus stadium looked a little dry before the games, but
wasn't a huge problem. Some stadiums have had long queues to get through
security. Most alarmingly, more than 100 Chilean
fans in Rio broke into the Maracana, getting past security and damaging
a media center before being corralled, arrested and told to leave the
country.
TECHNOLOGY-
Goal-line technology was introduced at the World Cup for the first time
and was an instant hit, being used at least twice in the opening rounds
of competition to rule if the ball had crossed the line for a goal or
not. The technology was introduced after the World Cup four years ago,
when an England goal against Germany
was not allowed even though the whole world saw that the ball had
crossed the line by almost a yard. FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, until then an
implacable foe of using technology, changed his mind suddenly and tests
began. In Brazil, seven video cameras are trained on each goal, able to
tell with a margin of error of 1.5 mm if the ball has crossed the
five-inch wide goal line. The first goal to be given using the new
technology made the score 2-0 to France against Honduras.
The word ''GOAL'' flashed up on the referee's wristwatch and the goal
was given. Teething problems annoyed the Honduras players and FIFA
promised to have a look at some details of what the public got to see,
but there was widespread belief that the technology had removed one of
the most controversial elements of the game and made referees' task much
simpler.
INNOVATIONS -
Soccer has well and truly entered the age of technology. It's not just
22 players running around after a ball any more. At this World Cup, most
of the teams are using all sorts of high-tech devices to manage their
players. The players can be wirelessly monitored during games and
practice. A widget in the jerseys transmits heartbeat and other medical
data to the coaches who monitor on iPads and can tell when a player is
peaking or tiring. A chip in players' boots transmits distance run and
speeds to the benches as well. One shoe manufacturer has introduced a
boot weighing just 99 grams and millions have been spent developing what
FIFA calls the perfect ball. The Brazuca ball made by Adidas, unlike
its predecessors made by the same German company, has been hailed at the
World Cup. It doesn't deviate in the air too much. The ball itself has
even attracted almost 2 million Twitter followers. High-tech jerseys are
made to combat the heat of Brazil. One of the biggest success stories
of the Cup has been introduction of Vanishing Spray applied by the
referee to a line 10 yards from where a free kick is due to be taken. In
the past, a wall of players intended to block the kick would often
sneak forward toward the ball, but the referee now marks out 10 yards
and uses an aerosol to apply a white line that vanishes after 30 minutes
or so. Defenders are banned from crossing the white line and players
have obeyed the ruling.
FAN
EXPERIENCE - Fans from all over the world have come to the homeland of
''jogo bonito'' and the overwhelming reaction in the stands, in the
streets and on social media has been positive. Fans have enjoyed the
hospitality, the weather, the food and drink and the sites of Brazil.
Latin American neighbors have particularly enjoyed the tournament, in
part because their teams are doing very well. Fans from Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador
and Mexico have packed stadiums and belted out their national anthems
proudly. Even the United States - which has had a tiny fan base at some
recent World Cups - has sent a large and vocal crew of supporters,
taking over Natal when the U.S. played in that coastal city. The biggest
complaint from fans has been about the price of scalped tickets. With
most big games sold out, prices to high-demand games have been well over
$1,000 per ticket.
MATCHES -
The games have been excellent, with some saying the early group games
have been among the best in World Cup history. Teams have played
aggressively, and there have been just a handful of draws. Trailing
teams have made comebacks, and a several upsets have captivated TV
audiences around the world. Superstars such as Neymar, Robin Van Persie and Lionel Messi
have played well. Although there were a handful of questionable calls,
most games were decided by the players, not referees. Although a couple
of European powers - Spain and England - were eliminated early, fans in most of the world have enjoyed the goals and the games.
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