View allAll Photos Tagged worldcup
our cute minister is telling all the nation how long it must be
prodi is dreaming about it
cannavaro has it
2006 Worldcup in Nurmberg Stadium, Germany
180° panorama created using 8 HDR images (each created from 3 images)
Best viewed large
What was before an ordinary lane in the Bangladeshi capital's historic neighborhood Old Dhaka is now a vibrant strip of street art celebrating the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
A group of about 200 volunteers transformed the street in less than 24 hours as part of The World Cup Goal-E, a collaboration by youth organization One Degree Initiative and advertising agency Zanala Bangladesh, to spread enthusiasm for the World Cup. Goal-E sounds like goli (lane), which is a common feature in Old Dhaka.
Bangladesh didn't qualify to play in the 2014 tournament, but the country's football fans have caught World Cup fever nonetheless. Many are cheering for either Argentina or Brazil.
Visited the World Cup Goal-E on 26th and Took this Portrait of my girl. Yeah, she is a photo enthusiast too. And I love colors!
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[photo source: Getty Images / Spain wins the World Cup title]
Spain wins their first World Cup title after defeating The Netherlands. Team Spain scored at the added extra game time in the four or so remaining minutes before, what would have been, a penalty shootout (not the best way to win a match). Neither Spain nor The Netherlands could score during the game's regulation time.
It was both restless and thrilling. While Spain played what they normally play – they played well, while the Dutch failed to attack and gain possession of the ball for the most part. The Dutch had many wide open opportunities and close calls for a goal (such as that one where the ball merely bumps the goal's post like golf - where are the other Dutch men to kick that in?!). It felt like an awful teaser to the Dutch fans.
The game overall was thrilling, but lacked a balanced spectacular game play showcase I was hoping to see (such as Germany playing against their victims). Not headbutting action here.
A good thing.
Though, there were vicious moments.
Pushing, shoving each other, penalty cards flying all over players' face for both sides, and a few simulation (flopping around on the field and acting) on Spain's part.
The bar I witnessed the final match was packed with supporters to both Spain and the Dutch. Good. That means I can go along with the waves of "Aaaaahs!!!!" screams any time the Dutch were close to making a goal. Yes, I felt partial to the Dutch team on this match while I never had before. Perhaps they are the least favored. I never felt much about Spain throughout the World Cup. It's too easy to root for the most likeliest teams to win.
In comparison to the last game I had witnessed at a pub, that being the USA v Ghana, I was not hoping for anything (except to see if an octopus can be proven wrong). I was rooting for nations that I didn't "feel" for, but enjoyed the entertainment they brought on. There was no high emotion I felt for this as I had with the USA v Ghana or Uruguay v Ghana while I was equally excited.
As the last few seconds trickled away, waiting for the inevitable final whistle to end the World Cup and crown the Spanish the title, I only had those last few seconds to savor what the last 30 days was about: very sporty and somewhat enlightening.
I got to know South Africa more than I would have before. They were united for the games. Would they be as united as soon as the arenas shut down? I feel doubtful, but at least, I hope, that the experience will leave them with a grand impression. Having FIFA host the games at their nation was really a grand blessing while a curse (or a bad thing) for those that had to be swift away just for the games to be hosted.
Africans yearned for the outside world to see the new them. That they're not a hostile state. That they are all right. While some, can say otherwise. Nothing has changed.
In the last 30 days, I got to see many underdogs take over half of the games with unexpected surprises and shutting critics up. Myself included when the USA advanced past their group matches. I commend them still.
In the last 30 days, I broke my own record of watching and following (to some extent) a single sporting event with some kind of effort. That includes simply tracking scores.
In the last 30 days, I was entertained by the world's unison on a single sport. While I felt alone, I didn't at the same time. This was the best distraction I had when I needed the meaningless distraction in my life. I was distracted by something that will never change my life. I was distracted by a bunch of guys kicking a ball around.
The whistle finally blows. The Spanish collapsed in bliss and joy. Fatigue and overwhelmed. The teams wins. The Dutch are now reconsidering their summer vacation hot spot to Germany.
I came out of the bar feeling ambivalent. A bit strangely melancholic. It wasn't about the final match's results, but rather that this whole series of fiasco is over. I was watching most of these teams rise and fall. Feels a bit like saying goodbye to a friend that I just started to get to know better. If they cared.
Final scores:
The Netherlands v Spain (00 - 01)
That octopus is right again. (You can imagine the death threats the little critter's been receiving.)
E hoje, finalmente, mostrei dois "mixes" para torcer pelo Brasil!
Fiquei nervosaça mas deu tudo certo! Adorei o jogo, apesar do nervosismo habitual!
Para não ficar tanto só no verde e amarelo, resolvi usar azul e amarelo, duas cores top na minha paixão por esmaltes.
E para completar usei vários acabamentos, misturei tudim e virou isso:
francristein.com/2014/06/23/mixn-match-do-brasil-amarelo-...
Amei, ainda estou usando, torcendo muito e viva o Brasil ahuihauiahui
Beijos gentem! Ces curtem mix'n match?
O goleiro Taffarel do Brasil, comemora penalti chutado pra fora pelo jogador Roberto Baggio, no Estadio Rose Bowl em Los Angeles CA. Ultimo penalti na disputa pelo título da Copa do Mundo de 94 nos Estados Unidos, vencida pelo Brasil no jogo final contra a Italia.
[photo source: Getty Images / Team USA's midfielder Landon Donovan walking out of the tunnel to kick off]
My entry may not be as polished as I would hope for it to be, while I am still content with it. I wrote this in the wee bit after hours of late night. Apologies for any odd syntax. The sudden spike of visits on this particular Flickr post overnight has surprised me and has motivated me to clean it up a bit and add a few links to recap.
My doubts in people in ever coming across this Flickr account/entries has changed over these last couple of days. Whether or not it's to read my take on the games or to look at pretty pictures of the game.
Thank you for the visits.
Seriously. This US American team has had such an amazing (and I mean it as in an unusual amazing way) of getting through this far into the World Cup. The English Robert Green's own goal mishap (England vs USA), the obstacles held down without a cause by either invisible force or purely robbed by a referee (Slovenia vs USA), and the unforgettable breathtaking last-minute miracle kick swooped in by Landon Donovan at the very hairline end of the game (Algeria vs USA). Nobody will forget that; at least, I won't ever. The replays have now become only a bittersweet memory after today's game and an unfortunate reminder why Americans will go back to forgetting about about soccer / fútbol and any debunking their hope in their own nation's team.
The whole world has their eyes on the USA team fans and non-fans. History was already in the making no matter what the outcome will be.
I believe in the underdogs, as I have campaign this thought since the games started (since I don't side with any particular team). The US team as one of my underdogs on my list has shown their own nation that they can, in fact, do it. Play the game and compete. They have showed everyone that they, too, can make history again (since 1930) by a team heavily doubted by others. The team never stayed down.
I sat waiting (an hour-and-a-half ahead) to get a good view at a bar. Based on a past experience of trying to catch the final match of the Euro Cup 2008, places get packed (or, at least, the places I pick out) an hour prior. The USA against Ghana, I figure, would be a big deal. Right? (Okay, I overestimated my commute time.)
I rocked out an old Y3 black-and-white Adidas dress for this occasion! Why not.
Having to see the US made it to the quarter finals I can say that I cannot see them advancing. Honest truth, while my heart says otherwise. To see this many Americans to suddenly care about the World Cup was a bit nice. That was the thing I wanted to keep on running. Really. All the while, it is disheartening to know if the team lost, Americans will return to giving up hope on this damn sport and team (not that they weren't skeptical already).
Based on the team's previous matches, I can't tell what would come out of this afternoon's game.
The game opened up in a bit of sluggish play by the US. Perhaps, lost. Lost is more perfect. Messy defense and execution.
Ghana scored at the 5th minute in of the first half. That was a wake up call for the Americans. They can stop kicking the darn ball to the opposing team by accident and start defending and start keeping the ball more than passing.
With the amount of tripping and kicking by the opposing team (Ghana), there was a penalty kick gained for the US.
I knew this was the chance for the US to score an equalizer. The US miracle player [Landon] Donovan makes the kick with determination (he makes it seem so easy). It was a great trickery kick. He scores. The crowd roars and cheers.
Not out of the woods, yet, as Donovan knows.
Things will only get harder from there on. Ghana willing to do anything to break the equalizer.
[Clint] Dempsey (the player responsible for the miracle match in England vs USA) seemed to be Ghana's favorite US player to target and to annihilate off the fields. (He and Donovan make the "duo" on the fields.) The amount of grass stains on his white jersey was the clear indication of being smeared to the ground. Dempsey won't stay down.
The remaining first half was underwhelming by both teams, mostly the US. Ghanians are fast and they had the highest in possessions of the ball. All of the African continent is heavily on their side. The US team in white had the fans to keep their spirits up if anything.
The whole match was a Déjà vu to the opposing teams. The two countries had played each other before. Ghana defeated the US then.
Would it happen again? I, for whatever, reason, didn't want to answer that question as the match progressed and so did the intensity and drama both at the game and in the room I was in.
Second half, the scores didn't budge. Everyone was on the edge now. The Americans have to break their own equalizer and take the game away.
[Herculez] Gomez, [Carlos] Bocanegra, [Benny] Feilhaber, and [Jozy] Altidore held possession of the ball for the most of the first half of the game. Altidore had many open opportunities in front of him (while he frequently tripped - mostly upon himself, which made it quite strange and nerve wrecking for the team). I just say he is always too soon or late to execute. He did attempt a kick, even after another trip, towards the goal, but overshot.
In the second half, the stars we hoped for (Donovan and Dempsey) began to really play up the game as their teammates began to take their time with the ball and making proper eye contact. They held the game together a lot better in pockets of time, but sloppy in line up or in timing, sadly, as time rolls on.
Easier said than done.
Ghana would do anything to get the ball out of the American's possession, even if it meant getting a penalty on their behalf.
There were empty seats in the stadium. They were meant for the English fans (they originally had assumed England would make it to this particular match). I'm wondering if some English fans did show up to see the Americans go down as much as the Ghanaians.
The game got extended (for the first in this year's games, so far) by an added half-an-hour shoot out. (The game has already reached its near two-hour limit). This added time would also be known as RESCUE TIME! with a "No Golden Goal" rule (no single goal scored will end the game automatically until the full time runs out.)
The Ghanians scored.
Everyone's heart in the room sunk. I felt them all and at the field.
Things got nasty and desperate (US goalie suddenly running to the other side of the field to help his team score!). As nasty as the Chileans and Spaniards, but worse. The referee bought into the FAKE "falls" and "injuries" acted by the Ghanaians referee didn't seem to call out on the fact that they are obviously playing a silly game. The instant replays show clear indication they were simply taking a rest. Absolutely absurd! Unbelievable.
Boos can be heard by the Americans in the stadium, overcoming the vuvuzelas.
Ghana didn't need any more to score. They now only need the time to run out. Kick the ball around as much as they can, tiring out the Americans.
Keep pace. Keep guard, as I kept thinking telepathically to the team.
The US continues to battle the field regardless of physical and mental fatigue. Their uniforms might as well all be green by the grass stains. The fans gradually stare on only feeling hopeless watching their nation's team go down a slow death.
I wonder, I thought, more like wished, if both Dempsey and Donovan would be sent another miraculous miracle. The commentators announced my very exact thoughts. Not all miracles can be replicated, I'm afraid.
Time ran out, but the referee has not blown the whistle! Edge, edge. It was a pure tease. The ball was in the US's possession. Game over.
No one claps in the room. It's the sound of utter dejection and gaping shock.
In my mind (mostly my heart) I commend the USA Team for having made it this far despite all the bad rap they have gotten from their own country (and the rest of the world). They really, really did their best. While this particular match didn't seem quite their best.
The South Africa World Cup wouldn't be the same without them. Really. No matter what one American says ("They shouldn't have made it this far." "They have no right being in the quarter finals.") In retrospect, I feel they have added that unusual magic to this year's games (and with most, not all, of the top European nations eliminated).
Donovan and his team held the limelight for a great moment (three days) breaking a FIFA record for themselves and giving the Americans a chance to seem to care about the World Cup, if anything. The light he held blew out after today's defeat. Or, I hope, maybe not all of it.
The American fans recede back into the shadows in dejection. The USA Teams lingered in the field in utter dejection and disappointment as the crowd cheered on for the African team. Hold back those tears, guys. Just continue to fight.
I hope to see the team again, if not the same squad (hopefully we'll see some familiar faces in the future; while ridding the poor performers). Because, you know what, this team made me believed that any underdog can overcome obstacles. I never put much hope in my own country's team until recently. For once.
They had something unusual and special on their side and it was clearly gone today.
I will clap for you, Team USA. If no one will, then I will.
----
Final scores:
USA v Ghana (01 - 02)
Day 171 / 365 (#537)
23mm @ f/4.0, ISO800 1/2000s
During the Japan vs. Greece match at Shibuya Scramble. Amid heavy Keishicho presence directing pedestrians across the crossing.
For #FlickrFriday's #WorldCup theme.
All of my lomo-effect photos are processed pretty much the same way... a bit of blur, a bit of vignette, and cross-processed coloring in photoshop. I think that street scenes and architecture work best with the lomo effect... I've tried it on landscapes and it's not the same. Anyways, hope you enjoy :)