In a monumental upset, Senegal beat France in the first match of the World Cup today. A Hollywood screenwriter couldn’t have dreamed up a more compelling plot: France is the reigning champion, Senegal is a former French colony, this is their first World Cup match ever, and their entire starting eleven play professionally in the French domestic league. Amazing stuff.
Michael Davies, of ESPN.com’s Page 2, is at the World Cup. His diary, “The Other Football,” is excellent.
Here’s another excellent article about the World Cup’s importance throughout the world.
The World Cup, the world’s most-watched sporting event, begins next week. In “The World’s Game Is Not Just a Game,” Simon Kuper describes how soccer and politics are intertwined.
Jose Luis Chilavert, Paraguay’s goalkeeper, vows that he’ll score score against Spain in the World Cup. He’s scored 50 goals on penalties and free kicks in his career, and if he delivers on his promise, he’ll become the first goalkeeper to score in the World Cup.
AirlineMeals.net. “You fly, you get food. You like it or you don’t. But you eat it.”