World Cup fever, By Lou Christine, Letters June 23, 2006

Futbol's (soccer's) most prestigious tournament, the World Cup, is currently being played in this year's host country, Germany. The tournament began June 9 and continues until the championship game on July 9. Published reports have estimated that an average of 1.5 to 2 billion sports fans have been tuning into TV and radio broadcasts worldwide on a daily basis.

It has only been in the last decade that soccer has caught on in the United States. Here in Mexico, it can be considered the national sport. Many who follow traditional major-league and college sports in the US liken viewing a soccer game to watching paint dry, complaining that the lack of scoring is a detriment to the sport.

Yet, it is undeniable that the world's most-followed sport gains particular interest during this once-every-four-year sporting event that pits 32 national teams against one another for the sport's most coveted prize.

The tournament is broken down into eight groups, with four teams participating in each group. Those four teams play each other once in round one, attaining three points for victories and one point for ties. Two teams from each group (16 teams) come out of the first stage then continue on in the competition in what are referred to as the "knockout rounds." In these rounds there are no more ties-it is win or lose, and losers go home and the surviving teams advance to the next round until there are just two teams standing that will square off for the Cup in the championship game.

Brazil, always a heavy favorite, is the defending world champ, having won the Cup in Japan in 2002. Thirteen different venues in Germany have been hosting the rounds. As of press time (Tuesday), two thirds of the first round has been completed. Most interest in these parts centers on the Mexican and US teams, but San Miguel is home to many fans of other nations-such as Argentina, Italy, Spain and England-all favorites with rich soccer traditions. Some sleepers, such as the Netherlands, Portugal and France, also have a following here. The teams from all competing nations had to qualify over the last two years to get into the tournament.

For those of you who haven't been paying attention, here is an update on how events are panning out: Mexico has four points, having beaten Iran 3-1 and tied with Angola 1-1. With a win over Portugal or a tie, they will advance to the next round. If Angola loses or ties with Iran, Mexico also advances.

The US will need some help to advance. They must defeat Ghana, and the Czech Republic would have to lose to Italy. The US team is in a very competitive group, and in some cases they will not only have to win but also to score at least three goals against Ghana, a feat that could be construed as Herculean.

In Group A, Ecuador and Germany are in the driver's seat and have eliminated Poland and Costa Rica. Group B now has England and Sweden advancing, having eliminated Trinidad-Tobago and Paraguay. Ecuador has been a big surprise by waxing heavily favored Poland and blanking Costa Rica.

Argentina and the Netherlands are classed in Group C. Argentina has been very impressive, almost scoring at will, and the team from the Netherlands has put out enough effort to eliminate teams from the Ivory Coast and Serbia.

Brazil's star-studded team continues on a roll, but the Team with the Samba hasn't been as overwhelming as their fans and followers are used to seeing. Australia needs a win over Croatia to ensure their advancement, but if Japan could pull the upset over Brazil they could out-point the Aussies in the standings and get into the next round.

Group G has the Swiss and Koreans in the driver's seat for now. The once-strong French team is on the ropes and needs a big victory over Togo, in conjunction with a Swiss or Korean loss. Which among this group's teams will advance is still up for grabs.

Spain and Ukraine are sitting pretty for the time being.

As we go into the final rounds, sports fans who tune in will witness the world's finest soccer players giving it their all for 90 nonstop minutes of continuous action. There are nuances in the game of soccer that might not be obvious at first, and there's no doubt the talent is awesome and goals are far and few between, primarily because of dogged defensive play that hounds foes whose feet are trying to move or control the ball.

Come Friday, June 23, much will be sorted out. As we get deeper into the final rounds the games become incredibly competitive, and with a bit of patience even the most novice of sports fans can appreciate the talent and will to win.

Mexico has never won a World Cup competition, and if for some reason they go on to win, we can look forward to a nationwide party unequaled by any event that any of us has witnessed here in this country.

Letters

Send your letters to the editor to:
letters@atencionsanmiguel.org Atención will not publish offensive, defamatory or anonymous material.

Editor,

We were surprised and pleased with the wonderful response to our fundraiser for the Sociedad Protectora de Animales on Sunday, June 11, at the beautiful horse ranch of Nonie Mulcaster. It was a lovely day enjoyed by many people on chairs and also on the grass. We were serenaded by Carolina Miller, a singer and composer of country and western songs who performs on radio and TV in the US, and the group Tuna Tradicional, who sang their hearts out for the S.P.A. We had additional help from Eliazar Torres Castillo, who provided 100 chairs; Amy Cox, who set up the sound system for the event; Jean Schnakenberg, who filmed the event; Maggi Hutchins and Gene Fisher, who did all the unexpected extra work; and, most of all, our own Natalie Hardy, who pulled the event together in 12 days.

We have gross proceeds of 20,000 pesos and a group of very contented people. We were happy to welcome new members and to receive donations. We wish to thank everyone for a total donation of quality and also to thank Atención, especially the help of editor Suzanne Ludekens, for her kind attention. We are very grateful to you all.

Mauri Formigoni

Editor,

I want to thank the people of San Miguel again for their prayers and for the 1,550 pesos, recycled clothes and the lovely ceramic sink which they and Unity Church gifted to me after the April 14 fire in the permaculture community destroyed my home and everything on my land.

The land greens again with the rains. I now have a new water tank, tent, sleeping bag and pad. And I'm building a small round earth home. The compost pile feeds the Earth once more. Life-giving rainwater will be harvested from the new roof. And life goes on.

You are all in my heart and prayers.

Windsong

Editor,

I wish to apologize for any confusion regarding who it was in the permaculture area that received the very kind donations from the Unity group and the larger San Miguel community. They were private donations given to private individuals to help them through a crisis. Two people were most personally devastated by the fire in the permaculture area. They were immediately aided by this help following the crisis. Thank You! The generous but modest amount was received by these two needy souls who lost everything they owned that was outside. This included a beautiful tent full of private cherished possessions. As a result, this person had no place to live. Other things lost were an outhouse and garden area and plastic tinacos and general outdoor equipment. Most importantly, the emotional shock that was felt by these two, as well as those standing on their roofs watching, was soothed by your concern for us. Thank you. Our solid homes were protected by the Mexican fire department, whom we thank profusely. Therefore, t
he sympathy that flooded out from all of you in town was healing and gave us a feeling that you were part of our lives here in the campo. The larger permaculture group is now busy repairing, out of our collective dues, the burned fences, after days of enjoying the invasion of friendly bulls. And Nature is creating her miracle by becoming beautifully green again. So, we here in the campo are given again and again the gift of learning from Nature, using our sun for energy and hot water, catching rain water in our cisterns, composting and planting trees. We gratefully receive all of Nature's gifts as well as her challenges. Thank you for sharing your heart-felt support.

Ann Williams