Two Days to Go: World Cup Whirl About

The clock continues to tick and with each passing second we move closer to the nirvana known as the World Cup. We’re a little more than 48 hours before the kick off in Munich between Germany and Costa Rica. Here is Berlin the city is starting to come alive as fans from around the world converge for a month-long celebration. The news is also starting to pick up with the arrival of more teams in the country each day.

The focus for many in Germany is on the first match. Since 1970, the tradition has been for the defending champion to play but with the new rule that the tournament holders no longer receive an automatic qualifying spot, the host country is no slotted into the opening game. The first match has not always been kind to the favorites. Think back to France in 2002 and Argentina in 1982 and 1990.

Will Germany experience a similar fate? Hard to say since their opponent Costa Rica has been in very poor form and is slightly distracted bythe appearance of supermodels at their training camp. Poor buggers are also not allowed to have sex during their stay in Germany so seeing a former Miss Universe has got to put the ache down below.

Another story that continues to grab the headlines is that of security. Some say the whole threat of hooligan Armageddon is overrated. Others are preparing for just such doom and gloom. Now that police know there are five bad guys in the country I might just lock the door and never leave the office.

Italy is a team that continues to make the news. While the players insist that the domestic scandals don’t really matter, the accumulation of injuries is something that can’t be shrugged off. Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is out for the first two games joining the list of Azzurri players on the sidelines.

Here is a complete listing of all the injuries affecting teams, but undoubtedly it is not complete with injury news coming at us from all directions in these final hours.

The day’s news would not be complete without a requisite Maradona story. The Great One will be in Munich for the opening game ceremony but let’s hope he shows up on time. He was forced to give up his watches in Italy. The poor guy still owes quite a bit of taxes there.

Finally, here’s a story about why you poor sots drink beer while you watch football. Admit it, you’re just trying to make up for your lack of manhood.

Tonight there will be a huge party near the Brandenburg Gate with 100,000 drinking beer and rocking to Simple Minds. If we manage to avoid those five rogue hooligans we are planning on attending and posting all the sights and sounds to make you feel like you are here with us.