World Cup: South African tournament draws third-best attendance

The first World Cup on African soil drew the third-largest attendance in tournament history, behind only the 1994 tournament in the United States and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

FIFA, the international ruling body for soccer, said in a statement Monday that 3.18 million fans attended the 64 matches in South Africa, an average attendance of nearly 50,000. The 1994 World Cup in the U.S. holds the record with 3.59 million attending 52 matches, an average of 69,000 per game. The tournament expanded to 32 teams four years later and in 2006, 3.36 million fans attended the 64 matches in Germany.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: The invasion of Paris

As if South Africa didn't have enough problems, Paris Hilton has arrived in Johannesburg, according to the socialite's Twitter page. Sister Nicky also tweeted that she was "looking forward to going on safari and watching the football."

Hope someone reminded them that this is the football without pads and helmets.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

Photo: Paris Hilton in June. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press.

World Cup: Brazil vs. Chile; Brazil wins, 3-0

Five-time champion Brazil beat South American rival Chile, 3-0, Monday to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Juan opened the scoring in the 34th minute at Ellis Park Stadium with a firm header from near the penalty spot off a corner kick. Luis Fabiano added to the lead in the 38th, receiving a one-touch pass from Kaka and dribbling past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo inside the area before hitting the open net.

Robinho scored his first goal in the tournament with a shot from the top of the area in the 59th minute, a one-timer into the far corner.

Brazil will face the Netherlands, which earlier Monday defeated Slovakia, 2-1, in Durban.

Chile is the first South American team eliminated. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are in the final eight, and Paraguay plays Japan on Tuesday.

--Associated Press

World Cup: Netherlands vs. Slovakia; Netherlands win, 2-1

Like clockwork, the Oranje are into the World Cup quarterfinals.

The Netherlands reached the final eight Monday when standouts Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored in each half of a 2-1 victory over Slovakia.

The Oranje, who have never won soccer's biggest prize, went ahead in the 18th minute when Robben cut inside from the right wing and found the net with a low, precise shot from 20 yards. Robben sat out the first two group matches with a hamstring injury, but his return has rekindled the crafty Dutch offense.

Sneijder doubled the lead into an empty net in the 84th after a gamble by Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha backfired.

Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg preserved the win with two key saves in the 67th and the Dutch extended their team-record unbeaten streak to 23 games. Robert Vittek scored on a last-second penalty kick for Slovakia, then rushed to the net to retrieve the ball, only to hear the final whistle.

In the quarterfinals, the Netherlands will face either five-time champion Brazil or Chile, who play later Monday.

-- Associated Press

Question of the day: How would you evaluate the U.S. performance in the World Cup?

Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they're wrong.

Grahame L. Jones, Los Angeles Times

The 2010 World Cup is over for the U.S. and players and coaches have gone their different ways. Was it a success? A failure? Somewhere in between?

Reaching the second round was the stated "first goal," but this team could have and should have done better. The U.S. will finish somewhere between and 11th and 13th in the 32-team field, depending on later results. That's about in line with its world ranking.

But there was an opportunity here in South Africa to have seized the moment and gone even farther. Ghana was not an impossible task. Uruguay in the quarterfinals would not have been an impossible task.

The U.S. could have reached the semifinals, with all the resulting impact that would have had in the U.S. media and among the fans. The sport could have capitalized and taken another step forward. It has not taken a step back, but it was an opportunity lost.

Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

The minimum expectation, set by none other than U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, was to survive group play. So by advancing to the round of 16, the U.S. achieved their most basic requirement at the World Cup.

But even Gulati admitted everything changed when the U.S. was left with a winnable path to the semifinals. The team had the attention of its country, the bracket was favorable and there was an opportunity to make history.

Instead, the U.S. squandered its chance to march deep into the tournament and the opportunity to bring a nation of new fans along for the ride. A few days removed from the loss to Ghana, there’s a  feeling that the U.S. underachieved.

The truth is, the team's deficiencies caught up with it against Ghana. A team can come from behind only so many times. So let’s consider the 2010 World Cup an overall success, but it might be time to raise the bar and expect more in four years.

George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel

Sorry, USA, not enough.
Not enough because you lost a very winnable game against a team that had scored only two goals in group qualifying.

Not enough because your coach botched some lineup decisions _ badly _ with one of them leading to the first goal of the game. By the way, falling behind early once again in a game where a goal is so precious constitutes another huge mental blunder.

Not enough because there were a bunch of casual soccer fans jumping on the bandwagon, buzzing with patriotic pride, and you let every one of them down. Now it becomes another four years before the anticipation builds again, and we wait to see what a new group will bring.

This group was good enough to make it to the round of eight. This country is out of excuses when it comes to soccer on a international stage. The USA has proven it can compete with some of the elite teams in the world. We’re not longer grading on a lenient curve. Ask U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, who said the team failed to meet expectations.

Agreed. The US missed out on a great opportunity.

Chivas USA gets a piece of World Cup action

The vuvuzelas have invaded Los Angeles.

One of the more distinctive aspects of the 2010 World Cup is making an appearance at the Home Depot Center, where Chivas USA faces FC Dallas tonight.

Employees say the plastic horns are sold at all Chivas USA games, a marketing move that entertains some fans while surely annoying others.

But with 20 minutes until kickoff, fans are utilizing their blue and yellow horns with a larger-than-usual amount of gusto.

Adrian Llamas is in the front row of Section 119 along with at least six other aspiring musicians, for lack of a better term. He said he'd heard the vuvuzelas while watching World Cup games, and that he bought his to help raise spirit and cheer on Chivas USA. 

Now we'll just have to wait and see if Llamas and the rest of the horn-players in attendance have the lung capacity and endurance of fans in South Africa. If so, this could be a long -- and loud -- game.

-- Laura Myers

World Cup: Japan vs. Denmark; Japan wins 3-1

Spectacular first-half goals by Keisuke Honda and Yusuhito Endo helped lift Japan to a 3-1 win over Denmark on Thursday, sending the Japanese into the round of 16 at the World Cup.

The Danes, who replied in the 81st minute when Jon Dahl Tomasson tapped in the rebound from his own penalty kick, failed to advance from the group stage for the first time in four World Cup appearances.

Shinji Okazaki scored an insurance goal in the 87th minute for the Japanese.

Japan's first two goals came from free kicks less than 15 minutes apart, as it collected its second win in Group E. The Japanese finished with six points compared with three for third-place Denmark. Cameroon was last in the group.

The Japanese have now reached the knockout round for the second time. They also advanced in 2002, when they were tournament co-hosts with South Korea.

Japan will face Paraguay in Pretoria on Tuesday in the second round.

Japanese players held hands and bowed like a chorus line before their joyous fans at the end of the game.

Honda got his second goal of the tournament in the 17th minute with a blistering kick from the right of the Danish area. The ball went over the wall and swerved beyond goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen's reach into the far corner.

“For Japan it's a big win,” Honda said. “I'm glad we won, but I am not satisfied. The next game is more important. I want to show the Japanese that nothing is impossible.”

Endo's free kick came from outside the penalty area directly in front of the Danish goal. He curled his shot around the wall. Despite leaping to his left, Sorensen couldn't get to it.

Denmark was awarded a penalty when Makoto Hasebe brought down Daniel Agger. Tomasson hit the ball at Eiji Kawashima, but the goalkeeper couldn't hold on and the Danish captain knocked in the loose ball.

Honda tormented the Danish defense with his tight dribbling before laying the ball to Okazaki, a substitute, who put away the final goal.

-- Associated Press

World Cup: Chile extends a heartfelt thank-you

The Chilean team has been based in remote Nelspruit, South Africa, during group play, but the players apparently have enjoyed their stay. So much so, the Chilean Embassy sent a delegation to the municipality of Mbombela this week with an initiative to open a soccer academy in the area. Chile, the only team based in the area during group play, already has donated soccer uniforms to disadvantaged youth at a primary school located near the stadium as Chile opened World Cup play last week.

“We have received a very warm welcome from the government and the people" of the province of Mpumalanga, sports minister Gabriel Ruiz-Tagle said. "We have had a wonderful time. We wish we could stay longer. In our hearts, we will never forget Nelspruit.”

Said the area's sports czar: "We are proud to have them here."

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: U.S., England right on the money

South Africa figures to cash in on the victories by England and the U.S. on Wednesday. The wins sent both teams on to the second round, meaning more cash-laden visitors could be to the World Cup, and fans already here will likely extend their stays.

One tour company said nearly three-quarters of the English fans it was working with planned to stick around through the second round, and some Americans in Johannesburg were scrambling to change hotel and airline reservations Thursday.

According to figures released by Visa, during the first week of World Cup matches, spending by international visitors using Visa cards exceeded $129 million.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: France's Anelka joins Hall of Shame

When the French team sent petulant striker Nicolas Anelka back to France over the weekend after his profane rant against Coach Raymond Domenech, he joined a list of shamed participants who have been sent home from the World Cup over the years. Eight unmemorable moments from the last nine World Cups, courtesy of the South African newspaper The Times:

1. William Mokoena and Brendan Augustine, South Africa, 1998: The two Bafana Bafana players were sent packing after returning to the team hotel at 6 a.m. The pair had been visiting a French nightclub when they apparently lost track of the time. Could happen to anyone, right? Coach Philippe Troussier was not amused. "They are just tourists," he said when asked of the players' status.

2. Diego Maradona, Argentina, 1994: The current Argentine coach, then a player, was sent home from the U.S. World Cup after testing positive for ephedrine.

3. Roy Keane, Ireland, 2002: Manchester United, Keane's club team, sent a private plane to Japan to fetch the hard-nosed Irish captain after he had a heated row with Coach Mick McCarthy over the choice of training facilities for the team.

4. Faustino Asprilla, Colombia, 1998: Asprilla got a free ride to the airport after criticizing Colombia's coach during a live radio broadcast after the coach had substituted him out of a game with Romania.

5. Graham Poll, England, 2006: England's best referee fouled up when he booked Croatia's Jospi Simunic three times -- or one more than the allowable limit -- during a match against Australia.

6. Pablo Larios, France, 1982: The French midfielder was kicked off the team when it was revealed he was having an affair with the wife of teammate Michel Platini. Larios still may not be welcome back at the World Cup since Platini, a UEFA bigwig, is a close friend of FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

7. Willie Johnston, Scotland, 1978: For the controversial Scottish winger, this proved one controversy too many. When he was found guilty of using a banned substance in the opening match with Peru, his international career was over.

8. Ernest Jean-Joseph, Haiti, 1974: He became Haiti's most famous soccer player after becoming the first to fail a doping test. Let's hope painkillers weren't on the banned list because Jean-Joseph was beaten up by embarrassed team officials before being sent home.

By the way, even though the warring French team meets winless South Africa in Tuesday's Group A finale, the South African papers have shown little patience with Anelka's antics or those of the team. One paper ran a picture of the French striker below the headline "The Incredible Sulk" and quoted Domenech as suggesting that Anelka could have stayed with the team if he had only apologized for his antics.

Another daily's headline read, "Adieu, now just go." It appeared over a story that said the French shouldn't have been at the World Cup in the first place.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: Nelson Mandela says, 'I played a crucial role'

The World Cup would never have come to South Africa if Nelson Mandela, the former president, anti-apartheid activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner and the man some people call the father of the new South Africa, hadn't come first.

Yet the tournament has gone on without him. A week into the country’s month-long celebration, Mandela, who had not spoken or previously appeared in public since the tournament began, attended the funeral of his 13-year-old great granddaughter Thursday. But the 91-year-old, who is in frail health, is following events closely, according to his grandson Mandla Mandela, a member of the South African parliament.

“He is fully in support of the 2010 World Cup,” said Mandla Mandela, adding that if his grandfather had a goal for the tournament it would be “to unite our people under a peaceful umbrella.”

“Africa has been ridden by conflict,” he said. “So this event should enable Africans first to realize that we are able to [host] a world-class event. And in the ability to do so, we should assert ourselves to participate fully in the global community.”

Nelson Mandela was expected to attend the opening ceremonies as well as the World Cup’s first game between Mexico and South Africa. But his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela was killed in an auto accident early on the morning of the opener.

“The passing of his great-granddaughter has been a tragic blow to the family, and we’ve taken time to mourn her passing,” said Mandla, who also attended the funeral before appearing at a charity event to raise money for the rural village his family comes from.

But, Mandla said, his grandfather was fully aware of the role he played in bringing the world to South Africa.

“My grandfather, when we were talking about the opening of the World Cup, he was always saying to us, ‘You know I played a crucial role in securing this World Cup.’ And he insisted to the family members that [he] must be present,” Mandla said. “We were really sympathetic to his cause. He wished to be there.

“With the loss of his great-granddaughter, he was there in spirit.”

Mandla, who succeeded his grandfather as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, spoke in an art gallery Thursday afternoon where limited editions of World Cup-themed paintings were being sold to help support programs in the poor rural village in southeastern Africa where Nelson Mandela was born.

 "Like many rural areas in the country, we are situated in extreme measures of poverty," Mandla Mandela said of Mvezo. "Our community is living without access to clean water, without access to proper health facilities and educational facilities. No sanitation as well as no electricity.

"Even in my own household there is no electricity as well as drinking water."

Among the immediate goals for the community is to use money from the art sale to help build a high school and a health center, Mandela said.

To see the art online, go to AfricaSalutesYou.com.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Nelson Mandela. Credit: Siphiwe Sibeko / Associated Press.