World Cup Blog | Max Brockbank
Don't Lose Your Shirt ... Or Your House
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Posted Thursday, June 15, 2006: 15.18BST
Michael Sohn / ap
TALKING TACTICS >>>>
Chancellor Merkel arrives for the match at Dortmund |
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, has told his people to stop betting cows, goats, motorcycles and even houses on the success of their favorite World Cup, teams amid reports of families losing their homes and livelihoods to bookmakers.
The Cambodian national side is one of the weakest on the planet — it's never qualified for the World Cup finals and didn't even bother to enter the competition at all this time round. Nevertheless, the impoverished nation has been swept up by football fever. One of the favorites at the bookies is Japan, Cambodia's biggest foreign aid donor. In the light of the Blue Samurai's result against Australia, it could be a hard year ahead in Phnom Penh.
Since my last entry, I've discovered that t he Socceroo's 3-1 win over Japan should not be too surprising: after all, they do hold the world record for the highest ever score in an international match, beating American Samoa 31-0 at Coffs Harbour, Australia, on April 11, 2001. At least Japan haven't tried the excuse that Ukraine did for their poor showing. The Boys From Kiev say they are being kept awake by amorous frogs croaking outside their Potsdam lakeside hotel. For the record, les Bleus are staying in Aerzen, 160 miles away.
Meanwhile, eyebrows are being raised in Germany over a notable absence on the terraces at Wednesday's Germany v Poland clash. Chancellor Angela Merkel was there, cheering and grimacing with her compatriots as the Manschaft ground on to a last-minute win. But her husband, Joachim Sauer, was nowhere to be seen. Earlier this month, Merkel told Bild am Sonntag that she was a much bigger fan of the game than her reclusive chemistry professor spouse. Of course she would say that; sporting success is good for national politicians. Her predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, was never one to shun a chance to big up the beautiful game, in the same way that Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair likes to be seen playing keepy-uppy whenever there are cameras about.
And perhaps we shouldn't read too much into it anyway: Sauer didn't even attend his missus' inauguration in the Bundestag, last November. Makes you wonder how he made it for the wedding.
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From the TIME archive |
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- Officially Wrong
Referee errors have marred an otherwise high-quality series
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- Sphere Of Influence
What part does the new ball have to play?
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- Korea: Heavy Going
The folks at home stay up late to support their team
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- The U.S. Bows Out With Honor
Ghana delivers the knockout blow to Team USA's World Cup hopes
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- The Truth About Swiss Neutrality [June 14, 2006]
The Crimson Tide hits Stuttgart to prove they are les Bleus worst nightmare
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- Party People [June 26, 2006]
Germany stops worrying and lears to love itself
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- Jumping The Gun [June 16, 2006]
No time for Italy to bring in a football amnesty
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- France: So Far, So Good [June 24, 2006]
Are les Bleus united enough to go any further?
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- Technophobia [June 26, 2006]
Why won't FIFA take the automatic route?
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- Japan's Soccer Samurais Are Left Feeling Blue [June 12, 2006]
Asian champions in the doghouse after loss to Aussies
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- The World Cup Web
Can't get to Germany? Experience the tournament online
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- Off To A Good Start [June 19, 2006]
The first few days of the Cup have had it all
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Mirror Images [June 19, 2006]
Germany's coach and the U.S.'s compared
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- The Global Game [June 12, 2006]
What football's success tells us about the modern world
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- Fair Play [June 12, 2006]
Even Burma's generals realize the simple joy of kicks
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- New Pitch [June 12, 2006]
Germany aims to demonstrate friendliness, creativity — and humor
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- Iran And Football [June 12, 2006]
Football, politics and social change mixed in an uncertain cocktail
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- The Cup That Cheers [June 12, 2006]
Moments that make the World Cup great
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- Global Game [May 22, 2006]
Nike and Adidas are using the planet's grandest gathering to kick sale
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- From CNN International
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