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World Cup Starts With a Bang

Mexico, South Africa open tournament with 1-1 tie

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 11, 2010 12:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – Soccer's big moment has arrived: The World Cup opened today in South Africa with much pomp: a star-studded opening ceremony, followed by a 1-1 tie in the opening match between the host country and Mexico. AP has details on the game here. The US plays its first game 2:30pm ET tomorrow against England. ESPN has the schedule and what to watch for throughout the tournament here.

A supporter of the Mexican soccer team cheers during the opening match.
A supporter of the Mexican soccer team cheers during the opening match.   (AP Photo/ddp/Steffi Loos)
South Africa's Tsepo Masilela, right, competes for the ball with Mexico's Ricardo Osorio.
South Africa's Tsepo Masilela, right, competes for the ball with Mexico's Ricardo Osorio.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South African dancers perform at the beach of Durban, South Africa, Friday.
South African dancers perform at the beach of Durban, South Africa, Friday.   (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday.
Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday.   (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A performer sings during the opening ceremony in Johannesburg.
A performer sings during the opening ceremony in Johannesburg.   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mexican fans react while watching on a giant screen at Mexico City's Zocalo main plaza, Friday.
Mexican fans react while watching on a giant screen at Mexico City's Zocalo main plaza, Friday.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
A South African soccer fan.
A South African soccer fan.   (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mexico's Rafael Marquez, left, and South Africa's Steven Pienaar vie for the ball.
Mexico's Rafael Marquez, left, and South Africa's Steven Pienaar vie for the ball.   (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Colombian singer Shakira performs at the opening concert for the World Cup at Orlando stadium in Soweto, South Africa, Thursday, June 10, 2010. The tournament started today.
Colombian singer Shakira performs at the opening concert for the World Cup at Orlando stadium in Soweto, South Africa, Thursday, June 10, 2010. The tournament started today.   (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
A woman blows a vuvuzela during the opening match of the Soccer World Cup in Soweto, outside Johannesburg, Friday.
A woman blows a vuvuzela during the opening match of the Soccer World Cup in Soweto, outside Johannesburg, Friday.   (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Residents in southern Mogadishu, Somalia, celebrate the first goal of the South African team against Mexico as they view the World cup soccer game in a cinema hall.
Residents in southern Mogadishu, Somalia, celebrate the first goal of the South African team against Mexico as they view the World cup soccer game in a cinema hall.   (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
A woman reacts while watching the match between Mexico and South Africa on a giant screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Friday.
A woman reacts while watching the match between Mexico and South Africa on a giant screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Friday.   (AP Photo/Felipe)
South Africa's Steven Pienaar, left, competes for the ball with Mexico's Gerardo Torrado.
South Africa's Steven Pienaar, left, competes for the ball with Mexico's Gerardo Torrado.   (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune after today's match with Mexico.
South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune after today's match with Mexico.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
cognitivefilter
Jun 12, 2010 9:38 PM CDT
omg shakiiiira
zaglossus
Jun 12, 2010 3:12 PM CDT
Go to leftwing sites like the Huffington Post. Nothing like American apathy toward soccer (except for Bush/Cheney) to bring out the America haters. America haters, if soccer is so great, a rich country like the USA would have adopted it, just like it has adopted (and pretty much dominated) the Olympics.
MarkFL
Jun 12, 2010 11:24 AM CDT
Any sport that can end in a tie is awful. Any sport that can end with only 1 goal the whole time is awful. Any sport where the fan riots are more entertaining than the game itself is awful. The only reason that fans riot is because they would rather get kicked in the face than actually watch the game; and those are the fans! Please world, wake up! Your sport is lame and you need to stop playing it. Or maybe I am totally wrong and I am just an ethnocentric ignoramus... No, soccer is awful.

 
soccer • South Africa • Shakira • 2010 World Cup

 
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