Post-Apartheid Africa

What I know of this country's past is that it is very similar to that of pre-1960s America. A nation that separates people because of the color of their skin. The Apartheid did what the United States did to separate people. It meant signs and public services everywheredesignated people of certain color to an area, isolating them from each other simply because of the color of their skin. It meant that non-whites were stripped of their citizenship and moved to private lands. However Africa has changed ever since the racial segregation of the apartheid ended and I think the conditions there have really changed. It is a great atmosphere in this country, I see peoples of all colors getting along and really just looking forward to this world cup in hopes that this newly united nation can make a decisive run in this world cup and I think they are very capable of doing that. Their team is a strong unit and being at home helps a little too, especially with the mounting support and the thrill of being at the world stage. However,I would compare this country's state to that of post-segregation America, with the result benefiting everyone and allowing the country's culture and national pride to flourish. A tolerant nation is a more stable and a better one than those nations out there who still choose to submit to the beliefs of racism.

Accommodations

Occommodations in South Africa will need to be planned out early. Our first game will be against Nigeria and it is in Johannesburg on June 12. Our training field is in Pretoria wich is not far away from Johannesburg where our fist game will be. A good hotel there would be the Gauteng, which is close to Johannesburg, or one that is closer to Pretoria, and if we play farther away we will most likely change hotels to our accommodations. We will fly into the Johannesburg airport, or grand central airport, which is right next to our hotel and soccer field. Hotels in Argentina are clustered near the coast. We have bigger cities than south Africa and more hotels. Accommodations during the World Cup are scarce. Many hotels are already fully booked and few rooms are available. Public transportation in South Africa will be a problem too. We have better transportation so we will have to adjust. Ground support will be the hardest accommodation. Rental cars may be difficult or impossible to make if you don't arrange them in advance. People are clustered in hotels nears the fields and the main cities. Our team has reserved a flight and a hotel, but other teams and fans who haven't reserved a spot, will be rushed and might not get what they wanted. Our home country of Argentina is better but our hotel are still clustered on the coast and our ground transortation is okay. We have bigger and more airports, making easier and more accommodations for people and fans, but we will get to South Africa as soon and easily as possible.

Lionel Messi/Tucker

After the failure to win at the 2006 world cup, we have trained harder and longer to win it this time. With our new coach and soccer star Diego Maradona to lead us there we will win this. Pressure will not get to me because of all of the years I have played for Barcelona, one of the most dominant teams in the world. Our team has been brought up in a culture based around soccer has given us experience in playing soccer other teams would not have. I feel confident that we can win our division because most of the other teams have not made any real accomplishments in the past 4 years. Although I am very confident about our ability to win the world cup I do not want it to go to our heads. The accident I had on friday hopefully will not occur again during our campaign in south africa, luckily It was not too serious and I can still play (knock on wood). The World cup in south africa will either make or break me in the eyes of my country and the world. If I can bring the world cup to my country the doubts people will have had about me will vanish and I will be hailed as one of the top soccer players to play the game. On the other hand, If I do not win the world cup the doubts people have about me will surface with them saying "I told you he was not any good", but that would not be nearly as bad as having the shame of letting my country down in one of the best chances we have had to win the world cup in nearly 30 years. All I can do is try my best to help take Argentina to the top!

Nathan Beutler/ Argentina

Argentina Fifa World Cup
The players of the Argentina soccer team are Mariano ANDUJAR, Diego POZO, Sergio ROMERO, Sergio AGUERO, Sebastian BLANCO, Mario BOLATTI, Nicolas BURDISSO, Fabricio COLOCCINI, Jesus DATOLO, Martin DEMICHELIS, Angel DI MARIA, Ariel GARCE, Jonas GUTIERREZ, Gabriel HEINZE, Gonzalo HIGUAIN, Juan INSAURRALDE, Ezequiel LAVEZZI, Javier MASCHERANO, Juan MERCIER, Lionel MESSI, Diego MILITO, Nicolas OTAMENDI, Martin PALERMO, Javier PASTORE, Clemente RODRIGUEZ, Walter SAMUEL, Maxi RODRIGUEZ, Jose SOSA, Juan VERON, and Carlos TEVEZ. Argentina has won the soccer world cup two times, in 1978 and in 1986. The team is controlled by the Argentine Football Association. Argentina is located in south America below Brazil. The players on the team are paid very well, for example Lionel Messi makes about $35,800,000/yr. Argentina is one of the only teams that has won the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament. Argentina has been a continuously engaging team, right now they are ranked 7th in the FIFA rankings and 7th in the Elo rankings, and have been ranked 1st in both Fifa and Elo in the past 3 years. They will be wearing baby blue striped shirts with black shorts and white sock instead of their home outfit of solid blue shirt , white shorts and blue socks. Right now they are participating in the qualifiers to see if they will be competing in the championships. The Argentinians have won 2 world cups and many other widely recognized competitions so I think they will be in the finals or better.