Worldcup tidbits

Edge of seats

Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson shared a family photo on Twitter that showed everybody on the edge of their seat for the US-Belgium match - some with crossed fingers, others with clenched fists. Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers all posted photos of their teams on half the screen and the US World Cup squad on the other half. Each was captioned: "Are you ready?"

The San Diego Chargers put up a photo featuring the Stars and Stripes covering the football field at Qualcomm Stadium with the words, "Go get 'em!" while Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester posted: "(hash) I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!"

It was all for naught as the US lost to Belgium 2-1 in extra time.

Bonjour? Bonjour?

France coach Didier Deschamps had some microphone difficulties during his media conference on Tuesday. First, the sound was too loud, with Deschamps' booming voice resonating around the Pedro II theater in Ribeirao Preto. Then it was far too quiet and he could barely be heard.

"Everything OK, chief? Hello?" a bemused Deschamps said as he turned to the sound technician, who was desperately trying to figure out what was wrong.

Deschamps carried on talking, but the problem persisted.

"Is he trying to wind me up? I think they've sent the cook instead," Deschamps said jokingly. "This is a disaster."

All Argentina

Every time Pele was shown on the giant video screen, the crowd booed.

More than 20,000 Argentine supporters made the Sao Paulo Fan Fest their own on Tuesday for the round-of-16 match against Switzerland. Some wore Lionel Messi masks and white and light blue wigs. Many were shirtless, standing under the blazing sun for hours.

Whenever Pele, the Brazil great attending the game at nearby Corinthians Stadium, was shown on the screen, they screamed he has nothing on Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

Etched in memory

Tattoos are painful, but this one must have hurt even more.

Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla recently got an ink sketch of his 119th-minute World Cup miss against Brazil etched on his back. Next to the image of his shot slamming off the crossbar, it reads: "One centimeter from glory".

Pinilla's tattoo echoes the frustration of most Chileans. Thousands of them jumped up in the stands at Mineirao Stadium - and millions at home - on Saturday in the final moments only to watch Pinilla's shot hit the bar. Brazil ended up winning, Chile was sent home in tears and that crossbar has quickly turned into a loathed symbol of the country's 14-year jinx against Brazil.

(China Daily 07/03/2014 page24)