{"id":1091,"date":"2010-12-13T03:38:16","date_gmt":"2010-12-13T08:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/?p=1091"},"modified":"2011-12-05T06:17:29","modified_gmt":"2011-12-05T11:17:29","slug":"world-cup-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Action!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The FIFA Club World Cup tournament is an annual soccer championship that brings together the club champion from each of the continents.  This year&#8217;s tournament hosted in Abu Dhabi, featured local favorites Al Wahda&#8230;plus teams from Mexico (our closest home team), Korea, Brazil, Italy, Congo and Papua New Guinea.  Lucky for us, one of the two venues used for the tournament is literally across the street from our apartment.  Throw in the fact that neither of us have ever seen a professional soccer game in person, we <strong>had<\/strong> to go!<\/p>\n<p>Megan scored some great seats for one of the quarterfinal match-ups:  <\/p>\n<p>C.F. Pachuca &#8211; Mexican team and North American representative<br \/>\nVS.<br \/>\nTP Mazembe &#8211; Republic of Congo team and African representative<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we were pulling for the Mexican team, who unfortunately fell short, 1-0.  But even with the loss, the atmostphere was electric.  A band from Congo played the entire game&#8230;.Mexican fans waved flags and wore luchador masks&#8230;.both sides screamed chants to support their team.  It was a lot of fun to take it all in.  <\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll be honest &#8211; neither of us are huge soccer fans and we didn&#8217;t understand some of the calls or finer points of the game.  However, the action and skill level was easy to appreciate so we found ourselves thoroughly entertained.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1091 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1686\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1686-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1101\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1101'>\n\t\t\t\tA view of Zayed Stadium from our balcony &#8211; pretty close, eh?\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1684\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1684-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1100\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1100'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Fan Zone was rockin&#8217;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1676\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1676-e1292222465131-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1099\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1099'>\n\t\t\t\tTournament mascots checking out the soccer game happening perpendicular to the ground&#8230;thanks to ropes!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1653\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1653-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1098\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1098'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Congolese had crazy hair&#8230;like this guy (notice bleached corn rows on one side; buzz cut and natural on the other &#8211; very Two Face)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1638\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1638-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1096\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1096'>\n\t\t\t\tMeg scored us seats only a few rows from the field\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1636\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1636-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1095\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1095'>\n\t\t\t\tMohammed Bin Zayed Stadium is quite a nice venue\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1634\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1634-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1094\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1094'>\n\t\t\t\tThe couple next to us had their luchador masks in support of Team Mexico\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1633\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1633-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1093\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1093'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Mexican team had no sympathy for injuries&#8230;notice the Mexican player pointing to his watch to get a move on the game\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/101_1628\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/101_1628-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1092\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1092'>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the Congo supporters had a spinning wheel on his head!  A+ for originality!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>A view of some of the action from our seats<br \/>\n<object width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/7uOi_x5r0yc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\"><\/param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"><\/param><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/7uOi_x5r0yc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n<p>The goalie from Congo had a unique celebratory dance&#8230;.here is a quick clip.<br \/>\n<object width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/erAkfmg_if0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\"><\/param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"><\/param><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/erAkfmg_if0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n<p>After the match, the fun continued!  Here is a &#8220;sideways&#8221; game being played on the wall.  Yes&#8230;they are hanging from wires.  First time we&#8217;ve ever seen something like this!<br \/>\n<object width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/nzV4h2lgoRc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\"><\/param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"><\/param><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/nzV4h2lgoRc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"480\" height=\"385\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FIFA Club World Cup tournament is an annual soccer championship that brings together the club champion from each of the continents. This year&#8217;s tournament hosted in Abu Dhabi, featured local favorites Al Wahda&#8230;plus teams from Mexico (our closest home team), Korea, Brazil, Italy, Congo and Papua New Guinea. Lucky for us, one of the&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/world-cup-action\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[24,43],"class_list":["post-1091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-picture","category-video","tag-events","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1091"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3424,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions\/3424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}