South Africa’s vuvuzela trumped the Mexican wave in the big match of the day in the stands while Mexico salvaged a late draw against the hosts in the World Cup opening game.
Tens of thousands of fans blasted the plastic trumpet in the match against hosts South Africa, creating a cacophony of sound to spur their team on — or to simply spar with other supporters.
The din was ceaseless throughout the 90 minutes of the match and many kept blowing their instruments through halftime. The only let-up was during the two national anthems before the match.
“That is our 13th man. It is our weapon,” captain Aaron Mokoena said after the match.
The trumpet has not been universally well received with some foreign players complaining it drowns out team communication and TV viewers saying the sound, much like a swarm of gigantic bees, is annoying.
Mexican defender Carlos Salcido was not concerned, though.
“The South Africans were having their party and that’s great. We were concentrating and it didn’t bother us,” he said.
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John Travolta showed off some of his dance moves in a visit to Australia’s World Cup team ahead of its opening game tomorrow against Germany. The movie star is an ambassador for one of the team’s sponsors, Qantas, and dropped in on Australia’s five-star resort lodge in Muldersdrift, 25 miles west of Johannesburg.
Midfielder Carl Valeri was thrilled with the visit, saying “I watch his movies and I love them. . . . It’s fantastic really.”
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Didier Drogba practiced with his Ivory Coast teammates but remains doubtful for the team’s opening World Cup match against Portugal on Tuesday because of his broken arm.
“We can’t risk any contact at this point,” coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. “He feels better and better.”
Injured midfielder Andres Iniesta remains doubtful for Spain’s opening match after training alone during the team’s first practice in South Africa. . . . Italian midfielders Andrea Pirlo (left calf) and Daniele De Rossi (right calf) sat out a training match against the Gauteng All-Stars.