Twitter lights up for #WordCup

While millions of people are tuning in to watch the World Cup and commenting about it online, thousands more on Twitter are talking about what appears to be a similar but equally riveting event, the #WordCup. "In #Paris, where cafe seating famously faces the street for optimal people-watching, chairs are turned inward today to catch a glimpse of France in the #WordCup!" exclaimed one Twitter user.

Another, possibly a little the worse for wear, wrote: "The only #WordCup I care to see is when my cup is running over with whiskey."

Even one prominent American news organisation got in on the act: "Panama made the #WordCup for the first time then drew Belgium for its opening match."

There were more than 2,000 tweets about "#WordCup2018" on Monday, before the day's three matches had even begun, with dozens more coming in by the hour.

Twitter users were of course talking about the football World Cup in Russia, but had misspelt the word.

It has echoes of the Winter Olympics in South Korea earlier this year.

They took place in Pyeongchang, but thousands of people on Twitter wrote about Pyongyang -- capital of North Korea.

Following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Twitter said there were 672 million tweets sent related to the 2014 #WorldCup, making it what the social media network called at the time "the highest number we've announced related to an event".

MOURINHO EXPECTS TOP TEAMS TO RECOVER

Jose Mourinho lauded an "amazing day for football" after heavyweights Germany and Brazil failed to win their opening World Cup fixtures on Sunday but the Manchester United manager expects them both to rebound from sluggish starts.

Reigning champions Germany suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to an inspired Mexico in Moscow, while Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Rostov-on-Don.

Mourinho, working as a television analyst for Russia Today, expressed his delight at the results but played down the prospect of premature exits for either side.

"They all will qualify and the best of these top teams will come in the knockout," the Portuguese said.

"I think they all know how good they are. I think they all know they are going to improve.

"It's probably good for them to put their feet on the ground and it's probably good for their countrymen also to keep calm."

'LOZANO FOR PRESIDENT'

Throughout the Mexican capital, the streets filled with exhilarated fans, on foot, bicycles, motorbikes or in cars. Some blasted their car stereos, while others shrieked in glee.

Amid the cacophonous bustle, a veteran violinist played the traditional tune "Cielito Lindo" -- roughly translated as "Lovely Sweet One."

The victory was a heart-stopping one, but "a small goal is still a goal," said the musician, while fans left coins in his instrument case.

One female fan, a flag in her hand and the national colors painted on her cheeks, screamed: "We are an Aztec warrior force!"

"Lozano for president, Lozano for president!" fans cheered -- not forgetting that the country will hold elections to choose a new leader on July 1.

Ana Maria Contreras, a primary school teacher, came with her children and even dogs decked out in El Tri's signature green jerseys to join the festivities.

"We have shown that we can compete with any power. And I hope that whoever wins as president also knows how to lead us to victory," she said.

PSYCHIC PARROT TIPS DOOM FOR JAPAN

Japan's hopes of winning their opening World Cup fixture on Tuesday have been written off before a ball has been kicked -- by a chirpy parrot believed to possess psychic powers.

The grey-feathered tipster called Olivia, who lives at Nasu Animal Kingdom in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, predicted that Colombia would beat Group H rivals Japan when they face off in Russia, local media reported on Monday.

Olivia, one of several animal psychics to have taken on the extra work in recent years, plucked a tiny Colombia flag with its beak and handed it to a zookeeper after briefly flirting with a third flag that represented a draw, according to Japan's Sankei News.

"Hopefully he's got it wrong this time," zookeeper Nozomi Oikawa told reporters.

"The parrot was hovering for a while so maybe it will be a close game."

However, the odds are not good for Japan upsetting Colombia in Saransk as Olivia has an uncanny knack for being right.