World Cup One Twos

L-R: Bielsa and Maicon

BRAZILIAN VOODOO GIVES ARGENTINES NEEDLE
Never mind the vuvuzelas, Brazilian World Cup fans are giving rivals Argentina the needle with some voodoo 'fun.'
Brazilian sports daily Lance and Mexican equivalent Record reported that voodoo-style dolls of Argentina in particular have proved a hit.
A Brazilian website, voodoocopa.com.br, has been selling the 15cm-tall dolls for 10 reais (5.6 dollars) with five needles included.
"Stab your pin with the best of intentions," said the advertising blurb which accompanies the site.
There's even a doll of Argentina coach Diego Maradona -- though there's also one of Brazil's own -- much maligned -- Dunga
The men behind the site, Rodrigo Fachel and Daniel Kamagusuku, told Lance that dolls dressed in the colours of France, Italy and Germany were also quite popular.
"It's just a bit of fun," they told Lance.
Record noted that last year their office also had a doll ready for when Mexico met regional rivals the United States.
"It didn't help much -- and it caused a furore," the paper noted.
A LESSER MAN
Chile's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa said he was a worse character nowadays than when he coached his homeland at the 2002 World Cup finals.
"I don't think there is such a difference -- save for the fact I feel older and my health and character are worse," opined the laconic Bielsa at Nelspruit on Tuesday as his team prepared for Wednesday's Group H match against Honduras.
A reporter had wanted to know if 54-year-old Bielsa -- who did guide Argentina to the 2004 Olympic gold medal -- had changed from the man who suffered a first-round knockout eight years ago.
"Eight years have passed and you can't compare then and now," said Bielsa, who took the opportunity to praise Diego Maradona's current Argentina side for "playing very attacking football" in their 1-0 win over Nigeria.
THE PALACIOS IN HISTORY BOOKS
Wilson, Johnny and Jerry Palacios have set a World Cup record thanks to Jerry's call-up into the Honduran squad in place of injured Torino star Julio Cesar de Leon.
Jerry Palacios, a striker with Chinese club Hangzhou Greentown, was an emergency call-up after Leon had to pull out with a leg injury on the eve of the tournament, and now the Central Americans have three brothers in their squad -- a first in World Cup history.
All three hail from the town of La Ceiba, and Jerry, the eldest at 29, joins Johnny, 24, and Wilson, the 26-year-old who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
For the Palacios family, the call-up of Jerry is a boost to morale three years after younger brother Edwin was kidnapped in the politically troubled Central American country.
Although a 150,000-dollar ransom was paid, his body was discovered in a remote rural area.
"Everything I do in football is for Edwin. He is watching over me," Palacios told Honduran reporters on arrival in South Africa, where Honduras are preparing for only their second appearance in a World Cup.
OF TEARS AND WEDDING RING
The best goal of the Brazil v North Korea game was undoubtedly Maicon's 55th-minute effort which looked like a cross, but dipped around the near post at the last second on the tightest of angles to earn him the man-of-the-match award.
Maicon dedicated the goal to his wife and admitted it was an emotional moment as he choked back tears.
"I was just thinking about everything I had to go through to get here," he said.
"It was my first match in a World Cup and I had scored a goal. I was pretty emotional, I didn't cry, but I kissed my wedding ring to thank my wife for everything she has done to help me get here."
AMBUSH MARKETERS AMBUSHED
South-African police have arrested two Dutch women on Wednesday over a suspected ambush marketing campaigning by Dutch brewer Bavaria.
"The two were arrested in their hotel this morning and we are now trying to find out what they are charged with," a Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The arrests come after FIFA questioned a group of 36 Dutch women who were watching the Netherlands play Denmark in Soccer City stadium on Monday in skimpy orange dresses.
The dresses produced by family-owned brewer Bavaria caught the eye of experts on the lookout for ambush marketing campaigns.
Anheuser Busch's Budweiser is the official beer for the tournament and world soccer's governing body fiercely protects its sponsors from brands which are not FIFA partners.