Not So Sleepless in Seattle

While everyone was sleeping and trying to recover from the World Cup Semifinal Spanish rout of the youngsters of Germany, our next two Major League Soccer opponents decided to duke it out in the US Open Cup out in Tukwila, WA.

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NestLiner: Hopp Suisse!

Who Knew?

Switzerland kicked off it’s World Cup Campaign yesterday afternoon against one of the top favorites to win this year’s World Cup, Spain.  Lot’s of Euro press thought it would be a cakewalk for Spain, especially in the first round.  Unfortunately, I was in a meeting when this game kicked off, but fortunately, I could check the FIFA Matchtracker.

After Switzerland gained the lead and the second half progressed, I was happy that the meeting ended and I could try to rush back to the hotel in the rain to catch the end of the match (BTW, Geneva is almost ALWAYS overcast with drizzle…it’s kind of like the Seattle of Europe).  On the tram ride back to the hotel you could see people standing outside the many bars and restaurants with TV’s.

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NestLiner: Neutral Doesn’t Mean Pick Many

World Cup in Switzerland

Geneva is one of those international melting pot kind of places.  There are people from here, but there are many that have come here.  There’s a huge immigrant (legal and illegal) presence.  You see it on the streets, and you hear it in the voices.

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Nestliner:No World Cup Neutrality Here

World Cup from Switzerland

For the first week of the World Cup, and I’m here in Geneva, Switzerland for work.  The upshot is that Geneva is in the same time zone as Johannesburg, so the games are at more reasonable times.  In fact, it’s the first time in my life I’ve seen World Cup games live in Prime Time.

Vevuzelas.  There here.  And not at World Cup events, folks just have them on the street.  And they use them.  Seemingly randomly, not just if they’re watching a game.  Sure it’s an annoying sound, but if it brings someone bring a little fun into their life, it’s actually hard to find complaint.

There’s actually two public watch areas in Geneva for the World Cup.  Both at the two biggest local stadia, Stade de Geneve, the home of the local Swiss Second Division side – Sevette FC, and Patinoire des Vernets home of the local Swiss hockey team Geneve-Servette and a really cool old hockey venue.

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Nestliner: Break Time

The stretch between the AC Milan match and the World Cup break has turned out better than planned.  Five games, four wins and a tie.  The wins were the AC Milan friendly, Chivas USA at home, Real Salt Lake Open Cup play in, and Seattle in the rainy place in corner of the map.

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