As football's most prestigious event enters its second week, the World Cup hype is everywhere, writes Inas Mazhar It's time to watch real football, the World Cup, the greatest sporting event of all, when the best players in the world display the talents and skills that make their feet worth millions. Even before the tournament kicked off Egyptians were impatient to watch their dream team, Brazil, and for many, though the World Cup began last Friday it only really began to hot up on Tuesday, when Brazil opened its defence of its crown against Croatia. Sometimes it feels as if Egyptians would cheer Brazil even if the South American giants were playing the Pharaohs. The tournament is in its early stages and the surprises are yet to come. An underdog could still emerge to attract attention, though for the time being the majority of Egyptians are supporting Latin American teams such as Brazil and Argentina, while keeping an eye on other big team nations, which include England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. In one Downtown café, at least, the local crowd was cheering Italy over African newcomers Ghana. Some of the star players in Germany 2006 are making their last World Cup appearances. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane and Figo have all announced this will be their last appearance. The World Cup is big business, not only for host nation Germany, but for many other countries, and Egypt is no exception despite not qualifying for the tournament -- a misfortune most Egyptian fans blame on the former head coach of the national team, Italian Marco Tedelli. The failure of Egyptian TV stations to buy the rights and transmit the games live means that Egyptians can watch World Cup matches at home only by paying a subscription fee to the rights holder. Otherwise, they can follow the progress of their favourite teams on the giant screens installed in many streets and squares, sponsored either by businessmen or members of the parliament. The National Democratic Party has also installed screens in its headquarters and in branches all over the country, advertising the locations in the national press. Newspapers, radio and TV certainly seem to be creaming off profits from World Cup fever, as advertisers desperately promote their own World Cup- linked offers. Sports shops and stores have stocked up on World Cup merchandise as if Egypt was the host nation, and it is not only teenagers who have started wearing their favourite teams' shirts, often with the name of their favourite player on the back. Surprisingly, the Egyptian Football Association decided to schedule Egyptian Cup games alongside the World Cup, and have been severely criticised for the clash. The result is that the Egyptian Cup games have attracted fewer crowds and less TV viewers. Whether tomorrow's cup final, pitting traditional Egyptian powerhouses Ahli against Zamalek, can buck the trend remains to be seen. "There is no way I'm going to watch local games and miss the World Cup," says Samir Abdel-Hamid. "How can someone watch the national competition, then watch a World Cup match afterwards, and not be depressed?" Meanwhile, the German Embassy in Cairo and the Goethe Institute are making the most of their privileges as host nation of the tournament. A giant screen has been erected in the garden of the German Institute in Dokki, in front of which more than 1,000 fans gathered to watch the German team in its opening match against Costa Rica. Germany won 4-2. To enhance the World Cup atmosphere German Embassy officials donned blue T- shirts while Goethe Institute employees wore green jerseys emblazoned with the motto "Football, the language of the world". The giant screen will remain throughout the month-long tournament. All German matches will be broadcast live, and all other matches beginning with the quarter finals. The Goethe Institute has even printed World Cup tickets to be distributed among guests. German Ambassador Martin Kobler greeted invitees to the opening match, extolling Germany's preparations as host and hoping that, in a month's time, it will be the German team that lifts the cup. "We all hope that Germany wins, we are the home team and the side is really strong. But it's not going to be an easy competition. This is the World Cup, after all, and big name teams like Brazil, Italy, Argentina and England all have their eyes on the cup." The ambassador has his own memories of previous tournaments. "I was a child in 1954 [when West Germany won the first of its three World Cups] and can't remember it but I well remember winning the trophy in 1974. I was watching the final in Indonesia. It's always good to watch the final. It goes straight to your heart. "In 1998 I was in France for the holidays with my family and we all watched the final between the host nation, France, and Brazil. We were in a pub and we mingled with the French people and supported their team as if we were French ourselves. It was a wonderful experience." "It's Germany, of course, that I always support, but if Germany loses I change my colours and pick my second favourite team," he laughs. The ambassador, who speaks good Arabic, says he is a big fan of Arab teams, having spent a long time working in the region. He will be transferred to Baghdad in two weeks' time. (see pp.20-21)
