SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - England and Slovenia fans arrive for vital World Cup match

Record ID: 453910

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - England and Slovenia fans arrive for vital World Cup match
  • Date: 24th June 2010
  • Summary: PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 23, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM IN PORT ELIZABETH ENGLAND FLAGS AT CAFE ENGLAND SOCCER FANS STANDING ENGLAND SOCCER FAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND SOCCER FAN JOHN SAYING: "If we don't (win), they don't want to come back to England for at least six months, because they will be angry, fans will be very angry with them." ENGLAND SOCCER FANS SITTING SLOVENIAN SOCCER FANS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) SLOVENIAN SOCCER FAN ALAIC SAYING: "We will win 2-0 and England will meet France at the airport."
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACKA2GA1A4LKFCF0I7UMMP1DYO
  • Story Text: English and Slovenian soccer fans headed to Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday (June 23) to support their countries in their crucial Group C World Cup match.
    England, ranked eighth in the world, must beat Slovenia -- ranked 25th and with a population of just two million -- to guarantee a place in the tournament's knockout stage.
    A draw would put Slovenia through and will give the United States or even Algeria the chance to qualify ahead of England if either side should win their match in Pretoria.
    A soccer fan from England said that the team should not return back home if they were to lose this game.
    "If we don't (win), they don't want to come back to England for at least six months, because they will be angry, fans will be very angry with them," John, a soccer fan from England, said.
    Slovenian fans will be hoping their team, playing in only their second World Cup finals, can reach the second round for the first time and send England home along with France who were eliminated on Tuesday (June 22).
    "We will win 2-0 and England will meet France at the airport," Alaic, a Slovenian soccer fan, said.
    England fans have become accustomed to their team rescuing difficult situations in the first round of World Cup finals, and one fan was sure that they would be able to achieve a win again this time.
    "I hope England will win, I know it will be hard game but they will try hard," said Rebecca Newman.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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