The triumph of the Spanish football team has put an end to the 19th FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The players of Vicente del Bosque beat the tough team of the Netherlands, with Spanish football player Iniesta scoring in the 116th minute of the match. The game was worthy of the final especially in the second halftime and during the extra-times. The players showed wonderful technical skills and a strong will for victory. The Dutch can mourn over its missed opportunities, especially after the two head-on attacks of Arjen Robben. In the end, the World Cup went to Spain, which triumphed eventhough the Spanish team did not have high-ranking stars such as Messi, Forlan, Drogba, to name but a few. La Furia Roja, however, broke one negative record: it became the world champion with the lowest number of goal scores- 8.
In fact, the championship in South Africa is the second in history which has seen such a low number of scores. The 64 matches accounted for 145 goals, which is 2.27 goals per game. Only in Italy in 1990 there had been fewer scores- 2.21 on average. Four years ago the World Cup in Germany saw twice as many goals-147. Mondial 2010 ranks 3 in number of viewers - with an average of 49 000 per match, succumbing only to the USA, 1994 /69 000 viewers on average/ and Germany, 2006 with 52 000.
With Spain’s triumph, Europe has taken the lead over South America with 10: 9 world cups. In the world’s rankings, however, Brazil is still holding the lead, followed by Germany and Italy. Bulgaria places 30th. As for the Mondial 2010 prizewinners, the Golden Ball for best player went to Uruguay’s striker Diego Forlan; Spanish Iker Casillas won the Golden Glove Award for best goalkeeper; and Thomas Muller became the Best Young Player Award Winner. The latter is 2010 World Cup top scorer, with 5 goals behind his back.
Over the last couple of days, the emotions of the sports fans have also been hyped up because of the Volleyball World League. Prior to the two crucial matches between Bulgaria and Brazil in Group “A” in the city of Varna last week, the two teams had equal chances to qualify for the finals in Argentina. Bulgarians needed success alone to rank for the final 6. Despite their lead as hosts, the Bulgarian players of Silvano Prandi lost the two dramatic matches 1:3, 2:3. In both games the teams had equal forces, but the Brazilians held better odds. Meanwhile, In Belgrade the Serbian team, which placed 2nd in Group “B”, surprisingly defeated Italy 3:2, after at first losing the game 0:2.
Bulgaria women's volleyball team has qualified for the European League Finals that will take place in Ankara 24, 25th July. They defeated the UK 3:0 in the town of Gabrovo Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Serbia has won its second match in Romania, thus still leading the group with better scores over Bulgaria. The winner in Group “A” will become clear next weekend, when leaders Bulgaria and Serbia will meet in a contested battle.
Six-time champion Sebastian Loeb has won Rally Bulgaria, 7th stage of the World Rally Championship, thus breaking yet another record victory for Citroen. Loeb, who is the current world champion, took the lead from the onset and finished 29.5 sec. ahead of his teammate Dany Sordo. Pilot Petter Solberg finished 3rd, 6.8 secs after Sordo and Sebastian Ogier placed 4th.
Two weeks ahead of the European Athletics Championships, Bulgarian women players are in excellent shape. 400-meter bronze medallist Vania Stambolova finished second in the tournament in Barcelona, which will be hosting the European championships 26th July- 1st August. Petia Dacheva who competes in the women’s triple jump placed third with 14.08 m. 100-meter athlete Inna Eftimova triumphed 4th, after a recent comeback on the track due to injury. Bulgaria’s high jumper Venelina Veneva- Mateeva ended 8th. On the eve of the 20th championships, Bulgaria’s best track athlete Ivet Lalova finished 5th in the 200 meter sprint events in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
Slovenia beat Bulgaria 5:0 in Davis Cup Euro Africa Zone Group II. Thus Bulgaria lost its chances to qualify for the playoffs in Euro Africa Zone Group I, and next year the Bulgarians will compete in Group II again. In the competition’s next season possible rivals for Bulgaria will be the teams of the UK, Cyprus, Monaco, Ireland, Hungary and Dania.
English version: Vyara Popova
