WOMEN'S SOCCER WORLD CUP: Brazilian superstar shines: 3-0 over Norway

THE DAY REPLAYED – This was the day the gifted Brazilians emphatically stated their intention of going all the way at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011™. In the second round of Group C matches, the South Americans cruised to a 3–0 victory over Norway, making it two wins out of two and sealing their quarter-final berth. In front of a capacity crowd in Wolfsburg, Brazil took a first-half lead through a sublime effort from FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta. The goal took the wind out of Norway's sails and A Seleção proceeded to produce some exhibition football. Marta was at the centre of everything good, rounding off the scoring shortly after Rosana had doubled the advantage.


In the day's first game, Australia scrapped to a 3–2 victory over newcomers Equatorial Guinea thanks to a much improved second-half display. Leena Khamis and Anonman traded goals in the first half to make the score 1–1 at the interval. Second-half sub Lisa De Vanna injected a new sense of urgency into the Matildas’ play and scored their third goal, shortly after Emily Van Egmond had restored her side's lead. African heads went down for a spell and the Matildas looked dangerous whenever they went forward, but a touch of sloppiness in front of goal meant the game remained poised, especially after Anonman pulled one back towards the end. However, coach Marcello Frigerio’s side were unable to conjure up the chance that might have led to an equaliser.

Brazil now require a single point from their final group match against Equatorial Guinea to finish top of the section. In the parallel fixture, Australia and Norway go to the mat for second spot, with the Africans already out of contention.


Goal of the day

Brazil-Norway, Marta (22nd minute)

Brazil superstar Marta showed just why she has been named FIFA World Player of the Year five times on the bounce with a terrific strike to open her account for the tournament. With 22 minutes on the clock, she powered into the box and left defender Maren Mjelde for dead with two step-overs, before sliding the ball past keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth’s left hand.


Memorable moments

The colours of the rainbow

Equatorial Guinea midfielder Anonman literally stood out today, not only because of the striker's instincts which brought her a brace against Australia, but also due to her extraordinary hairstyle, plaited into cornrows and an authentic work of art in itself. She favoured green highlights at the start of the tournament, but three streaks of bright red shone out today, colour-coordinated with the Guineans’ shirts. Anonman was not the only individual adding colour to today's spectacle, as her team-mates played their part with boots in orange, yellow, blue, green, white and red.





Samba rhythms and a true gentleman

Despite pouring rain and autumnal rather than summer temperatures, the Brazilians brought South American flair to Wolfsburg. Marta and Co headed for the dressing room afterwards in high spirits. Dancing to the rhythm of drums, they carried their upbeat message right into the mixed zone. Brazil coach Kleiton Lima, meanwhile, showed the bearing and manners of a true gentleman, shaking hands with the Volunteers prior to kick-off, and greeting some of the ladies present with a kiss on the hand.





On a par with Michelle Akers

Marta's two-goal haul means she is now level with Michelle Akers in the FIFA Women's World Cup all-time goalscoring chart. She and the iconic American lie second on 12 goals apiece, behind only Germany's 14-goal striker Birgit Prinz. Marta is also fast developing into Norway's worst nightmare, as she has three goals against the Scandinavians at the tournament, more than against any other opponents.





The stat

4 – Lisa De Vanna has now scored four times after coming on as a sub at the FIFA Women's World Cup, making the Australian the top scoring substitute in tournament history. She scored three at China 2007 and added her fourth today.





The quote

Thank god Marta is Brazilian. Thank god she is part of our squad. She is down to earth and humble and yet she is a genius,” Brazil coach Kleiton Lima





Next up

Tuesday 5 July

England-Japan, Augsburg, 6.15 pm CET

New Zealand-Mexico, Sinsheim, 6.15 pm CET

Germany-France, Monchengladbach, 8.45 CET

Canada-Nigeria, Dresden, 8.45 CET



Have your say

Marta contributed two goals and was the outstanding performer in Brazil's comfortable victory over Norway. The FIFA World Player of the Year is now the joint second-highest scorer in the history of the tournament, behind only German legend Prinz. Is Marta destined to overtake the home hero in the next two weeks?

Beware of IPL Cricketers Says Gabriella Pasqualotto an IPL Cheerleader

Hot and sexy girls dancing to cheer the crowd and the cricketers! That’s one of the picturesque scenes on Indian pitches nowadays when whole India is enjoying the momentum of IPL cricket matches. The fun of IPL 2011 increased manifolds when compared with that of IPL 2010 because of the historical Indian winning streak in World Cup 2011. Indian cricket team brought the ICC World Cup back home after almost 28 years. Obviously, each and every member of the team became the hotspot for every Indian cricket fan. And as they all are taking part in IPL matches, every Indian is enjoying their heroes in action again.

However, this year has presented a different side of IPL cheerleaders. The first thing is, some of the IPL cricket teams like Kochi Tuskers and Kolkata Knight Riders decided to involve Indian cheerleaders performing Indian dances during the matches. Second and more surprising thing happened when a beautiful and sexy South African (Johannesburg) girl Gabriella Pasqualotto tweeted her mind and thinking about cricketers openly on Twitter. Obviously, she lost her job and a chance to enjoy the eyes of millions on Indians; she was sacked from being an IPL cheerleader for Mumbai Indians.

In one of her tweets at Twitter, she praised M.S Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, she also claimed that Sachin Tendulkar is highly devoted towards his family, however, she raised fingers over flirtatious Graeme Smith. She also blamed Australian cricketers as the most lewd cricketer and sportsmen.

Gabriella Pasqualotto tweeted, "MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have been very polite and keep to themselves in the dark corners. Hotshots like Tendulkar with families at home are never present. The likes of Jonty Rhodes and Albie Morkel are notorious for having a good time with friends! 'Ol Graeme Smith will flirt with anything while his girlfriend lurks behind him."

Pasqualotto is 22 years old girl and she is certainly sexy and appealing that is why she was chosen as the IPL cheerleader for Mumbai Indians. However, her experiences in India were not as happy as she might have dreamed of. While explaining the Indian scenario, she tweeted, “all eyes are on you all the time; it is complete voyeurism. The women double take, see you and then pretend you do not exist. The men see your face, then your boobs, your butt, and then your boobs again! As we walk, all you hear is 'IPL, IPL!' with a little head jingle!"

While women in west are free to project their sexuality to enjoy their freedom, they also enjoy exposing behaviors. However, in Indian culture, things are pretty different, it’s complicated. What she might have been enjoying in South Africa (Johannesburg) or any other part of the western world became a reason for voyeurism. This is because guys here never see that much portion of flesh on streets, or roads or cricket stadiums. Here still are girls who voluntarily opt to use Burqas, Ghoonghat, Niqab or veils.

Obviously, when a western girl comes to India and tries to live her life with same sexuality and exposing behavior, what she observes is that which was commented by Pasqualotto, “To the citizens, we are practically like walking porn! All eyes are on you all the time; it is complete voyeurism. The women double take, see you and then pretend you do not exist. The men see your face, then your boobs, your butt, and then your boobs again! As we walk, all you hear is “IPL, IPL!” with a little head jingle!”

However, she was most critical about Australian cricketers. Why was that? Australia is obviously a part of western world. Australian girls are amongst the most free, sexually explosive and certainly above the limits of shyness. I am sure Australian players might not have found IPL cheerleaders as anything new. So why were they acting so vulgar? But we have seen decency of Steve Waugh and Paul Rifle too, so it would be wrong to say that all Australian Cricketers are vulgar.

Gabriella Pasqualotto said, “The Aussies are fun but naughty, such as Aiden Blizzard and Dan Christian. By the end of a crazy evening, a certain someone had played kissing catchers with three girls known to me only, although he has his own girlfriend back home. He cooed to each girl, ‘Come home with me, I just want to cuddle!’”

Well, that is nothing new revelation about Australian cricketers. Our beloved Shane Warne, captain and mentor of Rajasthan Royals, has shown his lewd nature many times in history. However, the question remains the same, in spite of having so high degree of sexual freedom in Australia, why Australian cricketers are so vulgar, sex crazy and lewd? Why do they consider IPL cheerleaders nothing more than flesh and meat?

Another burning issue is, the complaining IPL cheerleader Pasqualotto is South African, and Ol’ Grame Smith is also South African. When South African girls like Pasqualotto are so free that they can expose their sexuality openly, why South African cricketers like Graeme Smith feels it as something new and tries to flirt with every other girl?

Now one may say that with increasing sexual freedom for girls, boys naturally gets a free pass for flirting. Voyeurism becomes trend. But if it is so, why Gabriella Pasqualotto found it something wrong?

Or may be its only cricketers who are lewd and vulgar? But then Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, M.S. Dhoni and other Indian cricketers whom Gabriella Pasqualotto praised for being polite, sensitive and decent, are also cricketers. So, not all cricketers are vulgar and sex crazy.

Thus while Pasqualotto claimed, “Oh, please! I have come to realise that cricketers are the most loose and mischievious sportsmen I have come across. Makes me wonder if I should worry about them more then the commoners on the street! I still have a long while here, so I shall keep my tip list in mind,” I disagree with her on that.