World Cup Commentary

I've spent almost the entire past week watching football.  I mean soccer.  I think I saw (at least most of) 15 of the 23 games so far.  Here are a few things I learned:

• Everyone is a secret North Korean fan.  When they finally scored their goal the bar erupted in cheers.  Then everyone looked around suspiciously at their comrades.
• The ball is possessed.
• People (i.e., announcers) are surprised that South Africa, especially Jo'burg, is a bit chilly.  It's winter.  You're at 1800m.  Stop complaining and bring a jacket.
• On weekdays, Ecuadorians don't drink beer before noon.  Americans do.
• The English announcers comments are really quite obvious.  Can't you think of something else to say besides, "That will be a talking point after the match"?
• The Ecuadorian announcers pronounce "Algeria" as "Orhelia."  One more time in case you didn't quite catch that- "Or-heL-e-a".  I understand the Spanish "g" as an English "h", but really don't get the transposition of the "r" and "l".