Some general info. about this great sport.

There are multitudes of poor people in the world who look at "Football" as a religion.

They have little money and no real future, but they worship football.

Even in South Africa, a football hotbed, many cannot even afford a cheap ticket to a World Cup game, but they are still fanatical about the game and the fact it is being held in their country.

Football is escapism for many millions of people. It has been played to settle wars, to help prisoners forget their troubles and even played between opposition armies during a lull in a war.

It is rightfully named "The Beautiful Game".

There is a definite link between the competition and precious metals.

The original trophy (The Jules Rimet trophy) was 35cm high and weighed approximately 3.8 kg. The statuette was made of sterling silver and gold plated, with a blue base made of semi-precious stone (lapis lazuli).

There was a gold plate on each of the four sides of the base, on which were engraved the name of the trophy as well as the names of the nine winners between 1930 and 1970.

The new trophy, donated by Brazil after winning the original for the third time, is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb). The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.

At todays rate, in terms of Fiat, the World Cup trophy is worth in excess of a quarter of a million U.S. $'s.

Today, our financial situation may rid us of this games "Superstars", but the game itself will forever flourish, as it means so much to so many.

Please watch and enjoy.

Good Luck to all!