A World Cup Classic

This humble corner of cyberspace has, up to today, resisted the dozens of possible post themes related to the World Cup Finals. But today we crack and give in to temptation (hell, we're only two days away now, gotta say something about a sports tournament that will affect LatAm GDP in a bigtime manner).

Our story is from Paraguay and shows you just how lucky some people can be. Translated from this EFE wire:

The Vice-President of Paraguay, Federico Franco, is travelling to South Africa "to cheer on the team" thanks to a ticket that his wife won in a prize draw, the Paraguayan dignitary announced Tuesday.

"My wife won the draw to travel (to South Africa)" the VP told journalists when telling them he was flying to South Africa on Sautrday to support the national team.

The congresswoman Emilia Alfaro, wife of Franco, won the ticket for the South Africa World Cup 2010 in a draw run by a local company for its clients, according to local media.

Lucky, lucky, lucky.

The USA and LatAm: You know it's true

I rest my case, m'lud:


H/T olivera

UPDATE: In the same vein, site friend Cansarnoso brings us shocking news of Egypt's latest move (according the Fox News at least)

Life's easiest jobs, part 15: A bookmaker in Argentina

With just 50 days to go to the beginning of the greatest sporting contest on the planet (hint: USA isn't very good at this sport) we check in on the Mision Mundial dedicated page at Argentina's biggest circulating newspaper, Clarín, to check on a reader's poll. The question asked is:

"Who will be the next World Cup Champion?"

Here's are the results so far:

1. Argentina 51.1% (33107 votes)
2. Spain 19.3% (12506 votes)
3. Brazil 11.9% (7720 votes)
4. Germany 3.1% (2008 votes)
5. Uruguay 2.7% (1757 votes)
6. Chile 2.6% (1712 votes)
7. England 2.6% (1697 votes)
8. Holland 1.5% (943 votes)
9. Italy 1.4% (881 votes)
10. South Africa 1% (673 votes)
11. Portugal 0.6% (394 votes)
12. France 0.4% (251 votes)
13. Other 1.8%(1134 votes)

Just more proof that Argentina lives in its own little world, hermetically sealed off from reality.

Leguis served, the end.

UPDATE: I pie with my little eye....