Some questions

Yeah, I was just mentioning it in French above. I wonder if they insist on strip-searching any new fans they get at Kiwitea Street just to make sure they're not Yellow Fever or Waitak in disguise. Which would explain the crowds, I suppose.

Everytime I've been to games at either club there are Phoenix and Fever wearers there.  There are plenty of Auckland fans here, don't assume the knitting circle expresses the majority view.

I just did. Hiliarious, although I feel sorry for Lucarne. The Flat Earth Society probably think they are being bugged by the SIS as well.

The best bit is where Hayward is trying to get his home phone number so he can call him in France to confirm he's for real!

bah don't worry, this is the first time I have such kind of warm welcome (I web-travelled in australia and US without any troubles). This happens. They don't want to share their passion, I wont fight, this is not my problem.

The report is almost done. I will probably publish it Monday afternoon (French time - it is 00h34 now if you need help ;) )and I will focus on the fist part of questions which gave the more results :)

If someone wants to add anything, do not hesitate, things are not closed until it's published (and even after)

EDIT :


that's what decided me to stop everything lucarne2010-02-28 12:37:33

He's quoted me below. See, DS knows his sh.t.

Okay, report published.

If you can read french, everything is here

I'd like to thank you all for your welcome and your answers. My adventures in Auckland showed me that nothing is easy.

Feel free to give me feedback, to add things or whatever you want to do (here or on my website).

And more important : good luck against Jets (I cover A-league on my website so I'll keep an eye on Phoenix) and may the WC help NZ football :)

I'll stay around if you want to discuss further.lucarne2010-03-02 10:14:38

"I sought to meet supporters of ACFC (the dominant club of the local championship) and of the Wellington Phoenix. Sadly, the encounter with ACFC supporters having gone badly, only the discussion with Phoenix fans will be published."

For those who don't know, French for LOL is MDR.

Read the article with the help of a somewhat jumbled Google translation, but was a good read.

Good work Lucarne.el grapadura2010-03-02 12:09:19

Very good article from what I could make out through the translation.

Thanks to Lucarne for taking the time to do a very thorough job, much more professional than some of the so called 'traditional media' could ever manage.

I had a go. I get the impression it's a very positive article taking note of our (NZ's) hurdles & less than friendly football environment (historically) & achievements regardless?



(to think that only the difference of maybe a month or so & French could have been our first language )Traitor2010-03-02 22:24:32

Thank you

For english speakers, I'll make a short summary.

I start with historical considerations, introducing NZ national team, indicating how historical this qualification for WC2010 is.

Then I go directly into the discussion we had here pointing on the first part of my questions and ending on how it is difficult for NZ football to develop moreover with in this context with the close proximity of Australia and insisting on this strange situation you are living with two kind of teams that belong to two different confederation.

Then I conclude with the hope that this world cup will help NZ football and wish you good luck lucarne2010-03-02 23:18:12

Tres bien

I know that much in French at least

Hi all,

I know it�s been a while but as I made a report on your national team few weeks ago, I wanted to come back now and discuss about the different conclusions from this WorldCup.

I have to tell you that I made all that was possible to put light on New-Zealand on French medias. I was contacted by a journal (L�express if some people know some French journals) and made a paper about NZ on their website in which I tried to show how this WC was important for NZ (french readers can see it here here).

My personal opinion is that the 2010 WC was a real success for NZ. You (sh)could have won vs Italy, finished third without being beaten. I really enjoyed your competition and hope that this will help now to put more light on your football (I�ll keep working on it).

So what about you? What is your main conclusion from this WC?

You all haven�t expected such results. How did the country react to it?

What do you thing such result will help NZ football in its development? Do you feel that football will take benefit from this WC?
lucarne2010-07-01 10:57:22

Lucarne, as no Feverite has replied to you, I as a NZer who was at the last 2 NZ games will.
I was very happy at our performances at the WC but you know what? After Polokwane I began to feel more & more as Nelsen did. WE should have been playing Japan in Pretoria, not Paraguay.
Not bitter, mais...Je ne sais quois?
It was in our hands..

I stayed a week longer in South Africa than intended & was overwhelmed by the positive responses by people from all of the nations still in the country to support their teams.
At the Eng v Ger, Jap v Para & Urg v Gha games I wore my woolen AW scarf & was approached by people wanting to say how much they loved our team's commitment & passion.

The same response I received when I walked around Soweto after visiting the museum there & stumbled upon a small bar in a back street. People in Australia where I live & work said I was mad to be wearing a scarf that said "All Whites" in South Africa but even the people in that part of Johannesburg knew we had achieved something but also agreed we were a little unlucky to have not progressed. They also laughed at the name on the scarf knowing about the All Blacks!

The results will be better & more long lasting than our previous participation at the WC for this reason & more.
Our game now has a special place in the hearts of many New Zealanders that won't just fade with the next big All Black's success.

A small part of me wishes I was at home to have experienced the country's reaction to it but I have a fair idea.

This time kids know there is somewhere for them to go if they want to pursue a career in the game.
If they do not have the talent they have at least one professional NZ based team they can support.
We will still have battles ahead for recognition with the established media here who make their money from the established local sports because they are the only sports they are capable of covering at depth but that is the same for countries like the USA & the AUS.


Hey..
How do you feel about drawing us in your group if you should qualify for Brasil 2014?

Well said