Spirit Magazine - June 2014 - (Page 39)

Wise Guide Futebol Fever Sports columnist George Vecsey has your guide to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, kicking off June 12. T OP F I V E 1 Making It "As host, Brazil did not have to qualify," Vecsey explains. "The 31 visiting teams made it through tournaments over the past two years. Mexico staggered but survived, while Portugal outlasted Sweden, depriving the World Cup of the charismatic Zlatan Ibrahimović." 2 Tourney Structure "The first stage sees eight groups of four teams playing roundrobin games. The two teams in each group with the most points advance, and those 16 nations play elimination games until the final." ILLUSTRATION BY FRANCESCO POROLI 3 American Dreams "The U.S. is in the Group of Death, the toughest foursome of the first stage. They'll likely look to the same players who beat Algeria in 2010: Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey. Midfielder Michael Bradley is the glue of the team." 4 Players to Watch "Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the world right now, but Neymar of Brazil and Lionel Messi of Argentina, teammates during the club season, have a chance at leading their nations to the title." 5 Quiet Time "The vuvuzela, the horn that assaulted eardrums in the last World Cup, is prohibited. The ban includes all instruments, a travesty in a nation known for its music. Fans may still try to bring in the caxirola, a Brazilian rattle said to be 1/2,000 as noisy." Longtime New York Times writer George Vecsey is the author of Eight World Cups Cups. JUNE 2014 SPIRIT 39

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - June 2014

Spirit Magazine - June 2014
Contents
Set your sights on Atlanta
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Eat Drink Sleep
Create a stir with Sriracha
Try a Midwest take on crab cakes
Wise Guide
Spice up small talk
Learn about a little bird
Numbers
Business
Hop over hurdles
Ask for expert opinions
Size up adjustableheight desks
Follow Your Nose
Scents & Sensibility
Your Adventure In Galveston
Promotional Series: Spirit of Music City
Calendar
Craft a critter at a snail’s pace
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The “If” List
Get to know Gabrielle Union

Spirit Magazine - June 2014