paper rolls

Argentina-Mexico is on its first minutes when referee Roberto Rosetti of Italy wants the paper rolls on the field to be removed. It's Fifa's voice coming loud and strong, saying this is not the same as an Argentinian tournament. Here in the World Cup all is clarity, cleanliness and order.
In the 26th minute, clarity gets a drubbing. The assistant Stefano Ayroldi doesn't see the off-side as Argentina scores its first goal, and then he suffers a mental collapse. The Mexican team run en masse to the side-line. The assistant seems to want to change his mind, so Rosetti has to come to his rescue and usher the Mexicans away. Ayroldi sweats and babbles something. It looks like someone is scolding him through the communication device. Rosetti shakes his head and moves toward the center of the field. It's a goal.
Rosetti does the right thing. If he and his assistants don't see an off-side, they don't see it, period. The ball moved fast between Messi and Tévez after all. The world will surely question his decision, but he has to call whatever he and his assistants see.
During two other moments of the first half, a sky-blue balloon flies near the midfield, delicately bouncing on the grass and poking fun.

south africa 1 - mexico 1

Siphiwe Tshabalala, South Africa's number 8, inaugurates this blog with the first dive of the World Cup. Early on, in the 15th minute of play, he charges from the left, about 10 meters shy of the penalty box, and finding the welcoming arm of a Mexican defender, plunges to the ground like a crucified Christ. The referee blows the whistle. It's a foul, for sure, but the early dive is a good omen and very much appreciated.

Javier Aguirre, de Mexican coach, elbows the air violently in the 24th minute, and the tv producers give him to us in slow motion. No idea to whom the gesture is directed, if it's to the referee, in order to educate him about the plight of his players, or if it's to one of his players, in order to remind him of a lesson.

In the 55th minute, about six South African players celebrate the tournament's first goal with a dance that brings to mind the dance in Bande à part, Jean-Luc Godard's movie.

The referee Irmatov will not award a penalty to South Africa in the 77th minute. He must've seen the foul. But he looks the other way, and that's theater.