AMC SOBUCI

Côte d'Ivoire boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned people not to write off Group G rivals Korea DPR. Kim Jong Hun's side are currently bottom of the group after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Brazil at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, although they made life uncomfortable for the five-time FIFA World Cup™ winners for long periods.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz had forecast both before and after his side's opening 0-0 draw with Les Elephants earlier the same day that those two sides would battle it out with Brazil for the two qualification spots.

However, while Eriksson admits the North Koreans are the group's outsiders, he insists their chances cannot be dismissed as they prepare for Monday's clash with the Portuguese in Cape Town.

Greece's first goal in Bloemfontein on Thursday against Nigeria was historic as their first in a FIFA World Cup, and their second was even more precious as it handed them their only points in five finals matches. The 2-1 victory was also the first come-from-behind win at South Africa 2010, and, more importantly for the 2004 European champions, it put them solidly back into Group B reckoning.

The Greeks are now level with their first match conquerors, Korea Republic, on three points with table-topping Argentina, on six, up next for them. With veteran coach Otto Rehhagel steering the ship, and with some momentum behind them, Greece are confident that results in the final group matches will go their way and allow them to sneak into the last 16.

After a match that saw Nigeria reduced to 10 men for the last hour, the Europeans expressed joy at breaking their duck, but they were keeping their feet firmly on the ground. "It is an historic and important win for Greek football and the nation," Dimitrios Salpingidis, scorer of Greece's first goal after over 400 minutes of finals football, told FIFA. "I am extremely happy to be the one to do it, but I did not think about it at the time. In the match, I was honestly just focused on teamwork and the final score. But when the match ended, I thought about how important it was."

Georgios Samaras, who was brought on by Rehhagel as a first-half substitute to up the attacking quotient, said the mood in the team's locker room was not as celebratory as one might have thought. "It is a great moment for us, but it's no time for celebration. We are happy and delighted for sure, but this is not a party. We will go back to Durban and start working on the next match. I think in the end, because we pushed ourselves really hard, that we deserved to win the game. And that's what matters."

Many of the players said that they had been stung by the opening 2-0 loss to the Koreans, and that they were determined to show a different side against the Super Eagles. Kalu Uche's opener in the 16th minute was undoubtedly a shock, but did not knock them out of their stride. "We were poised and had a good attitude from the start," said Konstantinos Katsouranis, a veteran of that famous European triumph six years ago. "Even after going behind, we wanted to show that we had strength and were tough enough to come back. And we still have the ability to stay focused and organised like we did in 2004."

Nobody can deny the importance of a good start to any endeavour, and the FIFA World Cup™ is no exception. Yet that has not prevented a host of sides digging deep and going far at the finals even after shaky beginnings to football’s global showpiece.

A fitting place to start is with 1954 champions West Germany, who kicked off their run to their first ever world title with a 8-3 reverse at the hands of Ferenc Puskas’ Hungary – still their heaviest defeat at the elite competition. Refusing to let their heads drop, Die Nationalmannschaft showed impressive spirit to go all the way to Final, where the mighty Hungarians were edged out in an epic 3-2 success.

Similarly, 1966 hosts England were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Uruguay in their opening game, only to bounce back and storm all the way to the global crown. Three Lions followers will be desperate for a similar story this time around too, having watched their side labour to a 1-1 result against USA in their first game here at South Africa 2010.

European kings humbled
Argentina, meanwhile, very nearly matched these feats after losing 1-0 in their opening encounter at Italy 1990 against Cameroon. Diego Maradona and Co dusted themselves down, however, and scrapped their way to the Final, where they once again went down by a solitary goal, this time to West Germany.

Meanwhile, history has often been unkind to reigning European champions going into this tournament. Indeed, Spain’s Group H defeat against Switzerland here on 16 June was the fourth time the team crowned Europe’s finest lost their opening game at the subsequent FIFA World Cup finals. That said, La Roja can still remain hopeful given West Germany’s showing in 1982. Having lost their group opener against Algeria, Die Nationalelf recovered to reach the Final against Italy, a match La Nazionale won 3-1 after extra time.

Perhaps the most famous recovery of all was that of Italy in 1982. They only qualified from the group stage on goal difference after draws against Poland (0-0), Peru (1-1) and Cameroon (1-1). Yet despite this shaky start, they then confounded their critics by beating Brazil, Argentina, Poland and Germany to pick up their third world crown. History almost repeated itself 24 years later when France drew with Korea Republic and Switzerland before downing Togo to scrape into the knockout round. Once there Les Bleus swept away all challengers, disposing of Spain, Brazil and Portugal, before meeting Italy in the final. Lady luck would desert them at that point, however, with Gli Azzurri triumphing in the penalty shootout that followed their 1-1 draw.

Criticism in victory
Despite not losing their opening encounters at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, Italy, France and Brazil have been criticised for their below-par performances.

However, this should not come as a complete surprise as La Nazionale and Les Bleus frequently seem to perform better when facing their traditional rivals in the latter stages of the tournament. Brazil and Argentina have also been known to start slowly and hit their stride in the knockout phase, although the latter had the opposite happen to them at the last edition in Germany. Hotly tipped after downing Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 in the group stage, La Albiceleste then crashed out to the hosts in the quarter-finals.

Those quick out of the blocks here in South Africa 2010 will be taking nothing for granted, therefore, just as those who have had a slow start will be hoping the best is yet to come.

Brazil striker Nilmar has said he still believes Spain will live up to their FIFA World Cup™ favourites' billing despite a surprising opening loss to Switzerland.

"That could be a lesson for other teams - this result shows what can happen at a World Cup," said Nilmar, who expects to spend his tournament primarily on the bench with Luis Fabiano and Robinho ahead of him in the Brazilian pecking order. "But I have not changed my opinion - Spain remain one of the favourites," he insisted.

If Brazil win their group and Spain only creep through in second place - if at all - the joint favourites and top-ranked countries in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking would meet in the next round. "That would be a final before the final - as for me they are one of the best sides in the world," said Nilmar.

Banyak fakta-fakta unik yang ada di sekitar kita, bahkan yang unik itu bisa jadi menyeramkan tetapi, tidak ada salahnya kita menjelajahi bagian bumi yang terdalam karena disitulah tempat makhluk-makhluk air yang jauh dari cahaya, sehingga bentuknya hampir menyerupai monster termasuk gurita raksasa. Bahkan yang paling ekstrim ada yang dapat hidup dikedalaman 16.000 kaki dari permukaan laut. Cekidot Infonya Gan...!!!



Ikan viper

Memiliki nama latin Mesopelagic dapat ditemukan dikedalaman 80-1600 meter, merupakan ikan dengan tampang super kejam (mulut lebar dan gigi tajam). seperti kebanyakan ikan dari lautan dalam, ikan ini tidak memiliki warna kulit alias tembus pandang dan organnya menyala karena proses yang disebut bioluminescence, selain itu mereka memiliki mata yang besar untuk mengumpulkan cahaya sebanyak mungkin di dalam kondisi minim cahaya atau bahkan tanpa cahaya sama sekali. Mulutnya yang lebar dalam menelan utuh ikan yang bahkan lebih besar dari badannya, hal ini dimungkinkan karena perutnya bersifat elastis sehingga dapat mengembang. Ikan-ikan dasar laut ini harus beradaptasi dengan lingkungan yang sangat minim stok makanan karena lingkungannya yg sangat dalam sehingga tidak banyak mahluk lain yg blogwalking berkeliaran, kadang mereka saling memakan sesama sejenis untuk dapat bertahan hidup.


Fangtooth


Dikenal juga dengan nama Anoplogaster Cornuta, meski terlihat seperti monster, ikan ini cuma dapat tumbuh sampai 6 inci panjangnya. Ikan ini memiliki tubuh pendek dengan kepala yang berukuran besar, ikan ini hidup dikedalaman yang cukup ekstrim yaitu 16.000 kaki. Tekanan yang tinggi dan temperatur yang hampir membeku membuat makanan sulit didapatkan, sehingga ikan ini hampir memakan semua yang dapat ditemui. Fangtooth dapat ditemukan di lautan tropikal seperti Australia.

Dragonfish


Mempunyai nama latin Grammatostomias Flagellibarba, hidup di kedalaman 5000 kaki / 1.500 meter, memiliki semacam belalai menyala yang terhubung dengan dagunya. Dibagian samping tubuhnya juga terdapat bagian menyala yang digunakan untuk memberi tanda kepada ikan Dragonfish lain selama musim kawin.

Angler

Dikenal juga dengan nama Melanocetus Johnsoni, tubuhnya berkembang sampai 5 inci, tubuhnya hampir menyerupai bola basket, ditemukan dikedalaman 3000 kaki.

Gulper Eel

Dikenal juga dengan nama Eurypharynx Pelecanoides, dapat tumbuh sampai panjang 2-6 kaki dapat ditemukan dikedalaman 3000 sampai 6000 kaki di dasar laut.

Gurita Raksasa

Memiliki nama latin Architeuthis Dux, salah satu mahluk laut terbesar, dapat tumbuh sampai dengan ukuran 60 kaki, dikenal sebagai hewan tak bertulang belakang terbesar yang pernah ada. Hewan satu ini dikenal sangat misterius karena belum pernah ada yang melihat mahluk ini di alam liar, karena kebanyakan mereka ditangkap sudah dalam keadaan mati atau tersangkut jaring nelayan. Hewan ini termasuk hewan pemakan daging, dan mereka akan memakan apapun yang mereka tangkap, selama perang dunia ke dua ada sebuah cerita yang menyatakan mahluk ini menarik seseorang dari sebuah kapal kecil di kegelapan malam. Tetapi gurita ini merupakan makanan fav untuk ikan paus, karena pernah ditemukan Gurita raksasa ini didalam perut ikan paus yang telah mati.

Giant Isopod





Dikenal juga dengan nama Bathynomus Giganteus, dapat tumbuh sampai panjang 16 inci, hidup dikedalaman 2000 kaki.

Long Nosed Chimaera


Memiliki nama lain Harriotta Raleighana, dapat tumbuh sampai panjang 5 kaki, memiliki hidung seperi moncong pesawat supersonic, hidup dikedalaman 8000

Sejumlah warga di Jl Menteng Jaya RT 04/10, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat, digegerkan dengan kehadiran pohon pisang aneh yang tumbuh liar dekat pemukiman penduduk. Pohon yang baru tumbuh sebulan lalu itu, tiba-tiba berbuah banyak. Selain aneh, kehadiran pohon pisang itu juga menimbulkan aroma mistik yang kental dengan kehadiran makhluk halus yang hanya bisa dilihat anak kecil dan orang-orang tertentu saja.

Pohon pisang yang menggegerkan warga itu setinggi sekitar 160 sentimeter dengan diameter 20 sentimeter. Di atas batangnya, tumbuh 15 buah pisang kecil warna hijau berbentuk melingkar.



Jumadi (55), salah seor
ang warga menceritakan, pohon pisang ajaib itu muncul sejak sebulan lalu. Awalnya pohon pisang itu sama dengan pohon pisang lainnya yang banyak tumbuh secara liar di pinggir rel kereta api. Keajaiban dari pohon pisang itu, bermula ketika Andi (28), salah seorang warga setempat berniat menggelar hajatan tepat di depan lokasi pohon itu tumbuh. Andi lalu menebang pohon pisang itu karena di lokasi pohon itu berdiri, ia bermaksud menancapkan tiang tenda untuk keperluan hajatan khitanan anaknya yang bernama Avil (5).

Terlebih, untuk pesta anaknya Andi membutuhkan halaman yang luas, karena juga disemarakkan dengan kehadiran hiburan musik dangdut hingga larut malam. Namun, di luar dugaan, salah satu biduan musik dangdut yang diundang Andi mendadak kesurupan. Saat sadar, biduan itu mengaku terkejut setelah menyaksikan sosok makhluk halus di belakang pohon pisang yang telah ditebang itu.

Peristiwa kesurupan itu, tak ayal menghebohkan warga sekitar lokasi. Kehebohan warga bertambah setelah keesokan harinya melihat buah pisang sebanyak 15 buah muncul di atas batang pohon pisang yang baru ditebang. "Jelas aneh, karena normalnya kalau pohon pisang habis ditebang itu tidak akan langsung tumbuh buah tapi tumbuh daun dulu," ungkap Jumadi, Selasa (4/5).

Sejak itu, kejadian bernuansa mistik pun sering terjadi seiring kehadiran buah pisang yang tumbuh secara mendadak itu. Beberapa warga pun mulai sering melihat yang aneh-aneh di sekitar pohon. "Kemungkinan besar sang mahkluk halus penunggu pohon itu marah, karena pohon tempatnya bersemayam telah ditebang," jelas Jumadi.

Sosok makhluk halus yang diduga sejumlah warga adalah kuntilanak itu, bahkan kian sering menampakkan wujudnya terutama kepada anak-anak kecil yang bermukim di sekitar lokasi. Tiara (11), juga mengaku menyaksikan sosok setan berbentuk pocong tepat di sisi pohon pisang itu tumbuh. "Lihat pocong lagi malem minggu lalu sekitar jam 10.00," katanya polos