2010 FIFA World Cup: ESPN's World Cup Poster for Each Team
To promote the World Cup, ESPN has made a poster for each team playing in the World Cup. Here's every nation's poster, ordered alphabetically.
Algeria
This poster focuses on Lounès Gaouaoui, the team's goalkeeper.
The team's nickname is "Les Fennecs"—the desert foxes— if you look closely, you'll see the silhouette of three foxes in the back.
Argentina
Argentina's poster depicts Leo Messi, Barça's and Argentina's star, and current holder of the FIFA World Player, Balon D'Or and maximum scorer in Europe.
The two trophy's coming up from the stadiums are a reference to Argentina's World Cup wins in 1978 & 1986.
Australia
This poster pays homage to the "boxing kangaroo", a popular personification of Australia.
The team's nickname is the Socceroos, coined by Sydney journalist, Tony Horstead, in 1967 in his coverage of a "goodwill" tour by the national team to South Vietnam. It might not be very clear, but one of the banners in the front says it.
Brazil
Kaka's represented in the middle of the poster holding a star. The stars over the team's shield are a reference to Brazil's five wins in the World Cup, the message being "We want the sixth, here we come".
The team's nickname (canarinha) can also be found in this picture, written in the yellow banner.
Cameroon
Samuel Eto, who recently won the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan, is featured in this poster.
The lions behind him refer to the team's nickname: Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions).
Chile
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa and player Suazo are pictured over Chile's motto, which loosely translates to:
"By the mind, or the force."
Denmark
Word play with coach Morten Olsen's (in the middle) name and the Ocean's Eleven movie.
England
1966 is the only time England's won the World Cup. Capello is watching from the side how his players are trying to do it once again.
This is a reference to how, until England wins again, they will always be held back by the memory of their sole World Cup win.
France
In front of the Arc de Triomphe, the three musketeers are crossing swords. They're dressed in the colors of the french flag.
Henry's hand is highlighted because of the controversy in the game against Ireland, that granted France's participation in the World Cup.
The team's motto/nickname is engraved in the swords (Allez Les Bleus)
Oddly enough, it's the only winning team's (1998) poster, in which there's no detail about their World Cup win.
Germany
Team captain Ballack has the names of great German players attached to his arms. It's a satire of Germany's emblem.
The three stars on the top represent the team's wins in the World Cup (all by West Germany).
Ghana
Team star Mickael Essien is sporting the national flag while the crowd cheers.
The team's nickname is "The Black Stars", Essien represents it perfectly.
Greece
What else but Greek mythology to represent Greece?
The team, captained by Gekas, is sailing towards victory, reminiscent of the Spartans of old.
Honduras
This time, instead of the country supporting the team, the team is supporting the country.
This is a reference to how important the team is to all the people of Honduras.
Italy
The Italian gladiators are going to fight before they give away their current position as World Champions.
The team's nickname/motto can be also seen in a banner (Forza Azzurri).
Ivory Coast
Guess the team's nickname?
I'll give you a clue, it's an animal that's represented three times in the picture.
Japan
A Japanese samurai holding Japan's flag.
He's cutting through Cameroon's, Denmark's, and Netherland's jerseys, as they're the rivals Japans has to face in the first round.
Korea DPR
The star represents the country and the player is the country's star. The horse he is riding is called Chollima (or Chonma), and is mythical horse common to Siberian cultures and originating from Central Asia.
The horse is said to be too swift to be mounted. Chollima, whose name roughly means "thousand-mile horse", is often portrayed as a winged horse
It is also the nickname of the North Korean national football team.
Korea Republic
Nicknamed "The Tigers of Asia", the tiger is also in the team's shield.
The numbers in the bars represent each year the team has participated in a World Cup (they only have been in seven, that's why the bars in the sides don't have a number). The national flag is the background.
Mexico
Javier Aguirre (coach) is standing tall over his players while the Aztec folk cheer.
Nickname (El Tri) once again apparent in a banner.
Netherlands
The Flying Dutchmen (team's nickname) are here to save the country.
Homage to Superman.
New Zealand
If you know something about rugby, this represent the New Zealand Rugy Team—The Allblacks—intimidating pregame dance.
They share opposite nicknames, while the rugby team's is the All Blacks, the soccer team's is the All Whites (in reference to their jerseys.)
Nigeria
The nickname is also captured here as a whole. A superhero (thus the national flag as a cape) riding an eagle; The Super Eagles.
Paraguay
Valdez posing as if he were the Caesar.
Portugal
"The Flash" Cristiano Ronaldo doing everything he knows with his feet, so that Portugal is victorious.
Serbia
Nicola Zigic has turned Serbia into soccer country.
The white birds are eagles, as the team's nickname is "The White Eagles".
Slovakia
I do get the reference to "Finding Nemo", but no clue about who Jondas is.
He is kneeling in the snow because of Slovakia's frigid climate.
Slovenia
They beat stronger opponents in the qualifying round, and they're here to do it again.
South Africa
Everything that has something to do with hosting this World Cup is in the picture, from Jules Rimet to those anoying Vuvuzelas.
"Bafana Bafana", readable in the glasses, is South Africa's team nickname and it means "The Boys".
Spain
Bullfighter Fernando Torres is ready to fight all opposing bulls, it doesn't matter if they are German, Italian or Brazilian.
Spain's nickname (La Furia Roja) is on the red cape he has in his hand.
Switzerland
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has all the tools he needs in his Swiss knife.
Uruguay
Forlan's hair is holding Uruguay's two World Cups, while he's posing as his nation's flag.
Nickname once again present as it translates as the blue sky (La Celeste).
USA
The USA is sailing to the victory in the national boat, the E Pluribus Unum (USA's motto, it means: from many, one, as the country is formed by many originally independent states). The poster is based on the "crossing of Delaware" (read Ryan Virgin's comment for more information).
I think that the 1950 engraved in the boat refers to that year's World Cup, when they won a game against England, in a great upset.
World Cup
With the Cup waiting in South Africa, every team is going there, to try and retrive it, some are sailing, some walking, some riding an animal, some are walking and some are even flying, but everybody is going with the same goal in mind, but only one will be victorious. Who will that be? We will know July 11th.
What do you think?
What do you think about the posters?
Which one did you find the best?
Who will win the world Cup?
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