FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010
Soccer is not as popular in the US as in other parts of the world, but there is still a great deal of anticipation in the US about the upcoming FIFA World Cup that will take place in South Africa from June 11 to July 11.
I grew up with playing soccer on the streets, remember being engrossed in the matches in front of the TV at home and collecting decals/transfer pictures and so I am looking forward to taking in the World Cup-atmosphere during my visit to Germany.
One interesting factor for this world cup is that there will be an additional physical challenge for many of the visiting teams, since six of ten venues are over 5000 feet above sea level. Of course I will keep my fingers crossed for the German team and I am also excited to watch Spain, the current European Champion, and Brazil play.
This is the first soccer world cup on the African continent and I hope for South Africa, which has been experiencing violence and ethnic riots in the last couple of years, that the sport, the joy of living and the country’s hospitality will take center stage. Through my foundation projects I already traveled to South Africa a couple of times and I have learned to appreciate the country and people a lot. Also, our oldest foreign foundation project is based in Cape Town.
So I hope for South Africa that the games will proceed smoothly and with a lot of positive energy.
i hope Germany will do well too. it’s tough without Ballack but I am sure the team will be able to rise above the occasion.
We only knew that you are a great runner along with tennis,but now we know that you played football too. Thanks for article. http://sgtribute.blogspot.com
Advanced happy birth day my hero. Do you still receive calls from your dad?and what B’days are most memorable?
Hi Stef – I’m on Germany’s side as well (have been ever since you started playing tennis – plus, they are not bad in the looks department either —
))).
Miss seeing you on the tennis courts. Come and visit Wimbledon this year – atleast then we’ll get to see you on TV.
Best Always, PSC
Hi dear Steffi
iam from India and work for a rural development agency india and have an experience of working 10 yrs for rural population. May i associate with your foundation in someway. kindly let me know.
thanks
I have doubt about Graf really reading our comments?
http://sgtribute.blogspot.com
Definitely Steffi Graf tennis player was much better than Stefanie Graf blogger.
Dear Stefanie, interactivity is what makes the Internet really different: even if probably most posts are not so interesting (sometimes I read embarrassing responses..) if you decide to have a blog you should read the comments and find the time to reply sometimes
I don’t think we have any right to tell Steffi how to use her blog. It’s true she’s not using it so much lately, she might be very busy and she certainly has her good reasons. Anyway, if you check old posts you can see she replied more than once.
This is a wonderful website to have and Steffi is doing a terrific job. I love reading her comments and thoughts about various subjects.
I would refrain from criticizing and just enjoy the website for what it is.
I am sure Steffi pops in now and then to read the comments….
Mamma mia!
> Bianca wrote:
> “I don’t think we have any right to tell Steffi how to use her blog.”
“right”, what an important word… maybe not really appropriate for this particolar situation… anyway I don’t agree with you: in all microcosmos, included this one where I am an user, I think to be in the right to express my opinion to everybody.
>”It’s true she’s not using it so much lately, she might be very busy and she certainly has her good reasons. Anyway, if you check old posts you can see she replied more than once.”
I respect Stephanie’s job, as I already wrote her, expecially because I dedicate my work and my free time to the young generations and to the children.
I dont’t need to check old posts, I read this forum. Often this year it seems that she posts new articles without reading the comments to the previous ones, and the reason is the absence of responses on the webpage. That’s why I wrote “find the time”, a few words have the great power to make happy who receive them, it takes some minutes: this week for example, and I’m not exaggerating, I worked 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and today I found the time to be here with you talking about human rights
Dear Arun,
many thanks for your interest in my foundation. For further information, please send an e-mail to info@childrenfortomorrow.de
Thank you and best regards, Stefanie
Hallo, liebe Stefanie,
auch hier in Deutschland freuen sich schon alle auf die WM und viele haben Fahnen an ihren Autos. Ich hoffe auch, dass mit
dieser WM die Menschen durch die Freude wieder näher zusammenrücken und sich miteinander verbinden, und dass alles ohne Gewalt stattfinden wird.
Wann bist Du denn in Deutschland? Ich wünsche Dir einen guten Flug, eine schöne Zeit hier (mit hoffentlich gutem Sommerwetter) und natürlich eine super schöne Geburtstagsparty (Mail dazu kommt noch…) und viel Spaß beim Fußball schauen!
Alles Liebe von Christiane
Hey Stefanie,
Happy Birthday. I hope you have a great day :0) x
MPG
Dearest Steffi,
I just wanted to wish you a lovely happy birthday. Hope you are spending the day with your friends and family.
Looking forward to seeing you soon
(at your next exhibition match)
Always
Diya
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU !
Happy Birthday Steffi! Wish you all the happiness, love and joy.
Hi Steffi — Wish you many many many happy returns of the day!. What did Andre get you. (hope it was something very special – he’s very lucky to have you
Happy birthday Stefanie!!! Hope you have a fullfilling year. God bless!
Happy Birthday to a wonderful life!!
Dearest Steffi…
God bless you with everything that will make your Birthday beautiful…
Tamali
Dear Steffi,
Happy birthday to you! We love you so much! Your tennis was amazing, we miss you so much. When I watched Roland Garros this year I saw a guy displaying a huge banner with the words, We miss you Steffi! That was exactly what i thought.
Have a great day!
Hi Steffi,
Happy Birthday and many happy returns of the day. Hope your birthday blossoms into lots of dreams come true! Your best years are still ahead of you.
Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.
following your tennis and ur activities from 1986….and still its going on.
Happy birthday to you, dear Stefanie.
Joyeux Anniversaire, Merveilleuse Stefanie!
Happy birthday to you, gracieuse enfant de Dieu!
Zum Geburtstag viel glück, magnifique femme!
Encore 80 ans de bonheur avec André!
Encore 80 ans de bonheur avec tes enfants!
Encore 80 ans de bonheur avec tous les tiens!
Encore 80 ans de bonheur à servir les enfants en difficulté!
SANTÉ, AMOUR, PROSPÉRITÉ, GÉNÉROSITÉ
MARIAGE À L’ÉGLISE AVEC ANDRÉ!
QUE DIEU T’AIME ET TE PROTÈGE
QU’IL PROTÈGE TOUS CEUX QUE TU AIMES
QUE JÉSUS VOUS APPORTE SA PAIX!
Que ce jour soit un jour mémorable pour toi et pour les tiens!
MERCI, STEFFI POUR TOUT CE QUE TU APPORTES AU MONDE
MERCI POUR TA FORCE, TON HUMILITÉ, TA GRÂCE, TA BEAUTÉ, TA SAGESSE!
BRAVO D’ÊTRE LA FEMME MERVEILLEUSE ET AIMANTE QUE TU ES!
MERCI À DIEU POUR TOUT CE QU’IL T’APPORTE TOUS LES JOURS!
PUISSES TU CONNAÎTRE DIEU, JÉSUS ET L’ESPRIT SAINT DAVANTAGE, LES AIMER ET LES SUIVRE!
Puisses tu être davantage à l’image de Sainte Stéphanie qui a aimé Dieu de tout son coeur et de toute son âme!
Puisses tu être davantage à l’image de la Vierge Marie qui aimé Dieu et l’a servi à la perfection!
Puisses tu connaître davantage l’immense bonheur de servir Dieu!
JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE, MA BELLE!
Que ton Mari, André, très amoureux et très attentionné, sois davantage pour toi un partenaire pour la vie plein de tendresse et d’amour!
Que tes charmants enfants sachent davantage la formidable femme qui leur a donné la vie et qui prend soin d’eux chaque jour!
Qu’ils héritent de ton amour et de ta sagesse!
Que tout ton entourage sache davantage la chance qu’ils ont de t’avoir auprès d’eux!
MERCI STEFANIE MARIA GRAF AGASSI
ouha ça devient un peu lourd ça. faut toujours que tu parles de dieu et tout ça? chacun ses croyances mais c’est lourd quand même. lol
God bless you, Steffi!
Que Dieu te bénisse steffi!
j’écris pour Steffi et pour personne d’autre!
Celui ou celle qui n’a pas envie d’entendre parler de Dieu, qu’il ne lise pas mes messages!
Chacun ses croyances, effectivement!
ET sur ce site, j’écris à Steffi Graf, avec tout mon coeur, celui d’une croyante en Dieu. POINT!
Hallo Steffi,
alles Liebe und Gute zum Geburtstag wünsch ich Dir. Da ich heute auch Geburtstag habe (bin zehn Jahre jünger) und mir schon seit ich klein bin gesagt wird, ich könnte auch deine kleine Schwester sein, dachte ich mir, heute gratulier ich Dir einfach mal
Liebe Grüße aus Dortmund und noch einen schönen Tag wünscht Dir
Nadine
Hi Steffi,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Wishing you all the joy, love luck and happiness. God Bless
Happy Birthday! God bless
hi Steffi,
Wish you many many happy returns of the day!!! have a fantastic, injury free, wonderful year ahead..
Just want to let you know that i idolise only one person in life and that’s you…You were an amazing influence on me while i was growing up and the one thing that i was always impressed with was the inner mental strenght that you had…u were and are the only person who can come back fighting even when u r almost 2 sets down and win the match….this inspite of all issues in ur life..
take care..
cheers
Vinusha
Happy birthday Steffi!!
My dog GRAF and I wish you from Spain to spend a really nice day.
We miss you very much!!
happy birthday ‘german mother’,steffi graf
Liebe Steffi !
Happy Birthday to you ! Wishing you all the Best !
On the day that you were born the Angels got together,
and decided to create a dream come true,
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold,
And starlight in your eyes of blue !!
I hope you were watching the Soccer Games yesterday ! ! ! !
Alles liebe und gute zu Deinem Geburtstag !
Joyeux Anniversaire !
Mnohaya Lita !
Happy Birthday ! : )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Liebe Stefanie,
alles alles liebe zum Geburtstag.
grüße aus der alten Heimat
Tino
Hello Stefanie,
I wish you an HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!
I hope you will come back in France…
Take Care,
Julie
Hi Steffi
I would like to wish you a very happy birthday!! I hope you will have a year filled with joy and love. I also hope you will have a long and blessed live with your family.
Happy Birthday Steffi!!!
We all miss seeing you on the courts!
Please play more exhibition games in Europe. If you’ve never came to Portugal, please come!!!
All the best to you and your family.
Parabéns!!!
Happy birthday, Stefanie!
Wishing you all the great things in life.
As we say here in Brazil: Feliz Aniversário!
May this day bring to you all things that make you smile.
Dear Jessica and all others,
thank you so much for your kind birthday wishes.
Cheers, Stefanie
Happy Birthday Steffi! Wishing you all the best!
Much love from Argentina!
Hi Steffi – Pls visit the link below. Some of your most ardent fans send their greetings and best wishes to you on your birthday.
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=401056&page=44
Dear Steffi,
Wish you many happy returns of the day. May God Bless you with a long and prosperous life. May all your dreams come true. My best wishes for your entire family and for a happy life ahead. I am from Mumbai, India and whenever you would come to Mumbai, I’ll try to meet you.
Regards
STEFFI, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! today you are 41 Years… I Hope u have many rich blessed day..
Happy Birthday Steffi,, I am your biggest fans ever from AMBON-MALUKU-INDONESIA
Hi there Steffi
I am from South Africa and is very excited about the world cup. I have to say I am a great Germany fan (not just soccer), but I still hope we do well too. I just want to say that I am not good at sports, but I loved watching you play, and everytime afterwards, me and my sister would go play ourselves. We could not hit the ball to save our lives but we loved it anyway. We miss it, your style was the most beautiful style we have ever seen.
I agree.
Nachträglich herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag von meiner Familie und mir.
Wir sind gestern von einem einwöchigen Santorini-Urlaub (Griechenland) zurückgekommen. Zumindest dort gibt es kaum WM-Stimmung. Es gibt nur wenige Fan-Artikel zu kaufen und anders als hier in Deutschland werden auch keine Häuser geschmückt. Eigentlich haben wir von der WM so bislang noch nicht viel mitbekommen (außer dem Spiel der Deutschen natürlich). Entschädigt hat aber die Einzigartigkeit der Insel.
Ab jetzt genießen wir aber die gute WM-Stimung hier in Deutschland und hoffen das die Deutschen so weiter spielen wie im ersten Spiel.
Hallo Steffi, I’m Laura from Milan,
I wish you happy birthday!!! Surely you don’t remember me, I hope to see you soon in some exibition in Europe, all the buddha and bodhisattva bless and protect you and your family!
Hello Steffi
I love playing football and i first watched the world cup in 1978 and since then there has been many great goals scored and fantastic players to take part in the world’s biggest football tournament. Tomorrow England play Germany and i hope it is a exciting game.
I wish you and your wonderful family all the very best.
Travelling a long distance many years ago to see you play at wimbledon and brighton was one of the happiest times in my life and it means alot to me because you were a great role model and truly a lovely person to meet and you always made my day.
May all the great things in life come to you because you thoroughly deserve it.
Take Great Care
God Bless
Dear Candy,
thank you for your comment and of course for showing your support in Wimbledon.
I did watch the game between England and Germany and indeed it was very exciting.
All the best, Stefanie
Hope you had a chance to see the World Cup Game 6/27/10 this morning !
Hi Steff:
I didn’t realize that you do follow replies to this blog and also reply yourself. This is just amazing! Sorry for not wishing on time but I hope you had a great birthday! Today we’re celebrating Canada Day here up north, so on behalf of all Canadians, I wish you warm greetings on the Canada Day today! You’ve been always a great inspiration for me since I was 10 yrs old and I’d like you to know that I have respected and admired you tremendously. I hope to be able to meet you someday …
Cheers,
Ani
Howdy Steffi !!!!!
Even if you never respond to another post ever again I’ll love you anyway!
Hello Stefanie
Another great performance from Germany after defeating England and Argentina, they played a very good game of football and showed alot of discipline and skill.
Germany have an amazing record in the world cup and they could go and win this tournament.
I hope you and your family are having a fantastic time.
Peace & Respect
Hallo Steff,
wir werden Weltmeister!? Wer hätte das gedacht. Viel Spaß beim zuschauen und schönen Urlaub zu Hause in Deutschland für Dich und Deine Familie.
Alles Gute
Jörg
Hi Steffi:
I’m sorry Germany lost to Spain yesterday in the semi finals! It was disappointing! However, I’m sure the team will learn from this and will do better next time.
Cheers,
ani
Liebe Stefanie Graf,
von mir auch nachträglich alles Gute zum Geburtstag an eine großartige Sportlerin!
Ich vermisse auf dieser Seite ein Kontaktformular oder eine Kontaktadresse – entweder bin ich blind oder doof.
Könnten Sie mir verraten, wo ich diese finde? Ich würde Ihnen gerne einen Vorschlag machen für ein Benefiz-Projekt und die Details dazu erzählen – es geht um Barrierefreiheit speziell für Menschen mit ‘Behinderung hier in Deutschland.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
EinAugenschmaus
HAI STEPHI,I AM A SPORTS FAN BUT PAST FEW EARS I AM UNABLE
TO STICK TO THE T.V.BUT THIS TIME AROUND WHEN U POSTED THAT U WOULD BE WATCHING THE FIFA WORLD CUP,AND URS
FINGERS CROSED FOR GERMANY,THE FIFA FEVER CAUGHT ME
AND I ENJOYED ALL THE MATCHES.I EVEN SPOTTED U ON THAT
ARG VS GERMANY.U WERE WEARING CREAM COLORED SUIT.
U WERE BABY LOOKING GORGEOUS.LOOKING FORWARD TO U.S.
OPEN.
SINCERELY
RAJESHWAR.
Great athletes, is a great practitioner！
Dare to move towards the unknown！ come on！
Namaḥ Avataṃsaka-sūtra.
All the Buddha (बुद्धः) and Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) bless you !