Month: November 2013

ΔΑΙΜΟΝΕΣ 2013 ΑΝΝΑ ΒΙΣΣΗ FULL ΠΡΩΤΗ ΠΡΑΞΗ VIDEO

BBC’s ‘Atlantis’ combines Greek myths and bromance

Source: News.com.au

The myths, magic and monsters of ancient Greek lore are coming to life in the BBC’s new fantasy-adventure series “Atlantis” — from the unlikely setting of a former frozen-food warehouse in Wales.

A vast space once stuffed with supermarket foodstuffs has been turned into a television studio, filled with sets recreating the fabled lost city, complete with temples and terracotta-roofed houses, ceremonial bull ring and regal palace.

“Atlantis,” which starts on BBC America Saturday, is already a sizable hit in Britain, where it fills the family-viewing weekend slot previously occupied by sword-and-sorcery series “Merlin.”

“Atlantis” was created by some of the same team as “Merlin,” and like that show takes age-old stories and seasons them with humor, thrills and a central bromance.

Actor Mark Addy, who plays a less-than-heroic version of Hercules in “Atlantis,” says the recipe involves “a lot of heart and a lot of humor and a huge amount of action and adventure.”

“They wanted it to be epic in scale and in feeling, and that’s what they’ve managed to do,” he said during a break on a busy day’s filming in August.

“We’re doing stuff that you’d only ever see in movies, because it’s difficult and it’s expensive and it’s time consuming and it’s challenging,” Addy said of the 13-part series, shot over nine months in Wales and Morocco.

“Atlantis” opens with a young man named Jason — played by the strapping, curly haired Jack Donnelly — washing up in the city of Atlantis, disoriented but somehow instantly at home. The Oracle — there’s always an oracle — hints at big secrets to be revealed.

Jason soon meets brainy, kindly Pythagoras. “The triangle guy?” asks Jason, and indeed it is the ancient philosopher and mathematician, here a young man played by Robert Emms.

The third side of the central triangle is Hercules, in the — perhaps surprising — form of Addy, the burly actor who played a steelworker-turned-stripper in “The Full Monty” and King Robert Baratheon in “Game of Thrones.”

The casting is a sign of the show’s flexible approach to the Greek myths. This Hercules has superhuman strength, but he’s no bronzed muscleman.

“He wasn’t strong because he went to the gym, he was strong because he was Zeus’s son,” Addy explained, reasonably. “Although he was a demigod, I think he’s inherited most of his mother’s mortal traits. He drinks and gambles and he’s a womanizer.”

The cast includes Sarah Parish as scheming queen Pasiphae, Aiysha Hart as comely princess Ariadne, and Jemima Rooper as Medusa — here a young woman who has yet to become the snake-haired gorgon of legend.

But the show rests on the three main actors, referred to collectively by their fellow actors as “the boys.”

For the 49-year-old Addy, being one of the boys has been fun — even if hanging out with his 27-year-old co-stars makes him feel “very old.”

He recalled nipping out for a cigarette during a meal with Emms and hearing a woman at the next table say “‘Your dad’s being very polite.’ And Rob of course didn’t disabuse her.”

Such mix-ups probably ended as soon as the first episode of “Atlantis” was broadcast in September. The show is watched by seven million people a week in Britain, and a second season has already been announced. And Donnelly has become something of a heartthrob.

On set in August, Donnelly said the feeling that his life was about to change was “amazing and daunting.”

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me by a long, long way,” said the cheerful actor, looking as bouncily indestructible as his character, who is required to battle bulls, baddies and Minotaurs on a weekly basis, clad in a fetching jerkin.

“The first few weeks I was terrified. I was just waiting to get fired. … I mean, my last job before this was in (comedy show) ‘Misfits’ and I was wearing a white rabbit mask and I had no lines and no one saw my face.

“To go from that to this, I suddenly thought ‘I’m not ready.’ It has got slightly easier since then.”

Emms has a longer CV, including major film roles in “War Horse” and opposite Julia Roberts in “Mirror Mirror.” But he said he was also nervous — although that was offset by his family’s delight at his new role.

“I’ve played … some not very nice people, some weirdos,” he said. “And my mum’s like, ‘I’m so pleased you’re playing a nice person who doesn’t kill anyone.’

“She always just wanted me to play a doctor.”

Greek-Canadian stand-up comic bringing laughs to Athens

Source: Ekathimerini

One of Greece’s wayward sons is about to make a stand-up return. With the support of the Canadian Embassy, Canadian-Greek comedian Angelo Tsarouchas will take the stage at the Michael Cacoyannis Theater this Sunday, November 24. The show – in English but sprinkled with bits of Greek – forms the subject of “Back to Sparta,” a film documenting the comedian’s lifelong goal to perform live in his ancestral country.

Tsarouchas was born in Montreal, but his family originally hails from Sparta. “People would ask me how I learned to speak Greek and I would tell them it was because my mother couldn’t speak English,” notes the current Los Angeles resident. Tsarouchas has performed for audiences around the world, but this visit marks his first to Greece in a professional capacity. “This is where my parents are from. We used to spend summers here when we were younger. It’s always been a dream of mine to come back.”

Much of Tsarouchas’s humor pokes fun at his bulky figure and Greek heritage. His last stand-up special, “Bigger is Better,” premiered on Showtime and attracted upward of 14 million viewers. Past performances have also included roles in the films “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” and “Cinderella Man.” The production of a new sitcom series, “The Angelo Show,” was recently confirmed and will feature fellow comedian Vince Vaughn in the role of executive producer.

Tsarouchas lists Harry Klynn (Vassilis Triantafyllidis) and Lakis Lazopoulos as his greatest artistic influences. Last week he had the opportunity to meet Lazopoulos in Athens – “a very funny man and a class act.”

Touring across Canada and the United States, fellow comedians would ask Tsarouchas why Greeks were always so congenial to one another. “That’s just the way we are,” he would reply. “That’s the way we’ve been raised. We’re probably the proudest people on Earth.” Tsarouchas’s homecoming takes him back to the roots of that pride. “I only wish that more artists of the diaspora would do the same,” he adds.

General admission to Tsarouchas’s “One and Only Stand-Up Comedy Performance” costs 10 euros. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 210.341.8579 or visiting the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation’s website, http://www.mcf.gr. The show begins at 9 p.m. Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 206 Pireos.

Indigenous, ethnic groups inlcuding Greeks unite against law changes

Source: SMH

George Brandis

Intends to consult ‘stakeholders and interested parties’ over changes to sections of the Racial Discrimination Act: Attorney-General George Brandis. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Tony Abbott is facing a fight against Australia’s indigenous, Jewish, Arab, Chinese, Greek, Armenian, Lebanese and Muslim populations, who have united in urging the government not to proceed with announced plans to abolish or weaken race hate laws.

As his first legislative act, Attorney-General George Brandis wants to introduce a bill to change sections of the Racial Discrimination Act that protect ethnic groups against hate speech. He especially dislikes provisions that make it unlawful to offend or insult people on the basis of their race.

Declaring himself a champion of ”freedom”, Senator Brandis has disparaged the laws used against Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt over an article he wrote in which he accused ”white” Australians of identifying as Aborigines to advance their careers.

The head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim, said he could not recall ”any other issue on which there has been such unity of purpose and strength of feeling across such a diverse group of communities”.

Jewish leaders have combined in a rare joint protest with prominent ethnic and indigenous leaders.

”We have read with growing concern that the federal government has plans to remove or water down the protections against racial vilification,” reads the statement signed by the heads of groups including the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Arab Council Australia, Chinese Australian Forum, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Australian Hellenic Council, Lebanese Muslim Association and the Armenian National Council of Australia.

”We oppose absolutely any such change. Paradoxically for free speech advocates, racial vilification can have a silencing effect on those who are vilified.”

Senator Brandis has indicated he appreciates the growing backlash against his ”free speech” reforms. He sent Fairfax Media a statement in which he promised to consult with ”stakeholders and interested parties … before introducing the legislation”. ”One of my key priorities as Attorney-General is to rebalance the human rights debate in Australia,” he said.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said weakening the race hate laws would send a dangerous signal. ”There must be strong and effective legal protections against racial vilification,” he said.

Cancer Information Fact Sheets in Greek

Source: cancercouncil.com.au

The content on the fact sheets below is identical in each each language.

When you click on the link it will download a PDF.

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Owners of some 300 hotels in Greece are seeking investors in Russia to sell their units

Source: Ekathimerini

Hoteliers look for investors from Russia

The owners of some 300 hotels in Greece are seeking investors in Russia to sell their units, Nikos Angelopoulos, the honorary president of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE), revealed on Thursday.

Angelopoulos added that the hotel owners have already sent the relevant information to the Russian Embassy in Athens.

He was speaking at a round-table discussion on tourism development that took place at a Thessaloniki hotel, organized by the German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Given the major difficulties hoteliers are facing, SETE President Andreas Andreadis will meet with top officials of banks and the Hellenic Bank Association in the coming days in a bid to find a solution to the cash flow problem in the tourism sector.

Thousands detained in Greek jails

Source: nation.com.pk

Thousands of Pakistani youngsters remain stranded at detention facilities in Athens city of Greece after illegal border-crossings, said an FIA officer, citing 42 Pakistani deportees who touched down in Lahore on Thursday.
The deportees arrived by Qatar Airlines flight QR-620 at around 7:50 in the morning. It was the third flight within a week brining deportees back from Athens in large numbers.  Forty-four Pakistanis were deported on Wednesday and 31 on November 14 from Greece. The deportees were transported under International Organization of Migrants programme.
A 60-member Greek intelligence squad handed the deportees over to FIA Immigration Additional Director Basharat Shehzad and other authorities deputed at the Lahore airport.
The deportees tell the sad story of their peers trapped in Athens. There is nobody who could listen to these youngsters, they say.  According to a senior FIA official, all the deportees were released against personal surety and none was sent to Agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Cell for further action. Only one of them possessed the genuine travel documents, added Ali Imam Zaidi, FIA Immigration assistant director. Ninety-five per cent of these deportees belonged to upper Punjab districts of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Lala Musa, Kharian and Jhelum, senior FIA official Abu Zar Sibtain told The Nation.
Another FIA official who wished anonymity raised the alarm that human trafficking was on the rise in the country, notably in upper Punjab. But, he added, the Agency could not act accordingly because of many influential persons and parliamentarians having stakes in this big business.  The official further said only cosmetic measures had been taken to curb human trafficking and that was the reason the real accused were operating freely unmindful of the bad name they were brining to the country.
The economy of Greece is already in a shambles due to which Pakistanis crossing into Greece in search of better future got trapped there. As per the laws, after being arrested and deported, a person is not supposed to be arrested or sent to jail in his homeland.
Interestingly, a former FIA Punjab director Waqar Haider had chalked out a strategy about sending deportees from airport to FIA provincial headquarters just for fame. His blue-eyed inspector Chaudhry Hanif would then mint money from them by hook or by crook. Each deportee had to pay Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 to secure his release.
Nevertheless, everything has changed now. Incumbent FIA Punjab Director Qudratullah Marwat has ordered to release every deportee from the airport. It may be noted here that most of the deportees were between 22 and 30 years of age. They had paid a huge sum of money to get out but put their lives at risk instead.
Reports say each deportee would pay around Rs0.5 million to Rs0.7 million to human smugglers for his entry to Greece.
An FIA officer said human traffickers used illegal route of Iran via Balochistan, and then from Iran to Turkey and into Greece. They make their entry through illegal border-crossings where, sometimes, border police open fire on them and some of them lose their lives too.
Sometimes these deportees are kidnapped by their own Pakistani people after reaching Greece. As per reports, Pakistanis already present in Greece and those who are jobless have started abducting their own countrymen for ransom.
These criminals trap newcomers. They lure them with providing of good jobs but after transporting them to undisclosed locations they torture them. They make telephone calls to their families in Pakistan and demand ransom from them.

Greek Orthodox Community of St George to decide fate of controversial site of destroyed Belvedere building

Source: Couriermail.com.au

Historic property Belvedere was devastated by fire and subsequently demolished on November 13 at Edmondstone Street, South Brisb

Historic property Belvedere was devastated by fire and subsequently demolished on November 13 at Edmondstone St, South Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis. Source: News Corp Australia

THE Greek Orthodox Community of St George hasn’t decided what to do with the site where a historic home stood until a devastating fire last week, despite years of fighting with the council over the property.

The heritage-listed Belvedere building had stood in Edmondstone St, South Brisbane, since 1888 before it was destroyed by fire and subsequently demolished on November 13.

Firefighters battle the fire in Edmonstone St, South Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis

Firefighters battle the fire in Edmonstone St, South Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

The Greek Orthodox Community of St George had owned the property for about 30 years.

President Jim Georgiou said the community was “shocked” by what had happened, but no future plans had been made.

“We haven’t had a committee meeting. We’re in between terms and hopefully will have a new committee coming on next week, then we can start talking,” he said

“We had been planning to renovate it, architects had been employed.

“There will be a lot of discussion and whatever it is will go in front of our members.”

The Brisbane City Council refused an application in 2010 to demolish the building, which is listed on council’s Heritage Register.

The decision was appealed and was before the courts at the time of the fire.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he was disappointed the Belvedere had been destroyed.

“It’s very sad news for the local community and the broader Brisbane community that this precious and historic building has been destroyed by fire,” he said.

There were reports squatters had been living in the abandoned boarding home, though no one was inside at the time of the blaze.

A Queensland Fire and Rescue Services spokeswoman said due to the intensity of the fire an investigation could not take place, and for safety reasons the building was demolished the day of the fire.

Who is going to Brazil 2014?

All the goals from the final World Cup playoffs 4:18

The final European places for the 2014 World Cup were decided on Wednesday morning, with a showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic the highlight of the matches.

Suarez, Rooney, Neymar, Honda and Cahill will be stars at the World Cup.

Suarez, Rooney, Neymar, Honda and Cahill will be stars at the World Cup. Source: AAP

THE line-up is complete! We now know 32 nations that will take part in next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

We’ll see 13 European, five South American, five African, four North American and four Asian countries in world football’s showpiece event..

Here, the Daily Mail brings you the complete lowdown on all those who have qualified for the tournament.

Fans celebrate World Cup qualification for Brazil 2014 1:29

Football fans around the world have celebrate and commiserated as all but one of the 32 teams that will compete at the World Cup in Brazil next year were confirmed. With Uruguay and Jordan battling it out for the final spot.

Australia

FIFA Ranking: 57th

Star player: Tim Cahill – Box-to-box midfielder often converted into a striker with a good goalscoring record. Formerly of Millwall and Everton, now playing in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls.

Post-game analysis: Socceroos v Costa Rica 7:10

The Fox Sports football panel dissects all the action from the Socceroos and Costa Rica clash.

H ow they got there: Rather than battling for top spot, Australia were left trying to fend off Oman for the final automatic spot which they only achieved on the final day following a late 1-0 win against Iraq coupled with Oman’s loss at Jordan. They are out of form having been defeated 6-0 by Brazil and France in recent matches – just as well the tournament is next summer.

EUROPE

Belgium

FIFA Ranking: 5th

Star man: Eden Hazard – Quick, creative and energetic winger who has shone for Chelsea since moving to the Premier League last year.

Belgium have attacking options all over the pitch.

Belgium have attacking options all over the pitch. Source: AP

How they got there: Blessed with a generation of players that have taken Belgium from being non-qualifying material to a major European force, Marc Wilmots guided his side to top spot in Group A with a game to spare after making light work of nearest rivals Croatia. The nation’s first major tournament in 12 years may end up being their best since the class of 86 visited Mexico.

England

FIFA Ranking: 10th

Star man: Wayne Rooney – Bullish striker who, on top form, can be unplayable. On course to become England’s record all-time goalscorer if he continues in his current rich vein of form.

England's Wayne Rooney will be crucial to his nation's hopes.

England’s Wayne Rooney will be crucial to his nation’s hopes. Source: AFP

How they got there: While England seemed to toil through qualifying at times they never once looked on the back foot. When the chips were down they were forced to win their last two matches but they delivered in confident fashion. A nation awaits to see which star will break his metatarsal in the run-up to the finals next summer.

France

FIFA Ranking: 21

Star man: Franck Ribery – One of the favourites for the Ballon d’OR after a wonderful year with Bayern Munich where he won a treble – though Ribery has never quite showed that form consistently on the international stage. Watch out Brazil.

France's soccer team celebrate after defeating Ukraine.

France’s soccer team celebrate after defeating Ukraine. Source: AP

How they got there: The unlucky second seeded side to be drawn with World Cup holders Spain in their group, France were never favourites to finish top. Poor indivual performances were angering the public however, and their was a media backlash after their 2-0 defeat to Ukraine in their play-off first leg. They turned it around spectacularly though, and will be dangerous in Brazil.

Germany

FIFA Ranking: 2nd

Star man: Mesut Ozil – Arsenal star whose craft, creativity and conjuring is well known. Has seamlessly adapted to life in the Premier League since joining from Real Madrid on deadline day.

German football team take the tube to Wembley 0:47

The German national football team have found a rather unusual way to beat the London traffic before their international friendly at Wembley.

How they got there: By winning every game – aside from a moment of madness when they only drew with Sweden despite going 4-0 up. That was about as bad as it got for Low’s side as Germany typically qualified with envious ease. Germany have actually never failed in any of their qualification attempts, as the two tournaments they missed saw them fail to enter (1930) or banned (1950).

Italy

FIFA Ranking: 8th

Star man: Claudio Marchisio – Hard-hitting Juventus man has become a constant in the Italian midfield and played in every match en route to the Euro 2012 final.

How they got there: The Italians never looked in danger of failing to reach Brazil with group rivals stumbling over each other as Prandelli’s team built a commanding lead at the top of the group. Flopped as defending champions to crash out at the group stage in 2010, but a team blessed with veteran experience and youthful enthusiasm will hope to build on a runners-up finish at Euro 2012.

Netherlands

FIFA Ranking: 8th

Star man: Robin van Persie – Manchester United star who is one of the most clinical finishers in the world, especially in his current purple patch.

How they got there: In style. Holland bounced back from a calamitous Euro 2012, where they lost every game, to blitz Group D and finish as Europe’s top scorers – much of that was in part due to Van Persie’s unmatched 11 goals. The Dutch seemed to have learned from the shambles of the Euros last year and will target going one better than 2010’s runners-up finish in South Africa.

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo single handedly got his side into the World Cup.

Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo single handedly got his side into the World Cup. Source: AFP

Portugal

FIFA Ranking: 14th

Star player: Are you having a laugh? Cristiano Ronaldo – He single-handedly dragged his side through a tricky play-off tie against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden, and his form for Real Madrid moves to greater heights wither every week. With him in the side, you’d be brave to back anybody against them.

All the goals from the final World Cup playoffs 4:18

The final European places for the 2014 World Cup were decided on Wednesday morning, with a showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic the highlight of the matches.

How they got there: With difficulty. Losing out to Russia by one point at the top of Group F, Ronaldo and Co stuttered to poor results such as a draw at home with Northern Ireland and just two points from both fixtures against third-place Israel.

Consigned to a play-off with Sweden in a battle between Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they relied on a hat-trick from their talisman to see them through.

Russia

FIFA Ranking: 19

Star player: Alan Dzagoev – Still just 23, the attacking midfielder has earned plenty of plaudits playing for CSKA Moscow since his youth. Russia’s new shining light after Andrei Arshavin’s downfall.

How they got there: Despite being in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Russia always held the advantage in the group and secured top spot with relative ease. Manager Fabio Capello of course did a similar trick with England to comfortably guide them to South Africa, but we will need little reminding of how badly that adventure ended…

Spain national football team's midfielder Andres Iniesta.

Spain national football team’s midfielder Andres Iniesta. Source: AFP

Spain

FIFA Ranking: 1

Star man: Andres Iniesta – Scorer of the winning goal at the last World Cup and the jewel in Spain’s and Barcelona’s sides. Forms a magnificent ‘tiki-taka’ relationship with Xavi in midfield.

Spain humbled by South Africa 1:04

It will go down as one of the all-time upsets in world football, and an unhappy return to South Africa for World Champions Spain, who were humbled 1-0 by the hosts in Johannesburg.

How they got there: Paired in a tough group that contained France, top-spot was always going to come down to the two clashes between Spain and the 1998 champions. As it was it was the current holders that edged the head-to-head record and finish in an automatic qualifying spot, as they attempt to become the first European side to lift the World Cup on South American soil.

Switzerland

FIFA Ranking: 7

Star man: Xherdan Shaqiri – Despite battling with wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben for places at Bayern Munich the 22-year-old has managed to impress and will be a key man for Switzerland.

How they got there: The Swiss were given a boost before the qualifying games had even begun as the top seed place in their group was taken by a Norway team who have gone on to struggle. With Slovenia the second seeds, Hitzfeld’s team have taken advantage of one of Europe’s weaker groups but there is exciting talent within the squad such as Shaqiri and Valentin Stocker.

Weird and wonderful football 2:11

The international break did little to slow down the number of controversial, superb and downright wacky moments in the world of football.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

FIFA Ranking: 16th

Star man: Edin Dzeko – Manchester City striker who has an excellent international scoring record of 33 goals in 58 games.

How they got there: Bosnia and Greece were by far the runaway teams in Group G and such was their dominance, Bosnia still needed to win on the final day despite dropping points in just two qualifiers throughout the campaign. Huge celebrations greeted their first ever qualification for a major tournament but it remains to be seen how Dzeko and his team-mate cope in Brazil.

Croatia

FIFA Ranking: 18

Star player: Luka Modric – Real Madrid splashed out big bucks on the Tottenham midfielder in 2012 and despite an indifferent first season, he is now shining for both club and country once again.

Mario Mandzukic of Croatia celebrates qualification with team mate Luka Modric.

Mario Mandzukic of Croatia celebrates qualification with team mate Luka Modric. Source: Getty Images

How they got there: Drawn in one of the tougher groups of qualifying with Belgium and Serbia, as well as home nations Scotland and Wales, Croatia can pat themselves on the back for managing to come second. Although they may not have caught the dominant Belgians anyway, a double defeat to Scotland didn’t help their chances. Defeated relative minnows Iceland in the play-offs.

Greece

FIFA Ranking: 15th

Star player: Sokratis Papastathopoulos – The 6 foot 1 rock-solid centre half has been impressing Bundesliga watchers for some time, so much so that Borussia Dortmund snapped him up from Wolfsburg in the summer. Just don’t get his name on the back of your shirt…

How they got there: Missing out on automatic qualification on mere goal difference as Bosnia topped Group G, Greece relied on toppling Romania 4-2 in the play-offs.

SOUTH AMERICA

Brazil

FIFA Ranking: 11th

Star player: Neymar – The 21-year-old has adapted seamlessly to life in European football with Barcelona and will become the best in the world in a few years.

How they got there: As host nation they booked their place at the tournament six years ago when Brazil were awarded the tournament. There is huge pressure on Brazil, where anything less than a record sixth victory will be seen as a national disaster alongside the infamous team that crashed on home soil to lose the 1950 final to Uruguay.

Argentina

FIFA Ranking: 3rd

Star player: Lionel Messi – Widely considered the most gifted player in the world and rightly so. His record of 37 international goals in 83 matches pales into insignificance in comparison to his historic scoring feats and honours roll with Barcelona.

Lionel Messi will carry Argentina's hopes in Brazil.

Lionel Messi will carry Argentina’s hopes in Brazil. Source: AP

How they got there: Without Brazil’s presence, Argentina were billed to be the runaway leaders in South America and they didn’t fail to disappoint as Messi’s goals ensured they easily navigated their way to an 11th consecutive appearance. Messi failed to deliver in South Africa, but can he finally star on the biggest stage and end Argentina’s 28-year wait to win a third World Cup?

Chile

FIFA Ranking: 12th

Star player: Alexis Sanchez – Exciting winger/forward who epitomises that vibrant Chilean style. The Barcelona man scored twice against England in last week’s friendly.

Chile's Alexis Sanchez.

Chile’s Alexis Sanchez. Source: AP

H ow they got there: Chile were not made to regret throwing away a 3-0 lead against Colombia – they eventually drew 3-3 – and sealed victory against Ecuador in the final qualifier to secure third place and their place in Brazil.

Colombia

FIFA Ranking: 4th

Star player: Radamel Falcao – One of the deadliest strikers in the world, currently playing for Monaco following a big money move from Atletico in the summer.

Colombian's forward Radamel Falcao is deadly.

Colombian’s forward Radamel Falcao is deadly. Source: AFP

How they got there: We haven’t seen Colombia since David Beckham’s free-kick past Faryd Mondragon (still part of the squad at 42) helped dump them out of France 98. But having trailed a distant second behind Argentina for much of the campaign, Colombia are back and this time it will be the feet of Falcao rather than the hair of Carlos Valderrama which will do the talking.

Ecuador

FIFA Ranking: 22nd

Star player: Edison Mendez – Vastly experienced midfielder who has been in the squad since 2000 and will probably have his swansong at this tournament.

How they got there: A vital 1-0 win over Uruguay in their penultimate game effectively sealed Ecuador’s place in their third finals in four World Cups. That they lost 2-1 in Santiago proved an irrelevance as they grabbed the fourth and final automatic spot ahead of Uruguay – who beat Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo – on goal difference.

Uruguay

FIFA Ranking: 6th

Star player: Luis Suarez – Currently among the world’s best strikers, Suarez has been tormenting the Premier League’s best defenders this season for Liverpool, and is a definite contender for player of the tournament if Uruguay go deep in 2014.

How they got there: To be frank, they’ve done it the hard way. A team with Uruguay’s galaxy of stars should have locked their spot away months ago. Instead, a nation with a rich World Cup history was the very last of the 32 teams to qualify after thrashing Jordan in a two-legged sudden death playoff.

Luis Suarez dribbles past a Jordan' defender. Khalil Mazraawi

Luis Suarez dribbles past a Jordan’ defender. Khalil Mazraawi Source: AFP

NORTH AMERICA

Mexico

FIFA Ranking: 24th

Star man: Javier Hernandez – Manchester United goal poacher with an excellent international scoring ratio of 35 goals in 57.

All Whites World Cup dream is over after loss to Mexico 0:51

Mexico qualified for their sixth successive World Cup on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory in the second leg of their intercontinental play-off against New Zealand, for a 9-3 aggregate win.

How they got there: Having negotiated the initial qualifying group with a 100 per cent record, Mexico made hard work of the final phase, losing to Honduras at home and Costa Rica and the United States on the road. Having scraped in to to the play-off round, they made light work of New Zealand, winning 5-1 at home and 4-2 away.

United States

FIFA Ranking: 13

Star player: Jozy Altidore – Hasn’t impressed in his spells in England with Hull City and Sunderland, but a nailed-on striker for USA, scoring 21 times in 65 appearances.

How they got there: After starting slowly in ‘the Hex’, Klinsmann’s side soon found their winning rhythm to hit top spot in the group before a win over Mexico last month confirmed a seventh straight World Cup appearance. The last 10 years have seen players gain bucket loads of experience from playing in Europe and it’s seeing big gains in the squad strength.

Costa Rica

FIFA Rankings: 31st

Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto – In his second spell in charge of Costa Rica, Pinto has done better in this qualification campaign than he did in the last one with Colombia.

Star player: Bryan Ruiz – The Fulham forward is Costa Rica’s captain and chipped in with three goals during the qualifying phase.

How they got there: Despite conceding a last-minute equaliser in Jamaica in September, it was smiles all round as the draw in Kingston was enough to see Costa Rica qualify in surprisingly comfortable circumstances. Fulham forward Bryan Ruiz has the ability to compete on the global stage but reaching the last 16 like in 1990 will prove a tough ask for Pinto’s team.

Honduras

FIFA Ranking: 34th

Star player: Wilson Palacios – Defensive midfielder heading to his second World Cup. Well known to English football fans having played for Birmingham, Wigan, Tottenham and Stoke.

How they got there: Honduras have undergone several changes since South Africa, but pulled it all together in time to enjoy a successful qualifying campaign, finally sealing their place with a 2-2 draw against Jamaica in the final match.

AFRICA

Algeria

FIFA Ranking: 32

Star player: Sofiane Feghouli – Algeria have been crying out for a star for many years, and they may have it in the Valencia winger, impressing the Giants in La Liga despite his side’s lowly position.

How they got there: Comfortably qualifying from Group H in qualifying, Algeria – famously holding England at the 2010 World Cup – looked certain for 2014 when they drew Burkina Faso in their play-off match. Things weren’t that easy, however, as Burkina Faso won the first-leg 3-2. The homeside turned it around in the return leg, beating the underdogs 1-0 to progress on away goals.

Cameroon

FIFA Ranking: 59th

Star man: Samuel Eto’o – team captain, Cameroon’s record appearance holder with 112 caps and all-time leading goalscorer with 55.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has been on form for Chelsea.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has been on form for Chelsea. Source: AFP

How they got there: The Indomitable Lions won a group featuring Libya, Congo DR and Togo before overcoming Tunisia 4-1 on aggregate in the final play-off round. They received a stroke of good fortune in the group when Togo were forced to forfeit their 2-0 win in June after fielding an ineligible player.

Ghana

FIFA Ranking: 23

Star player: Kevin-Prince Boateng – A rare African playmaker, possessing a mix of great skills and raw speed and power, Boateng has become a national jewel despite his German roots.

How they got there: Easily. Ghana progressed from their group in style, despite an early loss to Zambia, and carried on their goalscoring feats in their play-off, too. Egypt, one of the top teams in Africa by all means, were thrashed 6-1 in the first leg, all-but-securing one of the stars of South Africa’s World Cup place.

Ivory Coast

FIFA Ranking: 17th

Star man: Didier Drogba – Linchpin striker of the side who will have surpassed a century of caps by the time of the tournament – he has a remarkable 62 goals for his country.

H ow they got there: The Ivory Coast initially topped a group containing Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia, before seeing off Senegal 4-2 on aggregate in a tough play-off tie.

Nigeria

Fifa ranking: 33rd

Star man: Victor Moses – Capped for England at youth levels, the Liverpool winger – on-loan from Chelsea – chose to represent the nation of his birth. Scored in Nigeria’s play-off win against Ethiopia.

How they got there: Nigeria were undefeated in their group containing Malawi, Kenya and Namibia, before comprehensively seeing off Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate in their play-off.

ASIA

Japan

FIFA Ranking: 44th

Star player: Keisuke Honda – The motor of the Japanese team, known for his dribbling and set-piece ability. Currently plays for CSKA Moscow but has already agreed to join AC Milan in the New Year.

Japan's midfielder Keisuke Honda (L) celebrates.

Japan’s midfielder Keisuke Honda (L) celebrates. Source: AFP

How they got there: Now part of the World Cup furniture after reaching their first tournament at France 98. Japan were the first side to qualify (outside the hosts) for Brazil 2014 in June as they comfortably topped Asia’s Group B. The squad is talented, too. Shinji Kagawa may not be featuring much for Manchester United but keep an eye out for CSKA Moscow’s midfield genius, Honda.

Iran

FIFA Ranking: 49th

Star player: Ashkan Dejagah – Winger who played for Germany’s youth sides before opting for the country of his birth. Plays for Fulham in the Premier League.

How they got there: Surprisingly topped Group A after winning at South Korea on the final match day. Despite winning the group there isn’t much to suggest that former Manchester United assistant Queiroz can guide them past the group stage for the first time. Skipper, Javad Nekounam has the experience but Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah is best suited to deal with the quality they will face in Brazil.

South Korea

FIFA Ranking: 56

Star player: Ki Sung-yueng – The Swansea midfielder on-loan at Sunderland may not have lit up the Premier League but he is an ever-present for South Korea, playing 53 times at the age of just 24.

How they got there: Survived a late scare on the final matchday of the group stage to qualify as only a narrowly superior goal difference saved them from being bumped into the play-offs by Uzbekistan following a 1-0 home defeat to Iran. It will be their eighth consecutive finals but only twice have they got beyond the group stage.

World University Rankings 2013-2014

Source: Times Higher Education

WHERE Australian institutions ranked in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings this year.

2013-14 rank 2012-13 rank Institution
1 34 28 Melbourne
2 48 37 ANU
3 63 65 UQ
4 72 62 Sydney
5 91 99 Monash
6 114 85 UNSW
7 168 190 UWA
8 201-225 176 Adelaide
9 251-275 276-300 Newcastle
10 276-300 251-275 Macquarie
11 276-300 251-275 QUT
12 276-300 301-350 Wollongong

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Rank Institution Location Overall score change criteria
1 California Institute of Technology United States
94.9
2 Harvard University United States
93.9
2 University of Oxford United Kingdom
93.9
4 Stanford University United States
93.8
5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States
93.0
6 Princeton University United States
92.7
7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom
92.3
8 University of California, Berkeley United States
89.8
9 University of Chicago United States
87.8
10 Imperial College London United Kingdom
87.5
11 Yale University United States
87.4
12 University of California, Los Angeles United States
86.3
13 Columbia University United States
85.2
14 ETH Zürich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich Switzerland
84.5
15 Johns Hopkins University United States
83.7
16 University of Pennsylvania United States
81.0
17 Duke University United States
79.3
18 University of Michigan United States
79.2
19 Cornell University United States
79.1
20 University of Toronto Canada
78.3
21 University College London United Kingdom
77.6
22 Northwestern University United States
77.1
23 The University of Tokyo Japan
76.4
24 Carnegie Mellon University United States
76.0
25 University of Washington United States
73.4
26 National University of Singapore Singapore
72.4
27 University of Texas at Austin United States
72.2
28 Georgia Institute of Technology United States
71.6
29 University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign United States
71.4
30 University of Wisconsin-Madison United States
71.1
31 University of British Columbia Canada
70.8
32 London School of Economics and Political Science United Kingdom
69.8
33 University of California, Santa Barbara United States
68.4
34 University of Melbourne Australia
68.2
35 McGill University Canada
68.1
36 Karolinska Institute Sweden
67.8
37 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Switzerland
67.7
38 King’s College London United Kingdom
67.6
39 University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
67.5
40 New York University United States
67.4
40 University of California, San Diego United States
67.4
42 Washington University in St Louis United States
67.2
43 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
65.3
44 Seoul National University Republic of Korea
65.2
45 Peking University China
65.0
46 University of Minnesota United States
64.9
47 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States
64.5
48 Australian National University Australia
64.4
49 Pennsylvania State University United States
64.2
50 Tsinghua University China
63.5
50 Boston University United States
63.5
52 Kyoto University Japan
63.2
52 Brown University United States
63.2
52 University of California, Davis United States
63.2
55 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Germany
63.1
56 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Republic of Korea
62.9
57 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong
62.5
58 University of Manchester United Kingdom
62.3
59 Ohio State University United States
62.0
60 Pohang University of Science and Technology Republic of Korea
61.7
61 KU Leuven Belgium
61.3
62 Purdue University United States
60.7
63 Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Germany
59.9
63 University of Queensland Australia Australia
59.9
65 Rice University United States
59.8
65 École Normale Supérieure France
59.8
67 Leiden University Netherlands
59.4
68 Universität Heidelberg Germany
59.2
69 Delft University of Technology Netherlands
59.1
70 University of Southern California United States
59.0
70 École Polytechnique France
59.0
72 University of Sydney Australia
58.8
73 Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands
58.1
74 Universität Basel Switzerland
57.7
74 Utrecht University Netherlands
57.7
76 Nanyang Technological University Singapore
57.2
77 Wageningen University and Research Center Netherlands
56.8
78 University of Pittsburgh United States
56.7
79 University of Bristol United Kingdom
56.3
80 Emory University United States
56.1
80 Durham University United Kingdom
56.1
80 Tufts University United States
56.1
83 University of Amsterdam Netherlands
55.9
83 Michigan State University United States
55.9
85 Ghent University Belgium
55.5
86 Freie Universität Berlin Germany
55.3
87 Technische Universität München Germany
55.2
88 Case Western Reserve University United States
55.0
88 Vanderbilt University United States
55.0
90 University of Notre Dame United States
54.7
91 Monash University Australia
54.6
92 McMaster University Canada
54.5
93 University of California, Irvine United States
54.1
94 Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Germany
53.8
95 University of Rochester United States
53.6
96 Université Pierre et Marie Curie France
53.5
97 University of Colorado Boulder United States
53.4
98 University of Groningen Netherlands
52.9
98 Maastricht University Netherlands
52.9
100 University of Helsinki Finland
52.6
100 University of York United Kingdom
52.6
102 Royal Holloway, University of London United Kingdom
52.5
103 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey United States
52.4
103 Stockholm University Sweden
52.4
103 University of Arizona United States
52.4
106 University of Montreal Canada
52.3
106 Eindhoven University of Technology Netherlands
52.3
108 University of Maryland, College Park United States
52.2
109 Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
52.0
109 University of Alberta Canada
52.0
111 Uppsala University Sweden
51.9
112 University of Virginia United States
51.8
112 University of Sheffield United Kingdom
51.8
114 University of New South Wales Australia
51.7
114 Université Paris-Sud France
51.7
114 Queen Mary, University of London United Kingdom
51.7
117 KTH Royal Institute of Technology Sweden
51.6
117 University of St Andrews United Kingdom
51.6
117 Technical University of Denmark Denmark
51.6
117 University of Glasgow United Kingdom
51.6
121 University of Sussex United Kingdom
51.2
121 University of Zürich Switzerland
51.2
123 Lund University Sweden
51.1
124 University of Geneva Switzerland
51.0
125 Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan
50.8
126 Dartmouth College United States
50.5
126 University of Cape Town South Africa
50.5
128 University of Florida United States
50.4
129 RWTH Aachen University Germany
50.3
129 Trinity College Dublin Republic of Ireland
50.3
131 Radboud University Nijmegen Netherlands
50.2
132 Université de Lausanne Switzerland
50.1
132 Indiana University United States
50.1
132 University of Massachusetts United States
50.1
135 Boston College United States
50.0
136 University of California, Santa Cruz United States
49.9
137 Lancaster University United Kingdom
49.7
138 Aarhus University Denmark
49.6
139 University of Leeds United Kingdom
49.5
139 Colorado School of Mines United States
49.5
141 University of Warwick United Kingdom
49.4
142 National Taiwan University Taiwan
49.2
143 University of Utah United States
49.1
144 Osaka University Japan
49.0
144 VU University Amsterdam Netherlands
49.0
146 University of Southampton United Kingdom
48.9
146 Arizona State University United States
48.9
148 University of Exeter United Kingdom
48.7
148 University of California, Riverside United States
48.7
150 Tohoku University Japan
48.5
150 University of Copenhagen Denmark
48.5
152 Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Germany
48.4
153 University of Birmingham United Kingdom
48.3
154 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Germany
48.0
155 Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble France
47.8
156 École Normale Supérieure de Lyon France
47.5
157 University of Bern Switzerland
47.4
157 University of Nottingham United Kingdom
47.4
159 Texas A&M University United States
47.2
160 Georgetown University United States
47.0
161 University of Iowa United States
46.7
161 University College Dublin Republic of Ireland
46.7
161 University of Leicester United Kingdom
46.7
164 University of Antwerp Belgium
46.6
164 Pompeu Fabra University Spain
46.6
164 Brandeis University United States
46.6
164 University of Auckland New Zealand
46.6
168 University of Western Australia Australia
46.4
169 University of Liverpool United Kingdom
46.3
170 University of Twente Netherlands
46.2
170 University of Vienna Austria
46.2
172 Yeshiva University United States
46.1
172 Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium
46.1
174 University of Delaware United States
46.0
174 University of East Anglia United Kingdom
46.0
176 University at Buffalo United States
45.9
176 Université Libre de Bruxelles Belgium
45.9
178 Université Paris Diderot – Paris 7 France
45.8
178 Stony Brook University United States
45.8
180 Wake Forest University United States
45.7
181 Universität Bonn Germany
45.6
181 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute United States
45.6
183 Iowa State University United States
45.5
184 Northeastern University United States
45.4
185 University of Oslo Norway
45.3
185 University of Miami United States
45.3
185 University of Ottawa Canada
45.3
188 University of Aberdeen United Kingdom
45.2
188 The University of Texas at Dallas United States
45.2
190 Yonsei University Republic of Korea
45.1
191 Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel
45.0
191 University of Illinois at Chicago United States
45.0
193 Mines ParisTech France
44.9
194 University of Reading United Kingdom
44.8
194 George Washington University United States
44.8
196 University of Dundee United Kingdom
44.7
197 Florida Institute of Technology United States
44.6
198 Newcastle University United Kingdom
44.5
199 Boğaziçi University Turkey
44.3
199 Tel Aviv University Israel
44.3