The heat is on, as Glenn Frey sang so well back in the eighties! The days are counting down to the World Cup kick-off in South Africa on June 11th, and aside from the small matter of a quite intriguing Champions League final, the excitement is well and truly brewing. So, have you got tickets or do you want to know of a chance to get some..?!
Here at 90minutesonline we have been made privy to the 'South African Wave', where you might just be able to get your hands on a pair of tickets for the most coveted sporting event every four years (sorry IOC and the Olympic Games).
The 'Wave' has been set up by Sony Ericsson and was launched on May 4th. In many ways it is like a traditional Mexican wave in celebration of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The idea is that fans from all over the world can go to www.sonyericsson.com/wave. There you can record and upload your own personal wave, pick your national team of support and bring a little of your own style and sound to the venture- however you see fit.
It will then be posted alongside potentially thousands of other waves to create a constant stream of wave after wave of nationalities from all around the globe. The expectancy is that it will create by far and away the biggest ever 'stadium wave', online and as multi-cultural as the World Cup itself.
All entrants will be entered in with a chance to win limited tickets available for each stage of the competition. Winners have already been announced for the group stage and last sixteen matches (the lucky blighters!).
The good news is that there is still plenty of chance for you to get involved today and beyond. If you contribute to the 'Wave' by May 20th then you will automatically be in with a chance to pick up tickets for a World Cup quarter- final match including your travel and accommodation, not something to be baulked at by any means!
As far as things stand with the wave, England is by far and away the nation out in front. A whopping 18% of contributed waves thus far have come from England, followed by Brazil with 9% and the USA on 8%. If that's an indicator of England's fortunes to come in South Africa, then Capello and co. can be very pleased indeed!
So, have a look at www.sonyericsson.com/wave, it's certainly worth a shot and makes for amusing viewing. You may even come away with one of the number of official replica balls for the tournament. That way you can pretend that you're playing in South Africa yourself, weather permitting of course…