[JRC 학생기자] FIFA World Cup 2014 Final Draw

FIFA World Cup 2014 Final Draw (Part 1 of 2)
WooJin “Kevin” Rho

The FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Final Draw took place at the Costa de Sauipe Resort, Mata de Sao Joao in Bahia on December 6. Since the draw, there have been mixed feelings of joy and sorrow depending on the group that each country was drawn into.
Just for a short background check, FIFA World Cup takes place every 4 years with 32 countries participating from all over the world. Depending on the strength of the continent, FIFA awards each continent with a limited number of participants, and for the past four years, the 32 finalists have gone through preliminary rounds within their continent to be a representative at the world’s greatest soccer festival.
At the Final Draw, the 32 teams were divided into 4 pots. Pot 1 consisted of top 7 seeded teams based on the FIFA ranking as of October and the host nation Brazil. The remaining pots were divided by regions with AFC(Africa) and CONMEBOL(S. America) being in Pot 2, AFC(Asia) and CONCACAF(N. America) being Pot 3, and the remaining European teams being Pot 4. Because there were less seeded teams from UEFA(Europe) this year, many expected there to be multiple of groups of “Death”. Let’s have a look at each of the groups.
Group A: Brazil Croatia Mexico Cameroon
No doubt Brazil stands out as the group's favorite, their having won the Confederations Cup and the games being played in Brazil. Mexico had a disappointing performance at the CONCACAF qualifications, but with a new coach setting order on his squad, it seems very well possible that Mexico will be back in shape by next June. Croatia is young and talented and Cameroon is one of the best African countries with many World Cup experience. Though it is shaded by the other groups filled with big names, Group A is a very tough group to be in.

Group B: Spain Netherlands Chile Australia
Bad news for Australia, but the other three teams are just too strong for the Socceroos to have a good fight for the knockout stage. Both Spain and Netherlands are very slowly sinking from the teams that they were in 2010. Nonetheless, Spain is still ranked #1 on FIFA Rankings, and Netherlands still has a squad with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie that would have gotten through to the knockout stage without much problem in an easier group. I'd like to say Spain and Chile move on just because Netherlands is no longer the 2010 Netherlands, but if it could regain its strength in the midfield through a comeback from a key player like Wesley Sneijder, the Orange may be able to top the group even against the #1 Spain team.
Group C: Colombia Greece Ivory Coast Japan
One of the better groups to be a part of, just because the seeded Colombia is not as name-famous as Brazil or Spain, and any teams in the group stand a chance to move on. Greece being one of the weaker Europe teams and Ivory Coast having no luck in getting past the group stage in recent World Cups, Colombia and Japan are likely to be the ones to be moving on. Yet, depending on how well Yaya Toure can lead Ivory Coast and whether or not if Didier Drogba can become a star forward he once was in what seems to be his last world cup, the Elephants may be able to threaten Colombia and Japan in their runs to the knockout stage. However, with the teams being not too far apart in terms of talents, I could see any team moving on alongside Colombia.
Group D: Uruguay Costa Rica England Italy
One of the worst groups to be a part of, and what some consider to be the Group of “Death”. It could have easily been the obvious Group of Death when Italy was announced to be the X-team in Pot 2 and assigned to be with Uruguay. (One European team from Pot 4 was randomly drawn to be in Pot 2 in order to even the number of teams in each pot). However, England no longer holds the name value that it once did and Costa Rica is probably just out of the picture to be the team moving on. Many claim that the English squad is growing old, but it should be remembered that England qualified as the first place team within its group for the UEFA qualifications. Nevertheless, unless England proves the world otherwise, Uruguay and Italy are the favorites as of now.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago: La Traviata
Kireem Nam

The stage is dimly lit. The conductor raises his baton, and the enduing Verdi overture sweeps over the hushed crowd peering through a sheer curtain, watching the beautiful Violetta step into an extravagant white party dress. So begins La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi's tragic love story-an opera classic that, since 1853, has been performed across the world countless times before finally returning to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
La Traviata unfolds the story of Violetta, the most desirable courtesan in Paris, who suffers from poor health yet wishes to live a life of pleasure. She falls in love with Alfredo Germont, a man who has ardently pursued her affections. But when Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father, arrives and convinces Violetta that their relationship will ruin Alfredo's reputation, she selflessly decides to leave him. Alfredo sets out for revenge, and realizes his mistake too late. The two lovers have only the time to forgive each other and reaffirm their love before Violetta dies, leaving Alfredo to mourn her passing.
Marina Rebeka performs as the soprano Violetta, and Joseph Calleja and Quinn Kelsey take the roles of tenor Alfredo and baritone Giorgio Germont, respectively.
The opera opened on November 20th to mixed reviews. The Chicago Tribune describes it as “uneven,” “failing to touch the heart in the way exceptional performances of Verdi's middle-period masterpieces can do.” Chicago Theater Beat declares that it “captivates until the conclusion,” and fills the stage with memorably grandiose sets and costumes.
Regardless, Massimo Zanetti conducts with an adept hand, and La Traviata comes together beautifully and delicately to create a Lyric Opera of Chicago experience that certainly should not be missed.