Ahead of the global showpiece, World Cup partner Adidas released video materials featuring their international and local stars to star in a new Family Reunion television advert, which includes football legends, such as Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Son Heung-min, and Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi.
Team Argentina
Springboks’ legend Bryan Habana and current player Ox Nché are still all smiles as they rooted for Messi’s Argentina, who are through to the last 16 rounds.
Team Germany
There are no smiles, however, for fellow Springboks player Damian Willemse, who had picked Germany as the team that would go all the way.
Unfortunately for Willemse, the Germans fell at the first hurdle after finishing third in group E behind Japan and Spain. Japan and Spain advanced to the knockout rounds from the group.
Former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and Sekhukhune United skipper Linda Mntambo rooted for Belgium and who can blame them as the highly ranked Belgians came to the tournament as one of the favourites?
“They’ve always been a strong football nation and they’re known for producing players with flair,” said Hlatshwayo, while Mntambo also believed Belgium was a serious contender for the title.
Remember, they ranked number one in the world not too long ago. I can totally see them reaching the Final!
Sekhukhune United captain Linda Mntambo
Hard luck, gents. You should have rooted for your brothers, Morocco, who finished as winners of group F behind 2018 losing finalists Croatia.
For Proteas women star batter Laura Wolvaardt, her love for Belgium is not just about the chocolate or waffles that come to mind when one thinks of Belgium.
Wolvaardt said:
Belgium was always going to be her first choice. Her mother was born there and many of her family members still live in the town of Roeselare.
Team Spain
Another Proteas women’s star allrounder Suné Luus and former Proteas men’s middle-order batter JP Duminy threw their support behind Spain, who won their first World Cup on South African soil in 2010.
Team Japan
Perhaps the reason is he won his first Rugby World Cup in Japan, it had to be the Asian nation for Springboks scrum-half Herschel Jantjies.
Many will be rolling their eyes and thinking “Japan of all people?”.
But Japan holds a special place in the hearts of South Africans with the Springboks having lifted their third Rugby World Cup trophy in that country.
