http://graphics.wsj.com/documents/WORLDCUPTOEE/#/?lang=en&metrics=Most%20Twitter%20Followers
The Brazil World Cup starts tonight, if we can see any of it past the massive arse of aptly-named Brazilian frontman Hulk. I think he frequents the same gym as former star Ronaldo; that is, one that is a front for a pasty shop.
As a football nut, I am a little beside myself just now. Less nutty about “soccer” perhaps, the Wall Street Journal has nevertheless put its emotional detachment to good use by creating a marvellous interactive info graphic. It shows how the tournament would play out if countries competed against each other on various different demographic and geographical statistics. Have fun with it (if the link works).
A few tasters:
- Belgium wins on Biggest Urban Population (an incredible 98 per cent of the Belgian population)
- Japan has the Most Forest (67 per cent of total land area) of any World Cup nation
- Iran has the highest inflation rate at 35.2 per cent (they would beat Ghana in the final).
And having married into a Croatian family, and with a son called Tomislav, I wish Luka Modric and the lads the best for the tournament. Croatia didn’t, however, make it onto the smorgasbord of wastrel bets I placed on the tournament last week. I’m prepared to share what they were if I win any of them.
Strangers on the Shore 