My name is Philip Deutsch, and I’m headed to Pretoria, South Africa on June 8^th for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a study abroad student and a sports journalist.  I expect to attend and cover at least 7 matches, including group play matches, U.S. vs. Slovenia, U.S. vs. Algeria, Argentina vs. South Korea, Argentina vs. Greece, two round of sixteen matches, a quarterfinals match and possibly, a semifinal match in Johannesburg. 

I will be at the fan park for as many games as I can that I don’t attend and will be able to visit at least four of the ten stadiums scattered around South Africa.  I’m going to be in South Africa for all of the matches up and through the semifinal but will have to depart on July 8^th before the July 11^th final. I expect to give both avid and new soccer fans analysis about what to watch for as the action unfolds.  As games end and teams move on, I will provide in-depth coverage of teams and players and will also be mixing in predictions at the beginning and along the way. (there are still international friendlies that I want to see before giving my first prediction post.)

In addition to the blogging at Yoursportsfan.com, I will also be writing for the News & Record and will be blogging on Wordpress.com with the editor of the Duke Chronicle who will be staying in Cape Town.  I’ll provide the links to these articles as well.  Aside from in-depth coverage of the actual competition and other basic observations, I hope to take you inside of these cities and stadiums, interviewing countless fans, natives and visitors along the way.  I want to capture the culture and passion living inside of these cities for a remarkable event – the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil.