| While the world is abuzz with soccer fever, and | | | | Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries. |
| nations from around the globe gather together to | | | | Brazil was discovered by Portuguese Pedro |
| experience this momentous event, the FIFA soccer | | | | Alvarez Cabral. |
| World Cup, take the opportunity to discover amazing | | | | The world's first commercial wave farm to |
| fun facts and trivia about South Africa 2010 qualifier | | | | produce electricity, was set up off the coast of |
| Portugal. | | | | Portugal in 2006. |
| About the country: | | | | In 1986, Portugal became a member of the |
| A global maritime power during the 15th and 16th | | | | European Union. |
| centuries, Portugal lost much of its status and wealth | | | | Portugal was founded by Alfonso Henriques, in |
| as a result of three major misfortunes following its | | | | 1152. |
| heyday. First, Lisbon was almost completely destroyed | | | | The Kingdom of Portugal lasted from 1139 to 1910. |
| in a 1755 earthquake, then the country was occupied | | | | The country has been a republic since then. |
| during the Napoleonic Wars, and finally Portugal lost its | | | | Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz was the |
| wealthiest colony, Brazil, to independence in 1822. Did | | | | first person to sail round the southern tip of Africa, |
| you know: | | | | which he named the Cape of Good Hope. |
| In a Portuguese bullfight, the bull is not killed but | | | | In 1522, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan - |
| brought down by eight men. It is illegal to kill the bull. | | | | financed by Spain - was the first to complete a |
| Fado music, played on a Fado guitar, is traditional | | | | circumnavigation of the world. |
| urban folk music. It is rather melancholy. | | | | The last king of Portugal, King Manuel II, spent his |
| Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty | | | | life in exile in Twickenham on the outskirts of London |
| over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of | | | | after being deposed in 1910. |
| interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the | | | | The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, signed in 1373, is |
| 1801 Treaty of Badajoz. | | | | the oldest alliance in the world still in force. |
| Situated on the outskirts of Lisbon, Estoril Casino is | | | | About the team: |
| the largest gambling outlet in Europe. | | | | A strong team, a Seleccao das Quinas, has displayed |
| Portugal was known as Luisitania during the | | | | some spectacular football in recent years, reaching the |
| Roman times. | | | | semi-finals in the 2006 World Cup in Germany |
| Established in 1290, the University of Coimbra is | | | | undefeated during the group phase. Did you know: |
| one of the oldest universities in Europe. | | | | Portugal's coach, Carlos Queiroz, was born in |
| The man who discovered the sea route to India, | | | | Mozambique, a neighboring country of South Africa |
| Vasco da Gama, was Portuguese. | | | | and was in fact previously the South African team's |
| The longest bridge in Europe is the Vasco da | | | | coach, experience which might still prove invaluable in |
| Gama Bridge of Lisbon. | | | | Portugal's quest to go all the way this time round. |
| In the First World War Portugal was a British ally. | | | | South Africa 2010 will be Portugal's fifth FIFA |
| Charles II gave the people of Madeira a special | | | | World Cup appearance. |
| right to sell wine to Britain and all her colonies. | | | | |