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Scotland are champions ( ~7 V2 x' L3 |& y" J Scotland have won the Homeless World Cup 2007, beating Poland in the final by nine goals to three. 6 H* A4 `# |- N8 v+ e& s2 {% o2 f {: a. x$ D& S9 r4 c
The match was played before a capacity crowd in the Rådhuspladsen, Copenhagen's city square.0 u4 I& a6 p: S! p& J: R" R
0 Y+ ?1 E, f+ t W$ CDenmark's Crown Prince Frederik presented the top trophy to a very wet Scottish team, not just from sweat, but from exuberant water bottle showers. The Poland team formed a guard of honour. ; q* |& _7 E' q/ v! e/ b! [' v: z. w f" M. D& w3 k! ]
Amongst all the trophies and awards presented after the match, one of the biggest cheers went up for Brazil's Michele Silva, best female player of the tournament. . Q) \" V* b8 D % Y3 k7 G2 W3 c/ x! l+ c5 w; kAnd again, it was the Ghana team and players beating, singing and dancing out the most noise. 2 _4 T b( o" r! V% E7 BNext year, it's Melbourne." j9 Q1 w1 J A( V
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2 i4 g: i( b {" |) u# T' J8 P2 p+ t' `COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Hundreds of homeless people from across the globe waved flags and blew whistles at the start of the Homeless Soccer World Cup on Copenhagen's main square on Sunday. 6 O% B3 B3 N0 ` ) S _6 D1 H1 X a& W, w: LCheered by onlookers, the 48 teams marched onto the pitch, many dancing to the rhythms of a samba band, with reigning champions Russia leading the parade. ) N8 I5 N F) @4 r& g( f! Q5 C: r/ u4 z7 _% ?% H$ n
Some 500 players, from as far afield as Burundi, the United States, Kazakhstan, Chile and India, were taking part in the weeklong event, which was conceived by street newspaper editors at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2001.3 z7 c, V h' Q& |; A
! ]9 b7 e; r8 p/ r+ B"This will not give me a job or a roof (over my head), but it will give me better self-esteem and we, the homeless, need that," said Kamel Habidar, a 22-year-old homeless player from France.. \' J! f( E2 I" K- e+ O- R! k
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"I'm the new Zizou," he shouted smilingly, referring to retired French soccer star Zinedine Zidane's nickname.1 E+ s3 m, E( V9 w2 d, ^; D% w
% v% B! @8 M6 ^, AThe first tournament was held in Austria in 2003 with 18 nations, but has steadily grown with tournaments held in Sweden, Scotland and South Africa." Q! Y/ a2 C- p0 L2 L; g1 t
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Authorities in the different countries sponsor the trips, Nike contributes some general equipment, and other companies and organizations provides the team's clothing. Those from abroad are put up at youth hostels in Copenhagen, paid for by Danish authorities. ! j3 }; P. e. V4 h ^# b$ @ / `0 M8 A9 V3 b( ?According to organizers, nearly 80 percent of last year's 350 participants changed their lives after the soccer tournament, with many managing to get off drugs and alcohol, and finding homes and jobs. 4 R) k! _$ ?! f! ~/ [ , H- L, Q1 Z1 ~"I have a lot of dreams; getting a better life and peace in my country," said Ali Jubair, of the Afghanistan team. The 19-year-old said he became homeless because of the war at home and has failed to get an education and a job.+ U2 Z& f! J8 V' w& v0 E8 Y* u
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Denmark's Social Affairs Minister Eva Kjer Hansen, who kicked off the event, said the tournament "will send out a message that when we stick together, we can combat poverty." ; w# V/ Y. j. w. d" f - K7 l( s+ p2 \. v3 A"No one should stand on the sidelines of life," she said. 5 i% Z; ]/ A( a; e- ^" N, [1 L& p% y9 _! m+ |7 p
Renat Kateev, a 36-year-old drug addict from St. Petersburg, Russia, who has been in trouble with the law, didn't expect to be able to kick the habit. "But I see the sun shine (when) I'm here. I will go back to my gray life after that. But I'm proud here." 0 }$ k# J6 u: A8 J) B* |7 v 2 `) {. Q6 l4 ~# UThe games are played on two pitches on City Hall Square. Each team, of mixed ages and genders, has four players including a goalkeeper. Each game lasts 14 minutes, with two seven-minute halves.) E1 P' b) O C
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Supported by a partisan crowd, the Danish hosts defeated Ireland 6-4 in the opening match. Minutes later, Nigeria crushed France 12-2. ) k3 I$ d, \% h/ G Z/ A. Q& J * v I1 w. [6 c3 C7 ?& S1 z9 bDenmark's Crown Prince Frederik is set to attend the final on Aug. 4 : @7 K" o0 s( k# k0 f$ V/ a) _) Z8 O9 A9 G: _2 M9 h
Although the best team must win, "being here is already a victory," said Ringo Pau, a 47-year-old unemployed salesman from Hong Kong. "Seeing others makes me feel that I am not alone."
