These giant footballs were part of a display in South Africa at the beginning of the 2010 World Cup. Photo (cc) flickr user warrenski

These giant footballs lined a South African street at the start of the World Cup this June, each a representative of one of the famous FIFA cup balls.  In Germany, another giant football is on the streets: a hand-stitched football covered in hand-written well wishes for Germany’s football team.

Unveiled in Berlin the day after the World Cup began in June, the giant football has passed through Berlin’s streets and stopped in public places for fans to write words of encouragement and support for the German team who, sadly, lost against Spain last night, thus putting them out of the running for the cup this year.

India and Pakistan's national football teams facing off in Lahore in 2005 for the third time ever. Photo Rahat Dar © dpa

Last week I found myself shocked by the news: Younus Khan–former captain of the Pakistani national cricket team–had been named “ambassador of football” for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).  But why a cricket player as the ambassador of football?

During a recent visit to Lahore’s cricket team camp, former Pakistani football coach George Kottan remarked that four or five of the Pakistani cricket players were also talented football players.  Younus Khan, Kottan said, can play just as well as any European player. Though football is very common in this part of the world, due to a lack of legendary players and a poor show of attention from the PFF, the national team is still waiting to see its name among the leading teams.

Last week you met Der Irische Berliner, one of this year’s Young Germany World Cup Bloggers.  This week we’ve got someone else to introduce to you: Fazal Adnan.

Fazal Adnan, newest member of the Young Germany World Cup blogging team

Fazal is a 27-year-old biotechnology student from Peshawar, Pakistan.  This past March he received a DAAD scholarship to complete his Ph.D. in Germany at the Graduate School of Life Sciences in Giessen starting in June.  As he settles into German student life, he’ll be blogging about his impressions of life in Germany and the 2010 World Cup on Young Germany.