Charlize calls ‘Ireland’ in World Cup draw

FOR one fleeting moment FAI chief executive John Delaney must have felt his dreams had been come true.

During the dress rehearsal for today’s World Cup draw in Cape Town, South Africa, Hollywood actress Charlize Theron reached into the pot of balls labelled with each of the 32 countries participating.

As the rehearsal commenced the Oscar- winning actress, who will co-host the 90-minute event with FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke pulled out the ball marked “France” from the pot.

However, instead of calling out Thierry Henry’s team the South African film star screamed with excitement before announcing the country’s name as “Ireland”.

Unfortunately for anyone still clinging to the non-existent hope that Ireland will be entered as ‘team 33’ in the 32- country finals, the situation turned out to be just another cutting joke at our expense.

“Yes, she did [name Ireland as qualifiers], but it was only a joke,” confirmed Mr Valcke, before repeating that Ireland will not be given a special dispensation to play in the tournament.

Theron is likely to be very familiar with the furore over Ireland’s elimination from the World Cup as her long-term partner is Irish actor Stuart Townsend.

While the disappointment over our non-participation in the World Cup may lead to thousands of fans avoiding the draw when it is made at 5pm this evening, more than 200 million people in 200 countries worldwide are set to watch the event.

The draw, which is expected to be attended by around 800 media representatives, will determine the eight first-round groups and the match order for the 32 teams who will contest the World Cup from June 11 to July 11, 2010.

Joining Charlize Theron in hosting the event will be a number of well-known personalities, including footballer David Beckham, South African President Jacob Zuma, and Nobel Peace laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Frederik W De Klerk.

Former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, who was instrumental in bringing the World Cup to Africa, for the first time in the tournament’s 79-year history, is also scheduled to address the celebrities, soccer officials and views via video link.