Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
The World Cup begins tomorrow, but questions over cost overruns and preparation are still issues. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Sao Paulo, host to tomorrow's opening game.
There, traffic has become a major factor, because metro workers have threatened to resume a strike that sent the streets into chaos just days ago. But Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff dismissed concerns, saying in a national address that the country is ready.
"There are people who claim the resources for World Cup should have been directed to health care and education. I hear and respect their opinion but I don't agree with them. It's a false dilemma," said Rousseff Tuesday.
Journalist Mauricio Savarese describes "tension in the air" in Sao Paulo.
"Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting game of wait and see," he tells Take Two. That's when metro workers are scheduled to resume talks with officials.
It's also when host-favorites Brazil takes on Croatia and attempts a run at history: to raise the trophy for the first time on home soil.