World Cup Mascots
by Herr EdYou may think that the World Cup mascot is an unnecessary addition to Earth’s greatest sporting event. However, the mascot is no less than the symbolic representation of the spatial and temporal setting of the World Cup finals. Its job is to capture the spirit of the tournament and the host nation. Below, Herr Hippo rates the World Cup mascots from best to worst. Do you agree with his views? (He hasn’t rated the Germany 2006 mascot, but you can decide how he compares to the oldies.)
1. Naranjito: From Spain 82, Naranjito is the first truly modern mascot. A fun and friendly design, and as he’s an orange he has genuine national significance. I also had a Penguin book in which Naranjito thwarts some baddies who are trying to blow up the World Cup finals or something. Great stuff!
2. Striker: The USA 94 mascot is towards the top of the table because, like Naranjito, he is well designed and is a friendly, fun mascot. 
It’s as simple as that!
3. World Cup Willie: A lion playing football – a decent effort from England 66 as things were usually much more rubbish back then, when everything was in black and white. Willie has both a strong footballing and national flavour, although I’m not sure why lions are associated with England, when the only ones over there are in circuses and zoos.
4. Juanito: I’m putting this offering from Mexico 70 in the top half of the table as he looks like a pretty cool bloke and I like his big hat. All of the designs in the 70s were of human-style figures, and I’d like somebody to explain the sociological reasons behind this.
5. Footix: France 98’s Footix is pretty good too. Appropriate colour scheme and the cockerel is a sensible choice. There’s something excessively 2-D about the design though: he resembles a squashed fridge magnet.
6. Tip & Tap: These look like a friendly pair of chaps from West Germany 74. Their happiness is quite infectious but the ruddy cheeks are a bit much. The tall one reminds me of Sami Hyypia.
7. Pique: Not a bad offering from Mexico 86, but Pique is a bit scrawny and moustaches are never a good idea.
8. Gauchito: Bad hat, bad necktie, and what’s that in his hand? A poor effort from Argentina 78.
9. Ciao: The 90s have arrived and we’re now so hip and clever the time is right for the first postmodern, neutral, characterless, ‘non-being’ mascot in the shape of Ciao, for Italia 90. Rubbish! 
10. Kaz, Ato and Nik: From Japan/South Korea 2002. No comment!
March 17th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Gauchito looks a bit of a clown. Tap has a funny hand.
March 17th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Are Tip & Tap the elusive Player A and Player B.
March 17th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Tap looks a bit like a young Mick McCarthy
March 17th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Italia 90 is rubbish it looks exactly like the graphics for the players found in the Italia 90 Spectrum 128k footie game - a coincidence? I think not!
Oh yeah and we have lions because it’s the monarchies crest of arms - although the three lions were originally called leopards - although they weren’t leopards, but lions - confusing, very confusing.
March 17th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
Juanito sucks. Are Tip and Tap Ashley Cole and Jermain Pennant?
March 17th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Leopards have no place in football.
March 17th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
What about Bears.
March 17th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Can you buy football boots made of Leopards? If not, why not?
Oh, and Tip looks like a thin Frank Lampard.
March 20th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Is Footix the bastard son of Woody Woodpecker and Mother Goose?
March 20th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
hmm, with fun and friendly being the key operatives for the top two positions the eastern correspondant is a tad vexed to find his personal favourite, the fun and friendly Mexican update of Juanito (who is also enjoyed for his big hat), Pique languishing in a paltry 7th position. Pique, upon closer inspection, also has a bigger brim on his sun-stopper. Where’s the logic Ciao would no doubt have had pumping through his cubic heart?
I would have to offer in addition that Footix resembles a Disney cast-off deemed too frightening for 2 year-olds and their key market in terms of stuffed toys, although the 2D nature of the design may have made the toy unplayable anyway. But this flatfaced rooster also beats the magnificent moustachioed Mexican. And please look to Stalin if you think a faceworm is a bad idea.
Yours in support of Mexican loveliness
April 4th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Here’s how the general public voted (27 votes). I can accept Footix and Pique as joint winners - but Ciao received a couple of votes! This demonstrates the pitfalls of democracy.
1. Footix 22%
Pique 22%
3. Naranjito 19%
4. World Cup Willie 15%
5. Striker 7%
Ciao 7%
7. Gauchito 4%
Juanito 4%
9. Tip & Tap 0%
Kaz, Ato & Nik 0%