World Soccer Digest: FanPosts

Ten Matches to Watch ...

2010-03-12T17:23:53Z

... will come early afternoon Pacific time. Again, will be looking at Europe and the Americas, and if I have time I will add "five matches to watch" from Asia.

Give me your ideas or, at least, which matches are you going to be watching this weekend (and why).

Wendesday's UEFA Champions League Matches

2010-03-10T17:59:05Z

I'll be here throughout the Manchester United-Milan, Real Madrid-Lyon matches.

Who are your picks?

FYI: Facebook

2010-03-08T18:15:07Z

After a long people of ambivalence, I've started a Facebook account and plan to be active.

You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/rffootball.

It's always good to know exactly how many friends you have.

Casting agent seeks soccer fans!

2010-02-24T19:24:13Z

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Are you over 25? Do you speak English?

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Open Thread: Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Action

2010-02-16T17:52:59Z

Interact here, and also discuss Everton-Sporting and, if you want, Stoke-Manchester City.

The matches are scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. EST in Milan and Lyon.

Picks?

Weekend Previews

2010-02-11T22:20:11Z

I think I'm going to make it a regular thing.

I'm going to make my preview articles interactive, and time/life permitting, I will have a Europe on and an Americas one drafted throughout this evening (PST) and tomorrow morning.

Something you want discussed?

Let's get it going. I'll try to follow your lead.

Copa Libertadores

2010-02-09T21:56:18Z

Reminder, all: The second stage of Copa Lib - otherwise known as group stage - starts today. That's right. The first round isn't completely done, but over the next two days, group play will get started.

Be it Corinthians or Flamengo or even if you want to argue Inter - the Brazil clubs look like they'll be strong, IMO.

John Terry

2010-02-05T14:57:34Z

Call me naive. Call me heartless. I just don't get the John Terry flap. I'm not condoning his actions, but I don't see why he shouldn't wear the armband. He cheated on his wife with a teammates "girlfriend". Oh the horror. Have the national team players indicated that they won't follow his lead? It's 2010. Today's professional athletes aren't the same as the one's from the 1950's. Many lead lives normal people can't and won't understand. Either Terry can still lead the English squad or he can't. The simple fact that he isn't a good husband or friend shouldn't disqualify him from wearing the armband.

Annoyed rant over.

Bafana Bafana's 2% Hope

2010-02-03T22:37:56Z

via www.mtnfootball.com

One of the things that this upcoming World Cup in Africa provides; is a look at one of the most unique nations on that continent and for some geographers one of the most unique in the world. South Africa is an ethnic melting pot of culture, language, heritage, and race that spans back over 180 years. So it is no surprise that the "Rainbow Nation" as colloquially referred to by major media outlets is ready to host the World Cup. But, there is a problem and not one that can be fixed by worker negotiations or police presence. This problem could be a cancer for the 40+ million nation; one that could be an issue far after the Copa Mundial. And that is just how bad Bafana, Bafana (Boys, Boys) is as a team.

The SAFA and the world media regarding to how bad this team is are asking a lot of questions. Only one team is ranked anywhere near South Africa in the FIFA world rankings and that is Rugby mad New Zealand who also happen to be the first nation to qualify for the final without ever playing a nation or over 1 million inhabitants. (For you fact nerds the largest they did play was Bahrain with a population of 550,000, or about the amount Rhode Island has.) And then their are names being thrown around like they are gold chips found in a abonded California mine, names like Matthew Booth and Bernard Parker. But the main question is their any chance to advance into the next round? I think simply the answer to that question is a slim but possible 2%.

Okay I get it, home field and altitude are two important tangibles but we are forgetting one more, Khune. The young SA net minder had a tremendious Confederations Cup only allowing 6 goals (One against Brazil on a Danny Alvez freebie) with a backline that minus the aforementioned Booth is not a spectacular showing at all. He in a lot of ways could be the next BIG Bafana over in Europe and surely has drawn comparsions to Richard Kingston of Ghana and Wigan fame, and of course Kamini of Cameroon glory.

The other rising star to watch out for is Siphiwe Tshabalala. Another Kaiser Chiefs product like Khune, Tshabalala is a great winger who has pace and some gifted feet that will make you ask yourself does he do ballroom dancing professionally. Both could be the "unknowns" who take Bafana to the next round (God willing) with Khune the number 1 in most ZA journalists eyes and Siphiwe being the second half sub to change the game. (He did well when the US played at Ellis Park in '08)

This hopefully will keep the run of no host going out in the first round alive for atleast another two WC's after 2010 (Brazil and European host will surely get through) but it will be an interesting test for sure. With Mexico, France, and Uruguay there is hope, but only 2% hope.

RFC: Libertadores, Champions League Coverage

2010-01-13T18:41:37Z

Hi all:

I just wanted to open up a conversation about the impending start to Libertadores, and to a certain extent UEFA Champions League.

Let me just be honest with you for a second: I want to keep you coming back. I don't care about site hits or anything like that. I care about comments. I care about poll votes. I can about interacting with you. That's my whole motivation for writing about the game.

What kind of coverage of these club tournaments would you like? Individual match reports? Open game threads? Daily recaps?

Are you concerned about a cluttered site? Would too much coverage of any of these events turn you off?

This is a Request For Comment.

And thank you, all. If anybody every has any feedback or just wanted to talk soccer, you can always email me at richardfarley@gmail.com.

Richard

Togo Shooting

2010-01-08T18:23:27Z

The Togo team bus has been attacked while in Angola. Reports are machine gun fire sprayed the team bus. Players were hit, and there are rumors of a fatality.

These are the type of stories that are too important for me to write articles about. If anybody wants to talk about it, please use this thread.

I'm not the WSDigest guy on this one. I'm following this along with you.

Suazo Goes to Zaragoza

2010-01-08T15:48:31Z

As SantiagoColombia reminded us in the latest Interliga post, Humberto Suazo has apparently been sold from Monterrey to Real Zaragoza (Spain) for a reported €10 million.

Here are my quick thoughts.

For Monterrey, this is a huge hit. It could cost them Libertadores. We'll have to wait to see how they replace him. Even if they do it before Wednesday, Copa seems a dream.

For Zaragoza, if Suazo integrates quickly, this could mean surviving, something that would allow the move to pay for itself. I like Javier Arizmendi there, but he needs help, and Ewerthon was not doing it.

I talked about this on a podcast recently: I'm going to miss Suazo. At the same time, €10 million is too much for Monterrey to turn down. While they can buy a replacement, it's difficult to think of somebody who has that combination of talents.

Of course, that's why he fetched €10m.

Thoughts?

Living in the Past: USA vs. Portugal, '02 World Cup Running Diary

2009-12-19T04:49:52Z

It's those plucky Americans and a team many are picking as a dark horse to win the whole shebang, Portugal. I don't think the Americans were plucky at this point yet though. More just a team you roll over.

South Korea, the hosts, has already beaten Poland, meaning a loss for either of these teams leaves them a long ways back if they want to make it out of the group stage.

Referee Byron Moreno from Ecuador looks like he's ready to teach 10th grade math.

Guus Hiddink gets a massive cheer from the South Koreans in attendance when they show him on the video board, having just beaten Poland to begin the World Cup. How would that reception differ from the one he would get in Russia right now?

A USA chant before the kick off? Why don't I remember that? Could it be that I was 13 and it was 3 am?

Here's the starting XI for Portugal:

-----------------------Pauleta--------------------------------

---------------------------Joao Pinto------------------------

-----Figo------Petit----------Rui Costa----Conceicao----

---Rio Jorge----Jorge Costa-----Couto----------Beto----

---------------------------Baia-------------------------------

Here's the USA's starting XI:

-------------Donovan-------------McBride----------------

---Beasley-----Mastroeni----O'Brien-------Stewart----

---Hejduk-------Agoos-------Pope---------Sanneh------

---------------------------Friedel----------------------------

1st minute: It doesn't take long for the Portuguese to get some possession, but it comes in the center of the field as the Portuguese try to get clever entering the final third and an organized American defense snuffs it out.

2nd minute: I've got the BBC broadcast of the match and it took them a whole two minutes to note the youth of Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley. This comes as the USA defense goes with their money move. Boot it up field with no regard for its direction. Drinking game idea! Drink every time a US defender has time and just lets it fly up field.

3rd minute: Brian McBride draws a foul 40 yards from goal as he goes up for a header. To this point, he is Brian Ching. If he ever finds the net, that analogy goes away.

4th minute: GOAL USA! The free kick earned by McBride turns into a corner kick and Earnie Stewart plays it in, where it's headed on goal by McBride. It's saved, but falls to John O'Brien who makes no mistake with it as he blasts it in. Uh oh, the heavy favorite are in trouble and how do they respond to the goal? By staring and yelling at each other obviously! Teams score on set pieces. It happens, get over it. If you want to yell and scream, figure out why you're giving away fouls 40 yards from goal.

6th minute: Donovan and Beasley combine well to draw a free kick from 23 yards out. Beasley is playing well for Rangers right now and if Stuart Holden goes to Europe, only to get planted on the bench, Beasley may find a way into the starting XI in South Africa. Could we see the Donovan/Beasley combination get going yet again or will we watch a square ball on a corner go under Beasley's foot?

7th minute: Stewart plays a good ball in from the free kick Beasley drew, but Baia makes a hash of it, unnecessarily punching it when it could have been caught as no American makes a run. It's punched off of Donovan's foot and a foot wide of the post. That said, the English would love Baia to put between the sticks this summer. Heck, they might want me.

9th minute: We are informed by the announcers that the referee, Moreno, is a law student, but he is having issues maintaining order here. The wall doesn't have to be very far back following a foul call on the Americans according to Moreno and then on the kick, he gives the Yanks a kick because...well he said so. Yes teacher.

11th minute: Figo gets another crack at a free kick, this time from about 40 yards out and angled. The ball is a good one, but headed harmlessly wide. Playing balls in is much easier without a pig's head on the field.

12th minute: Hejduk gives it a boot...drink!

13th minute: O'Brien plays a ball clear across the field, but nobody is coming forward into space there. A fantastic idea, but no one on this team, or on any US team since, has the ability to read the action the way O'Brien does.

14th minute: The first real Portuguese attack as Pauleta is found alone from eight yards, but a last second challenge from Eddie Pope forces Pauleta to put it wide. The Americans are going the other way quickly and a bal over the top sends Beasley in, but Baia is off his line by about 25 yards to get to it before the Fort Wayne, Indiana native.

15th minute: Beasley continues to be a pest, this time darting in with the ball and drawing a free kick from 40 yards out again in the same spot as the Americans got in the third. Stewart does a poor job with the kick, but the Americans had only two men forward so it was doubtful the ball mattered anyways.

16th minute: A great one-two between Stewart and O'Brien forces Baia 20 yards off his line again to clear it with his feet.

17th minute: For all the criticism the Portuguese caught for this underwhelming World Cup performance, you just credit them for being ahead of their time. They were diving and going down like they were hit by a sniper as a team long before it was fashionable.

18th minute: A blazing run by Donovan lets him play a ball across that Portugal puts out for a corner kick. It's Stewart again and Baia is off his line to punch it out. Baia has played the ball five times in 18 minutes. Usually a bad sign when your keeper has to play the ball so often.

19th minute: Hejduk with another boot...drink!

20th minute: This deep into a match and Brad Friedel has yet to make a save. What were the odds on that prior to the match?

21st minute: Donovan makes waste of a chance from 18 yards out, but he has a clear chance at goal as two Portugal defenders just watch. It's nice to know they're working as hard as I am.

22nd minute: BBC announcers say Pope plays in the Major Soccer League. It's amazing how many leagues come about so quickly. Meanwhile, Pauleta's next headed attempt from eight yards out goes a couple yards wide of the post. His consistency is amazing.

24th minute: Beasley chases down a ball all the way to the corner flag. Two observations. 1) Imagine if Beasley could show that same pace in South Africa with competent play on the ball. 2) What would Bob Marley have said about Hejduk's short, bleached blonde hair?

25th minute: Friedel is in fact playing in this match. He comes out to the six-yard box to calmly collect a long ball. At least he's no sleeping.

26th minute: As Portugal plays a ball to no one and out of touch, the visibly upset Figo comes onto the screen. Is it because he realized that this team isn't that good or because if the US supporters are to chant USA in another language, it should be Portuguese and not Spanish on this day?

28 minute: Beasley gets the ball right in the center of the field and runs right at the Portuguese defense. Would we ever see such interchanging and movement from a US team under Bob Bradley?

29th minute: GOAL USA! It's Landon Donovan with a cross that clips the back of Jorge Costa and finds its way into the net. As someone who was never very good, I think that I would know best here. Lucky is better than good. It took 29 minutes for the US to score more goals in the '02 Cup than they scored in the entire '98 Cup, although if Bruce Arena tried a 3-6-1 versus Portugal, the US would have at least four by now.

30th minute: Pope goes down for a minute after a high boot catches him on the thigh. Meanwhile, US fans chant "overrated." Is there any worse chant in sports? Instead, let's chant, "We're not really that good! You guys just suck!"

31st minute: It's a Portugal attack! A few stopovers lead to nothing and the US isn't troubled. I think Eddie Johnson was a Portugal fan back in '02.

33rd minute: A Portugal defender goes down, letting Donovan get free on the left and cross a ball that Baia does well to get off his line and catch. Don't blame the Portuguese in this match. Blame the turf.

34th minute: Beto gets a yellow for diving and it's well deserved.

35th minute: O'Brien beats his man from 25 yards out, dribbles along the left side of the 18 yard box and crosses to Stewart, whose shot is right at Baia. Seriously, I want John O'Brien back now. Donovan is undoubtedly the United States' greatest player, but he holds that distinction because O'Brien couldn't stay healthy and that is all.

36th minute: GOAL USA! I need a new comparison because Brian McBride scores on a beautiful diving header, making him far more useful than the McBride wannabe, Brian Ching. The header was the finish of a beautiful Tony Sanneh cross, who is never mentioned enough when people talk about the '02 US team. He was sensational and his performance versus Germany in the quarterfinals is best I've ever seen from a US defender.

37th minute: Okay, drink. No, A US defender didn't boot a ball, but I brought up the Germany match, which forces us to all drink.

39th minute: GOAL PORTUGAL! A Portugal corner is poorly cleared and ends up on Beto's right foot, eight yards away. He hammers it past Friedel, who is still without a save, but this goal could not be attributed to him.

41st minute: Drink. The US defense didn't boot it, but only because they whiffed on their attempted boot. It counts.

42nd minute: Why did I take Spanish in high school? I should have gone with Korean so I could understand these chants. I'll go out on a limb and guess that they're chanting what I'm thinking. "You're up 3-1, stop panicking!"

44th minute: Portugal plays their fourth cross into the box since their goal, all of which did not make it on frame. The US should not make it to halftime still ahead 3-1, but poor Portuguese finishing is their friend at the moment.

45th minute: A graphic informs us that Portugal has had 54% of possession, which is thanks to 98% of possession in the last eight minutes.

45+1: The US has remembered what it's like to be seven years old. See the ball, run to it. It makes for some enjoyable defending if you're Portuguese. On cue, Portugal gets a corner kick, which saw three Americans marking one because he was in the middle of the field. Good thinking.

45+1: A shot from 20 yards out beats Friedel, but misses the far post by inches. Imagine if that goes in and the US is only ahead 3-2 at half. Do they lose the match? Do they make it out of the group stage? Do they get the chance to beat Mexico and get the mental edge over the Mexicans? How do the next seven years of US soccer play out?

45+2: Drink! It's Pope this time.

Halftime: The US could have been ahead by four or five at the 36th minute, but Portugal should have also made it 3-2 easily in the final few of the half. Cobi Jones is the only substitute for either side as he comes on for Stewart,

46th minute: A boot, drink.

48th minute: McBride draws yet another foul, this time near the sideline, about 35 yards away. O'Brien plays it in and it looks harmless as Baia comes across to nab it, but three feet lower and there are three Yanks there to put it in the net. Just another reminder of how there are so many little things that change a play, change a match and if we want to summon the 2006 ESPN World Cup commercials, change a nation.

50th minute: Portugal's lineup is filled with skilled players who are phenomenal on the ball, but every time they begin to establish a modicum of possession, someone tries something audacious and flat out stupid. I get the feeling that we could see that from Argentina in South Africa.

52nd minute: It's McBride drawing yet another foul, this time straight away from 20 yards away. A fantastic scoring opportunity here for the Yanks. Can you imagine the handful Jozy Altidore can be if he learns to position himself and draw fouls like McBride? He certainly has the body to do it.

53rd minute: Roberto Carlos got a lot of talk coming into the '02 Cup so Jeff Agoos, the lefty, decides to do his best impression and it was truly the best he could do...five yards over the bar on a rocket.

54th minute: What should have been a 3 v 1 break for the US comes to a screeching halt because Jones decides to hold the ball up. Isn't that Eddie Johnson's job?

55th minute: Donovan is clear past the defense chasing down a good ball over the top, but Baia is there to head it away 22 yards off his line. Not sure how so many people could have overlooked the cement footed Portugal defenders prior to the World Cup.

56th minute: A Portugal corner is poorly marked by the US and Rui Costa has a chance to turn and fire from three yards out, but Friedel gets off his line and muscles Costa away, forcing him to put the ball wide. A break for the US and timely keeping from Friedel.

57th minute: The US fires down the other way and yet again, the Portugal defense is outrun by Donovan who fires inches wide of the far post. So close for Donovan. He's often ridiculed for his hairline, but for a guy balding the way he is, it hasn't gotten too much worse in the last seven years.

59th minute: Portugal gets a chance from 30 yards out and it has to go to Figo, right? Wrong. Figo doesn't take the kick, it goes well over the bar and the Lakers just let Adam Morrison take the final shot of a game instead of Kobe.

62nd minute: A cross is played perfectly onto the head of a Portuguese player five yards away from goal, but he heads it backwards. Yes, backwards. To make such a mistake is something I thought only I could do. I guess I'm not as uniquely talented as I thought.

63rd minute: Figo unlocks the US defense with a beautiful through ball, but his teammate takes a dreadful touch and Friedel gets off his line to grab the ball. Portugal just missed two golden chances.

64th minute: Another perfect cross by Portugal has the US scrambling and they resort to...you guessed it, a boot with no one around. Drink.

65th minute: I don't think anyone has made the connection, but Fernando Torres' hair is undoubtedly homage to the early 2000's. The long, stringy and always wet-looking hair was all the rage at this World Cup. That is, if you didn't go with the Mohawk or inexplicable singular patch ala Ronaldo.

67th minute: The US has now played this far into a match and Pablo Mastroeni hasn't committed a foul that even sniffs of a yellow card. At this point I should have known that the soccer gods were on the side of the US.

68th minute: Nobody within ten yards of him, but Agoos goes with the boot. Drink.

69th minute: Agoos plays the ball to the guys in red. Unfortunately, his guys are in white. It turns into a chance for Pauleta from the top of the box, but the pass to him sits up at his chest and makes the finish extremely difficult. He puts it over the bar. Agoos caught a break and Portugal makes a change as Paulo Bento comes on for Rui Jorge.

70th minute: The US plays an offside trap to perfection, but the flag stays down. Luckily, Friedel got off his line to force a shot wide. They show the assistant referee who responds with a shrug. It truly inspires confidence.

71st minute: GOAL PORTUGAL! That whole red and white thing gets to Agoos again. A cross is played in that should have been played out of touch without problem, but Agoos puts the ball perfectly into the corner of the net. It's an own goal as Agoos' disastrous half continues. The US lead is only 3-2 now and all of America is having nightmares. The 49 people awake watching the match are, as are the rest who are sleeping (and at this point, it looks like the smarter decision as it can only get worse now).

73rd minute: Portugal makes their second change as Jorge Andrade comes on for Jorge Costa. A defender for a defender at this point is a bit curious.

75th minute: Agoos is out of position again, but Sanneh is back to clear a dangerous cross away for a corner kick, which Portugal wastes. Sanneh saves the US again and Bruce Arena brings on Joe Max Moore for Donovan.

76 minute: Beasley went quiet for a while, which is to be expected when his team doesn't have any spell of possession in the attacking end for 25 minutes, but he gets the bal on the run here and draws another foul. Will any US player draw as many fouls in the entire 2010 Cup as Beasley or McBride did in this match?

78th minute: The US gives away another free kick, this one from near the corner, but it is well cleared by Sanneh. Yes, I am reviving a man crush.

80th minute: Each side makes their final substitution. Pope is hurt so he comes off for Carlos Llmosa and Portugal brings on Nuno Gomes for Rui Costa.

81st minute: Portugal gets some possession again, but tries to push when there is nothing there and gives it away again. This will be Argentina in South Africa. Book it.

82nd minute: Baia was so often called upon early on, but he hasn't been asked to make a save in ages. At this point, even an English keeper couldn't catch any flack for what he's doing now.

84th minute: Joao Pinto has been so awful all match long. This time, he plays a cross that doesn't come within ten yards of anyone on either team.

85th minute: Sanneh with some style. Running back to the corner to pick up a missed long ball and with pressure behind him, he flicks it back up over his head and the Portuguese player, giving him time and space to play it forward.

86th minute: The US is five minutes and penalty time away from a massive upset. US fans have begun chanting "USA" and Korean fans begin chanting what I can only imagine is, "we have to play them next?"

88th minute: McBride draws another foul for good measure. While the Americans have a kick from 30 yards away, they choose to play it square and kill a minute of clock instead of taking a chance at goal.

89th minute: Now that they can see the finish line, the Yanks are showing the organization and calm that put them ahead in the first 35 minutes. None of the eight year old AYSO soccer that nearly doomed them earlier this half.

90th minute: Portugal break from their own end and Jones is five yards behind the ball, but he shows he still has some of that blistering speed and he makes a tremendous tackle that few remember, but all appreciate. Two minutes of extra time.

90+1: Donovan draws a foul near the corner flag and it's touched, then taken to the corner by Sanneh, who holds it for a bit and draws a throw. The throw is played out by Portugal for a US corner.

90+2: Portugal can't get possession as they continue to play long balls, but the whole bigger, taller, jump higher thing that the US has is making it ineffective. Beasley then takes it to the corner flag and earns a throw. Some time wasting him gets Beasley a yellow, but that can't darken what is arguably Beasley's best performance in a US shirt to this day.

USA WINS, 3-2! That's the match and the US bench clears onto the field to celebrate a win nobody expected...except for me of course. Yes, that's my story and I'm sticking by it.

Beasley was absolutely sensational all match long and it makes you wonder what the US can be in South Africa if he regains his form. He recent rejuvenation at Rangers gives us some hope, but he has an awful long ways to go. US fans should probably hope that he can come far enough along that he can play the role of substitute and spark out wide that Cobi Jones provided in 2002.

Let's revisit John O'Brien one more time. The guy is 32 now and would still be an option in South Africa, giving the Yanks the vision and touch that they sorely lack. He would have also likely pushed Claudio Reyna out of the starting XI in 2006 had he been healthy and that World Cup could have been very different as a result. I stand by my statement that if he remained healthy, O'Brien would have been the best player the US ever produced.

Again, I bring up the question, where is US soccer today without this match? It started the growth in interest in the national team, it allowed them to get to the knockout stages, beat Mexico, send some players overseas and had immeasurable impacts on the national team years down the road as a result.

The Best, the Worst and the So-So From the World Cup Draw

2009-12-08T09:53:33Z

Opening with USA lefts Becks speechless. Charlize Theron did the same for me, both looking at her and listening to her.

The World Cup Draw has passed and if anything is clear, it is that this World Cup will be unlike the last ten because England will surely win this one. Yes, I know that the British press has proclaimed victory before, but with their favorable draw, the English have been touted favorites earlier than ever and why not? They have such a strong history of coming through in the clutch and performing when the pressure is on, especially when a major tournament qualification spot is on the line or they reach the knockout stages of a tournament. So yes, England will win the World Cup on July 11th, but with the draw in the past, why not give you my favorite and least favorite things from the World Cup Draw? In addition, you can read the storylines that made me think, but I couldn't really draw any conclusions on because, frankly, I'm not smart enough to.

The Best

No Group of Death- People have dubbed Group G the Group of Death, but can a group that has a team not ranked in the top 80 anywhere be considered a Group of Death? I say no. Group G is undoubtedly the toughest group with Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal, but just because it's the toughest doesn't make it the Group of Death. Can it compete with the Argentina, Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro group of 2006? How about the Argentina, England, Nigeria and Sweden group in 2002? This is a tough group, but no Group of Death and that is a great thing because it has left no weak groups. Some groups are obviously easier than others, but every group has at least three quality teams, meaning great competition. Swap out North Korea for USA and Group C becomes a bore. Swap out the North Koreans for Mexico and Group A is a worth sleeping through. As is, every group is extremely competitive and guarantees exciting matches from match day one through match day three.

Clashes of Style- One of the best things about the World Cup is that there are 32 extremely high skilled teams who play to the strengths of their players, giving us teams with very different styles of play. Not only do you get all of those styles, bu you get to see them go up against each other. The draw set up some tantalizing stylistic match-ups. In Group B, we'll have Argentina flying forward with Messi and Co., but facing the extremely well organized and sometimes downright boring Greeks. It's attacking soccer vs. bunker ball, South America vs. Europe and good vs. evil. Does the flair or organization win out? Group F gives us a similar match-up with a bit more skill and not quite to the extreme in styles. With Italy's defense and deadly counter facing Paraguay's dangerous attack, you can bet we'll see a fun match with great pace. Ghana and Germany in Group D present two extremely physical teams whose battle for strength in the midfield will be intriguing as well.

The Game's Best, Tested- Watching the world's greatest players is always a treat, but when you see Kaka tearing apart Peru, Christiano Ronaldo tormenting Albania or Fernando Torres embarrassing Azerbaijan, you're plenty aware of the competition. When David Villa terrorizes Russia in Euro '08 or Maxi Rodriguez leads the way versus Mexico, well that's when legends are made. The group stage of the 2010 World Cup has given us a few match-ups that can make legends though. If Christiano puts on a memorable show, he'd have picked apart a stout Brazilian and Ivorian defense. As I mentioned earlier, Messi will have to get it done versus Greece, while Wilson Palacios will have to run 394 miles versus Spain, Switzerland and Chile if he is to emerge as the world-class destroyer that some have made him out to be. Roque Santa Cruz, meet Gianluigi Buffon. Jozy Altidore, have fun with John Terry. Nicklas Bendtner, try a Netherlands defense that allowed two goal in qualifying. Fun all the way around as the best are tested.

The Worst

Ivory Coast/Portugal Opener- This could have been a dandy of a match day three match. It could have been one heck of a match day two match. It will be an entertaining match day one match, but it can take a lot of the drama out of what should be the Cup's most enthralling group. If either team wins the opener, the loser will be facing a major uphill climb and will put the winner plus a likely three pointed Brazil team in firm control of the group. The best we can hope for in the event of a opening winner is that Portugal beats Ivory Coast, then the Elephants beat Brazil on match day two. That's far more unlikely than match day three in what should be a fantastic group being interesting. Odds are, the toughest group goes to sleep on match day three, all because of the worst possible match day one match-up.

Poor Match and Stadium Planning- Netherlands plays their three group stage matches in Johannesburg (Soccer City, capacity 94,900), Cape Town (69,070) and Durban (70,000). Those are the three largest stadiums in South Africa, giving them a total capacity of 233,970 for their three matches. Meanwhile, New Zealand is playing their three matches in a total 134,00 capacity, lowest of any team. USA is playing in front of a total of 153,000 people and notoriously ardent travelers England will play in front of 160,000 people. Even the hosts, South Africa, are playing in front of 42,000 less people than Netherlands. While I know the draw makes it impossible to place the big teams in the biggest stadiums, you couldn't even it out a bit FIFA? I mean, nearly a 100,000 seat difference between two team is absurd and if any team is going to play their three group stage matches in the tournament's three largest stadiums, shouldn't it be the hosts? Oh, FIFA, where logic goes to die.

Refereeing Stays As Is- This didn't come from the World Cup Draw, but it came from the FIFA meeting down in Cape Town so let's have at it. In response to Thiery Henry's handball, FIFA called an emergency meeting to discuss the state of refereeing. What came of it? FIFA essentially decided that the current system sucks, referees are left in impossible positions and that it's just not good enough. That's a great start. FIFA has acknowledged the problem (albeit years later than the rest of us) so the next step is to do what they can do fix the problems, right? Wrong. Because FIFA excels in incompetency and the sporting world's greatest comedy, no changes will be made to the refereeing for the world's biggest sporting event. So in conclusion, FIFA said the system sucks, deal with it. Does anybody know where I can send Sepp Blatter a birthday card?

The So-So

World Cup Coverage- Three hours devoted to the World Cup Draw? In the United States? You're kidding me. That's only the beginning though. Every single match from South Africa will be live and in HD with the broadcast teams on site and not in Bristol. Experienced soccer directors, not baseball directors figuring it out on the fly, will be in charge of the broadcasts. SportsCenter will take place on site in South Africa with notable hosts, such as Bob Ley, manning the desk. A nightly recap show with highlights from the day's matches and previewing the upcoming day, while providing all the news and notes on the tournament. How freakin' awesome does that sound! Too bad it comes around for the World Cup I plan on being at in its entirety. To support the growth of the sport in the country or selfishly despise the timing?

No Debutants- For the first time ever, the World Cup will not have a single country making its first appearance. This note comes with a bit of an asterisk as Slovakia and Serbia have not qualified before in their current form, but have as a part of other countries. Is it fantastic that the Cup will be filled with strong soccer nations with some history to give us some sensational flashbacks or is it dreadful that we can't bask in the joy of a country making its first appearance. Heads says it's fantastic, tails says it's dreadful. Deal? Okay. Wait, it's 2009 and nobody carries change around anymore.

World cup draw [open thread]

2009-12-04T17:06:55Z

i didn't see a thread for the draw, i guess not everyone is on vacation so i put this up in case someone is watching the draw and wants to join me, if not well then it will just me living vicariously through Chile (i really love the way that team plays, is just amazing they may not get to the second round but they are so fun to watch), because Colombia didn't make it.

if someone wants more information on the 32 teams that did make it go here

Bob Bradley's Wardrobe

2009-12-03T16:06:17Z

Obviously fate will decide what group we are placed and I have spent too much fearing the possibilities. The issue I am pondering is what Bob Bradley will be wearing for the high society WC Draw? His typical sideline attire looks like something he stole from a high school gym teacher after finishing a workout on the elliptical. I understand that there isn't a dress code and he should be comfortable, but he is representing our country.

So I am burning to know what he packed in his luggage to South Africa.

Poll

What will Bob Bradley wear at the Draw?

Tuxedo

0 votes

Suit and Tie

1 votes

US Soccer Polo

5 votes

Sweatpants

7 votes

13 votes | Poll has closed

FIFA Profits?

2009-12-03T15:06:44Z

I have a multiple questions that I didn't want to get lost in the discussion threads for other topics. I hear (from other commentators, bloggers, talking heads, etc.) say that FIFA will do what is in their best interest to make profits at the expense of fans and countries. Usually this argument is just sort of stated as a trump card and no real factual basis is given and everyone sort of nods their head in approval. Obviously things like WC locations for 2018/2022 (which would be another interesting article), FIFA will justifialby take the bottom line into consideration.

What I don't understand is the "profit" line for on-pitch happens. Recent examples that commentators have thrown out is the seeding of the Euro playoffs to ensure that France/Portugal wouldn't knock each other out. How exactly would not having Portugal (whose pop. is 10.7M) at the WC vs. Ireland (whose pop. is 6.3M) really affect the profits for FIFA? With the Henry handball, if FIFA was acting solely in terms of profits wouldn't it make sense to replay the game/extra time to generate undoubtedly huge TV revenue?

Other examples I hear are that the draw/refs favor the historic soccer countries to ensure that they advance further in the WC, again how would this affect profits? I imagine most games are already sold out and TV contracts/sponsorships for the WC are already in place. Form a profit standpoint, wouldn't it make more sense for upstarts (like the USA/Asia) who could potentially open up new soccer markets?

I don't have a great understanding of how FIFA works. Is there some organization that it is analogous to in US sports i.e. does FIFA work more to protect soccer as a whole (like the NHL), its influential members (like the BCS/MLB), or itself (NFL)? In general how does FIFA work in general to generate a profit? And are most other commentators being too cynical or am I being too naive?

Anyway, I just wanted to say I enjoy the site and the off-the-field/behind-the-scenes analysis. Hopefully there are some ideas for a few more articles.

Is it time for Africa?

2009-12-02T15:45:11Z

It comes up every time they play the World Cup, will an African team win. Pele's prediction that an African team will win by the end of the 20th century fell flat and an analysis of the results shows them barely reaching the quarter finals. Will home field prove to be an advantage?

Personally, I see a lot of very talented African players who play in the European leagues. They have great flair and certainly posses great skill. Where I think they have problems is in forming a team. It often feels like they are making up the numbers and you get the prima donna European based players not really meshing well with the home based players. I would love to see the hosts South Africa have a good competition but I feel that the team has waned from their heights of a few years ago (would they even have qualified if they weren't hosts?). Maybe Bafana Bafana will shock us all and we will start wondering when Asia will have a winner?

Poll

Which continent will provide the winner?

Europe

8 votes

South America

6 votes

North/Central America

1 votes

Africa

1 votes

Asia/Oceania

0 votes

16 votes | Poll has closed

World Soccer Digest: FanPosts

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Open Thread: Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Action

Weekend Previews

Copa Libertadores

John Terry

Bafana Bafana's 2% Hope

RFC: Libertadores, Champions League Coverage

Togo Shooting

Suazo Goes to Zaragoza

Living in the Past: USA vs. Portugal, '02 World Cup Running Diary

The Best, the Worst and the So-So From the World Cup Draw

World cup draw [open thread]

Bob Bradley's Wardrobe

What will Bob Bradley wear at the Draw?

Tuxedo

Suit and Tie

US Soccer Polo

Sweatpants

FIFA Profits?

Is it time for Africa?

Which continent will provide the winner?

Europe

South America

North/Central America

Africa

Asia/Oceania

Do you want to

win a trip to Capetown this summer for the 2010 FIFA World

Cup™?