Me: Boggled by Brazilian TV. Oh my dears, the salacious soaps. Joga bonita, baby!
Posts from ‘June, 2014’
Inside the mind-boggling telenovela machine
Was I right or was I right?
My weekend column on 5 Fine Players to Watch in Round of 16 picked Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria). Tonight- Well done Algeria… Continue reading
Mid-World Cup Reminder
Buy the bestselling book about my soccer and World Cup travels/reporting. Available in all formats. Updated since last World Cup. Latest Five Star Review on Amazon: “A great history of recent tournaments. Prepared me beautifully for the drama leading up to the current world cup in Brazil.”… Continue reading
Only outrageous one-time luck keeps Brazil alive at World Cup

A Brazilian fan, left, consoles a Chilean fan after Brazil defeated Chile on a World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 28, 2014. (Victor R. Caivano/AP)
Only luck keeps shaky Brazil alive at this World Cup…and it’s true
The Round of 16: Who plays, who stars and who wins in Brazil

Arjen Robben of the Netherlands (L) is challenged by Chile’s Gonzalo Jara during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo June 23, 2014. (PAULO WHITAKER/REUTERS)
World Cup Round of 16. Analysis & Predictions by Cathal Kelly and moi…(USA wins progreses!)… Continue reading
Good riddance to Suarez and England

Uruguay’s national soccer team player Luis Suarez attends a news conference prior to a training session at the Dunas Arena soccer stadium in Natal, in this June 23, 2014 file photograph. (Reuters)
Good riddance to Suarez and good riddance to England, a better Word Cup awaits… Continue reading
There’s no way around it – the Beautiful Game has become really ugly

vory Coast’s Giovanni Sio commits a foul on Greece’s Georgios Samaras during their 2014 World Cup Group C soccer match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 24, 2014. (Reuters)
The diving and cheating has to stop at World Cup, and shame on Greece… Continue reading
Journeymen make the World Cup magical

Netherlands’ Leroy Fer celebrates scoring the opening goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between the Netherlands and Chile at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014.(Associated Press)
You can have your Messi and Ronaldo (ha ha!!), it’s the journeymen players who make this World Cup magical
Why the Netherlands is the team to watch this year
Never mind Brazil – The Netherlands is now the most feared and cunning of them all
A week of thrilling matches in a country that wasn’t ready
Thrilling World Cup in a Brazil that ain’t ready – Me & Cathal Kelly argue it out
Undefeated by the puzzle of Brazil
Me on being in Brazil & adventures in the night. Fast impressions and strangeness….the rampant adolescent carnality… Continue reading
Ego and attitude derail Belgium’s title hopes
Why Belgium, dark horse, outside favourites are Struggling at this World Cup: Egos & attitudes are back…… Continue reading
Germany and the World Cup
Germany really, really wants to win this World Cup, but won’t…… Continue reading
Wayne Rooney epitomizes all that’s wrong with English soccer
Wayne Rooney is everything that is wrong & wrong again with English football…… Continue reading
The most surreal World Cup day ever
Spain collapse. Chile fan invasion. Wall collapse. The most surreal World Cup day described…… Continue reading
Brazil’s big World Cup part is on hiatus
It’s time to love the USA team

Ghana’s Andre Ayew fights for the ball with Alejandro Bedoya of the U.S. during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal June 16, 2014. (BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS)
The USA team, the freaks and geeks of world soccer. And this World Cup. Respect is due…… Continue reading
Argentina intends to win this World Cup

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring a goal against Bosnia during their 2014 World Cup Group F soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 15, 2014. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)
… and is killing it. With tedium…… Continue reading
It’s a pity, but true
England’s future looks good, just not at this World Cup. Played 45 mins of good football. It’s over…… Continue reading
Spain’s not out, yet
Iker Casillas is. The role of the goalie & where soccer and hockey intersect… Continue reading