Posts under ‘Soccer’

Torsten Frings to Toronna FC (also some Dutch bloke). I was there in the stadium in Munich to see Frings score this beauty…

Most excellent soccer weekend, my friends. UEFA Under-21 Final, Spain vs Switzerland, TSN, 2:30p.m. Saturday. Women’s World Cup, Germany vs Canada, Sunday, CBC 11:45 a.m… Continue reading

At FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Canada was losing 1-2 until the dying moments when goalkeeper Quillan Roberts delivered a goal from the gods…

The next Messi. Alexsi Sanchez. Age 22. At Udinese in Italy, 12 goals in Serie A last season, and 12 goals in 36 games for Chile. Off to one of the following – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Intern… Continue reading

For a summer without a World Cup or Euro, this is one sizzling soccer summer. The UEFA Under 21 tournament is on, and on TV here.

Then…FIFA Women’s World Cup, June 26-July 17. And …all Copa América matches on TV here, July 1-24 from Argentina. 12 Countries. 26 Matches. Incl., Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico… Continue reading

If you missed this one, you missed a doozy. Ireland 2, Italy 0. International Friendly. But “friendly” my posterior. Essentially a second-string, young Irish team beating top-notch Italy with aplomb… Continue reading

A number of Irish players were reluctant to show up for an end of season away game against Macedonia. Final result: Macedonia 0, Ireland 2. Ireland, Russia & Slovakia now tied in Qualifying Group for next year’s Euro 2012 tournament… Continue reading

‎”Wembley was noisily registering its unrest with Capello and England.” The usual thing from England… Continue reading

Himself, with Maradona and Roy Keane in The Galway Advertiser, in advance of the Cúirt International Festival of Literature

It has begun. The Major League Soccer season, with an all-Canadian clash – Vancouver Whitecaps 4, Toronto FC 2. Well done the Vancouver lads. Best moment: Dunfield disappearing into the Vancouver moshpit. A great match. From here on comes pain, heartbreak, glory and ignominy. Herewith, the heartfelt Red Patch Boys Hard Chorus.

The eternal argument: call it “football” or “soccer”? That arises immediately in the Comments on this History Of Soccer video, in which the very, very tired author of The World is a Ball makes an appearance…

An excellent, lucid explanation in ROB mag, some points same as those made in The World is a Ball, some points known to many, some not…And, Good Luck Vancouver Whitecaps.… Continue reading

The World is a Ball fears that even Juergen Klinsmann might find things at Toronto FC a little daunting. Continue reading

In The World is a Ball somewhere there’s a rant about how, in England, being a “professional” football player means something vastly different from what it means in Italy. Or Spain. Or Germany.

TORONTO — In a sports bar one recent night, the bartender was giving away collectible beer glasses bearing the Toronto F.C. logo and motto, “All for One.” For some, those words are hard to swallow right now.

These are desperate days in Toronto. Within a month, it seems, Toronto F.C. has gone from a beloved team to the focus of bitterness and anger. There is an interim coach and, at 8-13-7 before Saturday’s game, no possibility the team will make Major League Soccer’s playoffs. Ticket prices are rising. Some players have been invisible on the field, and others want more money. Continue reading

Ireland moves on shakily after loss to Russia in Dublin. Backs to the wall, boys… Continue reading

Which is kind of like the World Cup in the writing racket. About our man Mario Vargas Llosa – “To assuage his lifelong passion for football he has written about the game for El País.” Continue reading

Euro 2012 Qualifying. Ireland vs Russia. In Dublin. Oh Lordy. Continue reading

In The World is a Ball I tell the tale going to Bari in Italy to see Italy play Ireland in a World Cup qualifier. In the post-match mixed zone I talked to young Irish player Andy Keogh, a shy lad. Out on loan at Cardiff now, he scored the last minute winner against Millwall yesterday… Continue reading