Posts under ‘Soccer’

The World Cup trophy is seen in Johannesburg July 11, 2010. (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS)

Time to consider World Cup Top Four and more. We now know the 32 countries at World Cup. Who’s hot, not & might surprise. An eccentric List

Samir Nasri, Roberto Soldado and Juan Mata have all endured somewhat frustrating starts to the 2013-14 season. Photograph: Sportsphoto/Corbis/AFP

Man City, Chelsea & Spurs spent about $415 million US dollars on players. Man City sits 8th in EPL

Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane

Martin O’Neill, famously cerebral, and Roy Keane, famously always-furious, to co-manage Rep of Ireland team. Announcement expected soon…… Continue reading

Here is Simon Kuper’s picky review of Alex Ferguson’s controversial book.

Here, however, is how things went when Ferguson was interviewed by Channel 4’s Jon Snow about the book and AF’s career…

JS: “The interesting thing about you is you brought on all these incredible star players, Keane, Beckham, van Nistelrooy, and yet you fell out with all of them.”

AF: “Well those three.”

JS: “And Rooney in a sense. And Norman Whiteside . . . and Paul Ince?”

AF: “Yeah, but you have to deal with things as they are at the time . . . control is all.”

JS: “Sounds a bit Stalinist.”

AF: “Jesus Christ!”… Continue reading

Rep of Ireland International Stephanie Roche’s sensational goal goes viral, the world is awed…… Continue reading

The Tables. Sure to make it: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands. Otherwise, lots of surprises to come… Continue reading

“Lambert, not afraid of a bit of hard work, spent the summer of 2001 working in a beetroot factory, before Macclesfield offered him £50 a week in travel expenses.”

Now he’s playing for England…… Continue reading

The Origins & Heroines of Women’s Soccer in England…(“quite unsuitable for females” it was said). Oh my… Continue reading

Wayne Rooney looks likely to leave Manchester United with Chelsea desperate to secure his services. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Chelsea “furious.” Wayne Rooney is “angry and confused.” David Moyes is “playing hardball. This week, the EPL is better than Coronation Street and just as disconnected from reality. Wayne Rooney’s value is now a figment of somebody’s imagination… Continue reading

Papiss Cissé, striker for Newcastle United

English Premier League now has 40 Muslim players… the impact.

“Children playing football in the parks of Newcastle have even been spotted falling to their knees as if in prayer themselves after scoring a goal.”… Continue reading

According to John Doyle, Brazil looks dazzling at times but must improve tactically. (Andre Penner/AP)

Brazil not “ready” to win World Cup. Tactics are “jejune”, this guy says… Continue reading

A woman watches the Confederation Cup match between Brazil and Mexico on a television in Rio de Janeiro on June 19. (PILAR OLIVARES/REUTERS)

Television’s coverage of sports is as shallow as it is vast. Protests in Brazil, Turkey & the insult of the spectacle…… Continue reading

You got your Confederations Cup in Brazil. And the protests. And all the big shot players. You got the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. You got mad money in the European transfer market. And then there’s this: Women’s Soccer in India. A reminder of why the game, in its simplicity and universality, actually matters at all:

http://youtu.be/xkB6_8DAn5o… Continue reading

Spectators wave flags as Canada and the U.S. play during the second half of their friendly women’s soccer match in Toronto, June 2, 2013. (MARK BLINCH/REUTERS)

Never. Mind. What a fabulously raw, livid with emotion event. Soccer offers the opportunity for a revolution in women’s sports…it sure does, boys… Continue reading

Toronto FC fans are loyal, but sometimes embarrassed, too, wearing bags over their heads at the end of last season. (Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Club goes back to Zero over & over. Club has no identity. None. A sober look at 7 years of TFC…by me… Continue reading

“John Doyle’s book can satisfy both soccer fans and those interested in the world and its culture. Especially to anyone with an interest in learning about life in foreign countries, this book would make a great read.”… Continue reading

David Beckham warms up for a training session at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on March 6, 2012 (Chris Young/The Canadian Press/Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Everything you know about David Beckham is wrong… (From the recent past.)… Continue reading

God (Christine Sinclair) is tearing up the National Women’s Soccer League: “Sinclair leads the league in scoring with five points (2 goals, 1 assist).”… Continue reading

This looks v. interesting – We Must Go, a documentary under way about American coach Bob Bradley, former U.S. men’s national team coach (leading the U.S. in the Gold Cup, Copa America and World Cup 2010), now in charge of Egypt, attempting to lead the battered, chaotic country to its first World Cup in 24 years… An in-progress teaser here –… Continue reading

Cardiff City’s Malaysian owner, Vincent Tan, has vowed to invest up to £25m into a squad that is functional but ageing. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

And we welcome Cardiff to the English Premiere League. Aged players, fanatical fans, rich owner, who knows what will happen… Continue reading