And a reminder to why I am single....
"1. From 11th June to 11th July 2010, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention.
2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).
3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don’t mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me. If you decide to stand nude in front of the TV, make sure you put clothes on right after because if you catch a cold, I wont have time to take you to the doctor or look after you during the World Cup month.
4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second floor... it wont happen.
5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.
6. Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say “get over it, its only a game”, or “don’t worry, they’ll win next time”. If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less.
7. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called “words of encouragement” will only lead to a break up or divorce.
8. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying “one” game, hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to “spend time together”.
9. The replays of the goals are very important. I don’t care if I have seen them or I haven’t seen them, I want to see them again. Many times.
10. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:
a. I will not go,
b. I will not go, and
c. I will not go.
11. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.
12. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying “but you have already seen this...why don’t you change the channel to something we can all watch??”, the reply will be: “Refer to Rule #2 of this list”.
13. And finally, please save your expressions such as “Thank God the World Cup is only every 4 years”. I am immune to these words, because after this comes the Champions League, Premier League, Italian League, Spanish League, etc etc.
14. Thank you for your co-operation.
Regards,
Men of the World"
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Sunday, June 06, 2010
The fifty greatest matches
I have over the last 8 months or so tried to find and tell about the 50 greatest matches in World Cup history, as a way of preparing for this coming World Cup in South Africa.
The final list is (in chronological order!):
However, I feel this list is quite good, including matches for their importance, their historical context, their geographical significance and in a few cases, mere political implications. In any case, as are now having a new World Cup, there will soon be more matches to add to this great list!
The final list is (in chronological order!):
- France-Mexico, 1930
- Uruguay-Argentina, 1930
- Italy-Czechoslovakia, 1934
- Brazil-Italy, 1938
- Italy-Hungary, 1938
- USA-England, 1950
- Brazil-Uruguay, 1950
- Hungary-Uruguay, 1954
- Hungary-West Germany, 1954
- Sweden-Brazil, 1958
- Brazil-Czechoslovakia, 1962
- Italy-North Corea, 1966
- England-Argentina, 1966
- Portugal-North Corea, 1966
- England-West Germany, 1966
- West Germany-Italy, 1970
- Brazil-Uruguay, 1970
- Italy-Brazil, 1970
- West Germany-East Germany, 1974
- Yugoslavia-Zaire, 1974
- Netherlands-Brazil, 1974
- West Germany-Netherlands, 1974
- Argentina-Netherlands, 1978
- Hungary-El Salvador, 1982
- Algeria-West Germany, 1982
- Italy-Brazil, 1982
- France-West Germany, 1982
- Italy-West Germany, 1982
- Morocco-Portugal, 1986
- Brazil-France, 1986
- Argentina-England, 1986
- West Germany-Argentina 1986
- Cameroon-Argentina, 1990
- West Germany-England, 1990
- Italy-Argentina, 1990
- West Germany-Argentina, 1990
- Russia-Cameroon, 1994
- Italy-Spain, 1994
- Bulgaria-Germany, 1994
- Italy-Brazil, 1994
- USA-Iran, 1998
- Croatia-Germany 1998
- Argentina-England 1998
- France-Brazil 1998
- USA-Mexico, 2002
- South Corea-Spain, 2002
- Germany-Brazil, 2002
- Italy-Australia, 2006
- France-Brazil, 2006
- France-Italy, 2006
However, I feel this list is quite good, including matches for their importance, their historical context, their geographical significance and in a few cases, mere political implications. In any case, as are now having a new World Cup, there will soon be more matches to add to this great list!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
The absentees...
It has been a already long football season for the professional but tired legs of many footballers, and the preparation for the coming World Cup in South Africa has meant many teams are seriously weakened. Many players will be sorely missed by their teams as well as by the fans:
Smaller nations, more dependent on their stars, will probably suffer the absence of their stars more than the bigger teams, but the dynamic for each team will be changed.
In the end, the winner of the World Cup may be the team that best manages its injuries!
- Rio Ferdinand: the normal captain of the English favourites is out with a knee injury he got during training.
- Michael Ballack: an extraordinary player who will be missed, is out due to the Ghanaian Kevin Prince Boateng's vicious tackle in the FA Cup final. This seriously weakens the German team, who will also be without Simon Rolfes and Rene Adler.
- Michael Essien: Ghana's and Chelsea's midfield dynamo did not get past his long-term injury, and this seriously weakens Ghana, where also the veteran Stephen Appiah has been doubtful (but he is in South Africa).
- Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers in the world and a lethal weapon for the Ivory Coast, fractured his arm in a friendly match against Chile. He is in South Africa, and it seems that he may play, but it all remains highly doubtful.
- John Obi Mikel, yet another Chelsea player is out for Nigeria due to a knee injury.
- Humberto Suazo, "Chupete", Chile's leading striker, got a hamstring injury in a friendly match against Israel. He is in South Africa, but it is doubtful he will be able to play. Marcelo Bielsa, Chile's coach, is known to push his players very hard.
- Andrea Pirlo: The best Italian player of the 2006 final, and dynamo from AC Milan, suffered a calf injury during training, and will be out for Italy's first two matches, but it is hoped he will be recovered for the knock-out stages. No matter what, his absence is a serious problem for Marcelo Lippi.
- Miroslav Karhan, one of Slovakia's most experienced and veteran midfielders, is out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
- Carlos Costly, Honduras' best striker, is out the entire tournament after breaking the foot, and this also seriously hampers Honduras' hopes of upsetting someone in their difficult group.
Smaller nations, more dependent on their stars, will probably suffer the absence of their stars more than the bigger teams, but the dynamic for each team will be changed.
In the end, the winner of the World Cup may be the team that best manages its injuries!
Friday, June 04, 2010
Greatest World Cup matches: France-Italy (2006)
France and Italy are two of the most powerful footballing nations in the world. With Italy having a long history of dominating the match, France had only won its first world title in 1998, and remained at the top of the world game since then. Both teams had played many times, also in the World Cups: in 1938 in a legendary quarter-final, in 1986 in the last-16, and in 1998 when France had defeated the Italians in the quarter-final on the way to win their first world cup title. But not only had they faced one another in the world stage: in the 2000 European championship final France had defeated Italy 2-1 in extra time in a dramatic match. So the two team knew each other well before facing one another in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin.
France had entered the tournament looking rather weak, fighting hard to qualify from an apparently easy group, and with an ageing team. The star of the team, Zinedine Zidane from Real Madrid, three time FIFA World Player of the year (1998, 2000, 2003), had retired from the national team in 2004, but when things were going badly for the French, he was asked to return, and he captained France to the World Cup. Nevertheless, things had still not looked good for France: they had not played well, and had opened with ties against Switzerland and South Corea, before a 2-0 victory against Togo had put them through to the last-16 against Spain. But here the French veterans woke up: facing the fancied Spaniards they won 3-1, giving the French renewed energy. In the quarterfinal France outplayed the defending world champions of Brazil, winning 1-0, and in the semifinal they had defeated Portugal 1-0 to make it to their second World Cup final ever.
Italy, coached by Marcelo Lippi, had not entered the tournament as outright favourites for the title, but with a very strong and disciplined team: Defensively the team was outstanding with for instance Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi from Inter, and Juventus’ Gianlucca Zambrotta. In midfield they had the elegant Francesco Totti from AS Roma, and the great Alessandro Del Piero from Juventus.
In the first round Italy had won their group ahead of Ghana, the Czech Republic and USA. In the last-16 they had played a very close match with Australia whom they only managed to defeat 1-0 on a late penalty kick. In the quarterfinals Italy defeated Ukraine 3-0, and in the semifinals they played a great match against the popular German hosts, whom they defeated 2-0 on two late goals in extra time.
While Italy had looked the strongest, France had grown the most during the tournament, and considering their previous history, it looked to become a final full of drama.
France started the game best: after only six minutes the Olympique Lyon winger Florent Malouda was brought down inside the Italian penalty area by Marco Materazzi, and Zinedine Zidane brought France ahead 1-0 on the following penalty. Zinedine Zidane thus became the only fourth player ever to score in two different World Cup finals. The goal nevertheless did not discourage the Italians: the AC Milan midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso started taking over the midfield, and only 19 minutes into the match the growing Italian dominance led to a goal: Marco Matterazzi scored on a header after an Andrea Pirlo corner kick.
The score being 1-1, the game continued back and forth, with no team really dominating, although Italy had the biggest chances on corner kicks from Andrea Pirlo, one on which Luca Toni hit the crossbar.
In the second half both teams went for the victory: both Luca Toni and Thierry Henry had good chances, but were unable to capitalize, and the match ended 1-1, and had to go into extra time.
France seemed more energized in the extra time, and both Frank Ribery and Zinedine Zidane had good chances. However, the most dramatic and memorable moment of the final (and perhaps of the entire tournament) came five minutes into the second half of extra time: with the ball not nearby, Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi seemed to be discussing something, when Zinedine Zidane suddenly turned around and headbutted Matterazzi on the chest. There was no doubt from the Argentinian referee Elizondo who correctly gave Zinedine Zidane a red card.
This was Zinedine Zidane’s last match in a World Cup and for France, ending a great career in disgrace. However, he remains popular as his aggression was seen as a response to Matterazzi’s provocations, although this meant a significant weakening of his team, and an thoughtless act in front of the whole world.
The match was to be only the second World Cup final ever to be decided on penalty kicks, and Italy had been the losing side on the previous one in 1994. But this time things went better for Italy: all the Italian players scored, while Juventus’ French player, David Trezeguet, hit the crossbar for France.
Italy had won their 4th World Cup, becoming the second most winning nation ever after Brazil.
Match Stats:
Goals:0-1 Zidane (7) (pen)1-1 Materazzi (19)
Penalty kicks:
Italy-France 5-3
Italy: Buffon, Cannavaro, Grosso, Materazzi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Camoranesi (Del Piero), Totti (De Rossi), Zambrotta, Perrota (Iaquinta), Toni
France: Barthez, Abidal, Vieira (Diarra), Thuram, Sagnol, Ribery (Trezeguet), Galas, Makalele, Malouda, Zidane (RC, 111), Henry (Wiltord)
France had entered the tournament looking rather weak, fighting hard to qualify from an apparently easy group, and with an ageing team. The star of the team, Zinedine Zidane from Real Madrid, three time FIFA World Player of the year (1998, 2000, 2003), had retired from the national team in 2004, but when things were going badly for the French, he was asked to return, and he captained France to the World Cup. Nevertheless, things had still not looked good for France: they had not played well, and had opened with ties against Switzerland and South Corea, before a 2-0 victory against Togo had put them through to the last-16 against Spain. But here the French veterans woke up: facing the fancied Spaniards they won 3-1, giving the French renewed energy. In the quarterfinal France outplayed the defending world champions of Brazil, winning 1-0, and in the semifinal they had defeated Portugal 1-0 to make it to their second World Cup final ever.
Italy, coached by Marcelo Lippi, had not entered the tournament as outright favourites for the title, but with a very strong and disciplined team: Defensively the team was outstanding with for instance Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi from Inter, and Juventus’ Gianlucca Zambrotta. In midfield they had the elegant Francesco Totti from AS Roma, and the great Alessandro Del Piero from Juventus.
In the first round Italy had won their group ahead of Ghana, the Czech Republic and USA. In the last-16 they had played a very close match with Australia whom they only managed to defeat 1-0 on a late penalty kick. In the quarterfinals Italy defeated Ukraine 3-0, and in the semifinals they played a great match against the popular German hosts, whom they defeated 2-0 on two late goals in extra time.
While Italy had looked the strongest, France had grown the most during the tournament, and considering their previous history, it looked to become a final full of drama.
France started the game best: after only six minutes the Olympique Lyon winger Florent Malouda was brought down inside the Italian penalty area by Marco Materazzi, and Zinedine Zidane brought France ahead 1-0 on the following penalty. Zinedine Zidane thus became the only fourth player ever to score in two different World Cup finals. The goal nevertheless did not discourage the Italians: the AC Milan midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso started taking over the midfield, and only 19 minutes into the match the growing Italian dominance led to a goal: Marco Matterazzi scored on a header after an Andrea Pirlo corner kick.
The score being 1-1, the game continued back and forth, with no team really dominating, although Italy had the biggest chances on corner kicks from Andrea Pirlo, one on which Luca Toni hit the crossbar.
In the second half both teams went for the victory: both Luca Toni and Thierry Henry had good chances, but were unable to capitalize, and the match ended 1-1, and had to go into extra time.
France seemed more energized in the extra time, and both Frank Ribery and Zinedine Zidane had good chances. However, the most dramatic and memorable moment of the final (and perhaps of the entire tournament) came five minutes into the second half of extra time: with the ball not nearby, Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi seemed to be discussing something, when Zinedine Zidane suddenly turned around and headbutted Matterazzi on the chest. There was no doubt from the Argentinian referee Elizondo who correctly gave Zinedine Zidane a red card.
This was Zinedine Zidane’s last match in a World Cup and for France, ending a great career in disgrace. However, he remains popular as his aggression was seen as a response to Matterazzi’s provocations, although this meant a significant weakening of his team, and an thoughtless act in front of the whole world.
The match was to be only the second World Cup final ever to be decided on penalty kicks, and Italy had been the losing side on the previous one in 1994. But this time things went better for Italy: all the Italian players scored, while Juventus’ French player, David Trezeguet, hit the crossbar for France.
Italy had won their 4th World Cup, becoming the second most winning nation ever after Brazil.
Match Stats:
- 9th July, 2006 Olympia Stadium, Berlin
- Attendance: 69,000
- Referee: Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)
Goals:0-1 Zidane (7) (pen)1-1 Materazzi (19)
Penalty kicks:
Italy-France 5-3
- 1-0 Pirlo
- 1-1 Wiltord
- 2-1 Materazzi
- Trezeguet missed for France
- 3-1 De Rossi
- 3-2 Abidal
- 4-2 Del Piero
- 4-3 Sagnol
- 5-3 Grosso
Italy: Buffon, Cannavaro, Grosso, Materazzi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Camoranesi (Del Piero), Totti (De Rossi), Zambrotta, Perrota (Iaquinta), Toni
France: Barthez, Abidal, Vieira (Diarra), Thuram, Sagnol, Ribery (Trezeguet), Galas, Makalele, Malouda, Zidane (RC, 111), Henry (Wiltord)
Thursday, June 03, 2010
The interesting thing...
The interesting thing about Mexico defeating the defending world champions of Italy 2-1 in a friendly match today, is that nobody really believes that Mexico has a chance of winning the world cup, while Italy will undoubtfully remain a favourite for the title! And this is perhaps a more wider repercussion of the fact that historically big nations will do better, and the smaller nations will not.
And well, how much do the friendlies actually mean...?
Italy remains one of the main favourites to win the world title.
And well, how much do the friendlies actually mean...?
Italy remains one of the main favourites to win the world title.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)