Spain overtakes Brazil in FIFA Rankings
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Spain has regained the top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Rankings, which were released on Friday for the month of November.
Brazil was on top of the table since July, but they slipped to second this past month, with the Netherlands remaining in third and Italy in fourth.
Portugal (5th, up 5) and France (7th, up 2) both moved up the rankings thanks to wins in their respective UEFA qualification playoff matches, while qualified teams like Argentina (8th, down 2), and England (9th, down 2) both dropped slightly.
Cameroon (11th, up 3), Greece (12th, up 4) and Uruguay (19th, up 6) moved up, while only two teams inside the top 20, Croatia (10th, down 2) and Russia (13th, down 1), will not be heading to South Africa next summer.
Teams outside the top 20 who made significant improvement include Nigeria (22nd, up 10), Slovenia (33rd, up 16) and Ecuador (35th, up 9), while the Czech Republic (23rd, down 8), Paraguay (30th, down 9), Northern Ireland (39th, down 9), and Colombia (40th, down 10) each slipped down the table.
The final FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Rankings for 2009 will be released on Wednesday, December 16
posted @ 9:25 AM,
,
Brazilian Amauri eyes Italy World Cup Chance
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Juventus striker Amauri has revealed his firm desire to play in next year's World Cup for Italy.
The 29-year-old Brazilian player is in the process of acquiring Italian citizenship. "I hope to make it to South Africa," Amauri said. "If the call-up arrives, I will be honoured to wear the Azzurri colours. "I have chosen Italy as opposed to Brazil because it's where my football career took off."
Italy coach Marcello Lippi had hoped to have Amauri available for selection for the final two World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus. However, recent problems with Amauri's passport application have seen the striker's chances of a call-up by Lippi decrease.
Reports in Italy claim that Amauri will have to wait a further few months before the process is completed. When asked about Amauri's situation, Lippi said: "I will only talk about Amauri once he has his Italian passport."
posted @ 1:11 PM,
,
Dunga Calls Up Uncapped Sandro for Brazil
Friday, August 28, 2009
Brazil coach Dunga has handed a first senior call-up to Internacional midfielder Sandro for the World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Chile.
Click Here
The 20-year-old, who captained the Brazil Under-20 side to the South American title in Venezuela earlier this year, takes the place of Wolfsburg captain Josue who was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery.
Brazil face Argentina on September 5 and Chile on September 9.
Sandro is one of the four home-based players in Brazil's squad, alongside Flamengo striker Adriano, Gremio goalkeeper Victor and Sao Paulo defender Miranda.
Brazil lead the South American World Cup qualifying group with 27 points, one point better off than Chile, three ahead of Paraguay, and five clear of Argentina.
Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio); Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe (Deportivo La Coruna), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Luisao (Benfica), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Lucas (Liverpool), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kaka (Real Madrid), Sandro (Internacional); Nilmar (Villarreal), Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo).
Click Here
The 20-year-old, who captained the Brazil Under-20 side to the South American title in Venezuela earlier this year, takes the place of Wolfsburg captain Josue who was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery.
Brazil face Argentina on September 5 and Chile on September 9.
Sandro is one of the four home-based players in Brazil's squad, alongside Flamengo striker Adriano, Gremio goalkeeper Victor and Sao Paulo defender Miranda.
Brazil lead the South American World Cup qualifying group with 27 points, one point better off than Chile, three ahead of Paraguay, and five clear of Argentina.
Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio); Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe (Deportivo La Coruna), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Luisao (Benfica), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Lucas (Liverpool), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kaka (Real Madrid), Sandro (Internacional); Nilmar (Villarreal), Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo).
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2010, Players, Teams
posted @ 11:24 AM,
,
Can Brazil hold it together for 2010?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2014, Players, Teams, World Cup
posted @ 12:34 PM,
,
Can Brazil Hold it Together for 2010?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
By Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2014, Players, Teams
posted @ 11:07 AM,
,
Can Brazil Hold it Together for 2010?
By Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2014, Players, Teams
posted @ 11:07 AM,
,
Can Brazil Hold it Together for 2010?
By Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2014, Players, Teams
posted @ 11:07 AM,
,
Brazil Team Of The Decade 2000-2010
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
There's no question that Brazil are both the most popular and most successful national side in the entire world. Having won a record five World Cups, still today they continue to win major titles (the last of these being the Confederations Cup last month). Brazil are currently ranked no.1 in the FIFA World Rankings, and are the favourites going into next year's World Cup in South Africa.
Over the last decade Brazil have possessed an abundance of talented players, like no other nation in the world. The country continues to produce world-class players and this is reflected by the achievements of the Selecao. After the disappointment of the 2006 World Cup, in which Brazil were surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals by France, Dunga was hired as their new boss and the 1994 World Cup winning captain made drastic changes to the side, by bringing in fresh meat and overlooking accomplished superstars like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo and Cafu.
Although all of the above players will remain in the Brazilian history books for eternity, Dunga's new way of thinking has been of great benefit to the national team, and after a relatively slow start they have returned to being the strongest team in the world.
Gregory Sica selects his best Brazil XI from the past decade.
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Goalkeeper
Marcos – (1999-2005)
Marcos will always be remembered for being Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper as they lifted their fifth World Cup in 2002. The goalkeeper kept four clean sheets in seven matches, but lost his place in the team after the tournament. Although he was recalled to the Selecao for the 2005 Confederations Cup, he only made one appearance, and in October 2006 he announced his international retirement. One of few players to do such a thing, Marcos has remained loyal to Palmeiras throughout his entire career, even if he had attracted the attention of several top European clubs, including Arsenal.
Defence
Maicon – (2003- )
Only since the appointment of Dunga has Maicon cemented his position as the first-choice right-back of the Brazilian national team. Maicon is arguably the best player in his position in the world right now, and he has demonstrated this both with Brazil and Inter Milan. Ever since Cafu's national team retirement in 2006 Brazil have been looking for his replacement and they have now foudn not just one, but two who are worthy. Maicon is solid with his marking and is particularly dangerous when moving forward to attack, and has been impressive enough to edge Dani Alves as the starting right-back.
Lucio – (2000- )
The captain is an irreplaceable figure in the Brazil defence, and his strength and determination have been of great benefit to the Selecao. During the 2002 World Cup he played all 630 minutes of the tournament as Brazil won the title. Four years later he featured for Brazil as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Lucio set a FIFA record by not committing a single foul in 386 minutes of the tournament. More recently the defender helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup last month, by scoring a header in the 3-2 victory over the United States in the final.
Edmilson – (2000-2007)
Brazil have not been blessed with too many top class defenders this decade, and it is for this reason that Edmilson makes it into the line-up. A cultured defender/midfielder for Barcelona, Edmilson played his part in the 2002 World Cup triumph, playing in the centre of a back-three and scoring an excellent goal along the way against Costa Rica. Edmilson preferred attacking to defending, despite his position, but when fit and on-form he was nevertheless a very under-rated player.
Roberto Carlos – (1992-2006)
Recognised around the entire globe for his trademark free-kicks, with perhaps the greatest being a spectacular 35-metre swerving effort that fooled French goalkeeper Fabian Barthez when playing for his Brazil in the Tournoi de France in 1997, Roberto Carlos is a legend in his own right. Since making his national team debut in 1992, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan left-back found wide success with the Selecao. After finishing as a runner-up to France in the 1998 World Cup he played a key role as Brazil lifted the 2002 World Cup. As well as this, with Brazil he claimed two Copa America titles and the Confederations Cup. But after the elimination to France in the 2006 World Cup, Roberto Carlos announced his international retirement.
Midfield
Cafu – (1990-2006 )
Cafu will go down in history as one of the greatest full backs of all time, and certainly the best right wing back of his generation. The former Sao Paulo, Roma and Milan star appeared in four World Cups, lifting the trophy twice in 1994 and 2002, the latter as captain in South Korea & Japan. The stereotypical Brazilian fullback who would attack at will down the flank, Cafu was blessed with everlasting stamina, great technical ability, and a superb cross. He also had great leadership qualities, and will forever be remembered as one of the fairest players in the game, someone who always played with a smile on his face, win or lose. With 142 caps, Cafu is Brazil's highest appearance maker.
Gilberto Silva – (2001- )
Despite his low-profile, Gilberto Silva has become an irreplaceable figure in the Brazilian national team. Despite being relatively unknown before the 2002 World Cup, the defensive midfielder earned himself a place in the team and performed at a very high level as Brazil won the tournament for a fifth time. Often Gilberto's work goes unnoticed, but it has been of great importance for the success of the side. Gilberto is often overshadowed by Brazil's more famous players, but he is a very reliable player, and rarely loses his position in the team. With the arrival of Dunga, Gilberto has continued to be an important member, even if he plays his club football in Greece with Panathinaikos.
Kaka – (2002- )
One of the most gifted players to have ever worn the prized yellow and green shirt of the Selecao, Kaka has been very consistent since becoming an integral part of the Brazilian national team. Although he was part of the Brazil squad that won the 2002 World Cup, Kaka was a bench player and only played 25 minutes. In his official debut as a starter in a World Cup, four years later, Kaka scored a brilliant goal to give his side a 1-0 victory over Croatia. But even if he was one of Brazil's best players, his team bowed out at the quarter-final stage of the tournament. The FIFA World Player of the Year for 2007 was voted the best player of Brazil's triumphant Confederations Cup campaign of 2009, having scored twice in Brazil's opener against Egypt. His recent transfer to Real Madrid is a reward for all the hard work he has put in over the years.
Rivaldo – (1993-2003)
Out of the media spotlight for several years now, but when in his prime Rivaldo was one of the most exciting players on the planet. The former Barcelona, AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna superstar made 74 appearances for Brazil between 1993–2003 in which he scored 34 goals. During this time he became one of the most important players of the side and he won a number of titles including the 2002 World Cup, the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. Rivaldo is well-known for his bicycle kicks, having scored a number of incredible goals in this manner. But after helping Brazil to their fifth World Cup title, Rivaldo decided to move to Olympiacos of Greece, and although he won three league championships and two Greek Cups with the side, his national team days were now well and truly over.
Ronaldinho – (1999- )
Ronaldinho's national team career has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. He earned his first cap for Brazil in 1999 and went on to become an essential player of the squad. He made a telling contribution for the national team, helping them win several titles including the World Cup, the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. With his club side Barcelona he was equally impressive, helping them to two successive Spanish titles, the UEFA Champions League, and two Spanish Super Cups. But after a highly disappointing 2006 World Cup Ronaldinho has seemed to lose his touch. Nowadays he has little influence on matches, and his trickery is nowhere to be seen any more. Due to this he has lost his place with Brazil and AC Milan. Even so, everyone is awaiting the revival of the superstar.
Attack
Ronaldo – (1994- )
One of the greatest strikers to have ever graced a football field, Ronaldo will remain in the history books for eternity. The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year is a living legend, and although he won several titles during a distinguished career in Europe, his greatest achievements came with his national team. With Brazil he won several titles, including the World Cup twice, the Copa America twice, and the Confederations Cup. After recovering from a serious knee injury, Ronaldo starred as Brazil won their fifth World Cup in 2002. He won the Golden Shoe for finishing as the highest scorer of the tournament with eight goals, including two goals in the final against Germany.
Although Brazil were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the following World Cup in Germany, Ronaldo found the back of the net three times to become the highest scorer in the history of the World Cup with fifteen goals. But since then, and with the appointment of Dunga, Ronaldo hasn't appeared for the national team again. However, since agreeing to return to Brazilian football with Corinthians last December, Ronaldo has been in sensational form (he recently scored a hat-trick against Fluminense), and it won't be any surprise if he makes the squad for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Marcos
Maicon - Lucio - Edmilson - Roberto Carlos
Cafu - Gilberto Silva - Kaka - Rivaldo
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo
Do you agree with those who made it into the Brazil Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Gregory Sica, Goal.com
Over the last decade Brazil have possessed an abundance of talented players, like no other nation in the world. The country continues to produce world-class players and this is reflected by the achievements of the Selecao. After the disappointment of the 2006 World Cup, in which Brazil were surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals by France, Dunga was hired as their new boss and the 1994 World Cup winning captain made drastic changes to the side, by bringing in fresh meat and overlooking accomplished superstars like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo and Cafu.
Although all of the above players will remain in the Brazilian history books for eternity, Dunga's new way of thinking has been of great benefit to the national team, and after a relatively slow start they have returned to being the strongest team in the world.
Gregory Sica selects his best Brazil XI from the past decade.
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Goalkeeper
Marcos – (1999-2005)
Marcos will always be remembered for being Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper as they lifted their fifth World Cup in 2002. The goalkeeper kept four clean sheets in seven matches, but lost his place in the team after the tournament. Although he was recalled to the Selecao for the 2005 Confederations Cup, he only made one appearance, and in October 2006 he announced his international retirement. One of few players to do such a thing, Marcos has remained loyal to Palmeiras throughout his entire career, even if he had attracted the attention of several top European clubs, including Arsenal.
Defence
Maicon – (2003- )
Only since the appointment of Dunga has Maicon cemented his position as the first-choice right-back of the Brazilian national team. Maicon is arguably the best player in his position in the world right now, and he has demonstrated this both with Brazil and Inter Milan. Ever since Cafu's national team retirement in 2006 Brazil have been looking for his replacement and they have now foudn not just one, but two who are worthy. Maicon is solid with his marking and is particularly dangerous when moving forward to attack, and has been impressive enough to edge Dani Alves as the starting right-back.
Lucio – (2000- )
The captain is an irreplaceable figure in the Brazil defence, and his strength and determination have been of great benefit to the Selecao. During the 2002 World Cup he played all 630 minutes of the tournament as Brazil won the title. Four years later he featured for Brazil as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Lucio set a FIFA record by not committing a single foul in 386 minutes of the tournament. More recently the defender helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup last month, by scoring a header in the 3-2 victory over the United States in the final.
Edmilson – (2000-2007)
Brazil have not been blessed with too many top class defenders this decade, and it is for this reason that Edmilson makes it into the line-up. A cultured defender/midfielder for Barcelona, Edmilson played his part in the 2002 World Cup triumph, playing in the centre of a back-three and scoring an excellent goal along the way against Costa Rica. Edmilson preferred attacking to defending, despite his position, but when fit and on-form he was nevertheless a very under-rated player.
Roberto Carlos – (1992-2006)
Recognised around the entire globe for his trademark free-kicks, with perhaps the greatest being a spectacular 35-metre swerving effort that fooled French goalkeeper Fabian Barthez when playing for his Brazil in the Tournoi de France in 1997, Roberto Carlos is a legend in his own right. Since making his national team debut in 1992, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan left-back found wide success with the Selecao. After finishing as a runner-up to France in the 1998 World Cup he played a key role as Brazil lifted the 2002 World Cup. As well as this, with Brazil he claimed two Copa America titles and the Confederations Cup. But after the elimination to France in the 2006 World Cup, Roberto Carlos announced his international retirement.
Midfield
Cafu – (1990-2006 )
Cafu will go down in history as one of the greatest full backs of all time, and certainly the best right wing back of his generation. The former Sao Paulo, Roma and Milan star appeared in four World Cups, lifting the trophy twice in 1994 and 2002, the latter as captain in South Korea & Japan. The stereotypical Brazilian fullback who would attack at will down the flank, Cafu was blessed with everlasting stamina, great technical ability, and a superb cross. He also had great leadership qualities, and will forever be remembered as one of the fairest players in the game, someone who always played with a smile on his face, win or lose. With 142 caps, Cafu is Brazil's highest appearance maker.
Gilberto Silva – (2001- )
Despite his low-profile, Gilberto Silva has become an irreplaceable figure in the Brazilian national team. Despite being relatively unknown before the 2002 World Cup, the defensive midfielder earned himself a place in the team and performed at a very high level as Brazil won the tournament for a fifth time. Often Gilberto's work goes unnoticed, but it has been of great importance for the success of the side. Gilberto is often overshadowed by Brazil's more famous players, but he is a very reliable player, and rarely loses his position in the team. With the arrival of Dunga, Gilberto has continued to be an important member, even if he plays his club football in Greece with Panathinaikos.
Kaka – (2002- )
One of the most gifted players to have ever worn the prized yellow and green shirt of the Selecao, Kaka has been very consistent since becoming an integral part of the Brazilian national team. Although he was part of the Brazil squad that won the 2002 World Cup, Kaka was a bench player and only played 25 minutes. In his official debut as a starter in a World Cup, four years later, Kaka scored a brilliant goal to give his side a 1-0 victory over Croatia. But even if he was one of Brazil's best players, his team bowed out at the quarter-final stage of the tournament. The FIFA World Player of the Year for 2007 was voted the best player of Brazil's triumphant Confederations Cup campaign of 2009, having scored twice in Brazil's opener against Egypt. His recent transfer to Real Madrid is a reward for all the hard work he has put in over the years.
Rivaldo – (1993-2003)
Out of the media spotlight for several years now, but when in his prime Rivaldo was one of the most exciting players on the planet. The former Barcelona, AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna superstar made 74 appearances for Brazil between 1993–2003 in which he scored 34 goals. During this time he became one of the most important players of the side and he won a number of titles including the 2002 World Cup, the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. Rivaldo is well-known for his bicycle kicks, having scored a number of incredible goals in this manner. But after helping Brazil to their fifth World Cup title, Rivaldo decided to move to Olympiacos of Greece, and although he won three league championships and two Greek Cups with the side, his national team days were now well and truly over.
Ronaldinho – (1999- )
Ronaldinho's national team career has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. He earned his first cap for Brazil in 1999 and went on to become an essential player of the squad. He made a telling contribution for the national team, helping them win several titles including the World Cup, the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. With his club side Barcelona he was equally impressive, helping them to two successive Spanish titles, the UEFA Champions League, and two Spanish Super Cups. But after a highly disappointing 2006 World Cup Ronaldinho has seemed to lose his touch. Nowadays he has little influence on matches, and his trickery is nowhere to be seen any more. Due to this he has lost his place with Brazil and AC Milan. Even so, everyone is awaiting the revival of the superstar.
Attack
Ronaldo – (1994- )
One of the greatest strikers to have ever graced a football field, Ronaldo will remain in the history books for eternity. The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year is a living legend, and although he won several titles during a distinguished career in Europe, his greatest achievements came with his national team. With Brazil he won several titles, including the World Cup twice, the Copa America twice, and the Confederations Cup. After recovering from a serious knee injury, Ronaldo starred as Brazil won their fifth World Cup in 2002. He won the Golden Shoe for finishing as the highest scorer of the tournament with eight goals, including two goals in the final against Germany.
Although Brazil were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the following World Cup in Germany, Ronaldo found the back of the net three times to become the highest scorer in the history of the World Cup with fifteen goals. But since then, and with the appointment of Dunga, Ronaldo hasn't appeared for the national team again. However, since agreeing to return to Brazilian football with Corinthians last December, Ronaldo has been in sensational form (he recently scored a hat-trick against Fluminense), and it won't be any surprise if he makes the squad for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Marcos
Maicon - Lucio - Edmilson - Roberto Carlos
Cafu - Gilberto Silva - Kaka - Rivaldo
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo
Do you agree with those who made it into the Brazil Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Gregory Sica, Goal.com
posted @ 11:28 PM,
,
