FIFA Under-17 World Cup Draw On Friday
Friday, August 7, 2009
Host country Nigeria will be seeded in this Friday's draw for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which takes place in Abuja. The competition itself kicks-off on October 24.
The draw ceremony will take place at the five-star Hilton Hotel, with organisers promising to deliver a superb event that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of this large West African nation.
The 24 finalists will be drawn into six groups of four teams, with the host nation, who are also the defending champions, slated to be based in Abuja, where the opening and final matches of the tournament will take place.
Besides Nigeria's Golden Eaglets, Africa will be represented by four other countries: Gambia; Algeria; Malawi; and Burkina Faso.
The talking point in the local press is which of the nine prospective host cities will not be part of the tournament.
The FIFA team, led by by vice president Jack Warner, is still far from impressed with Nigeria's readiness for the competition.
In the northern city of Kano, Warner warned that an electronic scoreboard has to be installed immediately, while in the south eastern city of Enugu, he ordered that a lot more work is needed to properly lay the artificial pitch at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
There are also security fears in Bauchi, where there was a recent religious riot that left several hundred dead, while Warri in the oil-rich Delta State has a history of unrest caused by militants agitating for a better life for those in the oil-producing region of Nigeria.
Samm Audu, Goal.com
The draw ceremony will take place at the five-star Hilton Hotel, with organisers promising to deliver a superb event that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of this large West African nation.
The 24 finalists will be drawn into six groups of four teams, with the host nation, who are also the defending champions, slated to be based in Abuja, where the opening and final matches of the tournament will take place.
Besides Nigeria's Golden Eaglets, Africa will be represented by four other countries: Gambia; Algeria; Malawi; and Burkina Faso.
The talking point in the local press is which of the nine prospective host cities will not be part of the tournament.
The FIFA team, led by by vice president Jack Warner, is still far from impressed with Nigeria's readiness for the competition.
In the northern city of Kano, Warner warned that an electronic scoreboard has to be installed immediately, while in the south eastern city of Enugu, he ordered that a lot more work is needed to properly lay the artificial pitch at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
There are also security fears in Bauchi, where there was a recent religious riot that left several hundred dead, while Warri in the oil-rich Delta State has a history of unrest caused by militants agitating for a better life for those in the oil-producing region of Nigeria.
Samm Audu, Goal.com
posted @ 11:51 AM,
,
Worldwide Scramble to See Top Sports Events
Thursday, August 6, 2009
IT may seem too early to be planning a 2010 vacation, but travelers who want to see the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this February or cheer their favorite soccer team at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next summer had better get going.
Despite the recession, demand is high for both events, making tickets hard to come by and sending prices for any remaining hotel rooms soaring. But travelers can still watch their teams compete if they’re willing to be flexible, spend a little more money and make their travel plans now.
In general, the easiest option is to work with one of the official tour operators designated to sell hotel and ticket packages. It is also a sure way to find a hotel room when most are already sold out and to have someone to contact who understands the ins and outs of these sporting events in case something goes awry.
Let’s start with the 2010 Winter Olympics. CoSport is the only company authorized to sell Olympic tickets in the United States, and right now they’re sold out of them. While there is a chance that some tickets will be released this fall, the only way to get them now is by purchasing a travel package. A recent search on CoSport’s Web site pulled up several packages, including $5,136 a person for three nights at the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel and a choice of three events including the coveted Feb. 12 opening ceremony.
What if you’ve already booked a hotel room or are staying with friends, and just want tickets? Scalping is technically legal in Vancouver, and while the Internet is rife with scalpers, buyers run the risk of getting counterfeits. One alternative: Ask a Canadian to buy you a ticket this fall, when the next batch of tickets is released.
Have tickets, but don’t have a place to stay? Nearly every hotel room in Whistler, downtown Vancouver and many of its suburbs are already taken by corporate sponsors, Olympic athletes or dogged fans. But some options remain for those who want to be in the thick of things — just be prepared to pay upwards of $600 a night or sleep in quirkier places.
There is an official regional cooperative Web site for the Winter Games, 2010destinationplanner.com, which offers lists of available accommodations and links to prescreened rental agencies and their apartments. Or, if you want to stay aboard a cruise ship, Newwest Travel & Cruises, based in Edmonton, Alberta, has chartered the Norwegian Star from Norwegian Cruise Lines and is turning it into a floating hotel during the Olympics. Rates begin at $1,050 a person for an inside stateroom, Feb. 10 to 13, including onboard meals and entertainment.
Travelers willing to stay across the border in Washington State can also find space. But don’t expect any bargains. The Holiday Inn Express in Bellingham, Wash., about 50 miles south of the border, was $366 a night in a recent check on Expedia.com.
The World Cup is trickier. Matches will be played in nine cities across South Africa (from June 11 through July 11, 2010), presenting something of a travel roulette for soccer fans.
As with the Olympics, the easiest way to obtain tickets is to buy a World Cup travel package, and there are three tour operators designated to sell them in the United States: Destination Southern Africa, Great Atlantic Travel & Tour and Cartan Tours .
Fans can also try their luck by entering the ticket lottery, being held in five phases. (The second phase began May 4 and runs through Nov. 16.) Tickets are awarded first come first served. For the time being, FIFA says there are no tickets left for the final, but a small inventory may become available in the third phase, Dec. 5 to Jan. 22, with a random draw taking place on Feb. 1 for any oversubscribed matches.
Unlike at the Olympics, however, where sports are tied to specific venues, and the dates and times of most events are already set, soccer fans won’t know where, when or even which teams will be playing in South Africa until all 32 teams have qualified and FIFA holds its tournament draw on Dec. 4.
That means travelers hoping to watch the United States in quarterfinals, for example, won’t know where the team will be playing — whether it’s at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, or nearly 900 miles away in Soccer City in Johannesburg — until just a few days before.
Of course, that’s always the case when it comes to the World Cup — and the last-minute scramble is part of the fun. But following your team around will be more complicated in South Africa than at the last World Cup, held in Germany in 2006. Fans staying in Frankfurt, for example, were within a two-hour train ride from most United States matches. South Africa, on the other hand, has less reliable trains and highways, and moving from match to match requires flying.
To increase your chances of seeing your team at the World Cup, work with one of the official tour operators to lock in tickets, hotels and other travel arrangements now. These companies have pre-purchased blocks of hotel rooms and flights. Choose a city like Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg as a jumping off point. When the finals are announced in December, secure the remaining travel arrangements including domestic flights and hotels in or near the city your team will play. (In the event the United States is eliminated, the package follows the team that beats them.)
Conveniently for tourists, the World Cup coincides with South Africa’s winter, which is peak safari season, when diminished vegetation makes for better game viewing. For travelers who want to see the wildlife while they’re in the country, Destination Southern Africa, based in Tucson, Ariz., with an office in Cape Town, recommends booking three nights at a minimum.
“If you only spend two nights,” said Terry von Guilleaume, the owner, “you only get one full day on safari, reducing your chances of seeing animals.”<#>
Labels: FIFA 2014, South Africa, World Cup
posted @ 4:22 PM,
,
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,
,
2010 World Cup Could Result In An Increase In HIV
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
As South Africa prepares to host the2010 FIFA World Cup, the country is getting some attention for some not-so-positive news. Along with a high number of rapes, the country has long struggled to keep HIV/AIDS in check. With tourists pouring in for the huge soccer competition next June, the health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, expressed concerns that the influx could lead to an increase in cases:“2010 is going to come with good things but it may also come with dangerous things….I mean, we will be having lots of visitors here… we know there will be lots of visitors who come here for sex, you can’t hide that. It happens and what will be the effects on this country?”
South Africa is home to the world’s largest AIDS epidemic, with about 5.7 million people infected with HIV. Hosting the World Cup is huge for South Africa and could be very beneficial. Hopefully, tourists visiting the country will practice safe sex if watching soccer isn’t enough activity for them; no one wants to take home a virus as their souvenir. [Reuters]
posted @ 8:49 PM,
,
'World's Biggest Game' - FFA Ad
FOOTBALL Federation Australia today unveiled a new advertising campaign for the Hyundai A-League competition at the launch of the 2009/10 season.
The campaign reflects a strategic shift in FFA's marketing approach to leverage the world stage of football.
"Market research undertaken by Woolcott Research at the end of last year showed that football fans in Australia take enormous pride in the global nature of the game," said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
"Interest in football is on the rise due to the Qantas Socceroos qualifying for next year's 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as well as our bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
"With the expansion of the Hyundai A-League this coming season, we thought it was important to emphasise these links and draw out the connections.
"The Hyundai A-League is the best way to experience the excitement, passion and emotion of the world's most popular game week-in, week-out."
Buckley said this concept was further enhanced by the return of several Socceroos to the A-League in addition to the entry of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
He added: "As well as Craig Moore (Brisbane Roar), we also now have Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns (Perth Glory) all playing in the competition as well as one of the game's legends, Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury)."
FFA Chief Commercial Officer, John O'Sullivan, said that the brief to advertising agency Lowe Sydney was to create a campaign that clearly reflected the scale and international nature of football, whilst also highlighting the local version.
"The opportunity existed to continue to build credibility in, and a legacy for, the Hyundai A-League through the strength of football in Australia thanks to the Qantas Socceroos, Adelaide United's performances last year in the Asian Champions League and the bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup," he said.
"We know that football fans are proud of the fact that football is the one truly global game, and we want to continue to build Hyundai A-League clubs with this natural connection.
"We hope the advertisement encourages fans to ‘think global, act local' when it comes to being part of the football family."
The campaign launched on Fox Sports, free-to-air television, in cinema and outdoors on Sunday night. It is directed by Bruce Hunt and produced by Revolver Films with music by Spiderbait. {#}
The campaign reflects a strategic shift in FFA's marketing approach to leverage the world stage of football.
"Market research undertaken by Woolcott Research at the end of last year showed that football fans in Australia take enormous pride in the global nature of the game," said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
"Interest in football is on the rise due to the Qantas Socceroos qualifying for next year's 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as well as our bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
"With the expansion of the Hyundai A-League this coming season, we thought it was important to emphasise these links and draw out the connections.
"The Hyundai A-League is the best way to experience the excitement, passion and emotion of the world's most popular game week-in, week-out."
Buckley said this concept was further enhanced by the return of several Socceroos to the A-League in addition to the entry of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
He added: "As well as Craig Moore (Brisbane Roar), we also now have Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns (Perth Glory) all playing in the competition as well as one of the game's legends, Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury)."
FFA Chief Commercial Officer, John O'Sullivan, said that the brief to advertising agency Lowe Sydney was to create a campaign that clearly reflected the scale and international nature of football, whilst also highlighting the local version.
"The opportunity existed to continue to build credibility in, and a legacy for, the Hyundai A-League through the strength of football in Australia thanks to the Qantas Socceroos, Adelaide United's performances last year in the Asian Champions League and the bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup," he said.
"We know that football fans are proud of the fact that football is the one truly global game, and we want to continue to build Hyundai A-League clubs with this natural connection.
"We hope the advertisement encourages fans to ‘think global, act local' when it comes to being part of the football family."
The campaign launched on Fox Sports, free-to-air television, in cinema and outdoors on Sunday night. It is directed by Bruce Hunt and produced by Revolver Films with music by Spiderbait. {#}
posted @ 8:48 PM,
,
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,
,
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,
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2014 FIFA WC Format
Sunday, March 29, 2009
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The AFC Competitions Committee has decided to use the present qualification format for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The top five teams from the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be given direct entry into the third round while the remaining 38 teams will play home and away in the opening round.
The 11 highest-ranked teams from the second round will be given direct entry into the third round while the lowest eight teams will qualify for Round 2.
After playing home-and-away in the second round, four winners will join the top five teams and 11 qualifiers in the third round where they will be divided into five groups of four teams each.
The winners and runners of each group will qualify for the final round where the 10 teams will be divided into two groups of five teams each.
The group winners and runners-up will make it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup while the third-placed team in each group will play home-and-away for the fifth place.<#>
Labels: FIFA 2014
posted @ 3:28 PM,
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