FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME » World Cup

Autocracy + Petrodollars = FIFADisneyCup

Peter Alegi — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:15:33 +0000

Insightful piece in TIME magazine on FIFA’s decision to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments in Russia and Qatar is well worth reading:

“What the World Cup Choices Tell Us About the World” by Ishaan Tharoor and Tony Karon.

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Fruity Finals

David Patrick Lane — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:59:30 +0000

[Charged with breaking down the European qualifiers, David Patrick Lane takes a moment to tell us what he really thinks. Next Group 7. Serbia, France, and yes, our Austrian friends will soon make an appearance.]

The 1970 World Cup was a watershed moment for the modern game, if for no other reason than it was broadcast in color. Color TV sets were a newfangled invention then, though many folks have continued to watch World Cups as if they were taking place in snowstorms.

There have been 10 World Cups since 1970. That’s 40 different semi finalists. Yet only four have come from outside Europe.

Argentina, Brazil, South Korea and Uruguay.

The beautiful game. The global game. Call it what you will. It is all of the above. But World Cup finals do tend to be very European affairs. They may be not as white as the World Swimming Championships, but they could certainly do with a little more fruitiness.

Nine African and South American places at the 2010 World Cup is not fair and balanced.

Such limited access has not stopped black or mongrel nations from winning or producing the greatest players. Brazil has won more World Cups in this period than any other nation. And who can imagine football without Maradona? Yet the B Roll continues to be dominated by Europe.

I am not looking to discount the great achievements of perennial powerhouses like Italy and Germany, the marvelous contributions of the Dutch or French or the plucky performances of the likes of Poland and Sweden, but I fear I would rather watch paint dry than most of the likely 13 UEFA qualifiers in this World Cup. Spain do have the promise of an Almadovar script. And England, for once, also look like they’ll be an exception. You won’t find anyone anywhere more Mongrel than Wayne Rooney!

Let’s hope the switch from Analog to Digital that seems to be cascading around the world will herald some real color from South Africa in 2010. I am close to being bored of brutal looking European center halves hoofing long balls forward while being blankly cheered on by their fellow country folk with their crucified face-painted national symbols. It’s time we had millions of Algerians, Hondurans and Zambians pixilated across our screens cheering as their teams tackle the commanding heights of the football world. It’s time we had some fruity finals.

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The Economist: “South Africa and football’s World Cup”

Editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:36:40 +0000

The weekly news and business magazine, The Economistpublished a story this week on South Africa’s preparations for next year’s World Cup. The magazine, not known for singing South Africa’s praises, not only concluded that South Africa is on track and that “… the doubters are so far being proved wrong.”

When, in 2004, South Africa was chosen to be the first African country to host football’s World Cup many fans around the world were doubtful. South Africa would mismanage it, they said. It would be a commercial flop. They mooted Australia as an alternative should South Africa’s organisers fail to get their act together. Five years on, the doubts have diminished as new stadiums rise up across the country. Indeed, next year’s tournament may turn out to be the most profitable yet, thanks to the sale of broadcasting rights …

Traditionally regarded as a “black” sport in South Africa, with whites preferring rugby and cricket, football has long suffered from a lack of investment. But this is changing. South Africa’s selection to host next year’s World Cup has at last brought big money into the game.

About 12 billion rand ($1.48 billion) is being spent on nine stadiums (four of them used for the Confederations Cup), with billions more to build or improve roads and airports. And the country is to get its first high-speed railway, linking the main airport with Pretoria, the capital, and Johannesburg. Predictably, this had led to grumbles that such vast sums would have been better spent on helping the poor.

But most South Africans are proud that their country is hosting so big an event, hoping it will polish its image abroad and help unite its people, as winning the rugby World Cup on home soil did in 1995. In any case, the spending should provide a welcome fiscal boost as the country experiences its first recession in 17 years. One study reckons 500,000 cup-related jobs will be created. The biggest worry remains crime. In a country with some 50 murders and 99 reported rapes every day, the extra 41,000 police that will be deployed for the event will have more to worry about than the noisy blast of the vuvuzela.

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When Scotland Win the World Cup

David Patrick Lane — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:59:19 +0000

Great World Cups are often remembered as much for what happens off the pitch as what happens on the pitch. The pageantry and passion of supporters can be as memorable as the skill and performances of players.

Scottish qualification would go a long way to ensuring a successful South Africa 2010.

Recalcitrant Scottish tribes pumping through the arteries of Pretoria, their bestial roars still powerful enough to send shivers down the spines of long dead Roman Legionnaires. (Note to the BBC, CNN, AP and Reuters: Europe has tribes too.) The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein booming to the tune of Scotland the Brave.

Here’s the Tartan Army invading Paris in 2007.

The Rainbow Nation can only be enriched by such a swathe of tartan; good humoured, grown men in skirts still raising a glass to Maradona’s Hand of God. The authorities need only make sure they don’t mix their Kwaitos with their Castles.

Scotland now have to contend with the tribes of Macedonia and Norway, before navigating a FIFA 2nd place permutation in group qualifiers, and then finally a home and away fixture against some other European entity. We will be reporting and supporting them.

Although many Southern Africans barely need reminding of the firepower of certain other European tribes, they will soon be witness to shots and invasions from the sublime to the ridiculous. Ugandan-born Germans in the colors of the Fatherland, turning on a shilling and shooting like Gerd Müller. An Orange Army consisting of brutal looking Dutch fellas built like brick outhouses wearing petit ladies orange thongs, their dangling pink accessories going unreported in the Italian issue of Marie Claire.

Congratulations to Holland for being the first European team to qualify. We are glad for the chance to be commenting on and cheering on the Dutch. Their presence will make the World Cup experience considerably more fruity.

Note to MacDougall, MacTavish and Co. Invading the pitch is so 1970s.

But if Scotland win the World Cup, we wouldn’t object to the Scots taking on another Cross Bar Challenge or returning to the highlands with bits of the Johannesburg pitch in their suitcases.

Let us know which European Tribes you think will add flavor to our World Cup?

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Can Mexico still beat the United States?

Editor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:41:03 +0000

Mexico’s Giovanni dos Santos looks good in the video, above, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over lowly Venezuela. But can Dos Santos and this teammates play like this in early August when they meet the United States again in regional World Cup qualifiers? Three teams qualify automatically and the US is currently second behind Costa Rica. Mexico is fourth behind Honduras. Though Mexico has won all their home games (they’ve been less successful on the road), their neighbors, the United States–now also gloating from beating world number one, Spain–currently has Mexico’s number. Which just makes football fan and actor Diego Luna (quoted in lad magazine, COMPLEX) depressed:

“I’m into the U.S.-Mexico futbol rivalry. I am one of many ashamed Mexicans who have to deal with the idea of playing a country where nobody cares about futbol and we lose every time. It’s horrible … But it means so much here and we’re doing bad. And over there, it means nothing, and they’re doing well.”

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‘The Rainbow Nation’

Editor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:26:04 +0000

News agency, Reuters, is skeptical about South African unity off the field. On the field, as South African football writer, Rodney Reiners, argues the team has matured a lot.

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Would you buy real estate from Michael Owen?

Editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:51:24 +0000

With his top-flight football career coming to a slow end, most football pundits writing him off and most of the big clubs not interested in his wage demands (the only English Premier League clubs interested in his services at this point, are also-rans Hull and Stoke), Michael Owen must have wondered about life after football.

He could always sell real estate in Dubai. But he may have to improve his presentation (and acting) skills if this 9-minute video for Dubai-based British real estate conglomerate, The First Group, is anything to go by. (Note: The Dubai real estate market is currently down).

BTW, The First Group also use Andre Shevchenko (for their Russian clients) and rugby player, Bryan Habana, to sell their wares.

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Obama’s going to the World Cup

Editor — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:34:46 +0000

Barack Obama plays basketball and is a fan of the Chicago Bulls. More recently he has taken an interest in soccer. He’s a fan of his daughters’ soccer teams. (That’s him cheering them on at a field in Washington D.C.) Then there’s the story that Obama attended a West Ham game while visiting Britain six years ago. (Enough, by the way for Hammers fans to claim he is a loyal supporter.)

Obama also supports the US bid for the World Cup for 2018 or 2022.

Now it appears Obama will attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter who has always expressed frustration with why football has not caught on in the US (he partly blames US soccer administrators), announced yesterday that Obama will travel to South Africa. The shrewd Blatter may have spoken to soon, but he is also one up on most people: Blatter knows what associating Obama with football and the World Cup can do for the game’s fortunes in the US.

And some in the US agree.

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The end of an era for Italy

Peter Alegi — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:56:57 +0000

Italy is a country ruled by old men (over 50). The economy, the government, and, yes, the football system too. This gerontocratic culture of power is crucial to understanding why the Azzurri performed so horribly in the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Aging world champions like Cannavaro (age 35), Toni (32), Zambrotta (32), Camoranesi (32), and Gattuso (31) lacked the enterprise, motivation, and physical attributes necessary to compete at this level. New blood is badly needed. But only New Jersey-born Giuseppe Rossi (22) was given enough playing time. Compare this inclination to avoid youthful vigor and imagination to the story of Lionel Messi — a regular for Barcelona and Argentina since age 17 and 18 respectively.

Serie A does have promising young talents. The current success of the Under-21 side is proof of that. The following men are ready for the big time: Motta and Santon in defense; Cigarini, Marchisio, and Giovinco in midfield, Acquafresca and Balotelli up front. There are others too, such as De Ceglie, Brighi, and maybe even Cassano.

Italian manager, Marcello Lippi, argues he cannot rely too much on young players because international matches require “experience.” Of course, this is true, but fresh legs, inspirational leadership, and hunger to win are also necessary. Buffon, Chiellini, and De Rossi can be the basis for reconstruction and perhaps returning the Azzurri to former glories. But it may be too late for 2010.

Italian football has fallen into this trap before. In the 1978 World Cup in Argentina (the junta’s apotheosis), Enzo Bearzot was brave and smart enough to start several young players: Cabrini (age 20), Scirea (25), Tardelli (23), Antognoni (24), and Rossi (21). The Azzurri finished a very respectable fourth. In 1982, fortified by their previous experience, the same core group won the World Cup. Yet, Bearzot, like Lippi, stayed with his “vecchietti” too long.

And his side failed to qualify for Euro 1984, a campaign that closed with humiliating 0-3 defeat to Sweden in Naples. Bearzot belatedly tried to address the team’s shortcomings, but lost curtly to France (0-2) in the round of sixteen of the 1986 World Cup. The end of an era.

Italians ignore their (football) history at their own peril.

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Socceroos’ Dutch coach sings Australian national anthem on TV

Editor — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:16:35 +0000

Two years ago, Pim Verbeek, Australia’s Dutch coach, promised he would sing the Australian national anthem on TV if the team qualified for the 2010 World Cup. They have now.

[Via The Spoiler]

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