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.
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.
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.
The former France defender was a member of France’s World Cup winning side in 1998, makes a bold prediction to Goal.com, suggesting the current crop of young players in the French national is even better than the generation of 1998.
The French are currently second in Group 7 of European qualifiers behind Serbia. Third-placed Lithuania is one point behind the French. Only the top two teams in a group qualify.
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