Boris' post-WC wrap-up

Boris' comments on my World Cup groups were so insightful, engaging and informative, that I wanted to make a new entry out of it.

Boris is a friend; we used to work together, and by work I mean discuss football on breaks. We took in a couple games with good conversation together this summer past. Here is his commentary on the World Cup event that just passed:


Time to perform the predictions' post- mortem! :-)

Group A

South Africa - Really impressed in the first match against Mexico. Very physical. However just not quite enough gas and experience. Hence - no surprise. Hopefully such tremendous experience as having Parreira as a coach has left its great mark on the future development.

Mexico - Loved Giovanni Dos Santos!

Uruguay - Loooooooved them! The best team after Spain this year!



France - Somehow the 80s' Les Bleus will most likely forever remain in my memory as the best team France has ever had. Yes, even better than the 1998 one.



Group B

Argentina - El Diego proved everybody wrong! Very happy for him! Of course the lack of experience let him down, as it always does in any field.

Nigeria - Surprised at their inability to come out of the group.

South Korea - That's what happens when you bring a coach like Guus Hiddink! 2002 WAS NOT an accident! It sowed some great seeds! All those national team hopefuls, find some money and bring someone like him!



Greece - Never had any problem with the way they won the Euro. Everyone plays the way the can. However, not surprised at their lack of ysuccess since then. The world has learned what to expect....

To be continued...

Boris is back! :-) WC post-mortem part 2

Group C
England - Why was there so much expected of this English squad in the first place? They topped their qualifying group. But with all due respect to all six teams, only two others could hope to challenge the English - Ukraine and Croatia. And of course it was a European group all around. When England got seeded in South Africa, naturally only one team was European - Slovenia. That very Slovenia that played extremely well against Russia (third place Euro finisher!) in the playoff home-and-away series. Add an always exciting, passionate U.S. team and always-difficult-to-play-against African squad - Algeria - and you have quite a challenging mix. We know what happened....



U.S. - It's a wonderful thing that the WC is no longer just about teams from Europe and South America picking points and victories off everybody else. Teams from the Korean peninsula have been major party spoilers for some favourites over the years. Now the U.S. as well as Australia are trying to catch up.

Algeria - Always mysterious, not well known and studied, African teams are tough to play against. It seems every WC fans begin guessing which one will be repeating the feats of Morocco in '86 and Cameroon in '90. This year it was Ghana and not Algeria, but we are already waiting for the next WC in Brazil!:-)

To be continued........

Slovenia - Who knows what happened to that Russian squad.... They were supposed to walk over Slovenia. Some allege they spent the night in some night club in Maribor on the eve of the deciding second game. That would explain their looking flat and dispirited. But that would be unfair to Slovenia. They deserve a lot of credit for showing they weren't just happy to be in South Africa. Losing (just 1:2) to the eventual finalist - Holland - in the round of 16 showed they had a lot of character.

http://www.fifa.sportsportal.org/wp-content/uploads/Slovenian-team.jpg

Boris said...
I still can't get enough of the WC! :-)

Group D

Germany - Dominant as usual! Even without Ballack... Some say he might not even be back. I don't know about that... The real question I have is why they have decided to have all those foreign-born players on the national team. Kaiser Franz is very enthusiastic about that. Who am I to argue with him? But I am just wondering what happened to the famous German school of football. Just wondering. Nothing else.

Australia - I'm all for having more "new" teams succeeding on this highest level. Not this year. And still think there was no penalty in the round of 16 against Italy four years ago. Was it with a minute to go then?

Serbia - Can't say I'm disappointed, because there was not a lot of reasons to expect much. They were just one point above France in qualification. We all saw how dismal France looked though. With all due respect to other teams in that group they weren't exactly superpowers. Hence the last place in the group among the best?

Ghana - Awesome! But no problem with Suarez whatsoever! Uruquay won fairly! Ghana could have finished them off. One day a team from Africa will be in the semifinal.



Group E

Holland - I have always liked the Dutch. The teams of the 80s, the 90s, even two years ago!
But this bunch... Maybe not as flashy as usual? Left me rather nonchalant. But how does one argue with the WC finalist? :-) Well done!



Denmark - Here is the team that has probably underachieved this year. In qualifying they finished higher than Portugal and Sweden. But again those were the Europeans. While they have managed to beat Cameroon, the Japanese must have been too good (see below)! And Holland is Holland. In short, tough group.

Recently discovered that the Japanese have had a long tradition of playing the ball game called Kemari - quite similar to football. Several players stand in a circle passing the ball around. Several hundred years in fact. No wonder they look so well, but unfortunately, not quite there yet! However they lost on penalty kicks... That again proves how good they are!

Cameroon - We can't forget 1990! They were so exciting! We keep hoping for a repeat! But maybe it was just a one-time thing? Don't want to believe so.



Almost done. :-)

Just a bit more....

Group F
Italy - Looked interesting in the first game against Paraguay. But then it was all downhill. Dispirited and frustrated.




Paraguay - Great run. And they did it without their best striker, who apparently got wounded in a shooting in a night club in Mexico.


New Zealand - Another "new" team. I really hope they'll be back. Hard work, passion. Haven't lost a single match, allowing just two goals! But exciting to watch!





Slovakia - Well done, Slovakia! Outscoring the World Champions in the decisive match 3:2! Well done!

Group G

Brazil - Somewhat dubious performance. Flashes of something exciting interchanging with something rather boring. Ronaldihno issue. His absence clearly unjustified. Elano's injury was a HUGE blow. Now there is somebody new on the horizon - Neymar. Check out the Brazil-USA friendly highlights. The way the first goal is set up is the future of Brazi!

North Korea - Very-very impressive side! Had their chances both against Brazil and Portugal. Never mind that 7:0 score. It was 1:0 till about the 60th minute. Tough, but very disciplined defence.

Ivory Coast - Here is the team which defensive tactics against Brazil was "stop them no matter what". See the Elano incident. Kudos to Drogba. He really tried, albeit with a broken wrist. The team could very likeable, if not for all their rudeness.

Portugal - the most overrated side! Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo.... Now Luis Figo, that was the player! Much ado about nothing. Honestly if you don't think you can play for the national team, if you don't like the coach and the style of play, then there is always an opportunity not to play, right?

The last push....

Group H

Spain - the best team in the tournament, combining the South American passion and the European system and order. Well-deserved winner.

Switzerland - Made a lot of noise defeating Spain (!) in the first match. Then lost to Chile by one goal and drew with Honduras. Good defence. Not enough attacking power.

Honduras - Very respectable performance by this rather rare guest on the highest stage. (second time ever).Good learning experience.

Chile - Being overpowered by Brazil in the round of 16 (0:3), overshadowed a rather solid performance in the group. Unfortunately had little to hope for. Lost both qualifying matches to, you guessed it, Brazil with a similar score.

That's it folks... :-)

Post-World Cup bitterness

In continuing to appreciate the intricacies of the game in the World Cup just past, the following is a list of events and issues that happened that left me disgrunted at how the game has been stained.

--> A player always seems to kill time by going down injured right after his teammate scores a goal.

--> A player KNOWS they are wrong in not admitting when he takes the ball over the line and it goes un-noticed by the linesman. It's morally and legally (in football context) wrong and only looks bad on him and his coach.

--> Fans suddenly coming together for national teams when same players in these national teams play for rival and even hated clubs within the same country.

--> Team plan and structure evidently stifling individual creativity and initiative (i.e. Kaka, C. Ronaldo, Ribery, Rooney).

--> LACK OF VIDEO REPLAY ON QUESTIONABLE OR UNJUSTIFIED CALLS !!!

--> When the referee (unintentionally) gets in the way and deflects the ball

--> Players easing their way back to the bench after being subbed out, their team closely leading.

--> Players running down the clock with pointless dribbling or leaving the ball untouched while jostling by the corner flag.

--> Individuals who are seen praying for their team to win, score or keep the lead. Does that supreme being pick sides?

--> Why does a billion people watch the final when games like the semi-finals and the 3rd place match are mostly more entertaining and inventive?

--> Big shoe companies showcasing ads that make the players do superhuman stunts, somehow implying that the shoe can make players fly. Worse, soft drink companies somehow thinking that showing big football stars playing football with village/rural children would make people suddenly feel like a Pepsi.

--> The never-ending Pele vs Maradona debate.

--> Players who grimace and scream in supposed agony after very light fouls...or, at least until they're awarded a penalty!

--> When players are the first to blame and be chastized when coach is disrespected or expels their teammate.

--> The World Cup, being a large world event that people recognize as something 'bigger' than themselves and thus give it more scrutiny and criticism when certain issues arise...yet some may not watch the game otherwise (club teams, other tournaments) when the SAME issues happen.

Endurance Idahor

A few lines to honor the memory and potential of Nigeria U-23 striker Endurance Idahor.

A player for one of Sudan's top league clubs - Al-Merreikh Omdurman - collapsed in the 13 minute of the game after colliding with a teammate. He died on the field.

According to a report, young African players often play in the Sudanese championship in hopes of one day going to teams in Europe or the Gulf.

He looked set for greatness - 118 goals in 176 games for his club team. I am truly sorry I will not see him suit up for one of my favourite African teams: Nigeria.

Choose your league - or have 'em all

For those just starting to appreciate football - which league do you start to follow?



Spanish La Liga teams:

FC Barcelona -- Real Madrid -- Sevilla -- Atlético Madrid -- Villarreal -- Valencia -- Deportivo La Coruña -- Málaga -- Mallorca -- Espanyol -- Almería -- Racing Santander -- Athletic Bilbao -- Sporting Gijón -- Osasuna -- Real Valladolid -- Getafe -- Xerez -- Real Zaragoza -- Tenerife .

The Spanish La Liga is very competitive, meaning that most teams are a threat to one another's top-table standing. Apart from the obvious in Real Mardid and Barca, most teams here are very good, so there is no shortage of entertaining matches. Passionate regional pride (e.g. Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid or Barcelona vs Espanyol) fuels the intensity of matches. That is an argument as to why the Spanish National team falters in crowd support on the World Cup level - because many Spanish folks, traditionally, focus regionally instead of nationally. Read the history of the Basques, Iberians and Catalans for more understanding. It is utter blasphemy/betrayal when a prized player transfers between rival teams (e.g. Luis Figo from Barca to Real Madrid) and scoreline trashings between these teams are barely forgotten. I try to focus on the quality of the game itself - not the emotions behind it, but the emotion about it. On GOL TV, having Ray Hudson as a commentator helps :)


Camp Nou - the stadium of FC Barcelona

I am an FC Barcelona fan because of their free-flowing creativity, invention and technique that make them a joy to watch and that arouse enduring feelings about the sport for me. For me, it is the team that epitomizes "Total Football" - where one player of a certain position can play in another just as effectively. In Carlos Puyol and Xavi Herndandez are two individuals possibly best in the world in their positions (Defence and Playmaking). Lionel Messi. Ya Ya Toure. Thierry Henry. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Seydou Keita. FC Barcelona seems to be one team that a lot of other teams aspire to. Their youth system is among the finest. Rivals Real Madrid boast and have boasted some of my favourite players, and are one of the best teams out there. From 2002-2008, it had been difficult picking a side when Real Madrid and Barcelona played one another...but I think true appreciation for the game came in not doing so.
Other teams: Sevilla, Valencia, Deportivo and Atletico are all class. La Liga's top teams are dotted with top talent from Spain, South America, Africa and Europe...so familiar faces and skill techniques are bound to be found when World Cup time comes and players return to play for their nations.



English Premier League teams:

Arsenal -- Aston Villa -- Birmingham City -- Blackburn Rovers -- Bolton Wanderers -- Burnley -- Chelsea -- Everton -- Fulham -- Hull City -- Liverpool -- Manchester City -- Manchester United -- Portsmouth -- Stoke City -- Sunderland -- Tottenham Hotspur -- West Ham United -- Wigan Athletic -- Wolverhampton Wanderers

In North America we're likely to have easiest access to English Premier League football with basic cable. The alluring, entertaining camera angles, the household-name players and the propriety of English commentary makes one very comfortable with the league.

Games are typically very fast-paced and physical. There's more fouling and yellow cards than other leagues. The regional rivalries are not as deeply entrenched as in Spain, but are taken seriously, most notably Liverpool/Manchester City vs Manchester United, Arsenal vs Manchester United, Everton vs Liverpool. Throw in Chelsea in any of those too. Out-of-stadia rioting and pub fights are common, among the more thuggish fans. Otherwise the pub atmosphere can be celebratory and festive if a good game (with more neutral sentiments) is on. Club-loyalties are largely forgotten when England is on the world stage.

The top teams - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - have excellent players, managers and technical staff, ensuring top-level table performances consistently. All four teams frequently qualify for the Champions League in Europe. Multimillionaire foreign ownership of these four teams ensure marketability, top-level performances and heavy generation of income (unfair to the lower-table teams). The latest of this is the Manchester City project by its Abu Dhabi owners -- that seems to be floundering despite all the super-players in the team. The hiring of Roberto Mancini (former Inter Milan coach) may change that.


Chelsea's Frankie Lamps and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas

However, my emphasis is on the football itself. The top four teams are very entertaining to watch, Arsenal perhaps most of all. They are creative and free flowing. Think Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, William Gallas under Arsene Wenger. Liverpool is rough and tumble, with Steven Gerrard (Captain Fantastic), Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt. Chelsea very organized and efficient yet with some flair: Michael Ballack, Deco, Frank Lampard, Malouda and Michael Essien...under former Milan coach Ancelotti. Finally, Manchester United perhaps a combination of all: the ageless Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Ji Sung Park, Nani, Michael Owen, Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic. And someone give Alex Ferguson a chewing-gum commercial contract.




Campeonato Brasileiro Série A teams: see above.

I'm afraid I don't have GOL TV anymore, which allowed an inkling of coverage from this league. I think of this league, and somewhere between the amazing visuals of the Brazilian spectators, the brilliant players that leave the league and return to it; and the knowledge that this was the country where football was not invented but mastered, I feel as if I am missing out immensely.

Especially as I have seen some games and some passing moves that leave me in wonder.

The finest Brazilian players in Europe have plied their trades initially at Brazilian clubs. Real Madrid's Kaka at Sao Paulo. Manchester City's Robinho at Santos. AC Milan's Ronaldinho at Gremio and many, many others.

Heck, even the naturalized Brazilian players playing for other countries, i.e. Deco for Portugal, Marcos Senna for Spain have started out in the Brazilian league.


A cross-section of the enormous Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

It is sad that even the Spanish/Portuguese/Latino stations don't show more coverage of this league. I have been reading and following up a lot on it however, wherever I can and now moreso that Ronaldo (the original), Adriano and Roberto Carlos have returned.

Yes, the Phenomenon Ronaldo has returned to his native Brazil - playing for Corinthians - after a ridiculously glorious career with both the national team and PSV Eidhoven, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Injury prone as he is, his love for the game prevents his retirement and he is now Corinthian's top scorer, doing the business as usual. The only footballer to put a smile on my face :)

Point is: if you have access to this league, WATCH IT.




Bundesliga. Sounds fun to say.

Germany's top league features the following teams:

Bayer Leverkusen -- FC Bayern Munich -- Vfl Bochum -- Borussia Dortmund -- Borussia
Mönchengladbach -- Eintracht Frankfurt -- SC Freiburg -- Hamburger SV -- Hannover SV -- Hannover 96 -- Hertha Berlin -- TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- FC Koln -- FSV Mainz -- FC Nuremberg -- FC Shalke -- VfB Stuttgart -- SV Werder Bremen -- Vfl Wolfsburg.

FC Bayern Munich first put me onto greater awareness of the Bundesliga. Watching the magnificent Oliver Kahn in the 2002 World Cup, I had to see the quality of team that the then best goalkeeper in the world played for. And it was a fantastic team: players like Roque Santa Cruz, Roy Makaay, Owen Hargreaves, Lucio and Luca Toni have all plied their trades there.

Canadian Paul Stalteri played for Werder Bremen and now Monchengladbach - another reason I kept up to date with them.

Two or three Bundesliga teams usually feature in the Champions League. It is a league still forming its identity, dotted with familiar players that will be seen at this World Cup. Players from Africa and South America produce a lot of flair and creativity, juxtaposed with the sturdy and reliable technique of local German players.

Goals of the Decade

For your viewing pleasure, here are my picks of the greatest goals of the past decade. The frustrating thing is, I'm wrong. There are so many great goals that I know I have seen and also don't get to see very often in the South American, African and Middle East/Asian leagues. Friends, let me know the ones you like and I'll add them.

1. RIVALDO (FC Barcelona vs Valencia)

The last goal of one of the greatest hattricks ever, both in importance and execution, in the final minute of a crucial game. A hopeful ball forward...a finish to remember.



Must figure out how to upload/embed videos on this thing.

2. GRAFITE

Blatant disrespect to the defense and goalkeeper of Bayern Munich.



3. ZINEDINE ZIDANE



One of the finest players. Spanish commentary =)

4. DENNIS BERGKAMP

Perhaps the best turn and finish I've seen.



6. LIONEL MESSI

Messidona.



6. KAKA

The two goals versus Manchester United. The 1st one for sheer pace and placement; the 2nd one for ball control (with the head too) causing two defenders to collide into one another.



7. HERNAN CRESPO

His 2nd goal of the CL Final...but this goal is all made by the killer pass.



8. ESTEBAN CAMBIASSO

Voted the best goal of WC 2006 for the amount of passes. A true team goal.



9. ROBINHO

2nd goal in a friendly match vs the Republic of Ireland...a glimpse of team passing and creativity.



10. JUNINHO PERNAMBUCANO

I had to insert a free-kick in here somewhere. This was a difficult choice, because when you have free-kick takers like Beckham, Mijailovic, Nakamura, C. Ronaldo...the list can go on and on. But this man is the very best of them all - he gets them in from almost the impossible of angles, or farthest distances away from goal. I chose this one for the angle, swerve and quality of the beaten goalkeeper. His goal vs Ajaccio is impressive too - 40 m!

World Cup 2010 Groups

Once, every four years, a simple ball lifts up the world. Here are the groups for the World Cup in South Africa:

Ima try a breakdown of predictions. Hopefully any readers bursting with national pride won't be offended. It's strictly face-value and from the perspective of a futbol fan.

Group A: Solid group. Mexico is easily the best in CONCACAF, Uruguay - and most teams in South America - is to be feared and has a strong defense. France still possesses their bomb squad with electric young talent emerging and the likes of Henry, Gallas and Makalele still in the mix. South Africa, as hosts, will come out to prove a point. I predict Mexico and France to advance.

Group B: Please Nigeria, return to your former glory days. I remember since I was 6 years old. My favourite Asian team: South Korea's loyal, exuberant national fans - pilseung corea! Tae han min guk! - will spur them on far greater than their coach Mr. Huh will. What were they thinking hiring him. Top class Euro players should shine regardless. Speaking of bizarre coaches: Diego Maradona. Son, you were an amazing player (barring the drugs), but you can't coach. More practice needed. Argentines' worship of you surely has started to fade since they barely got through qualifying. No one wants to see the great Argentina playing a crummy brand of football. I haven't been up to date with Greece, but hopefully they won't display that irritating defensive-minded game, scoring only from set plays. To advance: South Korea and Greece.

Group C: England fans must love this. Easy like peasy. Too, they will do well - think Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Bent, Terry - under Fabio Capello. Great, class playes under a superb coach. I hope to see good things from Algeria as most first-time African teams seem to bring. USA, known for investing time, money and effort into all their sports, have come a long, admirable way since 1990 and will likely give a good performance. People begrudgingly admit this. Slovenia's too off-and-on for me to put my finger on 'em. Advancing will be USA and England unless Algeria pulls something off?

Group D: I miss how Jurgen Klinsmann had Germany playing, but they're no less effective now. Expect the same efficiency and crispness with some flair as Ballack conducts midfield. Ghana was a joy to watch in 2006 (should've beaten Brazil) and in the African Nations Cup and have gotten stronger since. Well done Black Stars, you deserve to be here. I honestly don't know how Serbia has done since, but hopefully no more 8-0 (or was it 7) drubbings. And I like the players Australia has. I'll be glad if they persist into the 2nd round, but it likely will be Germany and Ghana's Black Stars.

Group E: My favourite team from Africa (no not Japan), is finally back in, with Samuel Eto'o in his prime. He, if not Cameroon, have much to prove. Will probably have to watch their game versus the Netherlands with sunglasses: bright colours be flashing everywhere. Holland is Holland, can't really say much: superb team, superb players so we will see what van Marwjk can do. His loss for not calling up Clarence Seedorf, though. Blasphemy! Japan will battle it out with either Cameroon or Denmark for second place in the group. Hopefully a Hidetoshi Nakamura free-kick can happen.

Group F: Another top-seeded team gets easy pickins'. I don't expect too much threat from New Zealand or Slovakia, but Paraguay is a world-class team and strong contenders to advance in that group. Again, an ode to the WC 2006 when Italy played like a South American team. No more Franceso Totti, but Andrea Pirlo's vision and creativity with Luca Toni's strike prowess will inspire that team.

Group G: Poor, poor North Korea. A harsh World Cup baptism yet no shame in losing to any of these teams. Brazil, my favourite team on the planet, the reason I missed classes, called in sick to work (odd b/c I was saving up for the WC), ignore family and friends. How else the three R's? Kaka and Juninho? Roberto Carlos and Cafu? The team that brought me to watching and playing this sport as youth. Who can forget the 2002 World Cup, the 2004 Copa America, the 2005 Confederations Cup. Many will likely watch their game versus the awesome Portugal and Ivory Coast with mouths open in awe and wonderment. Dunga hasn't had Brazil playing with much flair and beauty as they traditionally have done, but the unique creativity and invention remain. What.a.team. Likely to advance, with Portugal edging Ivory Coast.

Group H: Spain are among the elite company of favourites to win the whole thing. A constant presence at the World Cup, they were a brilliant team when they won the last Euro Cup. Hopefully their World Cup jinx doesn't affect them this time. One of the best midfields in the world with Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas. The sturdy Puyol and ever-flying and stopping Iker Casillas holding down the back. Viva Espana. Honduras is CONCACAF's new underdog, getting past Costa Rica and T&T. The Swiss have their inconsistent moments, but Chile likely to overcome with their grit and skill.

That's it. Notable absences: Egypt, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Senegal, Costa Rica. Thankfully, Canada's National Women's team is world-class. They save football face for this country.