Perhaps next time Harry Rednapp decides to mouth-off before a big game, he will think twice. Prior to the Arsenal v. Tottenham Carling Cup tie, Redknapp had a go at his Arsenal counterpart by saying that he wouldn’t follow Arsene Wenger’s example of relying on reserve team players in the competition. (more…)
The game of soccer is increasingly global. Many of game’s biggest stars are African. Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Samuel Eto’o are a few of the continent’s best home grown talents that ply their trade in some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. While much is known about these African superstars, not much is known about the countless others that don’t make it to the game’s biggest stage. The documentary ‘Soccer Slaves’ covers the travails of these young, desperate soccer hopefuls. From the fields of hope in Africa to the black market games in Europe, the exploitation of the Lost Boys of Soccer is vast and shameful. (more…)
Corruption » Outside the Lines
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Italian Football fans have something to rejoice about in the aftermath of the National Team’s poor display in the World Cup. Media tycoons Silvio Berlusconi and Rupert Murdoch are engaged in a corporate catfight to win over the hearts and wallets of Italy’s football fans. Mediaset, owned by Silvio Berlusconi, and Sky Italia, owned by Rupert Murdoch, have been waging a price war for television soccer viewers. The gloves are apparently off and the media moguls are going at it like two shameless divas. (more…)
Either Diego Maradona is a bad gambler or he was looking for a way out of the Argentina National Team setup. Why else would the Golden Boy have forced the Argentina Football Association’s hand by insisting on not making any changes to his coaching staff? Personally, I think the AFA was trying to take the easy way out by electing to change (more…)
Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s documentary The Two Escobars brings us a tale of a nation gripped by crime, drugs and a passion for soccer. At the time (circa 1994), Colombia was seen as one of the world’s most reviled narco-states and one of the world’s best soccer nations, at one point ranked 4th in the FIFA rankings. During this period, many Colombians were hoping that victory at the 1994 World Cup would help rebuild the country’s tattered image. Unfortunately, that dream was never realized. Colombia’s hopes came crashing down with one errant kick during the World Cup by Andres Escobar, one of the team’s star players. Escobar’s subsequent murder was a cold reminder of how the violent drug trade controlled everything within the country, including soccer. (more…)
As their teams go by the wayside, soccer fans often find themselves needing to regroup and find another team to support, lest they risk isolating themselves from the euphoria that is the World Cup. Rather than relying on sport related reasons when choosing another team to support, some soccer fans choose to go beyond the game and delve into history. These fans offer some of the most illogical (and often humorous) reasons for their decisions. (more…)
It may just be me, but the level of sheer magic in this World Cup has been absent in comparison to past events. To date, there has been too little in the form of excitement and wonder. Where are the nuggets of sublime creativity or sheer force of will that have made previous campaigns the stuff of folklore? Am I being too nostalgic or has the game evolved to this? Where is the wonder goal created out of nothing that the next generation will be talking about and trying to replicate on the football field? I may be getting ahead of myself with the quarterfinals less than a day away, but this World Cup has been as exciting as watching paint dry for the following three reasons: (more…)
The World Cup thus far has been less about the Beautiful Game on the field and more about the inexplicable refusal of Sepp Blatter and his clan to uphold FIFA’s own Fair Play Code of Conduct. In the wake of recent controversial decisions (or indecision – you make the call), the pressure is mounting on FIFA to stop making nonsensical excuses and step into the 21st Century and embrace the use of technology by game officials. (more…)
It is official; the Black Stars of Ghana are the first African side to win a game on home soil in the 2010 World Cup. The Black Stars, playing without three of their biggest stars (Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Sulley Muntari), gave a determined performance against an equally determined Serbian side. After the game, John Pantsil celebrated (more…)
Your friendly developers at Google Earth have put together 3-D renderings of all ten soccer stadiums that will host games at this year’s World Cup. Aside from the over the top drumbeat, these 3-D models of the stadiums are quite impressive. The tour also shows the cityscape of all nine-host cities. If like most football fans, you can’t make it to South Africa to see the stadiums and the country, here is your opportunity to get up close and personal with the stadiums’ architecture and South Africa’s urban planning prowess. For a more detailed look click here. And don’t worry, Google takes your privacy seriously. (more…)
If you love perms or Didier Drogba, you’ll love the Les Éléphants shirt …
Spain is trying to conquer the world again. This time, they might succeed.
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