
According to FIFA, South Africa’s strategy to win the right to host the 2010 World Cup was simple but powerful. South Africa argued that it had the best stadia facilities in Africa. It had commercial backing from leading corporations. It had the continent’s strongest economy, a sophisticated media and broadcast industry, and an enormous South African support base from the South African population. Members of the South African Organizing Committee and those lobbying on its behalf also repeatedly suggested that getting the World Cup would be part of Africa’s renaissance strategy.
Historically, facilities, commercial backing, a stable economy, media and broadcast capability, and local support have all been vital and necessary components of a successful World Cup bid. But in positioning itself to win the right to host the World Cup, it seems that South Africa might have lost sight of the fact that South Africa is not Germany or France or South Korea/Japan or the United States. Continue Reading »
More: Development | Social Change

Wynalda’s point on Fox Football Phone-In was basically this: Pick five guys from Arsenal and five from Chelsea. Drop the ball in the middle and place bets on who will come up with the ball.
Presented with this scenario, I think most people will come to the same conclusion, which sums up the issue with Arsenal. On any given day, Arsenal can beat anyone. But over the course of a season, a number of games will come down to Wynalda’s scenario. Can you win a fight or not? Pretty football might be successful most of the time, but if you can’t win the Wynalda scenario, your chances of success in the Premier League are limited. And that’s precisely what we saw over the weekend.
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More: Team Talk | The Game

Argentine newspaper Clarín recently reported that the Barra Bravas of several teams in the Argentine First Division have struck a deal with the Argentine government to provide security for government events (whatever that means) in exchange for tickets to the World Cup in South Africa — paid for by the government. That is, airfare paid for by Argentine taxpayers. Needless to say, many Argentines are not pleased by this news.
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More: Corruption | Outside the Lines