From the Spot of the Foul

Don Garber's Pipe Dream

Mark Ogden's Sunday article at Telegraph.co.uk explores Don Garber's efforts at bringing the 2018 World Cup to America as well as his long-term goal: to make Major League Soccer (MLS) one of the top soccer leagues in the world. Mr. Garber's dream raises lots of questions rather than delivering methods.

The waste land

Thierry Henry's arrival in New York City this past week evoked a lot of memories. It also made me think of the state of Major League Soccer, and T. S. Eliot.

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Nigeria's wasted wealth

Nigeria should be the greatest footballing nation on the African continent, but it is not. It boils down to the fact that this nation of 150 million people wastes its resources: natural, financial, and human.

The badge now has a star

Spain 1 Netherlands 0 (aet)

2010 World Cup Final

Sunday 11 July 2010 | Soccer City Stadium | Johannesburg, South Africa

Spain joined 'the club' on Sunday, leaving the Dutch still longing for a smoking jacket and ascot.

Death by exhaustion

After Wednesday's semi-final match with Spain, Germany's coach Joachim Löw indicated that his team was physically exhausted because they spent 90+ minutes chasing the ball. It made me think of coyotes and the game of squash.

Spanish perfection

Spain 1 Germany 0

2010 World Cup Semi Finals

Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Durban, South Africa

Spain stuck to their guns - constructed with velvet handles and cold steel barrels - while Germany never got their game on. It resulted in a win for La Roja that could be described as perfection.

Trying to make the third time a Dutch charm

Holland 3 Uruguay 2

2010 World Cup Semi Finals

Tuesday 6 July 2010 | Green Point Stadium | Cape Town, South Africa 

This one didn't have the Shakespearean drama of the two previous quarter-final matches - Uruguay v Ghana and Spain v Paraguay - but it was well-played nontheless. This evenly-played match between two sides of high quality with discipline featured two captains, each scoring on thunderstrikes from long distances, of sides desperately trying to reach their third World Cup final.

One man's cheat is another man's strategist: the case of Arjen Robben and Luis Suarez

In soccer, what constitutes cheating?

That entirely depends on your point of view, perhaps influenced by your cultural upbringing, perhaps influenced by your coach and fellow players, perhaps some other set of circumstances. Cheating is not as black and white as some would like to think, which is why, as we move toward the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, we're consumed with the recent performances of Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Arjen Robben of Holland that had profound influences on their respective teams advancing out of the quarter-final round.

Patience, madness and brilliance

Spain 1 Paraguay 0

2010 World Cup Quarter Finals

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Ellis Park Stadium | Johannesburg, South Africa 

Two minutes of madness and two moments of brilliance is what will go forth from this match in the annals of World Cup history.

When Paraguayan forward Oscar Cardozo stood over the ball at the penalty spot in the 57^th minute of a scoreless contest, no one could have predicted the sheer chaotic madness that was about to fill the following two minutes. The two moments of brilliance that occurred much later in the match were more predictable, but no less amazing in this memorable match.

Deutsch Freude

Germany 4 Argentina 0

2010 World Cup Quarter Finals

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Cape Town Stadium | Cape Town, South Africa

 

Germany's squad came into this World Cup as boys. They now go forth to the semi-finals as men.

 

The Argentinians went the way of the English, exposed as being not good enough for this stage of the biggest tournament in the world. The Germans sliced and carved apart Maradona's Men in the second half by defending like a steel wall and then sending waves of black-shirted jungen toward goal.

Death by cruel and unusual punishment

Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 (aet, 4-2 pen)

2010 World Cup Quarter Finals

Friday 2 July 2010 | Soccer City | Johannesburg, South Africa

 

Nothing is easy on the continent of Africa. This match reinforced that fact to the entire world of sport.

Dunga's Brazil is dead

 

Holland 2 Brazil 1

2010 World Cup Quarter Finals

Friday 2 July 2010 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Port Elizabeth, South Africa

 

It was a simple, almost harmless, if not hopeful floater that Wesley Sneijder offered to the Brazilian goalmouth in the 53rd minute. The problem for Brazil was that, in attempting to clear, goalkeeper Julio Cesar collided with his teammate Felipe Melo and the ball just barely glanced off of the back of Melo’s head into the goal.

Can Jonathan be Nigerian football's goodluck charm?

A country’s president has dissolved its own football federation come the hell or high water that could be delivered as punishment by FIFA, the world’s governing body of soccer. The next few days, or perhaps even only hours, may determine the short-term and long-term fate of the once-proud Nigerian Super Eagles, one way or another.

Connoisseur's delight

Spain 1 Portugal 0

2010 World Cup Round of 16

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Green Point Stadium | Cape Town, South Africa

 

Portugal had given up only three goals in their last 16 matches (11 wins and 5 draws), and none in this World Cup. Spain had won 14 of their 15 since the loss to the United States in the 2009 Confederations Cup.

To say the least, this was a tasty matchup.

FIFA's intransigence in the world's spotlight

Is this what it will take to implement goal-line technology?

The aftermath of reliance on brute force

Ghana 2 United States 1 (aet)

2010 World Cup Round of 16

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium | Rustenburg, South Africa

The United States ran out of late-stage heroics Saturday in Rustenburg. They gave a performance high on effort but low on quality when it counted.

I want my football free

A despondent English football fan writes to musician Mark Knopfler to complain that the upcoming World Cup qualifying match will not be available on standard television - it be shown only online.

How many fingers do you see?

Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) is aghast at Swiss referee Massimo Busacca's response to fans at a recent Swiss league match.

Your revolution is now being televised

Gil Scott-Heron writes Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor to be careful - his recent tactics and tantrums are in full view, and nothing will go unrecorded - and to use his temporary fame wisely.

What color's your parachute?

Sheffield United's Paddy Kenny writes American NFL player Redd to see if he would fit in as an American athlete.

The tower of song, the power of blog

A football chant meets its match

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of soccer, especially in England, and that is not replicated in any other American sport, is chanting. We Americans have the traditional chants at our football games, a famous one being: "Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar, all for [insert your team] stand up and holler." And other such mild stuff.

But what I'm referring to is football chanting that is really full-throated singing, some of which that can go on and on for several minutes. I'm not talking about school songs, fight marches, and sentimental alma mater tunes. I'm talking about the singing of songs completely created by fans, spontaneously changed for the moment, that range from the touching and funny to the deplorably vile and racist.

What's in a name?

The Coolest Name in Sport

Today it was announced that a player, recently released by Celtic, signed with Hull City of the England Premier League.

But not just any player.

Your cheatin’ heart

Arthur Miller writes Arsenal striker Eduardo to warn him that the witch hunt analogy made by his coach may not be far from the truth, and to instruct the young footballer that he is now in The Crucible of determining what for some is good for the game of football, for better or for worse.

Please take your crawler and…

A despondent Premier League viewer in the United States has had it with ESPN's use of a crawler for score updates during match telecasts, and he vents it all at Dave Garroway, the inventor of it all.

A European night north of Hadrian’s Wall

Celtic 0 Arsenal 2

2009-10 UEFA Champions League, Playoff Round

Tuesday 18 August 2009 | Celtic Park | Glasgow, Scotland 

Since watching European football over the years, I've developed my favorite venues based solely on the feeling I get while watching matches on television.

I’m so tired

John Lennon is sick of the current transfer window (isn't everybody) and elicits Oskar Shindler to just deliver the final results of player moves in a simple list.

I want f*ckin’ goal line technology!

Crystal Palace's coach Neil Warnock is hot. One of the worst examples of a goal scored not given is the reason why. And, Warnock holds nothing back in his letter of complaint to Keith Hackett.

Do you smell gas?

Norman Bates ignores his mother and relishes in the terror that has suddenly befallen the Norwich City Football Club.

Nyet, Arsene

Alisher Usmanov, in his quest to wrest control of the Arsenal Football Club, writes a letter to manager Arsene Wenger, who is threatening to ruin Mr. Usmanov's credibility by opening the English Premier League with a surprising, sound whipping of Everton.

The league of nations

This weekend has been a celebration of the English Premier Leagues's opening fixtures. One reason some of us love this league is how the list of its players span the globe - the world nature of the world's game is well-represented indeed.

The furniture stays

June Ward needs help from her husband, Ward, who's out of town on a business trip. She's trying to decide if rearranging the same four pieces of living furniture (the "Big Four" is what she refers them as collectively) is the right thing to do. In her letter, she struggles with the idea of bringing in a replacement (recently reupholstered) for the winged-back French chair. Will Manchester City replace Arsenal in the EPL's "Big Four"?

Nicki, don’t lose that number

Nicholas Bendtner is in a bit of an embarrassing pickle. Leghorn writes him with a devious plan.

But I didn't want this to happen!

An adoring lunatic from America has a word or two for the whiny English press.

What were you expecting, revenge?

Mexico 2 USA 1

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification, CONCACAF Fourth Round

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico

After our B-side got soundly pounded and embarrassed 5-0 by our southern neighbor in the final of the Gold Cup last month in New Jersey, our Country's best today made the trip down to the Ninth Circle of World Cup Qualifying Hell – Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

French league huh?

 Paul McCartney gets a bit nostalgic as he says hello to the opening of another French Ligue Un campaign.

No Animals Were Harmed During the Writing of This Post

 Norman Bates introduces himself to the Norwich City Football Club.

Prost!

 I love the German ladies. So does Professor Rath as he pays homage to the Blue Angel.

FA Community Shield postscript

Oh, the carnage! Material was plentiful for future notes to be posted on the visitor’s dressing room bulletin board prior to the next meeting of Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday November 8 at Stamford Bridge.

Can’t wait.

Be safe - always tape... but know what you're doing

Chelsea 2 Manchester United 2 (4-1 pen)

England FA Community Shield

Sunday 9 August 2009 | Wembley Stadium | London, England

I was out to dinner with the Misses late last night after watching Julie and Julia, a new Hollywood release about a young woman's use of her idolization of Julia Child to get out of her personal rut, and I was thinking to myself – are you going to get up at a quarter-to-seven to watch another dreadfully tepid pre-season football match known as the FA Community Shield?

A dark underbelly of European football

And out of the swamp crawls...

English Premier League on ESPN2 this season?!?!

I have died and gone to heaven.

Worth a thousand words

I love great photographs of sporting events.

Let the self-loathing begin

England loses their second under-age European Championship in 34 days. So is this glass half empty or half full?

Let’s face it - the Scottish Premier League isn’t good enough

Glasgow Rangers' Boss Walter Smith is in favor of Summer Football in Scotland. Celtic Skipper Tony Mowbray is not. Would it make any difference?

I've got you under my skin

Mark Hughes sends Alex Ferguson a note to make him look like the fool he often doesn't need help in revealing.

Consciously designed icons come to America

One of the interesting aspects of engaging in a hobby of watching something from thousands of miles away is that very little of it is seen in the flesh. A virtual activity if you will.

Match fixing?

Nothing, and I mean nothing, gets my attention in the world of sport like a good match fixing story. 

There is something dark about the human personality that is attracted to destruction wreaked on mankind by a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or tsunami. Why do you think we slow down at the scene of an automobile accident? It's more than just making sure we don't drive over broken glass. 

So when I saw this story on my newsreader this week, the scroll bar came to a screeching halt and I rubbernecked my way into the details.

I have a dream...

Overt racism at matches - one of the things about world soccer that really took me aback when I realized how alive and well it still is.

When is a big lead not enough? When you play Brazil

The final of Confederations Cup, generally relegated to just a dress rehearsal for the host country for the following year’s World Cup, turned out to be an improbable matchup involving a USA squad that not only got out of their Group in the most improbable of circumstances, but shocked the world by defeating the number one ranked team in the world, Spain, in the semi-finals to advance to have the privilege of playing the world’s most successful team.

Is 5 > 3?

The Europa League gets underway next week, but when the competition moves into its Group Stage on Sept17, it will be more than just a new league – it will be the venue for the continuation of an officiating experiment: the use of two additional referee’s assistants.