Blogs
- Very Small Countries 0 – 9 World Cup Finalists4 September 2010, 2:41 am
Sometimes, life just isn’t fair. Imagine for a moment that you are Liechtenstein. You’re all revved up for your first Euro 2012 qualifying match, and feeling confident. Sure, you’ve taken some beatings, but remember – in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, you beat both Latvia and Iceland. Not too shabby for a [...]... - Of French Moles & Big Francs3 September 2010, 1:00 pm
France had a number of big problems in their camp during the World Cup, paramount among them the post-Anelka fallout which was soon followed by France falling out of the World Cup. It was reported to L’Equipe by a mysterious rat that Anelka had told coach Raymond Domenech to do unpleasant things, which one doesn’t do [...]... - Friday’s Euro 2012 Qualifiers3 September 2010, 12:36 am
Euro 2012 qualifying is back upon us, with Yossi Benayoun protesting the move to Israel’s holy Sabbath with an aggressive hat-trick against Malta. This comes after qualifying was initially kicked off back in August as any major tournament should: with Estonia and the Faroe Islands. (The Faroes sadly fell.) Tomorrow, however, is the big opening and [...]... - Carlos Quieroz Learns Words Do Actually Hurt2 September 2010, 7:00 pm
The year 2010 has certainly not been a favorite of Carlos Quieroz. Even if some had higher hopes, the World Cup run was met with the expected outcome for many – Spain and then done – but the rest has seemingly been one mess after another. There was the shoving match with a journalist at [...]... - FIFA’s World Cup 2010 Technical Report is 289 Pages of Fluff2 September 2010, 5:33 pm
FIFA has released its World Cup 2010 Technical Report in the form of a 9.28 megabyte pdf document. Which might sound impressive, but only if you haven’t read it. Because this thing is 289 pages of fluff, in four different languages. The document basically contains a lot of pictures, a lot of over-simplifications, and a lot [...]...
- More U.S. Notes/Soccer TV Weekend3 September 2010, 12:09 pm
Some final news and notes from my day in New York City this week when I met with U.S. coach Bob Bradley and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati: • Gulati said the U.S. is working on scheduling an international friendly in November. The FIFA international date that month is Wednesday, November 17, four days before [...]... - Usain Bolt, Soccer Player?2 September 2010, 5:17 pm
So Usain Bolt thinks he could play for Manchester United? That’s what the world’s most famous sprinter says in his new book, at least. And while most people’s first reaction might be to laugh hysterically, I say why not find out? I’ve always had a fascination with multisport professional athletes, whether they have been good [...]... - U.S. Coaching: Historic Continuity Good Or Bad?31 August 2010, 11:23 am
ON THE TRAIN TO NEW YORK CITY—I’m heading up to Gotham for Tuesday’s presentation of U.S. soccer coach Bob Bradley, whose contract has been extended by U.S. Soccer through the end of 2014. But for now I wanted to give you a sense of how rare it is for a country to be led in [...]... - Four More Years For Bob Bradley31 August 2010, 12:12 am
Bob Bradley has a new four-year contract to coach the U.S. men’s soccer team. We’ll learn more at noon ET on Tuesday when Bradley and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati conduct a teleconference in New York City, but here are my three quick thoughts on U.S. Soccer’s decision to extend Bradley’s contract: • This is [...]... - 10 Thoughts From The Weekend30 August 2010, 5:36 pm
10 Thoughts From The Planet Fútbol Weekend: • Here we go again. ESPN.com reported on Friday night that U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati has met with Juergen Klinsmann to discuss the U.S. men’s coaching job currently held by Bob Bradley. If it seems like I’ve been writing for 12 years about Gulati trying to land [...]...
- Cheerio & Thanks!15 July 2010, 11:01 pm
That’s all from World Cup College! We would like to thank our loyal readership – and pass on special thanks to those who have left regular comments. It’s been a lot of fun keeping the site going over the past few months. We hope you’ve enjoyed it too. We were also very pleased to be [...]... - Thomas Hobbes & English Mechanism15 July 2010, 11:00 am
WCC has noted previously that the England team appears to operate somewhat mechanistically. Even over a successful qualification campaign it seemed that Fabio Capello’s efforts had yielded mechanical rather than organic solidarity. The team was playing well together, but like an ordered collection of components rather than a smooth functioning whole. This reflects English society [...]... - The W-W formation: the future?!14 July 2010, 11:01 pm
It is hard to envisage how formations will evolve in response to the current formational hegemony 4-2-3-1. It is an adaptable format which matches up well against other approaches. Two defensive midfielders provide a shield for the back four, which allows the full-backs to advance. The attacking midfielder has the freedom in behind the centre-forward [...]... - The Capello Project 2010: the end!13 July 2010, 11:01 pm
Throughout the qualification campaign it appeared that Fabio Capello had struck upon a workable formula. His England side were arranged under 4-4-2, but it appeared that 4-2-3-1 inhered in this approach as Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard were conservative in central midfield and Wayne Rooney would drop deep from attack. Capello also fielded a target man, [...]... - World Cup 2014: wildcards!12 July 2010, 11:01 pm
Speculation has already begun with regard to the players who will be replacing England’s “golden generation” – a generation which is approaching the end of its tenure as custodians of the nation’s hopes. World Cup 2010 has again exposed England as being too sluggish and inflexible to compete with the best at international level. England haven’t [...]...
- England 4-0 Bulgaria: Hattrick for Defoe as England cruise to victory3 September 2010, 11:29 pm
A great start, a quiet first half and then a dominant end to the game, as England opened their qualification campaign with a much-needed high-scoring win. Fabio Capello chose to play Wayne Rooney with a partner, Jermain Defoe, rather than in the lone striker role he occupied in the recent friendly against Hungary. Theo Walcott and [...]... - FIFA’s 289-page Technical Report on the 2010 World Cup – in 15 points3 September 2010, 11:30 am
This week, FIFA have unveiled their ‘technical report’ on the 2010 World Cup. Technical reports are, in FIFA’s words, “published after each and every FIFA competition in order to analyse how the game is progressing”. Some of the information is not particularly fascinating, an example being the revelation that “all successful teams have excellent strikers who [...]... - Fiorentina 1-1 Napoli: the away side’s lopsided defensive shape works rather well1 September 2010, 1:50 pm
The closest thing to a ‘glamour tie’ in the first round of Serie A finished all square – 1-1 both in terms of goals and red cards. Fiorentina’s only debutant in Sinisa Mihajlovic’s first game in charge was Gaetano D’Agostino, the central playmaker who is effectively taking Stevan Jovetic’s place in Fiorentina’s 4-2-3-1 from last season. [...]... - Bologna 0-0 Inter: Benitez starts with bore draw31 August 2010, 2:21 pm
A low-key game with few goalscoring opportunities – the result was celebrated by managerless Bologna like a win. The home side included new signings Andrea Esposito, Matteo Rubin, Gyorgy Garics and Albin Ekdal in a 4-1-4-1 system that saw Belgian midfielder Gaby Mudingayi sitting very deep in front of his defence, with Marco di Vaio isolated [...]... - Aston Villa 1-0 Everton: Villa strike early, then hold on30 August 2010, 11:35 pm
A bizarre game that Everton dominated from start to finish, and yet still managed to lose. Stephen Ireland suffered an injury in the warm up, so Nigel Reo-Coker replaced him in the centre of midfield. James Collins returned at the back, and Gabriel Agbonlahor wasn’t fit enough to start, so John Carew continued upfront. David Moyes elected [...]...
- Capello feeling the heat2 September 2010, 3:42 pm
Fabio Capello's managerial reputation has been forged in the hothouses of AC Milan and Real Madrid - but even that has not protected him from the unique pressures that accompany coaching England. And as an occasionally prickly Capello faced the media in Watford ahead of England's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday and Switzerland in Basel on Tuesday, it was clear defining moments of the Italian's tenure are approaching. Secure victories in both games and some of... - Holloway's mission impossible?29 August 2010, 11:29 am
Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road's first top-tier game in 39 years - graced by England coach Fabio Capello on what may just have been the Italian's first visit to this seaside resort - was never designed as a day for understatement. And so it proved as a vibrant, tangerine-splashed occasion started with the match programme describing Blackpool's ascent to the Premier League as "the biggest fairytale in modern British football history". It concluded with Seasiders' manager Ian Holloway, having ... - Spurs face tough European test26 August 2010, 6:14 pm
Peter Crouch was not even trying to be careful what he wished for as he basked in the glory of Tottenham's qualification for the serious business of the Champions League group stage. "We want Real Madrid and Inter. You don't know how good you are until you play against the best," announced Spurs' hat-trick hero after Harry Redknapp's side eased fears they might squander a potential £30m jackpot by easing past Young Boys of Berne. Now Crouch and Spurs will get the chance to find out as the dra... - Man City turn on style for Sheikh24 August 2010, 12:09 am
Eastlands Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan may have taken two years to visit his Eastlands empire - but Manchester City ensured the wait was worthwhile as they showed an impressive return on his vast investment. He has chosen to view his £350m outlay from afar since changing English football's landscape with his riches, but will return to Abu Dhabi pleased with the progress of his pet project if City's dismissal of abject Liverpool proves an accurate measure. Sheikh Mansour's presence lift... - How will the Premier League pan out?12 August 2010, 11:00 am
Chelsea and Manchester United may have formed part of the traditional Premier League guard of honour as they battled for the Community Shield once more but last season hinted at an increasing vulnerability among English football's established powers. Carlo Ancelotti's march to a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge was not without stumbles, while Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford empire had to be fortified by the relatively meagre rations afforded by a Carling C...
Newspapers
- I should have shown Nigel de Jong a red card, says Howard Webb25 August 2010, 6:26 pm
England's World Cup final referee said he did not have a good view of the incident and was not prepared to take a guessWhen Howard Webb took the field for the World Cup final at Soccer City last month, he was cheered by the sight of a small banner amid all the orange and red, the flags and the vuvuzelas, a message of support from home, no less. "It must have been English," he recalled. "It simply said: Can't play, can ref."That statement was to be tested in Johannesburg in a way that nobody coul... - I should have sent off De Jong in World Cup final, admits Howard Webb25 August 2010, 3:07 pm
• Webb regrets not dismissing Holland player for violent tackle• Referee showed 14 yellow and two red cards during finalHoward Webb has admitted he should have shown Holland's Nigel de Jong a red card in the World Cup final for the Manchester City player's challenge on Xabi Alonso.Webb showed a record 14 yellow cards – two leading to a red – but the official has accepted he should have sent off De Jong for his kung fu-style kick on Spain's former Liverpool player in the 25th minute.Webb,... - ITV escapes rap for World Cup gaffe23 August 2010, 10:39 am
Ofcom says 'unfortunate error' in transmission centre led to HD viewers seeing advert instead of Steven Gerrard goalUnfortunately for ITV, it was one of the most memorable moments of England's football World Cup. Now the broadcaster has revealed the full story of why high-definition viewers saw an advert instead of England scoring against the USA in the first five minutes of their ill-fated World Cup campaign – someone pressed the wrong button.However, ITV has escaped censure from Ofcom, despi... - Don't mention the summer to Chelsea's World Cup flops | David Hytner6 August 2010, 11:06 pm
With 18 internationals in losing sides the Blues prefer not to talk about a certain event in South AfricaDon't mention the World Cup. The subject cropped up once or twice on Chelsea's tour of Germany over this past week and nobody got away with it. South Africa feels like a taboo for the squad that reigned supreme in domestic competition last time out.The club have 18 full internationals for the new season and each one of them can tell a tale of World Cup woe. There were the frustrating failures... - It wasn't just 2010: Sir Alex Ferguson slams quality of the World Cup6 August 2010, 11:35 am
• Ferguson says 'a lot of teams and players' had bad World Cups• 'You have to go back to 1986 for the last good one'Sir Alex Ferguson has branded the World Cup as "poor" and admitted a number of high-profile stars were major disappointments.The spotlight is back on Wayne Rooney for tomorrow's Community Shield encounter with Chelsea at Wembley as the striker looks to find the form that brought him 34 goals for Manchester United last term.Yet Rooney was totally unable to reproduce that form in...
- Bob Bradley’s Return Is Right Move for U.S. Soccer31 August 2010, 4:00 am
The coach for the past four years will try to lead the United States past the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.... - Referees and Players, Taking Charge20 August 2010, 4:00 am
The referee Stéphane Lannoy, who garnered negative attention for his work in the World Cup, redeemed himself by cracking down in a Champions League qualifying match.... - France Punishes Players for Behavior at World Cup18 August 2010, 4:00 am
France attempted on Tuesday to draw a line under the national team's disgraceful departure from the World Cup in June.... - Only Beckham Knows How Much Time He Has Left14 August 2010, 4:00 am
England’s coach says David Beckham is too old, but he has his own ideas — and his own timeline.... - Beckham Fights Against Time to Keep Playing13 August 2010, 4:00 am
David Beckham, the veteran of England’s soccer team, refused to quit even after the coach said that he was too old for the national team....
- Premier League Transfer Talk - August 311 September 2010, 6:04 am
Read latest news and summer gossip affecting your Premier League club.... - England v Bulgaria: Theo Walcott focusing on Euro 2012 campaign not World Cup omission31 August 2010, 2:16 pm
Theo Walcott refuses to be drawn on whether he might have helped England had he been included in the World Cup squad.... - Premier League Transfer Talk - August 3031 August 2010, 6:17 am
Read latest news and summer gossip affecting your Premier League club.... - Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz facing 'six-month ban'31 August 2010, 5:44 am
Portugal manager reported to be facing six-month ban over alleged behaviour during drugs testing session before World Cup.... - Premier League Transfer Talk - August 2728 August 2010, 8:26 am
Read latest news and summer gossip affecting your Premier League club....
- WORLD CUP 2010: Fiesta Iniesta! Spain celebrates glorious triumph with heroes' parade through Madrid streets15 July 2010, 5:38 pm
Spain's World Cup winners enjoyed a heroes' reception as jubilant supporters took to the streets of Madrid in their droves to welcome home Del Bosque's history-makers.... - WORLD CUP 2010: Referee Howard Webb still 'thrilled' with final achievement despite criticism from Holland and Spain15 July 2010, 3:08 pm
World Cup final referee Howard Webb reflected on a 'tough game' after returning home from South Africa but was thrilled to have been involved in the showpiece.... - WORLD CUP 2010: So, did that blow your vuvuzela, or did South Africa 2010 hit the wrong note?13 July 2010, 8:35 am
It may be all over for another four years but the memories of South Africa 2010 will live on. Sportsmail's team of experts give their verdicts on the tournament...... - WORLD CUP 2010: Brutal, beaten and bleating... Holland display a lack of class as they blame everyone else for loss13 July 2010, 8:20 am
By the time Holland's players had made their way through the interview area and left the magnificent Soccer City Stadium, there was little left to admire.... - WORLD CUP 2010: Is it EVER acceptable to play like Holland did against Spain?13 July 2010, 12:05 am
Holland's cynical and persistent foul play against Spain has certainly left its mark - and not just on Xabi Alonso. But if it had worked, would it have been the right approach?...
Web
- 2010 World Cup: After 40 days in South Africa, these are the things I left behind14 July 2010, 11:13 am
Grant: These are the things I left behind... - 2010 World Cup: Observations and conclusions on the Monday after12 July 2010, 5:29 pm
Cheers, South Africa. It was a pleasant stay, writes John Brewin.... - 2010 World Cup: Thanks for the memories, South Africa12 July 2010, 4:18 pm
Thanks for the memories, South Africa, writes Jeff Carlisle... - 2010 World Cup: Spain-Netherlands stats12 July 2010, 2:45 pm
Fast facts on the Spain-Netherlands game.... - 2010 World Cup: I won't soon forget seeing Nelson Mandela11 July 2010, 6:49 pm
I won't soon forget seeing Nelson Mandela at the World Cup, writes Jemele Hill....
- Presidential letters stress legacy26 July 2010, 4:48 pm
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and Jacob Zuma, the President of the Republic of South Africa, have highlighted the FIFA World Cup's positive impact in a warm exchange of letters.... - Ten to watch for 201423 July 2010, 10:52 am
FIFA.com takes a closer look at some of the hottest young properties unearthed at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa.... - South Africa 2010's unlikeliest star20 July 2010, 8:41 am
Never out of the news, Paul the octopus held the FIFA World Cup's only 100 per cent record and has become one of the tournament's most sought-after stars.... - Domingo: Proud to be Spanish19 July 2010, 10:35 am
Amid the feverish post-match celebrations of Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands, world famous operatic tenor Placido Domingo made time for an exclusive chat with FIFA.com.... - Non-stop action in South America15 July 2010, 3:05 pm
South American football has resumed business, with the countdown to Brazil 2014 already under way and plenty of activity on the domestic and international scenes....
- Anelka reveals depth of tensions15 July 2010, 10:54 am
Nicolas Anelka speaks for the first time since he was sent home from the World Cup, describing the tensions inside the France camp as a "timebomb".... - Argentina offer Maradona new deal15 July 2010, 7:14 am
Diego Maradona is to be offered a new deal that would keep him in charge of Argentina through to the summer of 2014 - when Brazil stages the World Cup.... - Ballack warns Lahm over captaincy14 July 2010, 8:02 pm
Injured Germany captain Michael Ballack warns World Cup skipper Philipp Lahm he expects to take back the armband on his return to fitness.... - Cup flops England climb rankings14 July 2010, 8:17 am
England rise one place to seventh in Fifa's world rankings, despite an early World Cup exit, while Spain replace Brazil at number one.... - Uruguay hails its football heroes14 July 2010, 7:54 am
Uruguay's national footballers are given a rapturous welcome back home after their World Cup success....
