FIFAworldcup.com - Un Official Fifa World Cup 2010

It is fitting that coach Nelson Acosta of Chile resigns from the job. His team was a humiliation in Copa America at Venezuela capping it with a demolition loss from Brazil.

Regardless of the chaotic situation in the Chile side, Brazil should have bounced back from a lackluster performance earlier in the tournament as they crushed their opponent with a 6-point haul. They prepared for this game, working on drills designed to neutralize every attack of Coach Nelson Acost.

Steve McClaren has pointed out that the players need to prove a point in their Uefa Euro 2008 qualifier match against Israel in Tel Aviv.

More than anything else, I believe Steve McClaren is the one who should prove a point for England. The squad was spectacular in the last FIFA World Cup and their current team which was supposed to be the same line up as before is far from half of their previous face.

Steve has put in a lot of changes starting in getting rid of David Beckham who should have provided the leadership and maturity England needs to develop its young core like Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney.

Francesco Totti said he would not participate in the Italy national squad anymore and would not be playing for FIFA World Cup or the UEFA Euro.

His absence to the national squad doesn’t have an impact on Italy’s future because Totti has mostly been absent during important games of the team. He was sent off after Italy lost in FIFA World Cup 2002 and was banned from Uefa Euro 2004 because of spitting on Christian Poulsen, Danish midfielder.

He was present in FIFA World Cup 2006 but his presence wasn’t felt at all.

Totti, have fun and enjoy your new found freedom.

[tags]Francesco Totti, Italy[/tags]

When will Raymond Domenech accept that the old boys’ time has arrived and he should let them go and think of the future of France on a long-term basis?

Liliam Thuram is a great defender and still plays well for Barcelona while Claude Makelele another great midfielder playing for Chelsea are valuable assets for France but they would not be likely to play in FIFA World Cup 2010 in Africa. Looking short-sighted, I don’t think they can even make it past Uefa Euro 2008.

I reacted badly and I would like to apologise for it, I would like to apologise because a lot of children were watching the match. I do apologise but I don’t regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.

The world finally heard Zidane’s side after he appeared on French television saying that Materrazi said insulting things to his mother who is in the hospital and sister—once, twice, thrice.

Classic Zidane. Albeit he’s calm and shy persona lie a true warrior who descended from Algeria ruled by France for 132 years, born in French soil and grew in a tough environment outside Marseilles. Because of Zidane, Algeria learned to blind themselves from France’s doing, forgave and loved their country all because of the maestro.

The world cup is the greatest sporting event in the world, but a one man’s journey towards restoring love on a country whose rulers were hated for all memory is bigger than the extra time of a finals game.

I am so happy for Zidane on winning the Golden Ball Award. France would never reach the finals without Zidane who powered his country right after the group stage. He seldom showed any semblance prior to the group of 16 which does not matter, because legends and the greatest players play and get paid for the biggest games of the tournament. Come to think of it, Zidane being the captain allowed his teammates to build confidence prior to the group stage without dominating and being the center of attention. He used his teammates’ growth and confidence to support him in beating their opponent’s en-route to the finals.

The race for the prestigous Gillete Best Young Player award is heating up with the list trimmed down to six players. The award aims to recognize the impact of young footballers in their first FIFA World Cup who rises above their young peers throughout the duration of the tournament.

Past winners include notables like Brazilian legend PELÉ, German icon Franz BECKENBAUER, greatest striker of Peru Teofilo CUBILLAS and England wunderkid Michael OWEN to name a few.

The other day I surrendered all my belief in my super hero expecting him to be axed from the lineup. He proved me wrong and he may look into my eyes and laugh as loud as he can while insulting me for all I care. Deep inside I am relieved and happy for what he did and where he is right now—Ronaldo is all smiles and looks rejuvenated after he scored two goals, trying Gerd Muller’s record of 14 goals in FIFA World Cup Finals enroute to a Brazil win against Japan that moves them past the group stage.

That is a great achievement for the superstar who for the past weeks was the laughing stock of the media from newspapers, magazines, blogs, website news and even in street conversations across the world.

“Ronaldo Is Axed!” is the headline we should be reading in the coming days. Ronaldo’s star status should no longer be used as a reason to keep him on the field. He is obviously fat and making people sick. I have nothing against him, in fact I like the guy so much and have followed him throughout his career. But looking deeper into my football passion, I came to realize it transcends far more than any one player.

I cannot believe how a talent like Ronaldo would show up overweight in the greatest sporting event in the world. The 1996, 1997 and 2002 World Footballer of the Year was a disgrace in the first game against Croatia with Kaka providing the only goal for the team. Brazil’s below expectation performance and Argentina’s spectacular showing are tipping the scale of the World Cup Finals.

After Sunday’s game Ronaldo was blasted across the Brazilian press with headlines:

Wayne Rooney came to the rescue as if on cue the Bat signal was raised and the hero appears. I would agree with Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision before the game to keep Wayne Rooney from playing especially against a physical team like Trinidad and Tobago.

The first half ended and the score still tied, T&T are pounding on the drums, the fire is burning and the ritual of slaugthering a sacrifice is going to happen in the second half at the expense of England. With raw power rather than experience, with strength rather than finesse, with killer instincts rather than intelligence; this team is circling the field focus on taking down their opponent and claim their rightful place after 40 painful years of waiting.

When the SEA Games was held here in our country around 15 years ago (give or take) the team finished second place in gold medal tally (something that never happened again). They were performing way beyond expectations and the whole country united and very was excited throughout the event. I was around 12 years old by that time and I could not explain the feeling that occured in out nation.

With over 28 billion fans watching in aggregation for 2006 World Cup; I can’t imagine the feeling happening in Germany right now. Furthermore, I could not imagine the feeling of Michael Ballack who undoubtedly will lead the Germany assault. The fans are the 12th man of Germany who is expected to fire this squad beyond proportions.

Michael Ballacks’ high intensity emotion filled style of play will raise the bar amongst his teamates all determined to win in front of their country. They will not allow themselves to lose and will muster every ounce of power and energy boosted quadrillion times by their teamate sitting on the stands.

They do not have the same level of talent as they did in the previous World Cups but their fighting spirit, focus, adrenaline and most importantly—German Pride will take them a long long way.

If this squad reaches the final 8 and with all the players still in healthy condition; the rest of their opponents will have a very difficult time. The hearts’ of German players will continously pound on a positive note as the deafening uproar of the crow will never cease it’s support while the opponents hearts’ will equally pound on negative tone. The Brazilian feast will no longer happen; crushed by a player name “German Pride”.

If this squad wins the World Cup there will be hysteria, madness, unmatched celebration with all the beers flooding the streets. No one could ever find the words to explain the feeling of being a German.

No one could every explain how Michael would feel especially if comes up with a great performance en route to the FIFA World Cup Finals.

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[tags]FIFA World Cup, World Cup, FIFA World Cup Germany, Germany, Football[/tags]

Over at BBC a picture of Ronaldo in FIFA World Cup 2002 was posted showing his lean frame in what seemed to be in a speeding motion.

Photographer Ross Kinnaird has this to say (see picture here):

Football…Brazil…Ronaldo – it doesn’t get any better, especially if you’re a sports photographer covering the World Cup finals. Taking pictures of the best footballers in the world and seeing them in print is a massive buzz. You’re so close to the action you can hear a metatarsal crack. All my mates want to swap places with me! This Ronaldo picture shows power and speed in an arty kind of way. Shooting from the stands allows you to see shapes and patterns set against the green grass. I wanted to capture him running from left to right because it looks better in print. To get the shot spot on, I wanted Ronaldo on his own (he’s always tightly marked and not always in the action) so I needed to concentrate on more than just watching the game. It’s all worth the effort when it comes off though!——Ross Kinnaird

Ronaldo is not as lean as he was four years ago. How fast can we go today?

More Player Profile over at Soccerati.

[tags] FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup 2006, World Cup Germany, Soccer, Football, Brazil[/tags]