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.

It looks like Dunga is getting favorable response from the polls run on the right side bar especially after Brazil’s win against Chile.

During the first run of the polls, Dunga could hardly get a positive vote; things have changed since then.

Go and vote for Dunga’s work ethic poll.

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.

Argentina is now the King of the Mountain rising to the number 1 spot of FIFA World Rankings. The way things are going it looks like Argentina has the best shot of winning World Cup 2010.

Their team is becoming more deadly as their core roster of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Ruben Gago, Higuain and Tevez are maturing just fine.

Italy is looking good towards FIFA World Cup 2010 especially because they have just unseated Brazil in the FIFA Ranking after the South American squad remained number 1 for the last 55 months.

This is the first time Italy became number 1 since November 1993.

Brazil is going to have a lot of homework to do and losing to a friendly game against Portugal 0 – 2 does not help their cause.

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

Ananova reports that recent FIFA World Cup competition left a lot of pregnant girls in town. German maternity wards are now fully booked for April to give way to a ton load of FIFA World Cup babies.

In an excerpt:

The women say that the baby is a souvenir from the World Cup. A product of the euphoria from the tournament.

Continue reading here.

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

Alex Ferguson and Steve McLaren were old pals as Steve served as Alex’s assistant for two and a half years before leaving for Red Devils; as such, I understand the support Alex is giving Steve. He would not recommend for the replacement of Steve McLaren despite England’s first home loss in a qualifier but would instead boost his morale to perform.

Alex warned that media is putting unecessary pressure on Steve McLaren and booting him out should not be an option as the manager’s great potential would never be reached.

So what?

Filippo Raciti is a policeman who died in crowd violence at Sicily’s derby between Catania and Palermo. After the incident officials began checking stadia in Italy to verify their security systems and measures to ensure that games are safe.

Bari’s Stadio San Nicola where the qualifier between Scotland and Italy is going to be played on March 28 has been declared unsuitable to host spectators.

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]