[Charged with breaking down the European qualifiers, David Patrick Lane takes a moment to tell us what he really thinks. Next Group 7. Serbia, France, and yes, our Austrian friends will soon make an appearance.]
The 1970 World Cup was a watershed moment for the modern game, if for no other reason than it was broadcast in color. Color TV sets were a newfangled invention then, though many folks have continued to watch World Cups as if they were taking place in snowstorms.
There have been 10 World Cups since 1970. That’s 40 different semi finalists. Yet only four have come from outside Europe.
The weekly news and business magazine, The Economistpublished a story this week on South Africa’s preparations for next year’s World Cup. The magazine, not known for singing South Africa’s praises, not only concluded that South Africa is on track and that “… the doubters are so far being proved wrong.”
When, in 2004, South Africa was chosen to be the first African country to host football’s World Cup many fans around the world were doubtful. South Africa would mismanage it, they said. It would be a commercial flop. They mooted Australia as an alternative should South Africa’s organisers fail to get their act together. Five years on, the doubts have diminished as new stadiums rise up across the country. Indeed, next year’s tournament may turn out to be the most profitable yet, thanks to the sale of broadcasting rights …
Great World Cups are often remembered as much for what happens off the pitch as what happens on the pitch. The pageantry and passion of supporters can be as memorable as the skill and performances of players.
Scottish qualification would go a long way to ensuring a successful South Africa 2010.
Recalcitrant Scottish tribes pumping through the arteries of Pretoria, their bestial roars still powerful enough to send shivers down the spines of long dead Roman Legionnaires. (Note to the BBC, CNN, AP and Reuters: Europe has tribes too.) The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein booming to the tune of Scotland the Brave.
Mexico’s Giovanni dos Santos looks good in the video, above, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over lowly Venezuela. But can Dos Santos and this teammates play like this in early August when they meet the United States again in regional World Cup qualifiers? Three teams qualify automatically and the US is currently second behind Costa Rica. Mexico is fourth behind Honduras. Though Mexico has won all their home games (they’ve been less successful on the road), their neighbors, the United States–now also gloating from beating world number one, Spain–currently has Mexico’s number. Which just makes football fan and actor Diego Luna (quoted in lad magazine, COMPLEX) depressed:
News agency, Reuters, is skeptical about South African unity off the field. On the field, as South African football writer, Rodney Reiners, argues the team has matured a lot.
With his top-flight football career coming to a slow end, most football pundits writing him off and most of the big clubs not interested in his wage demands (the only English Premier League clubs interested in his services at this point, are also-rans Hull and Stoke), Michael Owen must have wondered about life after football.
He could always sell real estate in Dubai. But he may have to improve his presentation (and acting) skills if this 9-minute video for Dubai-based British real estate conglomerate, The First Group, is anything to go by. (Note: The Dubai real estate market is currently down).
BTW, The First Group also use Andre Shevchenko (for their Russian clients) and rugby player, Bryan Habana, to sell their wares.
Barack Obama plays basketball and is a fan of the Chicago Bulls. More recently he has taken an interest in soccer. He’s a fan of his daughters’ soccer teams. (That’s him cheering them on at a field in Washington D.C.) Then there’s the story that Obama attended a West Ham game while visiting Britain six years ago. (Enough, by the way for Hammers fans to claim he is a loyal supporter.)
Obama also supports the US bid for the World Cup for 2018 or 2022.
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