All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

This team could crumble. The only thing keeping The Special One from the Bernabeu next season is the manager on the other bench tonight.

 

Who else thinks the game with Arsenal this Sunday will end up with multiple red cards? Because a bloodier repeat of the League/Milk/Carling/Coca Cola/whatever the hell it is now Cup final is looming.

 

GB -- I agree, it could get ugly.

The Special One showing his class in his post-match comments -- "'We were the best team today, even against a team only playing for the Champions League."

 

Every time the possibility comes up, I'm gonna post this same thing, just for the record:

It's a great fantasy, that may well come to fruition. But it's not like the women's world cup in 2003, which seems to be the main thing that has US fans and media so hopeful that a world cup can be shuffled here at the drop of a hat. That was of course when China had the SARS issues, and it came here, largely because we had just hosted the previous one. The women's cup has three-four nations that care, though. Once a men's cup is awarded, it would be disaster to move it.

Nations that can host a World Cup at the drop of a hat: The United States, Italy, England, Germany, France, Spain, Japan and South Korea just because they just did a lot of building for 2002. Now the maybes: Holland, Mexico, . . . um . . . . help?

Yet, South Africa will lose it over Blatter's dead body. The guy wants to be part of history, he wants to be The Guy Who Brought the World Cup to Africa. FIFA has a LOT of money, and that will go to helping South Africa get the stadia ready. Also, on e thing that has been forgotten in a lot of the discussion is the history for the nation of South Africa. 20 years after Apartheid was still a stain on the country, South Africa hosts the world's biggest sporting event. What a story that will be, about how they can at least present themselves as having come full circle.

The infrastructure . . . well, the US has solid travel. But following the World Cup as a foreign fan or journalist here would be a nightmare. In 1994, Italy started in New York, played in Foxboro and RFK before ending in the Rose Bowl. Brazil started in Detroit, went to Palo Alto, CA, then to the Cotton Bowl and finally to the Rose Bowl. Domestic fans (and likely journalists, considering the massive changes in the business since 1994) would not have an easy time either.

 

What an arse. What a complete arse. Of all the cups out there, Chelsea had to have wanted this one the most.

 

It takes a very secure bunch to have a show tune on its club crest.

 

All good points, PR, but good stories don't line pockets and keep business interests happy. Sepp and FIFA are whores for money first, foremost and always. Yes, they have a lot of money, and they want even more. It's not like they're going to drop ticket prices so regular South Africans -- the ones for whom this tournament is supposed to do so much -- can see the matches in person. Large chunks of empty seats and stories of infrastructure calamity mean lower gate receipts, which in turn mean a change in FIFA presidents.

It's not like I want South Africa to fail. I just don't have any faith in FIFA to choose doing the right thing and sentiment over dollars and cents.

-----------

As for travel in the U.S., do like the NCAA tournament and put teams in pods. Two groups on the West Coast, two in the Midwest, two in the South and two in the Northeast. Teams don't start bouncing around until the knockout stages.

 

What he said!

 

How were they the "best" team?
They got snookered on the goal. They were a close-shave offside call from being beaten in OT, they gave up another free header that Kuyt put off the crossbar. What did Chelsea do well?

 

Hey! That's my line!

 

How dare you question the utter genius of Jose Mourinho!?! Don't you know he's God's gift to futbol and without him the EPL would be shit!?! He could lead an MLS club to a Champion's League title. He could personally score six goals a match, but doesn't want to rumple his suit. He makes Chuck Norris cry and shake with fear.

 

Got Cups?? I see 6 of them!