The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

Non-Brazilian fan death.

 

Not a chance. You think Sepp's moved by that stuff?

 

The only way the World Cup gets moved from Brazil is if Blatter starts to fear for his physical safety. He wants every chance to publicly preen and mug for the cameras so he can campaign for that Nobel Peace Prize he so desperately desires. That can't happen if he has to do dodge rioters every time he tries to do a photo op. Unless there is a real threat of armed insurrection, the 2014 World Cup is staying in Brazil.

No doubt there will be some special security measures passed to help "keep the peace" between now and the World Cup. Still, good on the people of Brazil for demanding their government address the country's need for schools and hospitals before splashing on bread and circuses.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/05/201159123141256818.html

 

Yep, there'll be a law that makes it a crime to protest within a mile of "a stadium hosting a major international football tournament played in even-numbered years not divisible by four" or some such. Much like every Olympic host country has to pass a law to make wearing a Pepsi T-shirt a capital crime.

 

The NFL would be a lot more fun if the field was as wide as a pitch

 

Pretty much already here.

http://www.thenation.com/article/174936/why-are-brazilians-protesting-world-cup#axzz2WsOrKadn

 

Ah, there you go.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, I assume Bernard was absent the day they handed out Brazilian footballing names.

 

You gotta love a Brazilian team with Bernard and Fred.

 

Gigi Buffon is starting to look like an aging Italian actress who hasn't admitted to herself that she isn't up for the lead roles anymore.

 

Um...welcome back?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130625/landon-donovan-gold-cup-jurgen-klinsmann/

 

I'll be interested in who else Klinsmann calls up for the Gold Cup. Even though players like Gonzalez and Besler have cemented their spots, I'm curious if Klinsmann wants them to play more and more together. Same with players like Zusi.

As for Donovan, I'm certain this is Klinsmann's way of saying, "You want back on the national team? Lead us to a Gold Cup championship."

 

70th minute, Uruguay and Brazil tied 1-1, and that's with Forlan missing a penalty. Great run by Uruguay the last three years - World Cup semis, Copa America champ, Confederations semifinal. Even more impressive when you consider just 3.3 million people live in Uruguay.