[BRAZIL-CHILE] Coach Dunga’s Brazil, which suffered a rare shutout in its last group game against Portugal, downed Chile, 3-0, asRobinho had his best game of the tournament. Next up, the Netherlands, which will have to shut down red-hot striker Luis Fabiano. Here’s what we liked aboutBrazil-Chile … What we liked … — With Ronaldinho left […]
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Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Three-team fight in Group H
[PREDICTIONS] Brazil has clinched, and Portugal is all but assured of advancing in Group G. Chile, Spain and Switzerland could be headed for a three-way tieatop Group H. For a look at Friday’s four games and Soccer America’s predictions … GROUP G: BRAZIL (6 pts. 6-2)vs. PORTUGAL (4 pts. 7-0) June 25 in Durban Kickoff: […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: USA Hysterical, Italy Lousy, and It's OK to Foul Brazil
By Paul Gardner No doubt the advertisers have spent millions compiling the commercials that we are now seeing, aren’t we ever, during the World Cup games. Most ofthem, maybe all of them, are evidently conceived and written by morons. Certainly most of them seem to be narrated by gravel-voiced airheads. Caught up in the lunacy […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil shows some samba to down Elephants
[BRAZIL-IVORY COAST] Not often did Brazil flick on its irrepressible style, yet it cruised into the round of 16 by outclassing a very disappointing Ivory Coast,3-1, Sunday in Johannesburg. Here’s what we liked and didn’t like about Brazil’s triumph over Ivory Coast. … What we liked … — LUIS FABIANO. Without a goal for his […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Brazil puts streak on line
[PREDICTIONS] Brazil faces Ivory Coast Sunday in one of the most-anticipated matches of the first round of the World Cup. For a look at Sunday’s threegames and Soccer America’s predictions … SLOVAKIA (1 pt., 1-1) vs. PARAGUAY (1 pt. 1-1) June 20 inBloemfontein Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision. Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles). PREDICTIONS: Paul […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Beware of coaching nonsense
By Paul Gardner We’re now reaching the stage of the World Cup when we are forced to put up with a good deal of crap about coaches and coaching. From the coachesthemselves, of course, but also from their players (how would they dare contradict their coach?), and from their followers in the media. Of the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rating the big seven
[MY VIEW] The seven seeds other than host South Africa were considered the favorites to win the World Cup. How did they do in their openers? They ranged fromGermany, magnificent in its 4-0 win over Australia, to Spain, upset by Switzerland, and Italy and England, both lackluster at best in opening ties. Here’s how we […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Sao Paulo stadium is dropped
[WORLD CUP 2014] How bad are things going in Brazil, host of the 2014 World Cup? Organizers have dropped Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium because the cityhasn’t come up with financial guarantees. A World Cup without a stadium in Sao Paulo is unimaginable. It’s Brazil’s largest city and economic center. Plans were to host gamesthrough the […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Still Waiting for Brazil
By Paul Gardner We’ve had to wait a long time for Brazil in this tournament, and it seems to me we’re still waiting. Brazil’s performance yesterday during its 2-1 winover North Korea was hardly vintage Brazil. We got the thinnest shadow of the beautiful game. We got Dunga’s Brazil, the pragmatic Brazil of which Dunga […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Is North Korea upset possible?
[PREDICTIONS] Brazil, one of the favorites, begins play on Tuesday against longshot North Korea, whose young star is talking upset. Possible? For more onTuesday’s three games and Soccer America’s predictions … NEW ZEALAND (0-0-0) vs. SLOVAKIA (0-0-0) June 15 inRustenburg Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision. Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa). PREDICTIONS: Paul Kennedy: Tie […]