By Paul Gardner Group A has finished all wrong, of course. It’s been an unswerving rule of every World Cup that the host team always qualifies for the second round.South Africa should be celebrating right now. But it’s out of the tournament after only three games, and I’m wondering who ever really believed that the […]
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Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
South Africa and France face almost certain elimination
[PREDICTIONS] The World Cup moves into the final stages of the first round when group matches will be played simultaneously. Mexico and Uruguay have the edge inGroup A, while Argentina is all but assured of advancing to the knockout phase from Group B. For a look at Tuesday’s four games and Soccer America’s predictions … […]
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 inSpecial Edition, Story
Total meltdown in Bleus' camp
[FRANCE] The French national team was thrown intro disarray on Sunday when it players boycotted a public training session at its base in Knysna in support ofNicolas Anelka, who had been sent home after he insulted Coach Raymond Domenech and refused to apologize. The move followed a dispute between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Anelka goes off …
[FRANCE] After a zombie-like performance in the first half of France’s 2-0 loss to Mexico, striker Nicolas Anelka wokeup at halftime. He responded to criticism by Coach Raymond Domenech of his play by launching a profanity-laced attack that has gotten him sent home. Domenech criticized Anelka, France’s center forward, for playing out of position and […]
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
Mexico reduces shameful France to 'small soccer nation'
[MEXICO-FRANCE REPORT CARD] Like his grandfather in 1954, Javier Hernandez scored for Mexico against France at the WorldCup. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, another sub, added a penalty kick as the Tri knocked off the Bleus, 2-0, leaving them on the verge of elimination. AsFrench captain Patrice Evra put it, France has been reduced to being “a small […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What tricks does Maradona have for South Korea?
[PREDICTIONS] Argentina players are crediting Coach Diego Maradona with coming up with the play that produced thewinning goal against Nigeria. He’ll need to come up with a plan to stop South Korea, so impressive in its win over Greece. For a look at Thursday’s three games and Soccer America’s predictions … ARGENTINA (3 pts., 1-0) […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bafana Bafana thrive under Parreira
[GROUP A] Of the six African teams at the World Cup, South Africa is the least Europeanized, but the Bafana Bafana’s local stars were a match for highly ratedMexico. As for France-Uruguay, who really believed it wouldn’t end 0-0? What we liked … — After a pitiful first half, South Africatook the game to Mexico […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pressure on host South Africa
[SOCCER AMERICA PREDICTIONS] The World Cup begins on Friday when South Africa hosts Mexico and France meets Uruguay in Group A. The pressure will be on BafanaBafana to extend the unbeaten record of the host nation in its opening game at the World Cup. France and Uruguay will try to make amends for an ill-tempered […]