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 inSoccer America Daily, Story
One goal changes everything
[MY VIEW] Rampant, near-hysterical promotion is a staple of ESPN’s philosophy, yet it came up short with its World Cup slogan, “One Game Changes Everything.”Nice try, guys, but as the first day of group finales vividly showed on Tuesday, one goal changes everything. By virtue of beating Greece, 2-0, in its opener on June 12, […]
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: 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
Win boosts Mexico's Euro record
[MEXICO-FRANCE] American fans love to cite a 2-0 defeat of Mexico in the 2002 World Cup round of 16 as proof of superiority, but by other World Cup criteria,the southern neighbor comes out ahead. The 2-0 win over France on Thursday notches another European opponent in Mexico’s impressive World Cup record. Going back to 1994, […]
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
Viewers double on ABC, ESPN and Univision
[TELEVISION WATCH] It comes as no surprise, given the hype and extensive promotional efforts surrounding the World Cup, that the early broadcasts on ESPN, ABCand Univision have drawn record ratings and viewerships. The USA-England game on ABC was the most-viewed first-round game ever with a 7.3 household rating and 12,956,000 viewers, based onfast nationals. It […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Referees get it right
By Paul Gardner Half of the 32 World Cup teams have now strutted their stuff, and most of them have been singularly unimpressive. The awful truth behind thisdisappointment is that I am the one to blame for all the caution and the defensive play that we have — and hence the lack of goals. My […]
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 […]