And why it must be better. Plus notes on some big World Cup Refs here in Brazil. They are the big issue… Continue reading
Posts from ‘June, 2014’
Why World Cup Refereeing is unreliable
It has to be said
Sentimental affection for Brazil and Boomer nostalgia glosses over Brazil’s faults. After a tainted win…. the view from Sao Paolo
From Sao Paolo, on opening day…
… at this troubled World Cup, old-fashioned Brazilian soccer with flair would solve everything. Can it happen? I’m at Brazil v Croatia today… Continue reading
On eve of World Cup opener…
Italy’s Cristiano Zanetti (R) is restrained by teammate Damiano Tommasi (C) after receiving a yellow card from referee Byron Moreno during a second round World Cup Finals match against South Korea in Taejon, June 18, 2002. (© Reuters Photographer / Reuter/REUTERS)
… the bizarre story of the worst Referee ever. Read & weep (i’m now in Sao Paolo for World Cup start Thursday.)… Continue reading
Was World Cup ’98 in France the best ever?
rench supporters wave a France 98 scarf in celebration during the group C soccer World Cup 98 match between France and Saudi Arabia at the Stade de France in St Denis, north of Paris Thursday June 18, 1998. (Michel Lipchitz/AP)
For the matches, for the journos covering it..? My good friend Chris Young writing in the Globe and Mail, makes a great case with great stories… Continue reading
World Cup predictions/previews
French soccer team midfielder Paul Pogba challenges for the ball (Associated Press)
Me & Cathal Kelly divvied up World Cup predictions/previews. Me on Group E, France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras… Continue reading
France is toast
France midfielder Franck Ribéry has been ruled out of the World Cup. Photograph: Charles Platiau/Reuters
Ribery is out. What they’re saying
Neymar. The Next Big Thing or Big Disappointment?
‘We are all monkeys.’ After Dani Alves ate a banana thrown at him, Neymar’s anti-racism tweets went viral
And start thinking the dreaded penalties, now
The World Cup’s Ten Best Penalty Takers, according to The Independent… Continue reading
World Cup buzz
French players on the team bus at the 2010 World Cup, where at one point they refused to train out of protest. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
France a team to watch. No more meltdowns… Continue reading
After the Qatar World Cup farce
Fifa president Sepp Blatter. ‘Blatter casts aside rivals, critics and gross offenders if they blatantly tarnish the image of his family within.’ Photograph: Ennio Leanza/AP
Top UK chap Sir Simon Jenkins calls on Britain “to form a rival world body” to FIFA. Okeydokey. As soon as the World Cup is over, everybody think about that…… Continue reading
Big fuss in England
Pundit Gary Lineker says Wayne Rooney should not necessarily start for England team. National debate ensues…what larks… Continue reading
The pre-World Cup problems for FIFA
Steve Goddard, a former head of refereeing for the South African Football Association, at his home in a suburb of Johannesburg, May 26, 2014. (JOAO SILVA/NYT)
One: Allegations of match-fixing in international exhibition matches. Two: Allegations that Qatar bribed its way to hosting the 2022 World Cup
