7 Days To Go: One Week!

One week to go!
7 days before the start of the 2010 World Cup and I can hardly believe it!
Lots of news today, so let's get to it ...

Today's Tidbits

1 - Since I started writing this site, one of the main protagonists has been the Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba. He's on magazine covers, won tons of accolades and is one of the faces of Africa's first World Cup.

BAD news today, as Drogba is set to miss the 2010 World Cup.

According to reports, Drogba is set to miss the Cup with a suspected fractured elbow after he was forced off in a friendly against Japan. Drogba had put his country 1-0 ahead with a free-kick in the 15th minute before going down following a challenge from the Japan defender Tulio – off whom Drogba's goal had deflected in – and he left the pitch in visible distress.

Drogba was immediately taken to hospital in Sion, Switzerland, where the Ivorians have been undergoing altitude training. "Of course I am worried, he's our captain and one of the best players in the world," said the Ivory Coast manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, who attached no blame to Tulio. "It was unlucky, he didn't want to hurt anyone. Football is a game of contact."

Just bad, bad news ... at the age of 32, will we ever see Drogba in a World Cup again?

2 - MORE injury news, as England's captain Rio Ferdinand will miss the World Cup.

This after injuring his left knee in training.

The England captain broke down after a tackle in the final few minutes of his team's first training session since landing in South Africa, and was taken to hospital for a scan.

The results of the scan are believed to indicate knee ligament damage and the 31-year-old will take no further part in the World Cup.

Michael Dawson, who was part of Fabio Capello's initial 30-man squad, is the likely replacement, while Steven Gerrard will be promoted to the captaincy.

UGGH!!

3 - Team USA plays one more friendly, against Australia, before the start of next week's Cup.

4 - Speaking of Team USA, is the opening match against England the Revenge of the Colonies??

Sounds like a Star Wars movie.

5 - Fears and frustration temper the pride many locals feel about hosting the World Cup, according to the Guardian's Anna Kessel.

What I Think I Think

A week away and just a question:

Who do you think will win the 2010 World Cup?

I'll write an analysis of my thoughts tomorrow.

16 Days To Go: Hot Hot Hot!

If you're in New York, you're probably standing in front of an air conditioner or fan.

It's HOT, something like 99 degrees.

Since when is it summer in May?!?

I wonder if it'll be this hot in South Africa for the World Cup?

Probably not ... anyways, I digress.

Today's Tidbits

1 - Diego Maradona will run naked through the streets of Buenos Aires if Argentina win the World Cup. Lock up your women and children now.

2 - USA announces their 23-man roster ... you know, the team that will defeat England 2-1 June 12th.

3 - Did you hear? Jose 'the Special One' Mourinho, fresh off his Champions League victory with Real Madrid, is the new coach of Real Madrid.

4 - From one of my favorite football websites, The Global Game ... 'Football's powers of resurrection have rarely had a better exemplar than Martin Afrika. The 32-year-old captain for South Africa at the Homeless World Cup has reconstructed his identity through sport.'

5 - Who were the 10 greatest Cameroon football players of all time? Glad you asked ...

What I Think I Think

This past weekend's Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich didn't do so hot in the ratings.

The first U.S. over-the-air network telecast of a European Champions League final got a 1.1 overnight rating and 3 share on Fox from major markets.

Fox Sports chairman David Hill said last week he hoped for a rating of 2.0 to 2.5. So it has to be somewhat disheartening to see the ratings info.

But when you think about it, it's not as bad as you think.

First off, it wasn't the sexiest match-up. Inter? Munich? We're not talking Manchester United and Real Madrid here.

Second, did you even know the game was on Fox? I didn't. It's not like the network did a great job of advertising the match. Maybe to the die hards that watch Fox Soccer Channel. But the casual fan had to search for the game.

Also, people usually watch big matches like this in groups. I watched it with about 40 people at a bar. So it makes sense that there were a lot more eyes on this match than the rating indicates.

Lastly, football's just not that big of a sport in the USA.

No big revelation here, of course. Soccer has its niche, much like ice hockey and Nascar. And that's ok.

Besides, more people will watch the World Cup, which usually attracts the casual fan.

Seen in this light, the rating's ok. No need to worry. The game's just fine here in the States.

17 Days To Go: A Correction

Whoops! I made a boo boo yesterday.

I mentioned that Inter Milan striker Diego Milito, scorer of two goals in this past weekend's boring Champions League final was off Argentina's World Cup squad.

Whoops. Thanks to my friend Andrew, I am now aware Mr. Milito is indeed playing for Los Albiceleste. So sorry for calling you a drug addict, Diego Maradona.

Today's Tidbits

1 - The aforementioned Milito is eager to face Nigeria in their Group B opener on June 12th.

"After what I have achieved with my teammates at Inter Milan, my attention is now to help my country do well at the World Cup. For us to do well, we must start well and I hope to do my bit in the tournament. It is important for us to win our first match and if I get the chance to play, I would try to score because I want our fans to be happy", said Milito.

So there.

2 - Cristiano Ronaldo is NOT happy about his Vanity Fair cover shot. Why? Click here and find out.

3 - If the U.S. wants to be a soccer power on the global stage, it should take a look at how the game is played kids on the fields in Queens: with freewheeling joy, according to the New York Times.

4 - Relive 40 years of absurd, borderline racist World Cup mascots, thanks to Deadspin.

5 - With barely a fortnight to go, the sound of keepers bleating about the official tournament football has been conspicuously absent, according to England's Guardian.

What I Think I Think

Besides the 2010 World Cup, what's the biggest story of the football summer?

No, it's not the transfer of David Villa to Barcelona and the rumored one of Fernando Torres from Liverpool.

It's the impending announcement of Jose Mourinho becoming the next coach of Real Madrid.

Honestly, isn't this a match made in heaven?

A smug coach for a somewhat narcissistic football club ... you couldn't write this better.

Mourinho is a winner. He's captured titles almost everywhere he's gone.

Problem is, Madrid go through coaches like most people go through toothbrushes: once they're worn out from the pressure, time to get a new one.

Look at this list of coaches since Vicente del Bosque was canned in 2003:

- Carlos Quieroz

- Jose Antonio Camacho

- Mariano Garcia Remon

- Vanderlei Luxemburgo

- Juan Ramon Lopez Caro

- Fabio Capello

- Bernd Schuster

- Juande Ramos

- Manuel Pellegrini

That's 9 guys, one who won the league title and was STILL sacked (Capello).

So what does this club need? Stability would be nice. Consistency even better.

Imagine the pressure on the Special One should he come to the World's (Self-Proclaimed) Biggest Club? He'd need to best FC Barcelona, who have built a super team with a much different philosophy than Los Merengues, promoting more from within and buying players more for need.

Also, he'd be expected to win the club's first European Championship (the elusive Decima, the 10th in Madrid's history) sooner rather than later.

The Spanish press is notorious for chewing coaches up and spitting them out. Does Jose really want to step into that vitreous cauldron? If the newspapers in Spain are to be believed, it's a done deal.

Of course, if anyone's ready for the pressure and can take it, it's the Special One.

Should make for an interesting season should you support one of the big two clubs in the Iberian Peninsula.

18 Days To Go!

Ok, I'm finally back. And this time for good!

The 2010 World Cup is a mere 18 days away!

Time flies when you're having fun, eh?

From here on out, this is how the site will work:

- 5 links each day to interesting World Cup stories.

- My daily opinion on the day's events.

- Since I can't make it to South Africa for the Cup, I'll enjoy the sights and sounds of the US's most cosmopolitan metropolis, New York City, and hit up some of the city's best foreign enclaves to watch the matches with fans and soak up some international atmosphere.

That's a decent consolation prize, no? No?! Hey, it's the best I can do. Unless you can get me $10,000 in the next two weeks.

Ok, so here we go ...

Today's Tidbits

1 - How about a preview of one of South America's under-the-radar football powers, Paraguay?

2 - If you're going to the World Cup, be careful about getting sick ...

According to a new study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, visitors traveling to South Africa will need to worry less about 'exotic' tropical diseases such as malaria, and concentrate on protecting themselves from a wide range of more common travel-related diseases, such as acute diarrheal illness, sexually transmitted diseases, febrile illnesses, insect and tick bites, and vaccine-preventable infections, especially influenza and measles.

So maybe it's good I'm staying here in New York? Yikes!!

3 - US 'keeper Tim Howard is proud of America's goal keeper tradition.

4 - England beats Mexico in a friendly ... and more friendly results from Monday.

5 - Spain's Xabi Alonso thinks Spain can with the World Cup. Ya think?

What I Think I Think

Umm, let's see.

I didn't watch the friendlies, so can't go there.

The World Cup is weeks away, so why bother at this point ...

Hmm ... Oh! I know ... Did we all watch Inter Milan's domination of Bayern Munich in the Champions League final this past Saturday?

Excuse me, Mr. Diego Maradona ... but what exactly were you smoking when you left Inter striker Diego Milito off your squad list? Tsk tsk. And he brought 87-year old Martin Palermo instead? I dunno. I'm not sure how this move will pay off.

The Greatest Player of All Time may have some explaining to do come the end of the tournament.

ESPN's Champions League Ratings Are Great!

We all know football can succeed in the United States. Here's further proof.

Wednesday's airing of FC Barcelona’s 2-0 win over defending champion Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final averaged 1.43 million viewers (and a 1.1 rating/1.07 million homes) for ESPN, making it the most-watched UEFA soccer game in the history of U.S. Cable.

The previous record was the 2008 final on ESPN2 that averaged 1.09 million viewers.

The final was also ESPN Deportes’ second most-watched telecast ever, drawing a 9.9 Hispanic coverage ratings and 474,000 Hispanic homes. The most-watched ESPN Deportes telecast was the Euro 2008 Final where Spain beat Germany that drew a 10.1 Hispanic coverage rating.

This match marks the end of a 15-year run on ESPN networks. Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports USA outbid the Disney-owned sports network for the rights to the prestigious club tournament for the next three seasons.

MY POV: It just goes to show that soccer can make a foothold in the USA. There are just two problems.

1 - People flock to the big names. Barcelona. Manchester United. The appetite is there for big-name soccer. But what about the domestic product, the MLS? The hunger and passion isn't there for this product just yet. It's huge in places like Seattle and Toronto. But MLS still needs to catch fire in other target cities, like Chicago and New York.

2 - Now that the Champions League is moving to the Fox Soccer Channel, which isn't distributed in as many homes as ESPN, will the under exposure hurt the game?

I'm sure Fox and their vast network of resources will work hard to further their resources. Still, it's not in place like ESPN's is. This is a total 'wait and see.'

Who Will Host the 2018/2022 World Cups?

With FIFA having received a total of '11 formal expressions of interest' to bid for the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cups, Road to 2010 wonders: How do the candidates stack up?

England's fine newspaper the Guardian Unlimited does the work for us, with an interactive map digesting the pros and cons of all 11 bids for the '18/'22 Cups.

The 11 bids are from Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the USA.

Here's a small dosage of the Guardian's analysis. For more, please click here and enjoy the full article.

Australia

Pros - Has a proven track record in hosting major tournaments, such as the 200 Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Bid will not want for money or influence thanks to their chief football powerbroker, billionaire property developer Frank Lowy. A perceived boost to the moderately successful A-League would also be a boon for FIFA.

Cons - The time difference with Europe, the largest and most lucrative television audience for football, is the biggest problem and that may be accentuated should UEFA and FIFA succeed in their legal bid to open the bidding to subscription channels. A lack of purpose-built football stadia is also a problem.

USA

Pros - The likely voting pact between England's bloc and CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Carribbean Association Football) gives the United States a good chance of securing the 2022 Cup. Top class infrastructure, stadia and transport links also work in their favor, as does a perceived positive impact on the ailing MLS.

Cons - Hosted the finals as recently as 1994, a dull tournament remembered for draconian regulations imposed by TV companies ignorant of the tempo of football regarding the intake of fluids and the amount of time the ball spent in play. Brazil 2014 may work against another bid from the Americas.