World Cup Buzz

Dunga, fairly or not, is feeling the heat for the Selecao’s performances the last couple of matches.  He decided to make some changes for the next two qualifiers.  The most obvious move was replacing Ronaldinho for Kaka.  The two AC Milan playmakers seem to be meshing well after their performance in the Rossoneri’s 1-0 win over Inter on Sunday’s Derby Della Madollina but when wearing Brazil’s famous yellow shirt it has not worked.  The move to include Inter’s Amantino Mancini was long overdue and the excitement of his 1st appearance for Brazil could energize the team.   

Brazil faces Venezuela in San Cristobal on October 12 then hosts Colombia in Rio three days later.

Goalkeepers:
Julio César (Inter Milán, ITA), Doni (Roma, ITA).

Defenders:
Daniel Alves (Barcelona, ESP), Maicon (Inter Milán, ITA), Kléber (Santos, BRA), Juan (Flamengo, BRA), Alex (Chelsea, ENG), Juan (Roma, ITA), Lucio (Bayern Múnich, GER), Thiago Silva (Fluminense, BRA).

Midfielders:
Anderson (Manchester United, ENG), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos, GRE), Josué (Wolfsburg, GER), Lucas (Liverpool, ENG), Elano (Manchester City, ENG), Julio Baptista (Roma, ITA), Kaká (Milán, ITA), Mancini (Inter Milán, ITA).

Forwards:
Alexandre Pato (AC Milán, ITA), Robinho (Manchester City, ENG), Luís Fabiano (Sevilla, ESP), Jô (Manchester City, ENG) 

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The Top 5 Things Learned From The Previous Round of WC Qualifying:

Ghana on the brink

The Black Stars could be out of qualifying.  In Group 5 of Round 2 WC African Qualifying, Ghana sits in 3^rd place behind 1^st place Libya and 2^nd place Gabon only trailing Gabon on goal differential.  Their talisman Michael Essien is out for that last crucial match vs. Lesotho and they will have to produce at least a 3 goal victory margin in that game to have a shot of advancing to the next stage.  Let’s hope they go through cause they are arguably the most talented team in Africa and fun to watch.

Domenech as to go

Why does this man still have employment?  What has he done to earn his continued place as national team coach of France?  Let’s see.  France looked horrible in Euro 2008, they have been erratic at best in matches following the Zidane embarrassment of the ’06 WC Final.  He’s consistently left off the team arguably the best French striker right now in David Trezeguet deciding on Nicolas Anelka instead and they just got whipped 3-1 by AUSTRIA.  With all the talent France has they should not be losing to AUSTRIA   Les Bleus need to bring back Aime Jacquet. 

Paraguay is the best team in South America, right now

La Albirroja has been the most consistent team in FIFA’s toughest qualifying region.  Paraguay has 5 players that have scored at least 2 goals meaning that there isn’t one person to key on.  That makes them more dangerous offensively than supposedly more dangerous offensive sides like Brazil and Argentina.  By the way, results vs. South America’s 2 Giants:  1-1 draw vs. Argentina in Buenos Aires and a 2-0 win vs. Brazil in Asuncion.  Impressive, if Paraguay’s key players can avoid injury over the next months, Paraguay will not only make it to The Great Tournament but will be a serious contender for the title.

No Caribbean Riddims in South Africa

This one hurts the most because of my roots in the Caribbean and my desire to see a Caribbean nation progress deep into the World Cup.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for the Caribbean nations in CONCACAF.  The Caribbean Champions, Haiti have 1 point after 3 matches and a –7 goal differential and tragically a lot more on their minds than football.  Jamaica just fired its coach after only 1 point and a –6 goal differential.  Cuba has 0 points.  Trinidad & Tobago are the last hope.  The Soca Warriors have 4 points and are tied with Guatemala for 2^nd in Group 1. I think us Caribbean folk will have to wait till Brazil 2014. At least we got Usain Bolt.

Sepp Blatter is the SHIZZLE!!!!

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter announced that all workers would get two free tickets to a WC match at the stadium they are working on.  That is FREAKING SWEEET!!! (To quote Peter Griffin).  If I didn’t have a job, I would find my way to South Africa and get me a job at Ellis Park or any of those stadiums.  I can install the toilets for all I care.  I will deal with sewage pipes for some free WC tickets.

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Almost half-way through the South American World Cup qualifiers and one of the top 5 issues of this qualifying cycle is the play of Brazil.  Anyone who knows anything about South American football knows that Brazil is going to finish in the Top 4, automatically putting them in The Great Tournament, so why all the heat towards the Selecao and more specifically Dunga.  Brazil is in 2nd place (along with 2 other teams) and has only lost once in 8 matches.  They are undefeated at home and have given up the least goals in qualifying not to mention the defending Copa America champions, winning it without Ronaldinho & Kaka.  So why all the heat? The days of the Jogo Bonito are gone but there is still some Brazilian flair and that’s what we want to see.  Unfortunately, we haven’t seen it.  We don’t want to see a defensive Brazil, we want to see goals and fabulous dribbling not 2 holding midfielders and more cards than shots, BUT, that’s the way it is and for us Brazil fans who want style and flair we have to start letting go and realize that Dunga’s Selecao want 3 points and not style points.  

So let us be content with the rare moments of Brazilian style & magic and rejoice with the positive results.  Let’s be cool like Billy Dee Williams or a polar bear in the Arctic and wait till The Great Tournament in 2010 to turn up the heat on Brazil’s results. 

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Mexico is reasserting itself as the dominant CONCACAF power. Last night’s 2-1 win over Canada in Chiapas saw Mexico once again mix the old and the new as far as player selection. Honduras beat Jamaica at home and finally the Hondurans who have for years been talented enough to break through in a weak region appear ready to do so. Costa Rica continues dominate a weak group winning at Haiti while Suriname was beaten at home by resurgent El Salvador. Memo to the USSF: in the hexaganol, do NOT PLAY EL SALVADOR OR HONDURAS AT RFK STADIUM.

Anyhow, here is my thinking as to the rankings of CONCACAF’s top five national teams right now. Note Jamaica is unlikely to advance to the hexagonal while Costa Rica is one point away from clinching a spot in the next round.

1- Mexico

2- USA

3- Honduras

4- Jamaica

5- Costa Rica

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Reuters Photo

Three points is three points I suppose. But tonight’s game unlike last months qualifier in Guatemala City has me very concerned about the state of play regarding the US Team. Against a side that in its own stadium last month gave up three relatively quick goals to Trinidad and Tobago, the US had to grind out a result again dependent on some clutch goalkeeping and quite frankly some mistakes by the Cuban team.

Right now the United States lacks the technical skill nor the clean finishing or awareness in counter attacking situations to ever put away the opposition. The bad giveaways by defensive midfielders continues to be a trademark of this team with its current lineup and the inability for the strikers to finish the chances created for them against respectable opposition is painful to watch. In the last twelve matches, the current set of US strikers, Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson have scored in only one match: the 8-0 rout of Barbados, while every US goal in the other matches has come from midfielders or defenders and typically off set pieces.

Today’s performance was substantially worse than the game many have criticized the US for in Guatemala City last month. Again thye most solid players were the keeper Tim Howard and the two center backs, Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu. The performances of DaMarcus Beasley and Mo Edu in particular were forgetable. Given Scotland’s loss today to FYR Macedonia in Skopke perhaps both players feature on one of the two big sides in the SPL because of the lack of Scottish talent, not because of their individual qualities. Beasley in particular is becoming less and less useful as a player as time goes on.

A word on the atmonsphere tonight: Give the Cuban players and supporters a lot of credit. Despite the political tensions which I am in particular familiar with because of where I live (South Florida) the event tonight was perfect except for the lighting, with a polite crowd, and some good sportsmanship among both sides. Football really can overcome the problems politicians and dictators cause.

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High hopes surrounded this Canadian sides advancement to the group stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. With what many in the Canadian Soccer community considered the nations best team ever, the hope was that Canada would reach its first World Cup since 1986. However, the first two group matches, both at home have exposed Canada for still being substantially behind the powers of CONCACAF. Canada’s remaining hope probably depends on beating Mexico at home and drawing with the Mexicans in Cancun, while hoping Honduras and Jamaica draw with one another twice. So in other words, Canada is the longest of long shots to advance to the Hexaganol.

Last month the Canadian drew with Jamaica in Toronto and last night after taking a 1-0 halftime lead, Honduras struck twice to sink Canada in Montreal. Ramon Nunez, formerly of FC Dallas and Chivas USA scored both Honduran goals and put his nation in prime position to advance to final stage of CONCACAF qualifying. Honduras is arguably the most talented footballing nation in the region outside the established powers of Mexico and the USA. However Honduras always seems to find a way to slip up in qualifying. But with this win, the nation finally may have hope of reaching its first World Cup since 1982.

Canada’s lack of progress in World Cup Qualifying is from my perspective a fault of an dysfunctional and inept Canadian Soccer Association. Canada has more than enough talent to compete, but right now they do not have the setup or the faith of their players that many others in the region enjoy. I’d argue the starting XI Canada puts out in qualifying matches is third only to Mexico and Honduras in talent (I’d place the US fourth, but the US second among overal talent, not just the starting XI). Irrespective of having professional footballers of note like Juan De Guzman, Rob Friend and Dwayne DeRosario, the amaterish, volunteer driven CSA is the downfall of Canada’s program. The country has proven time and time again it can compete in short tournaments like the Gold Cup. Canada won the 2000 Gold Cup, and were an eyelash away from the finals in 2002 and 2007, losing both matches to the US on suspect calls. But in the longer grind of World Cup qualifying, the lack of support and infrastructure the national team enjoys is fatal flaw which Canada cannot overcome.

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The England manager, Fabio Capello has just announced his England squad as follows:

England squad to play Andorra and Croatia:
Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).

 The notable exception is Michael Owen, which begs the question; is this move just to show he’s boss? It seems Steve McClarenesque; McClaren dropped Beckham to show everyone that he was his own man, and look what happened to him!

Leaving Owen out is a ludicrous move; he is the most prolific England striker in recent memory, and even when he is not 100% fit he still manages to score where other, less efficient, forwards would make a hash of it. This may come back to bite Capello on the backside.

David Beckham keeps his place; this continuation seems odd as Beckham is well past his best, and by 2010 it is unlikely that his fitness will allow him to play a full and active role in the World Cup. It also stops youngsters, who could be playing and gaining experience for the tournament, coming through the ranks.

Emile Heskey is another questionable choice; he seems to be at his best for England when he is working in tandem with Michael Owen, and that scenario is obviously not going to happen. Heskey has had a good solid career and he is a reliable workhorse, but is he up to the standard England expects?

By picking this squad Capello has put his neck on the line, and if England crash and burn he will be the only one accountable.

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Fox Soccer Channel has announced its TV schedule for the 2010 World Cup Qualifying matches, scheduled this September. The matches that will be shown in the United States are:

• Hungary v Denmark, Saturday, September 6, 1:30pm ET
• Ukraine v Belarus, Saturday, September 6, 4pm ET (tape delayed)
• Russia v Wales, Wednesday, September 10, 11am ET
• Macedonia v Holland, Wednesday, September 10, 2:30pm ET
• Slovenia v Slovakia, Wednesday, September 10, 5pm ET (tape delayed)

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Hernan Medford’s run as Costa Rica manger has ended. Medford a near legend as a player presided over an aging squad whose poor results obviously did not sit well with the powers that be in Costa Rican football. Medford was a member of Costa Rica’s 1990 and 2002 World Cup teams and managed Saprissa to the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup title. Costa Rica has been drawn into the easiest qualifying group in CONCACAF, Group C. Group B features four of the top six ranked teams currently in the region according to the FIFA World Rankings. Thus Costa Rica is probably going find easy passage to the final round of qualifying. However, the powers that be decided that Costa Rica’s struggles dictated a change immediately.

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The final round of Asian World Cup qualifying has been set. The round will last from September 2008 through June 2009.

Group One:                                                Group Two:

Bahrain                                                      Iran
Japan                                                        Saudi Arabia
Australia                                                   North Korea
Uzbekistan                                                South Korea
Qatar                                                         United Arab Emirates

The top two in each group advance to the World Cup with the best third place finisher facing the winner of the Oceania Confederation (likely to be New Zealand) in a two leg playoff for a World Cup birth.

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