Oh, For Frank’s Sake

First of all, credit where credit is due: England were outclassed by Germany, and no amount of finger-pointing over Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal will change that. The more deserving side won the day.

Now, having gotten that off my chest:

Would somebody please tell me how exactly this wasn’t a goal? The refereeing at this World Cup has been shockingly inadequate, and FIFA’s continued resistance to introducing goal-line technology or at least goalside assistant referees is little more than idiocy. Too many legitimate goals have been disallowed, too many offside goals allowed to stand.

Having said that, I don’t think that this goal would have changed much. Chances are, England would have lost 4-2 instead of 4-1 had the goal been allowed, and (again) deservedly so.

One could argue that going into half-time having pulled level instead of trailing, the England team might have had better morale for the second half, but… the defense was torn apart for the third and fourth Germany goals, and in almost exactly the same way as for their first.

When a team makes a defensive blunder… well, it happens, you get over it. When the team makes essentially the same defensive blunder three times, perhaps some questions need to be asked, both of the players and the coach. England looked dangerous at times going forward (despite only scoring 3 goals in 4 games), but were a disaster at the back.

Part of the problem, I believe, is that the team was largely constructed around one individual – Wayne Rooney. Any time you build the team around one guy, you’re screwed if that one guy can’t produce the goods. Rooney was underwhelming at best in this World Cup.

Maybe if Robert Green hadn’t let in that goal against the Americans, maybe if Rooney had converted those chances against Algeria, maybe if Lampard’s goal had been properly awarded… maybe, maybe, maybe.

If you can’t perform well enough to overcome maybes, you don’t deserve to be there.

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Going Green

Robert Green, that is. Few English soccer fans will ever forget the unfortunate goal let in by England’s goalkeeper against the United States on Saturday, and it may prove to be a defining moment in Robert Green’s career.

The other players on the England team – and indeed US goalie Tim Howard – offered words of support for Green after his mishap, and while it is true that most players have at some point choked at a crucial moment of a big game, there is no doubt that a mistake like that can haunt a player for the remainder of his footballing life. The British media have been typically savage in their treatment of Green, running headlines such as ‘Hand of Clod’ on the back pages of newspapers.

The questions is, where do we go from here? If the coach fields a different keeper against Algeria on Friday, this will not only be a vote of no confidence in Green (from which he is unlikely to recover during this tournament) but will also suggest to the other goalkeepers in the squad that they are subject to being removed if they themselves screw up, which will hurt their own confidence. On the other hand, persisting with Green in goal will provide a boost to him personally, but may leave England vulnerable if other opponents try to capitalize on whatever doubts may linger in his mind.

To be fair, Green pulled off a fantastic save in the second half of the game – not enough to redeem himself, necessarily, but enough to suggest he has the strength of character to grow from this and redouble his efforts.

Hopefully Capello will choose to stick with Green. That would perhaps be the lesser of two evils, at least.

A deeper problem is the lack of world-class goalkeeping talent in England. David James is pushing 40, and has been known to commit a few egregious errors in his time as well. Joe Hart, at 23, is showing good form at club level but is sorely inexperienced on the international stage. Paul Robinson, Chris Kirkland and Ben Foster are not by any means bad goalkeepers, but were not considered good enough to make the England team for this World Cup.

There has yet to be a man between the goalposts whom I would consider a worthy successor to David Seaman. Perhaps Hart will get there, but it’s unlikely to happen in the next week or two. Perhaps there’s a young player at a training academy somewhere who will take up the mantle of “England’s Number One” by the next World Cup. We can certainly hope.

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World Cup 2010

The opening of the quadrennial World Cup soccer tournament is two weeks away.

Many of my American readers probably don’t care all that much, and as such I would like to talk to you about why you should.

Imagine, if you will, a glorious sporting spectacle in which a man can run five miles regardless of weather or fatigue, in which skill can trump any amount of speed or strength, in which a free-kick can be taken with such accuracy as to put any football place-kicker to shame. A game in which players’ endurance is tested to the limit by the lack of timeouts and flags, other than a single half-time break – players whose sheer athleticism is superior to any baseball or football star you care to name.

And better yet, imagine a sport in which America is not actually universally acknowledged as the best team in the world – a sport in which American fans can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and especially the tension of not knowing which will happen.

Imagine a sport in which watching some of the ladies who turn out to support Brazil is infinitely more pleasant than watching the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Imagine a sport which ignites the passion of more people around the world than the New York Yankees or Pittsburgh Steelers ever will. A sporting event which billions of people would turn off the Super Bowl or the Olympics to watch.

There you have soccer, and its flagship event – the World Cup.

Does the U.S. team stand a chance of winning the World Cup this year? A very, very small one, most likely. But I would be willing to bet they make it to the last sixteen, maybe the last eight. If fortune smiles upon them, maybe further. This is a team which has recently beaten the European champions and World Cup favorites – in an exhibition game, admittedly, but nevertheless no small accomplishment.

Similarly, America’s very own DC United just beat AC Milan, an Italian team of phenomenal skill with over a century of stellar achievements to their name.

With enough encouragement and interest, there is no reason the American team couldn’t go from strength to strength and potentially win the World Cup within a decade or two. The one key ingredient they will need, however, is the unwavering support of the fans back home.

Soon I will be posting a few predictions and analyses of the first-round groups. For now, though… let’s get fired up for it.

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Nice going, USA!

In the furore over Sanford, I had forgotten to mention something rather amazing.

Yesterday the US men’s soccer team defeated the world’s #1-ranked team – Spain – to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.

Spain were undefeated in the last 35 games (a joint world record), and are the reigning European champions.

Congrats to coach Bob Bradley and his team, who will face #5-ranked Brazil in the final this weekend.

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So much for soccer.

It seems I am destined for another season of soccer-related disillusionment.

My beloved Spurs, for all that the squad looks good on paper, do not play on paper, and are thus languishing at the bottom of the league with zero wins and two ties after eight games.

My predictions for the Premiership this season have already gone to hell in a handbasket.

After my praise of Argentina’s soccer talents, they’ve had a couple of lousy results and the manager has… parted company with them.

Until further notice, please do not attempt to talk about your favorite team with me, lest I jinx them. Hence the lack of my often over-effusive support for England in this post. Though if you support Arsenal or Chelsea, please come forth, in which case I shall be more than happy to jinx the tar out of them.

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In appreciation of Argentinean soccer

I may be the first and only Englishman ever to write these words; indeed, even to think them might be called heretical if not downright treasonous.

That said, England haven’t given me much to shout from the rooftops about, unless I wish to spend a great deal of time shouting ‘fuck’.

Besides, I tend to appreciate good soccer above and beyond any national/club rivalries. It’s an easy high road to take when one’s team is shit.

As would be expected of a Tottenham fan not far from 30 years of age, I learned the name Osvaldo Ardiles almost as soon as I knew what soccer was. While Mario Kempes’ bright star had already begun to fade by the time I was truly taking an interest, there was a parade of incredible talent coming to Italy from Argentina throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and I took full advantage of the nearby San Siro stadium to witness the likes of Caniggia, Batistuta and (of course) a young man named Diego, whom my countrymen regard with a mixture of superstitious awe and absolute horror, largely due to two goals scored within ten fateful minutes in 1986.

Wow, that was a long sentence. Almost as long as Maradona’s run to score the second of those goals, during which I am pretty sure he beat at least 12 English players.

I was fortunate enough to meet Maradona once, during his Napoli days, and to this day have cursed my bad luck in not having any form of writing implement to get an autograph.

In any case, the flow of talent has not by any means dried up. While Brazil are frequently considered the kings of South American soccer, from Leonidas right through to Kaká, most teams consider a fixture against Brazil to be a prestige game and a fixture against the Albicelestes to be a dangerous proposition, and with good reason. If you’ve paid any attention to soccer in the last few years, you have heard the names of Agüero, Tévez, Mascherano and Messi – the latter especially being a name to leave even seasoned defenders quaking in their boots, especially after slicing into the Brazilian defence again and again as Argentina racked up a 3-0 victory over Brazil in the Olympic semifinal just recently.

One to watch in the future, too: Andrés Ríos. This kid’s going to be terrorizing English defences himself before long.

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Season Preview 2008-09

As the curtain begins to rise on another season of English soccer, pundits are racing to make their predictions; not only is the Premiership title in question, but the debate is going thick and fast over who will reach the coveted – and lucrative – Champions League places, and who will be mired in the relegation dogfight.

With Euro 2008 in full swing, many of the top European players are placing themselves in the shop window for the admiration and possible acquisition of the biggest clubs. While the England national team are not participating, you can rest assured that the managers of all Premiership clubs have at least one eye on the tournament and the other on their pocketbooks.

The arrivals and departures in the usual summer merry-go-round have only just begun, but already one can discern a few teams with a great deal of ambition. Of particular note is Tottenham’s purchase of Croatian sensation Luka Modric for £16 million, but can the deadly playmaker cut it in the upper echelon of European soccer?

Predictions like these are inevitably subject to the element of surprise, but in the spirit of sportsmanship, let us review the contenders.

Manchester United top many people’s lists as title contenders, and with good reason; now Premiership champions two years running as well as European champions, the Red Devils show no sign of giving up their hold on the coveted silverware. Much has been made of midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo, and if United can keep the 42-goal wunderkind in addition to the current crop of talent, they will be well placed to repeat. The long-rumored signing of Spurs hitman Dimitar Berbatov would add still more firepower to a squad facing no shortage.

Chelsea too should not be discounted; new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is inheriting a squad smarting from a season of what might have been. Initially considered contenders for an unprecedented quadruple – the Premiership title, the two domestic Cups and the Champions League – the team will have rediscovered their hunger for success. However, former manager Jose Mourinho, recently installed at Inter Milan, is reportedly keen to re-sign some of his prize assets from his Chelsea days, which could see goal assassin Didier Drogba and veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho (among others) heading to the San Siro.

Rounding out the likely top three are Liverpool, who will also be aching to improve on a series of third-place finishes. £26 million man Fernando Torres, bought last summer from Atletico Madrid, discovered his scoring touch a little late but has proven to be lethal inside the eighteen-yard box and will be seeking to add to his tally. The Dutch pair of Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel will ensure that goals are in plentiful supply both at Anfield and on the road, and if canny manager Rafa Benitez can succeed in prying England midfielder Gareth Barry from Aston Villa’s clutches, the side will be hard to break down. Added to this is the presence of Steven Gerrard, a midfield general unequaled in the English game. Expect to see them pushing the top two all the way to the last games of the season.

The fourth and final Champions League spot shows more signs of a fight; while Arsenal have been up there for several years now, their hold on the place has looked less secure than Arsene Wenger would care to admit. Wenger will be hoping for a speedy return to form for Brazil-born Croat Eduardo da Silva to partner Togolese forward Emmanuel Adebayor up front, and with Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott standing in line to become Arsenal’s new goal hero, they should not be discounted. The creative midfield play of young Spaniard Cesc Fabregas will ensure that the ball keeps moving forward, and the solid defence marshalled by Kolo Toure will be hard to break through.

Also pushing for that fourth spot will be Arsenal’s perennial North London rivals and Carling Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur. In addition to the aforementioned Modric, Spurs have laid out substantial funds to bring in Giovani dos Santos from Barcelona, who stands to make quite an impact if he can adapt well to the more rough-and-ready English game. With these, plus the signing of highly-rated Crystal Palace youngster John Bostock, Tottenham have declared without doubt that they are an ambitious team ready to knock on the doors of the four teams which have claimed the Champions League spots almost every season.

The UEFA Cup places could also present an interesting drama, as a variety of teams look to build on impressive showings last season. FA Cup winners Portsmouth will be aiming to consolidate their place among the European challengers, and the right signings could see Harry Redknapp’s men hold their own among those once counted their betters. Last year’s high finishers Everton and Aston Villa will also be attempting to duplicate their feats, and Manchester City, under new manager Mark Hughes, will be aiming to better their ninth-place finish. Their stated ambition of signing Brazilian ace Ronaldinho, while a lofty goal, speaks volumes about their intentions.

At the other end of the table, new boys Hull City and Stoke City would appear to be favorites for the dreaded drop, having the weakest on-paper squads in the top flight. There is no such thing as a bad team in the Premiership, however, and there may yet be a few surprises in store. Also facing a fight for those precious points (and thereby another season of Premiership soccer) will be perennial survivors West Ham United, who often appear to have a death grip on 15th place in the table come May. Joining them, I expect to see Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and quite probably Bolton Wanderers, unless Sammy Lee can pull off the same magic trick which former manager Sam Allardyce has achieved against the odds several times over the past few seasons.

In between the glory and the ignominy, the other new arrivals West Bromwich Albion will be the most likely to stay up, and I expect to see them consolidate their place among the big boys. Roy Hodgson’s Fulham, currently undergoing a squad revamping of sorts, will also probably finish above the relegation dogfight, but may experience a few scares. Northeastern rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough, as well as the currently managerless Blackburn, should expect to find themselves rounding out the mid-table places.

Perhaps I will be proven wrong, and each of these predictions will be out the window by October. However, the table as I expect to see it after all the dice have been rolled is as follows:

1. Manchester United
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Tottenham Hotspur
5. Arsenal
6. Manchester City
7. Portsmouth
8. Everton
9. Aston Villa
10. Newcastle United
11. Blackburn Rovers
12. Middlesbrough
13. Wigan Athletic
14. Fulham
15. West Ham United
16. West Bromwich Albion
17. Sunderland
18. Bolton Wanderers
19. Hull City
20. Stoke City

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Well done, Iraq

This weekend, Iraq’s national soccer team won the Asian Cup, largely due to the efforts of their three-man strike team of one Sunni, one Shiite and one Kurd.

People of all three sects set aside their conflict and celebrated together as brothers, if only for a short time.

The next time I’m obsessing about soccer when talking to Americans and they make some disparaging comment about the relevance of the sport, I will have something to point to.

The NBA doesn’t do this. The Super Bowl doesn’t do this. Even the World Series doesn’t do this.

So congratulations to the Iraqi team for an achievement on the pitch which reverberates well outside the stadium.

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