Archive for the ‘World Cup – International’ Category

FIFA reject using 5 ref system at World Cup

After an emergency meeting of the FIFA executive committee on Wednesday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that the five referee system would not be used at the 2010 World Cup. Blatter said that five referee system had not been tested through out the world and cited concerns that confusion could arise because referees were not [...]

World Cup seedings announced

FIFA announced today the seedings for the 2010 World Cup. In addition to host country South Africa, the seedings are Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina and England. The seedings are based on FIFA’s rankings for October 2009. While the rankings consider a team’s performance over the past four years, greater weight is given to [...]

FIFA Move Toward Using Extra Officials

FIFA are expected to fast-track approval of a five referee per match system for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa following mounting criticism of the Thierry Henry handball that led to France qualifying ahead of Ireland. A final decision will be made by soccer’s rule-making body, the International FA Board, in March. Said [...]

The Final Draw, Dec 4th 2009

Mark your calendar.  The FIFA final card draw that decides the fate of 32 teams for next year’s world cup is being held in Cape Town, South Africa next Friday December 4th where fifa.com will host extensive live coverage of the event.The draw will attract millions of viewers from across the globe with high-profile celebrities, [...]

The US National Team in South Africa

What do you think is the best line up and formation for the US National Team this summer with Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu not available? My take. Team Roster: Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Demerit, Edgar Castillo, Chad Marshall, Jonathan Bornstein, Frankie Hejduk Midfielders: [...]

France v Ireland Handball Debacle Demands Instant Replay

FIFA’a failure to apply its discretion in a manner befitting the integrity of the game- they were quick to deny a replay between Ireland and France- calls for prudent measures that could not only prevent future blunders, but also any accompanying conspiracy theories (with the French going through, Platini and Blatter have certainly had their [...]

ABC Sport – Henry says replay the 'fairest solution'

via abc.net.au Even Thierry Henry says the Ireland-France game should be replayed. So what’s the problem, FIFA? Posted via web from The Philly Soccer Page

FIFA Advises The World On How To Smile On While Your Mistress Congratulates Your New Wife

Woe unto the Irish but the conventional wisdom- wisdom honed through years of bonehead mistakes or missed calls that have melded us all together through the shared experience of gut wrenching pain- would say they had their chances, and yes, even officiating mistakes are something you expose yourself to if you do not convert your [...]

Utilisez vos pieds!

via news.bbc.co.uk It isn’t a handball if you touch the blue circles. Blue circles are homebase. Posted via web from The Philly Soccer Page

When Irish eyes are crying

There isn’t much to be said about the France v Ireland World Cup Qualifier that hasn’t already been said: Henry cheated and the Ireland team was robbed. People can call for a replay of the game until they are blue in the face but this will not happen: Law 5 of the Laws of the [...]

Today's World Cup Qualifiers

Today's World Cup Qualifiers

f Today is the last day of World Cup 2010 Qualifying.  Four countries can earn the right to a minimum of three days of rioting next July by holding onto slender leads earned in the first leg of their matchups last Saturday.  Ukraine and Greece played to a goalless draw in Athens.  Additionally, Egypt’s 2-0 [...]

Eagles-Giants have nothing on Egypt-Algeria

Philly fans may get a bit nuts, but they have nothing on the Egyptians and Algerians, whose match tomorrow could be the wildest of the week.  Egypt’s finest one-upped Eagles fans’ snowball assault on Santa Claus by stoning the Algerian team’s bus Thursday and bloodying three Algerian players.  If that wasn’t intimidating enough, the Algerians [...]