The stage was set for one of the greatest World Cup upsets of all time. The U.S. was playing Brazil
in the second round of the 1994 World Cup. The U.S. was playing at home on July 4 and then they
were playing a man up. Still they lost thanks to ultra-conservative head coach Bora Mulitinovic.
Bora, Bora, Bora!
Spain's Torres and America's Torres. Both play for their respective national soccer teams. Spain's
Fernando Torres is much better known. However, due to injuries, this year's World Cup may belong to
America's Jose Francisco Torres.
The U.S. is relatively new to the World Cup scene, now having qualified for the last seven World
Cups. Who knows how they will do in 2010. However, should they advance out of Group C, they have a
good chance to go far. Good luck U-S-A!
Country flags are great until you begin to realize how many of them look like each other. For the
32 countries in this year's World Cup, a number of them look alike. Check it out for yourself.
This year, soccer fans of all ages living in the San Francisco's East Bay will have an opportunity
to watch, play, experience, and enjoy the World Cup in their own backyard by attending World Cup
East Bay 2010 (WCEB2010).
The youth reporter program that I wrote about earlier and implemented with my son's U12 team has
been a big success. I share with you some tips I learned along the way and proudly present the
reports that have been written to date.
It is important for players to know and coaches to reinforce good scoring habits. The ideal areas
of the goal that players should aim for are the two lower corners of the goal. Goal production is
sure to go up.
The key to a soccer tryout is to get noticed, preferably for something good. One sure what to get
noticed and turn heads is to perform a successful bicycle kick.
Passive defending is a great way to have attacking players work on their moves without fear of
having the ball taken away. Passive defending is also a great way to eliminate bad defensive
habits.
No one likes to get blown out in a game. It is embarrassing. However it can be much easier to get
over this type of loss compared to a hard-fought and perhaps unlucky 2-1 loss. A blow-out loss is
easier to forget.
I have written 20 articles for coaches who tend to over-coach, place too much importance on the X's
and O's, and don't let their players go out and have fun and make mistakes. Since the articles were
written during the first few months of the blog, they don't get the visibility they deserve. The
articles are valuable for players and parents alike.
Life and soccer are not fair. It always seems like the retaliator, and not the perpetrator, is
getting punished for his/her actions. While it is easier said than done, don't retaliate.
When referees are involved in games whose players, coaches, and fans are new to the sport, they
should also assume the role of teacher and educator for everyone.
Scoring an own goal in soccer is inevitable. There is no way to avoid it. It is important to
respond in a positive manner when it does happen. Respond like Dan Boyle of the San Jose Sharks did
when he scored in his own goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It is great having a good reputation. It is not so great having a bad reputation. Reputations are
earned and are usually correct. If you don't like yours, the start of a new season is a great time
to change it.
