photo credit: Ernst Moeksis

The Girls: If you want to know whether someone truly loves soccer, show them the photograph above and then ask them this riddle: "Which is most beautiful: (A) the beautiful game, (B) the beautiful girl, or (C) the beautiful golden sunset?

I admire the speedy Mendy
There are lots of reasons to support Hull City. I don't cheer for the Tigers, but I used to have absolutely nothing against Phil Brown's side. Personally, I admire the speedy Bernard Mendy, and have often professed my love for the vision and passing ability of blog buddy Jimmy Bullard.

The Daily Journal of Commerce in Oregon is reporting that a final deal for the Timbers to move forward in the renovation of PGE Park could be in place by Thursday. Construction has already begun on the PGE renovation despite the absence of a development deal thanks to a 3-2 vote last week.

This week, two big events will take place in Fort Lauderdale. The first is the Annual General Meeting of the newly formed North American Soccer League, which begins on January 7tth. With the controversial decision by the United States Soccer Federation last week to not sanction the startup league (which is largely formed by existing teams), the meetings are almost certain to yield some headline news.

With a little help, that could be the next Raul Diaz Arce
This is a soccer blog first but it's also a community - and thus a perfect platform for me to share the story of a good friend of mine living, volunteering, and playing the beautiful game in El Salvador - all in the name of community.

I met up with Mr Charlton Athletic again today.
It took about 30 seconds to descend into conversation about the beautiful game.
"Who do you support?", MCA asked our neighbour.
"Manchester United" he said.
MCA and GB exchanged a meaningful look.
But then our new friend told us the tale of how he came to support the ManUre.

In my on going attempts to unite football supporters across the world, I want to shed some light on some ridiculous stereotypes that seem to follow certain groups of football fans quite unfairly. If you're like me, you spend countless hours searching the web for news stories, discussion, debate and opinion.

Okay, I am officially ready for soccer coverage in America to change. Here are my gripes, complaints, whinings, and otherwise negative comments about the current state of affairs...

HD: Dear HD Gods, Fox Soccer HD and Fox Soccer Plus HD cannot come soon enough.

For one reason or another, FSC have enjoyed a lot of headlines on EPL Talk lately. 2010 is already scheduled to be a massive year for the network that continues to provide footie fans the beautiful game with a variety of leagues on offer each week. We're all anxiously waiting to turn on our TVs one morning only to miraculously experience the magic of full HD.

Hubris. That's all it can be labeled.

How many of us saw the "Sparsenal" team Arsene Wenger fielded Sunday versus Stoke, and said to ourselves, "Aw come ON." I mean, most of us tune in to Arsenal games to watch the beautiful game be beautiful, and looking at the line-up Wenger started, it was instantly obvious that the Gunners were in for a tough match.

Here's wishing all Offside and WorldCupBlog readers, commenters and bloggers a Happy New Year. Welcome to 2010.

I know it's just a calendar flipping over and starting again, but New Year always fills me with optimism. For life in general and for football in particular.

photo credit: ikeX

Hey, how's it going? I'm the New Year's Baby. Aren't I adorable? Of course I am. I'm a freaking baby. Well, anyways, I would like to share some of the New Year's Resolutions I have come up with for three US Soccer stars. Now, I know what you are thinking: "Yeah right, kid, you can't even wipe your own ass, but you are going to tell three of the best athletes in the US how to play the beautiful game?

It's time to take out those extra Piñatas, futbolitas! We've got an exciting year ahead of us and don't act like as if you're done with all that confetti ok, por favor. Here's looking at what we have in store for you this year so read on.

Lots of things happened at World Cup 2006. There was Germany's surprise run to the semi-finals, Ronaldo becoming the all time top scorer in World Cup history, Argentina playing some beautiful football and Fabio Cannavaro proving you don't have to be tall to dominate in central defence.

photo credit: William Holtkamp

Do you remember when Freddy Adu was a young teenager? Everyone in the states hoped the child prodigy would become the next MJ or Tiger Woods of soccer. In fact we watched him play against guys in the MLS that were twice his age.

But even back then it seemed that Mr.

While most EPL fans saw the African Cup of Nations as a distraction, the continent's showpiece tournament actually had amazing potential.
An in-form Didier Drogba, perhaps the greatest striker in the world, a coming together of African nations, on the "up" on the world stage, in the same year that South Africa will host The World Cup.

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We all have off-days. If we play sports, we have off-days and occasional injuries. If we're Arsenal we have off-days, occasional injuries, and the opportunity to win a lot of trophies if we use the transfer window well. If not? Well, it's not as up in the air as last year felt at this time, but it's still up in the air.

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Going to the World Cup? You're gonna need this... [The Offside]

Sergio Canales is going to be the greatest player EVAAAAAR!!!!!! [The Spoiler]

World Cup chief lays the verbal smackdown on Phil Brown and his headset.

The USA Bid Committee, in their effort to bring the FIFA World Cup back to the United States in either 2018 or 2022, has whittled down a list potential American host cities from 27 to 18, the maximum number allowed in the official bid book that is due to be submitted to FIFA by May 14th.
The 18 cities that made the final cut:
- Atlanta
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Dallas
- Denver
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Nashville
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Washington, D.

NEW YORK (Jan. 12, 2010) – The USA Bid Committee has concluded its eight-month host city selection process and today announced the list of cities that will be included in its official bid book to FIFA to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022.

Eighteen cities – the maximum allowable by FIFA – have been identified as official host cities and will be included in the formal bid book that the USA Bid Committee will submit to FIFA on May 14, 2010.

NEW YORK (Jan. 12, 2010) – The USA Bid Committee has concluded its eight-month host city selection process and today announced the list of cities that will be included in its official bid book to FIFA to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022.

Eighteen cities – the maximum allowable by FIFA – have been identified as official host cities and will be included in the formal bid book that the USA Bid Committee will submit to FIFA on May 14, 2010.

It's been a cold cold day in the Ice Cave. Snow through the night forced GB and myself (HL) to stay home from work.
Normally, we're not here during the day and, as she's told you, we don't use the heating because, because, because.
If we're here in the daytime, usually, we're doing physical things, so we keep warm.

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

The African Cup of Nations is, uh, fiery. [Reuters]

Jamie Carragher is sorry. [The Sun]

Man United training trip to Qatar was really just a holiday, right? [RoM]

Zidane wants to manage Real Madrid, probably will.

No unfortunately not some mythical tournament where we send Cheryl Cole country-to-country to mud wrestle their own elected WAG representatives to the death (well, at least to ‘the naked') but the age old debate between two polar enemies; the beautiful game and winning ugly.

Before the 2006 World Cup, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson took a lot of stick in the press for publicly rebutting accusations of his team's attritional qualifying performances by saying that winning was all that matters.

No unfortunately not some mythical tournament where we send Cheryl Cole country-to-country to mud wrestle their own elected WAG representatives to the death (well, at least to ‘the naked') but the age old debate between two polar enemies; the beautiful game and winning ugly.

Before the 2006 World Cup, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson took a lot of stick in the press for publicly rebutting accusations of his team's attritional qualifying performances by saying that winning was all that matters.

I take my hat off to German tabloid Bild. If there's any sniff of a story involving a) the beautiful game and b) a beautiful woman, then they're on it. Usually with a photo gallery for you to click through too. So, while innocently looking for Bundesliga transfer news (honest!) I found this story about Filiz [.

I am Becks. You know this. Welcome to my blog, again. I write it for myself (I call it a blogoire because it sounds European and intelligent), as it allows me to chart my glorious return through the tales of European football before I journey to South Africa for the World Cup under St George's cross.

Every once in a while, a young lad bursts on to the scene and reminds us all why we love the beautiful game; a player who can dribble without fear, tackle with courage and grab your attention for the full 90. This time around, Sergio Canales might just be that player.

Sixteen months after making his first team debut for hometown club Racing Santander, 18 year-old attacking midfielder Sergio Canales is one of the globe's most sought after talents.

photo credit: jdebner

The Date: I know what you may be thinking: "first he does some poor humor on MLK Day and now he is going to try and poke fun of the POTUS?" No, this post isn't really about Obama. Sure, today is the one year anniversary of when he took office.

After this weekend's action, the eyes of Italy will be on its largest metropolitan city. The Milan derby could move AC Milan within striking distance of first or could help Inter Milan put some distance between itself and its rival. And the two clubs are approaching this game from opposite directions: Inter striking some luck to grab a point from Bari and AC Milan easily dispatching Siena.

The vuvuzela is making a noise again in South Africa – well people are making a noise about the vuvuzela, notably the Shembe's or The Nazareth Baptist Church in KwaZulu-Natal.

Never a quite instrument, the vuvuzela or stadium horn has elicited a lot of noise, mostly from European journalists during and after the Confederations Cup.

KC Wizards Stadium renderings, Jan 2010

Kansas City Wizards ownership group OnGoal, LLC announced Tuesday that approval has been granted for a state-of-the-art soccer-centric stadium for the Wizards and a nearby youth-soccer complex. Construction is set to begin tomorrow at the stadium site, located across from Nebraska Furniture Mart and The Legends in the Village West district of Kansas City, Kansas.

So Uncle Gordon has decided to wade into the debate about football debt.
I'm not sure what he thinks he can add to a truth that the rest of us know is the stark reality.
So what is it going to take before change is brought about?
I suspect what it will take is some big names to go to the wall.

Zidane's XI take on Benfica's XI...plus a fat guy (not shown). [101gg] Totti & Del Piero, sittin' in a tree. (SoccerLens) Halfway through the La Liga campaign. (Phil Ball) Sepp's having second thoughts on video mirrors on the ceiling next. (The Beautiful Game) Arsenal: not for children anymore. (Three Match Ban) You didn't know how diverse Cyprus is, did you?

It feels like the Africa Cup of Nations only just got started, but we're at the semi-final stage already. Big big names like Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon are out and on the way home. Your awesome foursome playing for a place in the final are: Ghana, Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria.

Luckily for neutrals, the draw has the two North African teams playing each other in a rematch of 2009's dramatic World Cup 2010 playoff (which I'm sure no one needs reminding that Algeria won), and the two West African teams playing each other.

photo credit: Eneas

The Pick: Another defender named Santos from Brazil in my Top 100? Yep! I profiled Nilton a couple of weeks ago, but now I must turn my attention to Djalma, or as I like to call him "Tenacious D." Now, Tenacious D and Nilton both played in four World Cups and won two, but Djalma was a starter on all four Cup teams while Nilton started only on the two that hoisted the Cup.

This week I had the pleasure to join Scott Bornstein, Sandra Franz, and Joe Covino on Winning Ugly Radio's Episode 60: "Don't Sweat It, Bornstein is Gonna Get It." If you've never tuned in, it's a comedy game show about the beautiful game. Trust me, it works.

photo credit: kyle simourd

Have you ever thought about what song would capture a great moment of a football match? I think about this question all the time. And I decided to make a list of the five best songs (that I think) to use to highlight a soccer montage.

Enjoy the list.