World Cup Qualifying is completed is completed. I've updated the 2010 World Cup Eliminations Timeline, which tells you exactly which date each team was eliminated and in what order. That won't require another update until June.
But the real exciting news is that with all the qualifiers completed, we can now focus on the World Cup seeds and the draw. Click to continue reading...

I'll admit that hearing many a pundit say that a World Cup without France would lose some of its bite made my blood boil. Â I have nothing against French Football, and in fact cheered for them in each of their four knock out stage matches of Germany 2006.

But from my perspective an Irish defeat today in Paris would be a defeat for football.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Nine spots remain for the 2010 World Cup, and four of those will be decided through the UEFA playoffs, which are set to begin on Saturday.

Russia-Slovenia, Greece-Ukraine, Portugal-Bosnia Herzegovina and France-Ireland are the two-legged playoffs that will determine which remaining UEFA teams punch their tickets to South Africa next summer.

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With much of the qualification process almost complete and South Africa 2010 looming large, it would make sense to assess some of the world's best custodians who will be present during the World Cup. Goalkeepers such as Petr Cech will be excluded from the discussion since their nation failed to qualify for next summer's big event.

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It's going to be Ireland or France ... but not both

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As you scheme and schedule your next, uh, "sick day," you might want to book Nov.

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Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba and the Cote d'Ivoire team believe that Africa is on the verge of hosting an iconic World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

The Chelsea hitman rose from the bench and took just two minutes to score the equalizer in Malawi that has booked Côte d'Ivoire's place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

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The Black Stars will shine in South Africa
Brazil is known as the neutral's favorite, but I have always been partial to the African teams. They seem to play without the crushing pressure that causes other teams to implode. The pride the players feel when playing for their country is a little more palpable. Click to continue reading...

It's been some time since my last post so let's catch up on some news from the 2010 World Cup and African football, shall we?
First off, some self-promotion ... my post on Africans in the UEFA Champions League from earlier today ... don't you dare miss it!
- Are you interested in the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Angola? Click to continue reading...

Now let us get this straight. I am not so much Anti-England. I willingly supported the English national team. I cheered for them when they beat Germany and celebrated as much when Beckham scored that famous free kick against Greece.
But since the retirements of respectable players, mostly Gooners in Adams, Keown and Seaman I have developed a resentment towards the England international team. Click to continue reading...

From the San Jose Earthquakes Front Office, the team announced today that the team has signed the captain of the El Salvador national team Ramon Sanchez. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will be added to the roster pending the arrival of his ITC.
"There have been a number of successful players in Major League Soccer from El Salvador and we think that Ramon has the ability to make an impact here also," said General Manager John Doyle. Click to continue reading...

Jimmy Conrad made his return for the United States in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Haiti. Conrad had been left out of the previous 27 US match squads, a remarkable statistic for such a gifted player with unique leadership skills.

Conrad's solid organization and play helped to save a result for the United States against a superior Haitian side, Saturday.

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A night I will never forget. I put it even in front of the final. Italy-Germany 2006. Epic game. Enjoy: Click to continue reading...

La copa Confederaciones termino y eso me hizo recordar el mundial pasado Germany 2006 uno con los mejores ambientes, como esta fotografía que tome en Berlin; marca los años en que Alemania fue campeona del mundo a excepción de la ultima donde que Deutschland quedo eliminada por la defensiva Italia. Click to continue reading...

After Clint Dempsey moved to Fulham in 2007, his leap in quality was beyond remarkable. This was evidenced in his subsequent call-ups to the US national team. Stronger, defter, more confident. He was a new player. He'd already been a stand-out in Germany 2006, scoring the only non-own-goal for the US, but after his move to the Premier League, his ability, drive and influence on others seemed to escalate drastically in a short amount of time.

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When Sports Illustrated Senior Editor Mark Mravic, 46, interviewed for an job at the magazine in 1996, they asked him what he was interested in. He said "soccer," to which the reply came: "Well, we really don't do a lot of soccer."

More than a decade later he's finally the soccer editor. Now will the coverage improve?

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I see no reason to believe that the national team has improved even a smidgen since 2006. Beyond a Lady Luck-blessed, cinchy draw, I simply can't find evidence to suggest that South Africa 2010 will play out any more favorably than the stumble through Germany 2006. And how'd that work out for everyone? Click to continue reading...

Questions to Aussie media and sports fans: What is South Africa's most popular sport?
Cricket? Wrong
Rugby Union? Wrong
AFL..well some Melbourne guys keep telling me it's huge in South Africa? Wrong.
It's football not that you'd ever see it or know it from the Aussie media over the years. Click to continue reading...

Argentina will soon take on Bolivia in Bolivia's high altitude capital city of La Paz at nearly 12,000 feet of altitude. Most International teams never have to subject their teams to these extreme conditions which can cause hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and a multitude of related ailments. Click to continue reading...

Player Info:
Name: Joe Cole
Birthdate: 08.11.1981
Origin: England
Position: Midfield
Team: Chelsea
Video Info:
20.06.2006 - FIFA World Cup Germany
England - Sweden 2:2
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Player Info:
Name: Philipp Lahm
Birthdate: 11.11.1983
Origin: Germany
Position: Defense
Team: Bayern München
Video Info:
09.06.2006 - FIFA World Cup Germany
Germany - Costa Rica 4:2
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Player Info:
Name: Franck Ribéry
Birthdate: 07.04.1983
Origin: France
Position: Midfield
Team: Olympique Marseille
Video Info:
27.06.2006 - FIFA World Cup Germany
Spain - France 1:3
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