My WNT article about their upcoming tour is up. As I was writing the article, though, I couldn't help but muse on the what-if scenarios.

What if Greg Ryan hadn't made the goalkeeper switch? What if the USWNT had only lost to Brazil by a goal, and without the team issues that followed Ryan and other team leaders deciding to ostracize Hope Solo? Click to continue reading...

So, we're through with two World Cup qualifying games. We played horrible, but managed to earn four points nevertheless. We're still in the competition. The two October games against Czech Rep (home) and Slovakia (away) will be the moment of truth for Leo Beenhakker and his team. What are the possible scenarios?

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While not mathematically eliminated, the Carolina RailHawks' chances of finding the USL-1 playoff are now out of their hands. According to SportsClubStats.com, Carolina's playoff chances have fallen below 5%.
But the more telling stat is this table:
What this table tells us is that even if Carolina were to take maximum points going 4-0-0 in their remaining fixtures, there is only an 88% chance that they would still make the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

If you're reading this, then we should congratulate Manchester United on defeating Portsmouth on Monday. This week, I ran the numbers on each of three scenarios, a United win, a United draw and a United loss. The only scenario that keeps Manchester United on top is a victory over Portsmouth. Since I don't know if I'll have a chance to do this article on Monday, I'm going to go ahead and draft it now, assuming the most likely outcome. Click to continue reading...

  For those of us with vivid imaginations (like myself), the above title could give rise to a variety of scenarios. Namely it could go something like this: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (in hospital room): "Doc, you can't be serious! I have important match against Barcelona next week, you cannot amputate my legs! Click to continue reading...

It's that time of the year again, time for the US Open Cup Semi-finals. DC United (37) take on defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution (21), while the Seattle Sounders of USL-1 visits another USL-1 side, the Charleston Battery. It is guaranteed that the final will pit an MLS team against a USL team.

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It sure appears to be the case. I just got word about the possible championship scenarios for the 2008 US Open Cup today. Under three of four possible scenarios, either Seattle or Charleston from the USL-1 will host the title game next month. The only MLS side that could host is DC, that is if D.C. [. Click to continue reading...

In only two years of existence, two different SuperLiga scenarios have already played out in the final.
The first was the MLS/Primera Division split final, with Pachuca and the LA Galaxy representing both participating leagues. Pachuca, of course, became the first SuperLiga champion in history. Click to continue reading...

Let me preface this by saying that I have a love-hate relationship with the Guardian. I love the community, I love the quality of writing and it's in my top two alongside the BBC. However, they tend to exaggerate and paint extreme scenarios and in the process get things completely wrong. And it's not just [. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA is calling today's third and final SuperLiga group game against the New England Revolution the biggest in club history, which isn't saying much when the team is three years old, but sounds good, I guess. Tickets start at $15 for the 5 p.m. game (live on Telefutura) at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

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Its really hard to pick a game of the week with the SuperLiga wrapping up this weekend. If I didn't have a real job (I have to work 15 1/2 hours in a 24 time span this weekend), I would figure out all the possible qualification scenarios for the SuperLiga. But I do, so you won't find those scenarios on this website. Click to continue reading...

Through two games, all teams in Group B are still alive and, as far as we can tell, each team has a chance of crashing out of the tournament on Sunday.

That means Santos, who have zero points in two games, still have hopes while New England, with six points in two games, might still not advance. Click to continue reading...

Speaking to a few of my female work colleagues about what they think is appealing in a guy, and they suggested the usual tall, dark and handsome spiel (check). Apart from that, they mostly want there guy to be a take-charge kinda lad (check). If the guy gets cocky, then the girls would find that unappealing (put a cross next to that).

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Ronaldinho has been linked with Manchester City, Deco with Chelsea and Samuel Eto'o with Tottenham (and sometimes Arsenal) - now it appears that those scenarios could be more likely as the three aren't expected to be in the future plans... Click to continue reading...

Ok so there's been quite a lot of confusion about the mathematics of tonight's crucial Group of Death decider, so we decided to crunch the numbers and give you a comprehensive rundown of all viable scenarios:

- If Romania beat Holland they will join them in the knockouts in second place.

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There's a genuine chance Italy, France and Romania could finish in a three-way tie for second in Group C. If Romania lose by three goals to Holland, and Italy and France play to a draw, with all three teams scoring the same number of goals Tuesday, those squads will be completely level: 2 points, a -3 goal differential, and the same number of goals for and against. Click to continue reading...

There's a genuine chance Italy, France and Romania could finish in a three-way tie for second in Group C. If Romania lose by three goals to Holland, and Italy and France play to a draw, with all three teams scoring the same number of goals Tuesday, those squads will be completely level: 2 points, a -3 goal differential, and the same number of goals for and against. Click to continue reading...

Man don't you just hate this? Being forced to ask the "what if" question repeatedly and make calculations, in order to find out your team's chances of qualifying? And to think that all could be avoided simply by winning the first two group games. Alas for the Azzurri, we already know that ship has sailed. Click to continue reading...

"It was totally unjustified... What was happening in the penalty box as they prepared to take the freekick is nothing different to what has been going on for five years. And none of the other referees have whistled" - Leo Beenhakker.

When UEFA announced the match officials for the first 12 games of Euro 2008, the selection of Howard Webb and his cohorts for the Austria v Poland game was always an eye-opening appointment. Click to continue reading...

Okay, so this just came hot off the presses as well. Something that I had been waiting to see from the league itself, the updated playoff scenarios going into the final weekend of action. Nice to see the full breakdown really before we start predicting everything that will and won't happen. Anyways, below is the full [...] Click to continue reading...