by Adam Bate

*A version of this article appeared as an obituary in the February 2011 issue of Calcio Italia magazine

Some people choose to remember the 1982 World Cup for the famous Brazil team of Zico, Socrates and Falcao. Their silky skills and attacking football certainly captured the imagination.

An example of what Dr. Socrates brought to the game:
More about Socrates here, here, and here. This goal - in Brazil's bitter loss to Italy in 1982 - is one I'll never forget. Tele Santana's Brazil was the best team at the World Cup, and despite losing, they were still world favorites.

One of the greatest midfielders of all time, Socrates, has passed away at the age of 57.In 1982, he captained the Brazilian side at the World Cup in Spain. With him as a leader, the team is surely the best side never to have won a World Cup, after they were defeated by Italy in one of the most legendary matches in World Cup history.

One of the greatest midfielders of all time, Socrates, has passed away at the age of 57.In 1982, he captained the Brazilian side at the World Cup in Spain. With him as a leader, the team is surely the best side never to have won a World Cup, after they were defeated by Italy in one of the most legendary matches in World Cup history.

Michael Bradley's game-tying goal in the 85th minute kept the USA's hopes alive in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
As the U.S. gets set to play Slovenia for only the second time, ussoccer.com looks back on the pivotal moment from their first encounter and what remains one of the biggest plays in World Cup history for the United States.

The U.S. team has been based in Ft. Lauderdale this week and has had a chance to catch up on the latest incarnation of the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. Coached by former Fire assistant Daryl Shore, the Strikers are currently in the semifinals of the NASL playoffs.
That got us thinking about the good ole' days, and we reached to former U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen, who played here from 1981-83 alongside former legends like Gerd Muller, the German international who scored the second most goals in World Cup history, and Peruvian star Teofilo Cubillas.

One of the most controversial games in World Cup history just increased and decreased in controversy simultaneously. That's an achievement in itself.

The 1966 World Cup final was marked by the was-it-or-wasn't-it-over-the-line debate over Geoff Hurst's third and decisive goal.

Juventus inaugurated their new stadium with a visual smorgasbord. In one of the classiest gestures in living memory, they invited Notts County who gifted the Old Lady their signature black and white pinstripes in 1903 after responding to a sartorial emergency which would have doomed the Turin club to wearing pink and being confused for Palermo.

The 2022 World Cup will set the Qatar government back by $221bn in development and infrastructure costs according to an analyst who does this for a living. Small change for the richest country in the world even as they stand to lose billions without recouping but a small fraction. FIFA by the way will have made out with its billions in TV and merchandising revenue with all its earnings non-taxable because of its non-profit status.

Tragic news out of Japan as Naoki Matsuda succumbs two days later after suffering a suspected heart attack. Matsuda was just 34 years. He collapsed on the pitch during a routine warm up at current club Matsumoto Yamaga and rushed to the hospital where he was put on artificial life support systems but never gained consciousness.

The preliminary draw has finally marked the beginning of the long journey to the next World Cup. Some groups look very tough like Ivory Coast and Morocco in African Group C or Spain and France in European Group I. 203 countries are competing for the 32 qualifying seats, a record so far in World Cup history.

Jon Stewart admires one of the greatest goals he's seen in World Cup history.

The Premier League is introducing goal line technology from next season which will hopefully resolve the issue of those hundreds of goals that cross the line every season but are never given. And the hundreds of goals that don't but are given. It has already cost Arsenal three titles and relegated West Ham.

Abby Wambach is feeling it!

The 1991 US team broke new ground winning the first ever World Cup and repeated the feat eight years later. By that time Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and Kristine Lilly were household names. US women's soccer and success are so inextricably intertwined with those names leaving each succeeding squad aspiring to reach the same heights and write their names into history.

Frankfurt, Germany. Sunday, July 17, 2011.

FIFA Women's World Cup Final: Two stories. One dream.

Story 1:

Japan. A thriving culture devastated by unstoppable power. A once strong body now undergoing the most meticulous reconstruction.

World Cup Watch Party at Farmers Gastropub by James Radke

Join us Sunday afternoon at Farmers Gastropub downtown to cheer on the US Women's team as they face Japan for the World Cup title. It is the U.S. Women's National Team third appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup Final and first since 1999.

Thoughts on the USA win over Brazil;

Never say never. This game will go down in Woman's World Cup history as one of the all time greats. The U.S. women won their quarterfinal match in unbelievable fashion Sunday, overcoming bad referee decisions, being down a woman, and being down a goal with literally seconds remaining before beating Brazil on penalty kicks (5-3) to advance to the semifinals.

Head and shoulders above the rest: U.S. forward Abby Wambach scores the latest goal in a game in Women's World Cup history and sends the quarterfinal against Brazil to penalty kicks in Germany (AP Photo).

It was quite simply, one of the most enthralling, drama-filled, soccer games I've ever seen.

Karina Maruyama, #18 in blue, from AICFoto.com(Note: This is crossposted from our sister-site, MLSTalk.com).

July 9, 2011: One of the most memorable days in Women's World Cup history.

If there was anything that could upstage the brilliant cat-and-mouse match won by France over England, it was a determined Japanese squad that deposed the host nation Germany with a stunning extra time goal.

Karina Maruyama, #18 in blue, from AICFoto.com

July 9, 2011: One of the most memorable days in Women's World Cup history.

If there was anything that could upstage the brilliant cat-and-mouse match won by France over England, it was a determined Japanese squad that deposed the host nation Germany with a stunning extra time goal.

This Women's World Cup was supposed to be the most competitive in history...and the stats so far bear that out. After the first eight games, i.e., after each of the 16 teams in the tournament had played one match, the average winning margin was the lowest in Women's World Cup history. (Courtesy of Peter Hirdt at the Elias Sports Bureau)
Average margin of each team's opening World Cup match in the six tournaments that have been contested:
1991 3.

Equatorial Guinea were just 6 minutes away from creating the biggest upset in Womens World Cup history as they were eventually beating 1-0 by Norway in Group D today.

The second day of the Women's World Cup opened up play for Group B, which has been given the nickname "the group of life" by ESPN Commentator Kate Markgraf. After seeing Japan, New Zealand, Mexico and England play, the term Markgraf coined for this group most certainly fits. Japan walked away with the 2-1 win over New Zealand, but it was not an easy task against the Football Ferns.

This will be considered a disappointing result for the Three Lionesses after Fara Williams gives them a dream start with a towering header. But the highlight goal has to be Monica Campo's 30 yard screamer which a flailing Karen Bardsley fails to fend off.

The shot takes her by surprise and she reacts too late.

By Chris Wright

25 years on from Diego Maradona's flashing scintilla of divine intervention against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, we've trawled through the archives and fished out some brilliant photos of the young(ish) 'Barrilete Cosmico' in his pomp...

U.S. Roster by the Numbers
0.46 Combined goals against average this year of the goalkeepers on the roster
1 Professional player on the roster: Los Angeles Galaxy's Jack McBean
2 Players born in 1995 on the roster in Kellyn Acosta and Paul Arriola
3 Players who have appeared in all 10 U.

Yeşim keşke futbol her zaman böyle eğlenceli olsa . FIFA World Cup - History of Celebration 5 hours ago from Twitter - Comment - Like

"Hey Sepp, I'm going to squeeze the jelly from your eyes and have it on toast"

Sepp Blatter beefed up his group of FIFA advisers today adding the name of Shrek and Justin Bieber to the already invited Placido Domingo, Henry Kissinger, and Johan Cruyff.

Asked about Shrek, the FIFA president revealed he liked nothing better than soaking in a hot tub watching reruns of the plain spoken ogre fight the medieval forces of chicanery and corruption.

Another Sepp Blatter look alike. Julio Grondona, Argentinian football's godfather

It appears worse than Dunkirk. The English FA's vote to delay the election goes over like a lead balloon and is defeated 172-17. And in between they come for some pretty vicious pillorying.

There is a war reference in Leopoldo Galtieri's .

Does anyone see the irony in FIFA ordering an investigation into an election opponent of Sepp Blatter without the FIFA president stepping aside from the fray? Where have we seen these sort of tactics before? Ah yes, name any totalitarian regime.

Mohammed Bin Hammam, the AFC chairman has till tomorrow to present his defense.

As the author of the last great memory in U.S. Women's World Cup history, Brandi Chastain has a unique perspective on the U.S.'s struggles at the Cup since that calm, clear day in Pasadena 11 years ago. She sat down with NSC on Monday to talk about it. "I hadn't thought about the fact that the U.S.

Sepp Blatter whose cronies are the ones square in the eye of the present bribery allegations is now flapping his gums about corruption.

Yes, all window dressing for an election year. FIFA is very, very concerned about Lord Triesman's allegations against some very high ranking executive members.

Who is the emerging champion of a new order where football's interests are top of the agenda? The fixer who masterminded the biggest outrage in World Cup history.

Any player who grew up watching the game in the 80's would have to admit to being an admirer of Bryan Robson. 'Captain Marvel' - as he was known to his fans - was a tremendous leader and competitor.
As BBC Sport reports that the former Manchester United and England captain has undergone surgery for throat cancer, we wish 'Captain Marvel' the swiftest and safest of recoveries.

The real Ronaldo, the player called O Fenomeno retired a day ago. In a nutmeg, he was brilliant. You could have had three legs and he would have found a way between each of them. He brought immense beauty to the game. Enjoy.

As for the present Brazilian team something tells me their swansong days will be hard to replicate.

The soccer world is set to lose one of its most illustrious active members today when Brazilian legend Ronaldo calls it quits on an 18-year career.

The 34-year-old striker told a Brazilian newspaper that he was unable to maintain his fitness and that he is retiring. During his club career, Ronaldo played at Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan before wrapping up at Corinthians in his native country.

There are very few moments so transcendental in a lifetime. Today is one of them as Hosni Mubarak stepped down as president of Egypt after 30 years of despotic rule. Bowing to an unprecedented show of people power. It is a revolution that promises the rise of a truly representative democracy and carries the potential of a more balanced vision of Middle East peace.

The focus now swings away from domestic play to international games, and there are some classic fixtures, with France hosting Brazil, Italy travelling to Germany and Portugal taking on Argentina in Geneva.

France v Brazil
France v Brazil evokes memories of several classic encounters between the two sides, not least the 1998 FIFA World Cup final in Paris when the hosts emerged triumphant.

Football lends itself supremely well to the pursuit of counterfactual history.
Maybe that's particularly true of international football in Scotland with our litany of perceived hard luck stories and our decades old theme of being governed by diddies.
There is an argument that counterfactual history is little more than a distraction to the real study of history, a parlour game that shouldn't detract from more serious business.

I must admit that due to time difference and media coverage in this part of the world, I have not seen any matches of the 2011 Asian Cup in the future World Cup hosts of Qatar. However, I will have to try to watch the final this next Saturday against two giants that I have found excellent to watch in the last two World Cups: Australia was great in 2006, barely losing to Italy, and fought well in