David Beckham will make he return to the England squad for the friendly against Brazil this Friday (on FSC at 3 p.m. ET) as a Real Madrid player. However, most of the speculation regarding his international future has centred on his next stop - the Los Angeles Galaxy.
During the interview Lalas expressed reservations (not surprisingly) about releasing Beckham for friendly matches. But the bottom line to the issue is that Lalas and the LA Galaxy have no say in the matter as long as the FA restricts call ups to dates reserved on the FIFA international calendar.
The calendar details dates reserved for competitive fixtures as well as friendlies although strangely it does fail to block time for next summer’s European Championship.
So how many friendly internationals can the Galaxy expect to lose Beckham for? As it turns out the answer is not many. The only remaining date in 2007 reserved on the FIFA chart for international friendlies is August 22. That means that if McClaren decides to keep Beckham around for the fall qualifiers – assuming of course that McClaren is still around – then the Galaxy will be missing his services for the ESPN nationally televised derby game on August 23 against Chivas.
Looking further into the future dates are reserved for friendlies on February 6 and March 26 in 2008. The February date is unlikely to conflict with Galaxy commitments although March 26 might be a problem should LA qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League – albeit an unlikely prospect at this time.
So once you get past the headlines you find out that there is very little substance to the rash of headlines relating to the release or non-release of Beckham for friendly internationals.
As it turns out David will not even have to miss the 2008 Oscars scheduled for February 24.
Of the half a dozen magazines I receive regularly, none is devoured as quickly as “WSC – When Saturday Comes.” It was no different this month. The magazine arrived on Thursday and I finished it by Saturday morning.
WSC has been published in the UK for over twenty years and it continues to provide balanced comment while challenging the conventional wisdom. The website sums it up better than I can. “The aim of WSC has always been to provide a voice for intelligent football fans. We try to offer both a serious and humorous view of football, covering football in the UK and abroad.”
The August issue reviews Germany 2006. Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger looks at Germany’s hosting of the tournament and visiting fans reactions. The TV diary of the tournament reminds us that it was not only ABC and ESPN coverage that left a lot to be desired.
Mike Ticher applies some common sense to the ridiculous practice of kicking the ball out of play when a player is down while offering up some suggestions on some simple rule changes that encourage play to flow.
Ben Lyttleton’s piece on penalty kicks and England is enlightening while Robert Shaw puts Brazil’s failure down to putting commercial concerns ahead of the game.
Ian Plenderleith, who usually writes an informative monthly piece on websites, has a look at reaction in the USA to the American performances.
If you are looking for jingoism normally associated with English football magazines and tabloid newspapers, look elsewhere as you will not find it in “When Saturday Comes”.
I would say that "diving" is the most overused and misunderstood term of the this WC and the ESPN commentators have not helped.
I'm parapharasing but on the video replay blog an example was given where a replay would be used for penalty decisions and either a penalty would be given or a player sent off for diving.
It is not that black and white. A player can fall down without being fouled and that doesn't make it a dive. There is such a thing as incidental contact to say nothing of the defender getting the ball and the forward at the same time.
What used to be called a shoulder charge is still allowed in the game. When two players go for a ball when it is within playing distance of both and they go shoulder to shoulder and one comes off second best and falls down is quite legal and neither does it make it a dive.
I think what bugs people is "embellishment" (making out that you are hurt more badly than you actually are, or a gross exaggeration of a foul). Thierry Henry clutching his face when Puyol obstructed him made him the Rivaldo of the 2006 World Cup. I'm not picking on Henry - it's just an incident that is top of mind. It was a foul by Puyol and that was all.
What has surprised me is that FIFA has not been more aggressive in using video evidence to crack down on embellishment. Video evidence is not the same as video replay. Video evidence isn't used instantaneously but is reviewed after the game.
If you can take the embellishment out of the game - it whips up the crowd, and the opposition - then the game would become easier to control for the referee without resorting quickly to yellow cards.
It turns out as a very comfortable win for Brazil. The early goal for Ronaldo settled it down and Adriano’s goal just on half time was killer blow especially after Mensah’s header.
ESPN seems certain it was offside but I thought it was so tight that you had to give the benefit to the attacker – especially when the decision is based on when Cafu crossed the ball not when it rebounded from the defender.
Ghana showed great spirit in the second half but lacked that edge that Essien might have provided. So Brazil move on – they’ve scored 10 goals, conceded 1 and have yet to be fully convincing.
Ronaldinho has yet to show up, Kaka is carrying the midfield load at the moment.
One final note – has Gyan accumulated the most petty hat trick of stupid yellow cards at a World Cup or what. After a yellow card for a lunge against Italy he received another three for; taking a penalty to early; kicking the ball away; diving.
This one has started very brightly - almost has a Premiership feel to it. It sounds as if there is a great atmosphere in the stadium.
I've avoided picking on the ESPN announcers but I can't let this one go - "Alex on the ball for Japan, certainly looks Brazilian." Maybe the name might have provided a clue that the Japanese player isn't born and bred.
Fifteen minutes gone and the game is still going from end-to-end. Viduka and Emerton are playing with fire in their bellies - Boro and Blackburn fans must be rubbing their eyes.
Australia need to get Bresciano and Kewell the ball.
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