A Times article on the reality of playing football abroad for three African players. Pele is often quoted as saying that an African country would win the World Cup by the turn of the century – 2000 that is – but it was the former England manager Walter Winterbottom who first said it many years before.
Stewart Fisher questions the wisdom of Celtic captain Stephen McManus playing against Benfica only four days after being knocked unconscious against Rangers.
I just have to had two more. Gabriele Marcotti and Nick Webster chime in with thoughts on the BPL in the USA in light of the NFL circus arriving in London.
Apparently a senior Roman Catholic Cardinal has suggested that the Vatican could field a team that could compete in Serie A. The National Post (sourced from the Daily Telegraph) included a column on the possibility in Tuesday's edition.
They included the following: Soccer v. Catholicism.
Subject Of Worship - Pele /God.
False Idols - David Beckham /Beasts, fish, etc.
Celebrates The Pursuit Of – Goals / Piety.
Bearing False Witness Is -Common, in the form of feigning injury / Forbidden.
Top Authority - FIFA president Sepp Blatter / Pope Benedict XVI.
With the start of the World Cup just a day away, injuries and sickness are front and centre. The Rooney recovery still dominates the headlines although I have a feeling that the true test will come when Sven decides to give young Wayne his first serious action.
As English fans rejoice at the news of Rooney’s recovery, a doubt about Steven Gerrard’s fitness for the first game has now surfaced. Gerrard’s name joins the likes of Gattuso (Italy), Ballack (Germany), Isaksson (Sweden), Ronaldo (Brazil) and Cisse of France as either being doubtful for their countries opening game or – in the case of Cisse – out of the competition altogether.
Moreover, these are just the players we know about. As in other World Cups, countries that can avoid injuries to key players have an advantage but often an understudy gets a chance to play Hamlet and pulls off a standing ovation or two.
Pele was injured and missed most of the 1962 Finals in Chile. His replacement Amarildo scored and set-up goals in the final while Garrincha became the star of the tournament.
Four years later Jimmy Greaves – the Michael Owen of his generation except better – damaged his shin during group play. Alf Ramsay brought in Geoff Hurst who at that time was considered largely untested. Hurst scored the only game of the quarterfinal against Argentina and then had a hat trick in a winning cause against West Germany in the final.
A legend was born.
Few people remember that the injury to Emerson – while playing goalie during practice – sent tremors through the Brazilian camp four years ago. Gilberto Silva was the beneficiary and earned himself a move to the Premiership based on some great performances.
Of course, sometimes the injuries are just too much to overcome. Think about the 1994 Final with Baggio on the limp and Baresi struggling badly. However, World Cup history has shown that often a very dark cloud has a silver lining. Who will step forward this time?
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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