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As the 2010 approaches, another World Cup is on the way. Qualifying rounds for the prestige's soccer tournament has started and David Beckham is being seen sitting on the bench. In his comments, his new-role as a bench player does not bother him as long as he is "part of the squad, part of these qualifiers and, hopefully, part of the team to the World Cup."(www.espn.com 9-28-08) Beckham really has no choice but to accept his fate as a bench player, especially with his new replacement, Theo Walcott, scoring a hat-trick against Croatia. He has clearly stated that he supports Fabio Capello, the England manager, in his choice to bench the international superstar.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=576776&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901
Once David Beckham relocated himself to the Los Angeles Galaxy, his soccer career was clearly on the backend. After playing for powerhouses in Spain and England, Real Madrid and Manchester United, coming to America to play in the MLS was a clear sign of a downfall. Although he is on the bench, I believe that Beckham's presence will still make an impact. Knowing that there is such a highly respected player sitting on the bench can be an intimidating thing for many international teams that face England. You also can't forget that his backup, Theo Walcott, is still a teenager and is already scoring hat-tricks in international play. Although England is sitting their once "big superstar", they now might be grooming a new, better captain for their highly respected squad.
I've always been a fan of the EA sports games. It looks like they've done it again with FIFA 2008. They just had a tourney in Germany with 32 of the world's best "soccer players"... that is if it counts to play soccer from your couch.
Berlin played host to intense soccer action, as the virtual soccer season came to an explosive end at the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) Final at the Sony Centre on Saturday. Thirty-two of the world's best interactive soccer players met face to face to compete for the ultimate title of FIFA Interactive World Player 2008. Following an incredible display of tactics and skill on EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 08 on PLAYSTATION®3, Alfonso Ramos beat Michael Ribeiro from New Jersey 3-1 in front of a cheering crowd, securing the title and the $20,000 US prize money. Ramos also received an invitation to attend the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich on January 12, 2009 where he will rub shoulders with real life soccer heroes. A fantastic day of soccer culminated in the two best players facing off for what turned out to be a nail biting final full of world class skill and great emotion. The game got off to an electric start as Ramos' Barcelona side took the lead with a beautiful header and he solidified his dominance with a decisive finish early in the second half. Ribeiro, also playing as Barcelona, responded emphatically with a classy goal to bring the score back to 2-1, but Ramos showed his determination and with less than ten minutes to go, restored his 2-goal lead. Ribeiro came back strongly but in the end Ramos' defense proved too strong and the game finished 3-1. The third and fourth playoff was contested between Brazil's Andre Casagrande Buffo and Austria's Dominik Posch. In a closely fought encounter, the Austrian came out on top with a 2-1 victory. "I came here to do my best but really didn't believe I would make it this far. It's been an absolutely fantastic day - to test myself against the world's best virtual soccer gamers is what this tournament is all about," said Alfonso Ramos." I'm really proud to be the first Spaniard to be crowned FIFA Interactive World Player and look forward to defending my title next year."
Brazil has been chosen to host the World Cup in 2014 by FIFA. The country won by a unanimous vote and was the only option. Due to Brazil being the only location for the bidding process, FIFA originally found this as a weak point for the country because they assumed that the bid package would not be that great. However, it resulted in proving that Brazil is a developing nation that has much potential for a World Cup. On the same day that Brazil was chosen, the women's World Cup location was also determined for 2011. The women's World Cup will be hosted in Germany which beat out Canada.
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ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Brazil was chosen host of the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday, returning the showcase event to the soccer-mad country that held the tournament in 1950 and has captured the title a record five times.
Brazil was the only candidate and won in a unanimous vote by the executive committee of the sport's governing body.
''Soccer is not only a sport for us,'' Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. ''It's more than that: Soccer for us is a passion, a national passion.''
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Brazil now has ''not only the right, but the responsibility'' to organize the 2014 tournament. Blatter then handed the World Cup trophy to Lula.
Lula, who flew in for the announcement, promised that Brazil ''will now with great pride do its homework.'' And, he added, ''if everything works out well, we will win once again a World Cup.''
The vote came on the same day the 2011 Women's World Cup was awarded to Germany. Germany, the host of the 2006 men's World Cup, beat out Canada.
Brazil, the country with the most World Cup titles, will be the host of the 2014 World Cup. They were awarded this right on Tuesday by FIFA's executive committee. The unanimous vote came on the same day the 2011 Women's World Cup was awarded to Germany. Germany, the host of the 2006 men's World Cup, beat out Canada.
Brazil was the only candidate for the 2014 World Cup because the rotation system meant it had to be played in South America. Colombia had said it would bid, but pulled out in April.
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - The country with the most World Cup titles will finally get another chance to win one at home.Brazil, which has won a record five World Cups, was awarded the right to host 2014 tournament Tuesday by FIFA's executive committee. The South American country hosted the competition once before, losing to Uruguay in the 1950 final.
The unanimous vote came on the same day the 2011 Women's World Cup was awarded to Germany. Germany, the host of the 2006 men's World Cup, beat out Canada.
"We want to be good hosts again," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a visit to India.
Brazil was the only candidate for the 2014 World Cup because the rotation system meant it had to be played in South America. Colombia had said it would bid, but pulled out in April.
"If you think the task of FIFA was made easier because Brazil was the only candidate, it's not true," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "For us it was a real challenge to have the same list of requirements, the same recommendations and conditions for only one candidate, than we had two. Perhaps we put the bar higher than if there had been two
After announcing Brazil as the 2014 host, Blatter handed the World Cup trophy to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who flew in for the event.
"Soccer is not only a sport for us. It's more than that," Silva said. "Soccer for us is a passion, a national passion."
He added: "If everything works out well, we will win once again a World Cup."
In Brazil, 50 mountain climbers hung an enormous national team jersey bearing the slogan "The 2014 World Cup is Ours" from majestic Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro. At the Maracana Stadium, workers spread jerseys across the field reading, "The new Maracana is ours and so is the 2014 World Cup."
"We are a civilized nation, a nation that is going through an excellent phase," Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira said. "And we have got everything prepared to receive adequately the honor to organize an excellent World Cup."
Brazilian Sports Minister Orlando Silva, national team coach Dunga and veteran striker Romario were among those that also made the trip.
Since launching its bid, Brazil stressed that a World Cup will extend far beyond sports.
"Over the next few years we will have a consistent influx of investments. The 2014 World Cup will enable Brazil to have a modern infrastructure," Teixeira said. "In social terms will be very beneficial."
Tuesday's presentation was smoother than the one in July, which was laden with statistics and underlined Brazil's status as a developing nation with repeated images of its car factories.
Blatter had recently questioned Brazil's infrastructure and bid plans, but FIFA said last week that a stadium-inspection trip in August showed the country could put on an "exceptional" tournament
However, there have been delays in hosting some major events, problems with violence in the streets and the country's public transportation system is often overloaded.
The Brazilian soccer confederation estimates that construction and remodeling of stadiums will cost about $1.1 billion, though that could vary significantly depending on the cities chosen to host games.
Blatter said the lack of competition from other South American nations was one reason behind FIFA's decision Monday to do away with the rotation system that gave each continent a turn at hosting the World Cup. The decision takes effect with the 2018 tournament.
Germany has won the last two Women's World Cup titles, including this year's tournament without conceding a goal. It also has won the European Championship six times.
"Women's football is a great development opportunity around the world," German soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger said. "The ball finally is also there for the girls and the women."
Germany's presentation included a video showing career highlights of Birgit Prinz, a two-time FIFA player of the year.
"I'm just looking forward to the 2011 World Cup," said the Germany captain, who has scored more than 100 goals in nearly 170 international appearances. "It's going to be a great event.
The Germans listed 12 cities as sites, with the opener in Berlin and the final in Frankfurt.
Canada's bid was based on the strength of its under-20 World Cup this summer, which set attendance records for Canadian sports events and FIFA under-20 tournaments.
"We are in a competition," Blatter said in remarks to Canada. "And in competition there is always a winner and a loser. So I wish you well."
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Nike Inc. has reached an all cash agreement with Umbro plc, a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand with more than 70 years of experience in the world's No. 1 sport and the world's biggest football market.
"Umbro is a brand with a powerful heritage and deep experience in the world's most popular sport and the world's biggest football market," said Nike, Inc. President and CEO Mark Parker.
The acquisition will significantly expand Nike's global leadership in football, a key growth category for the company. Since the early 1990s, Nike has grown its football revenues from about $40 million to approximately $1.5 billion and established brand leadership in the sport.
Another case involving spying. At least on a field, the coaches can try to eliminate some of the spying (covering their mouths so noone can read lips) but a meeting room should offer privacy.
Denmark team demands more answers
The alleged spying happened Tuesday, the eve of Denmark's opening match against host China at the Women's World Cup . The men, who the team spokeswoman said were Chinese, were discovered a half-hour before Denmark was to hold a strategy meeting.
FIFA, soccer's world governing body, said late Wednesday that it had investigated and closed the matter. The Danish team was told that the men were not connected to any other teams, spokeswoman Pia Schou Nielsen said.
"It's still a lot of questions which haven't been answered," Nielsen told reporters. "We want to know who these men were, what were they doing there and what were they were needing the information for."
The team wanted Chinese authorities to follow up on their questions about the two men, who had been taken away by police. Officials in several departments of Wuhan police said Friday they were unclear on the case.
Given previous athlete v. consumer interactions (Pacers fight at Detroit, Dodgers going into the stands), I think it is very likely if a similar situation occured in the US, the player would face a much longer suspension. I wonder if his employment contract included a waiver covering assault?
http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/09-11-2007/df4a000395ea0c9e.html
Juventus defender Zebina banned four matches for slapping stadium worker
(AP) - MILAN, Italy-Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina was banned for four matches by the Italian league Tuesday for slapping a stadium worker.
The incident occurred as Zebina was walking off the field after picking up his second yellow card during Juve's 3-2 win over Cagliari on Sept. 2. Zebina also received a €15,000 (US$21,000) fine.
Another Juventus defender, Jean Alain Boumsong, hurt his left thigh during a friendly with Zaragoza on Friday and will be out for two months.
Juventus has won its first two games since returning to Serie A and shares the Italian league lead with AS Roma. The two leaders meet on Sept. 23.
By EVAN WEINERSeptember 12, 2007
Originally published in the New York Sun
The FIFA Women's World Cup began on Monday, and that means it's time for another group of sports owners to start planning for yet another women's soccer league in the hope that "major league" women's soccer will gain a following in America. With the founding of a new group, Women's Soccer LLC, the question that needs to be answered is simple: Can the new league succeed in getting consumers interested in a once-failed product?
The latest incarnation of a women's soccer league will start in 2009 after two major international events: the World Cup, which is taking place in China, and next year's Beijing Summer Olympics, which will be used as a springboard to market the entity. The new league plans to place franchises in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington. Women's Soccer LLC also will become a business partner of MLS's Soccer United Marketing, which means MLS will attempt to get its business partners interested in the women's game. It has lined up one heavy hitter, Phil Anschutz -- who is already the owner of MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy -- to own the Los Angeles franchise and give the fledgling league credibility.
The new women's league claims it has done its homework and has learned some lessons from the failed Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), an entity which lasted all of three seasons, from 2001 through 2003.
