ESPN’s Dave O’Brien and Marcelo Balboa: The horror continues
Dave O’Brien loves the words “clean sheets’, he repeats it ad nauseum. Marcelo Balboa loves “fresh legs” and repeats...
Category: Soccer Coaches & Coaching
Fulltime: Brazil 3 Ghana 0
Brazil is playing selfish soccer, not attractive to watch but enough to win. The Black Stars had their chances...
Of matters Socceroo, Lucas Neill, and Guus.
Why did Lucas Neill have to do this? The outpouring of support for Lucas Neill has been overwhelming. We...
A bit of Sven leg pulling
The Guardian has been pretty critical of Sven, David Beckham, and the English squad. Maybe deservedly so. But this...
Will England Beat Scolari?
Not likely, says Portuguese star Pauleta. “We’ve got every chance of beating England. We’re all pulling in the same...
Carlos Alberto Parriera: No more beautiful game
Klinsmann’s Germany is playing exhilarating soccer. We usually do not associate the word exhilarating with German soccer. It is...
More on the “New Patriotism” in Deutschland
“Do you hum it, or do you sing it?” wondered Berlin newspaper BZ as the World Cup kicked off...
Sour Grapes from Ollie Kahn
Sitting on the bench with his best impersonation of an angry King Kong, ex-starting goalkeeper Kahn has started taking...
Is Luis Aragonés a Racist?
Luis Aragonés’ comments about Thierry Henry are just plain pathetic. You can’t say these kinds of things without being...
Dutch coach watch: And then there was just one
Marco Van Basten’s team’s exit is probably the most painful. Most pundits would have predicted the semi-finals for the...
Round of 16, Italy faces its old nemesis: Guus Hiddink
One of the most painful matches in Italian soccer history was when the South Koreans coached by Guus Hiddink...
Ghana vs. Brazil: Will the Real Ronaldo Show Up?
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari: “We’re praying Ronaldo will play like he did in the first two games. Then we’ll...
Netherlands vs Portugal: Is the German police ready?
One of the most unfortunate consequences of this bitter match made worse by a referee who ran amok with...
Fulltime: Portugal 1 Netherlands 0: Where does FIFA get these referees from?
The most bizarre match. I thought nothing could top the Italy-USA match. But Ivanov topped Larrionda. 4 red cards...
World Cup: No one is feeling bullish on England these days
The reaction to the England win against Ecuador is that most English fans are still worried. You could hear...
Halftime: The Three Kittens 0 Ecuador 0
So bad. If this is what England has come up, with such a lacklustre first half, then one can...
Sweden vs Germany: This might go to a penalty shootout.
Sweden meets Germany, round of 16, today, June 24 in Munich at 5:00 PM German time (11:00 AM EST)...
France, Switzerland through: It was day for Arsenal and its alumni
Switzerland 2 South Korea 0 France 2 Togo 0 It was a day for Arsenal players and its alumni...
Halftime: Spain1 S. Arabia 0 (Ukraine 0 Tunisia 0)
Ukraine just got a big break as the referee just sent off Tunisia’s main threat upfront, Riad Jaziri to...
Let the Rumors Begin: Klinsmann Replacing Arena!
Fox’s Nick Webster is saying it’s a done deal. Apparently Boris Inanici at WDR told Webster that Jurgen Klinsmann,...
Arena’s biggest coaching breakdown? I’ll go with the non- existent coverage
I could not help but notice the US defence sitting way back as the Ghanians came forward, they did...
Eric Wynalda says that Bruce Arena should step down
You know the ESPN pundits must be reading Soccerblog. In our discussions we discussed the issue of sending talented...
Ghana 1, USA 1 – Are We Back?
Rayna’s out – and the US suddenly look like they’re back in it! We’re going to have to play...
Rudi Gutendorf: Soccer ‘s rolling stone
From the NY Times, June 21 The person considered to be the ultimate coaching nomad is Rudi Gutendorf, a...
Will France Get a Free Ride from Togo?
Don’t look now, but I think Togo has decided they’re going to let France get through to the second...
Group C: The Oranje meet the Albiceleste (a preview of the WC finals??)
Fasten your seatbelts, this is the game of the tournament at this early stage. Argentina meets Netherlands in a...
Sven’s Last Card? – Theo Walcott!
Without Michael Owen, Sven is going to have to find a striker. And fast. He’s putting on an unconcerned...
Michael Owen out: Time for Sven to bring Theo Walcott
(L) Michael Owen out (ACL), (R)Theo Walcott, ex-Southampton, now Gunner “Bring him on, Sven, you have nothing to lose.”...
Halftime: Portugal 2 Mexico 1 (Angola 0 Iran 0)
Great battle going on right now at Gelsenkirchen between Mexico and Portugal. It has been an ebb and flow...
Video: Germany 3, Ecuador 0
A new attacking style for German soccer? Klinsi proves you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Final: England 2 Sweden 2: 4 defensive lapses, 4 goals
Joe Cole, England’s goalscorer and playmaker The Brits have so focused themselves on the Rooney- Owen- Crouch equation in...
Halftime: England 1 Sweden 0 (Paraguay 1 T&T 0)
Great goal by Joe Cole. He is easily the best player in the English squad. Rooney looks dangerous too...
Klinsmann has answered his critics in full
This is a Germany that is playing attacking and entertaining soccer. They have figured that the best way to...
Dutch coach watch: Are they still riding high?
The Netherlands Marco Van Basten: 2 wins Soca Warriors Leo Beenhakker: 1 draw, 1 loss (count the match against...
Start Vikash Dhorasoo, Domenech now that Zizou is out
Raymond Domenech desperately needs a playmaker. Zizou showed his genius in patches but he was never going to last...
Ergebnisfussball: Made in Brazil?
We Germans have a term for teams that play for a draw: Ergebnisfussball. This is a word that is...
Halftime: Ghana 1 Czech Republic 0 (Go Black Stars!!!)
Asamoah Gyan puts Ghana in front!! Ghana is just playing amazing soccer. 2nd minute Stephen Appiah crosses from the...
Marcos Senna: Brasilian- Spanish genius
Brasil’s Marcos Senna (Villareal & Spain midfielder) I want to add that I am proud of Spain’s Marcos Senna....
The last thing you need: England to meet Germany in the second stage
Ecuador’s win against Costa Rica has put them up at the top of Group A on goal differential ahead...
It’s over: We are through, England 2 T&T 0
I don’t know whether its more painful to see Sven celebrate or Crouch do his ugly moves. Thankfully Crouch...
Halftime: The Three Lions 0 Soca Warriors 0
The Lions are playing like kittens and Beenhakker has thoroughly outcoached Sven in the first half. Crouch got one...
England vs Soca Warriors: Beenhakker evokes Northern Ireland loss, bring on Rooney
England vs Trinidad and Tobago today, June 15th in Nuremburg at 6:00 PM German time (12 Noon EST) This...
Leo Beenhakker has been getting inside our heads
This is turning out to be a real grudge match. Words have been flying back and forth and Beenhakker...
This is it: England can put up or shut up
We are a nation in disarray. And I can tell you we are not feeling too good, English hooligans...
England vs the Soca Warriors: The Roonster will play today.
Wayne Rooney has been deemed fit to play by independent medical experts and Sven Goran Erickson said that he...
Costa Rica vs Ecuador: Wanchope vs Tin Delgado
Costa Rica meet Ecuador in a Group A encounter today, June 15 in Hamburg at 3:00 PM German time...
Is Raymond Domenech in control? Arena appears to be.
The US got blown out by the Czech Republic 3-0. A result that prompted much soul searching. And Bruce...
The Germany Poland WC match: The most entertaining by far
Today’s heroes: Artur Boruc, Poland’s goalkeeper (L), the crossbar, and Oliver Neuville, German goalscorer (R) This had to be...
Halftime: Germany 0 Poland 0 (Fulltime: Germany 1 Poland 0)
Highly entertaining game. Podolksi just missed getting a goal minutes before halftime, following a beautiful 1-2 with Schweinsteiger. Poland’s...
Halftime: Tunisia 1 Saudi Arabia 0 (Fulltime: Tunisia 2 S.Arabia 2)
Brilliant side volley by Ried Jaziri to put Tunisia through. The one opportunity, and Jaziri scored. The Saudi Arabians...
Why Rooney Isn’t Playing: It’s the Red Lawyers!
The FA fear Manchester United will take legal action if Rooney were to break down in the game as...
Tunisia vs Saudi Arabia: Our first look at Francileudo Silva Dos Santos
Tunisia plays Saudi Arabia in a Group H encounter today, June 14 in Munich at 6:00 PM German time...
Halftime: Spain 2 Ukraine 0 (Fulltime: Spain 4 Ukraine 0)
Spain minus Raul who is on the bench and they still score 2 goals in the first 15 minutes....