Archive for March, 2010

Michel Platini backs Brazil, Spain and England to shine

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Michel Platini

French legend and former Les Blues playmaker Michel Platini has backed Brazil, Spain and England to shine at this summers’ World Cup finals in South Africa – omitted his country of birth France. Brazil have impressed many with their European style layout of 4-2-3-1 with two holding midfielders, however many purists and Brazilian fans have grown tired of Dunga’s pragmatic approach. These fans shouldn’t forget that Brazil are indeed Copa America winners whilst Spain hold the continental crown in Europe. That leaves England, the eternal underachievers, but this time they have Wayne Rooney.

(more…)

Posted in Europe, South America, World Cup | No Comments »

Guus Hiddink to manage Ivory Coast at World Cup

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Guus Hiddink

Former Russia manager Guus Hiddink will be heading to the World Cup after all as he will lead Ivory Coast in South Africa. This will be Hiddink’s fourth World Cup finals tournament after leading his country of birth Holland in 1998, South Korea in 2002 and Australia in 2006. Russia failed to qualify for what would have been their third World Cup finals (as Russia) after their defeat to Slovenia in the playoff round last November. Hiddink had recently been linked in a move to Liverpool, however the 1988 European Cup winner will now manage Turkey as they build for Euro 2012.

(more…)

Posted in Africa, Managers, South Africa 2010, World Cup | No Comments »

Picking John Terry is trying to squeeze the “i” into team.

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

John Terry

I have to be honest – there is little of international football with England that I find entertaining. That could be attributed to my being part of a generation of supporters that could probably now be best defined as passive supporters of the national team after a series of high profile campaigns by the media to consistently single out Manchester United players and identify them as the villain of the piece for their various exits from the competitions.

(more…)

Posted in International, Players, Premier League, World Cup | No Comments »