Archive for the ‘World Cup’ Category

Brazil legend Socrates in hospital

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Socrates in his playing days

Brazilian legend and icon midfielder Socrates is recovering a Sao Paulo hospital after suffering a stomach haemorrhage. The former Corinthians man played 60 times for Brazil and notched up 22 goals for ‘A Seleção’. He was also part of what has been famously known as ‘the best side not to win the World Cup’ when he took to the field in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain. Brazil were eliminate 3-2 by eventual winners Italy following an epic Paulo Rossi hat trick. Pele named Socrates in 2004 as one of the top living footballers of all time.

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Mohamed bin Hammam: Sepp Blatter’s time is up

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Mohamed bin Hammam

Sepp Blatter’s time in charge as FIFA president could come to end, that is if vice president Mohamed bin Hammam is successful in his bid to become the new president, after Sepp Blatter’s thirteen years in charge of football. Hammam believes that football has come to a ‘virtual standstill’ and will run against the Swiss national on June 1st for the presidency. FIFA have been dogged with allegations of corruption, backhanders and vote rigging in recent years – with many fans citing Sepp Blatter as a major problem in world football today.

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Zinedine Zidane accused of selling out

Sunday, March 13th, 2011
Zidane

Legendary French captain and World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, was accused earlier in the year of ‘selling his soul’ following the former player’s involvement in Qatar’s successful World Cup bid (which reportedly earned him £1.9million). Zidane has since sued over the remarks, which he believes is ‘harmful to his honour’. Where do you sit on the issue?

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Pele fears Brazilian embarassment over delays

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Pele

Brazilian World Cup legend Pele has spoken of his concern and potential embarrassment for Brazil if preparations to host the 2014 World Cup do not get up to speed. Brazil are the only side to have qualified for every World Cup tournament and will host the finals for the second time in their history – the last time was back in 1950, where they lost in the final group match to Uruguay.

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Ronaldo: Brazilian legend Retires

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, or should I say ‘Il Fenomeno’ has retired from the game of football aged 34 years old. The 2002 World Cup winner and former World player of year has decided to hang up his boots following elimination in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 97 games for Brazil, trailing Pele who scored 77 goals in 92 games, to become the countries second top goalscorer of all time. In 2006 Ronaldo became the leading scorer, with 15 goals, in World Cup history when he scored in the 3-0 victory over Ghana. We take a look back at the career or a true great and wonder what could have been if he hadn’t endured so many injuries.

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Enzo Bearzot: 1982 World Cup Winner

Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Enzo Bearzot

I was born early in the morning on the 9th July 1982, the morning after the epic 3-3 semi final between France and West Germany, which saw the infamous Harald Schumacher ‘attack’ on Patrick Battiston after a glorious Michel Platini pass. I always credit this match as one of the reasons as to why football runs through my veins, considering I was born a few hours after the final whistle. However, looking at the whole 1982 tournament, Platini nor France nor West Germany were the stars of the show.

On the 5th July 1982, Brazil lost 3-2 to Italy in the quarter final of the World Cup. This Brazilian side is often credited as the greatest football side not to lift the World Cup (probably along with the 1974 Dutch side), which is no doubt a massive compliment to Paulo Rossi’s Italy – led by legendary manager Enzo Bearzot.

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Russia win right to host World Cup 2018

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Russia bid

Russia have seen off challenges from England, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands to host the 2018 World Cup finals. Russia have promised to ‘make history’ as the first Eastern European nation to stage the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930 – which was won and hosted in Uruguay. Russia comfortably defeated Holland/Belgium and Portugal/Spain in the second round, whilst seeing off a humiliating first round exit by England. The 2022 World Cup hosts were also announced, with Qatar beating off challenges from the United States and Australia.

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Bob Bradley signs new contract with US team

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Bob Bradley

USA coach Bob Bradley has agreed to stay on as national team coach for another four years, which includes the 2014 World Cup, U.S. Soccer said this week. The 52-year-old, who steered the U.S. to the last sixteen at this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa where they were eliminated by Ghana, will retain the job until the end of 2014 after agreeing to a four-year contract extension. This announcement puts an end to the widespread rumours linking Bradley with the vacant position at Aston Villa.

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World Cup 2010 Review

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Spain trophy

This tournament has been historic. It will always be remembered as the first World Cup to go to Africa, in particular, to South Africa – a country that has suffered so much oppression, that has fought to show the world that it is safe and that has shown the world that white people and black people are co-existing in peace.

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The Dutch guarantee an all-European final

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Robben

Holland have beaten Uruguay 3-2 in the first World Cup semi final. The result means that the World Cup final will be an all-European affair as it was in 2006. This is only the second time in World Cup history that consecutive finals have been all-European; the last time it happened was in the 1934 and 1938 finals.

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