World Cup Wildes

Latin American people are hilarious. Never in my life have I met a bunch of people who bring a smile to my face like these folks. They make my life seem so much more meaningful. If I have a bad day (which is pretty much everyday) I just have to sit outside my home in Corona and just watch these people do their thing. Their loud, they play music that sounds like a cat being raped by a moose, they cook food laden with spice that make your ears bleed when you eat. Their kids run around like if they are mentally unstable and despite all of this I am intrigued by their ways. When they speak I can't understand what they are saying and to be honest I have given up. You see it may sound bad but I tend to look down on people, sometimes I think I'm better than everyone else. I'm better than North and South Americans, Europeans, Africans and Asians. I love myself to much it would seem. With that comes a sense of entitlement. I always think that I deserve more than others because I really have achieved a lot. My Hispanics neighbors here in America are really industrious, they work the worse jobs possible and get little reward. In this World Cup they are a lot of teams that think they have the right to the cup, they are entitled to it you may even say, sort of like me but they are some who know hard work and endeavor will get them where they want to go. The teams in Group D can make the claim that they are entitled to glory this summer but they should know that hard work is the only to get ahead.

Group D
Australia
Germany
Ghana
Serbia

Australia


Before the Socceroos moved from the Oceania confederation to the Asian one they could have made the claim they had the right to be called the kings of Oceania keeping their Tasman neighbors New Zealand at bay. They often had to face the last team in a final qualifying spot from some far flung corner of the earth in order to advance to the finals, an issue that has hampered the Aussies for some time now. This will be Australia's third World Cup and if I might say rightfully deserved. It would be a bit of a culture shock to any nation who moves to another zone but the Australians handled it with pure class. They didn't just walk through Asian qualification they rather waltzed through it,too easy in my opinion. Australia has a fairly experience team with the likes of Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano all in her ranks(that might be a dirty joke). I actually love the team but my only concern is that they don't have a prolific striker. Joshua Kennedy has now become their leading goal getter now that Mark Viduka removed himself from the national fold. That is a bit worrying, so that automatically heaps pressure upon the "Kenster" as I like to call him (Kennedy) and the Aussie midfield to produce the goals they need to progress. Seeing how they will come up against some resolute defending throughout the group they will definitely need some help. All in all if they can clamp down in defense and the midfield can support Kennedy they could be one to watch. Tough group though .

Key Man- Tim Cahill: He is a scrapper and embodies Australian self believe and spirit.

Germany


Deutschland! Do I need to say more. The discipline. The rigidness. The efficiency. The Germans. Fussbal as it is call in Germany is the national sport and you don't have to be an expert see why. They qualified to this date for the World Cup a record 17 times and won the prestigious tourney thrice first in 1954 then 74 and then 90. Chinks in the armor of Germany? There opponents wished. Just a sample of their might was found in their qualification for South Africa. The Germans dispatched teams like Russia and Wales to top their group. They are well coached with Joachim Low directing the Mannschaft as they are called. They have solid keepers in Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese. Strong defenders with Phillip Lahm and Per Mertesacker heading up the back line. Young midfielders like Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos supporting veterans like Bastian Schweinsteiger and now they have founder a wonder striker like Stefan KieBling (his name has that special northern europe b). They have lost Michael Ballack a blow I think that can hinder them from going all the way but Germany to look solid not to cause a serious threat.

Key Man- Bastian Schweinsteiger: With Ballack out he has to be the loudest voice in the dress room and a lot of the burden will be placed upon him.

Ghana


The other day I made mention of how I have met people from all over the globe. I met a Ghanaian, well actually his parents are Ghanaian he's an American. He loves basketball and has a thing for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (he is a beast). This kid's name is Ishmael MarkAddy he's from the Bronx. As American you can get. He told me his dad loves Ghana's national team, he on the other hand knows little to nothing about them. One day we were talking and he said his favorite player was "Ekien."I was, like who? then it clicked....ohhhhhhhhhhhh. You mean Essien. He said. "That is what I said." I was like, close enough and close enough is how I feel about Ghana right now. In this group it will be tough and I know they have talent in their ranks to make me say they got a shot. Which is good. What is bad is that Ekien according to my friend Ishmael may not make it to the finals he is struggling with a serious injury and Ghana can ill afford to be without their star man. Now they don't have to panic because I still think they can be competitive without him but can they win games without him is the question and indicators state that they could, they had to be without him the majority of qualification. That's qualification though this the real thing. This being their second World Cup its no longer a time for starry eyed moments they need to perform.

Key Man- Sulleyman Ali Muntari: Even if Essien gets the all clear to compete he won't be at 100% thus Muntari needs to pick up the slack. I think he was great at Portsmouth and I do believe Inter Milan should give him a chance. If Ghana has a chance of advancing he has to have something to do with it.

Serbia

Forgive me for being very ignorant and blind. About two years ago I didn't know much about a then Serbia & Montenegro side. I knew they were apart of the mighty Yugoslavia but other than that I didn't care to pay much attention to them. I knew they played attractive football but for some reason I ignored them . Now Serbia has split with Montenegro and are for the first time entering as a solely sovereign nation into the World Cup. As apart of Yugoslavia they went to numerous World Cups even appearing in a final or here and there abouts. Looking back on it I think that was very impressive but one must keep in mind that Yugoslavia emcompassed what is today Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Macedonia and Kosovo. So they weren't exactly starved of population to develop footballers. What is impressive now is this Serbian side. To reach South Africa they topped a group that contained France, Romania and Austria teams that aren't considered light weights. So that is an accomplishment all on its own. Me being a neophyte was proclaiming that Nemanja Vidic was all the Serbs had. Then I started to look down the list at the players they had and it read. Dejan Stankovic, Nemanja Vidic, Marko Panetlic, Zoran Tosic, Aleksandar Kolarov and Milan Jovanovic and I said to myself. "Holy shit I know these guys." So I ask myself where was this team hiding. I was wrong about Serbia and I think they will go very far.

Key Man- Nemanja Vidic: He is a starting defender for Manchester United enough said.

Predictions- Before I start let me just say to this date this is the hardest group I have ever had to run the rule over but after some deep Aristotle like thinking I came up with this logical decision. Here I go. Germany 1st, Serbia 2nd, Australia 3rd, Ghana 4th. Germany is a given I don't have to explain why but looking at those names for Serbia I was forced to have them go through. Australia I said I liked but they don't have that striker and Ghana without Essien is like ice cream with out a cone, taste great in the begining but melts without the right support.

World Cup Wildes

I have been reading some really tasty works of literature in the past couple of months. Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. An epic poem about a guy who travels through the bowels of hell in order to see what awaits a soul if they live a faulty life. Another favourite of mine is the Confessions of St.Augustine. Which was a biography of Augustine's life, a life filled with constant sin and remorse. In both stories we see both men going through a journey where at the begining they were at the lowest points in their lives and as far away from purification as pagan baby killer. What was incredible about both stories is that the main characters Dante in the Divine Comedy and St. Augustine in the Confessions turned it all round.Dante achieved that pure figure he sought and Augustine well became a saint. In my reading of these to accounts I remember how far they had came to reach their ideal positions. Simply the message is no matter how dire the state one can always redeem thyself. Ironically all the teams in Group C in the World Cup are on some kind of quest and have a lot to repent for but as Augustine and Dante teaches salvation is just around the corner.

Group C
Algeria
England
Slovenia
United States of America

Algeria


What if Zinedine Zidane suited up for the country of his parents birth instead of France? Would we know him as the icon he is today? Would he have played for Juventus and Real Madrid? The answer is no. That means he wouldn't have won France 98 or would Materazzi be rammed in the chest like an ibex in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. If you didn't know, Zindane is of Algerian descent, so is Karim Benzema. Two world class players essentially are Algerian. Now if they are making that type of footballer in Algiers, Algeria has a wonderful chance of getting very far in this their third World Cup appearance. Like their former colonial masters the French their pass to South Africa was marred by incident. In a two leg play off with their regal neighbors Egypt who are the premier African team,saw them defeat them in the hotly contested match up. The Algerians were attacked in Egypt by the supporters of the Pharaohs with blood even being shed. Going to Cairo and beating the African champs is not an easy feet and that is why I am perplexed when pundits write off the Algerians. They beat Egypt in Cairo and they have some wonderful players with proven pedigree. Hassan Yebda a gun ho midfielder, Nadir Belhadj an even more gun ho player than Yebda. Karim Ziani I call him the Berber butcher a really fantastic midfielder and they have more, in fact a lot more than some of their African counterparts and some of their rivals in the group. I'm backing Les Fennecs for a quarters birth at least.

Key Man- Nadir Belhadj: How can a fullback be a key man, well I guess you never say Belhadj play. He is so exciting he makes you watch him. His energy will be a pivotal reason why Algeria goes far.

England


In 1966 England lifted their first and only World Cup to this date. Their coach was Sir Alfred Ramsey. He did it, the thing that England had craved for since the beginning of the tournament in 1930. Since then the Three Lions have had 13 coaches, all promised but only brought failures and false dawns but it is the 13th coach since Sir Ramsey who offers the most promise. Before this 13th disciple England were a power than seemed destine for mediocrity but in step the Don and that feeling has seem to have rescinded. That man is the Italian Fabio Capello. After failing to qualify for Austria/Switzerland 2008 under Steve McClaren the FA hit the panic button and Capello was brought in to quell the storm. Under Capello they are no longer the bumbling idiots I have enjoyed laughing at for years nor are they the boring over paid douchebags I have come to hate. Now they are just overpaid but their good. I said in my previous post I do think England have the best defense in the world the options in defense are really superb. In the midfield there is a flux of good players and up front they have some pretty useful guys I won't call names. I am going to say they are one of my faves to go on and win the whole thing. I see no real weakness within the squad besides being overpaid peacocks. I really like England's chances and they will do extremely well in this show piece. Oh I should probably tell you guys how they got to South Africa, they basically kicked Ukraine, Croatia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra's asses to advance to the finals.

Key Man- Wayne Rooney: If Rooney doesn't get injured or red carded they should win the whole thing.

Slovenia


I am extremely happy for Slovenia as am I for any small nation who qualifies out of UEFA. Europe is a really tough place to clinch a birth to a World Cup but somehow they did it. If you have a good memory like me you would know that this isn't Slovenia's first dance. The nation featured in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. I remembered Zlatko Zahovic and his vampire like demeanor. Now they are back and how they got here is very amusing. They weren't placed in a terribly diffcult group stage in Europe. A group that included San Marino, Poland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic. Who by the way did not qualify (major disappointment) but the Slovenians did, they came second right behind Slovakia which meant they had to defeat the mighty Russians in order to get here and you know what? They did. I'm glad they did and again I feel absolutely sparkly for them but they really don't have much of a chance. They could sneak some points here and there but outside there is not much hope for them. To be honest I only know two of the Slovenian players, Robert Koren a West Bromwich Albion man and Samir Handanovic a goalkeeper who plays for Udinese, he is pretty good. They will need him if they aren't to be blown away in this group.

Key Man- Samir Handanovic: Needs to be on form if his side to be given even a glimmer of hope.

USA


A couple of years ago I was really pulling for the Americans I didn't mine when they raped Barbados and made my cousin who plays for the islanders look like a dribbling cone. I didn't mine that at all but it seems that America is getting a bit to big for her britches. They don't deserve their lofty rank given to them by FIFA a top 20 side I think they are not and they are not better than Mexico. They did beat some pretty good teams like Spain and Egypt and I give them credit and no matter where your nation is it is hard to dominate a region and they do dominate Concacaf but beating up on Jamaica and her lackey islands like St.Vincent does not make you elite. You beat up Costa Rica and I say SO WHAT? I am really starting to get annoyed by America's attitude. America have excellent players and I rate some of them highly but you guys aren't the great northern gods last time I checked that title belonged to the Scandinavians. I actually pick Algeria to bring them down to earth. All that being said their path was pretty much routine, they raped a couple of island nations and thumped some Central Americans then they topped Concacaf's Hexagon to make it Africa. How do I gauge their chances? I really don't any more. I would have said a couple of months ago America has what it takes to go far into this competition but now they don't have a pray. You see America likes to be the underdog and in this group they are one of the faves the pundits say to advance to the second round. I honestly think that is a role America doesn't know how to play, when pressure is on them to succeed I don't think they can cope with it. I don't hate America I live here, its great country but I think their national team will be found out this summer.

Key Man- Landon Donovan: I have always liked him and without a doubt the reason why USA has become the force they are in this current day.

Predictions- England 1st, Algeria 2nd, United States 3rd and Slovenia 4th. England is different class. United States will not be able to cope with Algeria's intensity and will be pipped for 2nd. Thanks for coming Slovenia.

World Cup Wildes

The days are starting to turn over. I'm on my summer vacation officially but I'm looking for that premier summer job. The negative me says I have been unemployed for two weeks now but the positive me says I have been relaxing for two weeks.I'm not unemployed I'm funemployed that's the way I see it. The World Cup is pretty much upon us and they are teams who will see things in different ways sort of how each of us see things differently. New Zealand and Slovenia just chuffed to be there. The African teams are out to prove a point. The powers of football like Italy and Brazil see this as a must win. Myself I see this an integral part as my development as well. If I'm suppose to be serious about this football thing I really have to put steps in place so that I can be apart of it in the future but at the same time it has to be fun because I refuse to be stuck in a job that I hate for the rest of my life. As promise more group stage insight and if I'm correct after "A" is "B." So here we are from Alpha to Beta.

Group B
Argentina
Greece
Nigeria
South Korea

Argentina



Well as much as I love powerful teams like Argentina there is better than to rain on their parades that's right, defecate on their hopes and dreams. Unlike Uruguay I don't have to tell you what you already know. Argentina won the World Cup twice first in 1978 and then in 1986. They are multiple South American champions they boast world class talent for years now. What you may not know that they struggled to get the Dark Continent. They finished 4th in South American qualification behind Brazil who finished 1st which is not a shock but Chile and Paraguay roared passed them which was a shock. Maybe not, because they are being coached by ex World Cup legend slash Coke fiend Diego Maradona. Now I love Maradona my uncle thought he was the greatest thing since slice bread in fact he thought the Boca legend was the grain that made the bread. I however am not a fan of him as a coach. Actually he and Raymond Domench France's coach at this tournament are the worse of the lot. Machiavelli, Maradona is not, I'm not sure even if he has tactics. He is what I like to call a gusto coach. This is what a gusto coach does, they make a gay ass speech to the players talk them up fill them with pride and industry and all that wonderful stuff and hope their inner patriot comes out. That being said I have spent to much on him to his troops now. Do you know who is Argentina's number one goalkeeper? You don't! Me either. I do three things with my life go to school (I hope), Think about females and watch a ton of football. That being said I know none of them and if I don't know you there is a huge problem. From the roster I see their best keepers play in Holland and for a bottom feeder club in Serie A in Catania. Where is Lux and Abbondanzieri, Maradonna? I worry for Argentina's defenders, quite simply they have an old backline Samuel and Demichelis not the quickest and they left Coloccini and Cambiasso in Buenos Aires. Offensively they are the best in the world I don't have to call names but I will leave you with this, Cristiano Ronaldo can carry Portugal, he has done it so many times, Messi has never been on a team without a sporting cast and if Argentina get caught out he has no experience of digging teams out of trouble.

Key Man- Lionel Messi: Best player in the world and really needs to blow out the opposition because I don't think Argentina will be able to defend a full 90 very well.

Greece


The Greeks, they have brought us democracy and beautiful literature that Hollywood can turn into highly commercialized short films. What is not very beautiful is the way Hellas plays football. They are bruisers and they really aren't about killing you with passes but what Hollywood teahes us about the Greeks they are very effective. To qualify out of the UEFA zone is a feet worthy of praise. They finished second behind the Swiss in their group stage which forced them to playoff against Ukraine whom they dispatched. Greece shocked the world when they won Euro 2004. I too was shocked but Otto Rehhagel is a fine coach who maximizes what resources are at his disposal. Can they win it? They could, if this was in Europe and didn't have to contest nations from various continents. Seriously I think defense wise they can even stop a team like the Netherlands but Brazil would pose a different challenge. The Greeks are a really tidy unit and they put up walls with their physical play but they need goals to progress out the group and despite having good strikers like Theofanis Gekas and Georgios Samaras the key word is good but they are not great. The Greeks have to keep doing what they do well which is defend and maybe they can go far.

Key Man- Sotirios Kyrgiakos: Their a lot of things that make the Greeks tough, besides the pronunciation of their names and their beards. Their defence is extremely stout and Kyrgiakos is at the center of it. The Liverpool defender is always down for a tackle just hope he can get it right for Greece.

Nigeria


The Super Eagles were once the premier team in Africa but after a series of retirements of influential players such as Jay Jay Okocha have seen them just sit back in their seat for a little while. Their path to the World Cup was pretty much a stroll, they topped their qualifying group and here they are. I to be honest have never liked Nigeria but I respect them. They have some nifty and useful players like John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins and Victor Anichebe. They have a new coach in the Swede Lars Lagerback. A man that failed to get his own nation to the big dance. You would think that alarm bells would ring in the ears of the big wigs in Abuja. You fired your coach who got you here and you essentially appointed a loser. I don't get that but who am I but a young black male with a blog who lives with is mom in a flat in New York. Nigeria have a chance to advance out of the group but I'm just not sold on them. There is something about them that doesn't seem legit. I want to say they have a good team but I just can't. They don't seem to step outside of Africa and do the job. I know the tournament is in Africa but you know what I mean. The verdict is out on these guys I hope they prove me wrong.

Key Man- John Obi Mikel: Nigeria don't have a lot players who win tournaments besides Mikel who has have numerous cups to his name. He has a winners mentality which will be key to inspire his side. It takes a winner to lead winners.

Korea


I would have never in my life thought I would have a Korean friend let alone several. Since I have enrolled at C.W. Post Long Island University I have met people from all over the world. I have a Swedish friend, Bermudan friend, Iranian and Japanese but it is my Korean friends that I am mostly close too and I met them through playing football. I was brushing my teeth with my Manchester City jersey on and in stepped Jaeman, a Korean student, we never talked before that. He being a Man United fan had pretty harsh words for me and out of that I had a new friend. He introduced me to the best footballer I ever played against a 5'5 Korean Diego his name was Jae. After we played a game Jaeman told me that I can come to South Korea and come live with him. He said it like this "O'Jai U Come live me in Korea soon." That was one of the most touching things anyone has ever said to me, it was a tad bit gay but here was this Korean kid who hardly speaks a word of English inviting into his home that was really sentimental. What won't be sentimental is Jaeman's homeland chances in the World Cup. South Korea are the big boys of Asia but outside their confederation they are no more than water weight. As to be expected from any Asian team they are organize and they have that typical Asian chase down any ball attitude but I really to fear for the White Tigers. There is some hope in Park Ji-Sung and Lee Pyo- Young and Choon-Lee but their lack of height and pure goalscorers can hurt them.

Key Man- Park Ji-Sung: Captain Fantastic, was there any other that they could call on, he is a god in Korea.

Predicitons- Argentina 1st, Greece 2nd, Nigeria 3rd and South Korea 4th. Perfect alphabetical order. Argentina will out gun everyone with their cannons up front. It was tough to decide who would be second but I gave it to Greece because they know how to protect a lead. Nigeria will fall short as I said I'm not convinced by them. Sorry Jaeman and Jae your boys are out classed here and are to small physically. If me playing against you guys is an indicator Korea will be bullied of the ball despite their skills.

World Cup Wildes

Oh my, haven't I been naughty. I have been away for quite some time and to be honest I have really been lazy. I've been going to school full time, which might I add is as difficult as watching a cow eat grain. It really is child's play for me but what can I say the word "brilliant," was made for me. Since I have been away I've turn 22. Great Britain elected a new Prime Minister, Thierry Henry thought he was a basketball player. LeBron James crashed out of the NBA playoffs and fish in California have herpes now and in between all of that, all football 2009-10 seasons have concluded and champions have been crowned. Now since I have been told that the world will end in 2012 that means I don't have a lot of time so I should probably start saying prays and become for studious and less lazy. Well if you haven't heard the FIFA World Cup 2010 is being held in South Africa beginning June 11th to July 11th so from this date we don't have much long left. My task if you would have me is to keep you abreast on who is doing what and what groups there are in. So according to the ancient workings of the standardized alphabet we start with Group A. It's going to be A-mazing. I know that was a bit cheap but it is my first time being back so I'm allowed.

Group A
France
Mexico
South Africa
Uruguay

France


Les Bleus. One of the greatest teams in the world almost didn't make it. After finishing behind Serbia they needed to beat a resilient Republic of Ireland in order to reach the Africa's southern cape and they did although, marred with controversy. People say they should not be there come June 11th but I say to them. You can only score if you attack and Les Bleus did for most of the game. Can they go on and win the tournament that is a resounding yes I don't see why not. What turns me away from them achieving much however are a couple of factors. For one France have mounting injuries to key men like William Gallas and Lassana Diarra. Both men are focal points in the starting 11 and to be honest they aren't any ready made replacements for them in France. Secondly the coach Raymond Domench. This man is an idiot. He uses astrology to pick a team. He left out to my knowledge Karim Benzema and Philippe Mexes. Mexes is my dog so that is my bias comes through but Benzema is a must. Finally the French strike me as a unit not united. I think they have awful team chemistry and body language. I even bet that if they go behind to a good unit say England (BEST DEFENSE IN THE WORLD)I really doubt they have the spirit for the fight historically not only in football the French people outside of the Napoleonic Era are push overs unless things fall in there favor.

Key Man- Hugo Lloris: For all their cavalier like attacking. It is France's goalkeeping depth that is key. Behind Hugo Lloris there is Steve Mandana behind Steve is Cedric Carasso. Hugo Lloris is the most agile goalkeeper in the game today and with out Gallas or Mexes we will be needed on a regular.

Mexico


Its not very hard to get out of the Concacaf qualification zone. If you have a massive population and a history that Mexico has. When you look around the region Mexico only has United States, Costa Rica and Canada (if they feel like it,) as competition. So I really don't have to speak on their progress through qualification. Have to say they tried the Swedish sweetheart Sven Goran Eriksson a while back that didn't work out so they brought in El Vasco better known as Javier Aguirre . He righted the ship and so far it has been a breeze. I really love Mexico in fact I own a shirt. Shoot where I live in New York there is nothing but Mexicans and I love burritos match made in heaven. As a football power I'm a bit concern because Mexico has pretty much pedestrian competition in their FIFA zone so there is always the need for them to blow out the competition that is served up to them. It's like the story of a mighty island. They are magnificent against the other little islands but when facing a continent she sinks. Same can apply to America but that's not our focus. Mexico is well drilled and discipline and now they can defend very well but its like they traded in their firepower for their new armor. Mexico lately have been firing blanks they need to step up the goal department. Which is odd with Blanco, Vela, Dos Santos and Guardado you would think they would be cruel on opposition.

Key Man- Andres Guardado: Dangerous, very dangerous, he is getting better and better. Most of the creativity and guile will come through him. I'm not just praising him because he is a Depor man but he really is their best player and he defends things stuff dreams are made of.

South Africa


They say that there is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. For the host nation I really hope there is one here because they look to be in danger of becoming the first host not to advance beyond the group stage. These are some hard facts. We know as the host they did not have to qualify as a result they have had nothing to play for since who knows. They played in the Confed Cup which really isn't important. They did not even qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola. They switched their coach which is always rough but at least he knows the set up since he was their coach before. South Africa can't score goals that is another cold fact. South Africa's major problem is that their main attacking threat is Steven Pienaar. Don't get me wrong he is fantastic but Steve is a midfielder and a small one at that and he really has no other help in an attacking sense. Benni McCarthy God bless him because he is a devout Christian isn't the same man he once was. What saves the Africans is however the home support and the teams athleticism but let me remind you this is not cricket or rugby two sports where South Africa dominates, this is football and to be honest they are not that great.

Key Man- Matthew Booth: Forget Pienaar he can't defend any way. There is nothing more frightening than a 6'6 ft 209lbs white man barreling down upon you. That is what Booth is, he is a monolith and he's quick. Booth maybe 33 but he gets about.

Uruguay

I like to call them the little Argentina but if I said that in Montevideo they would probably stab me and burn me. Uruguayans hate Argentinians with all their hearts. Who would guess that they would have so much in common. Their flags, their ethnicity with both South American states emerging from vast European migration. More importantly to us they both won the World Cup twice. Yes Uruguay have more right to be here than any other nation who will be in South Africa. They were the first to lift the prestigious cup in 1930 and then in 1950. They have pedigree and pedigree never fades. Even if the personnel change. They play with an heir of promise and I do think they will go far and could even win it. I sound crazy and I understand why one would think that but the people of Uruguay are winners and her players were brought up hearing the glories of the past. Being West Indian I have always heard how mighty Barbados and the West Indies were at cricket and that sticks with me to this day. Their is nothing more empowering to know that men that shares your same blood who lived a few meters away from where you were bred went on and championed the world. There is something very beautiful about that and the Uruguayan players who will play in South Africa and who will ever don her colors are natural winners.

Key Man- Diego Forlan:You are a fool to think that Forlan is the only weapon Uruguay has. Diego Lugano, Edinson Cavani and Sebastian Abreu stand at the ready to support the "Golden One." Forlan has a habit of proving people wrong. I made so much fun at Forlan at his Man United days but now I eat every word twice.

Predictions
France 1st, Uruguay 2nd, Mexico 3rd and South Africa 4th. Come on... its France, the French have what it takes to win the whole thing. Uruguay have to much spirit for Mexico and South Africa. Mexico is very timid on the road and South Africa just doesn't know how to win for all the spirit they will have.

Editorial: The Fallen Ones

Greece the land of a thousand tales and the inspiration of so many stories. One of my favorites is that of Daedalus and his fool-hardy son Icarus...........what you do not know who they are, my I am hurt don't worry Uncle Info is here to bring the fire like Prometheus to illuminate the dark canvases of your minds, yet another Greek mythical icon I think I used that line already but it sounds fresh. Daedalus was the architect of the Crete labyrinth that housed the dark creation of King Minos the Minotaur. The great architect was imprisoned with his son in a tall tower where escape was damn near impossible because he helped a young Greek hero decipher the enigma which was the labyrinth. In a desperate charge to freedom being the innovator he is Daedalus crafted two sets of human sized wings for him and his son Icarus out of bird feathers and droppings from waxed candles. On their avian ascension Daedalus told his son Icarus not to fly to close to the sun for the ductile wings could perish and in Icarus' youthful exuberance he disobeyed and fell to his death in the river below. How appropriate for my little segment here. If you haven't guessed it I'm talking about failures. What you have not probably guessed is that I'm talking about teams who have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa namely once glorified teams, well I have complied a list of beautiful losers and I will share them with you .

Here's a list of those teams that would have been there but have fell by the wayside (note these are teams of value so you won't see teams like Laos or Anguilla) they will be watching it on tv like me and that gives me comfort.

Sweden (UEFA/Europe)
Norway (UEFA/Europe)
Costa Rica (CONCACAF/Central America)
Egypt (CAF/Africa)
Czech Republic (UEFA/Europe)
Saudi Arabia (AFC/Asia/Middle East)
Tunisia (CAF/Africa)
Austria (UEFA/Europe)
Republic of Ireland (were robbed lol) (UEFA/Europe)
Russia (What happened Guus?) (UEFA/Europe)
Turkey (UEFA/Europe)
Belgium (UEFA/Europe)
Croatia (UEFA/Europe)
Ecuador (CONMEBOL/South America)
Israel (UEFA/Asia/Middle East)
Morocco (CAF/Africa)
Ukraine (UEFA/Europe)
Poland (UEFA/Europe)
Senegal (CAF/Africa)

Okay these are the teams I have picked that could have easily in Durban battling out for that old gold and they are some nations I could have included but didn't like Togo who are basically a one man team and China who maybe trying but are to be honest not that great and the likes of Serbia and Finland who are now starting to grasp football and produce quality players. They are definitely teams in that line up that should be there and to be frank I am very pissed that they aren't. Sweden I am extremely disappointed in you as well Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian scenario was very unpleasant in my eyes and other teams I really hurt for them. Ireland I hope France does not gain a point or score a goal and Henry not get a minute of action and for the likes of Ukraine who have punched above their weight for so many years and have now subducted into the realm I fear of distant return and their hero Andriy Shevchenko has sung his last song for the Kings of Kiev. I will take a look at all of these nations shortcomings and why they could not follow the gold at the end of the Rainbow nation.

Random Bite

I never thought I would have had to do one of these so soon. After Sir Bobby Charlton's death about a couple of months ago I thought the game had loss one of its true gentlemen and my tributes to decease players were coming to a welcoming end. Then unfortunately the Grim Reaper struck and Espanyol's hard nose captain Jarque dies. Now today I regret to inform anyone who has not heard the footballing world has loss another of its mythic stars to the Angel of Death.

Robert Enke the passionate German goalkeeper was passed away at the age of 32 on the 10th of November 2009. It is ironic that the East Germany native passed away on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Enke's fall was caused by his own devices. Enke orchestrated his won suicide in Neustadt am Rubenberge a sleepy German town. According to German authorities Enke drove his car onto a train track and waited for an arriving train.

The Former Barcelona, Borussia Monchengaldbach, Benfica and Hannover 96 man leaves behind his wife Teresa and two year old adopted daughter Leila. Enke's personal problems may had led to his death, the death of his own biological daughter Lara in 2007 due to a heart defect probably the main contributor of his motives. His wife Teresa revealed to German media that her husband was seeing a psychiatrist for six years due to a serious bout of depression. Enke's current club Hannover 96 president Martin Kind stated that Enke was an unstable person.

Enke played for Zeiss Jena, Borussia Monchengaldbach, Barcelona, Tenerife, Fenerbache and Hannover 96 and was capped by his nation 8 times. In a tribute to his life his current club Hannover 96 has frozen the #1 jersey in his honor while fans of the club have flooded the ADW-Arena to lay flowers in memory of the German pit

bull.

I am really upset about this personally because as I like to say there is more to life than football but how Robert died really broke my heart. Enke was so agile in goal and vocal individual. I really wished he would not have given up on us not for the sake of football but for the sake of your love ones fans and family alike.

Sunrise- 08/24/1977

Sunset- 11/10/2009

Sleeping Dragons

It has been a while. If you have been waiting with bated breath on my next installment, you have probably died from suffocation. So that being said I probably don't have to apologize if your dead but since your reading this I will make an educated guess that you are alive and your not dead. I'm not Socrates but I think my powers of deduction are good enough to have some levy on thought. I do apologize if you have missed my presence. What have I been doing? Simply I have been busy, really busy. I think I'm entitled to give out some sort of treat for your patience. I feel extremely disappointed at the frequency in which I get to drop tantalizing text but look at it this way it makes it even more special when I do. Now with the perfect segue I usher in my special Sleeping Dragons. Its been awhile for this as well but lets just say they have been sleeping like I have. So whats constitutes a "Sleeping Dragon?," well for one let me say I am referring to to people not the mythic beast of old. My dragons are footballers. These are the lads that are very talented but who for some reason or another have not been able to emit the flames in their bodies. Clever dragon quote there for the intellectual. So its the guy in laments terms who is good but wastes his talent. I'll try not to waste mind what ever it is.

Name: Miguel Luis Pinto Veloso

D/O/B: 05/11/1986 (age 23)

Place of Birth: Coimbra, Portugal

Height: 5'11 ft/inches

Position: Midfielder (Central Defensive Midfielder)

Preferred Foot: Left

National Team: Portugal

Caps: 7

Club Teams: Olivais Moscavide (2005-06) (loan), Sporting Clube de Portugal (2006-present)

What's Wrong With You Son?: Portugalitisis see: Nuno Gomes, Ricardo Quaresma and Helder Postiga for other known cases.


Had I the heavens embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet.
But I being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler Yeats

That poem changed my life for the better it gave me a sense of who I am, I know it sounds silly or cliche but its true. I thank you William Yeats the famed Irish play write. I want young Veloso to see that poem and by the grace of some divine power maybe he will pull up his socks and realise what a fantastic talent he is. It is people like him in which the first half of the poem refers. All that heavenly embroidered cloth stuff. Meaning someone is rich and has the luxuries of life. Lets face it any professional athlete is rich, they have a precious commodity, there talent. It is this line of thinking that makes me want to slap people like Miguel Veloso. The latter part of the poem relates to folks like me, the being poor and only have dreams part. You see why I would be upset. Well here are a little facts about Sporting's number 24.
Miguel Luis Pinto Veloso was established on the 11th of May 1986 in the classical Portuguese capital Coimbra, yes Coimbra was the capital of the Iberian nation. Miguel Veloso followed in his father's footsteps Antonio in becoming a footballer and a good one at that. In his youth career Miguel played for Sporting's hated rival S.L. Benfica before becoming a turncoat and switching allegiances to the Lisbon based club Sporting. Like any young player he had to adjust to first team football so he was loaned out to little known club Olivais Moscavide where he impressed in 2005. Impressive work got him a birth in the starting eleven for Sporting and there he stayed to this day. What I really like about Veloso is his ability to play the position which he plays and not conform to the traditional traits of that position. Do you follow? No. Okay Miguel plays in that defensive midfield role which traditionally sees players who tackle hard and have an aggressive and a bit of a mean streak to them. Perfect examples are Gennaro Gattuso, Roy Keane and Patrick Viera, men of that ilk. Veloso has a really neat knack to challenge without being a cage animal. He is a very precise tackler of the ball. Going forward he is more useful than most would think, I know I always say this but he really does have great vision in that he picks a pass so well, he really does. He being Portuguese does mean he has an erotic asphyxiation for the dead ball situation, well not maybe erotic but he does know how to strike a free kick and he does so with great gusto.
With the good comes the extremely atrocious. Miguel is painfully slow. There is a lot to the lad if you get me. Speed is something he could work on. My major strive from this Portuguese prince is his homogeneous nature. I am not knocking the Portuguese Superliga but at best it is a second tier league. I may be even hasty with me wanting him to go abroad and play in one of the top leagues but I argue if you are good young you can play anywhere. Sure he could take my advice and do make it to that top league but suppose he turns out like Ricardo Quaresma and Helder Postiga his fellow countrymen and just tank overseas. Or what if he stays in the safety of Portugal like one Nuno Gomes. Sure like Senor Gomes he will be venerated like a god in Portugal and win all but the old Portuguese crown but he will not be that well known or well rounded or well respected. Nuno Gomes is good but how many of you know him?, if this is the first time you have heard of him or if all the memories are surging back of the glimpses you did see of him my point is well justified and if you do know him good for you I have no witty phrases to attach. Bit of a conundrum isn't it, either you stay and be a king of an island or go be a knight kingdom. Veloso will have to know. Offers have been made to him so he could leave and but what annoys me is his lack of urgency to leave. Now I don't work for Sporting Lisbon nor do I live in Portugal but I do know he had chances to leave but never unpicked his teeth to voice a desire to do so not because of the calibre of team because they were pretty fashionable clubs. So it is a mystery to me, maybe he likes home. I know the feeling but I do believe in fortune favours the brave and he is not being very brave.
Internationally he's look good in all ranks for the Portuguese, I mean they was not a hold lot to see but he does look like one for the future and will be. Portugal does not boast greatest defenders in the world and he is a fairly decent defensive unit and how he is mobilized for the Maroon and Green will be interesting.
Now the fun part what I think he should do to get a move on in the career department. I hate repetition but I have to say it again the boy has to get out of Portugal. Playing it safe gets you an average, bland wife named Carol who is a librarian. A fixed income job with no chance of climbing the cooperate ladder in a market that no one knows about. An income that is okay and after taxes you have $7.50 to splurge that you then in turn give to your cold wife so she can buy the Nigerian stamps that were outlawed in 1997 so she can complete her 20th century stamp collection. He just has to, the boy has a talent why confine it to just but a corner of the earth. In terms of his game he is young and will develop soon enough, that speed which I may have mentioned maybe his Achilles heel but no one said you had to be an Olympic sprinter to play the game but you do have to be a quarter miler though something I know he can cope with. He does not have to much in question to bash but I really hope he steps out of that box.
Wyvern