World Cup 2010 Blog: “Asian Cup Goals” plus 3 more

---

• Asian Cup Goals
• 2011 International Football Calendar
• Qatar 2011 Prepares For Launch
• Japanese Team Travels With A Furry

Asian Cup Goals Posted: 04 Jan 2011 06:03 PM PST The 2011 Asian Cup is sure to have plenty of amazing goals, as Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Australia take the pitch for their first competitive action since the World Cup, and meet opposition from traditional Asian powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia. As the tournament progresses, we’ll add as many Asian Cup goal videos as we can to this page. Just click on the links below and the videos will appear as the featured video. Videos from past tournaments Indonesia vs. Saudi Arabia, 2007 Indonesia vs. South Korea, 2007 Iraq vs. Saudi Arabia, 2007 Final Check back soon for 2011 Asian Cup goals!

2011 International Football Calendar Posted: 04 Jan 2011 03:36 PM PST The new year is here, and it’s tempting to think of 2011 as a bit of a let-down in terms of international football. After all, 2010 was the big one, the World Cup year, and now we enter the long three year hiatus of World Cup football before Brazil 2014. But there is, of course, far more to the international game than just the World Cup. Many of these tournaments involve youth sides, but there’s also plenty of senior action and we do have World Cups for the women’s sides plus for two youth cohorts. Here are all of the major tournaments going on in 2011, in chronological order: 2011 AFC Asian Cup When: 7-29 January, 2011 Where: Qatar What: The continental cup for Asia, this tournament brings together the east and west sides of the world’s largest continent for a three-week party of football at the site of the 2022 World Cup. More information: Asian Cup | Asian Cup Fixtures | Asian Cup Squads | Asian Cup Goals 2011 African Under-17 Championship When: 8-22 January, 2011 Where: Rwanda What: As well as playing for the continental U-17 trophy, the eight finalists will be fighting to secure four spots at the U-17 World Cup later in the year. More information: African U-17 Championship 2011 Copa Centroamericana When: 14-23 January, 2011 Where: Panama What: Formerly called the UNCAF Nations Cup, this tournament decides which five Central American countries qualify for the 2011 Gold Cup and a chance to claim dominance over CONCACAF. More information: Copa Centroamericana 2011 South American Youth Championship When: 16 January-6 February, 2011 Where: Peru What: An important youth qualifying tournament for South America, the top four finishers here earn invites to both the 2011 U-20 World Cup and the 2011 Pan American Games. The top two teams also earn spots at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 2011 Nations Cup When: 8-9 February; 24-29 May, 2011 Where: Dublin, Ireland What: A resurrection of the old home nations tournament, the Nations Cup pits Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales against each other with long-argued bragging rights at stake. More information: Nations Cup Fixtures 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship When: 14-27 February, 2011 Where: Jamaica What: 12 youth teams from around North and Central America will compete for the continental title, with the semifinalists also getting the four CONCACAF spots at the 2011 U-17 World Cup later this year. Euro 2012 Qualifying When: March, June, September and October 2011 Where: All over Europe What: Eight of the twelve qualifying matchdays for Euro 2012 occur this year, stretched all over the calendar. Several of the nine groups are still quite open, and there are sure to be more surprises on the road to Polkraine. More information: Euro 2012 Qualifying | Euro Qualifying Standings Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Qualifying When: March, June, September and October 2011 Where: All over Africa What: The beginning of the qualifying process has been a mixed bag for the established stars of African football, with Egypt and Nigeria stumbling out of the blocks and Ivory Coast sailing smoothly so far. But there’s a long way to go still, and these remaining matches will be the ones determining who will be headed to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early next year. More information: Africa Cup of Nations 2012 2011 UEFA U-17 European Championships, Elite Round When: 9-30 March, 2011 Where: 7 host nations around Europe (Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Belgium, France and Hungary) What: The latest round of the U-17 continental championship sees the 28 remaining teams separated into 7 groups, with the winners joining hosts Serbia in the finals later in the year. 2011 African Youth Championship When: 18 March-1 April, 2011 Where: Libya What: With the qualification rounds over, only eight teams remain in the under-20 championship of Africa. Four of these will earn invites to the 2011 U-20 World Cup. 2011 South American U-17 Championship When: 20 March-10 April, 2011 Where: Ecuador What: The 10 nations of CONMEBOL will all send their U-17 teams to Ecuador, hoping for a title or at least a semifinal appearance, which brings with it an invitation to the 2011 U-17 World Cup. 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship When: 3-17 April, 2011 Where: Guatemala What: Twelve teams will compete not only for the youth title of North and Central America, but also for four invites to the 2011 U-20 World Cup. 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup When: 5-25 June, 2011 Where: USA (13 venues around the country) What: The Gold Cup is the continental cup for North and Central America. The USA, Mexico and Canada will be joined by four Caribbean nations and five countries from Central America, with the winner qualifying for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, an important warmup for the next World Cup. 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup When: 18 June-10 July, 2011 Where: Mexico What: 24 youth teams from around the globe will gather in Mexico, and the scouts will follow. Always an interesting look at some of the stars of tomorrow. 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup When: 26 June-17 July, 2011 Where: Germany What: The sixth Women’s World Cup, this event will bring together the top 16 women’s football teams in the world. The hosts Germany will be heavily favored, but the English, Swedish, Brazilians and Americans will be among the challengers looking for an upset. 2011 Copa America When: 1-24 July, 2011 Where: Argentina What: The 43rd edition of the South American continental cup will be the most important tournament of the season for Argentina, who have won 14 Copa America titles, but haven’t won since 1993 and have watched Brazil take four of the last five titles. Especially as hosts, the pressure on them to take back the Copa will be massive. 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup When: 29 July-20 August, 2011 Where: Colombia What: If you don’t want to wait a few years for the U-17 World Cup stars to grow up, you can see the best young stars about to explode onto the world stage here in Colombia. In 2007, this tournament gave us a peek at now famous names like Sergio Aguero, Jozy Altidore, Angel Di Maria, Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez and more. 2014 World Cup Qualifying Draw When: 30 July, 2011 Where: Brazil What: There really is no rest for the wicked. Halfway through the year after the World Cup, we get the qualifying draw for the next one. Once the various continental groups are set, we can begin the long process of figuring out just what Brazil 2014 is going to look like. 2011 All-Africa Games When: 3-18 September, 2011 Where: Mozambique What: The 10th edition of the All-Africa Games include 23 sports. The football tournament will face the hosts Mozambique against seven other sides that will qualify during the year.

Qatar 2011 Prepares For Launch Posted: 04 Jan 2011 10:40 AM PST Several weeks ago, when this video was made, no one gave a flying oil drum about Qatar and its relationship to football – not, at least, in the mainstream world. Now it appears they won’t be able to get away without several million journalists masquerading as white-glove inspectors, turning over each and every move they make from now until 2022. So this is their promo into the first major competition after winning the bid. And if we’re lucky, they’ll have hurriedly and unwisely added some spectacular elements to the tournament, so maybe we’ll see an epic pyrotechnics disaster (no injuries, of course). Blowing up an empty stadium should get everyone on the Qatar 2022 bandwagon real quick. It also serves as a non-fetishist reminder that the 2011 Asian Cup is upcoming in just three days. We should probably care, genuinely, because Asian football is very underrated and progressing just as nicely as in other continents*, but how many football fans really do? It’s not like AFCON where a large number feigns interest simply because it’s Africa. * – Is it progressing as fast as South America is regressing? Free graduate thesis.

Japanese Team Travels With A Furry Posted: 04 Jan 2011 08:47 AM PST ‘Tis better not to ask – ignorance is bliss, etc. – should you not know what a “Furry” is, but if you must…Wikipedia is your huckleberry. (Anthropomorphism, however, is not.) The things modern television crime dramas will teach you…. But upon further review, not only is there one kinky stuffed animal fetishist for the 2011 Asian Cup, but there are five – in various colors. This whole thing is unwittingly creepy. Yes, most mascots are typically “furries”, but there is seemingly something more to these. Maybe it’s the cutoff shorts. (Do note the Japanese team, to their credit, has kept a very safe distance from said Furry, whilst giving it equally credit-worthy bizarre looks.) Also: Troupe performance/revealing. Several kinds of odd happening here simultaneously.

You are subscribed to email updates from International Football News - World Cup Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

GMC Never Say Never Moments

Your team never stops trying to make it to Super Bowl XVL. Neither should you. Enter for your chance to win a trip to Super Bowl XLV or a 2011 Sierra Denali. GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENTS. Welcome back NFL fans. 2010 is already stacking up to be an amazing year on the gridiron - full of incredible finishes, unexpected heroes and unforgettable moments. At GMC we call them Never Say Never Moments and, together with the NFL, we intend to celebrate each one. We need your help picking the best of the best. Each week we'll post the most incredible moments from that week and ask you, the fans, to vote on which one is worthy of the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the week. Click below to vote for your favorite.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT: TICKETS TO THE SUPER BOWL OR YOUR VERY OWN GMC SIERRA DENALI. That's right, each week we're giving away a chance of a lifetime. Tickets to Super Bowl XLV. And one lucky winner will drive off with a GMC Sierra Denali. So make sure after you vote, you enter for your chance to win.

You are receiving this e-mail advertising GMC products and services in response to your entry into the GMC Never Say Never Sweepstakes. Should you wish to unsubscribe from these weekly e-mail updates, please click here. To opt out of future GMC communications, please click here. If you prefer not to receive any unsolicited marketing e-mails regarding GM(R) vehicles, please click here. Privacy Statement For GMC Customer Assistance, please call 1-800-462-8782. General Motors 100 Renaissance Center 482.A00.MAR Detroit, MI 48265-1000 © 2010 General Motors | Copyright & Trademark Information © 2010 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.), 18 YEARS OR OLDER WITH VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE TO ENTER. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 1/5/11. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize description and other details, visit www.gmc.com/nfl . Sponsor: General Motors LLC, 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48265.