Wednesday, November 17, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Soundoff: Which Internationals Will You Be Watching?” plus 1 more

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Soundoff: Which Internationals Will You Be Watching?” plus 1 more

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Soundoff: Which Internationals Will You Be Watching?

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 12:30 PM PST

international-posterOf course there is but one true answer: Brazil-Argentina.

The not-quite-friendly friendly taking place in Doha has added significance in that it will usher in the return of Ronaldinho to the Selecao fold, if just for one game, as he now struggles for a return to the Milan fold. (Three straight on the bench.) Seems the horse-choppered one simply can’t get love from both sides anymore; it’s one of the other.

That said, a number of excellent international fixtures will be taking place. Abnormally excellent for mid-November friendlies.

One such game stands out:Russia and Belgium.

Not only do both teams have talent in youth which could use an extended run on display to the world, but it’s the return of Dick “Show Me The MONNEYYY” Advocaat against the team he dropped like a steaming pile of bratty footballers earlier in the year. You may remember he up and left his post atop the Belgium nat’l team for the same one over in Russia. The same one with a significantly more substantial paycheck, of course.

It’s just a shame that the fixture is in Kazan; it’d be nice to see Dick return to, say, Brussels, and face his past like the ex-lover who declared it over with a poorly worded text message. Though Belgium may not blame him for leaving – that Belgian team is reportedly an internal disaster.

The now Bielsa-less Chile versus Uruguay also is worth keeping an eye on, though it sort of pales in comparison to the other battle of South America.

But there are a number of games to quench the midweek football thirst. Which ones will you be watching? And which ones should we watch?


A Sitter Miss Of International Proportions

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 11:30 AM PST

Every sitter miss seems worse than the last, and every sitter miss is the “worst ever”, and nearly every sitter miss simply isn’t.

However, this one belongs in the pantheon of those at least claiming a legitimate shot for the shortlist, since it’s rather unfathomable that an international player couldn’t slot this bad boy home.

Khalfan Fahad, welcome to YouTube infamy.

[Spotted on 101 Great Goals]