Sunday, February 7, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Is the role of captain overrated?” plus 1 more

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Is the role of captain overrated?” plus 1 more

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Is the role of captain overrated?

Posted: 06 Feb 2010 10:20 AM PST

CaptainsArmbandsI’m guessing you’re probably tired of hearing about the whole John Terry situation by now. I know I’m beginning to be fed up of it being seemingly the only news story around.

To some extent, I have to wonder quite why such a fuss has been made – afterall it is only the armband that’s been taking away from Terry as Daryl rightly pointed out. Nothing else.

When England go into the World Cup in South Africa, just like every other nation they’ll need plenty of on the field leaders. It won’t matter that Terry doesn’t have the armband, there will still be moments where he is needed to put an arm around someone, to fire someone up for a match, to give a rousing talk etc.

It makes me wonder – does it matter who is captain, at club or country?

I noticed today that UEFA has a celebration of all those captains that have lifted the European Cup. It sure is an impressive list of names – Beckenbauer, Platini, Deschamps etc, but would it have mattered if one of their teamates was wearing the armband? I doubt it.

In something like, Rugby, the role of the captain serves some kind of purpose – its only the Captain who is allowed to speak to the referee for example (to cut out these kind of scenes) and that makes sense.

I know some countries don’t worry about who is Captain and just give it to the player with the most caps. To me it does seem a bit of a formality, but it must mean something to someone, or else there wouldn’t be this fuss about Terry.

I just think that on the pitch, especially at international level, you’re going to need all your players to stand up and be counted. If you’re relying on one player to try and get them in the right frame of mind, you’re in a bad place to begin with, aren’t you?


Thierry Henry’s favourite Ref makes the World Cup

Posted: 06 Feb 2010 06:55 AM PST

thierry-henry-handballI don’t know if you recall, but France qualified for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa in quite controversial circumstances. To refresh your memory, Thierry Henry had to use his hand, twice, to get the ball across to William Gallas, so the latter could put France on that World Cup Plane. Ireland felt a bit miffed, but they might feel a bit more confused shortly.

The referee who allowed the goal, Martin Hansson, is in Fifa’s squad of referee’s who will make the World Cup in South Africa. One of his linesmen has also made it, Stefan Wittberg was included but Fredrik Nilsson missed out.

Seems a bit of an oversight by FIFA to be honest. I mean, all ref’s make mistakes, and a referee shouldn’t be endlessly punished for one mistake that they make.

But on the other hand – he made a big mistake in a high profile match, which hardly fills you with confidence. And by including him, its only drawn attention to the referees which probably isn’t what they need anyway.

A full list of the referee’s picked for SA is available in this slightly awkward document on the FIFA website.


With elite QBs, electric offenses, Super Bowl 44 could be a classic

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Saturday, February 6, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

World Cup 2010 Blog: John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 09:16 AM PST

john terry captainJohn Terry will not be England captain at the 2010 World Cup. Simple as that. Fabio Capello flew back from Italy to make a decision following the revelation of Terry’s alleged affair with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, sat down with Terry, and told him the bad news. Unlike John Harkes though, John Terry will remain in the England team. He’ll play at World Cup 2010. He just won’t have an armband around his bicep. He might even be relieved to get out of all the PR activities a World Cup bound England captain is obliged to do.

The English media and bookies were probably hoping for a few days of “Who will be the new captain?” speculation, but Capello has cleverly robbed them of that chance by pointing out that he already named Rio Ferdinand vice-captain and Steven Gerrard as third-choice-captain (vice-vice-captain?) and so it’s a simple case of both men stepping one rung up the ladder.

Capello’s statement released on the FA website is below:


"After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry.

"As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad.

"What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

"John Terry was notified first.

"When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank The FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team."

Obviously this whole thing has been a tawdry mess, and doesn’t do English football any favours. I’m not even sure they should be allowed to wear all-white at the World Cup now. But credit to both the FA for staying out of it, and to Fabio Capello for being stone cold decisive and leaving very few loose ends. I’m almost tempted to say the whole thing is done and dusted, but we’re yet to see how John Terry reacts, how the England team reacts, and – most gossipy of all – whether Wayne Bridge makes the England World Cup squad.

- More on England at England World Cup Blog


Hall of Fame exclusive: Dwight Clark on Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman on Emmitt Smith

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Friday, February 5, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: So That’s Why John Harkes Didn’t Go to World Cup ‘98. (Allegedly.)

World Cup 2010 Blog: So That’s Why John Harkes Didn’t Go to World Cup ‘98. (Allegedly.)

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

So That’s Why John Harkes Didn’t Go to World Cup ‘98. (Allegedly.)

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 12:40 PM PST

Do you like the word “alleged”? I hope so, because I’m going to use it a lot in the next paragraph.

harkes and wynaldaThe bombshell that is John Terry’s alleged affair with Wayne Bridge’s one time girlfriend sent ripples across the Atlantic ocean earlier this week, where former USA striker Eric Wynalda alleged that former USA captain John Harkes did something similar and had an affair with Wynalda’s wife before the 1998 World Cup.

“There’s a lot of similarities between what happened to us in ‘98 and what’s happening now to England,” Wynalda told the AP. “It’s an unfortunate time for England, because I know how that can affect a team firsthand. Obviously, we all know how we did in the World Cup in ‘98.”

Which would – finally – explain USA coach Steve Sampson’s seemingly mental decision to leave “captain for life” (I kid you not) John Harkes out of the USA’s 1998 World Cup squad.

As Wynalda alluded, the 1998 World Cup did not go well for the USA. It’s best remembered for the 3-6-1 formation, losing to Germany, Iran and Yugoslsavia, and finishing bottom of Group F. Steve Sampson took most of the blame, and now seems relieved that this story is finally out there.

“Maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup …

“I felt that these are the kinds of issues that need to stay in the locker room and within the team and not (be) exposed to the public,” Sampson said. “The private issues for me were the most serious issues. I think I could have lived with everything else and kept John on the team if it had not been for the private issues. It’s one thing to have an affair outside the team. It’s another to have one inside. … There are just certain lines that one cannot cross.”

Again, remember this is all “alleged” right now. So we’ll tread carefully.

Sampson may have been right or wrong to drop Harkes without revealing the real reason at the time. (He cited “leadership issues”, which is vague enough to be true I suppose.) You could even say it’s honourable that Sampson took the heat for dropping Harkes, allowing Hakres to be the victim and himself to be the bad guy. But what this proves – once again – is that we never really know what’s going on in football.

Despite the seemingly endless media coverage of the beautiful game, we never have the full picture. Teams, coaches and players only ever show us a tiny slice of the pie, so there is a multitude of events that take place behind closed doors, with no one present to report it. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. Quite the opposite, because not everything needs to be public knowledge. But I think it’s worth reminding ourselves while we’re blogging and commenting away, or even reporting on events in mainstream media, that we probably don’t know even half of what’s really happening.


11-Page Super Bowl Extra: Saints vs. Colts analysis, stats, betting tips and more

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