World Cup 2010 Blog: “When Zidane Met Materazzi: No One Knows What The Hell’s Happening Anymore” plus 1 more

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When Zidane Met Materazzi: No One Knows What The Hell’s Happening Anymore Posted: 09 Dec 2010 12:40 PM PST Roughly six weeks ago there was a rumor circulating that Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi actually, inexplicably, unthinkably kissed and made up. The world was stunned, trees started drifting towards Europe and suddenly the world’s female population became ever so briefly barren. It was apocalyptic type stuff. Then it was revealed to be a false positive, and the world tilted back onto its axis. But apparently there was a meeting in a car park in Milan, this from the best of sources, Materazzi, which we can only assume was mighty awkward. One of the many things Marco waxed on when he met the press today, including the revelation that he can’t quit Marco Balotelli. And that he likes vending machine snacks. "Zidane was parking his car next to mine and I took the opportunity to tell him some things, which remain between us. Let's say I was the one to talk more and when at the end he held out his hand, I gripped it and would not let go until he looked me in the face. "That was what I wanted. It was good for me; I don't know how he felt about it." Zidane must have been positively thrilled. I can only imagine this was like seeing an ex spot you from across the street. “Turn around. Just turn around. Don’t look back. Pretend like she didn’t see you. Just…don’t turn around. Is she coming over? She’s crossing the street? Shit. … Hey, I’ve got an appointment, but it’s nice to see you – call me sometime. Same number, yeah. Honest.” These two really are destined for a nursing home, a bunk bed and a reality show some day.

AFP’s World Cup Photos of the Year 2010 Posted: 09 Dec 2010 11:40 AM PST It has been impossible find any sort of source on this, but these are tagged as AFP’s Pictures of the Year for 2010 and a number of non-footy photos are flaring up elsewhere under the same award. But mostly, all six are just really, really excellent photos from the summer’s World Cup. Credits: 1. Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images 2. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT 3. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE 4. AFP/Carl de Souza. 5. Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP/Getty Images 6. AFP PHOTO / JEWEL SAMAD

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World Cup 2010 Blog: Sepp Speaks, England ‘Bad Losers’

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Sepp Speaks, England ‘Bad Losers’ Posted: 08 Dec 2010 10:05 AM PST The Blatherer has spoken, and he’s hurt. Deeply hurt. Accusations that FIFA is corrupt are, he says, unfounded, despite their foundation. And the vitriol being spit from England is a shame for the ‘motherland of fairplay ideas’, whatever that means. So as this high school drama production continues, he thinks the real problem is that England, at least some of those involved, are ‘bad losers’. There will be no quarter given to FIFA next time they roll through London, that’s for damn sure. I smell a mutiny afoot. His Seppness: "To be honest, I was surprised by all the English complaining after the defeat. England, of all people, the motherland of fairplay ideas," Blatter told Swiss weekly magazine Weltwoche in an interview released ahead of publication on Thursday. "Now some of them are showing themselves to be bad losers," he said. "You can't come afterwards and say so and so promised to vote for England. The results are known. The outcome came out clearly." "I really sense in some reactions a bit of the arrogance of the western world of Christian background. Some simply can't bear it if others get a chance for a change," he said. "What can be wrong if we start football in regions where this sport demonstrates a potential which goes far beyond sport?" he said. This may or may not be the one case in his life that Sepp is right, if incomplete; nearly everyone involved with the 2018 & 2022 bids have been whining incessantly, not just England. Of course…. "There is no systematic corruption in FIFA. That is nonsense," he said. "We are financially clean and clear." Nevermind. As you were…

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World Cup 2010 Blog: Things We Already Know: BBC Doomed England

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Things We Already Know: BBC Doomed England Posted: 07 Dec 2010 11:03 AM PST As ironies go, this one’s pretty good given the full spectrum of their acronym, and all, even if it’s no longer surprising. Everyone knows that the BBC’s decision to broadcast their Panorama expose just two days before the vote hurt their chances. It was likely directly responsible for their exit in the first round of voting, even, though it’s unlikely they were getting the tournament anyway (FIFA’s lost its taste for vanilla, it seems). But one of the voters has explained just how badly it burned. And that it was racist, which, let’s be honest, isn’t going to earn many friends in FIFA – or anywhere, you’d hope. Japanese FA president and voting member of the FIFA executive committee: “What I can say is that the reports definitely had an impact on the England bid. There’s no mistake about that,” Kyodo news agency quoted Ogura as saying. Ogura said FIFA executives from Africa were “furious” at the reports. “The idea of suing the paper at the executive committee meeting was even brought up. “The people being accused were from Africa and Oceania, not Europe or Asia, and some felt racism was behind it.” “Temarii, Adamu, they weren’t out for personal gain but for the benefit of their associations. I heard Temarii is going to appeal, which hopefully will shed the light on everything. “I have a hard time understanding why a network as prestigious as the BBC would go with a story like that at that particular time,” Ogura said. “I can’t figure out why they would dig up a case that’s already been resolved in court.” No surprises, but maybe the English FA should stump up another £15m campaign designed to show the BBC how you don’t bite the hand that feeds while they’re walking to the table with the platter – you do it after the meal is over.

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World Cup 2010 Blog: “A Marriage Made For The Tabloids: Maradona & Iran” plus 1 more

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A Marriage Made For The Tabloids: Maradona & Iran Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:46 PM PST If you were to ask Diego Maradona which club he dreams of coaching most, the answer would be succinct: All of them. The man may say Boca this week and Napoli next, but there will be a club after that…and a national team after that…and then another one. Suffice it to say, the man just wants to coach someone, anyone, and if he does, it’ll be a dream. The most unlikely yet delicious of marriages is hitting the rumor pages. If it goes through, the tabloids: Maradona to Iran. Very, very speculative at this point, but we dare to dream: "President Ahmadinejad: Maradona might be head coach of the national team," read the headline splashed across the front page of Iranian daily Ebtekar on Monday, along with a large photograph of the World Cup winner. "When asked about reports of Maradona becoming Iran's new head coach, he nodded his head," the newspaper reported. Maradona, 50, is an admirer of Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, the fiery left-wing president of Venezuela who is a close ally of Iran, and has expressed his admiration of Ahmadinejad. All three are foes of the United States. Neither of these men, Maradona and Ahmadinejad, know any way to stay out of the papers – which, to be fair, is in the job description of the latter. Both are controversial with personalities which create something of an incessant buzz around them, with the possibility of some cosmic explosion should they join forces. FIFA has Iran ranked 57th, while ELO has it 35th in the world, but it’d most certainly be first in the hearts of journalists and bloggers alike should the dream pairing go through.

The Life & Times of Guus Hiddink Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:22 AM PST The viral itself is quite nice, almost as though Guus Hiddink is a child dreaming of the life he’ll lead, rather than remembering things in the past. Quite nice, save for one large bit of confusion: What the hell’s it all about? At first it seemed like it may be an international hotel chain, then dental hygiene, and finally something involving air travel, waiting for Bill Shatner to pop up. But a quick Google search says Together For Great Goals is, or was, the slogan for Betherlands 2018. Which sort of explains why they didn’t land the World Cup. [Spotted on 101gg]

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