World Cup Crystal Ball Predictions

Its next to impossible to try and resist jumping on the World Cup 2010 band wagon, and evangilise one's wisdom on how the worlds greatest tournament will unfold in South Africa. So with those cheeasy, and some what pointless novelty count down clocks -that never fail to spring up each time an event of significance occurs- firmly banished, its time to get your notepad ready. I have put my head on the chopping block with these insightful spoon bending predictions, so get down the bookies lively. You will be emptying your swollen wallet quicker than it takes me to break into tears when England get knocked out on penalties.

Carry on reading >>

Colbert: Is it Time to Care About Soccer (Football)?

Well it only took an appearance in the final of the confederations cup against Brazil, and a 2-nil victory over world number one Spain, for the Colbert Report to toy with the question, is it time to care about Soccer in America?

Given Colbert's cliche arguments against the importance of Football, I am guessing probably not. As much as I love tuning in to Colbert most evenings, especially when I heard the mention of Football, I thought his jokes could have been a tad more on the creative side. Surely their is more to point fun at than lamenting boring 0-0 draws, and clips of football highlights tediously knocking the ball around, and seemingly getting know where? Oh yes, and how can we talk about football without mentioning riots. We may still, and always will have stadium segregation, but things have moved on a bit since the 70's/80's. And, having section of stands for only one team also has the nice by product called atmosphere. The kop end is a pretty good example.

To be fair to Colbert, democracy was later demonstrated, when he stated that Football could not be adopted by the US, as the players had to be in good shape! Followed by ridiculous pictures of over weight baseball players. Are they really that big??A slight disservice to all other sportsman that are not baseball players, but still, cracked a laugh.

For such torturous questions, Colbert need only look in one place to find out if the US is finally ready to embrace the world game, ask his gut. Instead poor Alexi Lalas, is now quoted as saying that the US will win the 2010 World Cup!

17 More to go for Beckham

Given that the highest capped player for England is former Goal Keeper Peter Shilton with 125 caps, its unlikely that David Beckham will eclipse the remarkable record.

Shilton reached the figure by playing into his 40's which by today standards, at least for outfield player, is pretty unheard of.

Due to the time difference of living in to Toronto, I unfortunately missed the Spain v England game, as I was still sharpening pencils at my desk. From the coverage the following morning, the general consensus was that, Although England hadn't played particularly bad, they were missing that cutting edge that would put them in to the same bracket as the European champions, Spain.

After what has been an impressive start to Fabio Capello's England term, a defeat at the hands to Spain will keep the over inflated England expectation under control. There is still some way to go for England, but the images of the "wolly with the brolly" are slowly being erased.

What ever the result in Seville, the moment will be remembered for Beckham equaling the legend, Boobby Moore's record of 108 caps. 8 years a go, England played Greece at Old Trafford, in what was one of the worst games I have ever witnessed. All we needed was a draw to qualify for the World Cup, and despite never scoring on English soil, Greece had managed to score twice and were leading England 2-1, two minutes in to injury time. As Motty says in the commentry, "Beckham has vertually played Greece on his own" was not an over statement. Enjoy...