It was Juan Schiaffino's 66th minute equalizer that set Uruguay up for victory in the final match of the 1950 World Cup. Artwork above by Jerzovskaja. A nice one minute mash of Murga and Mersey to accompany the Khaled3Ken's artwork.
December 07, 2009
December 06, 2009
City of Limitless Opportunities
Bring your shovels, lads.
Rumours from the Barrio Sur and all the way up the Avenida 18 de Julio is that Uruguay will be based in Kimberley. You heard right. That's the City of Limitless Opportunities, the City of Big Rocks and even Bigger Holes. The home of De Beers and his Peers.
Uruguayan Ambassador to South Africa, Guillermo Pomi, when interviewed yesterday, said Kimberley is about 500 kilometers from Rustenberg and about 600 kilometers from Cape Town, adding that it is "home to the largest platinum mine in South Africa and has a very quiet, rural feel."
Las Montevidenas are advised against digging in their mud.
December 04, 2009
Your Uruguay Starter for Ten...
Uruguay has 4 Stars on their shirts because...("BUZZ...Jesus, Jones College, Cambridge") because...Uruguay have been World Champions on 4 occasions: 1924, 1928, 1930 and 1950. The Gold Medalists of Paris and Amsterdam were recognized as World Champions by FIFA.
Uruguay has never played a fixture against 5 of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. They are: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Greece, and Nigeria. It is possible for Uruguay to play against Greece and or North Korea in the 1st Round in South Africa for the first time. Los Charrúas will have to wait until the later rounds to get its claws into the Lions Indomptables, Les Éléphants and or the Super Eagles...Garra Charrúa!!!
Uruguay has beaten Argentina on 54 occasions, including the 1930 World Cup Final.
Uruguay has scored more goals against Argentina than any other qualifier. 213. Count them. Más goles! Menos culata tranplantes!
Uruguay has beaten Brazil on 20 occasions, including the final fixture of the 1950 World Cup Final. Uruguay's victory ensured they lifted the World Cup in Brazil.
Uruguay is ranked 19th by FIFA, but is ranked 10th by Nate Silver, he of Soccer Power Index fame.
Uruguay has never beaten Algeria, Denmark, Germany, Honduras, Portugal, or Spain. Uruguay could face three of those nations in the first round.
Germany, Honduras, Uruguay and Portugal could be El Otro Grupo de la Muerte!
Slovenia is the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup. Uruguay is the smallest to win a World Cup!
Uruguay has a one in three chance of facing hosts South Africa in the 1st Round.
Does Uruguay want to play the hosts? Probably. Of the other seeded nations, Uruguay only has a winning record against England.
Uruguay has played England on 10 occasions, winning 4, drawing 3.
Uruguay has played Germany on 8 occasions, losing 6, drawing 2.
Uruguay has played Italy on 6 occasions, winning 1, losing 2, drawing 3.
Uruguay has played the Netherlands on 2 occasions, winning 1, losing 1.
Uruguay has played Spain on 8 occasions, losing 2, drawing 5.
Uruguay fear no one. Uruguay has a reputation for thuggish tackling and extracurricular trickery. The post-dictatorial generation were the most accomplished violators, yet the "Dossier on Uruguay" remains stuck on 1970s and 1980s stereotypes. Uruguay deserves to have that recycled and tired tag torn from the narrative. South African will provide Uruguay with that opportunity.
Uruguay can win the World Cup. All Uruguayans believe Uruguay can win the World Cup. Winning the World Cup is a Uruguayan state of mind. It is this belief that gives Uruguay the edge over other qualifiers.
SOY CELESTE...SOY CELESTE...SOY CELESTE
Silver Underestimates Slovakia
Nate Silver is a box score genius. Nate Silver can call states, counties and wards like no other. But can Nate predict the winner of the World Cup?
Some of our global readers may find Nate Silver’s statistical offerings on “soccer” other worldly. Who is this four eyed American running the numbers on our game, I hear some of you dismissively spit. But can it be true one can only understand football if one starts drinking about eleven in the morning in a backstreet pub or bar in the vicinity of some corrugated contraption called a football ground. There has to be a middle ground. Nate Silver deserves the utmost respect. But you know among the remnants of ale, chips, pies and gravy that your guts can tell you something Nate’s numbers cannot.
Nate has promised to delve into football realm for some time. His arrival is most welcome. FIFA has improved its ranking system. FIFA’s seeds were the deserving form teams (though Silver has a minor objection preferring Portugal over Italy.) Still, Silver’s Soccer Power Index is the Snow Leopard of upgrades. It is on paper at least, the best ranking of international football.
But can the running of fun football statistics really predict winners with such scientific certitude. How can it, for example, adjust for the emergence of a Uruguayan midfield prodigy, the determination African Disapora players from random places like Honduras to perform at that higher level, or the late call up of that left back capable of both the beautiful football and the most horrendous crimes ever witnessed on a football field, where one No.3’s mis-kick can find the back of the net or break Beckham’s leg in three places, not to mention all the other shenanigans?
As noted here yesterday, random lady luck has smiled on Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Each has a one in three chance of being grouped with South Africa, arguably the weakest host in the tournament’s history, though Switzerland, Spain and the USA have good cases for not being up to scratch when it was their turn.
Silver’s Theirry Henry is luck. Such luck will continue through today’s draw. Three nations will draw New Zealand. Then from that starting point Nate will run his regressions and look for his normal distributions and soon enough he will predict game and group winners and the ultimate winners of the World Cup. You would be wise to follow his word at the wide wonderful world of online turf accountants and soccer spreaders.
But a word of caution. If Nate nurtures the idea solely based on the numbers that England’s dream draw would include Algeria and Slovakia, then my guts filled with lashings of lham lhalou and lager humbly suggest he expand his data set.
December 02, 2009
Pot Observations
Ten Pot observations.
1. FIFA got the seedings right. Pot 1 seeds earned their ranking. France did not. France's final appearance was four years ago.
2. Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have come out of the pot alignment better than most. Each of the smaller South American nations will avoid the big five African qualifiers in the 1st Round.
3. Argentina and Brazil cannot avoid the African qualifiers from Pot 3. The seeds for two potential Groups of Death have now been sown. Has FIFA put Brazil at risk for an early bath?
4. The most frightening Group of Death would be: Brazil, Mexico, Côte d’Ivoire and Portugal.
5. The dark horse of Pot 2 is Honduras.
6. The tournament's top scorer will probably find his country drawn against New Zealand in the 1st Round.
7. Slovenia will not be the dark horse of Pot 4. Slovakia might be.
8. South Africa need the luck of the draw more than most. The hosts will hope to be grouped with both New Zealand and Slovenia. So will every other team from Pots 1 and 3, for that matter.
9. Algeria could draw both France and Germany. The Desert Foxes will appreciate the luck of being thrown into that particular garlic and beer feed chicken coop.
10. Italy could renew some old acquaintances. North Korea can beat Italy, again. And Chile can beat Italy up, again.
Organising Commitee Comes Correct
Move over, Heidi. Johnny Clegg coming.
The FIFA Organising Committee came correct today. The decision to base the procedure for the Final Draw of the 2010 World Cup on the October 2009 World Ranking is a good one. The ranking system was raw, but now it is refined and provides a rather useful way to measure the relative successes and failures of the world's footballing nations.
South Africa will be joined by Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina and England as the seeded teams in Pot 1.
The other 24 teams will be divided into the 3 pots, each with 8 teams.
Pot 2 will consist of teams from Asia (Australia, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic), North, Central America and the Caribbean (Honduras, Mexico, USA) and Oceania (New Zealand)
Pot 3 will include teams from Africa (Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria) and South America (Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay)
Pot 4 will contain the remaining European teams (Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland)
South Africa will be automatically positioned in Group A; the other seeded teams will be drawn into the other groups B-H.
Geographical criteria will also accounted for, ensuring no two teams from the same confederation will be drawn in the same group (except European teams, where a maximum of two will be in a group).
Bring it on.
Los Charrúas on Twitter
I will be Twittering on Uruguay for The Guardian during the World Cup draw in Cape Town.
Expect a heavy Uruguayan flavour in the coming hours (and on Football is Coming Home). A virtual Dulce de Leche of Uruguayan football. (Testing my bit.ly facility.)
November 21, 2009
November 19, 2009
Khartoum Crossbar Challenge
Algeria's Rafik MacSaifi celebrates against the auld enemy in Omdurman.
All Whites Haka?
Will we see an All Whites Haka? The World Cup will be richer for the experience.
I had been keen on seeing Bahrain qualify. Bahrain were the sort of quick counter-attacking outfit capable of the odd 3-2 upset.
New Zealand inspire less confidence as Giant Killers. But who knows? A Haka just before kick off might be worth a buried chicken or two.
Pinned in their Own Half
Belated respect to the All Whites. New Zealand represent!
Bahrain's unexpected defeat leaves the Arab World with only one representative in South Africa. Sayef Mohammed Adnan's penalty miss will have done more than just dampen the spirits on the Emir's beach. It invites a significant cultural deficit extending well beyond Bahrain.
This may well go unnoticed or be easily forgotten by Arab scholars and Arab media busy with grim development statistics and wars or captivated by ceremonial comings and goings and fashionable American and European diplomats and stars. It should not.
I accept it is difficult to consider the importance of football in the context of the harsher social, economic and environmental realities that dog the Arab World. Desertification. The highest birth rates in the world. High unemployment. 30% Illiteracy. Unrepresentative political systems. Over reliance on oil. Violations of women's rights. But football does provide confidence and pride in ways social scientists and economists cannot measure. Ask a Brazilian.
The Arab World is pinned in it's own half.
November 15, 2009
Mature Swiss
The Swiss promised this for decades. The Franco-German-Italiano mix was supposed to produce the perfect football blend. It never happened. But throw in a few Albanians, Bosnians, Croats and Serbs, a Chilean, a Congolese, a Ghanaian, a Portuguese, a Tunisian and maybe even the odd Mongolian and hey presto, Switzerland win the U17 World Cup.
Props to the players for their great post match celebration. They were not afraid of Nigeria and not afraid to give their bald coach a slap.
November 13, 2009
The Black Princes of England
England for the Cup?
Check out my piece "The Black Princes of England" on the South African football blog, Football is Coming Home.
Here's an excerpt..."The names of Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney have been written and
will be ubiquitous in replica, official and illicit. Yet, such larger
than life names cannot conceal a new England reality. England’s
conquering football Princes promise to be black, mostly. It is this
remarkable contribution from the African Diaspora that will soon
transpose itself from the back page columns and blogs to the front-page
consciousness of England."
November 10, 2009
Forza Alghero
Ask anyone on the via Gramsci to point you toward the ground.
Catholics, Communists and Hat-Tricks
While looking for a picture of Donal Leahy I ran into a fascinating paper on the match between the Repulic of Ireland and Yugoslavia in 1955 by Conor McCabe of the Dublin Opinion blog. The paper first appeared in Football Studies 11, 1 (2008) and is based on a paper which was presented at the 2005 Irish Sport History Conference.
You can find the paper on the Irish Left Review website.Here's an excerpt,
"The controversy, however, reveals a clash between classes and culture in 1950s Ireland, rather than one between politics or ideology. This is not to say that 1950s Ireland was bereft of clashes over politics or ideology, but that the Ireland v Yugoslavia game became a protest against an attempt by the dominant Irish conservative forces to interfere with the most popular cultural activity of working class Dublin, rather than one energised by a desire on the part of the working class to confront the government, the Catholic Church, or the permanent secretaries of the Irish civil service. The game also provides an entry into Irish working class life – an area often neglected by Irish historians, and one with a culture that, on this occasion at least, found itself in uneasy conflict with the Irish establishment."Check it out and give props to Conor McCabe for his cracking research.
Back from the Brink
Apologies for the October break in service.
I have been back on loan as a player-coach at FC Scouserville, the home town club.
The fine red wine of 2009 has been having a deleterious effect on the old man. It required a Wengeresque regime importing cheap young green grapes, supplemented by lashings of Vitamin B Compound and the occasional Catalan quaff during a friendly in Alghero, before returning him to agreeable bog standard beers and stouts. He is finishing his dinners again, picking winners and reminiscing about growing up in Cork with Donal Leahy of Evergreen United.
I managed to re read Paul McGrath's "Back from the Brink" during this time. The book was given to me old china, Mr. Maurice Behan, noted Guinness and Spurs connoisseur of Boston, Massachusetts. If you are ever in Boston and want to rap about the Spurs and the Boys in Green, drop by The Field in Cambridge.
September 19, 2009
Arthur Wharton
Arthur Wharton: The World's First Black First Professional Footballer.
(The following excerpt is taken from the Football Unites Racism Divides website. For more knowledge on Arthur and information on the important work of Football Unites Racism Divides, please visit furd.org)
- Arthur Wharton was the world's first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man.
Arthur Wharton was born in Jamestown, Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1865. Coming to England to study in about 1882, Wharton soon made a name for himself in athletics. Winning the Amateur Athletics Association 100 yards sprint in a world record time of 10 seconds (the first world record), he retained his title in 1887. A supreme all-round athlete, his other sports were cricket, cycling and football.
While playing for Darlington as a goalkeeper Wharton was spotted by Preston North End in 1885 - 86. He joined them the following season during which they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
By 1889, he had turned professional, playing for Rotherham Town, Sheffield United, Stalybridge Celtic and Ashton North End. He finished his footballing career in 1902 playing for Stockport County in Football League Division Two.
His last match was against Newton Heath (now known as Manchester United) in February 1902. An unorthodox and entertaining performer, he had a phenomenal punch as a keeper and, with his sprinting background, sometimes played on the wing.
For 67 years he lay buried in an unmarked grave in Edlington Cemetery. Football Unites-Racism Divides raised the money to fund the writing of Wharton's biography. Enough money was raised to place a gravestone on Arthur's plot - he is now visible once more.
Wharton's story can now be read in detail in his biography, 'The First Black Footballer: Arthur Wharton 1865-1930' by Phil Vasili, published by Frank Cass. The ISBN for the paperback edition is 978-0714644592 and for the hardback edition is 978-0714649030. It can also be borrowed from the FURD library.
September 18, 2009
Qualify or Crucify
Croatia have qualified for three successive World Cups since Independence, reaching the Semi Final in 1998. It's a remarkable record for a nation of 4 Million. It could be about to end.
Croatia may have been resurgent under Slaven Bilić, qualifying emphatically for the EURO 2008 tournament, pimping McClaren's England along the way, but 2007-8 was a long time ago. Croatia seem not to have recovered from Eduardo's broken leg and losing on penalties to Turkey in the EURO 2008 quarter final in Vienna.
Qualification is no longer in Croatia's hands. Although Croatians can be quietly confident of England issuing a beating to Ukraine, Croatia may be less sure of themselves in their "must win" in Kazakhstan or advancing beyond the 2nd place playoff where they could face France, Germany or Russia, or even Bosnia-Herzegovina. The latter would be an intriguing fixture to say the least.
The Bosniaks would be as formidable an opponent as any Croatia could face. Bosnia-Herzegovina are managed by Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević (the Bosnian Croat who took Croatia to France in '98). Ćiro is a charismatic elder with shades of Bill Shankly. One or two words and one suspects he could create chaos in the minds of the Croatians. One or two passes and one can be sure Dzeko and Mismiovic will create chaos for the Croatians.
The hype surrounding such a fixture would be of a Honduran-Salvadoran nature. War will not be declared, but brawls could be commonplace. Mostar may not be the best place to watch the match.
Croatia's best hope for reaching South Africa maybe a playoff against the likes of the Irish, Israelis or Latvians. And then what? Can Slaven Bilić inspire the always faithful to glory or will Croatia finish another disappointing 3rd in their group?
Football has proved to be a more crucial adhesive than Catholicism for the Croatian nation. Former President Franjo Tuđman once declared that "football victories shape a nation’s identity as much as wars."
Failure to qualify may send swarms of checkered-shirted Croatians back to church next summer, preferring sermons from their priests over Bosniak and Serbian performances on the pitches of South Africa.
September 16, 2009
Safari for Shevchenko?
(So to Group 6. Andorra and Kazakhstan will not feature here. Andorra belong in a preliminary stage, as discussed earlier. And Kazakhstan are better served keeping Australia company. Belarus will return as a more dangerous dark horse in qualification for Brazil 2014.)
Ukraine are two points behind Croatia, but have a game in hand and finish their campaign in Andorra. Pre-Capello conventional wisdom would have pointed to an already qualified England getting turned over in Dnepropetrovsk in October. An England win will not be the surprise it once would have been. Ukraine will probably have to rely on the Kazaks keeping the Croats quiet in Astana on October 14. Goal difference favours Ukraine.
Ukraine were the deeply disappointing dark horses of the last World Cup. Group results suggest Ukraine have regressed. Would you trust a Shevchenko retread for a South African safari?
One could, however, argue the recent success of Ukraine's club sides could provide the platform for a resurgence. Shakhtar Donetsk were worthy winners of the last UEFA Cup. Unfortunately for Ukraine, Fernandinho, Jadson, Ilsinho, Luiz Adriano, Willan, and Leonardo don't have blue and gold passports.
Youth offers a more promising solution. Ukraine were deserved winners of the European U19 championships. Is now the time to introduce the kids?
Kryvtsov and Partsvaniya are imposing central defenders. Kyrylo Petrov is a rare defensive midfield talent. But Ukraine's problems are not defensive. Only 6 goals have been conceded in qualifying. And if the enormous transfer fees paid by Barcelona and Bayern for Chigrinsky and Tymoschuk, respectively, are any indication, Ukraine already possess two of the better central defenders and defensive midfielders in Europe.
Things may get more interesting for England and Ukraine if Shevchenko and Voronin look over and see Garmash and Korkishko warming on the touchline.
September 15, 2009
La Bomba
Costa Rica have just fired their coach Rodrigo "La Bomba" Kenton Johnson.
Costa Rica were themselves bombing, failing to score in their last three World Cup qualifying games. "He was fired today. It still hasn't been determined who will be named," said Costa Rica FA, spokeswoman Gina Escobar.
It seems like a rash move, however. This was a side well past it's sell-by-date before La Bomba took charge. His coaching gave Costa Rica an early and unexpected edge in World Cup qualification.
La Bomba would have had a chance to steady the ship at home to Trinidad and Tobago in Costa Rica's penultimate fixture. At the very least a win would have ensured Costa Rica a playoff position against one of the Conmebol representatives. Other October results could even conspire to place Costa Rica back in the top 3 CONCACAF automatic qualifiers. Given the strength of Honduras and the USA and the graduation of the Mexico's golden generation, La Bomba should be commended for bringing Costa Rica this close to qualification.
One suspects La Bomba would still be in a job if Sven's soirees were still regular fixtures on the DF social calender. Mexico fired a bad manager at the right time. The Costa Rican FA have panicked. Disposing of La Bomba now is a gambit that looks likely to blow up in the faces.
September 14, 2009
All White Experience?
While Omar and his boys from Bahrain were shooting down the Saudis in the Kingdom, New Zealand were in that other Kingdom kicking it with the Hashemites. It was an experience. New Zealand won 3-1. The Hashemites ain't got game no mo'.
New Zealand fancy their chances now. Former captain, Steve Sumner, interviewed for the Christchurch Press, said Bahrain was their "best and easiet" route to the World Cup finals. Sumner also sees English Premier League experience as important for New Zealand, noting in the same interview, the presence of some hacker from New Zealand in Blackburn Rovers' squad.
The All Whites would be ill advised to assume that because Bahrain is a small island nation with no Premier League performers the playoff is a sure thing to South Africa.
Bahrain has been hanging with Asia's biggest cats for the best part of the last decade. Bahrain advanced to the final Asian qualifying group stages for the 2002 World Cup. Bahrain was a Semi Finalist in the 2004 Asian Cup, playing the most adventurous and attack-minded football of the tournament. Ask the Uzbeks. And Bahrain were a disallowed goal from qualification in 2006.
This is the experience that matters. Bahrain has it. New Zealand does not. Ask the Fijians.
Roy of the Rovers
If only Roy Krishna had had a grandmother from Kilmarnock, Scotland could have been coming down the road.
September 12, 2009
Subcommandante Maradona
Paraguay have qualified. Chile can choke. Ecuador too. Argentina are at home to Peru next. Uruguay have superior goal difference. Venezuela are lurking. Colombia cannot be ruled out just yet.
There are so many permutations, yet it is difficult to discuss without getting drawn into the Argentine drama.
Argentina are in no more precarious a place than France or Germany. While the Fatherland could find themselves facing the Czech Republic in November, all Argentina may have to contend with is a collapsing Costa Rica.
Subcommandante Maradona said it best after the recent defeat in Paraguay, "We've qualified via the playoffs in the past and nobody died." And if I remember rightly, it was Maradona himself who made sure a looping Australian deflection crossed the line in Buenos Aires in 1993. The leader knows every inch of the terrain.
Yet, it would be remiss not to admit my affection for Argentina and Maradona could be clouding my judgment. I like to dream. In my dreams, there is always a blue sky, a few bright white clouds and Argentina stringing passes together and stinging shots towards goal.
The reality is different after Paraguay. Argentina is limping along the River Plate and is surrounded and being pursued by the Achilles, Ajax, Exeter and Cumberland of the South American battle group. It's a long way to Costa Rica. Coming Soon....The Battle of the River Plate?
September 10, 2009
One...Two...Three...Algérie
Rafik Saidi's 59th minute winner in Algiers this past weekend looks to have ended Zambia's hopes for South Africa. Rwanda must beat Algeria and Zambia must beat Egypt for Zambia to have any chance. The Phoraohs will be praying for Rwanda too.
Algerians can get busy securing their various vantage points for the tournament.
September 09, 2009
Bahrain Believe Again
When Ahmed Hassan wheeled away to celebrate scoring a 92nd minute equalizer against Trinidad and Tobago, Bahrain believed they were on their way to the 2006 World Cup. Colombian ref Oscar Julian Ruiz Acost had other ideas. The goal was of the Best Banks variety. The sort of goal no one wants to see disallowed, especially when the forward's cheekiness is executed with such fine precision.
Trinidad and Tobago had experienced last minute heartache some years before. No one begrudged them their ticket to Germany, save for a few Sheikhs in Manama.
Bahrain have refused to go away. Tonight they take on Big Brother Arabia.
Bahrain outplayed Saudi Arabia in the first leg in Manama, yet the bookies are disrespecting Bahrain. Saudi Arabia will be a different proposition in Riyadh, but if Abdulla Omar has his shooting boots on, I can't see beyond a Bahrain win tonight.
Omar's No Joke
Bahrain got an Omar too. Abdulla Omar. This Omar be different to the B-more Omar many y'all know. Bahrain's Omar shoots with a pair of white Nikes.
Hecha en Venezuela
Jose Granados. Hecha en Venezuela.
September 08, 2009
When the Boot Was on the Other Foot
Argentina losing at home to Brazil was not so extraordinary. It had happened before. It was actually more noteworthy when several months earlier Uruguay lost a World Cup qualifier at home to Brazil. That had never happened before.
South American World Cup qualifiers are ultimately predictable affairs, the current Argentine drama notwithstanding. Earlier in the qualifiers, bigger questions hung over Brazil.
After 8 qualifiers more than a few Brazilians feared this would be the year Brazil failed to qualify. Four draws, three of them 0-0, including an embarrassing night in Rio de Janeiro, when Bolivia secured their first ever World Cup point in Brazil. It was more humbling than Brazil's earlier defeat in Asunción
Somehow Dunga survived.
If Brazil had not beaten Venezuela in San Cristóbal last October, I doubt Dunga would have found himself shaking Maradona's hand in Rosario last Sunday night.
It's Venezuela, Brazil's opposition that night, that now promises to be the story of the South American qualifiers.
