World Cup News
News: Top World Cup Players on Facebook, Day by Day
Interactive Photographic A really cool timeline about which players were mentioned the most times on Facebook updates each day of the World Cup. You can trace almost every memorable event in every game based on what people were talking about.
NYT: Maradona deserves an apology. Hell yeah he does!
I personally don't owe him an apology because as soon as the plane left Argentina for South Africa, I was done criticizing and started rooting for the team, regardless of who was in it. Nyeeeh! ;p
Suarez: Hero or Cheater?
Honestly, I have no clue. I think it was one of the smartest plays in WC history. Game on the line. If that ball goes in, you're going home. You sacrifice yourself to a red card (and the next game against Holland), but you give your goalie and the Fates an opportunity. So, is he another Henry who gave his country an opportunity or a FairPlay offender to its very definition? Uruguay - Ghana
News: Not-Brazil in the Semis!
Not only am I ecstatic that my favorite team moved on to the semifinals, but I'm also so excited to see a team that's not Brazil in the semis! Just like supporting the Yankees, rooting for Brazil was like rooting for gravity. No longer.
World Cup: The Daily Show take.
It wouldn't really be important if Jon Stewart's Daily Show didn't have something to say about the World Cup.
Hardest Feat in Sports: The Science of a Penalty Kick
What's harder than returning Nadal's serve, hitting a Clemens fastball or tossing a Manning bros. level touchdown pass?
News: RoboCup Soccer Final
This reminded me of a few games this last World Cup.
You asked for it: FIFA Discusses Goal Line Technology
Sepp Blatter apologized to England and Mexico for the wrong calls, said goal line technology would be discussed in the future, but no instant replays.
News: History comes back to bite England in the (Lego) Brick
So, in the 1966 World Cup, held in England and won by the host, there was a similar occurrence to last Sunday's Gerrard's disallowed goal. They are still talking about this apparently, so it can be categorized under Karma.
World Cup in 3D: Home 3D LCD review.
Yes, even more 3D.
News: Brazil keeps getting away with more than two hands.
If you happened to be watching Brazil vs. Portugal, you might have noticed something weird in keeper Julio Cesar's back after he and Meirelles collided. It was some kind of steel rod support for his injured back. According to FIFA article 4, it's illegal for players to wear any kind of equipment that can be dangerous to the player wearing it or to others. This is the reason players can't wear chains around their necks, or rings in their fingers, since these things can get caught with other pl...
News: The World Cup begins TODAY!
It could be said that the World Cup really starts during the knock-out stages. What was going on for the last couple of weeks was more like the "World's Soccer Fair." At least I'd like to think of it this way after watching games like Slovenia vs. Algeria, New Zealand vs. Slovakia or Cameroon vs. Netherlands (where Cameroon had no chances at all) and Brazil vs. Portugal with both teams qualified for the next round. I'm not dismissing any of these teams, since after 4 years they all merited to...
News: North Korean Broadcast of Game vs Brazil
The North Koreans won 1-0. Who knew?
World Cup Diet: 10 Best Beers for Breakfast
Enjoy Early Morning Games with the Perfect Breakfast Brew Check out the list of the Top Ten Breakfast Beers here:
News: Why Does America Call it Soccer?
Nobody anywhere calls the sport "soccer". But here we are, the only ones in South Africa that do not call it some variation on foot and ball. And of course, if you've pondered this before, you are probably equally befuddled that the game we call football is not even played with one's foot in the first place. American football ought to be called handball...
News: Vuvuzela in Youtube!!
This was added a few days ago to all youtube videos! Just click on the soccer ball and listen to the sweet nothings of south africa!
News: Psychic Octopus Predicts World Cup Winners
So far, many of the Group round's matches have seemed surprising and unpredictable. Who would have predicted Serbia would have upset Germany!?!?!
News: USA into the Round of 16!!
Posted with permission via HereComeTheYanks.com Have you recovered from that heart attack inducing, hell of a game?? I am still riding high and, as such, may ramble a bit on here. But stay with me...I'm a die-hard fan!! What else do you expect??
News: Vuvuzela button on your YouTube!
Google, being the practical pranksters, decided to add a vuvuzela button on YouTube videos. Just click on that little soccer ball and the music of the vuvuzela will drown out whatever you're watching!
News: Who is Landon Donovan's Bianca?
At the end of today's US - Algeria match game winner and US team captain blew a kiss to the camera and gave a romantic and breathless "Hi" to a certain lady.
News: Can't stay away from food trucks!
The folks behind culinary phenomenon Kogi BBQ are at it again. This time they have food trucks operating in LA and NYC, allowing you to enjoy street food and watch the World Cup in HD with them! Tonight the LA truck will be in La Puente. Follow them on Twitter!
News: Beautiful Night in Johannesburg
Caught this shot on my Univision transmission of the Germany - Ghana game in Soccer City's brand new stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.... That is picture perfect!
Palermo: Coming Soon (somewhat) to a theater near you.
If you don't watch Argentine soccer regularly, it's possible that you don't know who Martin Palermo is. He scored Argentina's second goal against Greece yesterday and wrote another page in a story that's bound to be made a movie someday. He's won about 14 titles, scored over 222 goals in Boca Juniors and is their record striker.
News: Africa Hosts the Cup but Imports the Coaches
Something not mentioned in the article is the amount of money the foreign coaches make compared to local salaries.
Funny: What the English Goalkeeper Was Thinking.
He could also be a great Butterfinger sponsor, or some kind of lube product, as well as.... well, butter.
News: Here's your 1 Cristiano Ronaldo article...
He looks stronger than almost any other player out there and he's only 25. I won't comment on his looks since I'm not a teenage girl, but this article puts him into context with other American athletes, Kobe, Terrell, A-Rod.
Brazil: I tawt I taw two handballs...
Still didn't top Diego Maradona in the categories of "Political Relevance" and "The second goal was even better." And I'd love to know what the ref told Luis Fabiano after he scored. What's that cynical grin?
News: Are the refs the Cup's biggest problem?
Forget the millionaire superstars from soccer’s biggest teams. It is the tournament referees who are the World Cup’s most coddled and protected species...
Worst Ref Ever: Coulibaly Koman
Coulibaly Koman Single-handedly Destroys American Dream Koman's horrible call in the 88th minute cost the US the win. At first, we thought it was an offsides call, but FIFA has recorded it a foul on Edu.
News: South American teams doing great.
Hey now! Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are doing very well in their respective groups. The are all expected to qualify to the final 16. In fact, they are doing better than any other continent. Europe's top flight teams are disappointing, as are the host African nations.
News: People really do like this sport
RATINGS RAT RACE: It's World Cup Fever With ESPN & Univision Viewing Records
News: Monty Python's World Cup - In case you haven't seen it
One of the funniest skits about soccer. In case you haven't seen.
Triolectics: Three sided football
An interesting game that borrows from the most popular sport in the world. Developed by Asger John in 1964, not as popular as Joel Silver's Ultimate Frisbee. Worth watching.
News: What changes need to be made before USA vs. Algeria?
Posted with permission via HereComeTheYanks.com I will get this out of the way early and then not mention it again...the referee for the USA vs. Slovenia game was awful. He missed key plays and called back the goal that would have sent the USA to victory. Nothing he did was good...as evidenced by FIFA's (supposed) forthcoming grade of a "poor performance" and relief of all further World Cup center refereeing duties. He was horrible, and cost us the win...for the most part.