World Cup Football

About 100,000 fans packed the streets as Manchester City paraded the Premier League trophy through the city to celebrate its first English title in 44 years. Blue and white ticker-tape and streamers rained down on the team bus as City players showed off the trophy they had wrestled away from crosstown rival Manchester United in nailbiting fashion a day earlier.

Supporters climbed lampposts, jostled for position on roof tops and walls, and fathers held children on their shoulders to catch a glimpse of the City players aboard an open-top bus.

“Days like this are why we came to City and it’s just fantastic,” said City midfielder Gareth Barry, one of many high-priced players who joined the team in the last few years after it was bought up by wealthy Abu Dhabi owners. “Our fans have always been amazing and they’re showing it here today. I’ve got memories I’ll treasure for the rest of my career.”

While the celebrations were in full force in Manchester’s main square, United’s dejected players were arriving at an end-of-season dinner that had an unusually solemn mood — two contrasting images that showed just how much the football landscape has changed in the northwestern city.

How close, though, United came to being the team celebrating.

When the match clock hit 90 minutes at City on Sunday, it appeared United would be retaining the Premier League trophy.

United was leading 1-0 at Sunderland and City, which only had to match United’s result to win, was losing 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers.

It all changed in two, breathtaking minutes in stoppage time at City.

Edin Dzeko headed in City’s equalizer in the second additional minute and then, after United’s game had just finished at Sunderland and the podium was being prepared for the trophy presentation, Sergio Aguero produced a title-winning goal for City.

“One moment you think you’ve won the title,” United striker Wayne Rooney said Monday night at the club’s awards’ dinner. “It’s heartbreaking for all.”

Not for fans in the blue half of Manchester, who have spent most of their lives in the shadow of their more illustrious neighbor, but now finally have reason to hope for their own dynasty.

“It’s been an emotional roller coaster,” City fan John Wilkinson said. “My son was upset yesterday because he thought we lost and he would have go into school and face the United fans.

“I have followed City since the early 90s so when it went 2-1 I was really down and thought we had blown it. I can’t put into words what this means.”

And there’s no reason to think City’s successes will end here.

After enduring relegations and financial chaos while United won 12 of the last 19 English titles, the “noisy neighbors” derided by Ferguson have used their newfound wealth to overtake United as the country’s top club.

An unprecedented $1 billion has been spent by Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan overhauling the City squad since he bought the club three years ago.

Meanwhile, a more frugal approach exists at old Trafford, where United’s moneymaking might is not always reflected in the cash spent strengthening the squad.

That’s unlikely to change even after this setback, as Ferguson insists he doesn’t have to spend millions improving the team.

“We know City will spend fortunes, stupid money and pay silly salaries and all that,” Ferguson said. “We will look at we can do and attract players here for the right reasons.”

City still has a long way to go to match the overall success of United, which missed out on a 20th English title on Sunday as City collected its third.

“The history of our club stands us aside,” Ferguson said. “We don’t need to worry about that. I think we have a rich history, better than anyone and it’ll take them a century to get to our level of history.”

But the City trophy cabinet could start filling quickly in the coming years, the club likely to target the Champions League title next season as well.

“I hope City will become a great club in the world,” midfielder Yaya Toure said.

It remains to be seen whether Carlos Tevez will be part of the team’s future, however, as the Argentina striker spent much of the season away from the team after falling out with manager Roberto Mancini. He was eventually welcomed back and helped the club erase an eight-point deficit to United in the standings over the final months.

Tevez has been an extra source of bitterness between the two clubs after he left United in 2009, unhappy with the playing time that Ferguson was giving him.

When it was his turn to celebrate on Monday, he couldn’t help but cause a bit of extra controversy as well.

As City’s bus rolled through the city, Tevez was caught on camera raising a placard which read, “R.I.P. Fergie,” taunting his former manager with a clear message that he thinks Ferguson’s successful era is now over.

City did not appreciate that gesture, however, and issued a public apology to Ferguson, saying “Carlos has made a significant error of judgment.”

The 70-year-old Ferguson, meanwhile, said he has no plans to surrender quietly to City.

“They know I’m not going away,” he said.

Madrid sets benchmark for all Spanish champions

Living in the US, it is hard to keep up to date with soccer. I wish there was an espn for soccer that I don’t have to pay extra for (Fox Soccer Channel). any ideas on how I can keep up to date easily?
*I’m more interested in European and global soccer then just American

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Collins Hill’s Nomis Cisic and Jordan Brust helped make sure that Camden County had no chance at another narrow playoff escape.

Cisic scored twice in the second half, and Brust had a goal and a nice pass that led to Cisic’s first score as the Eagles advanced to the Class AAAAA boys soccer semifinals with a 5-1 victory over Camden County at home on Friday.

Collins Hill (16-4) will play at Brookwood on Tuesday, attempting to reach the championship game for the fifth consecutive season. The Eagles won state titles in 2009 and 2010 and finished second in 2008 and 2011.

Region 3-AAAAA champion Camden County (14-2) beat Campbell and Wheeler in the first two rounds of the playoffs in games decided by penalty kicks. The Wildcats had won 13 consecutive games.

“I thought we played fairly well,” Collins Hill coach Drew Prentice said. “We kept the ball very well, and we were attacking very well and looking forward a lot more. We finished our chances tonight. We had lots of them, and we did a very good job of burying the ones we should have buried.”

Tied 1-1 at halftime, Collins Hill dominated from the start of the second half. It paid off quickly when Brust’s crossing pass to Emmanuel Raji was headed to Cisic, who scored from straight on for what turned out to be the game-winner with 39:20 to play.

It was all Collins Hill after that. Cisic made it 3-1 with 25:45 remaining when he volleyed in a shot from straight out. It was 4-1 after Raji’s crossing pass was deflected in by Camden defender Carter Fournet with 22:14 to play, and Fabrice Momo added the final goal with 15:13 left.

Collins Hill got a 1-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game when Brust took a long pass from Amiri Abraham, got behind the defense and fired a low shot past Camden goalkeeper James Duddleston.

Camden tied the game six minutes later when Keith Pecko’s long shot from the right hit Collins Hill’s Edan Mendoza and was redirected past junior goalkeeper Jackson Taylor.

“We were a little frustrated [at halftime], but I think we still had confidence,” Prentice said. “It wasn’t like we were disappointed, just frustrated that we weren’t ahead by a goal or two.”

May 11, 2012BRONC BACKSTOPNY Fury signs former Santa Clara ‘keeper

The new York Fury has signed former Santa Clara University goalkeeper Bianca Henninger for the Women’s Professional Soccer League Elite season.

Henninger was a member of the U.S. team that won the 2010 CONACAF U-20 Womens Championships in Guatemala to earn a berth to the 2010 FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup. she started all five matches and played every minute, allowing just two goals for the U.S.

“Bianca is a first class goalkeeper who will have opportunities with the full National team over the next few years,” said new York Fury head coach Paul Riley, who drafted Henninger for the Philadelphia Independence in the third round (13th overall) in this year’s Women’s Pro Soccer draft.” she is athletic, great presence , superb hands, and amazing training habits that make her one of the brightest prospects in the game. we are excited to have two very good goalkeepers and the competition between the two will bode well for the team. Bianca was our draft pick in Philly and we believe she has the composure and talent to lead our team in big games which we will face on a weekly basis this summer.”

As a senior at Santa Clara, she was named the 2011 West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, was selected first team all conference and Third-Team All-American. she was U.S. Soccer’s Young Female athlete of the year in 2010 and a first team NSCAA all American. that followed up her selection as a sophomore in 2009 to the NSCAA All-West Region third Team. she had 22 shutouts in her four year career with the Broncos.

The new York Fury open the 2012 WPSL Elite League season on Saturday when they visit the new England Mutiny.

“Anything is possible in football, so not now but maybe in ten years’ time an Asian country will win the World Cup,” South Korea’s Park Ji-Sung said last week. As talented as the Manchester United star is, he is no Pele, but that also holds true when it comes to predictions. The Brazilian’s statement that an African team would win the World Cup before the end of the 20th century is now the most famous, or infamous, reminder that he was far better with a ball of leather than one of crystal.

Park is not a man to make off-the-cuff remarks – whether speaking in Korean or English, he thinks before opening his mouth. Perhaps the wildest thing he ever did was jump into the arms of Guus Hiddink after scoring the goal against Portugal that took South Korea to the knockout stage of the 2002 World Cup – the first time the nation had progressed past the first round.

The Taeguk Warriors got as far as the semi-finals, so as someone who has played and scored in three World Cups, won four – and maybe soon to be five – English Premier League titles as well as playing in UEFA Champions League finals, Park is more qualified than anyone to predict when Asia can achieve the ultimate success.

Even so, ten years is too early, but 20 years? Anything is possible if the requisite conditions are met and these include:

Home advantage: Of the 14 World Cups held in Europe and South America, just one, Brazil in Sweden in 1958, has been won by a team from outside the host region. Continental advantage is important, as 2002 demonstrated in no uncertain terms. Korea disposed of a host of European superpowers before meeting Germany in the semi-finals. just four years after Japan’s debut on the global stage, which brought three defeats, Samurai Blue made it to the last 16. The tournament returns to Asia in 2022 but it is questionable what kind of advantage that offers for many of the continent’s best.

While bidding, Qatar played upon the theme of a first World Cup for the Middle East, as opposed to a second World Cup for Asia, and understandably so. Despite sharing a confederation, Doha offers no help to the likes of Japan, South Korea and Australia (Seoul is the closest, 11 hours and six timezones away). European teams will benefit more than those from East Asia.

Obviously, the hosts and regional rivals such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq – who play most of their home games in Doha – will feel much more at home but it remains to be seen how many, if any, West Asian teams actually qualify and whether they will be at the stage to mount a major challenge. The odds are long. The one time a representative from the region survived the first round was in 1994. Perhaps China in 2034 could be the big one?

More international experience: take Saudi Arabia, now the team is out of the running for 2014: the Green Falcons have the regional Gulf Cup to look forward to next year and then qualification for the 2015 Asian Cup starts the year after. if players from the kingdom continue to stay home, international exposure will be limited to the occasional friendly. this is a common refrain around the Middle East.

As Park explained: “The players also need to have the ability to play in Europe. The biggest thing for Asian players to remember is the football style is different in Europe – as is the culture – so they have to accept that. Mentally, they need to be ready, and very strong.”

Japan and South Korea still lead the way in sending good, and increasingly young, players to the big leagues to play against the best. While there is some debate as to the optimal age to leave, there is little argument that, as long as there is regular playing time in one of Europe’s strongest countries, it is good for the individual. What the J-League and K-League are dealing with for the first time – and not yet completely successfully – is how to manage the exodus of said talent while keeping the domestic set-up strong. in an ideal situation, such departures offer younger prospects first-team opportunities in a competitive league, and the virtuous cycle continues.

Domestic strength: it obviously helps to have a strong league. The J-League and the K-League have performed very well on the pitch in recent years, not only supplying talent to Europe but dominating the Asian Champions League. The next step is to reach the final of the Club World Cup – a competition in which Asian teams tend to finish third.

There is movement on the opposite side of the continent, too. The national team of Saudi Arabia doesn’t contain the stars of a few years ago, but strength in depth is starting to grow. Traditionally, it has been mismanagement rather than a lack of talent that has held the league back. There are standout clubs elsewhere too, such as Al Jazira in UAE – the Abu Dhabi club are setting standards for their professionalism off the pitch and are starting to perform in the Asian Champions League too. And then there is China, with newfound transfer funds making a difference at the top levels at least, while Australia’s current problems do not overshadow the fact that the long-term prospects for the A-League are very bright. The more clubs that improve, the better it is for everyone.

Intra-continental exchange: with many Asian leagues such as Thailand and China becoming richer, it encourages the beginnings of an Asian transfer market. Whether it is Koreans in China, Australians in Korea or Iranians in UAE, a continued exchange can only benefit the region and exposes players to the best of Asia on a regular basis.

Stronger continental competition: for Asia to consistently challenge the best in the world, the second- and third-tier nations need to improve. it is in the interest of the continent’s big boys to see those a little further down the rankings strengthen. Japan benefits little from defeating Tajikistan 8-0 and would appreciate some tougher challenges. Higher quality in Asian Cups, Asian Cup qualifying, World Cup qualification, the AFC and Asian Champions League, as well as all the various regional competitions, would help to provide a wider, deeper and stronger foundation for more teams to challenge.

Youth development: The most important point for long-term success, and it is a weak one. All across the continent, standards vary wildly and in some places don’t exist at all. Japan leads the way with long-established practices in place; then there is a gap to South Korea; and then there is a gap to the best of the rest. There are positive signs in Saudi Arabia, with some clubs trying to do what the federation has never really attempted. China has been in the same boat and, while little has happened so far, at least there is recognition that a system is necessary. but there is still an absence of clear vision at the top and it is frustrating, because policies implemented now would start to bear fruit within 20 years

Less politics and corruption: The game in countries like Iran and Indonesia is a mess thanks to politics and politicians, and corruption almost destroyed leagues in Malaysia, China and elsewhere. it goes with saying that eradicating such practices is a pre-requisite.

More professionalism in all areas: it is not just about the action on the pitch. The game is a package and all aspects – coaching, referees, media and facilities – are important. So is better administration – it wouldn’t be an Asian Champions League or Asian zone of World Cup qualification if a team or two wasn’t thrown out due to technical oversights, but that shouldn’t be something to aspire to.

With all the above in place, Asian hands could be on that golden trophy sooner than you think.

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Looking to go to Brazil for 2014’s Fifa World Cup and wondering when exactly will they start selling tickets (I realize how early it is) and also what might I expect to be paying?

May 7, 2012

ADDING TO THE CHALLENGEReal, AC Milan, PSG and Galaxy in WFC

NEW YORK Some of world soccer’s biggest names have been added to the 2012 World Football Challenge. Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will participate in the event, along with MLS Champion LA Galaxy.

Liverpool, Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders FC had already been announced as participants in the event which will see teams criss crossing North America from July 18 through August 11.

UEFA Champions League finalist Chelsea FC and eight-time French Cup winner Paris Saint-Germain of Frances Ligue 1 will meet on Sunday, July 22 in the first-ever soccer match at the new Yankee Stadium. Tickets for the match go on sale Monday, May 14.

Chelsea FC will then take on historic Italian club AC Milan on Saturday, July 28 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 10.

Spains recently crowned La Liga Champion Real Madrid, led by Jos Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas, will visit Southern California to face MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy on Thursday, August 2 at The Home Depot Center.

A number of the foreign teams participating in the WFC will also play other matches in the United States.

Date Game Venue City Time (ET)July 18 Seattle Sounders FC v Chelsea FC CenturyLink Field Seattle, WA 9:30 p.m.July 21 Toronto FC v Liverpool FC Rogers Centre Toronto, ON 4:00 p.m.July 22 Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain Yankee Stadium New York, NY 7:00 p.m.July 28 Chelsea FC v AC Milan Sun Life Stadium Miami, FL 6:00 p.m.August 2 LA Galaxy v Real Madrid Home Depot Center Carson, CA 10:30 p.m.