<![CDATA[SHANE STAY

<![CDATA[SHANE STAY - Blog]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:05:20 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[World Cup 2026 Recap]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:18:49 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/excerpt-us-vs-belgium-round-of-16World Cup 2026 Recap
By Shane Stay

7-19-2026

Spain Earn a Second
Spain are your 2026 FIFA World Cup champs! Spain's second World Cup championship arrived with a 1-0 defeat over Argentina.

France Was Unstoppable for a Moment
Everyone saw it. For the 2026 World Cup, France was looking unstoppable. Shots that don't usually go in were going in left and right it seemed by Mbappe, Dembele. A lot of goals came from the corner of the box area with the inside of the foot touch-shots to the far corner. Lamine Yamal has gotten so good at those shots. Where did it originate? No one really knows but it was popularized by Messi, for example, in the 2000s and onward. You could also throw in Kaka. From thereabouts it became fashionable to hit such a shot, more of a pass-style shot that aggravates goalies in that far corner area. And what about before that era? Why that sudden shift in popularity? From my era, back when Diadora was cool, if you got close to the goalie for a one-on-one you'd be instructed by, say, coaches at Indiana Soccer Camp, to slot the ball opposite corner with the inside of your right foot, like Valdano scoring against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final. But for the most part, if you were around the top of the box, players were instructed to strike the ball with their instep, with the laces, and drive through it for a line drive...power. For example, you had Belanov: shoot like Belanov which is to say slam it with the inside of your foot from around the top of the box with power. That he did. Have you seen Belanov? He was a World Player of the year in the 80s, big time shooter.

So here we see France in 2026 using modern techniques to just get open around the box and tinker it in with elegant directed touch-shots from the inside of your foot, guiding the ball with a little curve past the outstretched arms of a befuddled keeper, helpless to your scoring charm. And that France did. It was scoring goal after goal, over and over again. It was like they were from another planet good. No one was stopping them until they met the all-mighty Spanish in the semifinals to which France began to look human. Spain is also from another planet good. In all the tapes you may or may not have seen over the years, there's moments in big games when top players shank, they miss a shot, it goes just over, or it goes really over. That's a normal expectation for most top players and teams around the world. Brilliance only comes every once in a while. Yet France was finding that brilliance a lot, it was finding goals, it was toying with teams. Then it met Spain. Things changed. France came back down to earth from planet amazing. Lo and behold, it started making mistakes, missing shots...just like other teams in the past have done. It started to look like a normal team. Every single shot wasn't going in.

Spain's Brilliance
Then on the flip side, you saw the steady, determined, resolute, organized, stringent, structured, short-passing machine of a Euro Cup champion dynamo in Spain, notably players like Cucurella and Rodri that just keep the little touches going, the "every pass is a right pass" approach. It was absolutely brilliant what Spain did. It systematically broke down the tournament favorites, France, and produced a 2-0 defeat. Though, it should be pointed out, Spain was also one of the tournament favorites. France and Spain both know: Don't underestimate the other, whether it's bread, wine, beer, soccer. On this day it belonged to Spain, a team that looked like a true champion with confidence, precision, aggressive defense that kept a strong opponent in check, and team unity. Tough to beat.

Argentina Finds a Way
The only one that could beat both France and Spain, perhaps, would be the defending World Cup champs, Argentina.

In fact, that's my choice:

1 Argentina
2 Spain

Though it turned out to be Spain.

Yet, if there's a team to challenge Spain's perfect passing approach, the kind that keeps you off the ball for long stints of time, it could be Argentina. Because, guess what? Argentina can do much of the same. Argentina had Messi, the team leader who might not have a burst of speed any more but it's still there in doses and it can get the job done with his intuitive guile that finds pockets of space in-between players with a shift of the foot, a swivel going the other way, to create a chance for others with that pass on the move he does with the inside of his left foot often to great effect; a move that keeps the play flowing in an attacking way almost unique to his choosing. Still the pulse of the team, Messi was to be the largest problem for Spain. But that didn't turn out to be the situation. You also had multiple threats (in various positions) that were available. For example, outside back Montiel who pushes things in the right direction, helping to create useful space for a teammate to take advantage of. Don't forget Paredes, who maybe had the best game against England with valuable tackles that escalated his squad to a higher realm.

With all this operating together, as Argentina accomplished a 2-1 win over England in the Semifinals, it was looking for a fourth overall World Cup title to compliment 2022, 1986, and 1978.

It's the first time Argentina and Spain have met in the final. Argentina has been there multiple times. Spain has previously been there in 2010.

Before it started it was going to be a great game no matter which way you looked at it. Then the game started. For a while it seemed like back and forth possession, Argentina holding its own. That was portions of the first half. Slowly but surely, Spain asserted itself with dominant possession and eventually you heard the announcers say things like, "There have been 20 shots for Spain and zero for Argentina." Huh? What? As you saw Spain take over with possession, it became clearer that Argentina was having a hard time getting ball into attacking areas. It just wasn't Argentina's game. A great team, Argentina had one of those days. Spain was the better team.

Hence, Spain earned a well-deserved second World Cup title:

2010
2026

A big one for a nation that is clearly a world leader.

For more, visit Cardinal Publishers Group.

]]><![CDATA[miscarriage made stronger]]>Wed, 27 May 2026 02:49:40 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/miscarriage-made-me-strongerSTAY UPBEAT IS THE KEY.

LET'S TALK SOCCER, shall we!
Hold on, someone might read this.

Since my miscarriage I've joined many others that have encountered difficult situations.

In high school there were two friends of mine that passed early. There was someone else, very nice, that died early as well. I'm sure others have experiences like that. For whatever reason it happened. Then you have to move on. Still though, regarding two high school friends, for example, I've visited their graves multiple times over the years. From that, maybe I gained strength.

ADVICE?
I often seek advice from others. From time to time, others have sought advice from me. Why, I have no idea.

Some people experience difficult situations and still find others out there making life difficult for them. For example: There are going to be adversaries. Challenge their challenge, publicly, legally.

Other Advice?
I could quote Ezekiel all day. I like him.
Don't forget Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer).
You have to follow your path, work hard, and stay focused.

BORING! Let's talk soccer.

Point is, for the advice part: Maybe you can...I don't know. I forget.
I'm ready for the World Cup, that's one place to start.

* Disclaimer: There was no such thing with senior citizens.

]]><![CDATA[india's: bindiya ke bahubali]]>Sun, 17 May 2026 22:27:40 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/indias-bindiya-ke-bahubali

I'm happy for my man Raj Amit Kumar. This picture is many moons ago in Chicago around the time we wrote a move script together about Cricket (it's waiting to launch).

Amit's new show Bindiya Ke Bahubali.

Is India in my book? Maybe. India needs the right soccer coach.

]]><![CDATA[american soccer: embrace the underdog]]>Sat, 16 May 2026 02:19:34 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/american-soccer-embrace-the-underdog

It's an exciting time to be an American soccer fan.

At some point, American soccer fans have to realize, accept, and embrace the fact that America is an underdog in the 2026 World Cup.

That's a fact. A lot of people have given into that and it's turned into a great aspect of American soccer.

Guess what? It's the only sport America is the underdog!

It's exciting to finally be an underdog in a sport. Americans aren't used to that. Therefore, this might be the biggest story in American sports history if and when the USMNT finally wins the FIFA World Cup.

What should you do if the USMNT loses this World Cup? Don't fret. It's a big maybe. We don't know, technically. What we don't know is something that, technically, hasn't happened yet...that being a distinct possibility the USMNT won't escape its group. In a sense, this awkward admission that it's up in the air is what we're used to. We've embraced that we're an underdog, whether we know it or not. It's been going on a long time, this realization, this acceptance.

Over the years: Do we have great American players? Yes. Pat McBride, Al Trost, Ricky Davis...let's jump ahead...Clint Dempsey, Christian Pulisic. A lot.

DO I THINK THE USMNT WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP SOMEDAY? YES. Just maybe not today. How can we win the World Cup? What can we do? Make me coach. I keep saying that. Is anybody listening? I will win the World Cup for America. I've been saying it for years. I'll tell you what, the team would look a lot different, that's for damn sure. You would see me at various places for new recruits. I know they're out there. By the way: I haven't wavered. My assistant coaches are mine and mine alone. No one can choose them. They are Shaquille O'Neal and Owen Wilson. It's been that way for a long time, I'm not changing. Shaq would double as backup goalie. Practices? When and where is up to me, not the system, man. Now stay with me here: The majority of practices would take place inside a basketball gym, at night. I'm not a morning person. There's a reason for that, actually. The court not nighttime. It fine-tunes your skills as a player. With the right focus, it brings together better dribbling and passing that can transcend to the outdoor field. See Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet. Futsal was great for my development as a player. Futsal, practicing on a basketball court, the right way, would only benefit American soccer. There exists a right way. I, with Shaq and Owen Wilson, will deliver a championship. Just not this World Cup for obvious reasons...that being I'm not coach yet.

But get ready for a great World Cup and maybe the biggest story in American sports history: the saga of the USMNT trying to win a World Cup. The last sport we have for our trophy case. Imagine that.

]]><![CDATA[World Cup 2026, a milestone]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 15:24:50 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/world-cup-2026-a-milestone

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is gearing up to be epic. A milestone. Bigger than ever. It has to be: There are 3 hosts. That's a first.

Predictions? Some are in the book.

A top 5 right now:

Brazil
Argentina
England
France
Germany

Also included: star players, team histories, strategies, stadiums, and more.

Much more around the corner!

Books available with:
Meyer & Meyer Sport (Europe)
Cardinal Publishers Group (United States)
Waterstones
B&N

]]><![CDATA[Italy out again]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:46:59 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/italy-out-again2018, 2022, 2026: Italy doesn't make the FIFA World Cup.

Italy's a four-time World Cup champ, an all-time great.
This is a tragedy.

What's the best chance for Italy to get back in the World Cup?
Putting in a bid to host.

Solution:
Get rid of Adidas.
It just doesn't look right.
I like Adidas, it's just not working for Italy.
Get back to your roots.

1. Lotto
2. Diadora
3. Maybe Puma

Let's start there.

Italy out again. Wow. Enough said. I'm a big fan. I love some Italian soccer. Who doesn't? There might be a few. But there aren't that many haters. Italy is the quintessential World Cup favorite. It was. This is crazy. Literally crazy. Italy is fighting to make a World Cup? Do you hear yourself? Does that even make sense? Of course not. Italy is struggling, big time. This is odd. It's beyond odd. At this point, there's a problem. Italian fans have something to be concerned about. Because, for the most part, I thought for the last two World Cup failures (2018, 2022) Italy was just going through a bad streak like Brazil taking a 7-1 pounding in 2014 by Germany. It happens. No one's perfect. But now we're talking about three World Cups in a row for the amazing Azzurri which is something significant. Two was significant. Three is alarming. Three in a row is very un-Italian. Go figure. You know I look out for Italian soccer fans. I got your back. But this is pathetic. Do I have Italian coffee right now? Prefer French but, yeah, I have Italian right now. French is better. Still though, I'm gonna drink the coffee cause it's good. I should clarify: this is Starbucks Italian vs. Starbucks French. So it might be different with another brand. That's something that very well could be pointed out and was just pointed out. Forget about it, moving on. I love all things Italy. But I get the feeling this might not be over. Italy needs a generational shift in talent. Players like, I'm not mentioning Baggio because he's too obvious, Signori. That was a talent. You need that again, Italy. Find that times six. You need six guys on the field, like Signori, at once. Not one or two...six. The United States has a similar problem, for generations. The USMNT has always fielded two or three very talented players with the wrong dance partners. It's not a fair comparison, however, in terms of "fielding talent" there's a slight parallel in that Italy, like the US, needs to focus on shiftier, craftier, skillful, dynamic players that showcase dribbling skill that makes fans want to watch. Period. It starts with dribbling. Get to that and you'll be ok. For now, Italy is in a world of hurt with a need retuning in order to get its Ferrari revving again, which it's more than capable of. ]]><![CDATA[2026 world cup final qualifications]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:16:37 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/march-25th-2026FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifications

The final 22 teams.
Only 6 will qualify.
Essentially, we have the following...

UEFA Playoffs
(Europe)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

Wales
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia
Italy Italy
Northern Ireland

Ukraine
Sweden Sweden
Sweden
Poland Poland
Albania

Slovakia
Kosovo Kosovo
Turkey
Turkey Turkey
Romania

Czech Republic Czech Republic
Republic of Ireland Czech Republic

Denmark Denmark
North Macedonia

Inter-confederation Playoffs
(North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

New Caledonia DR Congo DR Congo
Jamaica Jamaica

Bolivia Iraq Iraq
Suriname Bolivia

Qualifications for the FIFA World Cup can be extremely complicated.
The process has been simplified above.
There were many rounds leading up to this point.
From these remaining 22 teams, 6 will go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For paperback and eBook, the qualification process has been included in Your Guide to the 2026 World Cup.
(Subject to change. As games take place, check here for updates.)

My personal choice: New Caledonia.
I doubt they'll win but I want them to. Let's go!
...News flash: New Caledonia lost.

]]><![CDATA[kjff radio...100 american soccer legends, "galaxy spiral theory"]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:30:32 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/kjff-radio

Image courtesy of Ryan Reinheimer.

"Galaxy Spiral Theory"
By
Shane Stay
First heard on KJFF radio, 1-27-2026
In studio | Festus, Missouri | the Heartland

By studying pictures from Hubble, other, it becomes clear, here it is. (Starting from small upwards.) (1) Thanks to electromagnetic forces and gravity, during a proton-photon collision in a lab, strange little spirals occurred. (2) When water goes down your kitchen sink it goes in a spiral. (3) Tornados go in a spiral, hurricanes go in a spiral. (4) The planets in the solar system spiral (revolve) around the sun. (5) Our star and the others go in a spiral around the center of the galaxy. (6) My addition, the galaxies themselves go in a spiral. They go in a grand spiral. To what, that’s still a mystery, and I’m not at liberty to discuss it here. The galaxies seem to have separate groups that go in spirals; perhaps together, as a whole, they're all going to the same place. Though, all the little things we see, such as tornados going in a spiral, seem to be re-enacting how galaxies were formed, and so on. How did I come up with that? That’s aside the point.

Good time on KJFF, with Ryan Reinheimer, discussing a number of things, such as 100 American Soccer Legends, This Is Our CITY, the 2026 World Cup, Cahokia Mounds, galaxies, sports and more.

Italy
Incidentally, when Italy is in the FIFA World Cup things seem to "spiral" around it. Italy is a grand unifying force in the world of soccer. Hopefully the Italians are back in the World Cup. Stay tuned: In late March 2026 we'll know!

USMNT players
A few players covered: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Christian Pulisic, Ricky Davis, Mike Sorber, Taylor Twellman and many more.

]]><![CDATA[the 2026 fifa world cup cities]]>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:20:50 GMThttps://www.shanestay.com/blog/excerpt-from-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-citiesA Brief Excerpt
('Things To Do List': Share this map!)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup cities map. Check out the middle part ;)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Cities
Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, January 2, 2026

By Shane Stay

Here you go soccer fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup map:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the best one ever, literally. I’m looking forward to it. Over a billion—people and maybe well-trained pets—are looking forward to it. Hold on a sec. Let’s just go over a quick little slight thing…It’s just a second, it really won’t be that big-a-deal.

It goes without saying, there’s something interesting with this map. Why’s there only one in the middle? Yeah, right. There’s 3 on the East Coast, where Bob Bradley is sipping tea, Princeton sweater on, with a painting of a yacht on the wall. Listen, listen to me yacht fella, put your tasty beverage down. “What?” Did you say what? Say what again! Say what again! I dare you, I double…And those 3 are right next to each other? Huh? What? You can scratch Boston or Philly from that list, duh. New York, Philly would work. Atlanta, yes. Miami, yes. Dallas and Houston? Pick one. I’d go with Dallas. Seattle, yes. SF, where I owned a restaurant, sure, I guess, it gives me a chance to mention Vine & Barrel. LA, where I grew up—in part—with family, I guess. But let’s go to the middle bit. Just Kansas City? Really? Really??? No Detroit, Chicago, or St. Louis as a second? Oh ok, yeah that makes sense. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, no, I get it: Because St. Louis and Chicago have nothing to do with the history of soccer in America. They really don’t. Everyone knows that. Especially St. Louis, the capitol of soccer in America. Realistically, delete Houston—they might not notice—from the list and add either St. Louis or Chicago. No, I’m not saying this as a native of St. Louis and one who’s lived in Chicago. For argument’s sake, let’s just say I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I don’t but just imagine maybe I do…right by the place where Rockefeller had secret UFO meetings. When I buy groceries, I say hi to all the locals. Over there. Even then, I’d still be noticing one in the middle, because…it’s weird. As someone else told me, it’s weird. Only one in the middle?

More at Cardinal Publishers Group.

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