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world cup 2018: honorable mention

7/28/2018

 
With about two weeks past since the World Cup final, by all accounts, it’s time to reflect, and look ahead.
 
Honorable Mention

A friendly message for the teams that didn’t qualify for World Cup 2018:
 
Holland…wow. You? You of all people didn’t make it? Say hello to Italy.

Tibet…we weren’t expecting much. Better luck next time.

Congo…ditto.

India and Thailand…Oiy. Do you actually play soccer? Wait, I’m told you do. So, apparently, you play the game. Let’s try to work on that, huh. For starters: Literally make Neymar a citizen of your country. 
India, btw, the Las Vegas odds of you winning the World Cup would be a number with so many zeros behind it which not even Ramanujan could figure out.

Canada…I don’t know where to start with you guys.

Puerto Rico…You’re technically a US state, territory, or whatever, and, more importantly, a member of CONCACAF, and you just played the USMNT for the first time in 2016. I’m not blaming you, but that’s just weird. It took that long to play the US? Really? And to the US: It took that long to play Puerto Rico? C’mon. Weird. Totally weird. For so many reasons. First of all, you’re an ally. Secondly, you would think everyone in CONCACAF would have played one another at least once in the past seventy odd years. But, back to the World Cup: You had absolutely no chance to get in. Keep trying, though! By keep trying I mean: I seriously doubt you’ll get into World Cup 2022, and probably the next fifty World Cups after that. That's the truth, and you know it. Should you make it, I'll be the first to say congratulations. But let's get real. That's probably not gonna happen. 

Back to India…guys, stick with cricket.

Back to Thailand…stick with, whatever it is you do.

Paraguay…based on your previous World Cup record, are you really surprised? When you do make it, no one really pays attention anyway.

Finland…good old Finland. Do you play soccer? Maybe if you lesson your extreme and fascinating worship of Conan O’Brien you can devote more time to the game. But I understand that’s asking a lot.

Scotland…where do we start?

Luxembourg…oh boy.

Yemen…I would consult the coaching authority of Steve and Doug Butabi. 

Mongolia…the mighty Mongolians. Egh, maybe not so much. That is, when it comes to soccer; but when it comes to quilts, oh yoi yoi, are they good. Regardless, yes, they have a team. And yes, they’re still strutting like John Travolta over their 8-0 trouncing of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2016, along with their 2-0 win over the always dangerous, Sri Lanka. Some of you may be wondering about Mongolia. Do they really play soccer? Because after all, you never hear about them, ever. Well, here’s the thing. Most players, if not all, have chosen to disregard the allure of teams like Manchester United and Barcelona, instead, opting to stay at home, competing in the Mongolia Premier League. As of 2017, Mongolia acquired the coaching services of German-born, Michael WeiB. With a little work, and a few tune-up games with Cambodia, Nicaragua and Finland, along with the goal-scoring exploits of Monkh-Erdeniin Togoldor, Naranbold Nyam-Osor and Soyol-Erdene Gal-Erdene, who knows, the World Cup final of 2022 might read: Brazil versus Mongolia.

Lebanon…the mysterious land of ancient Phoenicia – the land of secrets. Well, it’s no secret why you didn’t qualify. Just sayin’.

​Oceania…you had a half chance to make it. For whatever reason, FIFA gave you half a chance to get one team in. And you didn’t qualify. It’s not the same without you. New Zealand, Tahiti, and others, stay with it! You’ve got something productive going on. Whatever that is, I have no idea.
       To all the others that didn’t make it: Keep trying, no matter how futile your efforts may be. And we’ll see you in four years!
 
Picture
Picture
World Cup 2022 Final
Brazil vs Mongolia 
Could it be? 

awards for world cup 2018

7/16/2018

 
Awards for World Cup 2018

adidas Golden Ball Award: 
Luka Modric (Croatia)

adidas Golden Boot Award: 
Harry Kane (England)

adidas Golden Glove Award: 
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) 

FIFA Young Player Award: 
Kylian Mbappe (France)


world cup 2018 champions: france

7/15/2018

 
FRANCE
World Cup titles: 2 (1998, 2018)

France 4   Croatia 2

​France brings home the coveted trophy for the second time, winning today in Moscow, prevailing over the small nation of Croatia.

​France emerged onto the world scene in a big way in the late 1970s with Platini, arguably the best player in French history, who led the French into the 1980s with two runs into the World Cup semi-finals, 1982 and 1986. Platini was captain for the first European Cup championship for France, in 1984. 
   Then France would have to wait until 1998 for their first World Cup title, as the other player thought to be the greatest in French history, Zidane, led the way to victory in Paris, as France hosted that year. 
​  And now, twenty years later, with Griezmann, Mbappe, Lloris and a quality group, France takes home the title again. 



book excerpt: france in wc 2018

7/14/2018

 
The following is an excerpt from The World Cup 2018 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup.

FRANCE

Where the Team Is Today—Tactics and Strategies
Coming off a second place finish at the 2016 European Cup, which they also hosted, France is in good form.
    They’ll likely go with a 4-3-3; though, they’ve used other formations in the past. Defensively, they close down opponents very well, swarming them and stifling attacks with athletic players who have good instincts.
   In the attack, their dynamite lineup plays with calm fluidity, capitalizing on a structured passing system that, at times, straddles the flair of pickup soccer. Often, their play is brilliant, making them one of the most exciting teams to watch. 


Picture
Photo courtesy of FIFA.

book excerpt: england in wc 2018

7/8/2018

 
The following is an excerpt from The World Cup 2018 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup

ENGLAND

What to Watch for on TV—How Messi, Neymar, Kroos, and Others Play

England likes to play the counterattack with a lot of speed, and telling, crisp passes. For 2018, they have very capable forwards and wingers who can carry this out; they’re fast, aggressive, skillful, and determined to put England back on the map—a dangerous combination for their opponents.
            England will provide an aerial threat from all set pieces, including free kicks from the wings as well as corners. Keep an eye on their tall, strong defenders that get into the box, muscling for position to knock in a goal or two. Their outside defenders are like marathon runners on both sides of the ball. Given their experience, combined with new talent, they should be a competitive team with potential to go far into the elimination rounds.
 
Overall Team Rating: 8 leaning toward 8.5
Picture
Photo courtesy of FIFA.

book excerpt: brazil in wc 2018

7/1/2018

 
The following is an excerpt from The World Cup 2018 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup

BRAZIL

Facts About Their Country

Brazil, the land of soccer, is a very interesting place. It’s a large country, geographically and population-wise, with over 206 million people, and a GDP of about 1.5 trillion. The largest city is Sao Paulo with an estimated population of 12 million.
   Historically, Brazil has evidence of human activity likely dating back 11,000 years, as well as pottery being found from around 6,000 BC. The Portuguese first established their presence in Brazil back in 1500 AD, only eight years after Christopher Columbus made his voyage across the Atlantic.
   The Lost City of Z, a book written by David Grann, explores the journey of Colonel Fawcett, a British explorer in the early 20th Century, who was mapping the area of Bolivia, Peru, and western Brazil, while also searching for a mythical lost city filled with gold.        
   In today’s Brazil, many soccer players search for their own chest of “gold” by way of professional contracts. Brazilian players are highly favored around the world. Cafu is the Brazilian leader in caps, with 142. Pele is the leading scorer, with 77. Pele also has three World Cup titles to his name: 1958, 1962, and 1970.
   Brazil is known for great food, including steaks and exotic pizza varieties. As World Cup Russia progresses, many people watching on TV will likely enjoy domestic beer, including Eisenbahn.
 
Where the Team Is Today—Tactics and Strategies
Brazil may have come up empty handed in the 2016 Copa America, but their defense throughout the 2018 World Cup qualification games has been strong, rooted in quick double teams and active individual talent.
   Brazil has built their exciting attack around the fleet feet of Neymar, along with a group that exudes the classic Brazilian flair mixed with a sound passing structure that can be found in Europe. With this offensive group of young players in place, Brazil is looking to capitalize on a creative pulse which has been lacking in the past two World Cups. (See appendix under Brazil, “Brazil Looking for World Cup Magic Again,” for bonus material.)
   Brazil will probably go with a 4-3-3. As usual, they’ll be a favorite, and, depending who you ask, they always have the potential to win the whole thing.


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    Shane Stay, author of The Euro 2020, The World Cup 2018 Book, Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet.

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