Monday, February 27, 2006
The Viva World Cup
Billed as 'The World Cup for countries that don't exist', the Miva World Cup is taking place in Cyprus in November.
The rumoured participants include Tibet, Chechnya, Kosovo, Monaco, Western Sahara, Occitania and the Sami people - all not recognised by the international community.
Read more at http://www.timesonline.co.uk...
The rumoured participants include Tibet, Chechnya, Kosovo, Monaco, Western Sahara, Occitania and the Sami people - all not recognised by the international community.
Read more at http://www.timesonline.co.uk...
Posted by Chris @ 10:13 AM. 0 comments
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Pfister named Togo coach
Despite the old manager still insisting he's the head coach, German Otto Pfister has been appointed manager of Togo after a poor African Cup of Nations.
The president of te Togolese FA Commander Rock Gnassingbe (Best. Name. Ever) confirmed on Wednesday Pfister's appointment: "We signed a short-term contract with Otto Pfister at the weekend,"
" I have not been told by anyone at the Togolese
football federation that I have lost my job and I remain in Togo to
honour my contractual obligations to them. The contract will cover the World Cup period and could be extended if the results at the World Cup are good."
All this probably came as news to Stephen Keshi, who was still of the opinion on Monday that he was very much employed: " I have not been told by anyone at the Togolese
football federation that I have lost my job and I remain in Togo to
honour my contractual obligations to them".
It almost makes the English FA seem competent. Almost.
The president of te Togolese FA Commander Rock Gnassingbe (Best. Name. Ever) confirmed on Wednesday Pfister's appointment: "We signed a short-term contract with Otto Pfister at the weekend,"
" I have not been told by anyone at the Togolese
football federation that I have lost my job and I remain in Togo to
honour my contractual obligations to them. The contract will cover the World Cup period and could be extended if the results at the World Cup are good."
All this probably came as news to Stephen Keshi, who was still of the opinion on Monday that he was very much employed: " I have not been told by anyone at the Togolese
football federation that I have lost my job and I remain in Togo to
honour my contractual obligations to them".
It almost makes the English FA seem competent. Almost.
Posted by Chris @ 9:56 AM. 0 comments
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
World Cup Weblog - Germany 2006
John Gregory???
Well, if the papers are to be believed, then yes (and you should always believed what you read in the papers).
According to the Daily Telegraph , the former Villa manager is speaking with the Hungarian FA, and "there could be something happening in the next 10 days."
Gregory has been out of work since 2003 when he was sacked as manager of Derby county for alleged misconduct. Gregory later won £1 million in compensation for unfair dismissal.
If Gregory were to take the role, his first game could be at at the new Webley stadium against England, providing the stadium is completed in time.
[As a side note, I emplore you not to read the rest of that article - trust me, it's for your own sanity. I did warn you.]
Technorati Tags: hungary , football , john+gregory , aston+villa , derby
Posted by Chris @ 10:00 AM. 0 comments
"Sepp likes to use emoticons"
A funny and completely true* account of a day in the life of FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
*probably a lie.
Technorati Tags: sepp+blatter, fifa, world+cup
*probably a lie.
Technorati Tags: sepp+blatter, fifa, world+cup
Posted by Chris @ 9:35 AM. 0 comments
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Turkey to play behind closed doors
Fifa have decided on the punishment for the Swiss-Turkish brawl after the World Cup qualifying playoff match last November, and it's pretty harsh (for Turkey at least).
- Turkey will have to play the next 6 home games behind closed doors in a neutral venue in another country.
- They've been fined 200,000 Swiss francs (£88,500) plus costs of 20,000 Swiss francs (£8,850).
- Ex Villa defender Alpay Ozalan suspended for Turkey's next 6 matches and fined 15,000 Swiss francs (£6,630) plus 1,000 francs (£440) costs.
- Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu suspended for Turkey's next 6 matches and fined 15,000 Swiss francs (£6,630) plue 1,000 francs (£440) costs.
- Fenerbahçe midfielder Serkan Balci suspended for two matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£2,200) plus 500 francs (£220) costs.
- Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 12 months, and fined 16,000 Swiss francs.
- Swiss player Benjamin Huggel suspended for 6 matches and fined 15,500 Swiss francs.
- Swiss physio Stephan Meyer suspended for 2 matches and fined 7,000 Swiss francs.
Somewhat understandably, the Turkish FA are a little miffed that their punishment is so much harsher than for the Swiss. Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said: "I find this decision unacceptable. This is simply the approval of what Sepp Blatter said right after the game without even looking at the observer and referee reports on the game. That's why I think this decision is more political than sporting.". Surely not.
Technorati Tags: turkey, world+cup, fifa, switzerland, football
- Turkey will have to play the next 6 home games behind closed doors in a neutral venue in another country.
- They've been fined 200,000 Swiss francs (£88,500) plus costs of 20,000 Swiss francs (£8,850).
- Ex Villa defender Alpay Ozalan suspended for Turkey's next 6 matches and fined 15,000 Swiss francs (£6,630) plus 1,000 francs (£440) costs.
- Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu suspended for Turkey's next 6 matches and fined 15,000 Swiss francs (£6,630) plue 1,000 francs (£440) costs.
- Fenerbahçe midfielder Serkan Balci suspended for two matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£2,200) plus 500 francs (£220) costs.
- Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 12 months, and fined 16,000 Swiss francs.
- Swiss player Benjamin Huggel suspended for 6 matches and fined 15,500 Swiss francs.
- Swiss physio Stephan Meyer suspended for 2 matches and fined 7,000 Swiss francs.
Somewhat understandably, the Turkish FA are a little miffed that their punishment is so much harsher than for the Swiss. Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said: "I find this decision unacceptable. This is simply the approval of what Sepp Blatter said right after the game without even looking at the observer and referee reports on the game. That's why I think this decision is more political than sporting.". Surely not.
Technorati Tags: turkey, world+cup, fifa, switzerland, football
Posted by Chris @ 10:34 AM. 0 comments
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Scolari for England? Or Newcastle?
Portugal's international coach and former World Cup winner with Brazil, Luiz Felipe Scolari has seemingly made an determined bid to become the next England manager after the World Cup.
On Sunday he spoke on BBC Radio Five Live about his interest in the role, and how it would only take a couple of months for him to brush up on his English.
"I like the job, yes, yes. But I know if I want to go in England national team I need to learn the language more and I need to know more about the team, about the job. After this it is possible to say something about the possibility."
However, the Brazilian has also been linked to the vacant manager position at Newcastle, with Betfair slashing their odds of him becoming Newcastle manager from 199-1 to 3-1 this morning, and William Hill reducing their odds to 9/4.
Given he's gone on national radio telling the world how much he'd like to replace Sven, I'd say it's more likely he'll be managing (world champions - probably) England in 6 months time, rather than Newcastle but for the odds to have been slashed so much in a matter of hours, someone must know something...
Technorati Tags: world+cup, newcastle, england, scolari
On Sunday he spoke on BBC Radio Five Live about his interest in the role, and how it would only take a couple of months for him to brush up on his English.
"I like the job, yes, yes. But I know if I want to go in England national team I need to learn the language more and I need to know more about the team, about the job. After this it is possible to say something about the possibility."
However, the Brazilian has also been linked to the vacant manager position at Newcastle, with Betfair slashing their odds of him becoming Newcastle manager from 199-1 to 3-1 this morning, and William Hill reducing their odds to 9/4.
Given he's gone on national radio telling the world how much he'd like to replace Sven, I'd say it's more likely he'll be managing (world champions - probably) England in 6 months time, rather than Newcastle but for the odds to have been slashed so much in a matter of hours, someone must know something...
Technorati Tags: world+cup, newcastle, england, scolari
Posted by Chris @ 11:00 AM. 0 comments
Top 10 World Cup Rants
William Hill have just launched their World Cup Betting
site, which actually has some interesting information about the tournament.
There's a particularly good section called 'top 10 world cup rants' which features Alf Ramsey's 'we don't swap shirts with animals' quote, the Roy Keane - Mick McCarthy saga and interestingly at number one Perugia President Luciano Gaucci.
If you don't recognise the name, you'll probably remember the story; Perugia and South Korea player Ahn Jung-Hwan scores the Golden Goal for his country to knock Italy out of the 2002 World Cup, only to be fired by Gaucci for his efforts. Gaucci said: "I am a nationalist and I regard such behaviour not only as an affront to Italian pride but also an offence to a country which two years ago opened its doors to him.", which is a little harsh really.
Jung-Hwan now plies his trade inJapan Germany [corrected from world cup blog], where I suspect any repeat of his goal in 2006 might be just as harshly rewarded.
There's a particularly good section called 'top 10 world cup rants' which features Alf Ramsey's 'we don't swap shirts with animals' quote, the Roy Keane - Mick McCarthy saga and interestingly at number one Perugia President Luciano Gaucci.
If you don't recognise the name, you'll probably remember the story; Perugia and South Korea player Ahn Jung-Hwan scores the Golden Goal for his country to knock Italy out of the 2002 World Cup, only to be fired by Gaucci for his efforts. Gaucci said: "I am a nationalist and I regard such behaviour not only as an affront to Italian pride but also an offence to a country which two years ago opened its doors to him.", which is a little harsh really.
Jung-Hwan now plies his trade in
Technorati Tags: world+cup, ahn+jung-hwan, rants
Posted by Chris @ 9:45 AM. 0 comments
Thursday, February 02, 2006
February Fixtures
In line with the tradition of me being a couple of days late for everything, I present to you February's international fixtures, featuring such notable matches as Jordan vs Kazakhstan and Qatar vs Tajikistan. What a treat.
Feb-04-2006 Kuwait vs Singapore
Feb-05-2006 Barbados vs Guyana
Feb-06-2006 Oman vs Singapore
Feb-07-2006 Kuwait vs Jordan
Feb-07-2006 Syria vs Palestine
Feb-08-2006 Lebanon vs Iraq
Feb-08-2006 Bahrain vs Turkey
Feb-10-2006 Guyana vs Antigua and Barbuda
Feb-10-2006 USA vs Japan
Feb-11-2006 South Korea vs Costa Rica
Feb-13-2006 Guyana vs Antigua and Barbuda
Feb-13-2006 Oman vs Iraq
Feb-14-2006 Qatar vs Tajikistan
Feb-14-2006 Jordan vs Kazakhstan
Feb-15-2006 Mexico vs South Korea
Feb-15-2006 Saudi Arabia vs Syria
Feb-15-2006 Hong Kong vs Singapore
Feb-16-2006 Thailand vs Iraq
Feb-18-2006 Japan vs Finland
Feb-19-2006 USA vs Guatemala
Feb-19-2006 New Zealand vs Malaysia
Feb-23-2006 New Zealand vs Malaysia
Feb-28-2006 Iceland vs Trinidad Tobago
Feb-28-2006 Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Japan
Feb-04-2006 Kuwait vs Singapore
Feb-05-2006 Barbados vs Guyana
Feb-06-2006 Oman vs Singapore
Feb-07-2006 Kuwait vs Jordan
Feb-07-2006 Syria vs Palestine
Feb-08-2006 Lebanon vs Iraq
Feb-08-2006 Bahrain vs Turkey
Feb-10-2006 Guyana vs Antigua and Barbuda
Feb-10-2006 USA vs Japan
Feb-11-2006 South Korea vs Costa Rica
Feb-13-2006 Guyana vs Antigua and Barbuda
Feb-13-2006 Oman vs Iraq
Feb-14-2006 Qatar vs Tajikistan
Feb-14-2006 Jordan vs Kazakhstan
Feb-15-2006 Mexico vs South Korea
Feb-15-2006 Saudi Arabia vs Syria
Feb-15-2006 Hong Kong vs Singapore
Feb-16-2006 Thailand vs Iraq
Feb-18-2006 Japan vs Finland
Feb-19-2006 USA vs Guatemala
Feb-19-2006 New Zealand vs Malaysia
Feb-23-2006 New Zealand vs Malaysia
Feb-28-2006 Iceland vs Trinidad Tobago
Feb-28-2006 Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Japan
Posted by Chris @ 9:41 AM. 0 comments
