We gooien er maar weer eens een VVV-tje tegenaan. Ook het trainersgilde kent haar veelplegers. En ons landje gooit daarbij hoge ogen. De Hollandse headhunter-huurling is een gewild object. Dat er vooralsnog slechts twee onzer oefenmeesters zeker zijn van deelname aan het WK, zegt dus helegaar niks. Wel heeft de reputatie een deukje opgelopen. Erwin Koeman kon de Hongaarse honger niet stillen, Beenhakker blies de aftocht met Polen, Advocaat wisselde een WK met de Aussies in voor Russische roebels. Zelfs Holy Hiddinks toverstaf deed Rusland niet in sprookjes doen geloven. En dan was er nog de grote verrassing dat Arie Haan met Albanië geen kwalificatie wist af te dwingen.

Maar denk nou niet dat Don Leo straks absent is als de camera’s volop draaien en de satellieten in de lucht zijn!  De Mexicaanse bondscoach Ricardo La Volpe wordt midden in de voorbereiding geveld door een mysterieuze griep en dus gaat Don Leo Leuter, uiteraard pas na enig zuchten, kreunen en steunen, naar alweer zijn 3e WK.  En Voetblah als advocaat van de duivel voorspelt dat mannen als Dickie en Louis niet vies zullen zijn van een parttime, desgewenst duo-vakantiebaantje en zullen reageren op – zo al niet zijn benaderd voor - de Vacatures Voor Veeltrainers.

Advocaat is persona non grata in Australië, dus Nieuw-Zeeland. Of een van de Korea’s. Van Gaal kan nog alle kanten uit. Een duo met Maradona zou geweldige televisie opleveren, maar is zoiets als Angela Merkel koppelen aan Sarkozy. Voor De Goddelijke Kanaries zou Louis fluitend tekenen, maar ook zichzelf verheffen tot goddelijke status. Althans zo vrezen de media. Wij denken eerder aan Frankrijk en smullen nu al van het défilé communiqué. En Guus Geluk? In Noord-Korea zit ie op een atoombom. Zuid-Afrika is voor het duo  Krol & Foppe. Brazilië of Argentinië? Het zou zomaar kunnen. Guus zou ook de VS in alle staten brengen. Maar wij gokken op Ivoorkust. Exotisch, eigenzinnig. Plus Drogba, Kalou, Eboue en een zwikje Toure’s!

Ps. Een knelpuntje is de populariteit van bondscoach Henri Michel aan de Ivoorkust. Echter, Domenech heeft bij Les Bleus zijn langste tijd gehad en wie anders dan Michel…
Louis D’Or kan nog alle kanten uit, toch?

TSG Note: Catching up on comments this morning, a few of you were wondering why we hadn’t mentioned Guus Hiddink. So…here you go.

Plain sweatpants (Bradley) or Monogrammed sweatpants (Hiddink)?

With Russia getting bounced from World Cup contention last week it has been widely speculated that super-coach Guus Hiddink could be back on the market. Furthermore, it has been suggested by some American soccer “pundits” and fans alike, that Mr. Gulati should have Hiddink on speed-dial should that happen with an offer handing over the keys to the USMNT kingdom.

Let’s put aside the facts that

a) Hiddink’s ties to Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich may not be severed anytime soon,

b) Sunil Gulati has categorically stated that Bob Bradley will coach the USMNT through the World Cup, and

c) Hiddink said in an interview in the past few days that he would make a decision on his next move (Argentina? Chelsea?) within the next few months.

Let’s also assume that Hiddink actually rang up Soccer House and offered his services, but only through the 2010 World Cup.

What should US Soccer do? More specifically, what is best for the US squad seven months away from kick-off at the World Cup? And since we haven’t asked this question directly on TSG, why bounce Bob Bradley?

The Phone Call

Say “thanks, but no thanks” to Comrade Hiddink, even if the coach suggests a technical director position. The US isn’t Argentina with a head coach that is clearly in way over his head, a Bradley-Hiddink combo is doubtful to work.

What is best for the US squad?

With the USMNT struggling to field a team of eleven international-quality players who are fit, adding a new head coach to the mix at this late juncture would be, to quote commenter Kaya, “ridiculous.”

Consider that in Guus’ two most recent World Cup finals stops (South Korea and Australia) he had at least a year to work with the squad. Also, subtract two months from the available time-frame as Hiddink wouldn’t get to work with the team until January leaving less than six months to put together the USMNT squad.

Bringing on a new coach at this juncture would be risky at best and have implications beyond South Africa ‘10.

Right man for the job?

Why bounce Bob Bradley?

From what I can tell by cruising around the ‘net, one is either on the Fire Bob Bradley bandwagon or labeled a Bradley Apologist. There doesn’t seem to be an in-between. Not sure why that is, but perhaps I will put myself in a country of one.

Bob Bradley has his struggles (specifically, in-game management), but he has also done some good things with the talent available and turned a collection of individuals into a team.

Bradley’s familiarity with entire player pool and the bonds developed through triumph (Spain / Honduras) and tragedy (Charlie Davies) are important heading into the World Cup with a most uncertain squad. He has performed admirably enough to carry the USMNT, his team, through the World Cup.

————————-

The stark reality of firing a coach is that you have to hire another one that is only guaranteed of “looking good on paper.” Every coach could be better, especially one of an inconsistent team, but there is no reason to blow-up a to-date successful program seven months out of a World Cup…even if Hiddink was available.

As shocking as some managerial rumours can be, you have to admit that more often than not, there’s usually a grain of truth in them. Sven to North Korea? Seems the Koreans did make an approach. Lothar Matthaus to coach Racing Club in Argentina? It would’ve happened if it wasn’t for his girlfriend. Any second now, I’m expecting to see Bora Milutinovic pop up in Wellington to surprisingly take over the All Whites’ World Cup campaign.

Actually, it’s not Bora that’s on my mind at the moment, but another name which has steered several nations through World Cups and who is familiar in Asia-Pacific: Guus Hiddink.

The Dutch coach has recently, and somewhat surprisingly, been left out of South Africa 2010 by a plucky (I can only imagine, since there was no match coverage out here) Slovenian squad. What’s a contractually-committed but otherwise unencumbered manager to do in the meantime? Can’t go back to Chelsea -yet- because Carlo ‘the Don’ Ancelotti is doing quite fine at Stamford Bridge. Real Madrid is always a possibility, no matter where they sit in the standings, they’re quite likely to pull the plug on a manager they don’t like (just ask Fabio ‘the Other Don’ Capello).

No, Guus is looking for a different challenge. How about managing the World Cup with a team more than capable of going all the way but managed by a complete moron? Yes! Argentina!

No. I’m not joking.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Former-Chelsea-boss-Guus-Hiddink-set-for-Argentina-role-article228633.html

Apparently the Diego Maradona v. Carlos Bilardo feud has gotten so bad that the Argentina football association is considering something it has never done in the professional era, putting a foreigner in charge of the national team.

Well, sort of.

According to these rumours, Guus would occupy an assistant’s role, and help to steer the plucky (but clueless, and offensive) Diego Maradona to becoming that which no one can even imagine, a half-decent manager.

Why would Guus do this, you ask? Just listen to this man’s enthusiasm in a interview with the Dutch press:

That would not be a bad idea, would it? We know each other well. It even makes me smile thinking about it.

Nevertheless, I can’t help thinking that perhaps, it’s the latter part of that interview that reveals why Hiddink seems to contemplating the incomtemplatable:

… right now I don’t feel too good. The knockout from the World Cup has affected me. At a moment like this I wonder if I actually want to carry on coaching.

Clearly the man is suffering from a huge blow. Mental capacity is diminished. He is entertaining thoughts he would never have if he were in his right mind.

Then again, you never know, AFA President Julio Grondona might just find a way to shunt Diego sideways and give the hot seat to the Dutchman. If that happens, Argentina will instantly improve their chances of winning the Cup, and make me a very happy man, indeed.

Guus Hiddink occupa un posto speciale nella storia recente del calcio. Nel nuovo secolo è stato il principale esportatore di know-how calcistico dall’Europa occidentale ai margini della terra. Dal 1970 al 2000 circa, i sei membri fondatori dell’Unione Europea hanno dominato il pensiero calcistico aggiudicandosi la maggior parte dei trofei. Italia, Germania, Francia, Paesi Bassi e persino il Belgio, nel loro insieme, hanno perfezionato quello che si potrebbe definire il «gioco all’europea»: un calcio veloce, fisico, basato sul collettivo.
Poi però questi paesi centrali hanno cominciato a esportare le proprie competenze. Hiddink e altri tecnici europei emigrati all’estero si sono insediati negli Hilton e nei complessi residenziali per occidentali ai quattro angoli del pianeta. Dal 2000 in poi, hanno aiutato diversi paesi calcistici emergenti – tra cui Russia, Australia, Corea del Sud, Turchia e Grecia – a superare le nazioni d’origine dei propri allenatori. A causa loro, probabilmente l’Italia non vincerà molti altri mondiali. Ormai il mondo ha cominciato a giocare all’europea. Sulla nuova mappa del calcio, che Hiddink sta contribuendo a disegnare, l’Europa occidentale va riducendosi a dimensioni più modeste. La periferia si sta impossessando del pallone.

(un estratto da Soccernomics, di Simon Kuper e Stefan Szymanski, pubblicato ne Gli Anni Zero. Almanacco del decennio condensato, Isbn Edizioni)

Yesterday the second leg of the World Cup qualifiers were held (in Europe, at least). We now know each and every team which will be present at the World Cup next year… and there are a few surprises, but mostly it’s the teams you’d expect to see, given FIFA’s newly instated practice of seeding the qualification playoffs. The seeding did what it was supposed to do, for the most part – that is, benefit larger nations with bigger and more prominent stars. I’m more than a little bitter, but nevertheless, let’s get on with a rundown of what happened. Oh, and sorry it’s a bit belated.

Portugal 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-0 Agg.) – Well, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s World Cup dreams have been shattered. Many of the Balkan states have faltered this year, with only Serbia getting through in initial qualification. I’m sure Edin Dzeko & Co. would have liked to seize their chance for revenge on home soil, but it was simply not to be. The Portugese cruised to South Africa with an easy win despite their host’s best efforts and the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. All it took was a lazy tap in from Raúl Meireless on 56′ to give Portugal a lead which the Bosnians would find insurmountable. Bosnia’s usually-fierce attack was largely subdued, with the only clear-cut chance falling to star man Edin Dzeko ten minutes from full time; he promptly duffed it. And so, while Portugal clearly deserved the win last night, I will proclaim Bosnia-Herzegovina some of the first victims of FIFA seeding.

Slovenia 1-0 Russia (2-2 Agg.) – Slovenia edged past Guus Hiddink’s Russia on away-goal advantage to book their place in South Africa and send the Russkies home to cry in their vodka. Russian fans came into this match with a lot of trepidation; Slovenia is best remembered in Russia as the team who in 2002 were inexplicably awarded a penalty by referee Graham Poll in extra time to defeat Russia and knock them out of World Cup qualification. So, despite the fact that Graham Poll was definitely not officiating last night’s match, one can understand a little Russian nervousness. And maybe Slovenia sensed it, because they put in a stolid performance, muscling the visitors off possession and doing a good job disrupting Russian build-up. Zlatko Dedic gave the home side a deserved lead on 44′, poking the ball home from within the 6-yard box. After the half things would only get worse for Russia, as substitute Aleksandr Kerzhakov was sent off after lashing out at Slovenian keeper Samir Handanovic. Hiddink poured men forwards, playing three in the back, but to no avail. With just seconds left to play emotions were running high, and Chelsea-man Yuri Zhirkov received his second yellow of the night – for pushing over a Slovenian sub standing on the sidelines – and was promptly sent off. With that, 9-man Russia were sent packing as well, with the bitter taste of irony in their mouths – this tmie it was the right calls against them which turned out to be costly.

"The France team will go to South Africa courtesy of unquestionable cheating which highlights the downward spiral affecting football today." - Union of French Teachers

France 1-1 Republic of Ireland (2-1 Agg.) – Well, if the Russia-Slovenia match was less contentious than expected, it was more than made up for by the match that took place in St. Denis, just outside of Paris, France. Les Bleus came into the match with a 1-0 aggregate lead, thanks to a Nicolas Anelka goal in the first leg. However, it didn’t take long for the Irish to eliminate that lead; after a fluid movement by the Boys in Green down the left side of the pitch, Robbie Keane stepped up to sidefoot the ball home on 33′. 1-1. And that was it. For the rest of regular time, the score remained the same. Cue overtime. On 103′, a long, arcing ball was sent into the Irish box. Thierry Henry met the end of it. With his hand. Perhaps it was unintentional, that first touch. But then he touched it again, tapping the ball gently with his left hand, stopping it from going out of bounds and putting it directly to his foot. Then to William Gallas. Who scored. France, you are going to the World Cup. And you should be ashamed. Henry’s handball was the most blatant example of that offense I’ve seen since, well, probably Diego Maradona. You can call him crafty, you can say it’s a part of the game, but I call that poor sportsmanship and I do not think France deserve to be going to the World Cup. Hell, Titi even celebrated wildly, going mad after Gallas put the ball in the net. I call bullshit. I’m sure tons of people will be calling for instant replay to be introduced after this blatant incident of cheating, and while I am still against it, I am starting to think they have a point. Ireland is asking FIFA to declare the match null & void and have a rematch, but it seems unlikely. Normally, I would insert some kind of hopeful point here, some bright side or silver lining. But there is none. There is nothing to be but bitter.

A strategy only a mother could love.

Greece 1-0 Ukraine (1-0 Agg.) – Greece bores me to death. And apparently, they bore the Ukraine to death as well. Otto Rehhagel’s men did it again, squeaking by on a single goal over two legs to knock all Slavic representatives out of next year’s World Cup final. Unfortunately, my predictions that the home side would be buoyed by their vociferous supporters fell flat. Though the crowd at the brand-new Donbass Arena in Donetsk was more than vocal, their voice alone could not lift their flat-footed squad, who fell prey to the clever, but undeniably dull, Greek strategy. Dimitris Salpingidis would be the man who made the difference for Greece, scoring on the back of a deadly combination of well-timed throughball and better-timed run (31′). Rehhagel’s defensive strategy took over from that point on, and though the home side had their fair share of chances, the Greek defense proved inpenetrable. Last night’s victory means that the Greeks are going to their first World Cup in 16 years; the Ukrainians will probably go take a nap.

And with that, Internationals are done until the new year (good riddance!). I’m glad to say good-bye for now; and the next time we meet will be in South Africa.

FIFA got its way last night as France and Portgual both progressed through the play-offs and into next year’s World Cup.

Although Russia succumbed to Slovenia, leaving Guus Hiddink questioning if it was really worth leaving Chelsea, seeding the play-offs worked out for FIFA’s bean counters, as the two heavyweights made it through.

Portugal negotiated their way past Bosnia with surprising ease, even without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s status as the world’s best player has resulted in many saying the World Cup would be significantly worse without him in it and I agree, but not for this reason.

I am in favour Portugal’s qualification, as it will surely reduce the chance of Ronaldo being photographed in his tighty-whiteys next summer.

France’s victory over Ireland was infinitely more controversial, as Thierry Henry’s juggling allowed William Gallas to grab the crucial equaliser, proving that the “luck of the Irish” is an urban myth like Saddam Hussein’s gay porn career.

Today the FAI called on FIFA to replay the match, which could be staged in Sudan for no known reason, as with the Algeria v Egypt play-off.

There is more chance of Sepp Blatter impregnating Giovanni Trapattoni than there is of him agreeing to replay the match.

There will no World Cup newbies appearing in South Africa, but New Zealand only having to defeat New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu and Bahrain to claim a place shows that there will be much weaker sides than Ireland at the tournament.

Ireland claimed two draws against reigning champions Italy in qualifying, whereas New Zealand were defeated 2-0 by Fiji.

Greece and Ukraine competed for Europe’s final qualifying slot, with Greece sneaking through 1-0 on aggregate.

Greece, as Euro 2004 champions, were the seeded side, but in Andriy Shevchenko Ukraine had the only past or present superstar in either team.

Greece has never produced a footballing superstar and after a history of producing superstar mathematicians, philosophers and scientists to begin doing so now would take dumbing down to a new extreme.

Regardless they will take their place in South Africa, along with France, Portugal, New Zealand, North Korea and Honduras, but alas not Ireland.

Guus gaat dus niet naar het WK. Of in ieder geval niet als bondscoach van Rusland. Dat noopt een lezer van VI tot het insturen van een column over de globetrotterende Achterhoeker. Moraal van het verhaal: Guus heeft niet zoveel geluk. Komt mij bekend voor, dat verhaal!

A Heartfelt Embrace

Mr. Blatter, your results are served. How do you think your little scheme has fared? Quite well if you ask me, after all, the top two reasons (Portugal and France) this abominable seeding system was adopted in such a hasty last minute fashion have secured their tickets to the big dance in South Africa, while bumping their (equally) deserving ‘minnow’ nation counterparts from proving just how advanced the beautiful game has become in the oft neglected corners of the European football universe. Everybody at FIFA headquarters in Zurich surely winced when it became obvious the tournament would loose star Russian forward Andrei Arshavin, but were quickly relieved when Portugal and France qualified ensuring appearances from top draw players like Christiano Ronaldo, Raul Miereles, Deco, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Franck Ribery. Read on for a breakdown of today’s results.

THE BREAKDOWN:

Ireland v France: Les Blues, Les Blues, I suppose, that for the time being at least, the bell does not toll pour vous. After suffering drive after drive by the Irish squad, France managed to win the match  by playing very well for only 30 minutes of the match… in extra time (to be fair… the loss was more than partly due to a piss-poor officiating – See Hand of God). Kudos to an Irish team that should be proud to have put on the performance they did. I realize that it will offer little consolation to players like Robbie Keane or Damian Duff who will likely never see a World Cup Final again.. but take solace in the fact that France will struggle to advance past the group stage when it comes time for them to put-up or shut-ip.

Slovenia v Russia: Perhaps the most stunning match of the evening. Guus Hidink has failed to qualify his Russian squad through to the finals, a happenstance that has never occurred! Arshavin and company were no match for a clearly determined and salivatingly hungry Slovenian squad. While not the end of Arshavin’s international career, you dont get many chances to play on the world’s biggest stage, and don’t think that this loss doesn’t sting the diminutive forward in the worst way.

Andrei Loses His Shirt...

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina: An unfortunate end to the Cinderella-like run put on by the Bosnians. Edin Dzeko and his crew are now forced to watch from the sidelines as Portugal moves through to one of the coveted final berths. Take comfort in this Edin, your time will come.

Portugal Edges Bosnia

Greece v Ukraine: One goal to win it all, one goal to bind them. Greece has secured a trip to world cup after a decent showing in the qualifiers against the Ukraine. A match that was touted as the most even among the European Qualifiers did not disappoint as the ball was constantly hunkered down in the midfield. Nevertheless, an early goal from Salpingidos sealed the deal, and bumped Ukraine from a second straight appearance in the finals.

ROBERT GRECO’S PREDICTION RATING:

1 for 4: A disappointing run for me personally today. I was shocked to see some of the final results, though as I mentioned, many of them were tough matches, and all of them were in fact decided in truth on the return leg. Keep checking cheddarbomb.wordpress.com for more football crystal ball.

Next Up: Champions League Match Day 5.

Elke Spanjaard houdt van voetbal

Elke Catalaan houdt van voetbal

Dus: elke Catalaan is een Spanjaard

Uh, nee, ik geloof niet dat dit syllogisme het schoolvoorbeeld is van een logisch geldige redenering. Wat niet wegneemt dat het buiten kijf staat dat veel Spanjaarden en veel Catalanen van voetbal houden. Dat zij echter niet van hetzelfde voetbal houden, en dat niet elke Catalaan een Spanjaard wil zijn, ondervond ik op niet mis te verstane wijze niet lang nadat ik van Amsterdam naar Barcelona was verhuisd.

Het was de zomer van 1996, en er werd gestreden om het Europees Kampioenschap voetbal. Ter referentie, Nederland deed mee onder leiding van Guus Hiddink die tijdens het toernooi een lichte aanvaring had met Edgar Davids. Edje had in de Engelse pers verklaard dat Guus ‘should not stick his head in other people’s asses’, of iets dergelijks, waarop Edje door Guus naar huis werd gestuurd. Het Nederlands elftal ging roemloos ten onder in de kwartfinales. (Clarence Seedorf nam zijn verantwoordelijkheid en miste plichtsgetrouw zijn penalty.)

Spanje deed ook mee aan het toernooi. Op de dag dat Spanje in de kwartfinale moest aantreden tegen Engeland had ik aan het eind van de werkdag zakelijk afgesproken in Barcelona. De wedstrijd van Spanje was op dat uur reeds begonnen. Bij wijze van binnenkomer zei ik derhalve: ‘Het is duidelijk dat u niet van voetbal houdt.’ Waarop mijn Catalaanse contact antwoordde: ‘Hoezo? Ik ben dol op voetbal!’ Ik (veel gevoel voor nationalistische sentimenten in de regio had ik nog niet ontwikkeld): ‘Huh, maar Spanje speelt nu toch een belangrijke wedstrijd op het EK?’ Hij: ‘Oh? Ja, nou, Spanje, maar dat interesseert me dus helemaal niks. Ik ben namelijk voor Barça.’

Zo kreeg ik een lesje in Catalaans-Spaanse betrekkingen en begreep ik dat sport en politiek nauw verweven kunnen zijn. Overigens werd Spanje op het EK ‘96 uitgeschakeld in die kwartfinale tegen Engeland, zoals gebruikelijk. Na strafschoppen. Net als Nederland.

Dat sport ook kan verbroederen – nou ja, succes in de sport, tenminste – bleek jaren later toen Spanje in 2008 het EK won. Naarmate dat toernooi vorderde werd door veel Catalanen de opinie ‘Spanje, dat interesseert me dus helemaal niks’ overboord gegooid, om met hart en ziel mee te leven met de verrichtingen van ‘La Roja’. Dat ze het toernooi uiteindelijk wonnen was ook weer niet zo verwonderlijk. Hoeveel Catalanen zaten er wel niet in dat elftal?

A mercifully short list of meaningful matches this weekend. I’m not going to bother with the friendlies, as most of them ended as you would expect and, after all, they’re just friendlies. I will however, give a mention to the Canadian national team, who lost 3-0 to Macedonia after missing a pair of penalties and having one converted against them. Just a friendly, but bravo…

Anyhow, here are the matches that have actual consequences; the World Cup qualifier playoffs:

Not Pictured: Portugal's #1 Keeper.

Portugal 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina – Three times. Three times a Bosnian player took his best strike at the Portugese net, and three times the home side was saved in Lisbon by the magical touch of – wait for it – the woodwork. Forget Eduardo; the guy had nothing to do all night except look relieved as both posts and the crossbar did all his work for him. My prediction: in the second leg of the playoff, Eduardo finds himself replaced by a Portugese Oak. Anyhow, thanks to the heroism of the wood, Portugal were able to shade Bosnia on the strength of a Bruno Alves goal; even without their precious Cristiano Ronaldo leading them. This result also means that their visitors were denied the opportunity to net an all-too-valuable away goal; I suppose that’s Portugese hospitality for you! That being said, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to hide before I am pelted with Bacalhau.

France 1-0 Republic of Ireland – Unlike their Bosnian… er, cousins? the French were able to grab a crucial away goal and an even more valuable victory at Croke Park in Dublin. The luck of the Irish was all but absent, as Giovanni Trapattoni’s men missed a handful of sitters and Nicolas Anelka’s eventual winner deflected off of Sean St. Ledger before hitting the post and finding the back of the net. In fact, one might make the case that it was the luck of the French which prevailed in the Emerald Isle; though to be fair, France were the better side for much of the evening and Ireland at times simply did not look like they could hack it against such stiff opposition. Raymond Domenech’s men now have a somewhat comfortable lead to sit upon when they return for the playoff’s second leg in gay Paris.

That about sums it up, yea.

Greece 0-0 Ukraine – Greece manager Otto Rehhagel stated before this weekend’s match that a nil-nil draw in Athens would be the best result for Greece to achieve. Unsurprisingly, they managed it. The most boring side in International football were able to hold their Zhovto-Blakytni visitors to a no-score draw, hoping to scoop up victory in Kiev in the second leg of the playoff. In essence, they said “getting into the World Cup is a problem for future-Greece,” and then proceeded to park the bus for 90 minutes. Mind you, Bayer Leverkusen man Theofanis Gekas was able to put the ball into the back of the Ukrainian net, only for it to be disallowed on account of offside. At the opposite end of the pitch, it was Andriy Shevchenko who came closest for the visitors, but ultimately he would not be able to trouble the Greeks with an away goal in the clutch. Personally, I wonder about the wisdom in Greece’s tactics, as I feel one should play for victory on one’s own soil, as it is much easier to achieve a result without roughly 60,000 Ukrainians cheering against you. But hey, we’re talking about the team who managed to bore their way to European glory in 2004, so who knows? Maybe they’ll catch the Ukrainians napping. For my part, I certainly hope not.

"You will beat Slovenia, or you will be shot."

Russia 2-1 Slovenia – Bilyaletdinov. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Remember that name. Or, if you’re like me, figure out how to pronounce it, and then remember it. Anyways, he was the main man for Guus Hiddink’s Russia in their playoff fixture against Slovenia, bagging the brace that would lift the Russkies above their Slovenian visitors with a goal on 40′ and another on 51′. However, it would not be smooth sailing all the way at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, as Slovenian substitute Nejc Pecnik put some pressure on the home side in the 88th minute by finding the back of the net with a headed rebound. Watching the game, one could see that it wasn’t just the Russian weather that was imposing; the atmosphere in the Luzhniki was absolutely imperious and the presence of icy Russian President Vladimir Putin only added to that. Russia will be able to go into their second leg with some confidence, though as always they would be wise to beware the underdogs – the Slovenians showed they indeed have teeth, and will be looking to bite back with the support of their own home crowd.

It’s the 1st leg of the play-offs today and tomorrow.  Russia are playing at home tonight against Slovenia. We need a win to put us in a good position for the second leg. Can Guus Hiddink bring our side to victory? Kick off is at 7.00pm (Local time) which makes it a 4.00pm kick off in the U.K. The other matches are listed below.

14/11/09 15:00 Maputo: Mozambique vs Tunisia
14/11/09 15:30 Fes: Morocco vs  Cameroon
14/11/09 15:30 Lome: Togo vs  Gabon
14/11/09 15:30 Kigali:  Rwanda vs Zambia
14/11/09 16:00 Nairobi: Kenya vs Nigeria
14/11/09 16:00 Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso vs Malawi
14/11/09 16:00 Abidjan: Côte d’Ivoire vs Guinea
14/11/09 19:00 Moscow: RUSSIA vs Slovenia
14/11/09 19:30 Cairo: Egypt vs Algeria
14/11/09 20:00 San Jose: Costa Rica vs Uruguay
14/11/09 20:00 Omdurman: Sudan vs Benin
14/11/09 20:00 Dublin: Republic of Ireland vs France
14/11/09 20:00 Athens: Greece vs Ukraine
14/11/09 20:30 Lisbon: Portugal vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
15/11/09 17:00 Kumasi: Ghana vs Mali

Claridge and Eastham target this weekend’s Internationals for betting value…

As there are no Premier League matches this weekend Bet Republic TV hosts Steve Claridge and James Eastham are covering this Saturday and Sunday’s last few World Cup Qualifiers in their Premier League Preview Show.

As well as the World Cup Qualifiers there is also a full schedule of International friendlies including an enticing encounter in Qatar between England and Brazil.

Sports betting expert James Eastham presents the show – that is streamed onto bet republic on Thursday evenings – alongside Steve Claridge, a former professional footballer with clubs including Portsmouth and Leicester.

Each week the two betting-mad pundits trawl through bookmakers’ prices to hunt out the weekend’s best bets. They have a formidable record of picking winners every week from among the 100 or so markets that are available on every game of football with most bookmakers.

These are the games that they are focusing on this weekend, with stats and betting recommendations. You can watch the show on www.Betepublic.com from Thursday evening at 9pm UK time. Alternatively video clips of the game will run on the BetRepublic YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/slicker66.

Saturday, 14 November 2009

GREECE v UKRAINE

Greece won four and lost one of five home qualifiers

Both teams scored in four of Greece’s five home qualifiers

Greece finished second behind Switzerland in their group, one of the easiest of all European pools

Theo Gekas was Greece’s top scorer with 10 goals in nine qualifiers

Ukraine finished second behind England after a great run of four wins and a draw in their final five qualifying games

They’ve kept clean sheets in their last four games

Andriy Shevchenko scored six goals in nine qualifiers

Recommended Bets:

Ukraine +0.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Under 2 goals (21/20)

PORTUGAL v BOSNIA

Ronaldo is out – although fans in Portugal would argue that he never plays well for his country. Reminds me of the John Barnes & England situation in the 1980s

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored no goals in seven World Cup qualifiers

Simao is actually Portugal’s top scorer with four goals in eight games

Portugal finished second in their pool behind Denmark

5/10 had over 2.5 goals, 5/10 had under 2.5 goals

Portugal won two and drew two of four home games following a 2-3 home defeat v Denmark in their opening match

Bosnia’s star player is Edzin Dzeko. He scored nine goals in their 10 qualifiers and is one of 30 players shortlisted for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award

Other key players include captain and centre-half Emir Spahic and Lyon playmaker Miralem Pjanic, one of the best young footballers in Europe

Pjanic has scored five goals in 18 appearances for Lyon this season

Recommended Bets:

Portugal -1.25 Asian handicap (21/20)

Miralem Pjanic to score anytime (7/1)

REP IRELAND v FRANCE

France finished second behind Serbia in their qualifying group, mainly because of a slow start and too many draws

Coach Raymond Domenech remains a hugely unpopular figure in his homeland but France have some outstanding individual players

Centre-half is the weakness in the France team. William Gallas is a regular starter, but a succession of players have been tried without success alongside him

Franck Ribery is out through injury but Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Yoann Gourcuff, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Sidney Govou are all available

Ireland finished second behind Italy in their group – and were one of the few sides to go unbeaten through all 10 games

They drew home and away v Italy, showing their prowess against better sides

Robbie Keane was Ireland’s top scorer with five goals in 10 games.

Recommended Bets:

Draw (9/4)

Andre-Pierre Gignac to score anytime (5/2)

RUSSIA v SLOVENIA

Russia had the best record of any second-placed team – seven wins, a draw and two defeats. Both defeats came against group winners Germany so Russia clearly had an excellent record against all but the very best opposition

Russia’s goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe

Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko was Russia’s top scorer in the qualifiers, netting five goals in seven games

Russia boss Guus Hiddink has a superb recent record at World Cup tournaments. He took Holland and South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and 2002 respectively and led Australia to the last 16 in 2006

Slovenia finished second behind Slovakia in their qualifying group thanks to a superb run of four straight wins in their final four qualifiers, including a 2-0 win away to group winners Slovakia

Slovenia are a side virtually without a single household name. Ex-Marseille and West Brom centre-half Bostjan Cesar is one of the few familiar faces

Recommended Bets:

Russia -1.25 Asian handicap (10/11)

Over 2.5 goals (10/11)

ENGLAND v BRAZIL

TV match: 5pm on ITV1

Under Fabio Capello, England’s friendly record is three wins, two draws and a defeat

England’s only friendly defeat came away to Spain (0-2)

England’s overall record under Fabio Capello is 12 wins, two draws and two defeats

England’s games have been high-scoring under Capello: 13 out of 16 have had over 2.5 goals and nine out of 16 have had over 3.5 goals

Both teams have scored in nine of England’s 16 internationals

England are without a win in their last seven meetings against Brazil – they’ve had four draws and three defeats in that time. Brazil have qualified for next year’s World Cup as the top team in South America’s qualifying pool

Recommended Bets:

Draw (5/2)

Luis Fabiano to score anytime (15/8)

HUDDERSFIELD v WYCOMBE

TV match: 12.05pm on SkySports 1

Huddersfield are sixth in League One with 24pts from 15 games

Huddersfield have an excellent home record – five wins, two draws and no defeats

Wycombe are bottom of the table with just eight points from 15 games so far

Wycombe have won just one of their opening 15 games

Away from home Wycombe have drawn three and lost four

Gary Waddock replaced Peter Taylor as Wycombe manager last month

19-year-old Jordan Rhodes is Huddersfield’s top scorer with nine goals in 14 games

Huddersfield’s games have been high-scoring – 10 out of 15 have had over 2.5 goals

Wycombe’s games have been low-scoring – 10 out of 15 have had under 2.5 goals

Recommended Bets:

Huddersfield -1.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Jordan Rhodes to score anytime (5/4)

Sunday, 15 November 2009

SOUTHAMPTON v BRIGHTON

TV match: 4.30pm on Sky Sports 1

Southampton are 22nd in League One – but their position is lower because of having 10pts docked because of going into administration

Southampton have 12pts on the board but have actually won 22pts on the pitch, a tally that would see them eighth in the table

Southampton have a solid home record – three wins, three draws and a defeat

Southampton’s form is excellent going into this game – four wins and a draw in their last five games

Southampton have scored 15 goals in their last five games. Southampton have lost only one of their last 12 games – five wins, six draws and a defeat

Southampton’s top scorer is their £1m summer signing Rickie Lambert, with 10 goals in 14 games.

Both teams have scored in Southampton’s last seven games.

Brighton have appointed Gus Poyet as their new manager this week following the sacking of Russell Slade.

Brighton’s results have been poor – they’ve won one, drawn three and lost four of their last eight league games

Brighton are 20th in League One with 14pts from 15 games

Brighton avoid defeat a lot away – one win, four draws and just two defeats

Brighton’s top scorer is 36-year-old Nicky Forster, who has nine goals in 13 appearances

Recommended Bets:

Southampton -1 Asian handicap (21/20)

Both teams to score (5/6)

BetRepublic Big Three Bets:

Ukraine +0.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Portugal -1.25 Asian handicap (21/20)

Russia -1.25 Asian handicap (10/11)

23 years ago today, Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager. Since then he has gone on to become one of the most successful and longest serving coaches in the game.

However next season is rumoured to be his last, leaving someone the unenviable task of replacing the Scot at Old Trafford.

Let’s examine some of the favourites to take on one of the biggest jobs in football…

The candidates

Jose Mourinho (46, Inter Milan)

‘The Special One’ made his name at Old Trafford back in 2004, celebrating along the touchline as his Porto side knocked United out of the Champions League.  Since then he’s guided Chelsea to back to back league titles and led Inter to Serie A glory in his first season in Italy.

Jose recently hinted at a return to England with United: “I would consider going, but they have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. If they do, then of course.” However therein lies the main problem, would United want a man like Mourinho as their manager? And would the fans? Jose has the experience and confidence to cope with the role but question marks still remain as to whether his style of football would fit in at the Theatre of Dreams.

Martin O’Neill (57, Aston Villa)

O’Neill has emerged as one of Britain’s best managers in recent years with impressive stints at Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa adding to his reputation as a player. Ferguson is also an admirer, tipping O’Neill as his possible successor back in 2001: “Martin’s a no-nonsense manager – just what you need at a big club. You don’t mess this man around,”

Sir Alex’s comments will stand O’Neill in good stead, however his ability to manage at the very top level of the game has yet to be tested and at 57 he may be considered too old in two to three years time.

David Moyes (46, Everton)

Fellow Glaswegian Moyes has impressed in his seven years at Everton, most notably guiding the Toffees to fourth in 2005. Like O’Neill, Ferguson has been quick to praise Moyes for his success at Goodison Park:  “David hasn’t got the credit he deserves,” He said.“When you take everything into consideration, he’s done an incredible job at Everton.”

Moyes has shown his ability to successfully manage players and finances at Everton however his lack of experience in the Champions League and his failure to deliver silverware may hamper his chances.

Steve Bruce (48, Sunderland)

One of Ferguson’s most reliable players, Bruce’s 11 year career in management has embodied the spirit and resilience he showed at Old Trafford when he became the first English player of the 20th Century to captain a team to a League and FA Cup double in 1994.

Bruce learned his trade in the lower divisions before twice leading Birmingham to promotion and then helping Wigan Athletic establish themselves in the top flight. Now at Sunderland, Bruce has the financial backing to prove himself as a realistic contender for the job.

Carlos Queiroz (56, Portugal)

Sir Alex’s former no.2 has the experience at Old Trafford to be considered as a possible manager in the future, however poor spells at Real Madrid and Portugal have led many to question Queiroz’s ability to succeed on his own.

Queiroz was praised by Ferguson for his tactical nous and the medical changes he made at the club. “Carlos is improving a lot of things,” said Ferguson. “The entire medical side is fantastic. That is all down to Carlos’ vision of the future which I would not have had.”

Verdict

Finding Ferguson’s replacement will be a question of timing.

The Scot came close to calling it a day in 2002 before realising he wasn’t prepared to face a life without football. At that time Dutchman Luis Van Gaal was being lined up to take over. However at the start of the 2011 season he will turn 60 and by then his chance may have gone. The same can be said of possible candidates Fabio Capello, 63, Marcello Lippi, 61 and Guus Hiddink, 62.

So if Ferguson is to stay on for another few years then perhaps United will turn to a younger coach who has proven himself to be reliable enough to stabilise the club and appease an inevitably concerned fan base.

Two to three years is a long time in football, but one of the more likely candidates to emerge at that stage would be Steve Bruce. If Bruce can continue to gain experience in the Premier League and push Sunderland into Europe over the next few years then his time at Old Trafford will stand him in great stead in attempting to replace the irreplaceable.

Ferguson on Bruce: “If you go through Steve’s career, he’s had exactly what you need to manage at the very top.”

4 ncü maçların bitiminde tek temsilcimiz olan Beşiktaş’ ın sadece Avrupa Ligi şansı kaldı. Favoriler bu sefer beklediği puan seviyesinde değiller. Geçen sene Ali Sami Yen stadyumunda oynanan Uefa Avrupa Ligi 3 ncü turu maçında Sabri’ den son dakikada yediği golle elenen Girondins de Bordeaux takımında gözle görülür bir yükseliş var. Grupta 10 puanları var. Genel görünüm Platini’ nin büyük liglerin ikinci, üçüncü ve dördüncülerini değil de şampiyon takımları lige almasının pek yararlı olmadığı yönünde. Zira Unirea Urziceni ve Rubin Kazan hariç başarılı olan da yok bu takımlar arasında. Arsenal, Bordeaux, Lyon, Manchester United ve Chelsea  içeride dışarıda başarılı olanlar.

A GRUBU

Bu sezon Bayern Münih’  te transferlere rağmen sakatlıklar dolayısıyla başarısız bir cl sezonu olarak göze çarpıyor. Ribery, İvica Oliç ve Arjen Robben’ in sakatlıkları takım performansını etkiledi.  Van Gaal’ in sistemi oturamadan alınan kötü sonuçlar geleceğini muhtelemen etkileyecektir. Bordeaux takım oyununu iyi oynuyor. Deplasmanda dahi sistemden vazgeçmeyen Laurent Blanc istikrarlı futbolun ana sebebi. Kendisini Fransa milli futbol takımı forması giyerken Fransa 98′ de 2. turda Paraguay’ a uzatmalarda attığı golle hatırlıyoruz. Bu gol turu getirmişti. Stoper oynardı. Neyse konu sapmasın. Juventus’ un kaderi ise Chaban Delmas’ tan çıkacak puan veya puanlara bağlı. Yoksa bu aralar pek galibiyet alamayan ve Napoli’ ye 2-0 dan 3-2 maçı veren Ciro Ferrera için zor günler başlayacak demektir.Gerçi bir avantajı daha var. Bir sonraki maç ise Juventus-Bayern Münih. Gruptan çıkma konusunda tam bir final. Seyredilesi maç…

B GRUBU

Beşiktaş’ ın bu kadro kalitesiyle bence tek puanını aldığı grup. Devamlı rotasyon ve kadro istikrarsızlığı başarısızlığı da beraberinde getirdi. Mustafa Denizli Çeşme’ den imza için geri getirildiğinde bence sezon orada bitmişti. Bu sonuçlar da kendisinin ikinci sezon sendromu oldu. Gerçi Denizli’ nin kariyer rekoru kırdığını görüyoruz. 1 puan aldı sonuçta. Wolfsburg ise sezon başında Armin Veh’ i takımın başına getirdi. Geçen sezonki gol sayısını yakalayamadılar. Üzerine de defans bloğunun formu düşünce bu hafta itibariyle Bundesliga’ da 21 gol atıp 19 gol yediler. Deplasman başarıları da haliyle düştü. Cl performansları geçen seneyi düşünürsek pek iç açıcı değil. Tabi Beşiktaş’ ı yenmeleri gereken bir maçta 3-0 gibi net bir skorla yendiler. Buna rağmen Cska’ ya karşı dezavantajlılar. Deplasmanda Cska’ ya gidiyorlar ve Manchester United ile oynayacaklar. Cska ise Man. Utd. maçlarını bitirdi ve 1 puan kazandı. Bu puan onları 2 nci tura taşıyabilir. Beşiktaş ise umarız son bir gayretle bu karmaşadan yararlanıp Uefa Avrupa Ligi biletini alır… Umarız !

C GRUBU

Real Madrid’ de Alcorcos yenilgisinden beri Pellegrini sallantıda. Hadi Sevilla mağlubiyetinde mazeret vardı ama ya Alcorcos ? C. Ronaldo sakatladığından beri takım performansı giderek düşüyor. Higuain forma giriyor ama takıma zor giriyor. Los Galacticos’ a bu performans yakışmıyor. Milan ise kötü başladığı sezonda ise giderek form düzeyini yükseltiyor. Deplasmanda Real’ i 3 gol atarak yenmeleri performanslarının zirvesiydi. Marsilya’ nın nefesi hemen enselerinde ama Fransızlarla kendi evlerinde oynayacaklar. Real maçlarını de bitirdikleri için daha avantajlı olan Milan demek istiyorum ama sonuçta kendi evlerinde Zürih’ e 1-0 kaybeden bir takımda söz ediyoruz. Temkinli olmak lazım. Zürih bu grupta Milan’ a bir süpriz daha yapmazsa Milan çıkar. Marsilya’ nın Zürih’ i 6-1 yendiği maç 6-5 bitebilirdi. Fransızlar defans bağlamında zayıf.

D GRUBU

Chelsea’ nin ezici üstünlüğü bulunan grup. Atletico Madrid eski günlerini mumla aratıyor. Defans kurguları hemen hemen her maçta çöküyor. La Liga’ da ise dipte sayılırlar. Kun Aguero’ nun performansı ise ancak Chelsea’ den bir puan almaya yetti. Diğer puan Apoel’ den alındı ama Vicente Calderon’ da !  Son 10 senede transferden 350 milyon euro kazanan Porto grubu forse eden diğer takım. Grupta dikkati çeken şey ise Apoel’ i evinde yenmek zor. 2 maçta yenildiler ama Chelsea ve Porto’ dan sadece birer gol yediler. Kıbrıs Rum Kesimi ve Yunanistan takımlarının kendi evindeki maçlarda takım performansı seyirciyle birleşince sonuca böyle yansıyor…

E GRUBU

Puansız Debrecen’ in Liverpool’ dan daha çok gol attığı grup (!) Son iki maça girilirken Liverpool ile Mor Menekşeler arasında 5 puan fark var. Rafa iki maçı alayım ve Mor Menekşeler de iki maç üstüste kaybetsin diye dua etmeli. 24 Kasım Salı Fiorentina  – Olympique Lyon ve 9 Aralık Çarşamba Liverpool  – Fiorentina maçları kritik. Benitez başarı istiyorsa transfer politikasını değiştirmeli. Eğer devre arasında mali kriz içerisindeki Valencia’ dan David Silva ve David Villa Sanchez alınırsa istenen hedeflere yürünebilir. Geçen sezon bu takım premier lig’ de 38 maçta 2 kez yenilirken, bu yıl 11 haftada 5. mağlubiyetini aldı. Transfer olmazsa mağlubiyet serisi artar. Gareth Barry’ e gösterilen ilgi kendisine gösterilmeyince giden Xabi Alonso’ nun boşluğunu Alberto Aquilani ile dolduramadılar. Andriy Voronin, Robbie Keane, Lucas Leiva, Martin Skertel, Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Albert Riera, David N’gog, Philipp Degen bence Liverpool kadrosuna yakışmıyor. Benitez’ in hakkını yemeyelim. Ryan Babel transferinde iyiydi kendisi ! Mor Menekşeler’ e ise tebrikler. ikinci tur için 1 puan almaları yeterli. Debrecen ise sempatik takım. Gol yiyor. Gol atıyor. Maçları puan alamasa da zevkli geçiyor. Lyon ise her zamanki gibi isabetli transfer ustası. Benzema gider Lisandro gelir. Lyon para kazanır. Değişmeyen ise OL’ nin ikinci tura kalmasıdır. Grubu da muhtemelen lider bitirecekler.

F GRUBU

Kaotik ortam. Kurban Berdiyev ve tespihinin Barça’ dan 4 puan aldığı grup. Bu işin şakası ama Rubin iyi takım oyunu ve biraz da şansın yardımı ile Nou Camp’ dan galibiyet ile döndü. Gökdeniz galibiyet golünü atarak sevinç yaşattı. Rus futbolunun Zenith ve Cska Moskova ile başlayan yükselişi Rubin Kazan ile devam ediyor. Oligarkların harcayacak parası çok sanırım. Konuya dönelim. Berdiyev’ in bu maçta geçen sene Guus Hiddink’ in Chelsea ile cl yarı finalinde aynı stadyumdan beraberlik çıkarttığı taktiği uyguladığını düşünüyorum. Kendi evlerindeki maçta ise  Bukharov ve Alejandro Domingues biraz dikkatli olsaydı Pep sadece soğuktan değil gerçekten donabilirdi. Aklıma gelmişken Domingues’ in bir senesi daha var Rusya liginde. Sonra üç büyük ligin yolunu tutar. Maç sırasında bir ara kendi başına Barça’ ya kafa tutan bu yeteneği birileri görmüştür herhalde…

Karışıklıktan faydalanan İnter ise son 5 dakikada son sıradan birinciliğe tırmandı. Dinamo Kiev ise son iki maçta İnter’ e karşı sergilediği defansif performansını sorgulamalı. Jose ise Pellegrini umarım gitmez diyeceğine kendi maçlarına bakmalı. Moratti bu harcamalar sonucunda daha iyi bir grup performansı isterdi herhalde. Barça’ nın cl deplasman performansı ise endişe verici. Bu beraberlikler başa iş açabilir 1 nci ile 4 ncünün arasında 2 puan fark olduğu grupta. Bundan sonra gruptaki her maç kritik !

G GRUBU 

Unirea Urziceni’ nin peri masalı devam ediyor. Onofraş Rangers karşısında sadece 1 puanı getiren golü değil 2 nci tur umudunu devam ettiren golü de attı. Ancak son iki maçı Sevilla ve Stuttgart deplasmanlarında. Maksimum dezavantaj. Yine de Rangers’ ı deplasmanda 4-1 yenerek sükse yaptılar. Gol attılar veya yediler fark etmez ama futbol oynadılar. Tebrik etmek lazım. Stuttgart ise zeki ama çalışmayan öğrenci. Soruların gelmesini bekliyor herhalde. Evlerindeki Unirea maçı son şans. Sevilla ise bildiğimiz gibi. Bu grupta onların ortalama performansı 2 nci turu yakalardı zaten. yakaladı da. Rangers ise ikide bir ” bana ne ben  premier lige gidicem ” edebiyatından vazgeçip transfere bakmalı. Grup maçlarındaki başarısızlıkları alışkanlık olmak üzere.

H GRUBU

Gunners büyüleyici. Ertem Şener’ in dediği gibi çoluk çocuk dünyaya kafa tutuyorlar. Olimpiyakos ve Standart Liege ile ikinci bilet yarışı kızışmış durumda. Liege - Olimpiyakos maçında aralarındaki fark Sinan Bolat idi. Zico bu maçı alırsak 2 nci turdayız demişti. Şimdi dengeler değişti. Arsenal ile maçları biten AZ 67 dahil üç takımın da şansı var. Tabii Arsenal’ in de grubu son maça kadar bırakmaması lazım. Sempati duyduğum Zico’ ya başarılar…

Het is weer eens zover, NUt legt een AMF (Algemeen Maatschappelijk Fenomeen) voor u bloot.  Ditmaal menen wij de volgende trend ontdekt te hebben: het is opeens hartstikke in om als voetbaltrainer op leeftijd te gaan huilen of anders toch tenminste te beweren dat je een heel emotioneel mens bent.

Zo hadden wij een week of twee geleden te maken met Louis van Gaal, die tijdens zijn ééndaagse media-offensief  ter ere van de publicatie van zijn boek zelfs bij Thijs van den Brink van de EO aanschoof. Deze wist hem natuurlijk onmiddellijk te ontlokken dat de beste man bijna elke  dag de tranen in de ogen springen. Nu is het voetbal van Bayern München ook om te huilen de laatste tijd, maar toch. Overigens beweerde Louis van Gaal ergens in die dagen ook dat hij tot het zeldzame soort mensen behoort die nog voor hun dood een autobiografie schreven. Wij denken vooral dat er niet veel mensen zijn die zulke komische beweringen met droge ogen kunnen doen.

En dan hadden we vanavond Dick Advocaat bij Holland Sport, die tijdens een interview met Wilfried de Jong in een eenzame hotelkamer even vol schoot bij een herinnering aan zijn te vroeg overleden vader. Dat hij even later bekende veel meer van zijn moeder te hebben gehouden, deed daar niet veel aan af.

Toegegeven, deze score van twee is statistisch gezien niet overweldigend, maar de echte trendwatcher kan er maar beter vroeg bij zijn. De grote vraag is welk belang de heren trainers – op het eerste gezicht spijkerharde types toch – hebben bij deze emotionele coming-out. Wie het weet mag het zeggen, er zit niet voor niets een reactieformulier onder aan deze post. En ondertussen zien wij graag de tranen van Guus Hiddink en Leo Beenhakker tegemoet.

CHELSEA’S recent history has been dominated by their relationship with their managers.

From Jose Mourinho, through Avram Grant, Phil Scolari and Guus Hiddink, the Blues have ended up with Carlo Ancelotti in charge of their immediate destiny.

While the jury must still be out on the Italian’s effect on the club, his side have at least started the season looking more convincing than Scolari’s version of the Blues did towards the end of his tenure.

However well he’s doing, though, in terms of the press he’s receiving, I still don’t think I’ve read an objective account of his time so far at Stamford Bridge.

That’s what I aim to provide here so that we can answer whether or not this current Blues side really are valid title contenders.

After Scolari was sacked last season, the effect that the temporary appointment of Hiddink had on the malfunctioning, demoralised side that he inherited has been recounted many times, as has the negative effect that Grant had on the club prior to that.

However, the writing of the club history as far as those two are concerned has always seemed to me to be somewhat at odds with the facts.

As I wrote at the time about Grant, the side looked good from a ratings perspective with him in charge.

However, speaking with people at the very highest level within Stamford Bridge, Grant was viewed as one of the biggest errors of the Abramovich years.

Whatever the truth there, Chelsea did improve under Grant but now, under Ancelotti, the club feel as though they might be continuing on from where Hiddink left off.

After a disappointing result against Aston Villa at the weekend, however, the picture painted by the Outlook Index is slightly at odds with the ride Ancelotti is receiving.

Interestingly, Chelsea’s current Index rating is inferior to that with which they started the season.

Back in August, their Index rating stood at 962 and the legacy of Hiddink was that the club, crucially, were in possession of a +4 Trend figure with which to kick off the new season.

Three months in, though, while they are a long, long way from having blown it, under Italian management that Index rating stands at 957.

More importantly, the trajectory of their Trend has changed – the foundation put in place by Hiddink has been reversed with the figure now standing at -2.

With seven months of the season remaining I’m sure that no-one at the club is losing much sleep over this, but it’s interesting to see how this compares with the general perception of Scolari around this time last season.

Again, the numbers aren’t saying that the Italian is messing this up as badly as the Brazilian did, but it feels as though the Blues are in a different place than when Hiddink was in charge.

Should that Trend continue, I’d expect a much greater gap between themselves and Man United come next May.

While it’s important to compare Chelsea’s rating now against the one that they started the season with it’s as, if not more, important to compare it with United’s, given that one of the pair is most likely to lift the title.

And I would start to get twitchy if I was a Chelsea fan, as the Index shows that while United aren’t necessary getting that much stronger, they are at least managing to improve on their starting figure for the season – and, as ever, it’s important that their Trend figure is positive.

The margins between the two are small, though, and I’m a long way from being able to definitively call this title race one way or another, other than definitively ruling out the likes of Liverpool.

My forecasts currently have United edging the title by two points and, at this time of year, that’s more than within my margin of error.

The prices still look very generous to me, perhaps because of the continued fascination with the likes of Man City, who are clearly a progressive side, and Liverpool, who aren’t.

My odds forecast suggests that, on that particular elusive front, the season is over for Rafa Benitez.

I’m sticking with backing one of the current top two to take the title.

Alle 14 è andato in scena il sorteggio dei playoff per i mondiali sudafricani. Le gare di andata si disputeranno il 14 novembre, il ritorno il 18 dello stesso mese. E’ andata male all’Irlanda di Giovanni Trapattoni e Marco Tardelli, che ha pescato la testa di serie numero uno, la Francia di Domenech. Il Portogallo, altra testa di serie, invece è stato abbinato alla Bosnia del trio Ibisevic-Misimovic-Dzeko, guidato dalla vecchia volpe Blazevic. Un altro guru del calcio europeo, Guus Hiddink, dovrà vedersela con la Slovenia, mentre la Grecia darà vita a due incontri presumibilmente equilibrati con l’Ucraina.

Irlanda – Francia

Portogallo – Bosnia

Grecia – Ucraina

Russia – Slovenia

Surprise or controversial managerial appointments are nothing new. We’ve certainly seen plenty of them recently. It seems at times that the decisions are made less on track records and suitability and more on just being able to get your team on the front page around the world. Some teams even believe that all it takes to do well is a high-profile manager.

That certainly seemed the case when Sven-Goran Eriksson signed up to manage Mexico in the World Cup qualifiers. Everyone but the FMF, the Mexican football federation, saw it as a disaster in waiting. Eriksson hadcome from a decent, if not spectacular, record with England for 8 years and a very streaky season with Manchester City. He had no experience outside Europe and little understanding of the enormously complex, yet highly fragile, Mexican footballing mindset.

Predictably, Sven didn’t even make it to the end of the qualifiers, leaving Mexico in a very precarious position. A timely return by Javier Aguirre got El Tri back on the right course and into the World Cup.

Sven followed this with a headlines-grabbing appoinment as President of Notts County. He’s already fired a manager there, but at least he’s managed to secure the services of Sol Campbell for the League Two side — for a week anyway, before Campbell realized the ridiculous nature of the situation and promptly quit. No such realization for Sven, though.

What possible crazy decision could Sven make next? Surely nothing could top Notts County? Nothing would surprise us now. At this point, he’d have to take the job managing North Korea in the World Cup to shock me.

And so he has. (Or seemingly is about to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/13/sven-goran-eriksson-north-korea)

After the Mexican debacle, what could possibly possess the North Koreans to make such a spectacularly ill-conceived decision? Especially after the team had just managed to secure qualification to the World Cup for only the second time in their history?

Delusions of grandeur (from North Korea? Surely not!) seem to be at the heart of this. The team management apparently felt that manager Kim Jong-hun’s tactics were needlessly defensive (he was fielding a 4-5-1) and a lack of goals they felt signalled a poor run in the World Cup.

No doubt, the North Koreans were looking to replicate the performance of their southern brothers from the 2002 World Cup. Like the South Koreans, who were managed by Dutch manager Guus Hiddink (now with Russia) in that Cup, they feel they need an experienced, European manager. Enter Sven. This is the man, the North Koreans will feel will make them a “world-class team”.

Let’s not even delve into the comparison of Guus vs. Sven, which I think would be greatly favorable to the dutchman, Sven’s latest experience in Mexico should be a huge red alert to the Koreans. The inability of the press and the fans to relate to him, coupled with the fact that he did not adapt his tactics to the local game are two key issues that will affect him in Asia as well as the Americas.

Add to that the fact that North Korea is not a world-class team. You don’t build that overnight and it’s an open question whether anyone can truly do so now. It’s always the same teams at the top: Italy, Germany and Brazil; with France, Argentina, the Netherlands, Spain and a few other breaking in every once in a while. If England struggles to have a good World Cup run (with Sven!), what could possibly make the North Koreans think that they can do it with a simple managerial hire?

Further complicating the situation is that Notts County is involved in the negotiation. Sven would remain at the head of the League Two club while steering the North Koreans through the groups stage mine field in South Africa. Needless to say, there is some hand-wringing over a British/Western sporting organization collaborating with a national team from the “axis of evil”. (I was rooting for Iraq in the Axis League myself …)

To those who criticize any support given to North Korean institutions, I’d say that they should consider what is being provided. We’re talking abou Sven here. It’s not like they’re actually being helped …

Min lördag var riktigt trevlig och bra. Det började med att EVK 200 H och jag drog ut och letade ödehus att fotografera. Först åkte vi upp på Billingen mellan Varnhem och Broddetorp. Där hittade vi efter många om och men ett ödehus som tyvärr hade brunnit ner, men vi fick en hel del bilder ändå. Sen åkte vi vidare mot samhället Ulvåker där EVK berättade att det fanns två ödehus som låg väldigt nära varandra. Där kunde man gå in i husen och vi hittade en massa roliga saker att fota. Där fanns tidningar som var daterade från 70-talet och en massa gamla förpackningar som man kommer ihåg från när man själv var liten. Efter denna drygt tre timmar långa fotosession skjutsade EVK hem mig. Väl hemma tog jag det lite lugnt innan det var dags att dra iväg till Plankan för att se på fotboll mellan Danmark och Sverige.

I väntan på att matchen skulle komma igång beställde jag fyra Carlsberg Hof för 100 riksdaler. Själva matchen kan man sammanfatta ganska kort. Kass domare, Sverige spelade rätt ok, ett av Sveriges två bortdömda mål borde godkänts och Danmark hade tur som vann med 1-0. En bra sak efter denna misär är att Lagerbäck äntligen ska avgå. Nu ska det bli intressant att se vem som kommer ta över efter Lagerbäck. Jag hoppas att SvFF tar in någon utländsk förmåga med offensiva kvaliteter. Någon som jag tycker skulle vara intressant är holländaren Guus Hiddink. Men jag tror att svågerpolitiken inom SvFF är alldeles för stor så jag blir inte förvånad om det blir en Lagerbäck kopia som tar över som Sveriges förbundskapten i fotboll.

Jag hade tagit med mig min kamera till Plankan för att ta lite bilder runt restaurangen och puben när det är lite folk där och dessa bilder ska ägaren lägga in på deras webbsida. Det var superskoj att gå omkring och fota där och stå och tjata med en hel del folk man lärde känna under kvällens gång. När jag var nere i den Irländska puben gjorde jag något som jag aldrig trodde jag någonsin skulle göra. Jag sjöng karaoke, men det var bara fyra meningar ur Carolas vidriga låt Främling. Men det var lite skoj. Jag lyckades även få min polare Glazze att komma till Plankan så han dök upp strax efter klockan 23. Han tog en öl och efter en väldigt kort stund började han gnälla om att vi skulle dra in till city för han kände sig väldigt utanför då han överdrev och sa att alla där hade minst 450 tatueringar var. Inte konstigt att han kände sig utanför när han var den enda med kavaj och skjorta. Stor humor! Jag tror även att han var äldst på stället. Så jag tackade för mig och vi drog vidare.

Inne i stan gick vi till Husaren och där var det inte en käft man kände. Glazze satte sig och lirade black jack en stund och det tyckte jag var trist. Jag träffade på min kusin Messal som jag tjatade med lite innan Glazze och jag drog vidare mot Harrys.

När vi stod i kön för att komma in till Harrys parkerade det en ambulans utanför. Kön gick väldigt långsamt och innan vi blev insläppta kom ambulanspersonalen ut med en kille på båren som såg ut att vara avtuppad. Jag blev rätt irriterad när jag såg färgerna på killens tröja. Det var en AIK tröja. När vi kom in frågade jag en vakt vad som hänt, men fick inget svar. Vi hängde av oss jackorna och gick in. Den första jag träffade var The New Yorker som hade sett lite av det som hänt och han berättade att AIK killen hade varit glad och sjungit lite och när denna kille stämde upp i den ironiska fotbollsvisan “Alla heter Glenn i Göteborg” var det två killar som tydligen lackade på detta och en av dem drog en flaska i huvudet på Gnagaren som tuppade av. Han fick tydligen ta emot en del smällar och sparkar också. Vilka jävla svin det finns. Vad jag fått höra är att det var två sillstrypare som gav sig på honom, men vakterna lyckades få tag i dem ganska fort och forslade ut dem till bängen. Jag kände inte igen Gnagaren, men jag snackade med Djurt igår och han skulle ta reda på vem killen är. Patetiska förbannade as säger jag bara. Väx upp!

Inne på Harrys blev det en bira för min del. Jag tappade bort Glazze när vi satt på Taket och jag orkade inte springa och leta efter honom så jag drog hem.

Här nedan en fin liten visa framförd av AIK Trubaduren.

Under söndagen var jag lite småseg så det var bara att ta det lugnt.

Idag har jag varit och presenterat ett par idéer för ett företag som jag vill börja jobba på och det var positivt. Hon jag pratade med skrev ned allt som jag sa och visade. Efter presentationen sa hon att hon skulle diskutera detta med några andra i företaget. Jag vet att jag inte kommer att få något besked än på ett par veckor, men nu är det bara att hålla tummarna på att jag får en anställning. Får jag det inte är det bara att leta vidare vilket jag gör under tiden jag väntar också.

Runt sjutiden ikväll gick jag till Plankan och lämnade över bilderna som jag fotade i fredags och i lördags till ägaren, så nu återstår det att se om någon av mina bilder kommer finna på deras webbsida snart.

Det var allt för idag.

Adios!

Well, International week has come again. The qualification stage for South Africa 2010 is soon coming to an end (and good riddance to it); although yesterday saw several dramatic matches and the final qualification matches on Wednesday should also prove exciting. As of yesterday, the following nations have qualified for the World Cup: Serbia, Germany, Denmark, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay and Chile. Notable exceptions include France, Argentina and Portugal – all three of these footballing powers have struggled greatly on the road to South Africa, but all three will be heartened by the results they achieved yesterday. Oh, and the fact that FIFA has decided to seed the qualification play-offs and destroy football in the process. But I digress – let’s get down to it:

Argentina 2-1 Peru – Man oh man, did Diego Maradona ever need this. Argentina’s nightmarish qualification campaign was almost drawn to a premature close yesterday but for the heroic last-ditch efforts of Martin Palermo. Palermo’s goal on 92′ cancelled out the last-ditch heroics of Peruvian substitute Hernan Rengifo, who thought he had sealed a draw for his side with his headed goal in the 89th minute. Argentina had gone ahead earlier in the game on a strike from Higuan just after the break, but Peru had thought they were going to keep the Albicelestes (who needed the win) out of the World Cup with Rengifo’s late header in the torrential downpour of Buenos Aires. However, Argentina was not willing to say die, and when the ball flashed across the mouth of the Peruvian goal just 3 minutes later, Palermo was there to bury it. A win that keeps alive both Argentina’s hopes of getting to the World Cup and Maradona’s hopes of keeping his job.

Gilardino plays last minute hero for Italia.

Italy 2-2 Republic of Ireland - Keeping with the theme of last-minute heroics are the Azzurri, who played to a 2-2 draw against Ireland in front of a crowd of over 70,000 in Dublin’s Croke Park yesterday. The Boys in Green took the lead twice in the game, and twice Italy equalized. Ireland took an early lead on 7′, with a schoolyard free kick that caught the defending Italians with their pants down and left Gigi Buffon dumbfounded. Liam Lawrence appeared to be taking the kick from out on the wing, but instead teed up an onrushing Glenn Whelan in the middle, who, unchallenged, beat Buffon with an unstoppable swerving kick. It was a beauty of a goal and a wake-up call for Lippi’s men. However, Mauro Camoranesi would make it equal on 26′ with a goal of his own, a bullet header that beat Shay Given off the end of a perfectly-placed corner kick from Andrea Pirlo. The game would remain level until 88′, when the Irish took the lead once more (on another poorly-defended set piece) with Sean St. Ledger scoring a dramatic diving header. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men thought they had the game in the bag with their 2-1 lead, but the Italians weren’t done yet, and two minutes into extra time substitute Alberto Gilardino put a slow-rolling ball past Shay Given to seal automatic qualification and send the Azzurri to South Africa next summer.

Bolivia 2-1 Brazil – Well, the Bolivians have slain another Giant. The Seleção needed only a victory in today’s match to cement their place atop the CONMEBOL standings, but Dunga’s men seemed uninterested in pursuing that goal. Instead, they started the game at a jogging pace, wary of the effects that the altitude of La Paz can have on a squad. This slow start backfired though, when the home side took the advantage in the 9th minute on a strike from Edgar Olivares. The atmospheric made possible fantastical long-range strikes, and both teams tested the other with attempts from over 30 yards. On 31′ Marcelo Martins Moreno would, incredibly, double Bolivia’s lead with a swerving strike from 25 yards that Julio Cesar was powerless to stop. In the second half the Brazilians came to life, and Nilmar would halve the home side’s lead on 70′, but the game belonged to the Bolivians. In the end it was the side who have already been eliminated from World Cup qualification that would handily defeat a squad who have long looked like probable World Cup favourites. Good Job, Bolivia!

Fair enough Cesc, fair enough.

Spain 2-1 Armenia – The Spanish had qualified for South Africa long before this weekend – but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t pursue a perfect record in their qualification campaign. Cesc Fàbregas gave his side a first-half lead with a beautifully chipped goal on 33′ – after a long build-up in possession Xavi found the streaking Arsenal man, who beat the keeper with a light touch into the far corner of the net. However, the Armenians were equal to that, and on 57′ Robert Arzumanyan equalized with his head off of a free kick. The Armenians gave a spirited performance – perhaps ultimately too spirited, as Spain’s second goal would come from a spot kick after Juan Mata was clipped in the box by keeper Roman Berezovskiy. Ultimately, not a surprising win for the Spanish – but what was surprising was how hard they had to work to earn it.

Ukraine 1-0 England – Fabio Capello’s England was another national squad looking to continue their perfect qualification record yesterday as they visited Dnipropetrovsk, in the Ukraine. The Three Lions have looked dominant ever since the Italian took over, and suffered only the first defeat of their campaign yesterday. The Ukrainians should have taken the lead on 13′, when Robert Green was sent off for his tackle on Artem Milevsky, but Andriy Shevchenko missed the ensuing spot kick. The home side would take the lead eventually, with a 29th minute long-range strike from Serhiy Nazarenko. Though England started strong, play was interrupted early by flares thrown on the pitch, and the one-two punch of Green’s sending off and Nazarenko’s strike was enough for the Ukrainians to come away with a win. The victory means that the Ukraine will likely progress to the qualification play-offs (at the expense of Croatia), while Capello’s men will have to settle for a less-than-perfect qualification campaign.

France 5-0 Faroe Islands – The French, despite having a far less perfect campaign than the English, managed to achieve a far more positive result yesterday – sealing their play-off spot with a commanding victory at the Stade du Roudourou. To be fair, the Faroe Islands aren’t the most imposing of European competitors, and it was nothing short of expected that the French cruised to an easy victory yesterday. Gignac André-Pierre opened the scoring in the first half with a brace not five minutes apart, and William Gallas, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema would all add their names to the scoresheet in the second. Despite the imbalance in the scoreline, Faroese keeper Jakup Mikkelsen put in a strong performance, and the final result would have been even more lopsided without the heroic efforts he made for his nation. The victory could not stop Serbia from clinching the top spot in Group 7, but nevertheless, Raymond Domenech’s men have ensured that their qualification campaign will not end prematurely with their match against Austria on Wednesday.

Seeding means more of this. Pure evil, I say.

Portugal 3-0 Hungary – Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. have progressed one step closer to a spot in the qualification play-offs with their commanding victory over Hungary yesterday. Portugal have long been underachievers in Group 1, and only recently have begun to look like a squad fit to participate in the World Cup. Portugal took the lead in the 17th minute as Simão buried a rebound after Hungarian keeper Gabor Babos intercepted Cristiano Ronaldo’s low cross but couldn’t hang on to it. Hungary had an opportunity to equalize on 39′, when Balazs Dzsudzsak cut in from the right flank to fire on goal – his low shot missed just wide of the goalpost. Liedson doubled Portugal’s lead on 73′ with a direct header that just barely beat Babos, who punched it away but couldn’t stop it from crossing the goal line. Simão returned just minutes later to bag his brace and seal Hungary’s doom with a classy volley that was borne out of a botched clearance. Portugal needs only defeat Malta on Wednesday to make the play-offs – and with FIFA implementing their new seeding policy for the play-off rounds, it looks like we will surely be seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in World Cup play next year.

The other Poulsen's still a douche, though.

Denmark 1-0 Sweden – It was a late goal from Jakob Poulsen which saw Denmark secure their place atop Group 1 and book their spot in South Africa next year. Sweden looked strong coming into the match, with Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic causing all sorts of trouble for the Danish backline – but ultimately the Danes held their ground and Poulsen’s long-range strike on 78′ was enough to see them past the Swedes. Both Thomas Sorensen and Andreas Isaksson looked impressive between the uprights for their respective sides, and prevented the scoreline from being much more dramatic. Sweden will need to beat Albania and Portugal to lose or draw to Malta Wednesday if they are to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Germany 1-0 Russia – Guus Hiddink’s men were looking to usurp Germany at the top of Group 4 yesterday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The Russians needed a win if they were to have even the opportunity to bypass the play-off round and qualify automatically for South Africa. Despite a hard-fought performance from the Russians, it would be Miroslav Klose’s lone goal on 34′ which ultimately separated the sides. Russia looked at times to be the better and more creative side, with Vladimir Bystrov and Andrei Arshavin creating many chances but ultimately failing to capitalize upon them – heroic efforts from German keeper Rene Adler didn’t help their cause. Jerome Boateng’s sending off on 69′ spelled trouble for Joachim Löw’s men, but they were able to hold off the home side for the last 20 minutes despite being down a man. Yesterday’s victory sees Die Mannschaft seal their position atop Group 4 and book their place via automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.

Mission accomplished, Didier.

Côte d’Ivoire 1-1 Malawi – Les Éléphants became just the second African side (discluding South Africa) to qualify for the World Cup yesterday via a 1-1 draw with Southeast African side Malawi. Both goals in the match were scored within a brief period in the second half, with Jacob Ngwira giving his side the lead on 64′ and Didier Drogba equalizing on 67′. The Ivorians have reached the second consecutive World Cup in their history due largely to the strength of the Chelsea hitman.

Die Frisur sitzt…3 Wetter Taft. Bild: Howie_Berlin used under CC License

Wer regelmäßig diesen Blog liest kennt ja meine Einstellung zu dem Saunaclub Deutsche Nationalmannschaft unter Löw und seinen Sangesbrüdern. Deswegen fällt meine Freude eher gedämpft aus über die heute erreichte Qualifikation für die Weltmeisterschaft. Klar freu ich mich, dass Deutschland dabei ist. Aber ich würd so gern die mafiösen Strukturen innerhalb des DFB-Teams loswerden.

Seis drum, man muss sagen, das war insgesamt eine sehr souveräne Qualifikation, welche die Nationalmannschaft da gespielt hat. Kam glaub ich selten vor in der jüngeren Geschichte, dass sich Deutschland so klar und vorzeitig für ein Turnier qualifiziert hat. Das muss man bei aller Unsympathie neidlos anerkennen.

Ein paar Erkenntnisse in Richtung Südafrika waren heute auch schon zu gewinnen.

- Miroslav Klose kann man ein- und ausschalten. Aber er hat nur einen sehr begrenzten Akku, deswegen wird er nur so einmal im Jahr, oder zu großen Turnieren in Betrieb genommen. Bis zur WM bleibt er deswegen schön im Schrank. Schlecht für Bayern München, aber bei uns hat man halt seinen Schalter noch nicht gefunden, irgendwie Pech.

- Sollten wir im Halbfinale auf das dann in der Zwischenzeit von Guus Hiddink übernommene Gastgeberland Südafrika treffen, ist das Finale gesichert. Die Deutschen kann keine Atmosphäre beeindrucken. Wenn die Jungs aus 74.000 Kehlen Schlachtrufe wie zuletzt vielleicht höchstens an Stalins 50. Geburtstag überstehen, werden sie ein paar Bongos locker wegstecken.

- Zu Mario Gomez torlosen Minuten sind weitere 5 hinzugekommen. Langsam wird´s kritisch.^^

- Wie hieß die Nichte der Schwester der Haushälterin von Hiddinks Großtante, die fast Profi-Fußballerin in Holland wurde? Béla Réthy weiß sowas…

- Rene Adlers Fönfrisur ist selbst unter Dauerbeschuss unkaputtbar. Den kannst also locker reinwerfen bei ner WM.

Ich denke, das waren die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse des heutigen Abends. Die WM kann kommen.

© 2009 Traumtorschuetze

Nur noch wenige Stunden dann entscheidet sich ob Deutschland sich an die Gruppenspitze setzten kann oder nicht.

Dabei sollten sie besonders auf ihren Kapitän Ballack aufpassen, denn der soll, laut russischem Nationalcoach Guus Hiddink, ausgeschaltet werden. Der Niederländer fordert, im heutigen Spiel,  mehr eigeninitiative von seiner Mannschaft, doch darüber hinaus sollen seine Spieler nie den Respekt vor dem Gegner verlieren.

Macht er auch heute den Kasper: Guus Hiddink

Denn der Gegner heißt Deutschland und ist mindestens genauso heiß auf den ersten Platz wie die Russen. Der erste Platz bedeutet schließlich sicheres Weiterkommen.

Hiddink bezeichnet Löws Spielweise als “pragmatisch”, vielleicht kein wirklich akktraktiver Fussball, wie in Spanien oder in den Niederlanden, dafür aber umso effektiver wenn man sich die Ergebnisse anschaut.

Ganz Russland steht Kopf und fiebert dem Spiel (17.00Uhr) entgegen, denn “Ein Sieg gegen Deutschland wäre für uns umso süßer, weil die Nationalmannschaft kein großes Tunier seit den Zeiten ihres ‘eisernen Kanzelrs’ Otto von Bismarck versäumt hat”, so Hiddink.

Wir werden sehen ob sich die russische Nationalmannschaft ihrer “riesigen Verantwortung” bewusst ist oder nicht.

The Dutch tactician is looking forward to the crucial WC clash.

Russia must go for broke when they lock horns with Germany this Saturday as they bid to assure themselves of an automatic berth at 2010 FIFA World Cup. Germany are currently one point ahead of the Russians in Group 4with two matches remaining.

“The match with Germany will be without doubt a very tough game but this is the true football. A packed arena watching the head-to-head battle for the group’s top place. Ain’t it really great,” said Hiddink at a press conference.

“The situation looks pretty similar to the task we were facing two years ago ahead of the deciding match with England in Moscow in the UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying campaign. However, now we are more experienced team than we were two years ago.

“And I hope we will receive the same furious support of our fans that we had two years ago. But Germany is famous for their ability to stun their opponents with some unexpected surprises and this time, I think, we will have to do even more than we did against England to gain a success.

“I’m sure that both teams will play in the South Africa next year. The runners-up will just enter the finals through the back door” of the play-offs.”

Goal