How it all works, from qualifying through to the final

In June 2011, the first match in the qualification process for this year’s tournament took place. 203 teams were vying for the 31 places left up for grabs, after Brazil as hosts had secured an automatic place. Let us play a little game, I will list 3 nations that have attempted to qualify and you must guess where they are without using Google or Wikipedia at least to start with.

Tuvalu, Burundi, the Cook Islands.

I imagine that most of us would have had some difficulty finding some of the participating nations on a map if required to do so, but such is the lure of being in the finals tournament and the reason why it takes so long.

Another interesting nugget is that size doesn't matter at least in qualifying, India has never qualified and China has only ever qualified once and then lost all 3 of its games, between them they have over 2.5 billion citizens whereas say Slovenia who qualified in 2010 has only 2 million.

The process finished in November 2013 after 620 matches had been played and the draw to determine the 8 groups was held in December 2013.

There are 5 teams from Africa, 5 from S America, 4 from Central and North America, 5 from Asia and Australasia with 13 countries from Europe rounding out the 32. I already hear the inevitable question being asked, why the inequality, why so many for Europe?

The most likely answer is money and although FIFA, the governing body of world football is a non-profit organization, it does reportedly have one billion dollars in a Swiss bank account which is a reserve according to them. Reserve for what? Answers on a postcard can be sent to FIFA HQ in Zurich or posted in the comments section below.

Unfortunately FIFA lurches from one bribery scandal to another, but let us not get sidetracked.

Back to the format, in the first round, each team will play 3 games, one each against the other teams in their group, with there being 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. If 2 teams finish level on points, the places will be determined by what is known as goal difference, i.e. how many goals scored for against goals conceded.

The top 2 sides from each group will proceed into the last 16 which is a straight knockout, the equivalent for our American readers of your sweet 16 in college basketball. We then have 8 teams left in the quarter-finals (elite 8) which will be whittled down to 4 who will play in the semi finals (final 4) and then 2 who will contest the final.

There is also a rather arcane game between the 2 losers of the semi-finals to see who will finish 3^rd, who cares, and even I can not remember who finished 3^rd 4 years ago

Now we know how it works the next post will preview groups A and B.

Here we go (again) An Introduction

It is hard to believe that 4 years have passed since the last tournament was held in South Africa, who can forget the noise of the vuvuzelas, those plastic horns that drove everyone mad and forced the TV networks to mute the level of noise from the stadiums on their broadcasts.

This Thursday, the focus of the majority of the population of the planet will be shifted to what is going on in Brazil. Although it can not be proven empirically, the level of violence in the world's trouble spots always seems to be reduced during a World Cup. I write seems, as perhaps it is due to the fact, that is is just not reported on as the world's press is concentrating on the important things in life (football)  rather than some genocide or famine in a remote part of Africa which no one has ever heard of or really cares about.

Anyway, as always with events such as these, it is relatively hard to ignore them even if one has no interest whatsoever in the wonderful game that is Association Football.

(Note to American readers, and I am not sorry to have to do this, but once again it is time to have to come to terms with the fact, that this is the real game of football, (and just for the record ,I am a great fan of American football) as the aim of the game is to kick a ball with your FOOT, not run with it in your hands or throw it to another player, on this blog, there will be no trace of that awful word beginning with "s" and ending in "r" which has no meaning in any language, yet which Americans insist on using)

Therefore, unless you are planning to travel to an isolated atoll in the pacific, or some such place with no communications with the outside world , I invite you to join me, as we attempt to find our way through the Brazilian rain forests and try to reach Rio De Janeiro, where the final is due to be played on Sunday July 13th having had an enjoyable journey and perhaps just perhaps having learnt some things as well on the way.

If you want to be able to join in the discussions about this global event, that will inevitably be going on wherever you maybe, at home with your family, in the office with your colleagues or with complete strangers on a bus, in a bar or just about anywhere you can think of, without seeming a complete idiot or even perhaps surprising people that you have some concept of what is going on, please stay with me for the next month.
You never know, some of you might surprise yourselves and start enjoying football.

Later today or tomorrow, I will post an overview of the tournament, how it works etc.

Until then.

Forza Italia

Last night’s game is worthy of its own post so here we go. The title of my last post was a reference to the words Julius Caesar was supposed to have said before he crossed the Rubicon on his way to become ruler of Rome. It was my allusion to the belief that Italy would prevail against Germany, but I did not want to say it outright, it teaches me that one should go with ones gut feelings.


A word to the Germans, I have a number of readers in Germany and I say to you today that I know how you are feeling today but have no empathy. I will explain. I am a fan of Leeds United, a team that is reviled around the world despite having had periods of success. Two things about Leeds, they also came second a lot when they should have one and their fans are amazing. One of their most favourite chants, has the following words.

We are Leeds, Super Leeds, no one likes us we don’t care.

Today my Shermans, that is the attitude you must adopt, for when Super Mario blasted his second goal, the camera panned from a picture of him shirt off, almost saying to the crowd “come on, who’s next I’m ready”, to a shot of a German fan crying in the crowd. Most people around the world enjoyed that moment, they love to see Germany being beaten and their fans in despair.

Italy was magnificent, they should have won by more and in the second half as they missed chance after chance, one had to wonder if the Shermans would capitalize on their profligacy in front of goal. The Italian team signing of the national Anthem before the game had to be seen to be believed, first of all they all seemed to know the words (even super Mario)and they belted it out with gusto. The words to the anthem follow and they are a great battle cry.

Italian Brothers, Italy has awakened,

She has wreathed her head With the helmet of Scipio.

Where is Victory? She bows her head to you,

You, whom God created As the slave of Rome.

Let us band together, We are ready to die,

(repeat)

Italy has called us.

(repeat previous four lines)

(author’s note, there were a number of Scipio’s in Roman history , the most famous being the victor Over Hannibal of Carthage, Rome’s great enemy)

We shall look forward to the final on Sunday.

Forza Italia

Alea Jacta Est

Surprise, Spain is in the final and awaits the winner of tonight’s game. The last two matches have produced four hours of foot ball without a goal. This is the reason that our American cousins do not warm to football, they would cut straight to the penalties. The Portuguese stopped the Spanish from playing their usual game, which meant the fare on show was more dire than usual.

There is one thing about the penalties that I do not understand. Have you noticed how many defenders take penalties? One would have assumed, that it would be the role of strikers or midfielders, the players usually charged with scoring and considered more skillful, to take the responsibility. Last night as Alves, strode forward, I said to an empty room that he was going to miss, as I had said to a rather more full room as Ashley Cole strode forward for England, before he missed as well.

I suppose it must be to do with the fragile state of mind of the so called gifted players who crack under the thought of having to take a penalty as opposed to the mindless donkey of a defender who it does not occur to, that he will probably blast the ball into row Z, until it happens and then he is disconsolate as he is comforted by his more skillful teammates, who are thinking thank god is was not me.

Germany Verses Italy, two titans of European football, Germany three times winners of the Euro and three times the world cup against Italy four times world cup winners and once the Euros.  Italy have a very good record against Germany in these games stretching back to Mexcio in 1970.

If you are old enough to remember, who can forget the image of Marco Tardelli after scoring the second Italian goal in the 1982 world cup, as he ran towards the touchline looking like a screaming berserker, or Gentile the mustachioed Italian Assassin, who despite his name was far from gentle.

It is a contest that interests football fans round the world and this one should be no exception. The Shermans have been the most exciting team so far, but now they have to break down an opponent with a strong defence, very good on the counter attack and most important of all, without an inferiority complex.

There is also the statistic which I mentioned before the England game, that the Italians have only lost two knockout games in the last 25 they have played in major tournaments, which includes their victory over the Shermans in the 2006 world cup semi finals which by the way was played in Germany.

The NationalMannSchaft, is however very young and powerful, and will probably welcome back Gomez and Mueller who were “rested” for the game against Greece. The Shermans have made it look easy so far, but tonight could be a cracker.  As long as it is not another nil-nil draw anything will seem good.

Peninsular warfare

A word about the quarterfinals, three out of the four games were a return unfortunately to the type of football, we are too used to seeing in these tournaments. The fear of losing takes over and stifles the game.

A word or two about England, so much had been written that there is little I can add. In all the statistics about foreign players in domestic leagues, for example 70% of players in the premier league are foreign, whereas it is the opposite way round in the Spanish and German leagues, one point has not been made which I think is very telling.

How many Englishmen ply their trade abroad? I can’t think of one player of note. The only type of player who any foreign team might consider buying say a defensive midfielder like Gerrard for example, is still not as good in possession as say Busquets or Meireles, so why bother. Add the fact that the average English player is never going to learn a foreign language and doesn’t like the oily spicy food, and England will never get past the quarter finals in any future tournament apart from via a stroke of luck.

So, to tonight’s game. There is a saying in world which has different versions all around the world, but which basically means the same thing, a derby (a game between neighbouring teams) has its own rules. In this clash of the Iberian peninsular, I want Portugal to win, they have played nice attacking football and Spain is boring to watch. The Spanish players especially those from Barcelona know all about Cristiano Ronaldo and what he can do single handedly if he is on song. Portugal, however are more than just Ronaldo, they have a strong midfield which can match and perhaps overpower the Spanish, they have hard defenders who can also play the ball and Nani is also a player who with the attention focusing on Ronaldo, can utilize the space he will be given to hurt the Spanish.

I can’t believe that del Bosque, will go without a recognized striker again,  he doesn’t seem to like my man Llorente but even Torres will do, maybe he will play Pedro so that he can fall down a couple of times, to win some free kicks.

To sum up, the Portuguese are not afraid of the Spanish, they will attack them and will not let the Spanish dominate possession as much as they usually do. I will stick my neck out and go for Portugal.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

One more game, being played tonight, to decide the line up for the semi-finals. Over the weekend so far, a couple of things have been confirmed. Germany look the best team in the tournament, they scored four and could have had more and that was with resting three of their first team. Did you see Frau Merkel celebrating, gave me goose bumps.



Spain is officially boring to watch, they scored an early goal and spent the rest of the game making those one or two yard passes to each other without trying to score. Apart from one through ball to Fabregas, neither goalkeeper really had a save to make. The English commentator summed it up nicely, Spain anesthetize the game, which doesn’t only put the opposition to sleep but the audience as well. The French did not turn up and reports of tension in the dressing room have returned. The Portuguese with Ronaldo, will be a much stiffer examination for the Spanish.


Italy and England will face each other tonight for the dubious pleasure of facing the Shermans in the second semi-final. The two nations do not have much of a footballing history, they have never faced each other in games that really matter. Italy beat England in the third place playoff in the world cup in Italy in 1990, but who cares about that.


Let’s have a bit of fun and play the Good, the Bad and the Ugly based on the famous Spaghetti Western.

England,

The Good- they have managed to find ways to win, Welbeck’s heel and Rooney Hair transplant, which leaves a goal off somebody’s backside, the next option.

The Bad, they can not retain possession of the ball, this is not good as it is difficult to play without the ball.

The Ugly, Joleon Lescott, he was in a terrible car accident when he was five, being dragged along the road by a car that had hit him. It makes a scary sight for opposing strikers.

Italy,

The Good, nobody gave them much of a chance before the tournament due to the match fixing scandals raking Italian domestic football.

The Bad, so far there is no bad

The Ugly, the center back, Chielinni, has great a nose for a defender and he smiles when he kicks you, but as he is not playing due to injury we shall go with Balotelli and his hair do


The press in both countries has been going on about how England now play like an Itlaian team of old, very organized and disciplined. This is partly attributed to the fact that the manager Roy Hodgson was manager of Inter Milan in the 1990’s and has a good understanding of Italian football.


The worrying thing for England is that Italy has only lost twice in the last twenty four years when they have reached the knockout stages of a major competition. They are like a bottle of Chianti, they improve as they go on.

Anyway it should be fun, and we of course hope for an English win, to set up a semi against the old enemy, the Shermans.

The Battle of the Pyrenees

One down, three to go, Portugal duly proved they had too much for the Czech Republic, in a game which if it had not have been for the flashes of brilliance from Ronaldo, would definitely ranked as the worst game so far. Tonight we have the Shermans against Greece, which we already previewed and on Saturday night we have the battle of the Pyrenees (the mountain range which straddles France and Spain).

This is a very hard game to predict, both these teams are former European and World champions, but there is a long held belief that both these nations should have achieved more with the pool of talent available to them.

I think the problem lies with the mentality of the two nations, both Mediterranean in nature, both teams quite sometimes play with a laissez-faire attitude, it is almost if they don’t care, that classic shrug of the French shoulders, the Spanish, it is time for Siesta.

Yet on there day, they are both capable of breath taking football.

Amongst my contemporaries, there is a general consensus of opinion that Spain is over- rated. Yes we know they are reigning European and World Champions, but it is not fun to watch. The fact that Xavi or Iniesta make three million one yard passes in a game as Spain enjoy total domination of possession does not make for the type of end to end football that the punter wants to see.

As for France, who knows, they have not been very good so far, but the knockout stages are where the men are separated from the boys. I suppose on form, we have to go with Spain, Let us hope it is a good game.

On Sunday we shall preview the last Quarter-Final Italy against England