Bad Luck or Bad Teams?

The world of sports is often filled with superstition. Many ask the question: Is a loss due to the team or due to bad luck? Well, in my opinion bad luck can occur, as I noticed in the World Cup 2010 hosted in South Africa. Talking about the host team, they first game of the cup was against Mexico, a global permanent competitor. Everybody expected Mexico to win, but South Africa played with heart. Towards the end of the game, it was tied 1-1, and South Africa hit the post. Mpela did not win the game for South Africa, which would have made their progression from the group stage much, much easier. It would have been a first. Next, one can examine the goal that Germany scored vs England in the round of 16. Frank Lampard would have tied the game 2-2 for his country, after the ball clearly bounced in and out of the net. The ref did not count it. So much protest went on that now, for important tournaments, the rulebook was modified to have two extra referees on the goal lines to ensure the goal calls are done right. Last, the worst luck of the cup. Ghana faced Uruguay in the Quarter Finals, and a last minute chance for Ghana was saved illegally by Suazo, and Uruguayan player. It was incredible how he purposely stuck his hand out, ignoring the rules, as a last resort to win the game. The game was literally in the last seconds. The penalty, an easy chance, was missed. Eventually, the tied game resulted in overtime, then a penalty shootout. Uruguay won. This, to me, is just bad luck for Ghana. Who would have thought this would happen?
Videos:
Germany vs England
Ghana vs Uruguay
South Africa vs Mexico

Different Playing Styles

Everybody has a different personality. What they do often portrays their attitutes. Similarly, one with a keen eye can tell a lot about a soccer player depending on how they play. A shy person might be the simpler player, afraid to do something too crazy and lose posession of the ball. An extravagant, supercilious person might be the one doing the crazy tricks, posing for the camera, and trying to look as good as possible himself. This can be good or bad. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world, is undoubtedly cocky. This makes him have a lot of "haters", but there's an equal amount of fans who are delighted with him. When a bad player has this attitude it can be very disasterous, as they can often juke THEMSELVES out. They would quickly fumble over the ball, yet keep repeating the fancy tricks and "skills". Another person who shows his attitude on the field is Messi. Best player in the world. Best everything, actually, when it comes to soccer. He can shoot. He can dribble. He can head. He can run. He has stamina. However, his humble self is demonstrated as he can score, dribbling multiple defenders, placing the ball in the "upper 90" (top corner) of the goal, and do a simple gesture as his celebration. He does not run to the crowd, but rather just seems to say, "Yay! I scored."

Getting Recruited

A professional soccer player, like any other athletes, has to play well and showcase his or her abilities in order to be recognized by bigger teams. If one has a good season, many clubs will offer a position for the player and a certain amount of money to play there. I, along with a lot of my fellow teammates, feel like this when we try to get recruited for colleges. It is similar in the sense that colleges that witness you play well send you emails, get in contact with you, and ask for more information. Afterwards, they usually ask where and when you will be playing, to see the date that they can observe your play. Later comes the fun part. Universities will each offer a different amount of scholarship, similar to a professional with a paycheck. Looking at your options, you have the chance to deny or accept an offer. Though it is fun, it is often stressful, so I will share a few hints that I learned from one of the parents that work in the business. First, it is imperative that you get your name known. Send out many emails to different schools, a broad range, and introduce yourself. If you hook them, they might go out and watch you in the next big tournament. It is also important that one sends this email out with time, as to give them a possibility of making the game. Later, your skills take over control. Depending on how you do, you might get offers from different schools. If so, it is your choice and it's all in your hands.

Florida Is Not Cold

You think Florida is cold? I, like most of the readers also shiver when I'm laying down in Miami Beach and the temperature drops a tad bit under 70 degrees. In regards to the temperature, many Floridians are high maintenance. However, it is foolish to think like this when countries like Scotland are well below zero degrees Celsius. Many countries throughout Europe have taken custom to playing the football leagues during summer, due to the difficulties of snow. For example, The Bundesliga from Germany often requires the pitch to be outlined with bright colors, usually orange, as well as the ball in play. Since Scotland keeps refusing to play during summer, a great deal of their season might be postponed. There is so much snow that, even after shoveling it all out, it is impossible to play on it. So, is Florida really that cold?

USA Hosting World Cup?

Since news of the upcoming voting and selecting for the next few World Cups came out, many people in the US went out and ran campaigns in order to bring the cup here. USA was the host of the World Cup in 1994, and soon after soccer boosted throughout the country. Though dwarfed by other sports in this country only, the US Women's team had a championship run in the 1999 Women's World Cup and the men's team became a regular cup participant. If the World Cup were to be held here in 2022, as many people hope for, it would instinctively arouse many people into growing fond of the sport. However, there are still many doubts as to whether it will be hosted here or not. Many people, like Clinton are rising to the challenge of bringing the cup here. If you're an American, I think what you want is for the rest of the world to believe that we bear them no ill will, that we're basically pulling for them, that we share their aspirations and that we get them. I think that the World Cup gives us a chance to do that." Aside from all the legal and economical issues that are in the way, I feel that many other countries would enjoy it much more. The cup in South Africa changed the lives of many of its poor people, and perhaps the Americans wouldn't notice how important hosting the cup is.

The Ultimate Showdown

            People have different names for the same things. The Barcelona / Real Madrid game will always carry hundreds of varying labels. Call it the “Superclasico” or even “Derby.” It does not matter. All that matters is the result and what team not only takes the three points but the respect from millions and millions around the world. This game seemed like a movie, as the two goalies that battled for a starting position in the Spain team faced off. Not only this, but the two best attacking players in the world, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, shared the field. Two different styles, Messi is the more humble and innocent one who never seems to disappoint. He always comes through on important games. On the other side, Cristiano often shows fancy footwork, which sometimes leads to goals or assists. It sometimes doesn’t. It surely doesn’t as often as Messi’s simpler, effective, yet elegant style does. Based on the result of the match (Barcelona 5- Real Madrid 0), many would think that Barcelona and Messi are superior to Real Madrid and Ronaldo. Here are two videos for you to compare. (Messi Video, Ronaldo Video)

Why the Name Soccer?

From the way of measuring everything to sports, the United States has always been independent in their ways. For example, inches are considered useless in anywhere else in the world, and centimeters are used. It is no question why centimeters are used in scientific research. They just make more sense. Similar to our counting system, it is all based around the number 10. A meter is made up of 100 centimeters. In an opposite manner, it is 12 inches that make up a foot, three feet that make up a yard, and 5,280 ft that make up a mile. This part of the culture is truly original to this country. Likewise, nowhere else is this sport called soccer. That is saying a lot, considering it is the most popular sport in the world. I have often thought of where the name soccer came from, and took it upon myself to find the answer. The word soccer comes from a shortening of "Association Football," which is the official name of the sport. It does make sense, but I don't see it as a very practical use of the name.

Argentina vs Brazil

Here we have the ultimate rivalry. Two of the best teams in the world, and certainly of South America, squared off today in the Khalifa International Stadium. The match seemed to be in favor of Brazil since the beginning. Their only setback is that the team is very young. Some see them as too young, while others see the glass half full. They perceive it as being a positive, fresh lineup. However, Argentina was debuting their new head coach, Batista, replacing Maradona. Many players suffered injuries and were unable to play. These included Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, both the Milito brothers, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero. Nevertheless, the match went on. After battling for 90 minutes, Messi scored in the last minute. Critics who say he doesn't work as well for the Argentina team in comparison to Barcelona were quiet after this late goal. For a video of the goal, click here.

R.I.P "Paul the Octopus"

Everyone loves their pets, but no one can say they are phsyic. During the Euro Cup 2008, a humorous attempt was made to have an octopus predict the outcome of the games that Germany participated in. It guessed all but two of them right. People were shocked! After all, that is a very unlikely coincidence. Recently, the Octopus was called back into action for the World Cup. Same as before, two boxes were placed for the creature, and both had food in them. The octopus would choose just one. During the World Cup, the octopus was not wrong. Not even once. He correctly predicted every Germany game, followed by selecting the winner of the final, Spain. Spain won. Everyone was puzzled. Call it coincidence or mystery, it is a great story. However, it does not have a happy ending. The octopus recently died under the age of 3. Soccer fans never thought they would be so concerned over the death of an octopus. For a link of the whole story, follow this link. 

An Unexpected Hero

It was a normal day for sophomore Christian Silveira from Archbishop Mitty High School. He was an average kid trying out for his high school soccer team. Jason Perez, the coach ordered the kids to jog around the field to warm up. Consequently, the kids jogged. After a few minutes, the kid jogging with the group collapsed to the floor. His family knew of a genetic defect that he had, just like his father. However, it wasn't expected to affect him until he was about 50 years old. When another player called to coach Perez, the coached started jogging over to the scene. Upon realizing the severity of it, he broke into a sprint. He was also a paramedic, and quickly began giving the unconscious chest compressions. The child is now safe, after having a close brush with death. However, he will no longer be able to play. This devastated the teenager, but he's determined to get through it. This is a realistic reminder of how safety, above all things, should be taken into consideration. For the whole story, follow this link.

Maradona's New Shoes

If you haven't yet heard of the famous Maradona, you have a lot to learn about the world of soccer. As a little boy raised in extreme poverty in Argentina, he began showing signs of great talent at an early age. At just 13 years old, he would get invited by professional clubs to juggle the ball, which is repeated small kicks upwards, not letting the sphere touch the ground. However, he wouldn't do it just for the players. He would juggle during the halftimes, in front of the thousands in the stadium and the rest watching it on TV. This was quite a while ago. Actually, a little over 35 years ago, as he is now celebrating his 50th birthday. The company Puma has released a new edition of the same cleats he used to win the hundreds of titles he won. The colors are of the Argentinian flag, white y light blue. They are called the Puma King Diego Finale. He certainly deserves it.

A Last Minute Goal

            Today, November 3, 2010, two great teams faced off in a shocking match. This match is part of the famous Champions League, the most important and prestigious European football league in the world. Every great team, from every corner of the continent, dreams of stepping into the pitch for a shot at the title. Today, AC Milan faced off a successful Real Madrid. Both having great records in this league, it was bound to be a fight. The game started off with a goal from Real Madrid, towards the end of the first half. It was scored by Argentine striker Higuain. The second half was a complete different ballgame, as Milan scored two back to back goals with its substitute Filippo Inzaghi. This veteran, now fairly old, was not expected to be as useful as he proved to be. However, the needed win was denied by a last minute goal by Real Madrid. Now, Milan hopes to continue competing by coming in 2^nd in their group, behind a powerful Real Madrid.

Let's Get Them Drugged!

We have all heard of this situation. A life changing game is about to start. The stage is set for a spectacular performance. One team is willing to risk it all. This is the case of two Peruvian teams, Hijos de Acosvinchos and Sport Ancash, the home team. Hijos de Acosvinchos were obliged to win, as it would guarantee them a spot in the first division football league in their country. Going to the first league would not only better the players, but also help them sustain themselves, as teams that are ranked lower get paid much more. The point is that after the game, four players became ill and one had passed out during the match. The players then put it all together and recalled that the water offered to them by the home team tasted bitter. Coincidence? No. After further analysis and testings, it was proved that the home team put barbituates in the water of the opposing team to prevent them from putting on a decent game. They lost 3 0 and, for now, are stuck in the second division. For further reading, follow this link.

Milan vs. Real Madrid

On one side we have Real Madrid, the richest football team in the world, followed by their arch rivals, Barcelona. This team is home to some of the world's best individual players, but lately they have been out of sync. They played A.C Milan, one of the European giants, coming from Italy. Led by Ronaldinho, they have a great all around team, from goalie to forwards. These two faced off yesterday, in a game that looked difficult to predict. Real Madrid, being the best team in the world, over the history of football, aren't playing at their peak. They recently hired a new coach from Inter, and he is the famous Jose Mourinho, a Portuguese legend. He had the chance to work with excellent players, and he seems to be doing a good job. Real Madrid won 2-0, hopefully ending their bad streak. If all goes well, Real Madrid could possibly win the European Champions League, one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, of which this game pertained to.

Brazil 2014

As many people already know, the next World Cup will be taking place in Brazil. The leading champions of the World Cup will be the host team, having already 5 titles to their name. It is evident through the five gleaming stars that circulate over the top half of the emblem, in the chest of the shirt. Brazil has always had a good lineup, and this year many were skeptical of their progressing far due to a lack of experience. This is not as the whole team, but individual players. Most of the starting team were all young players, and although probably a tiny bit better physically, a few years makes a big difference. Many players are still naïve in their early 20s. What does this signify for the next World Cup? Basically, other teams better watch out because they will have all the talent, the right age, and the advantage of home team. My guess on the 2014 World Cup Champion – Brazil!

How Mining relates to Soccer

One would have to live in a mine to not have heard of the tragic, yet happy story of the miners in Chile. Picture yourself living in hazardous conditions, with only the necessary amount of food, no entertainment, no sanitary bathrooms, and just a dirt floor to sleep on. Now multiply that by 69 days, and then sum up the fact that they were hundreds, if not thousands of meters underground, in a dark mine. Luckily, the world held its breath as the 33 miners were succesfully rescued. One of the miners had actually played in the Chile national soccer team, but lost his chances of keeping the job and ended up poor, working in a mine. At his release, he juggled a soccer ball in a jubilant manner, connecting to the thousands of soccer fans around the world that were watching the news. Furthermore, the miners are now being invited by countless teams for different affairs. Real Madrid sent the 33 men a signed shirt each, and also invited them to visit their camp grounds in Spain. Manchester United, an English Premier team, is also planning a similar reception. It doesn't end there. Boca Juniors coach Claudio Borghi shared to the public that he would love to share some tea with them, and the famous Diego Maradona also commented, saying that they were proof that miracles exists. For a copy of the article, visit this link.

Watch the Ankles!

Today, I’ll share with you guys another personal story, that obviously relates to my football life. As a kid, I had my first severe ankle sprain on my left ankle, for which I couldn’t play for about a month and a half. Later on, I twisted my ankle several times before I, once again, sprained my ankle. This time, it was the right. Time goes on, though, and injuries heal. However, I began to tape my ankles up before each game and each training sessions. Soon after, the injuries stopped. Once I was about 14 years old, I gradually ceased to do this, and I sprained my ankle three times, and tore my ligaments completely another time, all in less than a year and a half. This goes out to remind everybody who plays, not only soccer, but participates in regular exercise, that safety comes first. With injuries, one cannot put 100% on the field, if they can even WALK on the field. Here are some videos showing stretching exercises, for those who want to watch! Video 1 Video 2

Times of Stress

Here I am, biting my nails, anxious as to what I’ll do next. It’s not from an abundance of homework or from being tired. My cleats just broke and I need to buy new ones. Sure, it sounds simple, but to me this is like choosing an orphan. It’s a big deal. I narrowed down my options to two brands, Nike and Adidas. Better yet, I narrowed down my choices to two models- The Adizeros and Vapors (Pictures on the right). Two completely different cleats, but sharing many characteristics. Both are meant to be lightweight, but the Adizeros take the featherweight title, averaging about 5.8 oz, while the Vapors are about 7.8 - 8 oz. However, I have been wearing the Vapors for a while, and really like the boot. To make matters even worse, Vapors have been coming out with new colors that I find ridiculous, a raspberry pink and cactus green. Nasty. I’m not sure what I’ll get yet, but I’ll surely have fun choosing.

Light as a Feather

            Everyone has heard of Adidas. After all, they are one of the leading companies in the sports business, accompanied mainly by Nike. The two giants seem to always battle one another, pushing each other over the limit and advancing quicker than any other brand names out there. In the soccer world, Nike has been ruling the cleat merchandise with their Vapor lineup. These cleats were especially designed to adapt to one’s feet and to offer the lightest shoe out there. During the World Cup, I would estimate that 60 percent of the participants were wearing Nike’s latest series, called the Elite Series. They were all designed to be lighter than its counterparts. However, Adidas stepped up their game and released the Adizeros, a model that is infesting the soccer world like a growing bacteria, appearing on many famous players feet. So, how will the battle turn out? For a video showing the making of these cleats, follow this link.

From the Field, to the Couch

          Most kids who live off the beautiful game of football don’t die as they enter their home. In other words, the game is still present in their house. More specifically, I’m referring to in video games. Call it childish, or goofy, or whatever you want, but football video games are enjoyed by thousands of kids, teenagers, and adults alike. The newest football game, FIFA 2011 came out on September 28^th in the United States. On the cover are three famous footballers, Landon Donovan, Kaka, and Carlos Vela. In the game, one controls the players as if with divine power, being both the manager and eleven players at the same time! Newly introduced this year, one can be a goalkeeper, both in practice or in matches. Whether you like it or not, this game is taking over the video game realm. Even those who don’t play video games could enjoy this simple game. For example, I never play video games, but when it comes down to FIFA, I’m always game…

World's Most Valuable Ankle

The game started out normal. It was Barcelona, considered to be the best team in the world by many fans of the sport, versus Atletico de Madrid. Barcelona had lost their three previous league visits to Atletico's home 2-1, 4-3 and 4-2. However, they were able earn their three points for a win thanks to goals by Pique and the unmistakable Messi. The 2-1 lead did not come easy though. Messi, the one and only Messi, sprained his ankle towards the end of the game. The foul committed against him led to a straight red for the antagonist of the play, leaving Atletico de Madrid with only 10 players to end the game. It is expected that Messi, after showing injury to the ligaments of his right ankle, will miss the next two games. Many don't realize the importance of this injury, because they don't realize just how priceless he is. For a video of the event click here.

A Risky Profession?

There is a great quantity of individuals who plan to achieve a higher rank in the realm of soccer. What most of these youngsters don't recognize is the great risks one must be exposed to in order to even get the chance to showcase themselves to make it professional. Wether at the pitch in a World Cup Final, a lazy Sunday pick up game, or  even at a daily practice, the slightest glitch could swiftly and irreversibly end one's career. That is where the power of the mind comes in. A broken leg could keep you from jogging, but your knowledge is always your safety net. It would be very unlikely for an average person to suffer an injury in which he or she loses their memory, their education. The soccer system in the US helps players out by making college a stepping stone into the bigger leagues. Without this, many players would dive directly into the world of professional soccer and slip out, with no chance of getting a normal job. Here is a video of a nasty soccer injury, for those brave enough to watch!

Jabulani- Celebration?

As the home team, South Africa, marched onto the field on June 11^th, alongside the hopeful Mexico team, the crowd went berserk. The first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was just seconds away. It was about to send a wave of football mania all across the world. However, no one would have guessed that outside factors would affect the game as much as they did. Two details, the referees and the new ball, played a tremendous and unexpected role in this international competition. The refs made simple human errors, but is it possible that the new ball had some faulty engineering? Adidas recently came out with this ball, called the Jabulani, Which in South Africa means happiness and celebration. What was special about the ball is it doesn’t have traditional hexagonal stitching. Adidas introduced a new type of covering, where separate, odd-shaped plates are placed on the outside of the ball. This innovative engineering makes it so that the ball, when pumped, is as close to a perfect sphere as possible, when compared to the small grooves and bumps of the original stitching. Was the design too ahead of its time though? Hundreds of players and coaches alike complained that the ball, when struck, moved erratically through the air. This made it almost impossible for players to follow its trajectory successfully. In fact, the ball was blamed for a few goals in the world cup. So, was the new ball a protagonist or antagonist in this competition? For a video that shows just how the ball is made, click this link.

Just a Friendly

As an avid blogger in the field of soccer, I not only write about the latest news and great events, but also about my own experiences. This past weekend, September 11^th, I participated in a game that was rather odd for my taste. It wasn’t against our rivals and it wasn’t against a very competitive team. It was against the Canadian National Paralytic Team. Many of the members of the squad, for example, run with a limp of have defects in their arms as well as their hands. The goalie had a glass eye, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how difficult his job must be. It is actually very sad for some players. Three of the starters used to be high-level soccer players, playing in college and preparing to be pro. One of them got in a horrible helicopter accident, and after being expected to die, awoke from a long coma to find himself how he was. However, they were all happy as can be and they thanked us eternally for coming out and playing against them. I also felt great after the game, because I felt as though I contributed greatly to their program In the end, we were all friends. For pictures of the team, follow this link.

A Battle Between Giants

September 7th was a day to remember. Two of soccer's most prestigious international teams, Spain and Argentina, dueled for 90 grueling minutes occupying the stadium "El Monumental," in Argentina. Argentina, as the host of the anticipated game, had a vigorous start, attacking from left and right. Messi, ranked as the best player in the world, scored the first goal as he raced down the left flank, to cut in and lob the ball over the goalie's head. Soon after, Higuain scored once again for the host team. But the scoring didn't cease there- Spain's goalie committed a cardinal sin as he miscontroled a simple pass, allowing the Manchester City forward, Tevez, to pass it in the net. One of Spain's underdogs, Llorente, against the misfortune, scored the lone goal for his country in the 84th minute. When it seemed like the game was over, Aguero scored for Argentina at the dying minutes to widen the gap between the two teams, leaving it at 4-1.

For a video of all highlights and goals click this link.

Boca Juniors

In a small, Italian town of Argentina called La Boca, plays one of the most followed clubs in the world, Boca Juniors. Technically, they may not match up to the standards of many other European teams, but what is special about this club is its supporting fanatics. They often crowd "La Bombonera," the home stadium, holding banners that cover the whole face of the stands. In fact, the team is so famous for its fans that the fans took on the nickname, "The twelfth player."
Die-hard fans of the team carry the team name to their grave, and they never fail to miss out on the games. Seating only about 45,000 people, the stadium which Boca Juniors calls home is not very big. However, it is not about quantity, but quality. The crowd chants and sings at every moment of the game, bringing drums and other instruments to synchronize the crowd. To see a video of the fans chanting at a home game, click this link.