Monthly Archives: July 2006

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he would back a bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The possibility of bidding for the right to host the tournament was discussed at an annual meeting between the national government and the heads of eight state and territory governments. “All governments agree enthusiastically that if the national […]

Italy defender Marco Materaazzi gave his version of the head-butting incident that overshadowed Sunday’s final between France and Italy. Materazzi spent about a half hour with a FIFA disciplinary committee before walking away without commenting publicly on the matter. FIFA spokesperson John Schumacher confirmed that FIFA could not discuss Materazzi’s testimony. He was accompanied by […]

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be returning to Manchester United next season, Daniel Taylor of the Guardian reports. In fact, the young Portuguese winger has been plotting his exit from Old Trafford for the last 10 months. United announced yesterday that Ronaldo would not be leaving under any circumstances. Sir Alex Ferguson says Ronaldo confirmed his […]

Germany’s expected 2 billion euro boost from hosting the World Cup will likely lift the country’s GDP by 0.3-0.4 percent, executives from the Centre for Economics and Business Research in London said yesterday. But perhaps that’s just the beginning: “We think there has been quite a positive rebranding effect, which goes a lot further than […]

Former MetroStars midfielder Robert Donadoni was named successor to Marcello Lippi as coach of world champion Italy, ANSA reported Friday. Donadoni, who obviously has big boots to fill following Lippi’s World Cup triumph, did not receive the warmest of welcomes from the Italian media, who said the 43-year-old lacked the credentials to keep Italy top […]

The German retailers association said the World Cup likely generated 2 billion euros in extra sales. Electronics, sporting goods and food sellers most likely benefited the most, said Herman Franzen, president of the HDE group. “Overall, the retail sector may have seen the aimed-for euro2 billion in additional sales from the World Cup in the […]

Just one in ten people took advantage of streaming service available online to keep them up to date with the World Cup, says TelecityRedbus, a research firm. Three percent of those surveyed called in sick to watch a game, while 70 percent had to resort to watching at work. While over half of respondents checked […]

US First Lady Laura Bush talked soccer yesterday, offering her explanation for the national team’s failed campaign in Germany. “Americans really are just learning about soccer. It’s a new sport to the United States,” she said. I guess you can tell by the way our team plays.” Actually, the United States participated in the first […]

A French lawyer, convinced the fourth official used video evidence to have Zinedine Zidane sent-off, says the World Cup final should be replayed. “I am going to ask the judge to question all individuals concerned and to reconstruct the end of the refereeing,” Rennes-based lawyer Mehana Mouhou told Reuters on Thursday. “If it is proved […]

The world is divided over who’s to blame in the case between Zinedine Zidane of France and Marco Materazzi of Italy. After Zizou’s compelling address on French TV yesterday, pundits, fans, and perhaps even FIFA officials are wondering who’s the villain and who’s the victim. BBC News sizes up the case, noting “an impressive array […]