Author Archives: Paul Gardner

Just think about this. Only a few weeks ago, peace broke out between FIFA and the rich European clubs, the G-14 group as they called themselves. The clubs decided to greatly expand their membership up to over 100 clubs, now including a whole bunch of not-so-rich clubs (thus countering the persistent charges of elitism), and changed the name to the European Club Association.

It would be quite superfluous for me to add my congratulations to USSF for the success of its Development Academy program. They themselves, during some 16 hours of television exposure over the weekend, spent quite a lot of time patting themselves on the back, bringing up numerous positives, finding no negatives.

A rather misleading statement has been released by UEFA. Actually, it was not released, it escaped: the London Sunday Telegraph got hold of what it described as the “confidential document,” designed apparently for the big-shot politicians of the European Union.

Can David Beckham work his soccer magic only when he’s operating out on the right flank? Is that the only area of the field in which he’s effective?

After the excitement of Euro 2008, came the drama of the Libertadores Cup. The second leg of the final, played last night, between Fluminense of Brazil and LDU of Ecuador, promised much. A jammed Maracana Stadium, LDU surprisingly leading, 4-2, from the first leg — and so there was to be expected the thrill of an all-out attacking game from Fluminense.

Euro 2008 cannot seem to quite make up its mind — whether it’s going to upset all the logical assumptions, or whether it’s going to conform. The first three quarterfinals gave us the wrong winners — all three group leaders were beaten by the second-place finishers. How likely is that? But in the fourth game, some sort of order was restored when group D winner Spain saw off Italy. But that wasn’t right either, because Spain never beats Italy in a game that matters, hasn’t done so for 88 years.

Within a few hours yesterday we got a look at Russia playing Sweden in Euro 2008, and then Brazil taking on Argentina in a World Cup qualifier. Two so-so European teams, then the South Americans, who happen to be the FIFA-ranked No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the world.

Yesterday the Swiss joined Belgium in a select category of soccer failures: host nations of a major tournament that failed to get past the first round. Belgium screwed up in the 2000 Euro tournament, and it is possible that the “failed host” category will expand to three today – with the co-host of Euro 2008, Austria, sharing the unenviable honor if it fails to beat Poland.

I’d better begin this one with a disclaimer: I think the Italians played poorly against the Netherlands on Monday, and were soundly beaten by a better team. But … Ruud van Nistelrooy’s obviously offside goal for the Netherlands should not have been allowed.

Back in 1979, ABC decided that pro soccer had arrived — arrived enough for them to air a regular NASL Game of the Week. What gave ABC’s decision major impact was that the play-by-play announcer would be Jim McKay, the most respected sports announcer of his day.

Spain 1 USA 0. A better showing by the USA, better than against England? Oh yes, a hell of a lot better, particularly in the first half. But still a worryingly patchy, scrappy, style-less affair.

Who’d have thought it? Hull City in the Premier League! After 104 years of trying, Hull has made it into the top division for the first time. Years and years back, when I thought maybe I could be the English Ogden Nash, I dedicated a few far from flattering words to Hull:

I have just had the melancholy experience of watching Glasgow Rangers lose the UEFA Cup final to Zenit St.Petersburg. It has left me feeling immeasurably disappointed, and really rather sad.

I’ve heard it put forward as a reason why soccer won’t make it in the USA: that betting on soccer is simply too chaotic an affair to capture American interest. Actually, it sounds like quite a good point.