“Robin van Persie (born 6 August 1983) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a forward for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Dutch national team.” Wikipedia, YouTube, (1), (2)
Hungary: Magyars Magical Again? (NYT – Goal)
“Lost amid the hubbub and headlines from the week’s global smorgasbord of World Cup qualifying matches is the sudden and surprising success of Hungary.”
Reasons for optimism and room for improvement (The Sport Blog)
“While it is never completely safe to make assumptions about England, Kazakhstan were beaten 5-1 at home by Belarus in midweek, so it appears the journey to the next game could be more daunting than the actual opponents.”
CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview (Goal)
“On a Thursday afternoon conference call, CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer announced the three different four-team groups for this summer’s Gold Cup, taking place across 13 United States venues between July 3 and July 26.”
Not Much Style in Bari (NYT- Goal)
“Soccer is a serious matter in Italy. You can be told that, and get the idea, but it’s only when you’re here that the reality sets in. It’s a matter of national and vital importance. After yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Ireland, the Italy manager Marcello Lippi spent ages talking to the Italian media.”
Football tables (BBC)
“The nine European group winners qualify automatically for the finals. The eight best runners-up go into four play-off matches with the winner of each two-legged tie also reaching South Africa.”
Resurgent Saudis eye automatic World Cup spot (ESPN)
“Saudi Arabia’s new coach is confident of securing automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals after instigating a stunning turnaround after only two games in charge.”
Scissors Kick 