“England will play at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth after being draw in Group C at the World Cup 2010 draw in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday evening.” (Telegraph)

“You missed us. And we appreciate it. We skipped out last time for MLS Cup duty which, of course, left a big hole in all our club-ranking hearts. But seriously, how are we supposed to focus this week? Admit it: We’ve all got World Cup fever. Six months is just far too long to wait. Even looking down this week’s rundown, we’re finding it hard to look at each club objectively. All we see is Barcelona and Real Madrid, each with five Spanish national-teamers, Manchester United with five England players and Chelsea, the grand-daddy of them all so far, with as many as 20 players who likely will play in South Africa next summer — eight of them in the Group of Death alone!” (SI)

“Walter Bahr taught junior high in Philadelphia when he made the United States soccer team for the 1950 World Cup, playing a vital role in one of the sport’s greatest upsets. Team duty paid $100 a week. ‘That was double what I made teaching,’ he said, laughing. As Bahr recalls, he asked for a leave of absence near the end of the school year and was turned down. Finally, school officials relented. ‘I think I had to give up my salary the last few weeks,’ he said.” (NYT)

“If you follow Spanish football at all, chances are you’ve heard of the Pichichi. As an award it holds status as one of the most prestigious individual merits Spanish football has to offer. As a name it rolls off the tongue delightfully. But what is the Pichichi award and what is the history behind it?” (Just Football)

“James Richardson is joined by Jonathan Wilson, James Dart and trusty steed Barry Glendenning to round up the midweek Champions League action. They discuss yet another defeat for Liverpool, a make-shift Manchester United side edging out Wolfsburg and wonder: why all the talk about Michael Owen going to the World Cup when it blatantly isn’t going to happen?” (Guardian)

“What broke Marcel Schuon was his fear of the gun. A middling player in Germany’s second-tier soccer league, Schuon had gambled away everything. He had borrowed from the bank. Built up debts with a dingy betting office. Borrowed more. Gambled more. Lost more.” (NYT)

“Of all the events in contemporary history, it is the soul-shattering military defeat of 1967, when Arab armies lost land to Israel, that some Egyptians have pointed to for comparison as the nation struggles to come to terms with the debacle that followed their loss to Algeria in a soccer game.” (NYT)

“In feverish anticipation of the World Cup, we are going to take a moment and recall, relive, recycle, some of our favorite World Cup moments. These patterns constitute the fabric of the international game, these recurrences form the waves of the World Cup ocean.” (futfanatico)

“Has the Scotland job become the most poisoned chalice in the world? In the wake of George Burley’s inevitable dismissal there has hardly been a queue of recognised coaches desperate to follow in his footsteps. The Hampden chiefs certainly appear to be no closer to finding a successor to former Ipswich and Hearts boss Burley, who was dismissed in November following a string of dismal performances.” (ESPN)

“Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Internazionale, Lyon, Manchester United, Porto, and Real Madrid.” (billsportsmaps)

“While having a drink at a local coffee shop Wednesday evening with Kartik Krishnaiyer, the topic of Graeme Souness came up and what an abysmal football manager he was especially at Newcastle. It got me thinking, though, that just as footballers retire from playing, football managers should be put out to pasture too when they’re obviously inept or past their prime.” (EPL Talk)

“Daniel Alves paid tribute to FC Barcelona’s pass masters after the UEFA Champions League holders negotiated a safe passage to the knockout rounds of the competition.” (UEFA)

Messi free-kick seals top spot
“Lionel Messi’s brilliant late free-kick helped Barcelona recover from a nightmare start to defeat Dynamo Kiev and secure top spot in Group F, while the Ukrainian side waved goodbye to European competition for the season.” (ESPN)

“Liverpool’s miserable Champions League campaign ended in defeat to Fiorentina. The visitors grabbed a late winner through Alberto Gilardino in the second minute of added time to clinch top spot in Group E. Looking at the positives, Liverpool started with Alberto Aquilani at last – and Fernando Torres returned from a groin injury for the final 25 minutes.” (ESPN)

“It was the six minutes that shook the world. It was the six minutes that so stunned AC Milan that Carlo Ancelotti’s devastated players threw away their losers’ medals at the end – much to the delight of the souvenir-hunters among Liverpool’s apprentices.” (Telegraph – Henry Winter)

“Remember the old adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for, you may get it?’ The U.S. men’s national team should. With stars like Karim Ziani playing in Europe, Algeria won’t be a pushover.After years of getting the proverbial short end of the World Cup draw, last Friday the Americans received the kind of first-round group that manager Bob Bradley could only dream of. Yet with it comes some uncharted territory. The U.S. is now in the unfamiliar position of being favorites to progress to the second round. Those expectations come with the kind of pressure that they haven’t always coped well with in the past, and closer inspection of their opponents reveals plenty of reasons to be wary.” (ESPN)

“If you’re an England supporter, and despite the best efforts of the likes of Eriksson, McClaren and Barwick, some of us still are, then you will be used to disappointment. In fact, you will have a PhD in it. England are simply masters at falling short. This article celebrates, if that is the right word, 10 of the worst experiences of being English and interested in football. Interestingly we haven’t included anything from between 1953 and 1981, a period which covers the 1970s. This decade was probably the worst ever for the national team yet our failures to qualify for either the 1974 or 1978 World Cups never produced anything as lamentable as this lot. Additionally we haven’t added anything from the Steve McClaren era. It’s still too fresh. Too sore. When an updated version of this appears (or a 20) we will correct this glaring omission.” (midfielddynamo)

“With the draw out of the way, the build-up to the World Cup now begins in earnest. As is the case with any tournament involving England, questions will asked over how well-equipped the South African police are to handle the huge influx of potentially troublesome fans. Plans to bring in “state-of-the-art” water cannons and specially designed train carriages, equipped with their own holding cells and police stations, have already been mooted.” (WSC)

“Just a few months after deep personal problems forced him to quit Italian soccer — and hint at giving up the game altogether — Adriano was the star man as Rio de Janeiro powerhouse Flamengo won the Brazilian Championship for the sixth time on Sunday. At times, the hulking striker looked like an adult who had wandered on to take part in a kids’ game. A decent cross from the byline always gave him a chance to score with a header, and his left foot is a weapon capable of both astonishing strength and surprising subtlety. He finished the tournament tied for the scoring title. But like any striker, he needs a supply line. (SI- Tim Vickery)

“UEFA Champions League comprises of three qualifying rounds, a play-off round, a group stage and four knockout rounds. In matches in the three qualifying rounds and the play-off stage, clubs play two matches against each other on a home and away basis, with the club scoring the greater aggregate of goals qualifying for the next round. In the event of both teams scoring the same number of goals, the team which scores more goals away qualifies.” (UEFA)

“Simon Kuper and Stefan Syzmanski titled the American version of their new book Soccernomics (review is here), but their title for the release in the UK is Why England Lose. In the book, Kuper and Syzmanski identified the US as a rising power in soccer and England as a permanent disappointment to their rabid fans. With all the caveats that their analysis is designed to look at trends over time and not the outcome of one game, the June 12 match-up between the US and England in South Africa will be a mini-test case for their theory.” (EPL Talk)

U.S. vs. England: The View From the Other Side
“On June 12, few people will remember that in a battle between the United States and England, goalkeeper against skilled sniper, Everton versus Tottenham, that Tim Howard stopped Jermain Defoe’s late penalty kick to preserve a 2-2 tie in an English Premier League game.” (NYT)

Five of the best Groups of Death
“The more morbid football fans amongst us use the build-up to the World Cup draw as an excuse to speculate over which teams will comprise the so-called Group of Death. On Friday in Cape Town, that argument was easily settled by a Group G containing five-time champions Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Ivory Coast, Africa’s finest team. Oh yes, and North Korea.” (ESPN)

“It was a busy week on both sides of the channel as the EPL narrowed to a two horse race and the marauding Spaniards remained neck and neck. Goals, drama, and slack defending abounded as City finally managed to score more goals than an opponent. And quite the opponent it was! Meanwhile, Madrid relied on late magic to beat a mid table side but was happy to stay alive. But why I am telling you this when a picture says so much more?” (futfanatico)

Clarence Seedorf
“On the eve of A.C. Milan’s European Champions League match with F.C. Zurich in Switzerland, and days after his thunderous goal against Sampdoria, midfielder Clarence Seedorf answered New York Times readers’ questions. This is the latest installment in a monthly discussion series with Seedorf. Previous discussions can be found here.” (NYT)

“Ten minutes to five on a hot Rio de Janeiro Sunday afternoon. Flamengo have the chance to win their sixth Brazilian championship after a long and frustrating 17-year drought. They have a two-point lead over three other teams (Internacional de Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Palmeiras) and are to play an apparently easy home match against Gremio.” (ESPN)

“The one thing I hate about the end of the Champions League group stage is the relative lack of drama that seems to surround the final day. It always seems so rare that a big name club might actually not make it to the next round. Sure theres those scenarios where big club A needs a draw or win against a tiny Hungarian side to advance, but those are usually in the bag and not very exciting.” (Avoiding the Drop)

“While football is slowly dying in Gaza, it is thriving on the West Bank. Ribhi Samour scrawled his instructions in exaggerated flourishes on the faded green chalkboard that hung from the wall of the Palestine Stadium’s decrepit dressing room. The coach of Al Shate Sporting Club had gathered his players, all sitting in nervous silence, for one last briefing before the biggest match of the season would decide who would be Gaza’s undisputed champion.”> (World Soccer -James Montague), (2)

“A no-name defender from Almería kicks Lionel Messi. The undersized Argentinian with the brown flowerpot haircut is unhurt, and gets up wearing his usual blank expression. Nonetheless, half the Barcelona team berate the culprit.” (FT – Simon Kuper)

The Bean Eater, Annibale Carracci, 1585
“It’s logical if you think about it. Try to use a parachute as a trampoline and you won’t get very high, and Watford Football Club appear to be the latest ex-Premier Leaguers to have discovered the dangers of life in the Football League Championship without either. Much of Watford’s year-long dalliance with administration, which has finally hit the national headlines, is a familiar tale of football-finance woe. An over-ambitious pantomime villain risks everyone’s money but his own on an unachievable dream and blames fans, press, and global financial crises when it all goes horribly wrong. Then he sods off before the discovery of buried bodies, leaving a successor to pick up the mess and either start the whole process again, after a short honeymoon period of renewed over-ambition, or desperately scrabble around in the hope of skin-of-the-teeth salvation.” (twohundredpercent)

Debt, Debt, Debt
“I wonder what sort of odds you could get on at least one Championship club entering administration before the end of the season? Grim though it may be to speculate, you’d be pretty confident of a return if the current headlines are anything to go by. Only Southampton succumbed last time around, but a cloud of fiscal angst lingers threateningly over a few of our number at the minute. Palace and Watford have both been in the news in the past week, and each club’s fans will be hoping that their cheerless defeats against Doncaster and Newcastle last weekend are not directly related to the media’s ominous chatter. The two clubs, whose potential plight is covered in a decent post on general football blog twohundredpercent, have a bit of breathing space after commendable starts to the season each, but pessimists among their support will no doubt be looking ten points down the table.” (thetwounfortunates)

“The World Cup draw went without a hitch, surviving even the awkward chemistry of its hosts, a wooden Charlize Theron and FIFA’s resident smoothie, general secretary Jerome Valcke. Theron is unlikely to receive a best supporting actress nomination for her performance. No matter. It will soon be forgotten. The draw itself is the only thing that will be remembered as it is all we have to sustain us — and these six questions to ponder — over the next six months…” (ESPN)

“World Cup 2010: the 10 stadiums of the Fifa World Cup 2010 in South Africa from June 11, 2010.” (Telegraph)

Albert Camus
“Algeria are indubitably among the World Cup also-rans and as such it is fitting that the philosopher who spoke more than any for a generation of outsiders could once be counted among their goalkeepers. ‘All that I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football,’ Albert Camus wrote. A British-named company called Philosophy Football report that they have sold over 5,000 souvenir shirts emblazoned with this quotation.” (Telegraph)

England’s rivals in Group C: Algeria
“TEMPERATURES so hot that “tongues hang out like Berber dogs panting in the afternoon”, pitches “bumpier than the shin of an opposing centre-forward”, a striker “who would come down on you with all his weight, into the kidneys, sandwich you against the post, smile a Franciscan smile, and say, ‘Sorry old son’.” Thus did Algeria’s most famous sportswriter, the novelist Albert Camus, describe football in his native land. And that was more than 60 years ago, before it showed its really tough hide.” (TimesOnline)

“The World Cup draw for the United States was not even so bad when England popped out first from the magician’s hat. Then the draw kept getting better for the Yanks as Algeria and Slovenia materialized.” (NYT – George Vecsey)

“Blackburn and Liverpool fought out a gruelling 0-0 stalemate at Ewood Park with Liverpool substitute David Ngog coming closest to a goal with a shot that rattled the bar. The first half was a shocking, grim affair with neither side producing anything worthy of note. After the break Liverpool were arguably the better side, but even a third successive clean sheet will not.” (ESPN)

Return of Sam Allardyce helps Blackburn keep Liverpool at bay
“The return of Big Sam after heart surgery to oversee a Blackburn team whose previous outing was the Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat of Chelsea, produced a performance that adhered to Allardyce’s managerial stereotype. Unfortunately for Liverpool, they were also dour, functional and lacking in zip, and, by the close of the game, Rovers were worrying the visitors. A draw is a fine result for Allardyce’s bunch, but frustrating for any follower of Liverpool, who had woken up 13 points behind Chelsea and are now two worse off than Tottenham, who occupy the final Champions League spot.” (Guardian)

Blackburn Rovers 0 Liverpool 0: match report
“When Steven Gerrard, in the coming years, decides that his body and spirit can no longer carry the burden of expectation bestowed upon him by his adoring public, hangs up his boots for good and looks back on his career, the occasion of his 500th game for Liverpool is unlikely to be a highlight. The Liverpool captain will fear, though, that it may provide an epitaph: Almost, but not quite.” (Telegraph)

Rafael Benitez frustrated as another point dropped
“SAM ALLARDYCE was back at Ewood Park after his heart surgery but confined to the directors’ box, so we weren’t even able to enjoy the sideshow of him attempting to monster Rafa Benitez as the stadium witnessed its second goalless draw in the Premier League in seven days. As Blackburn inflicted another blow to the Spaniard’s efforts to rebuild Liverpool’s league campaign, Allardyce chewed gum violently and was on the edge of his seat for the last 10 minutes as the home side managed to hang on, thanks largely to a point-blank miss from David Ngog, who hit the crossbar halfway through the second half after being set up by a brilliant run from Glen Johnson.” (TimesOnline)

“15 May 2004 will be remembered as the day when a continent and a certain world hero felt the potent, transformative power of football. Nelson Mandela was in Zurich to hear if his beloved country would be awarded the 2010 World Cup. He was there to help sell South Africa, having passionately informed the 24 men who would make the decision, Fifa’s executive committee, that listening to radio coverage of football had provided the only respite from the hellish existence of a prisoner on Robben Island and in other South African jails during the apartheid years.” (Guardian)

“In South African football, the sounds, language, moves and styles of supporters in the stands are often more colourful and creative than the action on the pitch. The top supporter’s accessory is the makarapa, a customised miner’s hard hat that Alfred ‘The Magistrate’ Baloyi, 57, claims to have invented. Baloyi, who lives in a squatter camp near Johannesburg, first put a Stanley knife and blowtorch to work on a yellow helmet in 1979, to honour his team, the Kaizer Chiefs. He now makes a living from his invention.” (Guardian)

“Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona bagged a hard-fought 3-1 win at in-form Deportivo La Coruna in the Primera Division. Pep Guardiola’s side had seen their lead at the top of the table cut back to two points just before taking to the field in Coruna, following Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory at home to Almeria.” (ESPN)

Deportivo – 1, Barca – 3
“FC Barcelona retained their lead at top of five points with a 3-1 comfortable victory against Deportivo at the Riazor. Messi gave Barca a deserving lead in the 27th minute but Deportivo equalised in the 39th minute. Secons half goals from Messi and Ibrahmovic then gave Barca a truly deserving victory. This was Messi’s first match after winning the Balon d’Or and he gave a performance intune with the award.” (All About FC Barcelona)

Deportivo vs Barca Highlights on 05/12/09
(All About FC Barcelona)

“When England last tackled the United States in a competitive international, the players changed in the bus on the way to the ground, the team was picked by the chairman of the Football Association and the opposition boasted a former baseball star in goal. The field of dreams for the US was the stuff of nightmares for England. That American keeper, Frank Borghi, eventually became an undertaker, fitting employment after helping lay to rest England’s 1950 World Cup ambition. England never recovered from that 1-0 embarrassment in Belo Horizonte and bowed out to Spain at the Maracana, again failing to trouble the scorers.” (Telegraph – Henry Winter)

“In a celebratory, star-studded World Cup draw here Friday, the U.S. earned a high-profile opening test against England. Powerhouses Brazil and Portugal landed in what looks to be ‘Group of Death’ with African the Ivory Coast. And the luck of the French continued as Les Bleus, qualifiers on an illegal hand-ball goal two weeks ago, landed in the same group as 86th-ranked South Africa while evading the likes of Brazil or Argentina or another European power.” (WSJ)

“Six months before the World Cup begins in South Africa, Spain already has its first win. The world’s No. 1 team was drawn into what appears to be one of the easiest groups Friday, and should have a clear path to the knockout round. Five-time champion Brazil, meanwhile, seemed to get the worst of the lot, facing not only reigning player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in Group G, but also the Ivory Coast, the strongest African team.” (ESPN)

A view of the Roman Campagna from Tivoli, evening (1644-5), Claude Gellée
“Before getting to the World Cup draws themselves, I want to make clear that I will not christen a group of death. FIFA’s game management has made groups of death obsolete. Nothing like 1986 can happen; stage management from continental leagues on up is such that no win will be terribly surprising, no loss so unexpected. It takes something away from the spirit of the game, but there you go. Even 2006 managed a Group E.” (The 90th Minute)

“In a special video, filmed live at the Emirates Stadium in association with Enjoy England, Football Weekly regulars James Richardson, Barry Glendenning and Kevin McCarra are joined by David Pleat to analyse the World Cup draw.” (Guardian)

“USA-England. Ghana-Germany. Argentina-Nigeria. Argentina-Greece. Brazil-Ivory Coast. Brazil-Portugal. Mexico-France. Landon Donovan v. David Beckham. Michael Essien v. Michael Ballack. Kaká v. Ronaldo v. Drogba. Poor North Korea getting so thoroughly destroyed in Group G that even its own state media will have a hard time finding a positive spin.” (The Run Play)

“Tell me the name of any player of note and I’ll have an image of them in my mind which I associate with an era in which they played. Perhaps I associate that image to when the player hit his peak form and was perhaps sporting a horror haircut at the time or perhaps due to my age I only recognise them as an old codger shouting from the sidelines. So when that image of the player in your mind is not what greets you on screen, it can be a right stumper. Give this a go and see if you can spot the player buried beneath the mullet/perm/pineapple.” (Three Match Ban)

“It is anyone’s guess how the 32 teams in the 2010 World Cup will be grouped by the draw Friday in South Africa, but one thing is for sure: the event will elicit sightings of things as far-fetched as U.F.O.’s and the Virgin Mary’s image on a potato chip. Soccer luminaries, with the help of the honorary hostess Charlize Theron, will pull plastic balls out of pots to determine the eight first-round groupings of four teams each. Someone will inevitably claim that the draw was rigged. No proof? No problem. Not since ‘Forrest Gump’ have table tennis balls supposedly been so vulnerable to manipulation and sleight of hand.” (NYT)

“All the fixtures in all the groups, with profiles of every team and host city…” (Guardian)

“This photograph of Hector Peterson, who was killed in the Soweto uprising in 1976, was taken by Sam Nzima, a photographer at the time for a newspaper in Johannesburg. It is on display as part of the Hector Peterson Memorial in Soweto, South Africa”
“The girl, just several steps off the tour bus full of English rugby fans, can’t be older than 15 or 16. She still is cradling her catered lunch in her hands when she is startled by the image. ‘Oh, my God,’ she says. Here, at the Hector Peterson Memorial in Soweto, is a larger-than-life-size replica of the photograph that galvanized public opinion around the world. This memorial is sacred ground to black South Africans, commemorating the 13-year-old Peterson — just one of many youths to die in Soweto in June 1976. Many of them were wearing school uniforms, defending themselves with trash can covers against police bullets. Tens of thousands of youngsters, many without informing their parents, had massed to march and protest the apartheid government’s edict that they be instructed in Afrikaans, the language associated with the oppressive government at that time.” (ESPN)

“Adidas has turned up the dial to 11 with its new match ball for the 2010 World Cup — the Jabulani, which means to celebrate in the Bantu language isiZulu. The newly designed orb, with some new technology, was unveiled Friday before the tournament’s draw in Cape Town, South Africa.” (NYT)

“If there’s one nice thing about following a team that plays in the Championship, it is that the usual mill of stories and talking points hovering around the top flight appear to be at a safe distance. Take today’s main bit of gossip, that Arsene Wenger refused to shake hands with Mark Hughes after City beat his team 3-0 last night. Quite honestly, I don’t care. The constant attention on Rafael Benitez’s chances of keeping his job at Liverpool doesn’t interest me. I’ve heard all about Sir Alex Ferguson’s run-ins with referees many times, so this season’s round of official-baiting bollocks raises a ‘meh’ from this corner of the web. Stewart Downing’s excellent performance in his first full match at Aston Villa forced a smile, but in fairness he’s yesterday’s news as far as I’m concerned. Sorry. I’m just not bothered. And the worst part is that when/if (delete as applicable) we do go back up, the essence of this reportage won’t have changed a bit.” (Smog Blog)

“There was always an air of unreality surrounding Coventry City’s three decade stint in the top flight. The Sky Blues rarely troubled the top half of the table and indeed, appeared to be attending multiple auditions for a remake of the film Flatliners. Their most dramatic escape of all came with a 4-1 victory over already crowned Champions Everton in 1985, long after other fixtures had been played and a situation that would never be allowed to occur nowadays. Only with FA Cup glory and John Sillett’s dancing in 1987 did the Midlands club rise above the humdrum, although they did brighten the mood with some ludicrous kits.” (thetwounfortunates)

“The World Cup draw, to be held Friday in Cape Town, will put the 32 teams into eight groups of four, with geographical restrictions. Essentially, one team from each pot will be put in each group. But no two teams from the same confederation (except UEFA, the European region) can be drawn into the same group.” (NYT)

“Throughout the history of football, there have been many great matches that have ended during penalty shootouts. During the penalty shootout, many heroes have been born for great saves that have gotten their side a trophy or advancement onto the next round, or missed to ruin their side’s chances of advancing or preventing your side from winning.” (Bleacher Report)

“Why do I love a derby? I nervously await each Merseyside derby as if it is the most important match of the season. I bite nails. I refresh webpages. I await injury updates. I lose sleep. This doesn’t make sense for two big reasons: 1.) I am not from Liverpool. 2.) The Merseyside derby is almost never pretty. (Every Liverpool victory I’ve seen over Everton inevitably ends with Red supporters in our pub agreeing: ‘That was an ugly win but I’ll take it.’)” (EPL Talk)

Francesco Totti
“Of all the reactions to the Thierry Henry controversy, Raymond Domenech’s was perhaps the most bewildering. Asked post-match about the incident, the France coach sighed. ‘We’ve just qualified for the World Cup. Can’t you just let me enjoy this moment of happiness?’ When the coach is the one man in France celebrating a lucky break as a tremendous triumph, you know all is not well in the cradle of the national team.” (ESPN)

“Paul Doyle, Barney Ronay and Geoff Pruce profile the teams that will be travelling to South Africa” (Guardian)

“This is the 98th season of top flight football in Austria, and the 36th season of Austrian Football Bundesliga (the first Austrian Bundesliga season was 1974-75). Reigning champions are Red Bull Salzburg. Prior to 1949, clubs from outside the capital of Vienna did not compete in the professional first division. Over the years, Austria has been plagued with numerous instances of prominent clubs folding, declaring bankruptcy and being forced to drop down to lower divisions and/or merge with other clubs. Which is why the list of all-time title holders in Austrian pro football is so complicated. The list is at the bottom of the map. Below are the home grounds of the last 3 champions in Austria…Red Bull Salzburg, Rapid Wien, and Austria Wien.” (billsportsmaps)

Mputu
“Football experts from across Africa have chosen Drogba, Essien, Eto’o, Mputu and Toure as the top five footballers. Now it’s up to you to vote for the player you think is the king of African Football.” (BBC)

Can an African team win the 2010 World Cup?
“Close your eyes and try to imagine the scenes of jubilation across Africa if a team from the continent were to win the 2010 World Cup. A celebration like no other, one billion people revelling in one of the greatest sporting and cultural achievements. For the first time in its 80-year history, football’s blue riband competition is coming to the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped land. How better to mark the occasion than with a first African champion?” (BBC)

“Fabio Capello’s men have been named as one of the eight seeds – along with hosts South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany and Argentina. The French and Portuguese will be placed in Pot 4 with the rest of the European nations who qualified for next summer’s tournament. Capello will be glad that his side have avoided the real big hitters such as Spain and Brazil, but will be acutely aware that England could still end up in a tough group in Friday’s draw.” (Telegraph)

“The global soccer establishment, which has gathered here in South Africa ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw, is dealing with an international mess that has been decades in the making. Last month, in case you missed it, France defeated Ireland on a goal that was allowed to stand even though replays clearly showed that French captain Thierry Henry touched the ball twice with his hand. Ever since, the world has been consumed by whether its most popular sport should continue to allow the outcomes of its most important games to be influenced, even decided, by one person who has to run as much as 12 miles per match with a whistle in his mouth.” (WSJ)

“As theological statements go, the title of Aleksandar Hemon’s essay in the current Granta, ‘If God Existed, He’d Be a Solid Midfielder,’ would not impress the plethora of seminarians in Hemon’s adopted home, Chicago. Its unapologetic agnosticism creates insurmountable doctrinal challenges. If God plays midfield, He creates. But can He save? Not without an intentional handball and automatic ejection, and who could send off God?” (The Global Game)

“We start – for all you Pantera fans – with Chelsea’s vulgar display of power at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were outmuscled and outclassed so is this year’s Premier League title Carlo Ancelotti’s to lose? From London, we move on to the northwest, where Manchester City suffered their seventh successive draw, this time at home to Hull. Even with a Carling Cup quarter-final to look forward to, is Mark Hughes now on borrowed time? And was Jimmy Bullard’s goal celebration just about the greatest of all time?” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“England have been seeded for the World Cup finals along with South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Argentina, FIFA announced at a press conference in Cape Town. France have unexpectedly been unseeded after FIFA decided to move away from their usual system of taking into account past performances at the finals. It had been expected that Netherlands would miss out on being seeded, while reports on Wednesday morning also suggested that by taking an average of ranking over the past three years could result in England being unseeded.” (ESPN)