Mountainous Landscape, Lucas van Valckenborch
“European soccer’s stance on video technology is officially under review. More than two months after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball helped France eliminate the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifying match, Sepp Blatter, the president of soccer’s governing body, FIFA, has reopened the debate on whether the sport should introduce video footage of the goal line to aid referees.” (WSC)
“I’ve been watching this year’s African Cup of Nations in a weird twilight kind of world. As the games are on during the afternoon and early evening, I’ve been recording them, and trying to watch them ‘as live’ late at night. This is taking Bob and Terry’s task to new heights, as it is pretty damn hard to avoid the scores when you work in a news organisation that is doing minute-by-minute coverage of the key matches. Nevertheless, at the moments when I have been up-to-date with the scores, I’ve been looking at the online coverage of the event.” (currybet – 1: UK, 2: African newspapers, 3: African newspapers, 4: British and American online newspapers)
“It was one of the stranger sights of the season, for sure. During the League Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City on Wednesday night, a large number of (what to the untrained eye may have appeared to have been) Norwich City supporters seemed to have infiltrated Old Trafford and were sitting in their seats, cheering on Alex Ferguson’s team. It was, of course, nothing of the sort.” (twohundredpercent)
“News reaches this desk about Gordon’s capture of Celtic and Scotland defender, Stephen McManus, on loan until the end of the season. A deal looked like it was anything but on the cards a couple of days ago, yet the Boro manager greased wheels and pressed palms in order to make it happen. That’s a big weight of our minds in terms of our tottering defence, a unit that hasn’t kept a clean sheet since Boxing Day, and it could be the start of a flurry of incoming players before the window closes.” (Smog Blog)
Adriano
“We don’t yet know where the World Cups of 2018 and 2022 will be played. But some of the bidding countries have already worked out which cities they will use to stage matches if the circus does come to town. It’s unfortunate Brazil wasn’t so quick off the mark.” (SI – Tim Vickery)
“There have been goals in Benguela, Cabinda, Luanda and Lubango, but no goals are being scored in the Stade Slyvio Cator in Port-au-Prince. Haiti’s goalposts don’t exist anymore. Angolans paused for Haiti before every Quarter Final, the carnage of their own wars against colonialism and as proxies in the Cold War never far from their thoughts. A nation blessed by the curse of geology showing solidarity with their brothers and sisters, torn asunder by the earth’s crust, an ocean apart.” (Football Is Coming Home)
“Sometimes football can throw up the most appropriate of metaphors. A red rag to a bull almost couldn’t describe Egypt’s 4-0 thrashing of Algeria any better, from the suave matador-like performance of the holders to the mad angry rage of the Algerians. And, as if to hammer home the point, Egypt played in red. The bull ring parallels here are perfect.” (Just Football)
Algeria 0 – 4 Egypt“Defending champions Egypt strolled into the final of the African Nations Cup as eight-man Algeria bowed out in ignominious fashion. The game was evenly poised until Rafik Halliche felled Emad Moteab in the box eight minutes before the break, earning a red card for his troubles, and Hosni Abd Rabou converted the spot-kick. Mohamed Zidan added a classy second after 65 minutes before Nadir Belhadj saw red for a horror challenge on Ahmed El Mohamady five minutes later.” (ESPN)
Algeria 0-4 Egypt
“Egypt strolled through to their third successive Africa Cup of Nations final, overcoming Algeria 4-0, with their great rivals finishing with eight men. Hosni Abd Rabou put Egypt ahead from the spot, after Algeria’s Rafik Halliche was sent-off for the foul. Mohamed Zidan doubled the lead, before Mohamed Abdelshafi made it three and Mohamed Gedo completed the rout.” (BBC)
“January has to be the most depressing month for football journalists. The pressure to concoct player transfer rumours is so relentless it easily qualifies as working under duress. The suits upstairs are squeezing their Editors chuffers to ensure that they fill news columns and air waves. There’s a very fine line between exclusive breaking news and faecal matter you can only read whilst pinching your nose to avoid the stench.” (A Cultured Left Foot)
Scissors Kick 