Looking to buy a bridge? FIFA has one for sale...

Well after countless refereeing errors so far at the World Cup, public and media outrage is at an all-time high. The people are demanding some sort of video replay to correct these game-changing debacles.

Fear not intrepid soccer fan, into the gap steps our hero, Sepp Blatter. A full review is promised! Apologies made to England and Mexico! In a single breath we are on the fast track into the 21st century and the introduction of technology into the beautiful game.

And after that I have this wonderful elixir that will triple your enjoyment of watching the World Cup. How? Why good sir, do you doubt me? At only $200 for a 12 ounce bottle, this is a bargain. How many cases shall it be?

Forgive me for my cynicism, but this comes across to me as nothing more than political pandering. Announce a full review, people will get off your back for the rest of the tournament. Then in a few months hold the review, decide to change nothing. People will complain but with the next World Cup more than three and a half years away it will pretty much go under the radar. Perfect plan!

Especially since we, the sporting public, will fall for it. He is very earnest our magnificent leader, isn't he. Bear with me though, and let's rewind a bit.

"The Hand of Gaul"

Thierry Henry "unintentionally" double handballs France past Ireland and into the World Cup. Mr. Blatter declares "blatant unfair play", a full review will be done. The Irish are still angry, but somewhat mollified and hopeful that something will be done. The furor dies down...

January 18, 2010 - Henry escapes punishment. Enough time has passed that it pretty much flies under the radar.

And that is the exact reason I don't believe Blatter for a second. FIFA makes money hand over foot. They have exactly ZERO reasons to change anything about the game, how they operate.

It doesn't matter if the perception is that they are corrupt, that they are stuck in the past, that they don't know what the heck they are doing. The sponsors are still paying, the TV contracts are selling at record prices. Countries (including the good old US of A) are preparing to spend billions of dollars to host future tournaments.

They have ZERO, ZERO, ZERO reason to change a damn thing. They have billions of reasons to keep things exactly the way they are.

I sincerely hope I am wrong, but this review will be lip service, nothing more.

Where were you eight years ago?

I was in my near east side apartment in Madison, WI. The alarm sounded sometime after midnight, I dragged myself into the living room and turned on the TV.

I was joined within a few minutes by my wife (then girlfriend), then shortly by two of my Celtics teammates, Brandon and Dan. Both lived in the neighborhood and didn't have cable.

We sipped OJ and ate doughnuts while watching the USA defeat Mexico 2-0 in the quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup. Goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan had us cheering and dancing through the night.

Today the USA is back in the quarterfinals. The opponent is different - Ghana. The menu will be different - brats, potato salad, and brownies with the OJ replaced by beer. The group will be a different mix - four sleepy adults replaced with parents, kids in tow.

The vibe will be the same, a good group of people drawn together by the beautiful game, ready to cheer on the red, white, and blue. Win or lose we will have a good time and be proud of the men wearing the crest of the USA.

This is just one of the reasons I love, love, love this game.

I was kissed by a sweaty Greek man and I liked it...

I watched the final group game today down at Plaka Taverna (a great little Greek place in downtown Madison that doubles as a greasy spoon) with my buddy Nick. We'd been down there just five days earlier with my wife and another friend to watch the USA storm back to tie Slovenia.

The place is small with two modest flat screens, but the atmosphere for watching is great. The fans watching mingle with casual diners who catch bits of the game when they stop in for their eggs and american fries.

Today's match was as intense of a game as I've experienced as a sports fan. Another disallowed goal, chance after chance gone begging, the news that England was leading Slovenia, Jonathan "defensive blunder waiting to happen" Bornstein starting. The tension was mounting. Texts from my wife (catching bits and pieces from her desk at work) included this gem, "I honestly think I may have a heart attack."

Then, finally the goal in the 91st minute, USA 1-0, the place goes crazy, high fives, hugs all around, and one big fat kiss on the cheek from proprietor Nico, who I've been chatting soccer with for more than a decade.

Never been so happy to be kissed by a man in my life, Katie Perry, eat your heart out.

Four years ago...

...the USA played for their World Cup lives against Ghana in the final group game. They fell 2-1 and exited the tournament with a single point.

Bruce Arena was out as coach and Bob Bradley, by all accounts the federation's second choice, was in.

Four years, eighteen qualifiers, two Gold Cups, a Confederations Cup, a Copa America, countless friendlies, and two World Cup group games later the team again plays for their World Cup lives in the final group game.

A few differences of course. Two points this time. A win guarantees advancement, no help needed. No players suspended due to red cards (though Findlay is out with two yellows). If results go the right way a tie can get them through. Even winning the group outright is in the cards.

The opponent is Algeria. My keys to the game:

1) Focus, focus, focus. The "stolen" goal is gone. Done. Can't get it back. The American media seemingly can't let it go. Bradley better have it wiped from his players' brains come tomorrow. As a former boss said "Worry about what you can control". Of particular worry to me is Jozy Altidore, whose penchant for interviews, Twitter, etc... has him (seemingly) focused on things off the pitch a bit too much, both at Hull and with the USA. If the team comes out still steaming about last Friday, Algeria will give them a figurative punch in the mouth, score a few early goals and stroll home.

2) Start Maurice Edu in the middle. More important than what to do with the forward position is making sure Edu is in from the start. It's not that Jose Francisco Torres or Ricardo Clark aren't capable players. It's the effect Edu has on Michael Bradley's game. Edu can play "box to box" allowing Bradley to do the same. Playing either of the other two forces Bradley to concentrate too much on either offense (paired with Clark) or defense (paired with Torres). With Edu in the game Bradley is free to play "his" game, transitioning up and down the field as the game flows.

3) Benny Feilhaber should come off the bench, even if Clint Dempsey starts at forward with Jozy Altidore. For whatever reason Feilhaber seems to shine in the substitute role more than as a starter. Maybe his ball control game comes good against tired legs, who I am to say?

4) NO EARLY GOALS. Enough has been said about this one in other places.

There you have it. Two thoughts on the "stolen" goal.

The silver lining

If the USA pulls out a win tomorrow then the "stolen" goal against Slovenia may just be the best thing that ever happened to the team from an exposure standpoint. Confused?

Well, nothing brings the sports fan in quite like a comeback. And certainly nothing brings in a patriotic American sports fan quite like the "world is out to get us" / "we was robbed!" mentality. If the third goal had counted there is no way the game makes the front page of the Times or gets played over and over and over again by ESPN and company.

The water cooler talk will only help some of the casual "every four years" soccer fans start tuning in more often for qualifiers and "lesser" tournaments leading into Brazil in 2014.

A win is crucial though, bow out again and you likely lose the momentum.

How quickly they forget...

The "stolen" goal certainly highlights one thing. Players, coaches, media, and fans all have very short memories. It was a year ago in the same country that the shoe was on the other foot. The USA led Brazil 2-0 at half time of the Confederations Cup final. Brazil scored within minutes of the restart and stormed back to tie the game at 2-2 (starting to sound familiar). Then Kaka struck the go-ahead goal to put Brazil in front. Only...

...the ref didn't call it a goal. Video replay showed the ball was at least a foot or two over the line. Even the most biased fan couldn't argue that it wasn't a terrible, terrible call. The Brazilians protested to little avail.

Of course, Brazil being Brazil, it didn't really matter as Lucio headed home the winner in the final minutes of the game and the comeback was complete.

So, for all the self-righteous indignation that has been floating around - yes, we got hosed, it was a horrible call, the goal should have counted.

That's life. Move on. Remember, sometimes the crappy calls go your way. Comfort yourself thinking about how the Irish got screwed worse than we did (who isn't loving the French debacle at this tournament?). Try and sleep tonight if you can (I know I won't be able to). Head out to the nearest gathering and scream yourselves hoarse tomorrow at 9:00 AM (CST, adjust accordingly).

Oh the Hypocrisy...

One week ago I posted how easy it was to root against the French without Zidane in the line-up.

Well that lasted about one week until kick-off of their game against Mexico. Theoretically I should root for the USA's CONCACAF brethren, but I just can't do it. I really, really, really dislike Mexico. Apparently more than the French.

Oh well, back to the game.

Edit/Update...

Well that stunk. Mexico needs just a tie to advance to the knockout stages. France is in deep, deep trouble.

USA v England - an opportunity missed?

Day 3 has come to a close with the Germans clobbering the Aussies 4-0. Not surprised really, they always seem to clobber someone the first game of the tourney.

I am still reflecting on yesterday's USA - England match. Maybe I'm just looking back through "homer" glasses, but the more I think about it, the more this seems like we missed a golden opportunity to punch England in the mouth and steal all 3 points.

England came out flying and took advantage of poor marking to go up 1-0 after only four minutes. The "superior" team then promptly took their foot off the pedal and set the cruise control. The problem was there were 86 minutes left in the match. The Americans slowly worked their way back into the match and even began to put a bit of pressure on the English defense. England never stepped it back up, didn't get Rooney involved until it was too late and generally failed to take back control of the game.

The goal was a gift of course, but really did we expect any different? Green joins a long line of English keepers who have made major gaffes in big situations, fumbling Clint Dempsey's shot over the line. Clint isn't complaining and his post match comments said it all: "They all count the same once they go in."Jozy Altidore had a glorious chance saved by Green and the post late on, though it can easily argued that England spurned more chances to win the game than the "Yanks" did.

The fact is overall England played poorly relative to there talent. If a team like the USA is going to beat them, it is on a day when they are not at there best. Not to take anything away from the USA performance, certainly not from the way they kept Rooney under wraps for better than 70 minutes. However, this was that opportunity and it wasn't seized. If Dempsey and his teammates had played their best game this would have been three points in the bag and a foot in the second round.

All is not lost of course. A point against the group favorites is never a bad thing and the team still controls its own destiny. Win the next two games and they advance.

Two takeaways from opening day...

Very tired and a bit under the weather, however in brief:

(1) With Zidane no longer playing it is so very, very easy to root against the French. I could never muster too much disdain for them when he was involved, however it was a joy to watch their frustrations today. I especially enjoyed the occasions where five French attackers would stand around and watch a sixth (usually Anelka) try and dribble/bull his way through multiple defenders, inevitably turning the ball over.

(2) Mexico does not discriminate when it comes to post match subs. I've always assumed it was a special hatred for the USA that caused the national team to leave the pitch without shaking hands with their opponents, especially following a disappointing result. Well, tonight they proved me wrong, snubbing the South Africans. In pointed contrast were the Uruguay and French teams embracing and exchanging shirts after their match.

Entering the "De-information Zone"

Years ago my brother-in-law had a special nickname for our mutual in-laws house, which he would visit for more than a week over the holidays. The home, lacking cable TV and only featuring dial-up internet access was jokingly dubbed the "De-information Zone". Thankfully following a basement remodel, a "bundle" was chosen bringing satellite TV and DSL to the party.

While my brother-in-law didn't have a choice, I am about to voluntarily enter that state (at least the internet part). Having recently started a new job I'm not in a position to take a ton of time off to watch World Cup games and will be instead taping them and trying to watch them later (at least the "must see" ones).

This of course necessitates not logging onto the internet at all for fear of finding out the scores. Also, not turning on the radio, not even the local guys who "never" talk about soccer.

Now, the really important ones (e.g. anything with the good old US of A) I'll find a way to watch but many of them I won't have that choice.

Bottom line, if you see or talk to me during the World Cup, assume (no really, ASSUME) that I do not know what happened in the game that day.

Rick, my friend, the next 30 days are for you.

Need to bone up on the Cup?

Take a gander at this little piece I penned for Delta Sky Magazine's June issue - pages 76 and 77.

Another one bites the dust...

You gotta love Queen man, you gotta love them.

Nigeria's Jon Obi Mikel joined a growing list of star players ruled out of the World Cup or on the ropes. Recovery from knee surgery did not proceed quickly enough and he has been dropped from the roster.

Teams are busy making last minute adjustments to tactics and plans as key cogs in the machine have been dropping like flies over the last few weeks. On top of that players' dreams are being shattered. Many players only get one chance to play in a World Cup, certainly only one chance during the "peak years" of their career. Some of the big names include

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast - not officially ruled out but needs elbow surgery)

Rio Ferdinand (England's captain)

Michael Essien (Ghana, ruled out a month ago)

Andrea Pirlo (Italy, not ruled out but currently back in Italy resting a fresh calf injury)

Jozy Altidore (USA, day to day with an ankle sprain)

Bradley tips his hand?

A lot of speculators have either Maurice Edu or Jose Torres ahead of Ricardo Clark on the depth chart for central midfield. However it was Clark who started and went (almost) the distance in today's tune-up against Australia.

The team on the field was presumably the starters against England with the exception of resting Altidore (see above). In addition, Bradley is nothing if not predictable and he knows what he is going to get from Clark (even if the fans don't agree). The only thing that may keep him from starting June 12th is the knock he limped off with around the 90th minute today.

I, I, I, I've got it...

Every four years I get reminded of this little gem of a song by Air Miami. The band performed "World Cup Fever" at O'Cayz Corral in Madison, WI about fifteen-ish years ago when they opened for (if the alcohol fogged memory serves) Throwing Muses. Great night, good times.

Clocking in at 2:11, the song was allegedly inspired by the 1994 World Cup and was followed by a remix album in 1998 which included an entry from Stephen Merritt of The Magnetic Fields.

The song is still around, my lovely wife heard it on NPR the other day played during a segment on the upcoming tournament.

I can't help it, the song just makes me smile.

Giuseppe Rossi? Not a traitor.

Italy announced its' World Cup squad today and to the surprise of many Italian-American striker Giuseppe Rossi was not included. This has delighted American soccer fans all over the message boards (I know, I really shouldn't waste my time). The comments are in the hundreds but let me summarize, edited for language, but essentially:

"Traitor! You got what you deserved."

People are pretty passionate about a decision made by someone else when he was 13 years old (ESPN did a recent feature on him - here). But even if you agree with them (and for the record, I don't), they need to work on their choice of words.

I fully realize I'm quibbling and being a bit of a, well, you know about this one. Anyway to think this one through we turn, where else but to the internet (specifically, dictionary.com)...

From Random House:

trai·tor   [trey-ter] –noun

1. a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust.

2. a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.

By both definitions a traitor is someone who "betrays".

be·tray   [bih-trey] –verb (used with object)

3. to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to: to betray one's friends.

Seven definitions not remotely appropriate have been omitted for length. The one that is in the ballpark is number three. Rossi definitely disappointed the hopes and expectations of American fans when he chose Italy over the USA. However....

The man didn't verbally commit to the USA, then back out for a better offer (follow college hoops recruiting anyone?). Rossi never, ever, ever did or said anything to engender those hopes among Americans. In fact, many of the "fans" screaming for his head didn't even know who he was when he made his decision almost a decade ago.

Is it really betrayal when the people you are "betraying" essentially manufactured their own hopes and expectations from incomplete and incorrect information? I think not, even if I can't offer a more appropriate word for them, partially because I can't be bothered to look for one.