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Monday, May 29, 2006
Let the Cup Countdown begin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Associated Press
It’s exactly two weeks from today that the U.S. begins its World Cup quest against the Czech Republic, and the boys certainly looked a bit sharper in weekend wins over Venezuela and Latvia. Nice work by Convey on set pieces on Friday, and what a super example by McBride Sunday after getting a nasty knot to the head in a collision. His snap header near the end of the first half was classic “McHead,” and a terrific cross from Cher. Un. Do. Lo set it all up. Guess I’ll have to ease up on the lad a bit. Especially with Ber. Hal. Ter in camp, replacing the injured Gibbs.
(Why do I feel like the anxious parent of a teen driver when I think of the U.S. defense? Sometimes I think Keller does, too. OK, OK, I’ll keep my hand off the steering wheel — for now.)
A week from today, ajc.com launches its World Cup page that will feature daily installments of Off the Ball, including live-blogging off U.S. matches, and visits to reknown Atlanta watering holes to see how locals are soaking up Cup fever. We’ll also feature AJC coverage from Germany and link to other blogs, in this, the first fully-blogged World Cup.
In keeping with the true multimedia spirit of this medium, here’s an NPR clip from last week on the evolution of the U.S. team. A lot of the material is old hat to many of you, but the storyline is starting to resonate with the greater public — as long as the results from Group E back it up.
Hard to figure out what the mainstream media verdict will be if the Yanks come up shorter than last time. Quarterfinals or bust? Surely they are aware this is a much, much tougher road.
For a vast majority of the 32 nations that have qualified, just getting to Germany has been the objective, especially the four African sides that are making their World Cup debuts. The English-language version of the excellent German news magazine Der Spiegel (to shame, Newsweek and Time) has a wonderful two-part article on how soccer and civil war are inextricably linked in Ivory Coast.
Indeed, African ambitions of World Cup glory are probably as understated this year as ever, with the likes of Nigeria and Cameroon not making it. The British magazine New Statesman believes that this narrative will never change in “They can play but they can never win”, which gently faults Pele for amping up such dreams.
“O Rey” is interviewed in a Guardian podcast that’s well worth the listen if you’ve got a half-hour to spare. And no, you don’t have to have an iPod to hear a podcast. iTunes will do just fine.
This was my first podcast experience, and it’s a sheer delight, with one of the other guests quipping that “I’ve made several thousand pounds opposing Pele’s picks over the years.” He’s doubting Brazil to a certain degree, whatever that’s worth.
Another fascinating discussion included the journalist Gabriele Marcotti, who’s written for cnnsi.com, on the anxieties within the Italy camp, and not just over the current match-fixing scandal in Serie A that has scooped up the son of Azzurri coach Marcelo Lippi. Starting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been questioned about possible gambling on sports, a no-no for Italian athletes.
Here’s one dreadful referee who won’t be seeing any World Cup action. FIFA is sending home Jamaica’s Peter Prendergast due to injury. That he was originally assigned isn’t a reassuring sign that the whistle-blowers and offsides flag-wavers will be any more up to the task than in 2002.
Whether Wayne Rooney ever gets to Germany at all may finally be known on June 7, the new D-Day for the injured English striker. That’s supposedly when the doctors will reveal to a hyperventilating nation about the most famous sore foot in the English-speaking world.
Another countdown closer to home comes later this week, when the Silverbacks christen their new facility on Saturday (thanks for the correction, Chris, for some reason I’ve just had Friday stuck in my head) against Charleston. Atlanta is one of two winless squads in the USL first division after a 0-0 weekend draw with the Battery.
DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones is going to be there. Sports and footy don’t mix, eh? Unfortunately, I wish this were so in this case.
Off the Ball’s favorite poster this week (with all due respect to Henry, Chris, Nicholas, etc.) is Maya Lucia, who summed up the interminable Bonds melodrama perfectly: “Baseball? Who cares? Let’s get into some World Cup soccer!!!
Well Maya (if that is your real name), mark your calendar for June 5, when Off the Ball and ajc.com will get into it full throttle. Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday everyone!
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