World Cup Corner

It is an uncontested fact that the broadness of the English football arena is not conducive for the growth of its players. The number of English players reaching the top of their forms is decreasing. Current England Manager, Steve McClaren is faced with considerably less options than those who came before him. The future of English football does not shine so brightly, mainly because so many young, budding talents are being put to waste.
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Argentina’s stint in the World Cup, though laden with victories and losses, is a stint that is much adored by fans, and hated by the English. They only come fourth after World Cup stars Brazil, Italy, and Germany. Argentina can also be considered as a rather dramatic participant in the World Cup finals tournament, since their first appearance in 1930 in Uruguay. However, they were unfortunate that the finals tournament seems to have been jinxed. After a pre-game heated argument about which ball should be used, they lost to the Uruguayans because of one-armed player Hector Castro. Despite tragically losing out to the Uruguayans, their first appearance seemed to have kicked them off to several more finals appearance, loaded with controversial withdrawals, exits, and victories as well.
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The Brazil-France matches in the World Cup are nothing short of spectacular. The Brazil-France matches are the kind of games that their fans and almost everyone else who’s interested in the game love to watch. Theirs is the kind of game that gets people on the edge of their feet and eventually, on their very feet. Theirs is the kind of game that rocks the field. Everyone waits in anticipation for every single match where the two World Cup giants battle. Such notoriety was fueled by their long-running heated rivalry in the World Cup, a competitive history dotted with memorable games and players.
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France’s history in the World Cup has been a rollercoaster ride, and their team has evoked a confusing and ever-changing mix of emotions and criticisms from both its loyalist and skeptics. Some people still believe in the power that took over during France’s glory days. Some people, however, are dismayed, doubtful, and set back by France’s recent attempts to play. In the past, they’ve even been reputed to win games only when they’re playing at home. But France, based on their track record, proves these accusations wrong.
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Italy’s history in the World Cup was a long, arduous journey marked with long stretches of success, and even longer stretches of defeats. Theirs is a portfolio that started out quite splendidly and ended in a so much lesser status. However, despite their recent fruitless attempts to win the Cup, they still hold the succeeding place as the third most successful teams in the history of the World Cup, following right behind Brazil and Germany. Let’s look closely at Italy’s journey through the Cup.
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The reasons for playing English football have now drastically changed as its 120th year dawns. The new age ushers in the effects of inflation, which even football is apparently vulnerable to. This had dramatically changed the reasons why more and more people are investing time and effort into the game. More so than winning, people are into English football apparently to get rich. English football has certainly gone a long way from its roots in 1888, when the team to beat was Preston North End, bagging the first two leagues and even the FA Cup of 1988 without losing a game.
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Soccer is the sports underdog in America, as compared to the phenomenally warm reception of fans and audiences to American football and basketball. But soccer seems to be clamoring for attention nowadays, with LA Galaxy’s new quarterback. The quarterback is a team member whose role is to execute the play, and is considered the leader of the offensive team. He is found directly at the center of the game. In other words, he gets to play the “star” card. Although usually found in football teams, LA Galaxy’s new recruit has all the makings of a quarterback.   
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Walter Winterbottom, a former coach to England, once said that an African team would win the World Cup by 2000. Even Pele, one of soccer’s greatest players ever, seconded that opinion. Although Winterbottom predicted this it did not come true. However, Cameroon did come pretty close in 1990.

There were certainly opportunities for an African team to take it all the way In 1982 Algeria seemed like it might go all the way before being cheated by Austria and West Germany. Then in 1986 Morocco was really showing progress and many were wondering if this was it However, it was not until Cameroon in 1990 that the world began to believe that Winterbottom’s prediction might actually come true. It did not but Cameroon really did have a shot.
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Premiership clubs are being supported by a rush of takeovers and investment which does not appear to be slowing down any time soon. This results in increased competition from the Premiership. The Big 4 has led the Premiership for the past several seasons after a long stint of Arsenal and Manchester United reigning together. The competition at the top of the Premiership is competitive to be sure, but it has not reach the cut throat level that the Italian and Spanish top divisions face. It is interesting to note that the current four leaders along with four other teams are the only English clubs that have participated in the Champions League as it is formatted today. The other four teams include Leeds United, Newcastle, Blackburn, and Everton.
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