World Cup Corner

Over the weekend, I manage to watch a most remarkable DVD about Pele and that amazing New York Cosmos team in the NASL (North American Soccer League)
Once in a lifetime DVD

In the 1970s, the New York Cosmos with the backing of Time Warner managed to bring in an enormous amount of soccer publicity to the United States. With players such as Pele, Franz Beckenbaur, Giorgio Chinaglia, Rodney Marsh and John Cruyff, the NASL was indeed the league to play in at that time. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos features narration by Matt Dillon with interviews with many of the team’s star players as it depicted the teams amazing rise and fall in a backdrop of rock star indulgence and excesses of sex, drugs and alcohol.

I highly recommend watching this interesting documentary. Who knows, it may be history repeating itself with David Beckham on his way to the MLS as the catalyst.

Scotland and England played the first football match that would eventually lead to the International FIFA World Cup. However, there was no way of knowing this at this first game played in 1872. During this time frame the sport was not popular worldwide as it is today.
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Germany, the current FIFA Women’s World Cup holders have finally displaced traditional powerhouses USA from 1st spot in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking.
The germans had an excellent tournament in 2003 with 6 wins out of 6 and 20 goals scored. Most notably, it was the 3-0 defeat of the USA in the semi-finals that boosted the German’s point tally while at the same time decreasing their rivals tally.
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The 2014 World Cup is to be held in South America as part of Fifa’s rotation policy and so far, the South American countries have ceded their bids to Brazil.

However, Columbia, who attempted a bid for the 86 World Cup, but had to pull out due to financial difficulties, is considering a 2014 bid. Mexico eventually hosted the 1986 tournament. Often referred to as “Maradona’s World Cup”. Colombia Football Association president Luis Bedoya said: “We have presented the letter of intent. We know it’s going to be a long, tough road.”

Columbia hosted and won the 2001 Copa America which was initially postponed due to security concerns.

Brazil are still favourites to host the 2014 tournament but Sepp Blatter (Fifa president) has said that no country will get the honor of hosting the 2014 World Cup undeservedly.

Argentina, like Brazil has been well known as a country that produces world class footballers at a frightening rate. In fact, the rivalry between both countries (who can claim a total of 7 World Cups between them), can be traced long before the sport had become a religion in both countries.
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I know there are only a few days to Christmas but it’s still not to late to find that perfect gift for a soccer fan. Here is my short list of recommendations you could consider buying:

DVD

• All the Goals of FIFA World Cup 2006
• The Best of FIFA Fever: Greatest Moments in FIFA World Cup History
• Footballers’ Wives

Books

• 90 Minutes: The Greatest Moments from the World Cup
• Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona, Soccer’s Fallen Star
• Fashion of Football, The: From Best to Beckham, From Mod to Label Slave

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MasterCard, which has sponsored the World Cup since 1990, has won a US lawsuit against the world football governing body. FIFA wanted to end its sponsorship of the World Cup in favour of MasterCard’s rival Visa.

The judge ordered FIFA to drop its planned eight-year deal with Visa, which was set to begin in January 2007, and instead return to MasterCard for the 2007 to 2014 period.

How will you remember the 2006 World Cup? Will you remember the favorites that fell out of favor, or the aging French who barely made it out of their group alive, only to become the favorites. What about the hosts, who lost only one game, but never lost the love and admiration of their country. Undoubtedly you will remember the champs, who allowed only one goal by opposition…

With this starting words World Cup Soccer Jerseys is trying to get your attention and convince you not to leave the site from the first page.

If you are looking for replica soccer jerseys and other fan gear than you are in the right place. Choose your team, relive their quest for the 2006 World Cup final and follow affiliate links to third party merchant vendors and auction houses which sell replica soccer jerseys and other merchandise.

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Brazil won the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 after defeating Uruguay 4-1 last Sunday on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. This is already Brazil’s 10th Beach Soccer World Cup title in the tournament’s 12 year history.

But as I heard soccer players soccer players were not the main attraction of the tournament. The real catch for the eyes were blondes, brunettes, red-heads,… talented cheerleaders, each with their own style.

Short facts and stories from previous days and weeks.

• The Los Angeles Galaxy have confirmed their interest in signing the 31-year-old David Beckham.
• Klinsmann Rejected $1.8 million USA coaching offer.
• The English government is willing to back an English bid for the 2018 World Cup.
• Argentina legend Diego Maradona has been invited to hold talks with the Honduras soccer federation about becoming national team coach.
• FIFA Interactive World Cup qualifiers started. This year 128 of the world’s best gamers will descend in Amsterdam on 8 December to compete for the title of FIFA Interactive World Player 2006.