It seems nowadays there are more and especially longer lasting injuries. I think this is caused by the amount of matches players play in a season. Up to 70 matches every year or often more is common in the modern football. Most competitions exist of 38 matches, all countries have a national cup competition, which is up to about 10 matches and Champions League is a 13 match tournament for the teams in the final. Together 61 matches, and it isn't the end. There are (qualification) matches for the World Cup and the European Championship, qualification matches for continental competitions (Champions League, Europa League ea) and friendly matches with the national team and the clubs. It's when the players are tired and not fully concentrated when the worst accidents happen. I think there shouldn't be this much matches in every season. If there are fewer teams in the national and international competitions, there are less matches and the players will be able to play with more power and there will be less injuries. Another solution is allowing more substitutions or allowing players to return in the field after benching, like what happens in hockey. The matches will be more interesting to see and visit, so everyone, the players and the spectators, wins. However, as long as Sepp Blatter is boss of the FIFA and therefore boss of the football, such developments will not take place.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Injuries
As usual, a lot of national team players got injured before the World Cup. It's always disappointing to have an injury and not to be able to play matches, but when you have to miss the World Cup, it's just terrible. This time, some world stars are upon the victims. Radamel Falcao, the Colombian striker playing for AS Monaco, has been suffering a serious knee injury since January. As no one expected him to recover before June, Falcao himself announced that he might be fit enough to play in the World Cup. In May, he took his words back and said he had to wait until the next season to start playing again. Theo Walcott is another great forward with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. For him, recovery didn't go as fast as expected. Originally, he had good odds of being able to play at the World Cup, but along the way, he turned out less fortunate.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Promotion/Relegation Matches
I think the promotion/relegation matches are the most exciting matches of the year. For the clubs, it might be a chance to reach the top competition for the first time in years. On the other hand, some teams will have to compete in a lower division the next season. This year I started following the matches because one of my favorite teams had a chance to promote to the Eredivisie. FC Dordrecht had been leading the Jupiler League, Holland's second division, for the whole year, but only a few matches before the end of the season, Willem II captured the first place and they didn't give it away. Fortunately, the second place gave a good starting position for the playoffs.
First, FC Dordrecht had to beat VVV in a double match. This didn't cause much problems for the "Schapenkoppen". The second and last round was another double matche against Sparta Rotterdam. I expected Dordrecht to beat them easily, because Sparta had finished at the sixteenth place in the Jupiler League. Nevertheless, the first match in Rotterdam ended 2-2. The match in Dordrecht had to decide who would be in the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. I'd have loved to see the match in the stadium. After only five minutes, Funso Ojo scored the lucky first goal: the keeper couldn't see the ball coming, so he misjudged the place it would come. At the end of the first half, Paul Gladon headed for the 2-0. Gladon was contracted by Sparta, but loaned to FC Dordrecht for the whole season. He was one of the surprising stars that lead FC Dordt to the second place. Ten minutes in the second half, Mimoun Machi gave Sparta new hope: he scored 2-1. In the last minute of the match, all Sparta players were in the box of FC Dordrecht for a corner. A defender managed to head the ball away to Giovanni Korte. After a long run to Sparta's half, he scored the decisive goal. All FC Dordrecht fans in the stadium, me too, went crazy. The celebrations afterwards were great to see. FC Dordrecht definitely deserves the promotion.
First, FC Dordrecht had to beat VVV in a double match. This didn't cause much problems for the "Schapenkoppen". The second and last round was another double matche against Sparta Rotterdam. I expected Dordrecht to beat them easily, because Sparta had finished at the sixteenth place in the Jupiler League. Nevertheless, the first match in Rotterdam ended 2-2. The match in Dordrecht had to decide who would be in the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. I'd have loved to see the match in the stadium. After only five minutes, Funso Ojo scored the lucky first goal: the keeper couldn't see the ball coming, so he misjudged the place it would come. At the end of the first half, Paul Gladon headed for the 2-0. Gladon was contracted by Sparta, but loaned to FC Dordrecht for the whole season. He was one of the surprising stars that lead FC Dordt to the second place. Ten minutes in the second half, Mimoun Machi gave Sparta new hope: he scored 2-1. In the last minute of the match, all Sparta players were in the box of FC Dordrecht for a corner. A defender managed to head the ball away to Giovanni Korte. After a long run to Sparta's half, he scored the decisive goal. All FC Dordrecht fans in the stadium, me too, went crazy. The celebrations afterwards were great to see. FC Dordrecht definitely deserves the promotion.
World Cup 2014 Brazil Group H
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
The Belgian team is currently a golden generation. The "Rode Duivels" were absent the last two World Cups, but this time, they are stronger than ever before. Youngsters Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard (both Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) are some very talented and young, none of them is over 23 years old, midfielders and forwards. With a steady and experienced defense with ie bodybuilder look-a-like Vincent Kompany, Belgium might be as succesful as they were in 1986, when they reached the semifinals in Mexico.
At the three World Cups Algeria managed to qualify for, they never reached the round of sixteen and I don't think they will now. Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli is probably the best player of the team. He reached the semifinal of the Europa League with Valencia, but Feghouli has been in a bad form for most of the season. He wont help "The Fennec Foxes" to the round of sixteen.
The Belgian team is currently a golden generation. The "Rode Duivels" were absent the last two World Cups, but this time, they are stronger than ever before. Youngsters Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard (both Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) are some very talented and young, none of them is over 23 years old, midfielders and forwards. With a steady and experienced defense with ie bodybuilder look-a-like Vincent Kompany, Belgium might be as succesful as they were in 1986, when they reached the semifinals in Mexico.
At the three World Cups Algeria managed to qualify for, they never reached the round of sixteen and I don't think they will now. Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli is probably the best player of the team. He reached the semifinal of the Europa League with Valencia, but Feghouli has been in a bad form for most of the season. He wont help "The Fennec Foxes" to the round of sixteen.
Russia is said to have a great
team spirit. Although one has to be careful with any Russian information, I
think it's right, because all players of the squad play in the Russian Premier League. Russia doesn't have word class
players, but attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev is
only 22 years old and very talented. The average age is one of the highest in
the World Cup, so "Sbornaya" won't lack experience. Overall, I think Russia will reach the round of sixteen.
South Korea is so far the only
Asian team to have reached the semi finals at a World Cup, but there's pretty
much no chance this will happen again. "The Red Warriors" mostly rely
on forward Son Heung-Min (Bayer Leverkussen), Park Chu-Young (Arsenal) and Ji
Dong-Won (Borrusia Dortmund). Their midfield and defense, however, isn't World
Cup worthy. If the strikers manage to do a great job, South Korea will have to
compete with Russia for the second place in the group.
My expectation:
1. Belgium
2. Russia
3. South Korea
4. Algeria
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
World Cup 2014 Brazil Group G
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
Germany is always one of the favourites for the World Cup, and this time they surely are again. Manuel Neuer is one of the best goal keepers in the world. Especially Germany's midfield is world class. Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil and Bastian Schweinsteiger are just four of the great German midfielders. The only thing "Die Mannschaft" really needs is a striker. The 35-year old Miroslav Klose is the only real forward in the World Cup squad. I'm afraid this will cause some problems, but I still think Germany will win the World Cup.
The second best team is this group is Portugal. Super star Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in a great form. He broke the all-time record of most goals scored in a Europa Cup I/ Champions League season (17) and he won the Champions League with Real Madrid. With a player like that, "A Selecao" will most likely reach the round of sixteen.
Probably the best African team is Ghana. The "Black Stars" almost reached the semifinals at the World Cup 2010, but they missed a penalty deep into extra time and in the penalty shoot-out, they were beaten by Uruguay. Captain Asamoah Gyan, midfielder Michael Essien and and defender Sulley Muntari are some players Ghana relies on, but the real stars are Kwadwo Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Asamoah has had a great season with Juventus, so maybe he can hold his form till the World Cup.
Football is one of the few sports the United States don't rule. Nevertheless, "The Stars and Stripes" have been present at the World Cups since 1990. Captain Clint Dempsey is one of the most experienced and probably best player in the squad. Together with defender DaMarcus Beasly and supertalent Julian Green, Dempsey will have to surprise everyone if the USA wants to reach the round of sixteen.
My expectation:
1. Germany (winning chance 40%)
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. United States
Germany is always one of the favourites for the World Cup, and this time they surely are again. Manuel Neuer is one of the best goal keepers in the world. Especially Germany's midfield is world class. Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil and Bastian Schweinsteiger are just four of the great German midfielders. The only thing "Die Mannschaft" really needs is a striker. The 35-year old Miroslav Klose is the only real forward in the World Cup squad. I'm afraid this will cause some problems, but I still think Germany will win the World Cup.
The second best team is this group is Portugal. Super star Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in a great form. He broke the all-time record of most goals scored in a Europa Cup I/ Champions League season (17) and he won the Champions League with Real Madrid. With a player like that, "A Selecao" will most likely reach the round of sixteen.
Probably the best African team is Ghana. The "Black Stars" almost reached the semifinals at the World Cup 2010, but they missed a penalty deep into extra time and in the penalty shoot-out, they were beaten by Uruguay. Captain Asamoah Gyan, midfielder Michael Essien and and defender Sulley Muntari are some players Ghana relies on, but the real stars are Kwadwo Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Asamoah has had a great season with Juventus, so maybe he can hold his form till the World Cup.
Football is one of the few sports the United States don't rule. Nevertheless, "The Stars and Stripes" have been present at the World Cups since 1990. Captain Clint Dempsey is one of the most experienced and probably best player in the squad. Together with defender DaMarcus Beasly and supertalent Julian Green, Dempsey will have to surprise everyone if the USA wants to reach the round of sixteen.
My expectation:
1. Germany (winning chance 40%)
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. United States
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