Results tagged “World Cup” from 100 Percent Soccer

Now that the U.S.have qualified for South Africa the question arises: should you attend in person?

I will not pretty much for the reasons spelled out by excellent Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl, who just spent seven months in the country while writing the book "The Beckham Experiment," in this article: crime, bad weather (it's winter down there), a lack of transportation options and expensive, hard to come by accommodation.

Even someone who spent years living in South Africa - a certain L.A. Times scribe - cautioned me about going. And after experiencing Germany's excellent transportation system in 2006 (press credentials doubled as unlimited first-class rail tickets to expedite travel between games) that included a memorable fruit and cheese plate/scrambled egg breakfast while whizzing along at almost 200 kph, South Africa is out for me.

Brazil in five years time will have several of the same problems, but at least they're football mad down there.

And I need to save up for Germany 2011 when the Women's World Cup will be held there (hopefully with the same train pass).

I wonder how many other fans will reach the same conclusion?

LONDON (AP) -- England coach Fabio Capello has given a strong indication that Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will make it to a fourth World Cup, hailing the former captain's ability to bring the squad together.

The 34-year-old Beckham made his 114th international appearance as England routed Croatia 5-1 on Wednesday to qualify for next year's tournament with two games to spare. Beckham is 11 games shy of the English record for appearances, held by goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

"He is always with us because for me he is one of the most important players," Capello said Thursday. "He is good in the group. He is good in every moment during the training. Some players are important for the position and morale of the group."

But to make Capello's cut, Beckham will have to leave the Galaxy in January to rejoin AC Milan or find another top European club. Capello said Beckham must stay fit during MLS's offseason.

If Beckham avoids injury or a deterioration in form, he could take Shaun Wright-Phillips'
place on the 23-man roster. Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon are Capello's speedy options on the right flank, but Beckham provides a different threat with precision crosses and free kicks.

Having been left out of Italy's squad for the 1978 World Cup, Capello knows the pain of
missing out on a major tournament.

"I played the qualification for the Argentina World Cup, but I didn't go to Argentina," he
recalled. "I wasn't injured. I just wasn't good enough, and I heard on TV that I was not in
the squad."

While English players speak of fearing Capello, the man himself tries to dispel the image. He doesn't even mind players complaining to him about why they aren't being selected.

"My door is always open," Capello said. "Three players asked me why I didn't play them during this year, I explained why. I respect the players. The players respect me. This is very important."

Capello, who took over from Steve McClaren after the failed Euro 2008 qualification campaign, has nine months to prepare England, seeking its first major title since the 1966 World Cup.

There are two more Group Six matches to play, against Ukraine and Belarus. Then there are likely to be four exhibitions, including a Nov. 14 match against Brazil in Qatar.

"It's important to play Brazil because we will understand what we have to do if we play
against a team like Brazil or Spain," Capello said. "We have arrived at a good level. We
played very well against Croatia. But we have to improve and be better at some moments, some movement with the ball and without the ball."

It could happen.

Notwithstanding the fact U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati held a teleconference this morning to discuss potential venues should the U.S. win another World Cup bid and "declared Los Angeles is a very important market for us."

Notwithstanding the fact Los Angeles hosted more games - including the final - than any other U.S. market in 1994, Gulati observed.

And notwithstanding the fact that with three pro teams, the U.S. Soccer training headquarters in Carson and the largest futbol-mad Latino population in the nation, Southern California is arguably the best soccer market in the U.S.

Southern California could still miss out on another World Cup entirely even though the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were among 70 stadiums in more than 50 markets U.S. Soccer has identified as potential venues.

Why?

Because quite simply (sorry to be so technical here) those two stadiums suck. And there's plenty of competition whether it's new stadiums like Meadowlands Stadium in New York that will open in 2010 or even college town markets such as Lincoln, Neb., and Fayetteville, Ark.

Gulati was asked if the World Cup returning to the area was contingent upon a new stadium being built here and observed that games will likely be considered for "venues that are not built today."

"I would be surprised if there wasn't a stadium development or a redesign planned before the World Cup," he said of the two stadiums in L.A. "I would be surprised if there weren't a better alternative than exists today."

Really? I wouldn't.

Given the bureaucracies - one by a city, the other by a ghastly joint powers authority-type creature - that operate both venues I would be more surprised if anything was done to renovate or replace either venue.

Why would U.S. Soccer be able to do something the NFL can't after years of trying and either build a new stadium or renovate an existing one?

Am I being too pessimistic or hard on those stadiums?

Whaddya think?