The decision is due in December and the hype is getting higher and higher with every passing month. This bidding process is the biggest ever to host a world cup and since FIFA have scrapped the rotation policy that bought the World cup to Africa for the first time earlier this year. A number of countries are bidding from England to Australia.
England:
The English bid is an interesting one as being the "home" of football it is destined to host another world cup. There is also the stadiums aspect. England is very secure in this area. A few renovation are needed in the likes of Bristol and Milton Keynes but no new stadiums are needed. Their transport links are good and the following is massive. England are the favourites for 2018.
Russia:
The Russian bid is a bid that is challenging the English bid. The stadiums may need a bit of a renovation and the dependency on Moscow is a bid point. Four stadiums are proposed including the Luzhniki plus the Spartak and Dynamo stadiums. St Petersburg and Kazan are also named with Yekaterinburg and Samara the smaller cities to have a stadium in the bid.
United States:
The US bid is very strong. Fresh from hosting in 1994 they are keen to host again in 2018 and 2022. The sport needs to be grown which is the objective for this bid. They have the stadiums, transport and accomodation so remain a big favourite.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Barcelona shocked
Barcelona were humbled by newly promoted Hércules. Hércules who hail from Alicante gave Barca a real stunner as Paraguayan Nelson Haedo Váldez netted twice. The first goal Váldez managed to squeeze over the line but his 2nd was pure quality as his strike left Victor Váldes beaten.
The defeat allowed Real Madrid to climb above them in the table after a 1-0 win over Osasuna. A Ricardo Carvalho strike was enough as José Mourinho claimed his first victory as Madrid boss.
Elsewhere on Saturday in Spain, Valencia were 1-0 winners over Racing Santander with dutchman Hedwiges Maduro getting the only goal. Atlético Madrid went to San Mamés and won as Diego Forlán and Tiago both scored to secure three points despite Fernando Llorente following up his strike for Spain in mid-week.
The defeat allowed Real Madrid to climb above them in the table after a 1-0 win over Osasuna. A Ricardo Carvalho strike was enough as José Mourinho claimed his first victory as Madrid boss.
Elsewhere on Saturday in Spain, Valencia were 1-0 winners over Racing Santander with dutchman Hedwiges Maduro getting the only goal. Atlético Madrid went to San Mamés and won as Diego Forlán and Tiago both scored to secure three points despite Fernando Llorente following up his strike for Spain in mid-week.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Names Trappatoni could consider
This Irish team that Giovani Trappatoni as assembled in his two year reign is a nice strong competitive team that does have its pros and cons.
One area many would agree with that is a bit weak is the central midfield. Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews have been the preferred options but just looking around there are a couple of other unlikely names that might well do a good job.
Darron Gibson is one but is already of Trappatoni's radar. Seán Scannell at Crystal Palace is young and raw and may not be ready for internationals for another few years but just looking outside of England and Scotland we have Barry Maguire of FC Utrecht. He did his potential international career no harm with a goal against Celtic a few weeks ago and has come out and said he wants to play for the Irish team. Maguire is a midfielder/defender and could be a useful player due to his John O'Shea style versatility.
Darren O'Dea is another player that has caught the eye and deserves a shout and another is possibly Matthew Cassidy of AEL in Cyprus. Cassidy, a former Bolton trainee is the first Irish player to play in Cyprus and has already featured for the U-21s down the years.
Other players in different positions are highly-rated Union Berlin left-back Patrick Kohlmann. Kohlmann is German-born but has an Irish father and has been solid for Union Berlin since moving from Borussia Dortmund a few years back. Obivously wingers are in a bit of short supply but Kevin Walker of AIK in Sweden is an option out on the wing but can equally play in central midfield so another versatile player. His brother Robert does play in the 2nd tier of Swedish football but is an Allsvenskan ability player and could also be looked at for his versatility in midfield and attack.
New Pacos Ferreira striker Pádraig Amond has proved at League of Ireland level that he is a goal scoring hitman and it will be interesting to see if he gets similar success in the Superliga. Cillian Sheridan has made his way to Bulgaria with CSKA and for the past few years has been knocking on the door for Trappatoni.
In Scotland Anthony Stokes has been exceptional with Hibernian and a few years back Falkirk. Up in Sweden Anto Flood made his name in his short spell with Galway United is a striker/winger.
Just a couple of names there that could make the break to international football. There are up an coming players in England and Scotland too but this was really a post about the Irish players or eligable players abroad in Europe.
One area many would agree with that is a bit weak is the central midfield. Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews have been the preferred options but just looking around there are a couple of other unlikely names that might well do a good job.
Darron Gibson is one but is already of Trappatoni's radar. Seán Scannell at Crystal Palace is young and raw and may not be ready for internationals for another few years but just looking outside of England and Scotland we have Barry Maguire of FC Utrecht. He did his potential international career no harm with a goal against Celtic a few weeks ago and has come out and said he wants to play for the Irish team. Maguire is a midfielder/defender and could be a useful player due to his John O'Shea style versatility.
Darren O'Dea is another player that has caught the eye and deserves a shout and another is possibly Matthew Cassidy of AEL in Cyprus. Cassidy, a former Bolton trainee is the first Irish player to play in Cyprus and has already featured for the U-21s down the years.
Other players in different positions are highly-rated Union Berlin left-back Patrick Kohlmann. Kohlmann is German-born but has an Irish father and has been solid for Union Berlin since moving from Borussia Dortmund a few years back. Obivously wingers are in a bit of short supply but Kevin Walker of AIK in Sweden is an option out on the wing but can equally play in central midfield so another versatile player. His brother Robert does play in the 2nd tier of Swedish football but is an Allsvenskan ability player and could also be looked at for his versatility in midfield and attack.
New Pacos Ferreira striker Pádraig Amond has proved at League of Ireland level that he is a goal scoring hitman and it will be interesting to see if he gets similar success in the Superliga. Cillian Sheridan has made his way to Bulgaria with CSKA and for the past few years has been knocking on the door for Trappatoni.
In Scotland Anthony Stokes has been exceptional with Hibernian and a few years back Falkirk. Up in Sweden Anto Flood made his name in his short spell with Galway United is a striker/winger.
Just a couple of names there that could make the break to international football. There are up an coming players in England and Scotland too but this was really a post about the Irish players or eligable players abroad in Europe.
Republic of Ireland 3-1 Andorra
Tuesday night was a night when we saw the Republic of Ireland make their best start to a qualifying group for any tournament in twelve years but we also saw the other darker side of this Trappatoni team.
Yes 3-1 is a victory and a handy two goal gap which may prove useful in what will be a very tight group but the manner of the side on Tuesday left me a bit worried. I like to take positives out of things so I will start with them.
Kevin Doyle's goal was a superb strike that came from a stumble in the Andorran defense. A goal that was dripping in quality that had serve which beat Gomez in the Andorran goal. Robbie Keane looked a bit off the pace but his clinching goal was well taken and taken by a man with confidence.
the negatives which there aren't many, may prove more desisive against higher class opposition than andorra such as Russia or Slovakia. I aspect was the goal Andorra scored just before the interval. A loss of concentration in the defense allowed Martínez to thunder his strike brilliently past Given is a worry. Shay Given looked shaky with a particular shot in the first half that he managed to parry for a corner. The goal left Given with no chance and it wasn't his fault but the defense needs to improve in a month's time.
Paul Green hasn't made the best of starts to his international career but I did signs of potential of a Roy Keane type of player. Green needs to be given time to adapt and I am sure he will because there is something about him that proberly could give him the edge over say Keith Andrews in the central midfield come October.
Yes 3-1 is a victory and a handy two goal gap which may prove useful in what will be a very tight group but the manner of the side on Tuesday left me a bit worried. I like to take positives out of things so I will start with them.
Kevin Doyle's goal was a superb strike that came from a stumble in the Andorran defense. A goal that was dripping in quality that had serve which beat Gomez in the Andorran goal. Robbie Keane looked a bit off the pace but his clinching goal was well taken and taken by a man with confidence.
the negatives which there aren't many, may prove more desisive against higher class opposition than andorra such as Russia or Slovakia. I aspect was the goal Andorra scored just before the interval. A loss of concentration in the defense allowed Martínez to thunder his strike brilliently past Given is a worry. Shay Given looked shaky with a particular shot in the first half that he managed to parry for a corner. The goal left Given with no chance and it wasn't his fault but the defense needs to improve in a month's time.
Paul Green hasn't made the best of starts to his international career but I did signs of potential of a Roy Keane type of player. Green needs to be given time to adapt and I am sure he will because there is something about him that proberly could give him the edge over say Keith Andrews in the central midfield come October.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Armenia 0-1 Republic of Ireland 3rd September 2010
I must say it was a perfect start to the group. By going to our potentially most difficult away game in the group and win is a great start. Ok it was narrow and at times difficult. A more match-aware Robbie Keane may have given us a win by more than the 1-0 but a win is a win.
The Armenians to their credit will be a tough side for anbody especially in the 35 degree heat that was on show in Yerevan on Friday.
Keith Fahey proved a magical substitution by Giovani Trappatoni as he scored the winner with 15 minutes left.
Confidence for Tuesday night against Andorra. On paper we should have three points and a nice victory of four or five but Just by having six points on the board come Wednesday will be job done.
The tests will start next month with Russia and Slovakia which will be interesting to see if we can pick up at least four points.
The Armenians to their credit will be a tough side for anbody especially in the 35 degree heat that was on show in Yerevan on Friday.
Keith Fahey proved a magical substitution by Giovani Trappatoni as he scored the winner with 15 minutes left.
Confidence for Tuesday night against Andorra. On paper we should have three points and a nice victory of four or five but Just by having six points on the board come Wednesday will be job done.
The tests will start next month with Russia and Slovakia which will be interesting to see if we can pick up at least four points.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)