Wednesday, June 2, 2010

World Cup Cuts

The FIFA deadline for World Cup squads is Tuesday, with each of the 32 teams finally deciding on which 23 men will proudly represent their nations in South Africa. For the coaches doing the choosing, it's the culmination of a long series of cuts.

They start with every eligible male in the population. Then they cut everyone who's not a professional footballer. Then they cut everyone who's not a very good professional footballer and/or they don't have some personal gripe against, and they end up with 30 or so players. Then Tuesday, the coaches make a series of awkward phone calls to the guys who came close but not close enough. Some will be very surprised.

Several big names have heard the bad news recently.

South Africa's Benni McCarthy — the all-time leading scorer for the host nation — didn't quite make the final grade. It has been suggested that he was a little chubbier than international footballers should be, and has shown more commitment to his various clubs (Celta Vigo, Porto, Blackburn, West Ham) than to country in recent years. So he's off the South Africa's World Cup squad.

Italy's Fabio Grosso — the man who scored not only this goal vs. Germany in the 2006 World Cup semi-final, but also the winning spot kick in the 2006 World Cup final shootout — was axed from Marcello Lippi's Italy squad. This came just a week after being included in the preliminary squad. Seems past exploits are no guarantee of future inclusion.

Speaking of which ... The once great Ronaldinho was on Brazil coach Dunga's official 30-man list submitted to FIFA last month, but not on Dunga's publicly expressed preferred list of 23. So Ronaldinho's 2010 dream dies Tuesday, when the final cut becomes official.

The player maybe most surprised to be excluded Tuesday was England's Theo Walcott. He must have been quietly confident. He was called up for the 2006 World Cup squad as a 17-year-old, despite never having set foot in the Premier League. And he scored a vital hat-trick against Croatia during England's World Cup qualification campaign in September 2008. But it wasn't to be. To make things worse, the whole of England this morning.

It's hard not to feel sympathy for the guys above, and others like them. When I fell short of England's World Cup squad in the first round of cuts by virtue of not being anything even resembling a professional footballer, I didn't notice. So it didn't hurt. There were also a lot of professional players who knew they weren't good enough and so they had no expectation of making a World Cup squad. So they probably didn't feel too bad about it either. But to be on the preliminary World Cup squad, within touching distance of the finish line only to be excluded at the very last minute, well, that has to hurt. Because now instead of being involved in the action, they're going to have to watch it on TV with the rest of us. Pass the chips Ronaldinho.

Feel pity for those star players which is not included in the world cup squad.

Robinho happy to be back in Brazil

Robinho

RobinRobinho said Tuesday he was glad he decided to return to Brazilian football and reiterated that he wanted to remain at Santos after his six-month spell on loan from English club Manchester City expires in August.Robinho believed his move back to Santos, where he started his career, in January was the main reason why he is in top form heading into this month's World Cup.
"It was a great decision," Robinho said. "What I wanted was to go to Brazil to prepare and be ready for the World Cup."

Robinho was used sparingly at City and was worried his lack of first-team action would harm his chances of being ready for the World Cup.

His loan deal at Santos ends in August but Robinho made it clear he wanted to stay longer.

"I'm not sure what to expect of my future yet but I hope to stay with Santos," he said.
A potential problem could be that City paid Real Madrid 32.5 million pounds ($58 million) for Robinho and Santos, or indeed any other Brazilian club, will struggle to afford that fee.

Santos was able to sign Robinho on loan only because the player reportedly took a pay cut and several sponsors got involved.

Robinho was City's first signing following Sheikh Mansour's takeover of the club but he did not hit the heights expected at the Premier League side, claiming he wasn't being used regularly by the coaches.

"I didn't even play that bad, I just didn't get the run (in the side) that I wanted," Robinho said. "Football in England is about strength; it's difficult for a Brazilian player to adapt to that."

Robinho's career skyrocketed after he led Santos to Brazilian league titles in 2002 and 2004. This year, he helped the team win the traditional Sao Paulo state championship and reach the Brazilian Cup final, which will be played after the World Cup.

"I've been playing well with Santos and that helped me get prepared for the national team," Robinho said.

The 26-year-old Robinho, who was a reserve in the 2006 team eliminated by France in the quarterfinals in Germany, will be one of Brazil's main players in South Africa.

"Robinho couldn't play the way he likes in Europe," Brazil midfielder Elano said. "But in this World Cup, he will have the chance to show he is one of the best in the world."

Cameroon 1 Portugal 3: Eto'o sees red

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o was sent off during a 3-1 defeat by fellow World Cup finalists Portugal in a warm-up Tuesday.

Eto'o, who on Friday threatened not to go to the finals after criticism about his performances for the team from former international Roger Milla, was dismissed for dangerous play when challenging for a loose ball with left back Duda, his second yellow card of the first half.

Portugal eased to victory with two goals by Raul Meireles and one from Nani. The hosts went ahead in the 32nd minute with midfielder Meireles volleying in from near the penalty spot after a Simao Sabrosa assist.

Eto'o was dismissed moments later and Portugal doubled their lead just after halftime with a bizarre goal when Nani found Meireles on the left wing and his angled cross floated over Cameroon keeper Carlos Kameni.

Achille Webo pulled one back for Cameroon with a header from a Benoit Assou-Ekoto cross on 69 minutes, but substitute Nani added a third for Portugal with a delightful chip after a Ronaldo assist in the 81st minute.


The Picture of Samuel Eto'o

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