Maple Lions

As compiled by Sports Illustrated. Not a bad list for an American publication but you’ll notice the gaps readily enough, like this one.

Paul Canniff

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Peter Crouch isn’t keen to play a CL qualifier round later this month in Tel Aviv.

Between being the tallest target in the area and his dubious deflecting ability, he may have a point.

Paul Canniff 

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How many times did you hear during this year’s World Cup, “Soccer’s so boring. Why do you guys have those penalty shoot-outs?”, usually from people who have never applied a foot to a ball in their lives?

Chin up, it’s an old battle with shifting sides. Consider this tale from twenty years ago:

In 1974 Fifa awarded the 1986 World Cup to Colombia - but infrastructure and financial problems meant that by 1983 the country was struggling to meet its promises. Realising the prospects of a World Cup in Columbia were slim, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States offered themselves as alternatives for the 1986 tournament.

After Colombia were forced to drop out, Brazil decided they weren’t interested in World Cup 86 after all. And so Fifa, faced with three competing bids, decided in May 1983 to reject Canada and the US in favour of Mexico.

There was much outrage in the US about the decision. Henry Kissinger, the leader of the US bid, even petitioned Fifa for another chance, arguing that the 1986 tournament would revive the fading North American Soccer League (NASL). He was supported by Pele and Franz Beckenbauer - but Fifa’s president Joao Havelange was singularly unimpressed. Fifa claimed their decision was down to logistics - the US bid included venues on the east and west coast, which meant increased travelling times and weary footballers. But the real reason was that they wanted to teach US football a lesson.

In 1981, Fifa had threatened to outlaw the NASL and suspend the US Federation because the NASL had changed the offside line from halfway to 35 yards out and used a shoot-out to decide drawn matches. The NASL refused to back down - and even threatened legal action against Fifa. But what comes around goes around, and two years later Fifa got its revenge by rejecting Kissinger’s bid. With the last hope of reviving the NASL gone, it folded before the start of the 1986 World Cup.

As far as the clash over offsides, I confess to weariness with that issue and love the fact that indoor/small-side footie ignores offsides. But today’s cries that constant play to break a tie versus penalty shots would reduce “boredom” is rather much from people who have no problem stretching one hour of gridiron action over three hours and revel in the ADD-friendly thrills of the NHL.

Yes, the game is about scoring goals but it is the game first and foremost.

Paul Canniff

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Nothing like striving towards the stunningly obvious:

Southampton manager George Burley feels Theo Walcott’s career has gone backwards since he left the Saints for Arsenal in January.

“For me, career-wise, it was the wrong choice for Theo to leave,” said Burley.

“I think he’s played one-and-a-half reserve games since he left Southampton in January.”

Not to mention wasting space that could have been occupied by a qualified England striker.

And potentially becoming the last English member of la Légion Ėtrangère de Londres-Nord

Paul Canniff

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UEFA has ordered Israeli clubs to make plans for their UEFA Cup home qualifiers to be staged in neutral territory.

Security for teams and supporters is a legitimate concern… well, at least for some footie big wheels. Some harsh questions have to be asked about the 2010 World Cup, such as whether fan safety and personal security are going to be safeguarded. Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter and his boys focus on the shiny trappings.

Paul Canniff

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Because the England manager’s job just wasn’t sufficiently precarious, Martin O’Neill takes over at Villa Park.

Mind, if there is a successful bid to take the club out of Doug Ellis’ hands, this could all go down sweetly for folks in the Midlands.  Or maybe not.

Paul Canniff

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This coming week the latest incarnation of Division Two kicks off its 2006/07 season. The Beeb serves up a look at the form of Coca Cola Championship teams, which players to keep your eye on and the full set of fixtures.

And yes, you actually can view Championship matches in North America via Setanta Broadband.

Paul Canniff 

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