Just over two weeks and the real action kicks off. Once again you’ll be watching full bore football at the highest level.  No more suffering through bland friendlies with a lack of pace. The real stars will be back soon, no worries.

Is it the big wages that gear up the action or a secret drive inside? Will Mark Hughes know the answer at his new club Fulham? Surely he’ll relish a chance to take down Manchester City where he was shortchanged. With the possible addition of fellow Wales native Craig Bellamy, a jump in standings seems likely. Under Hughes the attacker has found the net six times in an eight month span.  Zamora, Dempsey, and Bellamy would be a fun trio to watch. If he doesn’t come in, look for Eddie Johnson and Diomansy Kamara to provide support.

The Red Devil’s have laid back with their summer signings. Only young talent has put on the crest so far. Javier Hernandez being the player I expect to have the biggest impact. Impressing in the World Cup and for former club Guadalajara should earn him some playing time. Might see a few injury time winners for the “little pea”. Other signings Smalling and Welbeck are unproven and could see limited big game action. One concern I have is their defensive depth. If they were to face any serious injuries it could cost them a top three finish. You’d think such a big club would make at least one formidable signing.  Fans will surely not be pleased if things remain the same.

Meanwhile City look to hit the jackpot with their numerous transfers. Eventually one signing will turn out to be a huge bargain. Mario Balotelli will probably be the next player added to the collection. Scoring nine goals in 1388 minutes at 19 is pure quality. He fits the mold for top villain at the club everyone loves to hate. With his fee it would put them over $75 million for their three disclosed signings. Now that Mourinho is gone though he may get  his chance to shine with Inter.

The transfer window ends August 31st so there is still time for hopeful fans. Plenty of great deals have been made so far. Birmingham have easily been the best negotiators, spending a total of $14 million on Foster and Zigic. While Wolves may have been forced to pay extra for Steven Fletcher at $7.8 million. His eight goals last season for Burnley might not be worth the fee. The next inflated contract may come for the German Mezut Ozil. However it’s likely he’ll retain his value even if he has a bad season in the EPL. It’s almost a freebie for the club that can name the right price.

 Feel free to comment on the player you’d like your club to sign.

The wait for the Premiership season continues

Chelsea captain John Terry (Zumapress)

With the World Cup coming to a close in exciting fashion it’s hard to look to the future. However spare your energy and let me get your EPL juices flowing. The 1053 goals scored last season is the highest in recent history. Will the trend continue? I believe so with players like Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Didier Drogba , and Darren Bent.

These are just a few of the stars climbing the all time scoring list led by Alan Shearer’s seemingly unreachable 260 goals. He racked up 148 of those with the newly promoted Newcastle United. Will they become an easy target for goals galore like Burnley or stun their opponents like Birmingham City? Other newcomers West Bromwich Albion and Blackpool will hope to continue their fine play and avoid relegation.

Charlie Adam features for Blackpool’s midfield and scored an impressive 18 goals in the championship. While Newcastle features English born Kevin Nolan in their midfield. A player racking up a respectable 17 goals in 44 appearances.

Will these Midfielders be a threat in their new turf? Or will it be a new striker that emerges for the World to enjoy. Either way it will be a pleasure to see some new clubs battle it out in the highly competitive league.

Transfer rumors are also flying which intensifies the hype around the upcoming season. With several big clubs already making moves there is no doubt your favorite side will have some new faces. Many will hope the additions aren’t at the cost of their beloved stars.

Liverpool have yet to release Torres or Gerrard but Benayoun has already been dealt. Manchester City meanwhile are shaking the pitch by bringing in stars Yaya Toure, David Silva, and Jerome Boateng.


Are two Toure’s better than one? We’ll surely see, but the big spenders will have to fight in order to advance higher on the table. Man. United are taking a different approach and producing some capital. Selling off Ben Foster and the unused Zoran Tosic seem like good moves.

How will newly added defender Chris Smalling fare? At the age of 20 playing for the Red Devils will be a pressure cooker. Arsenal meanwhile have laid back only signing Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.

Seeing how the six foot striker transitions will surely be fun to watch. More moves are on the way in the EPL so stay tuned!

Simply Futbol wants to welcome Matt Mariconi to our team. He will be covering the Premiership for us as well as various other leagues around the  world.  You can also check him out on Twitter.

EPL 2010/11: What's to come?

"Offense sells tickets.  Defense wins championships" - Paul "Bear" Bryant

The new legacy of the World Cup-pt.1

Touré against Valladolid (Wikimedia)

If there is one downside to the Culé culture in the past is the way they have let some of their stars in the past. Cruyff, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Stoichkov, Kluivert, Ronaldinho, Deco, and Samuel Eto'o just to name some stars of note. Also include Javier Saviola and Yaya Touré to that list. This has been one thing that has remained constant with Barca brass regardless of who was the president.

When there are players that are ready to make an exit through the back door, what better way to do so than by having a virtuoso performance. Week 38 came around and there were lots of doubts in the Barcelona midfield as Xavi was out due to suspension and Andrés Iniesta was injured. Pep Guardiola started Seydou Keita, Sergio Busquets, and Yaya Touré and people cringed because there was no one that was there in an exclusive creation role. Enter the former Olympiacos man; he showed everyone yet again why he was signed and Barca decided to keep him after his back surgery around this time two summers ago.

That doubt was clearly erased as soon as the Ivorian international started showing his skill with the ball at his feet. His assists to Lio Messi and Bojan Although he was not gliding like Iniesta or being as millimetric as Xavi, Touré has the combination of pace and ability that is a notch below very few others in the world. Yaya was the co-player of that match that handed Barcelona their 20th league title. Let's not get too carried away as they were playing a Valladolid side whose 15 minutes flickered away and their descent into the second division turned from probability to reality. His runs into the box and assists made the difference for the Blaugrana that night.

Touré departure could be bad news for Barcelona

English national team (Sportslogos.net)The two things that came to mind when Fabio Capello put out his 30-man provisional list were:

a) Spurs were rightly rewarded for reaching the Champions League
b) My partner, Julian González must be thrilled to have three Villa players on the list.

Tottenham Hotspur had six players called up by Capello. Spurs forward Peter Crouch will be a vital option for England on offense.  Crouchaldinho will make a second trip to the World Cup.  Meanwhile Jermain DeFoe, Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone, and Aaron Lennon are going to fight at least for a spot in the final 23.  Lennon will be the obvious first choice on the right in place of injured AC Milan and LA Galaxy man David Beckham.


David James gets another shot at age 39 to be the starting goalkeeper for England. The Portsmouth captain became the number one man for Capello when the Italian Don took over the reigns of the Three Lions back in 2008.

The big news of the call up was the inclusion of Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool defender was talked out of international retirement and will come back to be part of England's backline. Carragher, as well as King, have not earned a cap for England under Capello.  

Outside of that, there were no surprises as the players that have been there from the beginning for Don Fabio will be present in South Africa.  

England will be in Group C alongside, the United States, Algeria, and Slovenia.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Birmingham City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur) , Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (West Ham), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)


Players by team
Tottenham Hotspur- 6
Chelsea- 4
West Ham- 4
Manchester United- 3
Manchester City- 3
Liverpool- 3
Aston Villa- 2
Arsenal- 1
Sunderland- 1
Birmingham City- 1
Portsmouth- 1
Everton- 1

Capello confirms England 30-man list

Lineups:

Manchester City: Given – Kompany, Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge, Onuoha – Barry, De Jong, Bellamy, Johnson – Tevez and Adebayor

Manchester United: Van der Sar – Vidid, Evans, Evra, Neville – Schole, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs – Valencia, Rooney

Both teams respected each other a bit too much, and it seemed like the game was just destined to finish goalless. But, in the last 17 seconds of the 3 additional minutes of ET, Paul Scholes broke the deadlock with a gasping header and gave United a victory, scoring his 149th goal with the United jersey.

After the match United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson made the following statement in regards to Paul Scholes: “I decided to put Scholes a bit further forward and it paid off. He was the man of the match today, he was wonderful, and he’s such a skilful player.”

He also added the fact that if they would have not won things could have complicated, speacially with a ten-man Chelsea being defeated by spurs. Chelsea has a one point lead now, instead of four.

Paul Scholes saves Manchester United in the derby

The excitement is building as we get closer to opening match of the 2010 World Cup. Continuing on with the nations in Group C, as England is up next.

Official Name: The Football Association


Nickname: The Three Lions

FIFA Confederation: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA Code: ENG

How They Qualified: Won Group 6 of UEFA Qualifying

World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 13

Best WC Finish: Champions, England 1966

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 55: 25W - 17D - 13L

Head Coach: Fabio Capello

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Peter Shilton (125)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Sir Bobby Charlton (49)

Brief Footballing History:
England's national team is the co-oldest national team in the world along with Scotland. England is considered the home of modern football as we known it and the nation's crowning achievement was the 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil. Names like Alf Ramsey, Geoff Hurst, and Bobby Charlton became footballing legends after 1966.

Since 1966, England has failed to win a major international tournament and hasn't even reached a final. Despite having one of the Top 3 domestic leagues in the world, England's national team needs a World Cup victory to re-establish The Three Lions as a top footballing nation.

Player To Watch:
England is loaded with stars like Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard but the one to watch is possibly the fastest player in the Premiership, Arsenal's Theo Walcott.


Walcott is the successor to David Beckham on the right side and the 21-year old right winger is England's most explosive attacker. The Arsenal man will be a terror to opposing defenses with his speed and dribbling ability. Walcott was a surprise member of the 2006 World Cup but didn't get any PT, he should feature more prominently in South Africa.

Outlook:
Under Fabio Capello's direction, England is looking like a serious title contender much more than in World Cups past. England was impressive in blasting through their UEFA Qualifying group and getting past the group stage will not be enough. The way England has looked under Fabio Capello the motto has to be "Lift the trophy or bust."

WC Group Schedule:
June 12 vs. USA
June 18 vs. Algeria
June 23 vs. Slovenia

Slovenia is the next to be analyzed in Group C

England - WC Team Breakdown

The buzz in the Mexican media is evident and if one were to read all the headlines coming out of the Aztec media there is a sense of pride in the transfer of Javier Hernández to Manchester United.

For many, he might not have needed the Mexican media machine or his position at Chivas to really make a leap of this level. He is sincerely that good and his potential became reality very quickly in his first two years fresh out of the Sacred Flock's youth system.

There was a certain buzz all throughout the Manchester United camp as they signed a player that will have the possibility of replacing Dimitar Berbatov.

He is doing what only two other players have done in the history of Aztec ball- play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.  This is an honor held only by Hugo Sánchez (Real Madrid) and Rafael Márquez (Barcelona).  We all know what paths they have etched in world football.   Many expect him to do great things in England; a place that has seen players like Jared Borgetti fail miserably with much lesser clubs.

His talent was overshadowed by injury as well as the emergence of Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos in the 2005 U-17 World Cup. Hernández was present two years later at the U-20 held in Canada. For the Aztecs he was a welcome addition to the nucleus of the U-17 side that won it all in Peru. That was the first "Chicharito"sighting.

For many, Hernández will be more like Márquez and Sánchez than Borgetti or Cuahtémoc Blanco (Valladolid).  He is one of the few Mexican players to have, literally, all of the tools to be successful on the pitch.

So what type of player exactly did Alex Ferguson sign and what are these tools I am talking about?

First of all, "Chicharito" Hernández is explosive off the dribble. He can blow by defenders from all angles and come at you from different positions if need be. Coming from the right, Hernández will give that support to Wayne Rooney and open even more space for the Premiership's leading scorer- that's a scary thought.

He has the potential to give the Manchester attack a semblance on offense of a consistent threat since Berbatov has failed to do so. 

He creates space with his dribble.  "Chicharito"can changed directions at the drop of a dime.  He can turn a tiny crease in the defense into a gaping hole with just one cutback.   He will be a huge beneficiary of the tough marking that Wayne Rooney endures to make a name for himself, and then feed Rooney after defenses adjust to him.

He is one of those players that plays for his team and that is something that can pay dividends.

"(Chicharito) has great human qualities and is a very good footballer as well."- Chivas coach José Luis Real

Physically, although he seems fragile, he has a low center of gravity which allows his to remain on his feet. This will neutralize the Premiership defenders that will try to out-body him. He has enough smarts 

He is very effective in the air as he can attack the ball. So if there are any taller defenders underestimating "Chicharito", they could be in for a big surprise.

Most importantly, they are getting a player that has the game in his DNA. His grandfather and father have fed him the game since he was in the womb and that does say a great deal. He will adapt well as his close circle has helped him remain focused in his young career.

This influence reflectos on the pitch in the way he carries himself.  Respectful, hard worker, but most of all... hungry for success.  

Accolades have come his way since he has stolen the spotlight in Mexico:

"A potent version of Hugo Sánchez... but without the prepotence."

"A good version of Borja"

"An improved Luis García"

For some those names might mean little, but to his game it is a roadmap that could guide him to success in a league that is as competitive as the Premiership.

Some might not think that is important, but it is. Having a grandfather that played in the 1954 World Cup as well as a father that played in 1986, that is enough help to help him overcome anything that Manchester can throw his way.

If United are patient with Hernández, like that have been with other talented youngsters that have stepped foot onto the Theatre of Dreams, they could witness a player that will accustom fans to be shocked. Of course, there will be a period of adaptation that he will have to endure, but if you know anything about this kid is that he is as mentally strong as they get.

For those of you who might doubt him taking the pressure of the expectations, well one thing is for sure... he handled the Mexican media quite well. Let's be honest the press there pick fights and try to chum the waters as good as any English reporter out there.

Still he was able to succeed and even excel in his humble and respectful ways. The media have actually become his best ally based on his merits on the pitch.

For Manchester fans this could be a refreshing site as he brings a sense of humility to the game. And that could be the first step in enamoring a group of fickle fans.

Manchester have Hernández... so what do they have?

English international Michael Owen with Real Madrid(Wikimedia)

Michael Owen has had a brilliant career, but people know that it was his injuries that hindered him from becoming one of those players that marked a generation.

The Manchester United striker will not be a part of Fabio Capello's plans as it was announced on Friday that he will have to undergo surgery to repair damage that he suffered in his hamstring during the final of the Carling Cup this past Sunday.

"It was a big blow for (Michael)," said Alex Ferguson in a press conference. This news rocked the Manchester United camp as Owen finally settled into his role of supersub for Wayne Rooney. Ferguson mentioned the fact that the severity of the injury was greater than expected.

Owen was becoming a contributor and added depth to the Red Devils bench as a replacement for Carlos Tevez. In his limited appearances due to injury (19) he was able to score three goals. Owen is scheduled for surgery on Monday.

This is not the first time that the English international suffered an injury which kept him out of World Cup play. In the 2006 edition, Owen suffered a severe knee injury in the fourth minute of final group stage match against Sweden.

The former Liverpool star came onto the international scene as England's teenage superstar and made a name for himself especially in the second round match against Argentina as he scored one of the best goals of France'98.

In 2001, Owen led Liverpool to the FA Cup as he served up one of the greatest individual performances seen by the Anfield faithful.

Owen currently finds himself in fourth place all-time on the Three Lions scoring list with 40 goals. He is just behind Jimmy Greaves (44), Gary Lineker (48), and Sir Bobby Charlton (49).

Owen season and World Cup dreams end

We all know that English national team is always at the center of a media blitz regardless of where they go. Its fans, their passion, and the contributions to the game are invaluable (hey, inventing the game means something). The making of Umbro's newest sensation brings together different aspects of men's wear. The 2009/10 England Jersey is part of Umbro's success for close to five generations as England's only football specific sportswear company has been their ability to have concepts from both past and present and still be able to look chic going to the football pitch or anywhere else. Umbro has been responsible for making jerseys that have been worn by Sir Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker, John Barnes as well as present stars like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and David Beckham. This jersey encompasses the spirit, the passion, and the legacy and fashion that encompass the English national team.

What Makes It Unique
The 100% polyester material is ultra-soft and wicks away moisture from your skin making this version of the England national team jersey the the highest performing ever. If you are a fan of intricate patterns and lots of "things going on" from an artistic sense, this is not what the jersey is about. This is why many people in the football jersey design world are split. Once again, this depends what school of though you come from. The jersey shines in its simplicity yet once you wear it you will understand what the hype is all about.

Jersey vs. Polo
What the jersey lacks in "being a jersey" it makes up in its comfort and intricate emphasis on detail. The luxurious feel of this material makes it perfect for evenings out also. The KISS theory is what is most impressive as well as what gives this jersey a retro "softness" along with modern comfort. The makes it look like a polo yet is great to wear while hanging out with your friends at the pub or (why not?) business casual days at work. The national team jersey comes in the short sleeve as well as the long sleeve variety. Wear that jersey and it is light as light gets. Like many footballers out there, they like to have their jerseys fit them well. The average Joe likes that as well and this jersey offers it. No wonder it is one of the hottest selling jerseys in the world.

So whether you are a supporter of the Three Lions or not, this jersey is a great addition to any jersey collection. It is also a testament to the history of the game courtesy of the nation that brought to us all.

Special thanks to Soccerpro.

If you have any questions regarding the product, please do not hesitate to leave a comment or leave an email at madaboutfutbol[at]me[dot]com.





Let us know what you think about the 2009/10 England jersey.

Product Review: 2009/10 England Jersey

VS.

The Champions League semis are set. Barca vs Chelsea and Manchester United vs. Arsenal. For the 2nd consecutive year, Barcelona will carry the flag of non-Anglo clubs in Europe's most prestigious club competition. Obviously as a Barca fan I want Blaugrana to win the trophy but there is another reason why I want Barca to win: Quieting those annoying English football fans.

Living in the states, we are surrounded by a ridiculous amount of attention towards England and its club teams. Its annoying especially for those of us that like Southern Europe and/or South American football. Barcelona represents our only hope to quiet those annoying English fans who think that the Premiership is the best league in the world and flap their lips endlessly.

These next couple of weeks are a test of Barca's mental strength and squad depth and hopefully the combination of those two things will be enough to overcome England's club teams and silence the biased and annoying voices of Anglo-centric fans.

Barcelona, The Last Chance To Quiet England

Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome To Mad About Fútbol's new look site. It looks better and contains everything you still love about MAF, we hope you enjoy and continue to visit the site. As for the business at hand of naming a Team Of The Week. It was an eventful week once again in world football with international club tournaments raging on and domestic champions becoming clearer. The TOW played matches and/or made headlines during the calendar week of April 13-19. The winner is:

CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB (ENG)

The team also known as The Blues had an amazing week of fine results that would be envied by any club in Europe. Chelsea held off a gritty Liverpool team on Tuesday the 14th in the 2nd leg of their Champions League quarterfinal clash. It was a 4-4 classic with Frank Lampard's 2 late goals sealing Chelsea's place in the semis against Barcelona.

On the Saturday the 18th, Chelsea had to face a red-hot Arsenal squad in the FA Cup semis. The Gunners had also advanced to the Champions League semis & came in riding an amazing 18-game unbeaten streak in the English Premiership. The Blues were not intimidated and defeated Arsenal 2-1 as Didier Drogba continued to display his clutch goal scoring prowess with the game winner in the 84th minute. Chelsea will now face Everton in the FA Cup final.

Two massive cup wins in the span of 4 days, that's what the TOW is all about. Therefore, Chelsea Football Club is the Mad About Fútbol Team Of The Week.

2nd Place: Boyacá Chicó FC (COL)

The team from Tunja defeated Aurora 2-1 in a Group 7 Copa Libertadores match on Thursday the 16th and then defeated Millionarios on the road 1-0 in Colombian Copa Mustang I tournament on Sunday the 19th.

3rd Place: Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (BRA)

On Sunday the 19th, O Timão advanced to final of the Paulista State Championship by defeating Sao Paulo 4-1 on aggregate. In the 2nd leg, former Milan & Real Madrid striker Ronaldo set up the first goal and scored the 2nd to give Corinthians a 2-0 2nd leg win and secure their place in the 2009 Paulistão final versus Santos.

MAF Team Of The Week #8: April 13 - 19

Spain chewed England up and spit them out.

There was no other way that the game could be put. It was ironic to have done it to Fabio Cappello's team in Spain. The home side was simply a machine and there was no doubt that they are the best team in the world.

Barca-Pool Give England Spanish Lesson

The ugly shadow of racism and xenophobia are creeping in quickly as the international friendly between Spain and England looms larger. The Commission Against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Hate in Sport has classified this match to be held in Sevilla as a "high risk" match.

Memories of the 2004 friendly at the Santiago Bernabeu still smarts as racist chants rained down from the home of Real Madrid towards the black English players. This action drew the ire of the international footballing community as well as FIFA. The Spaniards will also play this match with a tight leash on them. If any racist or xenophobic incidents were to occur in this match, the Spaniards would face possible suspension.

Acts of racism are still fresh in the minds of English sports fans after Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton endured the harassment of some fans in Barcelona while during a race in Catalunya

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Courtesy-TheImproper.com"][/caption]

English organization Kick It Out has asked for this type of action in the event these incidents would occur.

In lieu of the events that occurred in the Atlético-Marseille matchup, UEFA has also classified the Atlético-Porto and Real Madrid-Liverpool matches as high-risk. Domestically, the upcoming Barcelona-Espanyol match on week 24 and the Sevilla-Atlético match have been given the dubious distinction. The Catalan derby was marked by incidents started by the infamous Blaugrana ultras- the Boixos Nois- began throwing flares from the top tier of the Olimpic Montjuic and into a section where innocent Espanyol fans found their way onto the pitch to avoid the mob of people there.

Spain-England Friendly, Other Matches In Spanish Territory Considered "High Risk"

Over the past few weeks, numerous nations have bid for the rights to host the 2018 & 2002 FIFA World Cup. Since the 2018 World Cup is closer most of the news about host nation bids concerns the 2018 tournament. With 2010 in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil, nations from UEFA, CONCACAF, Asia can bid for the 2018 tournament so the decision on the host nation for 2022 tournament will be impacted by the winning bidder for the 2018 tournament.

Officially, there have been 6 confirmed bids with a bid from CONCACAF nations coming soon. Those nations interested in hosting the '18 & '22 tournaments have until February 2nd to submit an official bid. In Part I, we will look at 4 of the official bids and give an outlook on their chances of winning the right to host The Great Tournament.

AUSTRALIA



The Land Down Under has successfully hosted 2 Olympic Games, 1956 Melbourne & 2000 Sydney as well as 2 FIFA U-20s World Cups in 1993 & 1981 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. Aussies are not strangers to hosting big events and with the Australian A-League in full effect, the stadiums should be up to FIFA standards with infrastructure being a non issue.

Outlook: FIFA President, Sepp Blatter recently suggested that Australia concentrate on 2022 because the 2010 & 2014 World Cups would be in the Southern Hemisphere so Australia might be the front runner in 2022.

BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS

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The bid of Belgium & Netherlands is one of the two joint bids submitted to FIFA. The two main entities of the Benelux countries may be too small to host the World Cup. Right now, between Belgium & The Netherlands there aren't 12 stadiums with a minimum capacity of 40,000 and 1 stadium of a capacity of 80,000 as per FIFA standards for hosting a World Cup, although Belgian officials have plans to upgrade stadiums to meet the requirements.

Outlook: A miracle if they get '18 or '22. Especially with a European joint bid like Spain & Portugal out there.

ENGLAND



The hosts & winners of the 1966 World Cup have the passion to pull off a great World Cup. Stadiums won't be a problem especially since the Stanley Park project for Liverpool will probably be complete by then. If there is a problem in securing England's bid it may internal politics between the hierarchy of the FA & the hierarchy of the Premier League. They will have to grill whatever beef they have and come together to win over the 24 member FIFA Executive Committee.

Outlook: Easily a serious candidate, Spain/Portugal bid is their biggest competition.

PORTUGAL & SPAIN

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The Iberian peninsula threw their marbles in the circle with a joint bid for the 2018 World Cup. The Japan/Korea World Cup of 2002 proved that dual hosts can work. Spain & Portugal have 8 of UEFA's 5-star stadiums (3 in Portgual, 5 in Spain). Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup and Portugal hosted the Euro 2004. Talk is that Latin American members of FIFA's Executive Committee would vote for Spain/Portugal because of the cultural & language similarities.

Outlook: Shocked if they don't get 2018 Tournament. Everything is set up well for a smooth tournament.

Part II is coming to analyze the last two known official bids and a couple of expected bids from CONCACAF that will make FIFA's decision much tougher.

2018 World Cup Bids - Part I

If I had any doubts as to George Metellus being Fabio Cappello's lovechild, they ended after this video began to make its rounds on YouTube. Fabio Cappello left English fans thinking that he prepared the same way as Sven-Göran Eriksson. Others looked at him as ¨Smooth Don Fabio¨ who has experience in social art of being at the something called a strip club.

This was the reverb after the former Real Madrid and current English national team boss appeared on Italia 1 show Chiambretti Night. If he was a little apprehensive, I can give you one word- wifey. He has been married to his current wife Laura for well over 40 years.

For those of you who had any doubts, Cappello did speak. He was candid answering questions regarding Ronaldo, the ¨perfect professional¨ David Beckham, as well as ¨funnyman¨ Antonio Cassano. He also talked about his time at Juventus prior to La Vecchia Signora's relegation due to Calciopoli.

Australian model Dana danced around him seductively and with his uncanny George Metellus-like smoothness, Cappello took in the view without having to sleep on the couch that night when he got home. Hey, they don't call him Don Fabio for nothing.

My only question how did Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb add to the mood dancing in the background?

I am not sure what you'd think... leave your opinion. Here's the vid.

[display_podcast]

Fabio Doesn't Break Character... Or Does He?