Spain Are Champions of the World

By Lance Mazza

Over the past several years leading up to the World Cup, Spain never had a problem scoring goals. That wasn't the case against the rough squad from Netherlands in the final game of the World Cup.

As the final minutes were ticking away, Spain did what they know how to do. They punished the Netherlands and avoided the luck of penalty shots. Both teams were tired and it didn't help the Dutch that they went a man down.

Andres Iniesta was the man to secure the game in overtime. It took 116 minutes for Spain to put the ball in the old onion bag, but it was due to their persistent pressure they had against the Netherlands. It was only a matter of time before someone put one home.

Early on in the tournament it didn't look like Spain would come out champions. They only scored 8 goals in the seven games they've played. However, they still maintained their composure and confidence it pulled through. It can get quite frustrating for a team when you miss as many chances as they did, but clearly they didn't let it get to them.

Things could have been different if the Netherlands capitalized on some of their chances. Arjen Robben had two great chances, one in which some believe is a controversial no-call. If any of these opportunities went in, who knows what would have happened? Instead, they walk away with their 3rd loss in the World Cup finals.

While the Netherlands secured the title as under-achievers, Spain secured the Euro Cup and World Cup titles at the same time. Only West Germany and France have produced such results.

Many experts believe Spain was stronger at the Euro Cup two years ago, which makes their win even more impressive. They weren't the best they've been and were still able to take home the title!

Spain was an extremely deep team. With Fabregas and Fernando Torres on the bench, they had some extra juice to bring in. These tournaments take a serious toll on the players, so having as deep of a team as Spain really goes a long way.

Lance Mazza enjoyed spending his time watching the World Cup games. He's also a passionate basketball fan and player. He's recently written about his favorite [http://basketballset.net/outdoor-basketball-hoop]outdoor basketball hoop and [http://basketballset.net/mini-basketball-hoops]mini basketball hoops.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Spain Wins Final by 1-0

By Gianni Truvianni

Yesterday, Spain with an overtime goal by Iniesta at the 116 minute mark of match beat the Netherlands by 1-0 in what I would call the most boring, unimaginative, uninspired and above all foul infested final I have ever seen. Granted one could say that the 1990 final was not all that great but at least one got to see Maradona, who despite not having anybody to really work with tried all match long to break a solid German defense and did manage to provide a few passes almost out of nowhere while Germany did attempt to attack. Of course the 94 final between Italy and Brazil ended in 0-0 and had to be settled in penalties yet there were sparks of brilliance even if sporadic from the quality players on the field; such as Roberto Baggio, who despite being injured came close to scoring while Romario was a scoring threat through out the entire match.

Yesterday, it seemed that we had two teams who were playing the final not because either wanted to win it but because they had an obligation to do so, with perhaps Spain putting a little more emphasizes at the start though quickly realizing that they did not really have the skill to break the Dutch defense and needed to settle in to a plan of hoping for a vital mistake. The Dutch, at the start for their part seemed to be saying that this was a final and there was no point in trying to win it but just not loose it. This being an idea which the Spanish eventually caught on to as the game became slow and above all boring during most of the first half.

I, for what concerns me would have in all honesty changed the channel or done something else if this had not been a final of a world cup and I believe that I am not alone in the world in thinking thus. The second half seemed like two teams with no more inspiration than in the first yet with more fatigue added on to them. The Netherlands did however produce a moment of inspiration in which Robben was left one on one with Casillas but shot hopelessly; as his effort came far from scoring. Robben even seeming as if he did not really wish to take the scoring chance which had been presented him but did so as he had no other option but to at least try to look like he was attempting to score. David Villa, for Spain would get a clear scoring chance just a few minutes later but shot so wide that the last thing that could have happened was a goal.

The game would eventually end at 0-0 which meant overtime. It being in this overtime that Iniesta beat the Dutch offside trap to put and an end to Holland's hopes of winning their first title while handing Spain victory in the final and above all putting those who watched the match out of the misery of having to see whose penalty kickers could remain more firm under pressure.

In conclusion, I would say that the final was definitely not one which I will want to remember or talk much about yet Spain, to their credit did win and are the 8th nation to become world champion while the Netherlands are now the first country to have lost 3 world cup finals without having won one. Spain also became the first European team to win a world cup outside of Europe and have also given their continent the lead in world cup titles over South America by ten to nine. Europe in fact leading South America in world cup titles for the first time since Italy won the world cup back in 1938.

As a footnote to this match, the most interesting moment in my opinion came when the Spanish sent the ball off the field when Puyol was down and injured. This meaning that according to the etiquette of the game, the Dutch should give the Spanish back the ball which they did through a pass they made to Spanish goalkeeper Casillas which almost ended up going in for a goal. Casillas in fact having to send it for a corner which the Dutch did not use. As they just slowly passed the ball to Casillas on the ground to prevent any chances of an accidental goal.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I also am the author of the book entitled "New York's Opera Society" which is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

What Happened With the USA-Slovenia Match? How a Referee Stole a Win From America

By Geoff James

American soccer fans were outraged by the final score of the USA-Slovenia match in the first round of the 2010 World Cup: a draw. There was good reason to be upset though; Malian referee Koman Coulibaly's whistle blew right before the third goal was scored, rendering it null.

So what was the call for? As star midfielder Landon Donovan said, no one is sure. Whether a problem with language barriers or a simple desire not to explain himself, Coulibaly had no answers for the team or coaches. It is a requirement that each referee submit a written report of the game. Coulibaly's failed to add clarity to the situation, and is not required by FIFA to fully explain any rulings.

And FIFA's policy is to stand behind the decisions of their referees, so it seems that no answer will come further than the cryptic "holding" description of the call on the World Cup Website. FIFA generally does not speak out against or publicly reprimand their referees, no matter how dire their crime. They simply shut them out, which is exactly what has happened to Coulibaly.

The Federation announced yesterday the referee lineup for the second round matches and Coulibaly was conspicuously absent from that list. Because the World Cup referee schedules are released round by round, it is unclear whether he will be removed for the whole competition or just this round. If he is to come back, it will surely be as a line judge or some other support position, and not as a referee.

To enter the next round the US must win their match against Algeria, or if both the US and England end their games in draws, the US must maintain their point lead against England. The goal in question was scored in the 86th minute by Maurice Edu, an astounding comeback in the second half (which began 2-0, Slovenia).

Even if your team doesn't win the championship this year they can come away feeling like champions with high quality marble base [http://www.trophydepot.com/Soccer/C245_1/]column trophies! We have dozens of styles of [http://www.trophydepot.com/Soccer/C245_1/]soccer trophies to choose from.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Referee Report Writing - A Brief Overview

By D. A. Victor

One of the duties of the referee is to submit a written report about the events of the match. A proper match report helps the referee discharged this duty. A poorly written one can subject the match officials to ridicule and raise questions about the competence of the officiating team. Match reports generally require the same information - match date, time, location, teams involve and the names of the officiating team.

Beyond this basic information, a referee must include information on disciplinary action taking during the game (cautions and expulsions), substitutions and goals. On several occasions, the referee must write a separate incident report if a game is not played or if there was misconduct. Such reports should be written with the characteristics of good information in mind.

Relevant

The relevant authorities do not need to know if the sun was shining brightly when reading a report. The details that a referee includes about an event should be relevant to the event - nothing more, nothing less.

Concise

A referee's report is neither a novel nor a linguistic adventure. Instead, it is a factual account of an incident or series of events that gives only sufficient detail, leaving a report that is short and sweet.

Accurate

The referee is the sole authority on events pertinent to the match, but should be careful to get the facts straight. Sometimes, the officiating team might have to report on mass confrontations or instances of violent conduct. It is important to properly identify the persons involved and match player numbers to player names properly. Part of writing an accurate report involves having proper source documents and checking the veracity of those documents before the match has started. An inaccurate report can result in justice not being served.

Timely

At the highest level of the sport, match reports are submitted within hours of the match's end. At lower levels, there is more leeway, but referees should not take more than 24 hours to compose an incident report.

In addition, any incident report in addition to the match report should be properly addressed, dated and signed by the referee. It is advisable that incidents that involve other members of the officiating team (directly or by their observations) should be shared with them before the report is submitted. Usually, a collaborative effort is preferable to an isolated report. Where possible, match officials should have similar details of events, which are not in direct contradiction.

And now, you can read more articles on soccer (with illustrations):

Offside law: [http://hubpages.com/hub/Soccer-offside-offences]http://hubpages.com/hub/Soccer-offside-offences.

Throw in: [http://hubpages.com/hub/Soccer-laws-and-rules-The-throw-in]http://hubpages.com/hub/Soccer-laws-and-rules-The-throw-in.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Holland Unhappy With Referee Webb

By Suresh Iyer

Holland coach Bert van Merwyjk spoke out against referee Howard Webb after his side's 1-0 loss to Spain in the final of FIFA World Cup 2010.

The match deteriorated into a physical tackling contest that resulted in 13 Dutch players earning yellow cards, including two and a sending off by Heitinga.

Van Merwijk felt the referee hadn't controlled the match well, and that his side wasn't the only to have committed fouls.

Dutch supporters heckled Webb and his assistants during the medal presentation ceremony. Webb had a hard job to do in a final that saw a record number of bookings, and several major incidents.

The Holland players earned 9 bookings and were lucky to still have 11 players on the field, in the first half, after de Jong planted his boot on Xabi Alonso's chest.

Holland were particularly upset when Webb refused to award them a corner after a sneijder free kick deflected out of play, off Fabregas. Holland defender Mathijsen earned a booking for protesting Iniesta's goal moments later, that sealed Holland's fate.

Arjen missed a couple of one-on-one chances that were foiled by Casillas in the Spanish goal. During the second of these, Puyol pulled Robben back outside the penalty area. Robben took issue with Webb for a free kick and a second yellow to Puyol. Webb awarded Robben a card for his trouble.

According to Dutch legend, Johann Cruyff, Webb was guilty of creating his own sense of justice and a personal application of rules.

In his 3 previous games of the World Cup, Webb awarded 17 yellow cards.

For the latest sports gossip and news you will not find anywhere else on the Internet, and to download a FREE eBook on the 2010 [http://cricinfosite.com/category/football/fifa-worldcup/]FIFA World Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

One of the Best Goal Keepers in the World Cup - 2010 - Iker Casillas

By Tridipta Ghosh

Iker was born in the year 1980 on May 20th. He is currently a very high level player. He is a player for Real Madrid and also is a captain for the national team in Spanish. In the year 2000 he was the first ever to have been the youngest ever goal keeper who played in the Champions League Final. He was also successful to in that year defeat the Valencia team by a clean of 3-0 and that was just around four days after he turned 19.

He constantly makes up new ways to trains and also spends a lot of time in just finding routines that he can work out. This helps him stay fit and also would make himself be more agile and better at his work. He is a very clean player with no other careers choices, as he is devoted. He is a true football lover and is a dedicated player. He is the perfect player as he has with a very deep and passionate love for the game itself. Iker has been known to train around the clock and also is known to incorporate training into his own daily routines in order to be up to the mark and also to remain fit. He is a good trainer and he also makes a lot of time to work out a lot so as to maintain a good physical set up. In the year 2009 he was voted and made a part of the UEFA team of the year and this had happened for the 3rd time in his career path. In terms of popularity and likeness he is a heart throb for many people and is idolized by many others. People of all ages are familiar with him and he is a hot favorite amongst football fans.

Iker is one such goal keeper who believes that mental training is just as important as the other kind of training that soccer players and football players should undergo as it helps the players all evolve and play the game at a higher level. He trains and plays the game all the time. He has never been known to have problems with drugs or any other kind of problem with abuse of any substance. He is a rule abiding player and is also known to make sure his work is a good example for the younger generation and especially those people who have the intentions to enter the football sport at a professional level.

He is highly recognized and very famous for the many titles that he holds in being the youngest team player to win so many matches as well as make a significant amount of appearances.

Tridipta Ghosh is a successful Freelance writer over 3 years. He has written a lot of articles over so many topics with a great success.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

A Brief History of "South Africa 2010"

By Gianni Truvianni

The world cup "South Africa 2010" was the first one held on the African continent and as such it will for the most part be remembered. Africa in fact being the last major continent to host a world cup, it being a tournament won by Spain. This factor making Spain the first European nation to win the world cup outside of Europe as well as giving Europe a grand total of 10 world cup wins which passed the 9 won by South America. Europe in fact going ahead of South America in total number of world cup championships for the first time since Italy won in 1938.

South America however for its part despite not having overly successful runs by either Argentina or Brazil managed to set two records for their continent. The first being to have all five of their teams qualify in to the round of 16 and four in to the quarterfinals. It was however unfortunate for South America that 3 out of their 4 teams would be eliminated with Uruguay being the only South American team to go on to the semifinals.

Africa for its part despite having the home field advantage only managed to get Ghana in to the round of 16, where they defeated the USA to make it to through to the quarterfinals. It being in the quarterfinals where Ghana would loose to Uruguay yet it was Ghana who could have made it to the semifinals had they just converted a penalty in the last minute of overtime which would have made them the first African nation ever to get to that stage of the world cup.

South Africa 2010 was also marred by bad calls from officials, most notably England's goal against Germany which was not seen by the referee or Argentina's first goal against Mexico which was scored from a clear offside. It being these and several other officiating errors which led to many fans and teams to ask for video and other forms of technology to be used in matches to decide controversial calls.

For myself, perhaps however this world cup was more than a tragedy as Italy not only did not qualify to the second round of a world cup for the first time since 1974 but failed to win as much as a single match. This being the first time ever in the history of Italian football that the national team did not at least win a match. Italy, of course one could say was plagued with problems from the start, such as loosing their starting goalkeeper, Buffon to injury in the first half of their match against Paraguay. It being against Paraguay that they would dominate yet despite of it were not able to get a win which they should have. Against New Zealand, they went down early by 1-0 thanks to a goal which was scored by a player who was clearly on offside yet despite this Italy would tie the game though could have won; if a shot had gone in instead of hitting off the post. It however was in the match which saw them exit the tournament against Slovakia that on one occasion they scored a goal which to me seemed onside though not to the referee. It also being in this match that an Italian shot was cleared off the Slovakian goal line which might have gone in for a goal though it is hard to tell with certainty from the angels presented during the match. I, as an Italian fan and total supporter would say that Italy's performance was substandard for our team which has won four world cups yet it did not have to end so quickly in the first round and perhaps if a few factors had gone differently it would not have.

Regarding interest moments, this it did have and I would say they are as follows.

First Round

1. Slovenia 1 Algeria 0
This was the first game ever played in a world cup on a field which was not 100 % natural grass.

2. Germany 4 Australia 0
In this game three Foreign born players scored goals for Germany. Klose and Podolski were born in Poland while Cacau was born in Brazil.

3. Brazil 3 Ivory Coast 1
In this game Brazil's Fabiano scored a goal in which he clearly used his hand twice yet the referee saw nothing or perhaps did not care to say anything as he in a jest suggested to Fabiano that he was allowing him to get away with blatantly breaking the rules.

4. South Africa 2 France 1
South Africa despite winning this match became the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round of a world cup.

Round Of 16

5. Ghana 2 USA 1
US President, Obama's father was born in Ghana which makes him half Ghanaian and half American. This perhaps creating conflict for the American president for whom he should cheer for.

6. Germany 4 England 1
In this match England's Lampard scored a clear goal in the first half which would have brought England level with Germany at 2-2 yet the referee failed to see that the ball had crossed the line. It being a shot similar to the one Hurst got a goal on in 66 though the goal was given despite the ball not going in while on this occasion the goal was not given though the ball did in fact cross the plain of the goal. England and Germany also played each other in the round of 16 for the first time which made them the only two teams to have played against each other in every phase of a world cup past the first round.

7, Argentina 3 Mexico 1
In this match Argentina's first goal scored by Tevez was a clear offside with not even one player standing between Tevez and the Mexican goal at the time of the pass.

Quarterfinals

 8. Uruguay 2 Ghana 1
In this match Uruguay's Suarez prevented a Ghanaian goal by stopping it with his hand on the goal line which gave Ghana a penalty which they missed in the last minute of overtime. This causing many Africans to feel they were cheated and calling his the "hand of the devil". This as opposed to Maradona's "hand of God".

9. Spain 1 Paraguay 0
In this match both teams missed penalties, almost within a minute of each other. It being Paraguay who failed to convert on their spot kick followed shortly by Spain who likewise failed on theirs.

Match For Third Place

Germany 3 Uruguay 2
In this match Germany and Uruguay became the first two teams to face each other twice for third place. The first time being in Mexico 70 where Germany won by 1-0.

Final

Spain 1 Netherlands 0
With this win Spain became the first European nation to win a world cup outside of Europe and Europe overtook South America for the first time since 1938 for having won the most world cups.. The Netherlands, for their part became the first nation to loose three finals without having won at least one.

In conclusion, I would say that the world cup South Africa 2010 was the worst ever played and it was not really a matter of not enough goals being scored or too much defensive play like in Italia 90 but of teams seeming as if they were weak or simply did not care to win. This perhaps due to the long seasons most of the players are made to endure by their very demanding European clubs which undoubtedly took its toll. It being a case that players through out the year are made to play sometimes as many as three matches a week and contrary to some sports do not really get an off season since they also have to play for their national teams.

I, for my part got the impression that none of the teams were really playing well or were all that good. It being a case of them being able to give a good performance or perhaps two but not being teams of the great quality of some in the past. It also being a case of several great players of the time, who in my opinion are not as good as those from generations past; simply not showing what was expected of them. This specially applying to players like Kaka, Ronaldo and Ribory, who perhaps had too much pressure heaped on their shoulders not only by the media but their fans back home.

Another factor which in my opinion influenced mediocre performances by the usual powerhouses like Italy and Brazil was the fact that both these nations were caught between generations. This meaning that the new generations were still too young while their more experienced players were simply too old. This being what can be called a world cup which was used to develop future generations. This perhaps being what will lead to both Italy and Brazil coming back very strong in the next world cup and perhaps once again playing for top honors yet hopefully it will be the "azzuri" to once again come out on top.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I also am the author of the book entitled New Yorks Opera Society which is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Football Reform - Why FIFA Should Support Nigeria

By Joseph Ezie Efoghor

World football history can never be complete without Nigeria, because of her great exploits in the soccer world. The African giant has achieved what so many countries (developed and underdeveloped) have not been able to achieve. FIFA therefore needs to support her on the steps she has taken to reform the game of soccer and make her national teams a force to reckon with again.

The recent performances of Nigerian teams in both continental and world football have been appalling, considering the nation's rating and previous achievements in both male and female football. For instance, the Nigerian Golden Eaglets was the very first team in the world to win the U-16 world cup (China '85); they have now won a total of three editions, and also played in three other finals.

The U-20 national team has also played in the final in 2 editions (Saudi '89 and Netherlands 2005), and staged the greatest comeback in the U-20 history, where they came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the USSR on penalty kicks. The U-23 team became the first African side to win an Olympics gold medal (Atlanta '96), after beating Brazil and Argentina in the semi final and final respectively.

The Super Eagles participated in the FIFA world cup for the first time in USA '94, and got voted as the most entertaining team, after treating the world to great soccer artistry. They were even rated 5th best team in the world (FIFA ranking). So far, the Super Eagles have won 2 African Nations' cup titles (1980 and 1994), 4 silver medals (1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000), and 7 bronze medals.

The Female national team (The Falcons) has won 5 consecutive African Women Championship titles (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006); participated in all Women world cups till date, and also participated in all female Olympics football competitions. They even got to the quarter finals of the USA '99 female world cup, where they were eventually edged out by the Samba girls of Brazil. The female U-20 has also been to all the female U-20 world cups.

The country has also hosted 2 nations' cup tournaments (1980 and 2000); hosted the world U-20 championship (1999), and the world U-17 (2009), and did remarkably well as host.

However, the fortunes of the Nigerian national teams dwindled recently; in 2008, the Super Eagles got their worst Nations' cup outing in Ghana, where they failed to win silverware for the first time since 1984. The U-20 team failed to get beyond the second round in Egypt (2009); while the U-17 failed to qualify for the African championship, having been knocked out by little known Benin Republic in the qualifiers (They only participated in the world cup as host in 2009).

Our female team (The Falcons) lost the last edition of the African women championship to Equatorial Guinea; and they even failed to reach the final.

In South Africa 2010, the Super Eagles failed to advance beyond the group stage, losing to Greece and Argentina, thereby making Greece win a world cup match for the first time. The performance of the team was less than impressive and has actually drawn condemnation from soccer fans worldwide.

The world soccer governing body therefore needs to support the effort being made by the Nigerian government to reform her football, instead of declaring a war against the nation. We understand tournaments would not be exciting without Africa's best team; we should at the same time remember it would be ridiculous if we participate and lose scandalously. It makes sense therefore for the country to go back to the draw board for sometime to try to fashion a way to improve the fortunes of her teams.

When they have fully reorganized themselves, they would come out more entertaining, more result-oriented and better focused. They would add colours to FIFA organized tournaments and help attract more fans, which would translate to better earnings for FIFA. Africa would be happy to see Nigeria bounce back and win more trophies for her.

Joseph Ezie Efoghor is a sports analyst and professional nurse with years of practical experience. He writes on variety of topics which you may find beneficial to you. For more on his write-ups visit http://efoghorsportsarena.blogspot.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Foreigners Give Germany 4-0 Victory Over Australia

By Gianni Truvianni

Germany with the help of foreign players defeated Australia by a score of 4-0 in a performance which I would qualify as solid but hardly brilliant yet in the typical fashion of German football which is efficient and consistent; did manage an impressive victory. As for Australia though they did have a clear opportunity 3 minutes in to the game, it did not take them long to fall behind on the score board when Podolski (Polish born) scored Germany's first goal in the seventh minute of the game. Germany would then go on to get their second when 25 minutes in to the game, Miroslav Klose (also Polish born) scored his first goal in this world cup which makes him not only one of a few players to score in three world cups but gives him a total of 11 world cup goals. This number placing him in a tie with Hungary's Kocsis for fifth place on the all time goal scorers list in world cup history.

The half however despite German domination would end with Germany only leading by two zero. As in all reality a third goal would have come if not for Australia's Neil who cleared the ball just as it was about to go in for what would have been Germany's third in the first half.

The second half got underway with some controversy, as the ball clearly did strike the hand of a German player inside the penalty box (similar like it did in Mexico's match against South Africa) yet the referee ruled it accidental. Germany however did continue to attack and it would be at the 67 minute mark of the game that a third goal would come from Muller; who with a perfect shot off the bar managed to score his first goal of the tournament. It was then that Germany secure in their win and with three points in hand got their fourth goal just two minutes later when Brazil born Cacau scored his first goal of the tournament. This goal coming on Cacau's second touch of the ball which he delivered to perfection in to the Australian net.

In conclusion, I would say that Germany was solid and did what they had to do to get a good result and should have no problems going through to the next round though all is possible. As for Australia, in all honesty I would say that they did not play as badly as the result might indicate but will have to do their utmost for a win against Ghana, who will be undoubtedly be looking for a victory which would pretty much seal Australia's fate; as well as qualify them in to the next round.

In a footnote, I find it strange that in four of the eight matches which have been played so far; a goal was scored within the first 7 minutes of the game. This in and of itself being something which I do not think has happened before in any other world cup though this I declare not with certainty.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I also am the author of the book entitled New York's Opera Society which is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Lionel Messi Or Diego Maradona - Who is the Greatest Footballer of All Time?

By Dan Fresh

Lionel Andrés Messi has been making all the headlines in the soccer world recently, he is undoubtedly the best footballer in the world at the moment, but such is the media obsession with the 22 year old genius from Rosario, Argentina, that some pundits are actually starting to say that Messi is now the greatest player of all time. Is this possible? Or is this just media hype?

There is no doubting that Messi has achieved an awful lot in terms of club football at such an early age. He was nominated for several FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or nominations by the tender age of 21, and then won both at the age of 22. Messi's playing style, skill and ability have drawn many comparisons to fellow countryman, Diego Maradona, who has himself declared Messi as his "successor". However, can we seriously consider Messi to be a better player than the Argentinean legend?

Let us look at the facts. Diego Maradona also had a tremendous club football career, for Boca Juniors, Barcelona and in particular, Napoli. It was at Napoli that he elevated the team to the most successful era in their history. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their only Serie A Italian Championships in 86/87 and then in 89/90. They also came second in 87/88 and 88/89, as well as winning the Coppa Italia in 87, the UEFA Cup in 89 and the Italian Supercup in 90. Also Maradona was the top scorer in Serie A in 87/88.

Meanwhile, although Messi is winning every trophy in sight with Barcelona, it is arguable that they would do so anyway whether he was in the team or not. This is possibly the greatest club side that there has ever been and includes two of the other top 5 players in the world, in Xavi and Iniesta. However good Messi has been for Barcelona, he has not had the impact that Maradona had at Napoli.

Although at club level, there is not much in it between the two Argentinean geniuses, that is not the case at international level. Messi's record is average to say the least when he plays with Argentina, whereas Maradona's record with Argentina was second to none. Maradona won the World Cup in 1986 with a very average side, putting in unbelievable performance after performance. He then took an even worse team to the final in 1990, although they ended up losing to Germany.

Yes, Messi is the best player in the world. Yes, he is still young and who knows, one day he may well challenge Maradona as the greatest player ever. However, to compare Messi to Maradona at this stage is sheer nonsense and is clearly just media hype. Can we even compare him to the likes of Pele, Zidane, Cruyff and Platini at the moment? I doubt it to be honest, but World Cup 2010 could be the stage where he starts to put forward his credentials.

Where can you get retro Diego Maradona football shirts? [http://retrofootballshirts.net]Retro Football Shirts features a number of different [http://retrofootballshirts.net/argentina-retro-shirts/]Argentina retro shirts, including Diego Maradona football shirts.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Lionel Messi Secrets and Facts

By Raul Guerridos

South Africa World Cup 2010 is around the corner and fans from all over the world can't wait to watch current soccer stars go head-to-head during the much anticipated tournament. On June 11th 2010, South Africa the host country will kick-off the tournament against Mexico which will be the first game of group A which is composed by South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, and France. Although millions of fans are expected to watch the opening ceremony, many more are expected to be glued to the TV on June 12th which is the day Argentina will play its first game of the tournament against Nigeria. The reason for the increase in viewers is not because this is a classic, but because of Argentina's young star Lionel Messi.

At merely 22 years old, Lionel Messi has been named the best soccer player in the planet already and has won championships with his current team Barcelona FC.

Lionel Messi is a small mid-fielder with heart of a lion. He is only 5 feet 7 inches making his ball handling skills and noticeable lower body strength a sight for sore eyes for the hard-core soccer fans. His soccer skills are so impressive that has been compared to the Argentinean legend Diego Maradona. Messi moved to Europe with his family at an early age, and his soccer skills were developed by Barcelona FC. In the 2004-2005 Spanish soccer league (La Liga) Messi was the youngest player to debut in a team in La Liga and the youngest to score a goal in an official game in La Liga.

Although the Argentinean national soccer team struggled to qualify for this summers World Cup, all eyes will be on this team because its heart and soul is named Lionel Messi.

Watch the new moves Messi has reserved for the upcoming World Cup 2010 [http://messi-barcelona-fc.blogspot.com/]The moves Messi plans to utilize during the FIFA World Cup 2010. Also learn about his humble begining in the Spanish La Liga.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Lionel-Messi-Secrets-and-Facts&id=4111992] Lionel Messi Secrets and Facts

The Italian National Soccer Team

By Brad J. Barrett

Italy are second only to Brazil when it comes to success in the FIFA World Cup, and the current side secured qualification to the 2010 tournament in South Africa on October 10th 2009 with a draw against the Irish Republic. They will be defending the crown they won in Germany in 2006.

Italy has won the World Cup four times and has given the entire soccer world some of the finest moments international soccer has ever seen.

Under the leadership of legendary manager Vittorio Pozzo the Italian national side won the first two World Cup competitions in which they competed, 1934 and 1938, so it is not unheard of for a side to successfully defend their World Cup title as the current side hopes to. They also won the tournament in 1982.

The most capped player in the history of the Italian national team is still a member of the current team. Fabio Cannavaro of Juventus will be almost 37 years old in June 2010, and has received a record 132 caps since making his debut on an international level in 1997. He was the captain of the victorious 2006 squad.

In fact many of the players from the victorious 2006 side are expected to return to World Cup action in 2010. The average age for the current Italian team members is higher than many other nations, with just 4 of the 22 players who are regular team members under the age of 25.

After the 2006 World Cup, manager Marcello Lippi decided not to renew his contract and retire from soccer management. However, under the management of his replacement, Roberto Donadini, the side faltered, failing to make it out of the quarterfinals at the 2008 European Championships. After that disappointing result, Donadini was fired and Lippi coaxed out of retirement to rebuild team morale in time for 2010, a feat he seems to have achieved rather well if their qualifying campaign is any result.

For the 2010 Cup, Italy was drawn into Group F with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. This particular group shapes up to be one of the easiest groups of the eight first-round groups, and Italy clearly has to be the favorite to finish in the top two and advance to the second round.

Brad Barrett is the founder of SoccerTools.com, a resource for all soccer fans with a current blog on US, English and World Cup soccer and reviews and information on how to buy soccer equipment such as [http://www.soccertools.com/World-Cup-2010-Jerseys/]World Cup jerseys, soccer balls and [http://www.soccertools.com/]soccer goalkeeper gloves.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Team Profile - Brazil

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Team Profile - Brazil
By Suresh Iyer

Brazil are the only team to have figured in every World Cup final from the time the event began, in 1930. In this year's edition, the five times champions are arguably placed in the toughest group G, along with Ronaldo-led Portugal, Drogba inspired Ivory Coast, and North Korea.

Brazil will aim to head their group, so as to meet the second team from group H, most likely, Chile. They will be tested by Ronaldo-led Portugal, and should they fail the test, will probably have to face Spain, in the second round. Incidentally, European champions Spain are the bookmakers' favourite at this world cup, and Brazil could face the prospect of an early exit. Assuming that the South Americans do head their group, and meet Chile, their strongest challenge is likely to be the Netherlands, in the quarter final, possibly followed by England in the semi-final.

Barring a 2-1 defeat by Bolivia, Brazil had an excellent campaign en route to qualifying for the 2010 finals. The 2009 Confederation Cup was the icing. Coach Dunga who is yet to announce the final squad of 23, has an embarrassment of riches, to choose from, with the likes of Luis Fabiano and Robinho in the forward line, Kaka and Luis Ramires in midfield, and Julio Cesar in goal. That a midfielder of the calibre of Ronaldinho is not assured of a place in Dunga's team is sufficient proof of Brazil's strength.

Can you blame Brazil's army of fans for licking their lips in anticipation?

For the latest sports gossip and news you will not find anywhere else on the Internet, including everything else you want to know about   FIFA World Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger. His new blog on sports is fast becoming popular, as it is backed by comprehensive knowledge and research.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Why You Need to Watch the 2010 World Cup

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=M_James]M James

If you're looking forward to the 2010 World Cup then you'll be getting behind your team, planning World Cup parties and generally getting excited about this most prestigious of sporting events. Even if you're not a keen football fan, you're still likely to get swept along, and take at least a passing interest.

Here's why you need to watch the 2010 World Cup.

1. There will be lots to interest you even if you're not a football fan. As the tournament is in South Africa, there's bound to be lots of amazing scenery, wildlife and other events to see before the game.

2. If you are a football fan, but you're country didn't qualify, you'll be able to watch lots of exciting players to watch, and speculate as to which players will sign for new clubs. Who will your team sign?

3. Because the time difference isn't too great, you'll be able to watch lots of matches without having to stay up late or get up early. You shouldn't need to take much time off work so that you can watch your team. This makes a change from the 2002 World Cup that was held in South Korea and Japan, and had a huge time difference.

4. There are lots of teams to support if your country didn't qualify. Perhaps you'll choose a neighbouring country, or one of the favourites for the tournament. Maybe you'll choose to support a nation based on a player who plays for your team, or on their kit.

5. There's always a nation that are plucky underdogs and do better than expected. Perhaps you'll want them to do well, or maybe they're in your country's group and you won't want them to do well.

6. This year should see the best viewing quality yet. With bigger screens and better quality TVs and improved HD streams, you'll be able to watch the games with more clarity and in more detail than ever before.

7. By going to your local bar, instead of staying at home, you'll experience lots of camaraderie, and make new friends, and enjoy the football even more.

8. If you're well organised, you can spend more time with friends and family watching the game at your local bar. Perhaps you'll also take some holiday at this time, and make the most of the World Cup.

9. You'll want to get behind your nation and support them. Perhaps the World Cup draw for the knockout stages will bring up old rivalries, or perhaps there will be some contentious decision that.

10. This year's World Cup should be best sporting event ever, and will be watched by millions of people worldwide. Because the event is in South Africa, the whole continent will have an added interest in the World Cup this year, and will inspire many people, all over the world, to start playing football.

Now you know more about why you should watch the 2010 World Cup, why not get yourself organised and watch it with your friends in your local bar?

If you're looking for somewhere to watch the World Cup, your local [http://www.revolution-bars.co.uk/bars/index.php]Revolution bar is the ideal place. With big screens to watch the match on, excellent food and drink offers, and a fantastic atmosphere, you'll win at Revolution, even if your team doesn't. Why not book your own private [http://www.revolution-bars.co.uk/lovetoparty/book-your-world-cup-party/]World Cup Party today to avoid disappointment?

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup - The Rainbow Country!

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

The Host Country

In 1992 and 1993 the national team participated in the World Cup elimination round for Africa, but it lost to Nigeria. Subsequently, SA made its World Cup debut at the XVI FIFA World Cup in Paris in the late 1990s.  It all started when in August 1997, South Africa beat Congo, 1-0, and advanced to the 1998 World Cup. In the first round, it finished third in its group, behind France (host country) and Denmark. The squad lost to France, later world champ, 0-3. Then, it tied with Denmark (1-1) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2-2). The men's soccer team, under the leadership of Clive Barker, finished 24th, ahead of Scotland, Bulgaria, South Korea, Japan and the United States of America.

Country Profile: South Africa

SA lies in southern Africa and surrounded by Namibia, Zimbabwe (known as Rhodesia until 1980), and Botswana to the north, by Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland to the east, by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. On the other side, the tiny country of Lesotho is located within South Africa.

The Republic of South Africa covers an area of 471,009 square miles. Unlike several nations in the world, it holds three capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). SA has a population of approximately 49 million. Politically, the nation is a constitutional democracy.

On the economic side, it has one of the most important mineral resources on Earth. Since the 1960s, SA is the world's biggest producer of gold. As a result, it is sub-Saharan Africa's most-developed country. In recent years, the nation has hosted many world-class events, including the Pan African Games.

World Cup Tradition

Soccer is one of the country's most popular sports. By 1996, the South African squad upset Tunisia and won the African Cup of Nations. At the beginning, SA, host country, was a heavy favorite in the event. They won the event by scoring 11 goals, with only 3 scored against them. The next year, the nation qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and finished 18th. Later, it was runner-up at the African Tournament in 1998, ranked behind Egypt. That year SA also competed at the 1998 World Cup. Four years on, they placed 17th in the global tournament in South Korea and Japan, outpacing Portugal, Russia and France. In the first round, the national squad dramatically lost to Spain (3-2). However, the South African squad beat Slovenia (1-0) and tied with Paraguay (2-2).

The 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup was scheduled for South Africa. Before a crowd of 40,000 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, the host country lost to Spain 3-2 (and finished fourth). During the preliminary round, they had defeated New Zealand ( winners of the 2008 Oceania Football Confederation) and tied with Iraq (winners of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup). That year, the national team came in 15th place in the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Egypt.

In an effort to improve its game, SA is working hard with Carlos Alberto Parreira, one of the world's best coaches. In the past, SA had worked with several foreign coaches: Theodore Dimitru (Romania), Philippe Troussier (France), and Carlos Queiroz (Mozambique), as well as Joel Santana (Brazil) and Stuart Baxter (United Kingdom).

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?South-Africa-2010-FIFA-World-Cup---The-Rainbow-Country!&id=3604741] South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup - The Rainbow Country!

South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup - All About France!

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

The Road to South Africa!

France's national soccer team captivated many thousands of fans in the world during the 1998 when they earned the global tournament. For the first time, the national team won the World Cup. Led by its star Zinedine Zidane, the Europeans beat Brazil 3-0 in the final. They had never reached the final of the World Cup that its rival had won four times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994).On the other side, many people hailed the team's achievement as one of the greatest sporting moments in French history. Aside from Mr Zidane, France has produced great football players such as Just Fontaine, Michel Platini, Manuel Amoros, Luis Fernández, Jean Tigana, Eric Cantona, and Alain Giresse. At the same time, there are a few world-class coaches: Henri Michel, Jean-Michel Cavalli, and Philippe Troussier.

Country Profile: France

The Republic of France is located in Western Europe. It is bordered by eight countries: Spain and Andorra to the south, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland and Germany to the east, Luxembourg and Belgium to the north. It covers 211, 200 square miles (more than twice the size of Nevada, US). Over 65 million people live in France. Paris is the capital city. The country's other cities include Lyon, Marseilles, and Lille. Economically, it has long been among the world's most industrialized nations. On the other side, France is very famous for its notable women, from Joan of Arc to Madame Marie Curie and Marie-Jose Perec, scientists, gastronomy, multiethnic society, and tourism. Annually, over 70 million foreign visitors came to France's palaces, fashion boutiques, museums, galleries and luxury restaurants. This country is home to the UNESCO. Finally, France is the birthplace of Jules Rimet, one of the architects of the FIFA World Cup.

World Cup Tradition

The European nation made its World Championship debut in the early 1930 when it participated in the first global event. Subsequently the men's soccer team competed in Rome'34. Between July 4 and 19 July 1938, the III World Cup was held in Paris, where the host country came in eighth place. From the 1950s to 1970s, the European republic appeared in the 1954, 1958, 1966 and 1978 events. By the early 80s, the national team came in fourth place, after Italy, West Germany and Poland. Meanwhile, it finished fifth at the Games of the XIX Olympiad in the United Mexican States.

The biggest surprise of the 1984 Olympic Games was France. The national team was all but unbeatable in the event and picked up a gold medal for the first time, at the expense of Brazil and Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Meanwhile, they provided one of the most interesting moments of the Olympics when they defeated Brazil. As a result, they were one of the favorites to win the 1986 World Championship in Mexico City, along with Brazil and Argentina. During that event, France, lead by Michel Platini, placed third, outpacing Brazil and England. In spite of these gains, between 1990 and 1994, it could not qualify for the global tournament. In that time, Paris was awarded the 1998 World Cup. On July, 12 1998, France defeated Brazil team 3-0 and became the sixth host country to win the men's football World Championship. It won all seven of their matches. In the first round, they beat South Africa (3-0), Saudi Arabia (4-0), and Denmark (2-1). In the next round, it defeated Paraguay 1-0 and Italy (4-3). With a victory over Croatia (2-1) in the semi-finals, France qualified for the finals for the first time.

The men's soccer team was runner up in the 18th World Cup in Germany. This tournament was the 13rd World Cup in which it has participated. Last year France became one of the 32 national teams to qualify for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup - All About Paraguay!

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

The Road to South Africa 2010!

From an Olympic perspective, Paraguay is a unique nation in the Western Hemisphere. Why? This landlocked nation is famous for its competitive athletes. Against all odds, by 1987, the Paraguayan tennis team made world headlines when they, led by Victor Manuel Pecci, defeated the United States 3-2. That day was very special for the South American country. But Paraguay has had other greatest performances in sport. Without the economic power of many Olympic nations, the FIFA 2010 World Cup will be the fourth appearance in the World Cup for Paraguay, a record in the world's developing countries. Since then this Spanish-speaking nation has been home to many top soccer players, including Casimiro Avalos, Jose Luis Chilavert, Roberto Cabanas and Julio Cesar Romero.

Country Profile: Paraguay

Paraguay is a Spanish-speaking nation located in the heart of South America. This landlocked country has an area of 157,000 square miles (406,752 km) and surrounded by Bolivia to the north, by Brazil to the west, by Argentina to the east. With more than six million people, Paraguay - about the size of California-- is among the most sparsely populated countries in the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, it is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the region. Meanwhile, Asuncion is home to the country's capital city. By the early 1810s, Paraguay became one of the first independent nations of the world. Historically, the Latin American republic was a dictatorship until 1989 when the nation's ruler Alfredo Stroessner was overthrown by Andres Rodriguez.

World Cup Tradition

The FIFA recognized Paraguay as a member in 1925. In 1922 and 1929, Paraguay was runner up in the South American Tournaments in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). In the next year, by mid-1930, Paraguay was one of 13 countries to make its World Cup debut in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital. In this event, it finished eight, outpacing Romania, Belgium and Mexico. In the latter part of the 20th century, the men's football team competed at the IV World Cup in Brazil. Meanwhile, it became South American champion in 1953. Between June 3 and June 29, 1958, Paraguay ranked 12th in the global tournament in Stockholm (Sweden).

On July 27, 1965 in Luque (Paraguay), was born Jose Luis Chilavert, one of Latin America's top athletes in the 1990s. During that period of time, he had a great career as goalkeeper. He played for Velez Sarfield (Argentina), Zaragoza (Spain) and other foreign teams. Under the leadership of Chilavert, one of the nation's three most popular idols, along with Pecci and Augusto Roa Bastos (novelist), Velez Sarfield won many international titles, including the Copa Libertadores (1994), the Copa Interamericana (1994), the Intercontinental Cup (1994), and the Supercopa Sudamericana (1996). In 1995, 1997 and 1998, he was named as the world's best goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

By the late 1970s, the men's soccer team placed second in the Youth South American Tournament. Subsequently, it ranked among the top seven teams in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Tokyo, Japan. This team was the nucleus of the country's team for the Mexico 1986 FIFA World Cup.

At the FIFA 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the men's football squad qualified for the semi-finals and was one of the thirteen best teams on Earth. In the years that followed, by 1992, the men's soccer team qualified for the Barcelona Summer Olympics, where it finished eighth, ahead of America, Kuwait, Colombia, among other teams. In Spain, Paraguay was one of two teams that made its Olympic debut.

By the end of the 20th century, the men's football team took part in the global tournament and placed 14th. During that event in France, they beat Nigeria (3-1) and tied with Bulgaria (0-0) and Spain (0-0). In the next round, the hosts beat Paraguay 1-0.

By the early 2000s, the country, with a team that had been together over the years, picked up the ticket for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. During the course of the decade, it finished a surprise second at the 28th Summer Olympics in Greece, the nation's first Olympic medal. Subsequently, the South American nation qualified for the 2006 global tournament in Germany and placed 18th, ahead of Poland and Croatia. In 2009, the men's football squad, won the right to participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

The Sports Nation

By Jimmy Tong



In this day and age, it is very difficult to find a country that does not have a strong emphasis to develop a Sports Nation. Apart from very under-privilege countries, most countries now have some form of initiative or structured programmes that drive them towards a becoming one. But what exact is a Sports Nation? What are the things different countries do in order to aspire to reach that status? Is it national policy that sports must play a prominent role in societies? These are some of the questions we will explore as we uncover the nature of a Sports Nation.



All aspiring Sports Nations have a hidden agenda these days, and that is to develop a healthier nation. Healthy people require less cost to look after as they age and develop. Encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle is an indirect way to tackle the demographic issues of higher life expectancy and rising health care cost. In countries that are considered welfare states, like Australia, Britain, France, and Canada, the health care cost of citizens are mainly bourn by government coffers. This could present a significant burden on the countries resources as health care cost has skyrocketed or will continue to skyrocket with time. Since 1965, health care cost has exploded exponential.



This geometric rise poses a very challenging problem to governments of the world as population growth has not receded. In fact the global population is forecast to breach the 9 billion mark by 2020. How than can governments cope with such pressing need to sustain their peoples? Developing a Sports Nation can be one long-term strategy to deal with this issue. The key is to keep people fit and strong and hopefully keep illnesses and diseases at bay, such that health care costs could be contained.



Another feature of why Sports Nations need to be developed more and more is the quest for greater publicity and positive image creation. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China for the first time emerged the overall winner in terms of Gold Medals garnered during the games. It marks the rise and return of China to the peak ranks of world order. As a Sports Nation, China has created for itself lasting image and publicity that will last a long time. This kind of positive image gained has rubbed off effects on other countries in the world. Because of this Sports Nation image created, people suddenly view many things about China differently. For example, the sports training systems now become the darling for the world over to follow. Its sports equipment and products suddenly become more heavily bought. Chinese sports heroes became role models. In short, the country gets a shot in the arm, and the overall health of the country has improved. Sports Nations has a way to promote and excite people from all over the world, and it is a good thing to have.



Sports Nations do not just get an image boost and allow health care costs to be tackled, they also bring in revenue for the country. As the world continue to move towards a sporting world, nations that are successfully becoming Sports Nations, become the destination of numerous international games, sports conferences, sports exhibitions, training tours and camps, even investment destinations for companies producing sports goods and services. Just think of the building of stadia in South Africa for the World Cup of soccer. How many billions of dollars are invested, and how many billions more will flow in during this kind of events. With the kind of money generated, it is no wonder that countries around the world try their very best to become Sports Nations and in the process eludes the kind of features that only Sports Nations have.



One of these features is the abundance of sports facilities and programmes in a Sports Nation. In established and successful Sports Nations, the lifestyle and infrastructure gives the feel of a truly healthy and active people in them. Stadia are monuments and symbols of progress, parks and running routes are accessible to the masses, sports events for the masses are common, advertising campaigns are washed with sports publicity, families engage in sports whole-hearted and holistically. Government initiatives and support in terms of resource allocation is also very evident in such countries. The whole nation is just breathing the sporting culture. Because of all these present in a Sports Nation, it is not surprising that the standard of living in the country can be exceedingly high as well. The benefits of sports offer people a way of life that is much more desirable. If you look at successful countries, like Australia, New Zealand, Germany, America, and even China, there is a feel of peace and freshness, and this is reflected by the great desire of people wanting to make them their migration and travel destinations.



Sports Nations are desirable destinations and living places for people to flourish. They lead to lower health care cost eventually, increase public image of the country, generate revenue and allow the populace to enjoy high standards of living. These are all very positive motivation for nations to strive towards becoming one. In the long run, it will happen, but getting there might not be as easy as there are many challenges that nations face in becoming Sports Nations.



About the author; Jimmy Tong has been a Physical Educator for 13 Years in Singapore, with degree in sports science and physical education from Loughborough University in UK. He has extensive coaching experience in soccer, floorball and rugby teams in Singapore Schools.He is currently a sports development officer in Singapore schools as well as an active contributor of sports training articles to improve sports performance in athletes.



For more information on achieving Peak Performance in Sports, visit the following site at http://esportspeaks.blogspot.com



Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Sports Baseball Caps for the Sports Fan

By Maggie Johnson



Every sport fan has at least one item in the closet that is

associated with their favorite sport. Most of the time, it is a

simple baseball cap. Sports Baseball caps are the number one

money maker for any sports team. Rather it is major leagues or

minor leagues, little league or college sports, sports baseball

caps racks in the money.



Among Americans, there are many sports from which fans can

choose from to follow. Football, Soccer, Track, Baseball,

Hockey, and even boxing all have fans awaiting the next baseball

cap that their favorite athlete is going to wear. Most of the

times, fans can get a sneak peak at the latest designs at the

last game of the season. This is when the winning team sports

the latest design on the field. These new designs are normally

available at the stadium or at the official team site. If the

sport is football, fans can purchase the new baseball cap at the

NFL site. If the sport is baseball, then the fan can purchase

the new hat and more at the MLB site. For basketball fans, they

can purchase their baseball cap either online or at the stadium

as well.



Sports baseball caps are the most popular baseball cap being

worn all over the world. Even if wearers of the sports cap are

not true fans, it is still a poplar item with them to wear

because it makes a fashion statement. Sports baseball caps are

always the biggest conversation starters. They always attract

the eyes of everyone around you as well.



Sports baseball caps come in many styles with team colors in

creative places as well as a wide variety of fabric choices.

Depending on your budget, you may want to choose from fabrics

such as leather with the metal clasp in the back that blends in

with the hat so that you could wear it with your dressiest

attire. For those special outings, you might want to wear one of

the great fabric choices that are available. But for the

everyday person who does not make it sporting events or those

that work in the field all day or even in the most dirtiest

situations, there you can still adorn your sports baseball cap

in style.



For everyday wear you can choose a sports baseball cap that is

very comfortable, light weight, and easy to maintain. They are

made from mesh and have a plastic clasp in the rear to allow for

adjustments on your head instead of the more expensive metal

clasp or even Velcro. So see, no matter if you are dressing up

to go on a date with your favorite girl (or guy), wearing your

sports baseball cap to a sporting event, working at home or just

relaxing, there is a sports baseball cap just for you. Depending

on how much you want to spend, there is a baseball cap that fits

everyone’s budget too. You might even get addicted to buying

them because there are so many to choose from you won’t be able

to make up your mind!



About the Author: click for more information on your favorite

http://www.imageuniforms.com/caps-t-169.html Caps Click for more

http://www.imageuniforms.com/sports-baseball-caps-a-457.html

Sports Baseball Caps



Source: http://www.isnare.com/

Footballer Profile - Didier Drogba

By Steven Yates

The best centre forward in the Premier League - or a diving,
whinging, theatrical cheat who uses his elbows as much as his
feet?  Didier Drogba certainly polarises opinions.

There is no doubt that, when he’s really on his game, Drogba
can completely overpower and dominate even the best central
defenders.  Physically strong, excellent in the air, able to
strike a dead ball ferociously and with a true predatory
instinct inside the penalty area, he embodies everything that a
true ‘centre forward’ should possess - and he certainly has that
little bit of ‘devil’ in him as well.

Although born on the Ivory Coast in 1978, much of Drogba’s
early life was spent in France and, although always a
footballer, he didn’t get his first professional contract until
he was 21 years of age.  Having represented Le Mans and
Guingamp, it was a big money transfer to Olympique de Marseille
in 2003 that made the player familiar to a wider audience,
especially as they reached the UEFA Cup Final at the end of his
only season with the club.  It is a mark of the impact he made,
though, that, even after just one season there, his name is
still sung by the local ultras and his shirt is framed in the
local cathedral.

Since signing for Chelsea in the summer of 2004, Drogba has
scored, at the time of writing, 109 goals in 234 games in all
competitions - a highly impressive scoring ratio approaching a
goal every other game.   Things haven’t always been easy for him
at the club, though.  Clearly the departure of José Mourinho in
2007 had a hugely negative impact on him and he was often quoted
as saying that he would leave the club.  The arrival of,
firstly, Gus Hiddink and, more recently, Carlo Ancelotti
completely revitalised his attitude, however, and his admiration
of the new coach and his methods has been genuinely expressed.
Just as another Italian coach proved that Lampard and Gerrard
could, in fact, play successfully together in an England side,
so Chelsea’s Italian has had no difficulties in combining Drogba
and Nicolas Anelka, who had previously been regarded as
incompatible.

Despite his obvious talent, Drogba has no shortage of
detractors amongst spectators and pundits in England.  His
apparent willingness to tumble theatrically in the penalty area
with, sometimes, the bare minimum of contact, combined with an
aggression that occasionally makes spectators shudder both mean
that opposition fans can always be relied upon to give the
player a hostile welcome to their part of the pitch.  Such is
his competitive nature that, as after the infamous end of the
Champions League semi-final against Barcelona last season, he
can find himself in disciplinary trouble.

Away from Chelsea, Didier Drogba has scored an outstanding 41
goals in 61 games for the Ivory Coast, for whom he is captain.
Ivorian Player of the Year twice, as well as African Footballer
of the Year in2006, he has played a significant rôle in the
development of football in the country as well as working hard
as a United Nations Development Programme ‘Goodwill Ambassador’.

Like so many modern players, Drogba does much unheralded work
for charity, mainly through his own Didier Drogba Foundation.
It was recently announced that the player was giving the whole
of a £3 million endorsement fee to help build a new hospital in
his birthplace, Abidjan.

At 31 years old, who knows how much longer Didier Drogba can
continue to play in the whole-hearted manner that he currently
does?  He’s certainly doing everything he can to help Chelsea
capture their ‘holy grail’ of the Champions League trophy and
his Ivory Coast team to do well in their second ever World Cup
finals appearance next summer.   And when he is terrorising
opposition defenders, there are few better sights in the Premier
League - as long as you’re not a centre back, I suppose.

To join Underground football Membership Visit: Soccer Super Tips!

About the Author: Written by Steve Yates. If you want tickets
for Chelsea fixtures visit our website. As well as Chelsea
you'll find Premier League tickets for all the top clubs. This
article may be reproduced in full providing that the author is
acknowledged. http://www.footballticketpackages.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Live Premiership Football

By John Webb

An opportunity to watch live football on your PC delivers a
live action which is packed with excitement. This is something
more than what a mere spectator anticipates. It makes you feel
as if you are part of the football action.

Catching the football match live on a PC is completely
enthusiastic and fun making as every viewer can indulgently
participate with the latest happening to support a football team
in full force. If you are a football fanatic, then there’s no
better way of entertaining oneself than watching your favorite
team play right in front of you through your PC monitor.
Live football on your PC offers a viewer with complete updated
results of the present events and happenings in the football
industry. The thrill to watch live football on a digital
interface is totally a different experience than just watching
it on TV. The picture, audio, and the quality of reception are
more fascinating and refined when watched.

There are different ways to watch live football online. It is
possible to catch the action on pc with the signals being
filtered by means of the dish Antennae passing through the cable
attached to the USB port of the computer station that provides
uninterrupted signal. There are also services that offer
satellite TV directly to your computer.

However, a user should be cautious when choosing a provider.
This is because there are some services that will try to rip
money out from you and run afterwards. Choosing a service should
include the company’s ability to offer good technical support
with necessary software needed for the service to work. Just
ensure that all the software is incorporated in a onetime
payment fee.

In addition to this, a laptop or a desktop computer is all you
need to watch live premiership football. Watching a live via
satellite game online directly on your pc would usually require
subscription to a satellite TV provider, yet there is one way of
doing it the easy way. This kind of method requires downloading
software as an access to a lot of channels made available
online. Installing this kind of software to your personal
computer will give every football aficionado access to both
local and international football channels.

The PC TV receiver software has the capability to stream live
satellite TV channels straight to your PC. One of the best
things about PC TV receiver software is that it is relatively
easy on the pocket with its one-time payment terms. This also
comes with a no monthly subscription fee and no pay per view
charges; most of all, there are no obligation and hidden
charges. This kind of software usually serves more than 800
channels in different countries and languages. Given all of
these requirements, the next thing to consider is a computer and
broadband connection. Visiting our website will definitely give
you a viewing experience that you deserve and everything you
need to know about watching football games online without losing
much of your finances.

About the Author: http://www.livefootballtv.co.uk is a
dedicated online football channel. It aims to provide the latest
and up to date information about major football tournaments and
live football actions online.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Drug-Free Sports Supplements In Compliance With Sports Organizations

By Sam James

Over the last several years, some very gifted endurance
athletes have gone from famous to infamous after drug tests
indicated they took banned substances, and illegal sports
supplements, to enhance their performance. These men and women
have been stripped of their Olympic gold medals and other
prestigious accomplishments, been the subject of countless
headlines and have sullied their reputations forever. By seeking
an unfair advantage, these endurance athletes have gained the
dreaded asterisk next to their names in publications and
destroyed any possibility of lucrative endorsement deals for the
rest of their lives. Many have gone from the very pinnacle of
their sports to ignominy in a very short period, and it seems
that with each doping scandal, the list of sports organizations’
list of banned substances grows longer. Even some drug-free
sports supplements are causing problems.

The Sports Supplements Approval Process by the Food and Drug
Administration

For a sports supplement to gain approval for sale in the U.S.,
they must endure the same vetting process as products
categorized as “dietary supplements.” This includes drug-free
sports supplements. According to the Dietary Supplemental Health
and Education Act (DSHEA) signed into law in 1994, a dietary or
sports supplement is a product taken orally that contains a
“dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. As you
might guess, DSHEA’s definition of what constitutes a sports
supplement and a dietary ingredient is quite a bit more
detailed. However, under DSHEA, the firm that manufactures a
sports supplement is wholly responsible for ensuring their
product is safe, and any claims made about their products must
be substantiated by adequate evidence showing they are not false
or misleading. Unless a sports supplement contains a new dietary
ingredient not previously vetted by the FDA, FDA approval is not
necessary before they are marketed or sold in the U.S.

Which Sports Organizations Test and Approve Sports Supplements

Professional and elite amateur sports organizations have a
vested interest in ensuring that their endurance athletes are
not taking banned substances. Billions of dollars in
advertising, merchandising and endorsements are at stake.
Outfits such as the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and countless other professional and
amateur organizations require that athletes submit samples for
testing at regular intervals. The heavyweight in the banned
substances testing business, the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA), may not be well known to sports fans, but it is the
ultimate authority in drug testing in sports.

With offices in Montreal, Canada, and Lausanne, Switzerland the
home of the IOC, WADA was created in 1999 “to promote,
coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all
its forms.” The problem is that WADA and the drug-testing wings
of all major sports organizations are constantly playing
catch-up with the chemists who develop new performance-enhancing
substances undetected by the testing protocols of the day. This
is the primary reason why Tour de France champions, Olympic gold
medalists and other endurance athletes are often stripped of
their titles years after their victories.

What to Look for in a Sports Supplement

Whether you’re a world-class athlete looking to gain a
competitive edge or an amateur athlete seeking the same
advantage, an athlete must be certain that the sports
supplements included in a training regimen contain no banned
substances. This includes drug-free supplements. Endurance
athletes who are seeking sports supplements to improve their
performance and endurance legally should look for:

ISO/17025 Drug-Free Certification

ISO/17025 is an internationally recognized standard for
ensuring the competence and proper calibration of testing
laboratories. Laboratories wishing to gain accreditation through
their designated accreditation body must meet the rigorous
standards of this quality management system.

Sports Supplements made in NSF-certified facilities

The National Safety Foundation (NSF) is the world leader in
product certification, education, standards development and risk
management for public health and safety. Manufacturing
facilities that have earned NSF certification have passed this
organization’s stringent standards for cleanliness,
manufacturing protocols, regulatory compliance and other
standards for public health and safety.

WADA approval

Approval by the WADA ensures that all sports supplement,
including drug-free, comply with the World Anti-Doping Code,
international standards and meets the WADA’s stringent models of
best practices and guidelines.

Approval by major league sports

Major sports leagues such as the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, NCAA and
others have billions of dollars at stake in ensuring that their
endurance athletes compete on a level playing field. To gain
approval by major leagues, a sports supplement must first be
vetted by independent testing laboratories that they are
drug-free sports supplements.

Over the last three decades, the sports supplement industry has
gone from a niche business to an industry that generates over
$20 billion in sales annually. Endurance athletes looking for a
safe and legal way to build endurance and supplement their diet
nutritionally are well-advised to do their homework to ensure
that the sports supplement of their choice is not only
drug-free, but also in compliance with the sports organizations
guidelines. By doing so, they are making sure that their careers
do not fall into the black hole of ignominy too soon.

About the Author: P. L. Davis writes articles to help Endurance
Athletes protect their career. She is published at
http://www.xendurance.com and applauds their support of marathon
and Olympic athletes.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Ethical Property Management For FIFA 2010 World Cup

By Alek Jones

Property management companies are raising property prices
drastically to cater to the high demand of rentals during the
FIFA World Cup games this year, in an attempt to take advantage
of the huge number of tourists set to enter South Africa during
this time. While there is no doubt that the FIFA World Cup will
be of huge benefit to the South Africa economy as a whole, not
all property companies agree that price hikes are good for the
tourism industry.

Tarleys Trust Property Group advises property agents and
management companies against raising prices, and encourages
property companies to instead consider the disadvantages that
extreme price hikes could have on a long-term scale. Many
companies are solely focused on profits, and see the FIFA World
Cup as a potential to make increased sales and rentals. A large
majority of tourists will be entering South Africa for the first
time however, and excessive prices could prevent many from
considering rentals and sales on return visits. The price
increases also affects locals, as increased prices on any level
brings the overall value and market prices up significantly,
causing price increases across the board, for locals and
tourists alike. Commercial property rentals and residential
rentals both stand to be affected by price hikes, which could
have a huge effect on property prices in general if prices are
raised drastically during the months from April to July.

Another aspect that property companies need to consider is the
over-saturation of short-term rentals in the build up to the
World Cup events. The anticipated demand for rentals has led to
huge numbers of guesthouses, apartments, houses, villas and
other property available for rent, which more than adequately
meet the demands for accommodation – especially with a huge
increase in property renovation this year. Landlords are seeing
the chance to provide expensive but convenient property for
tourists, however with the large number of property options to
consider, tourists have more choice. This in turn may force many
property management companies to push prices down to bring in
more chance of their properties being rented out. Experts are
predicting that long-term rentals will be in higher demand, and
as many landlords are choosing short-term tourist rentals over
long-term, this is yet another factor that could affect property
rental prices during 2010.

The improved property industry growth has led to many agents
and landlords taking advantage of positive property price
growth, increased application volumes, increased approvals,
further expected relaxation of bank lending criteria, and
increased competitiveness amongst lenders. Price increases are
widespread to get the benefit from these factors, however on a
long-term scale; price increases may not offer a sustainable
solution, especially with a slow and gradual recovery from a
recession that has left a lasting mark on global economies.

The positive side of the 2010 World Cup is that the event is
set to have a huge impact on the residential property market,
showcasing the wide diversity of excellent properties across
South Africa. With reasonable prices, the lure of South African
property could be even greater, advises Tarleys Trust Property
Group MD Bradley Berman. Whether it is property sales or
residential rentals, all eyes will be on South Africa’s property
market over the next few months, which is why property companies
and landlords should ensure ethical property management as a way
to ensure that tourists return to South Africa year after year
to invest in property.


For Your Secrets To Real Estate Investing Click Yes!

About the Author: Tarleys Trust Property Group (Pty) Ltd is an
independent property management company which focuses on adding
value to clients’ property assets. http://www.tarleys.co.za

Source: http://www.isnare.com