Archive: Sweden
The Stretch Run
Ok, after a nice holiday weekend off, it's time to get geared up for the Cup. If you're curious what's going on inside The Post's Soccer Central (aka "at my desk"), today most of the stories for the World Cup preview section are due. I'll be editing those over the next couple days, as well as planning some other stories you'll see in the paper over the next 10 days. Steve Goff leaves for Germany on Thursday, and Camille Powell and Jason LaCanfora leave Sunday. It's really hitting all of us that the big event is upon us ... Enough about us. Here are a couple newsy items I've spotted recently: - Injuries: Spain's Xabi Alonso, Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta, England's Michael Owen (!!), Holland's Rafael Van der Vaart, - Good news on the injury front for the Czechs (bad for the U.S., I suppose). Also good news for Tunisia's Hamed...
By Jon DeNunzio | May 30, 2006; 12:55 PM ET | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
Late Lunchtime Roundup
Hmmmm, where to start? I need to catch up ... - Germany F Michael Ballack sounds less than supremely confident. "Everyone must be aware that a surprise is possible with this young team - but also an early exit," Ballack said in SportBild magazine. - Australia, Sweden and Ecuador choose their teams. - Two players getting teased with "Hey, you still might make the team" talk: Holland MF Edgar Davids and England D Ledley King. - Reported in a comment yesterday -- Italy F Christian Vieri is out. Is it possible his last touch in a World Cup match was putting an exceedingly easy chance over the bar vs. South Korea? Or maybe I'm remembering it wrong....
By Jon DeNunzio | May 10, 2006; 01:45 PM ET | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)
Lunchtime Kick-About
A quick read on the news: - The BBC says England has offered its coaching job to Luiz Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari. It will be controversial to take a non-Englishman again, but not as controversial as picking Peter Scolari (bottom left). (Note: If you haven't been following this story, this is England's pick for its 2010 World Cup coach. Sven-Goran Eriksson is still in charge this year. Next week, the FA will start interviewing candidates for 2014 ...) - Argentina phenom Lionel Messi experiences a potential setback. Messi pulled up during a sprint and kicked a cone in frustration but Argentina national team sources said it was not serious, they said. It was not immediately clear whether the problem was with the same leg or the same injury. - Aussie Injury Woes Continue. This item is about MF Tim Cahill (Everton), but also reminds us: [Coach Gus] Hiddink is already...
By Jon DeNunzio | April 27, 2006; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (19) | TrackBack (0)
Who Do You Like in Group B?
Friday looks like it will become prediction day ... seven more Fridays till the World Cup opens, and we did Group A last week, so we're right on schedule. Here are your study aides: - Steve Goff's group analysis (done the day of the draw). - BBC.com on: England (Great stuff: "World Cup pedigree: Invariably qualify and invariably flatter to deceive. Their underachievement on the world stage is only "bettered" by Spain. World Cup high: 1966 and all that.)" Paraguay Sweden Trinidad & Tobago - The Post's look at the whole group (again, done on the day of the draw). My predictions: I hate to be boring, but this seems pretty obvious: 1. England. Obviously the best team in this group. 2. Sweden. Dangerous on the attack, battle-tested ... I like 'em. Just not as much as England. 3. Paraguay. In another group, they might find a way through. I...
By Jon DeNunzio | April 21, 2006; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (33) | TrackBack (0)
