The Champions League and European Football's Evolvement

The question as to whether the early stages of the Champions League are unnecessary is an interesting one, particularly as the outcomes of them are generally easy to predict, with the big clubs moving on to the knock out stages and the smaller ones returning, more often than not back to obscurity. However, as true as that is, what is the alternative? The preliminary and to a greater extent the group stages at least offer the smaller clubs an opportunity to express themselves at a higher level as well as offering them much needed revenue. It also offers the football fan a great opportunity to look at the wide range of football that is played in Europe, it offers the opportunity to check out current and future stars of the game plus it also offers the opportunity for clubs to test their fringe and future players in a different style of football.

It should not be forgotten either that very often, games such Inter Milan v Spurs are thrown up, which for many football fans produced the best football seen at any level this season and also spotlighted the outstanding potential of Welshman, Gareth Bale, who has already become one of the most sought after players in world football.

It is true that now and again some matches are a waste, Manchester United v Bursaspor being a recent prime example. Clearly the Turkish side were outclassed and will be consigned to a more distant level of football after the group stages conclude. However, try telling that to their board of directors, their players and their fans that and they would probably start a turf war, as they, like United, earned the right to play the group stages and fully deserved their chance. Bursaspor will, like many other less known teams, be a stronger club for the experience.

It should also be remembered that the like any sport, football is still evolving and the Champions League could easily be the 'blueprint' for a much wider form of the game. The idea behind a future European League has long since been on the drawing boards of UEFA and the chances of it being fully sanctioned are quite profound.

How it would work at this stage is hard to know, but it would not necessarily mane the end of domestic football at all. The Premier leagues of all European countries would all continue as normal, with the Champions League being their reward for success. Football fans should be well aware that the Champions League and the Europa League have evolved from the European and UEFA Cups, but both, with the exception of the group stages are still knock-out competitions. The name changes have been made quite possibly for psychologically reasons as much as anything, aimed at preparing all those connected with football, including the football fan for the future format.

Read more about this seasons Champions League including results, team profiles, stats and Champions League Betting.

Champions League Football - Does Aston Villa Have What it Takes?

I find it hard to disagree that Aston Villa is not as strong a football team as say that of Manchester United, Liverpool or the Arsenal and I won't bet on them winning the trophy just yet. However, after winning 5 league matches out of 6, getting the 4th place in the Premier League and being just 1 point short of Chelsea shows that they are surely catching up with them.

To know that you are playing to lose must be quite a tough position to find oneself in but it is strange that Coach O'Neill and his team are just fine with it specially after having earned 21 points from 27 which shows they are in top form. It was ironic to witness Aston Villa show their gumption in a match against the Arsenal which ended in a draw. Villa has certainly come far under the guidance of O'Neill as was obvious from the 2nd half comeback they made thanks to 2 fantastic goals by Gareth Barry and Zat Knight. This was a Boxing Day gift for Aston as the draw helped them in keeping their 3 points lead over Arsene Wenger's side.

The character and determination with which the Aston Villa players defended their team against a loss from Arsenal was a revelation for me and fans all over. Earlier on if they had been placed in a situation where they were lagging behind a first class team such as Arsenal they would have given up long time ago but not this new team that Aston is developing into. Their confidence remained unwavering in the face of adversity and they proved that they were a courageous team that took destiny in their own hands. It doesn't take long for the result of football matches to turn around and surprise all!

In addition to these newfound characteristics of Aston Villa as a team, the exclusive traits possessed by football players Martin Laursen, Ashely Young, Steve Sidwell and James Milner are proving to be the driving force behind its' new role as a strongly competitive side. I don't see them letting anyone take them lightly and dismiss them so easily.

The only thing that worries me at the moment is a player getting injured and not being able to play. John Carew is already missing from the action so in such a case the coach will have to play either one of these 2 players, Marlon Harewood or Nathan Delfouneso. I am not saying that these 2 players should be rejected outright as they have a lot of promise of turning into future stars but it is experience and expertise that is needed by Aston at this point. They have too much at stake to leave anything to chance. Therefore, it won't be unwise to suggest that they should seriously consider hiring a new forward.

The ouster of Carew due to injury has in some ways proved to be a blessing in disguise. O'Neill has experimented with setting up Barry, Sidwell and Petroy in the central midfield and has also deployed Milner and Young on the flanks. The result has not been disappointing. It makes me wonder if the Norwegian striker will find himself a place on the team when he is fit enough to return.

O'Neill seems to settle quite a score by the Bulgarian Petrov. I also have started to accept him in the team but it is a mystery to me why O'Neill would try so hard to make sure Petrov got a place on the team. No doubt he is showing a lot of improvement this season but then let's be fair. His passing is at best economical whereas what Aston needs is incisiveness. He lacks competitiveness and is not athletic enough as a midfielder should be. It may sound harsh to some but trust me, after having observed him for the past 2 and a half years I am not able to understand what it is that makes O'Neill so keen on having him on an otherwise splendid team.

One weakness that I have observed is the weak full-back positions. Reo-Coker provided Arsenal with their 1st goal of the match but that could be merely a one time mistake that anyone could fall prey to. Luke Young is also playing well out of his familiar role although he could do better back where he belonged.

All said Aston Villa seems to be a good contender for a place amongst the top 4. It is phenomenal that from being the team that always found itself right at the bottom of the ranks should suddenly be competing for the top slots. I couldn't doubt manager O'Neill's claim that it ought come as no surprise if his side finishes in the top four.

Champions League Football Results by ScorePro.com

Arsenal Vs Barcelona in the Champions League Draw

A fierce rivalry is poised to renew when Arsenal takes on Barcelona in the round of 16 at the European Cup in Champions League play. Arsenal, the world's third-most valuable football club, brings an awesome attack to bear, even though the men from North London lost to the top-ranked Spanish club in the finals in 2006 and again last year in the quarter-finals. Manager Arsene Wenger insists that his club isn't bent on revenge, though. Neither are they particularly worried about the matchup.

No Strangers to Each Other

"I know who we will get," he said. "If I say we want Barcelona, you won't believe me. I don't even think about it." As for the match last season in which Arsenal was thwarted by Barcelona, Wenger calls it "some of the best football I've ever seen." He marvels at the Barcelona club's skills. "What was surprising was that they had no weak moment in that game. Their determination and focus for 90 minutes was spot-on and the quality was unbelievable."

Mutual Respect

Despite the fact that Arsenal has only won twice on Spanish soil, Wenger takes an anything-is-possible approach, saying, "On a night, anything can happen." Barcelona's manager, Pep Guardiola, feels the same way and isn't displaying any measure of overconfidence. "Arsenal frightens me, but that is true of all the clubs in the draw," he says, calling the Gunners a "classic of English football", and stresses the boldness and daring of Arsenal's offense. "If you're not at your best, Arsenal will overrun you."

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain anticipates a real donnybrook when his side lines up against the Premier League's top-scoring team. "This will be the most spectacular of all the quarter-finals in terms of football," he said. It is worth noting that nobody on either side is willing to make a prediction. They'll have to settle it on the pitch.

Mark loves football (among other things). He watches football games online almost everyday. He is excited for a 2014 trip to the world cup he is planning.

Indian Super League Football Is Here

India is a vast country and there are billions of Indians who come from various backgrounds and cultures. As Indians are quite laid-back, they love to have their popcorn bowls out and watch television. Indians are not very particular about their sports but the only sport that has captured the hearts of the nation is cricket. Having said that, the popularity of the most popular game on this planet I.e. soccer or football has also received an upward trend. People are glued to their television sets watching the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United taking on each other in Champions League. Sometimes the crowd of India has a better understanding of the game than countries where football has a God like status among all games. India has a host of domestic football competitions like I-league and Santosh trophy. However, these competitions have not been able to reach places. But now, with the Indian Super League or the ISL in fray, things are going for a toss. Let us see how ISL is predestined to go places and how it is when compared to the other prestigious leagues like the English Premiere League or the Spanish Primera.

ISL is an initiative taken by the Football Sports Development, in order to change the face of football in India and bring a revolution in that field. This Football Sports Development is headed by Mrs. Nita Ambani and this league is expected to grow from strengths to strengths. There are eight participating teams from the eight different regions of India mostly owned by the poster boys of India. Some of them are the former sportsperson of other sports while some are from the film fraternity. Up from north Samir Manchanda's Delhi Dynamos is all set to roll while from the neighboring North East John Abraham's NorthEast United. Near the North East is the Eastern Zone form where the Atletico de Kolkata of Utsav Parekh comes. From north to way down in south in Kerala comes the team of Bharat Ratna winner Sachin Tendulkar, named Kerala Blaster FC. The neighboring Team Chennai Titans is owned by the Abhishek Bachchan. However, the most number of teams comes from the west region of India. A total of three teams come from this area including the likes of Kapil Wadhawan's FC Pune City, Varun Dhawan's FC Goa and Bollywood's latest heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor owning Team Mumbai.

In this country where people enjoyed almost every moment of the last FIFA world cup, this event can be the push that was needed. It would not be a surprise if India in the coming years dominates the scene of international football. Although, it is pretty premature to compare ISL with the other leagues like EPL, as those leagues have a well-established background and a way large number of playing teams I.e. 20. Here there are only eight teams and the bigger international stars are those who have already retired or are well past their prime. However, this endeavor is certainly going to increase the level of football in India.

Indian super league starts on October 12, 2014. For more information on Hero ISL or to buy tickets and jerseys, please visit http://footballisl.com/

EUFA Champions League History - Everything You Need to Know About UEFA Championship League

EUFA Champions League is world famous football league held every year, where champions of every European country leagues from last year are group in this awesome UEFA Championship League to play a win the trophy that will declare them the best Football Team of Europe.

Therefore this is a multi-million tournament! New stars and born in this most awaiting football event and this is why all football/soccer fans love to watch, enjoy and bet on this event.

Inter Milan is the current UEFA Championship League trophy holder; they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the last Champions League finals.

Real Madrid is the team who won the most UEFA Championship League, they left this trophy 9 times (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002), followed by AC Milan who won 7 times (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007) and Liverpool who won 5 times (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005).

Bayern Munich and Ajax both won 4 times, Bayern Munich in (1974, 1975, 1976, 2001) and Ajax in (1971, 1972, 1973, 1995).

Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United won 3 times each. Barcelona in (1992, 2006, 2009), Inter Milan in (1964, 1965, 2010) and Manchester United in (1968, 1999, 2008).

Benfica, Juventus, Nottingham Forest and Porto won 2 times in tournament; Benfica in (1961, 1962), Juventus in (1985, 1996), Nottingham Forest in (1979, 1980) and Porto in (1987, 2004).

Celtic, Hamburg, Steaua BucureYti, Marseille, Feyenoord, Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Red Star Belgrade and Borussia Dortmund won 1 time each.

Meaning 4 British teams: Liverpool, Machester United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Vila have won this competition. Followed by 3 Italian teams: Ac Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus and 3 German teams: Bayern Munich, Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund.

The reason why I am writing this is because this is crucial data that can help to predict which team from which country got better odds to win the next UEFA Championship League.

Heavy better usually really on this sort of data (plus experience). It is estimated that over 100 million bets are placed every year over UEFA Championship League.

I cannot say which team will win the next Champions League, however based from this crucial data I can say that a team from Britain as better chances to win the next Champions League as a team from Romania; since the only Romanian team (Steaua BucureYti) won only 1 Champions league so far. Where 4 strong British teams such as: Liverpool, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Vila won 11 times in total.

For more information about UEFA Champions League Visit http://www.aussiepunter.com/sports/football/champions-league/betting-odds and if you are thinking to place some bets on this lucrative tournament then let me suggest you http://www.aussiepunter.com/sports/football/champions-league/betting-odds/2010-11-champions-league-champions website.

Look Forward to the Champions League Final

The Champions League, Europe's premier club competition, starts off with 32 teams competing to become the best club team in Europe. The competition begins in September, but it's really only when the competition enters the phase consisting of 16 teams in February and March that supporters begin to dream - and plan - the possibility of their team lifting the coveted trophy.

In 2009, the Champions League Final will be held in the Stadio Olimpico, which takes place in what is considered one of Europe's most prestigious cities: Rome. The stadium itself is synonymous with major sporting events. In fact, it is the location where Andreas Brehme scored from the penalty spot to ensure victory for West Germany in the FIFA World Cup Final in 1990.

It is also home to the Italian National team, as well as two of Rome's top football teams - S.S. Lazio and A.S. Roma. With a capacity of just over 72,000, its historical significance and superb atmosphere ensure it will be the perfect setting to host the 2009 Champions League Final.

Of course, following your team to a Champions League Final provides a great excuse for a trip away, but when do you start planning? The quarter-final draw presents each team with their potential semi-final and final opponents; and whilst planning your trip at such an early stage may seem optimistic, it may prove beneficial.

The added attraction for supporters is that the 2009 Champions League Final will be contested in Rome, which is a popular tourist destination for visitors to Italy. Therefore, supporters can extend their visit to take in the delights of this historic and romantic city.

And whoever plays out the final this year is sure to draw a significant following of football and sports fans alike to the city. Therefore, it is important to remember that leaving the planning of your flights - and even organising to stay at one of the Rome hotels - to the last kick of the semi-final may be risky, and likely to prove more expensive.

Such risks need to be weighed up against the possibility of being the only Manchester United fan in Rome during a Chelsea v Arsenal final, for example. The logistics will ultimately depend on your optimism as a supporter, and of course your team's ability! But with the final being contested in a city renowned for gladiatorial battles, if dreams do turn into reality then it is sure be a night to remember.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Soccer History Opens the Door to the Origin of Soccer

Soccer is a competitive sport with a long history and its origins can be traced back to the mid 19th century. Soccer history can be traced back to the different forms of football that was popular in England in the late 1840's. Even then, historians believe that soccer history can be dated back to 1004 B.C when players in Japan used to kick around a ball around a small field. Interestingly Chinese historical texts have revealed that a game similar to modern day soccer was being played out between teams from Japan and China around 50 B.C.

Soccer history also reveals that Romans played a version of modern soccer and it was even introduced in the early Roman Olympics. But in the early Roman Olympics, soccer teams had 27 players on each side battling for the trophy. According to soccer history, modern day soccer came into life when the first set of rules for the game was drawn up in 1848 at the Cambridge University. Come to think of it - England's King Edward (1307-1327) had actually passed a law threatening imprisonment to anyone who played the game. The truth is that Cambridge University is not the first to come out with soccer rules, it was Eton College and they introduced certain rules for playing the game in 1815.

The Cambridge Rules of 1848 has found a place in soccer history. These rules have played an influential role in development of modern soccer and were written at Trinity College, Cambridge. The rules for soccer were created by representatives from some of the finest colleges in England including Harrow, Eton, Winchester, Rugby, and Shrewsbury. Although the rules were not universally adopted, several small local clubs started playing the game based on the rules around the 1850s. Of course, some local clubs even went to the extent of creating their distinct codes of rules for the game and one such club is the Sheffield Football Club. Sheffield Football Club was actually formed by ex-public school students in 1857 and this eventually led to the formation of Sheffield FA in 1867.

The Football Association (FA) was formed in 1863 and the FA Cup was first organized in 1871. The FA Cup recreated soccer history and went on to attract huge number of Britons to the sport. In 1885, the FA (Football Association) took an important step by recognizing and accepting the legitimacy of professional soccer players. Three years later in 1888, 12 clubs joined in to form the football league in England and this was one of the biggest historical moments. In fact, this is where modern soccer history was established.

The first international soccer match commenced on 30 November, 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland. The two teams included an English all-star team and a Scottish all-star team and the match ended in a scoreless draw. The soccer world cup of FIFA world cup as we know now was first held in 1930 in Uruguay and they became the world champions as well!

Kelly Hunter owns and operates Soccer Training Equipment [http://www.soccer-training-equipment.org] and writes about Sparq Soccer [http://www.soccer-training-equipment.org/sparq-soccer.php]

A Little on America's Men Soccer

The Spain's men football team made history by winning the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), World Cup, which was held in South Africa this year. They made the finals to play against the Netherlands and winning by one to nil (1-0).

Many teams were playing for the win and the United States of America was one of them, however, this group did not made it to the quarterfinal after playing against Ghana.

In the USA, this game is known as soccer, whereas, in many other countries around the world, it is called football and it can be traced back to about 611 AD.

In the past, in America, this game was played mainly in schools such as Princeton and Harvard, however, today, many schools throughout the country are also playing it.

The national men's team, which represents this country, is called the United States Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) and it is known for playing against many other "powerhouses" in football.

They had played against Brazil, in 1930 on the 17th August in their hometown of Rio de Janeiro. They have also played against England, Italy and Mexico, just to mention a few.

When it comes to the history of this club, you cannot help was come across the name Gerritt Miller Smith and the Oneida of Boston because it may be possible that the first club in this country begun with Mr. Smith.

The MNT has played in front of as many as 114,000 fans in one game. Indeed, this simply show, the passion which people have for this game of skills.

The Game Basics

On a green background, this game can be played both indoors as well as outdoors and it is made up of two teams of players, a ball, nets, the coach and a referee. The players on the field are groups of eleven and if there are less than seven men on either side, the game cannot begin.

With the two teams playing against each other, and a net on both ends of the field, the aim is to get the ball into the opponent's net without using one's hands. However, there is a player, who is called the Goalkeeper, standing in front of the net, to keep the ball out. The Goalkeeper and use his hands.

The Referee

FIFA, sets the rules for all of the international games and the referee, who runs among the players, as they seek possession of the ball, is there to make sure that the rules are kept. The referee could discipline the players by pulling out a yellow or red card, which is in his possession and usually, his word, is the final ruling.

Yes, it is highly possible for him to make a decision that is based on what he thought had happened, but in actuality, it did not. Nevertheless, his word on the field is the final ruling.

The MNT has a lot to look forward to, although its dream of winning the 2010 cup was cut short.

Lionel Messi: The Greatest Player in History

Early Life

Lionel Andres Messi, was born on 25 June, 1987, in Rosaria, Santa Fe Province, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia Maria Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His parental family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from where his ancestry, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol.

Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87", from the year of their birth.

At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Local team River Plate showed interest in his progress, but were not willing to pay for treatment for his condition, which cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida in western Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team. Rexach, with no paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay his medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona, where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.

Achievements

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, was his first time winning both awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010, and again in 2011 and 2012. He also won the 2010-11 UEFA Best Player in Europe award.

At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions. At 25, he became the youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga. In September 2014, Messi scored his 400th senior career goal for the club and country at just age 27.

Commonly ranked as the best player in the world and rated by some as the greatest of all time, Messi is the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballon d'Or, all of which he won consecutively, and the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards. With his professional club, FC Barcelona, he has won six La Ligas, two Copas del Rey, six Supercopas de Espana, three UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

Who Has Scored the Most Goals in World Cup Soccer History?

Almost every culture around the world has some type of connection to the history of football/soccer. Such cultures as the Ancient Greeks, Persians, Vikings, The Chinese, Japanese, and much more, played a game that is much like today's football/soccer. For instance, The Chinese played "footballer" games dating as far back as about 3000 years ago. However, it was in England that soccer / football really began to grow in popularity. After becoming popular in England, soccer became a widely loved sport throughout the world. The celebrated FIFA World cup led the way to the rise of soccer stars, and conferred world soccer records holders such as the player who has scored the most goals in world cup soccer history.

Brazilian professional footballer Ronaldo Nazario de Lima has scored the most goals in Fifa World Cup history. Ronaldo Luís Nazario de Lima, more generally known as Ronaldo, was born in September 18, 1976. In 1993, Ronaldo began his professional soccer/footballer career playing for Cruzeiro. In his single year with Cruzeiro, he accumulated 12 goals in 14 games and led the team to win their first Copa do Brasil championship. After playing with Cruzeiro, in 1994, he joined with the Dutch football team PSV. In 1996, in his final year with PSV, Ronaldo aided the team to win the Dutch Cup.

Ronaldo is also an established national footballer for Brazil. He has played in 97 international games, accumulating 62 goals and standing 15 goals away from the Brazilian national scoring record. He was a member of the Brazilian team that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal.

Nicknamed 'O Fenômeno,' which is translated as ""The Phenomenon" in English, Ronaldo made the number 9 famous and made it tantamount with the position of center forward. During his footballer career in Europe, Ronaldo became one of the most celebrated 'strikers' throughout the world after he won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997, and then once more in 2002. He is also one of only two players to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times. In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by his fellow Brazilian soccer star, Pelé.

To many contemporary footballers, Ronaldo is a living icon who has been credited with encouraging a stronger marketing interest in soccer throughout the world, particularly because of his relationship with Nike who had in the past spent their marketing resources and time primarily on Basketball.

The soccer that we know today was shaped during the 1960s. Increased media coverage and TV broadcasts has made the game more popular than ever. With soccer stars such as David Beckham in the spotlight, the popularity of soccer will continue to grow.

A recognized leader in sports travel and tours provides 2010 world cup packages. Don't miss the largest sporting event in the world, book your 2010 world cup tickets from the industry leader in sports travel.

FIFA World Cup - Interesting Facts!

1930

Did you know- Uruguayan squad, the host country's team,claimed the first-ever Men's World Cup title over Argentina, 4-2.

1934

Did you know- At the II World Cup, Italy, host country, became the first European squad to win a global tournament. The subsequent tournaments were held as follows: 1938 in Paris (France, Europe), 1950 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil, Latin America), 1958 in Stockholm (Sweden, Europe), 1962 in Santiago (Chile, Latin America), 1966 in London (England, Europe), 1970 in Mexico City (Mexico, Latin America), 1974 in Munich (West Germany, Europe), 1978 in Buenos Aires (Argentina, South America), 1982 in Barcelona (Spain, Europe), 1986 in Mexico City (Mexico, North America), 1990 in Rome (Italy, Europe), 1994 in Los Angeles (USA, North America), 1998 in Paris (France, Europe), 2002 in Seoul and Tokyo (South Korea & Japan, Asia), 2006 in Munich (Germany, Europe).

1950

Did you know- Bolivia competed in 1950 but not again until 1994 in the United States of America.

1974

Did you know- For the first time, West Germany hosted the global tournament in July 1974. Historically Germany had been competitive in soccer. Under the leadership Franz ("Kaiser") Beckenbauer, the host country-which never finished below sixth place since 1954-- won the X FIFA World Tournament. Outside of the Berlin Olympics (1936) and the Munich Games (1972), this event was the largest ever held in Germany.

1978

Did you know- Tunisia (Africa) placed ninth at the 1978 FIFA World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

1982

Did you know- At the 1982 FIFA World Tournament in Madrid (Spain), New Zealand, a rugby-loving nation, had the worst result for its region -Oceania- in World Cup's history. Unfortunately NZ placed 23rd. For the country, it was its first appearance in the universal event.

1990

Did you know- At the 1990 FIFA World Championship in Europe,Cameroon's football player Roger Milla, one of sub-Saharan Africa's most respected footballers in the 20th century, helped his team towards eighth position, the best result ever for an African country in soccer history.

2002- 2010

Did you know- Brazil -one of the world's biggest democracies-- has historically been competitive in football since the 1950s.The soccer players from Brazil have conquered five out of eighteen tournaments: Sweden'58, Chile'62, Mexico'70, USA'94 and South Korea & Japan'02. In 1950 and 1998, Brazil was runner-up. By 2010, the Latin American nation is attempting to become the first country to win six World Cup titles in football history.

2010

Did you know- The 19th global tournament will be held in South Africa, one of the youngest members of the FIFA. It'll be the largest event ever held in Africa. There's only event that rivals the FIFA World Cup: the Summer Olympics.

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."

Heroes of the FIFA World Cup - Bolivia 1994!

An Athletic Miracle!

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia's second largest city, was home to the Tahuichi Aguilera Soccer Academy, one of the world's most popular soccer academies. Tahuichi's work was difficult due to many problems in the country, from military coups to extreme poverty. Nonetheless, this sports school made history when it won the World Championships in 1978 and 1982. However in time, the academy provided several players to the Bolivian national football team. By the early 1990s, curiously Tahuichi Aguilera was the nucleus of the country's team which finished second in the World Cup Elimination Round for South America. During that event, the Latin American republics witnessed an "Olympic miracle" as the national team, led by Marco Antonio Etcheverry, also known as El Diablo (the Devil), beat Brazil (2-0) and become national idols. It was the first time the Brazilians had lost in the FIFA World Cup Qualification since 1963. Bolivia was all but unbeatable in 1993 and early 1994.

Without a doubt, Mr Etcheverry -ex member of the Tahuichi Aguilera Academy - is Bolivia's most renowned soccer player of the 20th century. Other popular idols are Milton Coimbra and Erwin "Platini" Sanchez.

At the XV World Cup in Los Angeles (CA), between June 17 and July 17, 1994, the Bolivian team placed 21st. This was Bolivia's third World Cup appearance. It accepted two invitations to compete in 1930 and 1950.

Country Profile: Bolivia

This landlocked nation is surrounded by five republics: Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay. Economically, it is the poorest nation in the Americas, with the exception of Haiti. Nonetheless, this Spanish-speaking country is a place with immense economic resources. It is home to at least nine million people; indigenous make a majority of the country's population. It has two capitals: La Paz (administrative) and Sucre (judicial). On the other hand, Bolivia is the birthplace of José Gamarra Zorilla, South America's most eminent campaigner for the Olympic Movement.

Since independence in 1825, this resource-rich South American nation has been one of the most unstable places in the Western Hemisphere. According to the Guinness World Records, Bolivia has had a record 191 attempted coups.

Tahuichi Aguilera Soccer Academy - A Notable Example

Apart from winning the World championships (1978 & 1982), Tahuichi Aguilera has received several honors, including the South American Championships (Argentina, 1978), the International Sun Bowl (USA, 1980), the Pan American Tournament (Brazil, 1981), the International Tournament (Spain, 1984), the Gothia Cup (Sweden, 1984-85, 1988-90, 1993, 1995-97, 1999, 2001), and the Helsinki Cup (Finland, 1988-89, 1995). Addition to this, the Bolivian academy has won many international events in the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

From 1979 until the late 2000s, several players from Tahuichi Aguilera competed for Bolivia. By 1985, this Spanish-speaking nation was one of the 16 countries to participate in the FIFA Under-16 World Cup in the People's Republic of China. On July 31, 1985, the men's football, under the leadership of Marco Etcheverry - a born footballer, tied with the host country 1-1, in the Workers Stadium in Beijing, before a crowd of 80,000 fans. Finally, the South American republic placed 13th in the universal event.

Two years later,after winning the South American Tournament in Peru in 1986, the under-16 national football team qualified for the Second FIFA World Championship, which was held in four Canadian cities (Montreal, Toronto, Saint John and Saint Johns) in July 1987. During that championship, Luis Hector Cristaldo Ruiz Diaz, who was born in Argentina, and Etcheverry were the best players from Bolivia.

Tahuichi Aguilera did not come to attention of the world outside of South America until 1978 when they won the World Championships in Argentina. Nonetheless, it was once again in the public eye in June 1994 when they provided the national team - which finished second in the World Cup 1994 Qualification - with many of its best soccer players, among them Jaime Moreno, Roly Paniagua, Alvaro Peña, and Joselito Vaca. Surprisingly, Bolivia had moved from being one of the two worst South American teams, together with Venezuela, to being among the world's 24 best teams. A notable example in soccer history.

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."

France National Football Team - A Little History

France made their entry into the international field of Football in 1903. The team, associated with the French Football Federation, goes under the nickname "Les Bleus" (The Blues) in France. Today, France's football team offers a high level of competition in matches - but believe it or not, the team used to be very modest, one that some would consider an "easy game". Their first international match was versus Belgium, and was a tie game. In 1930, France's national team was one of the four initial teams from Europe that participated in the inaugural World Cup. Nonetheless, at that time, France's team was still looked down upon as an easy defeat. In the mid 1950's, France did see some mild success, for once not being at the bottom of the standings.

Their first true experience at being a huge success came at the end of 1984. From December of 1984 to April of 1985, France was ranked number one in the Elo ranking categorization of football teams. This success was held out fairly well, and met another high point from May of 2001 to May of 2002, when the team from France sustained a FIFA ranking of number one; today, this number one FIFA ranking means more worldwide, as FIFA is an internationally recognizable organization.

Perhaps most memorable for many people is France's win of the FIFA World Cup in 1998. Thirty two different teams, from five different confederations, competed through 64 matches. France won nearly every match that they competed in, and ended up taking the championship upon beating Brazil 0 to 3. Other awards given to the French football team during the 1998 FIFA World Cup include "Most Entertaining Team", and the "FIFA Fair Play" Trophy. The Stadium that the French Football team usually plays at is the "Stade de France", which was built in 1995 and opened during 1998. The construction of the stadium cost over 285 Million Euros. In fact, the stadium was built for the purpose of the 1998 FIFA world cup - it's both ironic and fitting that France would win the world cup at their own stadium the year that it opened. After the World Cup, the Stade de France has continuously been used for various football events, although for the majority of the year, the stadium is empty. The majority of events that France's team participates in at the Stade de France are won by the French team, partially owing to the home team advantage of having more frequent access to that field, as well as higher morale and support from the crowd.

France's team may still not be the most reputable team around, but from their humble beginnings they were able to rise into a team that is recognizable in many places around the world, and were even able to claim the glorious title of World Champions.

Football Transfers - Up-to-date Football Transfer News, Rumours and Gossip.

The History of World Cup Football

The FIFA World Cup (often called the Football World Cup or simply the World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer), and the world's most representative team sport event. Organised by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's governing body, the World Cup is contested by the men's national football teams of FIFA member nations. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II), however it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds.The final tournament phase (often called the "Finals") involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation, with these games making it the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world.[1] In the 17 tournaments held, only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. Brazil are the current holders, as well as the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times, while Germany and Italy follow with three titles each. The next football World Cup Finals will be held in Germany.

The first international football match was played in 1872 between England and Scotland, although at this stage the sport was rarely played outside Great Britain. As football began to increase in popularity, it was held as a demonstration sport (with no medals awarded) at the 1900, 1904 and 1906 Summer Olympics before football became an official competition at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Organised by England's Football Association, the event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. The England national amateur football team won the event in both 1908 and 1912.

With the Olympic event continuing to be contested only between amateur teams, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The competition is often described as The First World Cup,and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The first tournament was won by West Auckland, an amateur side from north-east England that was invited after the Football Association refused to be associated with the competition. West Auckland returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title, and were given the trophy to keep forever, as per the rules of the competition.

In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for organising the event. This led the way for the world's first intercontinental football competition, at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Uruguay won the tournament,before winning the gold medal again in 1928, with another South American team, Argentina, taking silver. In 1928 FIFA made the decision to stage their own international tournament. With Uruguay now two-time official football world champions and due to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930, FIFA named Uruguay as the host country.

The 1932 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, did not plan to include football as part of the programme due to the low popularity of football in the United States. FIFA and the IOC also disagreed over the status of amateur players, and so football was dropped from the Games.FIFA president Jules Rimet thus set about organising the inaugural World Cup tournament to be held in Uruguay in 1930. The national associations of selected nations were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides. Indeed, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition.Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to make the trip. In total 13 nations took part -- seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America.

A spin-off tournament, the FIFA Women's World Cup, was first held in 1991. It is similar to the men's tournament in format, but so far has not generated the same level of interest.

World Cup Football i [http://www.worldcupfootballi.com/] offers information about the soccer world cup.

Soccer and Its History

Modern day soccer can generally trace it's beginning to England in the 1800's although many countries and cultures can lay claim to forms of soccer dating back centuries. Who knows ancient man likely kicked around rocks in prehistoric forms of soccer.

Among popular stories about the origin of soccer is from the 8th century when a Prince from Denmark was beheaded. The story is told that his head was kicked around on the ground and used like ball. King Edward III had to pass laws attempting to stop people from playing the game as it's origins are claimed to have resulted in injury and death.

But generally modern soccer can be traced to England in the 1800's played by the upper classes, the Aristocracy. It wasn't long before soccer was played by the common classes and that's where it's popularity ultimately took hold. Soccer is a simple and inexpensive sport and was easily adopted throughout the world. Many countries live and die by their beloved soccer clubs and teams.

Founded in 1863 the London Football Association formalized the games rules throughout Europe. Soon professional teams were formed and soccer heros were born.

Soccer spread quickly and was first played in the Olympics in 1900 at the turn of the Century. In 1904 the Federation Internationale de Football Association known as FIFA was created and the first World Cup competitions were held in 1930. Every four years the 24 best teams from around the world compete for the World Cup.

In the United States the United States Soccer Federation was formed in 1913, but soccer has never gained the widespread popularity that soccer enjoys in the rest of the world.

In America to call soccer "football" is unacceptable. Football in America is a completely different sport. Soccer has found widespread popularity in schools and soccer clubs throughout the U.S. since the mid seventies and American soccer teams have done well in international play.

Major League Soccer (MLS), founded in 1993, consisted of 10 teams when it began it's first season of competition in 1996. An estimated 3 million fans watched the playoffs that year. Today in 2010 MLS consists of 16 teams and will expand to 18 teams on 2011.

As the sport of soccer evolved so did the soccer ball. Possibly the very first ball was a human head, or human skulls. Heads and skulls not being acceptable today, the evolution of the soccer ball through the years has consisted of sewn-up wads of cloth, even animal bladders, to finally the introduction of a leather ball.

Later the invention of rubber led to Charles Goodyear creating a rubberized soccer ball in 1855. After FIFA was formed standardization of the soccer ball was included in the formal rules that were adopted. Today inflatable soccer balls are used that are not only suitable for kicking but can be "headed" without knocking out the player due to the heavy leather initially used.

Soccer shows no signs of slowing down throughout the world, it's growth in terms of both professional teams and recreational plays promise to continue and prosper.

Ethan has been an online writer for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in sports, finance, and product reviews, you can also check out his latest website on Omron HJ-112 [http://www.hj-112pedometer.net/] which reviews and lists the best Omron HJ-112 Pedometer [http://www.hj-112pedometer.net/] for an accurate distance record.

The World's Worst Soccer Teams - Cuba

The Golden Age

Once upon a time Cuba was one of the best teams in the Americas. By the early 1930s, the Island finished first at the I Central and Caribbean Games. They defeated Costa Rica and Honduras. Subsequently,between July 4 and July 19, 1938, Cuba's national soccer team became the best Caribbean team in soccer history when they placed seventh at the Third FIFA World Championship in Paris, France's capital city. During that event, Cuba had defeated Romania. However the Island was not see again in the World Cup.

Country Profile: Cuba

This Spanish-speaking nation is located in the Caribbean Sea. It covers 42,800 square miles; Latin America's largest individual island. There are at least 12 million people. Havana is the country's capital. Politically, Cuba is a dictatorship.

Since 1959 Cuba, formerly a colony of Spain, has become a Marxist dictatorship. In practice the Island is governed by Castro's family. Hereafter, the nation's dictator Fidel Castro Ruz was elected as the first pro-Soviet leader in the Western Hemisphere. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the USSR (now Russia) provided heavy military and economic aid.

Unfortunately it is one of the most brutal human rights abusing states in the Third World since the 1950s. Due to this, the Cuban tyranny is an international pariah on the world stage, along with Iran, Zimbabwe, Burma and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea). According Reports Without Borders, Cuba is one of "15 enemies of the internet on Earth". For political and economical reasons, over 250 athletes, including Olympic champs, had left the country since 1990, the highest of the world's developing nations. Economically, it has become heavily dependent on Venezuelan aid since the 2000s.

FIFA World Cup

Cuba's national team has not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1938. In recent decades, many Caribbean and Central American nations, from El Salvador and Honduras to Haiti and Trinidad Tobago, have already outpaced Cuba. By the early 1970s, the Salvadoran team was the winner of the men's soccer CONCACAF Tournament and because of this it was one of the 16 teams in the FIFA championship in Mexico City. Hereafter, twelve years on, El Salvador, along with Honduras, took part in its second men's World Cup in Barcelona (Spain). For the first time in 44 years, Haiti, a virtual unknown before 1974, secured its place in soccer history when they competed at the X World Cup in Munich, West Germany. From 1990 on, Costa Rica has participated twice in the global event. At the FIFA 2002 tournament, the Central Americans finished 19th place (among 32 teams).

Unlike neighboring Cuba, Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in the late 1990s. The Jamaican squad placed 22nd in the FIFA championship, ahead of Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Japan. Subsequently, Trinidad & Tobago, a cricket-loving Island, participated at the 2006 World Cup. Meanwhile, Honduras has qualified for the South Africa 2010. Honduras, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, made its World Cup debut in the early 1980s.

From 1962 until the late 1980s, sports in Cuba had suffered an abrupt change when the USSR and other Marxist states sent up to 300 coaches to the Island. Also during that period, the Spanish-speaking nation received more money per capita to promote sports than any other nation on Earth, including South Korea, China and Greece. At the same time, several soccer coaches came to Cuba, from Hungarians to Soviets. In the meantime, the Marxist government sent a host of national squads to Eastern Europe, North Korea and the Soviet Union. Havana also hosted many international tournaments. But despite all of this, the Cuban soccer team did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup. But that was only the beginning of the tragedy.

A Nightmare

From the 1990s to the 2000s, only a handful of soccer players did not escape from Cuba. By the early 1990s, Fernando Griñan, one of the Island's most popular players, sought political asylum in abroad. But Griñan wasn't the only one. By 1998 Eduardo Sebrango fled Cuba to Canada. Shortly afterwards, Alberto Delgado y Perez and Rey Angel Martinez defected from its national team during the 20o2 Gold Cup in the States. Three years later, Maykel Galindo escaped from the Island. Likewise, between 2007 and 2008, Osvaldo Alonso, Lester More, Pedro Faife and Reinier Alcantara had left Havana. In March 2008, seven players sought political asylum in America: Manuel Miranda, Erlys Garcia, Yenier Bermudez, Yordany Alvarez, Loanny Duarte, Yendri Diaz, and Eder Roldan. As a result, Cuba failed to qualify for the 2010 South Africa.

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."