tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340956066168753822012-01-04T17:20:58.823Za blog about portuguese football (and some other stuff), in english, with a french nameBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.comBlogger1461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-10952904342858152202011-11-16T11:11:00.002Z2011-11-16T11:12:26.966Z

Photo credit: Jorge Amaral/Global Images

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-32033893748582117002011-11-12T12:26:00.006Z2011-11-14T12:48:23.758Z

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Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-35988612178981047982011-11-09T22:29:00.006Z2011-11-09T22:35:08.186Z

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-79041484410109255392011-11-03T17:29:00.002Z2011-11-08T17:24:19.018Z

Everything, and nothing. Having entered the Champions League amidst considerable fanfare, FC Porto find themselves in an unexpected position. After four matches, the Dragons are four points adrift of Group G leaders APOEL (where they were defeated 2-1 on Tuesday), and three of second-placed Zenit St. Petersburg, who dismantled them at the Petrovski Stadion at the end of September. After lifting

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-31935921290760578132011-10-13T18:13:00.015+01:002011-10-14T12:20:15.670+01:00

The Taça, yesterdayTonight, Portimonense and Benfica will contest the opening tie of the 3rd round in this season's Taça de Portugal, being held for the 72nd time since 1938 (the 1946/47 and 1949/50 editions were cancelled due to scheduling issues). Much has been written across Europe in recent times concerning the decline of national cup competitions, but from a personal perspective, there is

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-28414671719990787722011-10-12T23:02:00.002+01:002011-10-12T23:06:01.779+01:00

June 18th, 1925. These eleven players would go on to secure Portugal's first-ever international win, with a goal from Sporting's João Maia enough to defeat Italy. (Via)

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-16216928978385441102011-10-11T23:28:00.002+01:002011-10-11T23:30:28.211+01:00

It's lonely at the top: redux(Photo: José Coelho)

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-54963176262902932892011-10-03T14:43:00.002+01:002011-10-03T14:46:13.389+01:00

João Tomás 0...(Photo: ASF)

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-81279945393494232782011-09-28T12:51:00.003+01:002011-09-28T13:05:47.953+01:00

On this day in 1893: António Nicolau d'Almeida, a 23 year-old who ran a wine exporting business with his father and was a keen sportsman, founded the Foot-ball Club do Porto, and invited FC Lisbonense to participate in an exhibition match, which took place the following month. 118 years, and 100 trophies later, Futebol Clube do Porto meet Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League this evening.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-30010417886197544262011-09-27T12:17:00.004+01:002011-10-03T14:46:59.169+01:00

An official CF Os Belenenses car, as seen at the Restelo on Sunday

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-80112004560375354472011-09-24T00:18:00.003+01:002011-10-03T14:47:21.057+01:00

It's lonely at the top(Photo: Catarina Morais)

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-66696546826723521932011-09-23T14:58:00.003+01:002011-09-23T15:01:41.817+01:00

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Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-55994114551234486552011-08-19T14:22:00.005+01:002011-08-19T17:14:32.374+01:00

"Do you mean Marín and Cerezo?" During my time at University, one history class focused on the circumstances and motivations that can precipitate a fundamental strategic shift during wartime. One of the most famous examples was Italy's decision to enter the First World War on the side of the Triple Entente rather than the Triple Alliance, with which she had been nominally allied since 1882. A

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-56657770050599457412011-08-08T13:10:00.006+01:002011-08-08T13:55:57.714+01:00

This photo of Quim has nothing to do with the post below. It's just quite amusing Not the most accurate of titles for the first post in what feels like an age - we've already had two rounds of Europa League qualifying, one round of Champions League action, the Under-20 World Cup...most of which I intended to cover (to some degree) here. But it didn't happen, and for that, I'm only slightly sorry.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-47477919184680929542011-06-26T15:05:00.006+01:002011-06-26T23:33:49.338+01:00

A much-delayed part four. This post was supposed to appear early last week, but then Roman Abramovich got involved. What can you do? At least I had a bit longer to tot up the Benfica squad...(something like 46, in case you were wondering). In case you missed out on Parts I, II and III...SL BenficaWhere they're at: Last season turned out to be something of a nightmare for the defending champions,

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-54012580063177160782011-06-15T23:22:00.001+01:002011-06-16T14:12:15.207+01:00

Part three, then, and with two of Portugal's most prodigious wheeler-dealer clubs on tap, you might want to make yourself comfortable...SC Beira-MarWhere they're at: Despite having been promoted as Liga de Honra champions, few expected Beira-Mar to secure top-flight football in 2011/12 with the comfort that they did. Much of this was due to coach Leonardo Jardim (who has now departed for the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-50730594365217089182011-06-04T12:33:00.004+01:002011-06-08T17:13:09.310+01:00

Onto part two then, and as you may have gathered from the above photo, this one could run and run...FC Paços de FerreiraWhere they're at: In my humble opinion, Paços were the most exciting team to watch in the Liga last season. Rui Vitória took a little time to hit upon his best side, but once he had done so, Os Castores were a breath of fresh air. Unlike many 'smaller' outfits, they approached

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-83167771503403919142011-06-03T20:41:00.006+01:002011-06-04T00:33:16.748+01:00

Ker-ching! Yes dear reader, it's that time of year again. The time when the boots go away and the mobiles come out, when journalists and fans alike are driven into a catatonic frenzy of facts, rumour, and pure bullshit. The transfer season isn't exactly enjoyable, in fact most of the time it can be a total nightmare. But it's like an ingrowing toenail - ignore it, and you're only storing up

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-67868161075298686492011-05-25T18:59:00.007+01:002011-05-25T23:36:01.738+01:00

When deciding on the format of this post, I debated the selection criteria for some time. In a season where FC Porto showed themselves to be streets ahead of the competition, electing to draw the team of the season from the Dragons' ranks (along with three, perhaps four players from other clubs) would have been justifiable, and in all probability would have produced a superior outfit. But that,

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-14279434854862278072011-05-23T16:41:00.003+01:002011-05-23T17:46:28.380+01:00

After an eight-month break from competitive action, the Selecção will - finally - participate in a meaningful fixture on Saturday June 4th, when the Estádio da Luz hosts a top of the Group H table clash with Norway, the winner of which will be well-placed to secure automatic qualification for next year's European Championships. Defeat for Paulo Bento and company would not end their hopes of

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-276808276837943382011-05-08T15:30:00.003+01:002011-05-13T18:43:09.176+01:00

Where to start? By anyone's standards, this has been a fortnight to remember for Portuguese football. The upshot of the action is that an all-Liga final in Dublin is now guaranteed, after Porto and Braga eliminated Villarreal and Benfica respectively. But that two-line summary does scant justice to the drama, the the panache, and the stomach-churning tension produced by the two semi-finals,

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-57958570604654516312011-04-28T09:30:00.004+01:002011-04-28T09:36:54.622+01:00

After a slightly sideways look at Benfica-Braga, we have a more conventional buildup to F.C Porto-Villarreal, courtesy of the ever-excellent David Cartlidge, Spanish football expert and writer at the superb Spanish Football Info. Villarreal CF; the team ready and willing to break up the Portuguese love affair which entwines this year’s Europa League. They are located in the city of Vilareal, home

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-38330513156440614812011-04-25T14:29:00.007+01:002011-04-27T23:18:25.726+01:00

"Only a fool wants a confrontation and only a fool wants a strike." Arthur Scargill, 1977. Collectivisation is a curious thing. Arthur Scargill, the driving force behind the protracted, bitter Miners' Strike of 1984/85, was a strong proponent of its political potential. By taking collective action, the mining industry managed to bring to light pronounced socio-political divisions throughout the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-29416453019109817352011-04-17T14:17:00.031+01:002011-04-21T11:28:58.347+01:00

You may remember, some months ago now, that I went to Lisbon for a few days. It was lovely, and - like all holidays should be - filled with football-related fun. The centrepiece was a Sunday evening spent high in the rafters of Benfica's Estádio da Luz, where the Eagles had a tougher-than-expected assignment in the form of Marítimo. On the weekend of the club's 107th anniversary, and days after

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-68815593593879926772011-04-07T12:46:00.003+01:002011-04-07T14:10:28.234+01:00

With Benfica, Porto and Braga back in Europa League action this week, it's time for the latest batch of expert opinion on their opponents. Completing the trio of guest posts is this offering on Dynamo Kiev from Mark Gilbey, a football writer based somewhere in the Former Soviet Union, and regular contributor to FourFourTwo; where he runs the excellent Never Mind the Bolsheviks blog.It was two

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-36711427890816906912011-04-06T21:50:00.002+01:002011-04-06T21:56:17.352+01:00

With Benfica, Porto and Braga back in Europa League action this week, it's time for the latest batch of expert opinion on their opponents. Our next contributor is Daniel Darby, a close follower of the game in Russia and the Ukraine. Follow him on Twitter @footballrussia. There is a real Jekyll and Hyde feel to Spartak this year. Domestically their form has been nothing short of catastrophic, yet

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-41393808298915603182011-04-06T10:47:00.003+01:002011-04-06T10:53:14.793+01:00

With Benfica, Porto and Braga back in Europa League action this week, it's time for the latest batch of expert opinions on their opponents. First up, we have Mohammed Moallim, an expert on all things Dutch football, taking a look at PSV Eindhoven, who travel to the Luz to face Benfica tomorrow night. You can find his excellent blog here. Two years of not being national champions could be very

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-32680459594128907332011-04-05T13:58:00.004+01:002011-04-05T15:30:46.596+01:00

For lovers of neatness, the manner in which Futebol Clube de Porto captured their twenty-fifth national title would have been pleasing indeed. The Dragons re-established their dominance of modern Portuguese football - they have now won seventeen of the last twenty-five championships - with a fractious but ultimately comfortable 2-1 victory at the Estádio da Luz. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus declared

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-75296965971952858472011-04-03T22:23:00.002+01:002011-04-03T22:25:45.228+01:00

And I reach my daily status update limit. Unbelievable scenes. That's what a pair of crunch matches in the Liga will do to your account. I think - think - Porto are about to win the title. Gaitán just hit the post. Blimey. Back in a few hours.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-87389908181415891832011-03-29T09:35:00.004+01:002011-03-29T09:49:43.553+01:00

With the Selecção in action again this evening, it's time for another guest post. Today's contributor is Charlie Anderson, a self-described webcomic author and Scandinavian football waffler. His expertise ranges across the beguiling, frozen landmass that is Scandinavia, and I could think of no one better-suited to run the role over tonight's opponents, Finland.The Finland national team is and isn

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-48063990905989110452011-03-26T09:56:00.005Z2011-03-26T10:04:03.151Z

With the Selecção returning to action over the next couple of days, I've drafted in a couple of regional experts to tell us more about their opponents. Firstly, São Paulo-based Euan Marshall runs the rule over Chile, who were a personal favourite of mine during last summer's World Cup, but have endured the departure of 'El Loco' Bielsa since. To read more from Euan, visit his blog.It’s no secret

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-42471534591108843062011-03-18T15:56:00.003Z2011-03-18T22:55:13.809Z

Sitting in the Anfield trophy room, Domingos Paciência, flanked by two nattily-dressed club officials, ruffled his hair with the contented relaxation of a man who knew that he had just achieved something remarkable. His press conference was short, no more than ten minutes, and the questions were, in the main, of the pitter-patter variety, but the Braga coach appeared to have something important

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-23615211774484783592011-03-10T11:50:00.022Z2011-03-10T12:32:57.785Z

Slightly later than advertised, but as the midwife said to the happy couple, better late than never, eh? Regular readers may remember that a couple of weekends ago I was lucky enough to spend five days in Lisbon, during which time I attended the Benfica-Marítimo match, and sloped around the city's two other most notable stadiums, the José Alvalade and Restelo. Obviously neither Sporting or

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-8422983631143356962011-03-09T14:02:00.004Z2011-03-09T15:13:33.135Z

With three Portuguese sides left standing in the Europa League, I thought I'd once again invite some experts to contribute a few thoughts on their opponents. Today's club under the microscope is CSKA Moscow. This post is from Pavel Astafiev, a Russian-based sports agent, and a man who keeps a eye close on all things football in Eastern Europe. You can follow him on Twitter @p_astafiev.This season

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-44241130615306232842011-03-08T12:08:00.003Z2011-03-08T12:25:14.337Z

With three Portuguese sides left standing in the Europa League, I thought I'd once again invite some experts to contribute a few thoughts on their opponents. Today's club under the microscope are Liverpool. This post is from Phil Savory, a Liverpool supporter who blogs over at Touchline Ban. Without further ado...Liverpool head into their last 16 tie with Braga on the back of major change. A

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-81561348415069285012011-02-24T13:43:00.002Z2011-02-24T13:51:40.605Z

Yes, an apology. It's all been rather quiet on the blog this week, despite a rash of significant matches in the Europa League and the Liga. I've been active over at In Bed With Maradona and PortuGOAL, but what with one thing and another, the poor old blog has been neglected somewhat. Meu desculpas. Unfortunately for you, dear reader, this state of affairs will last well into next week, as I am

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-60289379347146228462011-02-17T12:44:00.002Z2011-02-17T13:03:27.666Z

With four Portuguese sides in Europa League action this week, I thought it would be nice to take a look at their opponents from a perspective other than mine. To that end, I've asked four experts to contribute posts on Glasgow Rangers, Lech Poznan, VFB Stuttgart and Sevilla, the last of which you can find below. Today's guest contributor is David Cartlidge, a Spanish football aficionado who can

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-64048395951528046162011-02-16T13:19:00.002Z2011-02-16T13:27:10.813Z

With four Portuguese clubs in Europa League action this week, I thought it would be nice to take a look at their opponents from a perspective other than mine. To that end, I've asked four experts to contribute a post on Rangers, Lech Poznan and VFB Stuttgart, the third of which you'll find below. Today's contributor is Vampy Archer, who covers the Bundesliga for Back Page Football, as well as

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-17007620913171429002011-02-15T12:03:00.004Z2011-02-15T12:11:50.177Z

With four Portuguese clubs in Europa League action this week, I thought it would be nice to take a look at their opposition from a perspective other than mine. To that end, I've asked four experts to contribute a post on Rangers, Lech Poznan, Stuttgart and Sevilla, the second of which you'll find below. Today's contributor is Michal Zachodny, a scout-turned-blogger on all things Polish football.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-11747195539093222992011-02-14T12:38:00.004Z2011-02-14T13:04:29.183Z

With four Portuguese clubs in Europa League action this week, I thought it would be nice to take a look at their opposition from a perspective other than my own. To that end, I've asked four experts to contribute a post on Rangers, Lech Poznan, Stuttgart and Sevilla, the first of which you'll find below. Today's contributor is Ross Dunbar, a Glasgow Rangers fan and blogger. You can read more of

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-89006810802525360832011-02-10T11:47:00.004Z2011-02-10T13:39:11.899Z

In what was a mostly entertaining encounter, Paulo Bento was somewhat unlucky to leave Geneva with his first defeat as Portugal coach. Lionel Messi's last-minute penalty, awarded after Fábio Coentrão had brought down Juan Manuel Martínez, gave Argentina the victory, but this was a largely even contest between two teams who have both progressed light years beyond what we saw at the World Cup. Both

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-35268308348199889942011-02-09T09:51:00.002Z2011-02-09T10:03:04.903Z

Given the heavyweight status of Portugal's opponents in Geneva this evening (and also the fact that I'm a regular contributor to his blog), I am very happy to present the inaugural Cahiers du Sport guest post, from the inimitable Sam Kelly. Sam writes for When Saturday Comes, ESPN Soccernet and In Bed With Maradona to name a few, and also runs the aforementioned superb blog documenting the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-70925821413908660112011-02-03T12:52:00.006Z2011-02-03T14:25:53.717Z

With club football exerting an increasingly tight hegemony over both coverage and calendar space, it's not especially fashionable to get excited about international friendlies. Managers don't like them because they put their precious players at risk, television companies don't like them because they are harder to sell as meaningful events, and players...actually I'm not sure how players feel

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-86007490283124232672011-02-01T13:14:00.007Z2011-02-01T22:12:30.702Z

As ever, transfer deadline day produced a plethora of evasive answers, frantic reporters and more doublespeak than Orwell's unedited draft of 1984. Leading the charge against clarity was Corinthians President Andrés Sanches. Having touched down in Ibagué, Colombia (where the Timão will face Deportivo Tolima in the second leg of their Copa Libertadores qualifying tie in the early hours of Thursday

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-2645160303153365552011-01-25T15:11:00.004Z2011-01-25T16:55:04.106Z

António Silva Campos, recently re-elected as President of Rio Ave Futebol Clube, has had a tough season. The loss of Sílvio to Braga and Fábio Faria to Benfica during the summer transfer window left a hole in his back line, one which coach Carlos Brito has largely been unable to plug. Despite possessing plenty of creative threat in Bruno Gama and Yazalde, as well as the Liga's second most

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-15558288934529461442011-01-18T14:13:00.008Z2011-01-19T14:33:29.130Z

"For the good of Sporting, I am no longer President. For several reasons I believe the best solution for Sporting is for me to leave my post as President of this great club." As departures go, it was a low-key affair. Looking a fair bit older than his fifty years, José Eduardo Fragoso Tavares de Bettencourt chose this past Saturday to relinquish the post he had held since June 5th 2009, namely

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-6844002806601084372011-01-11T16:00:00.003Z2011-01-11T20:11:43.386Z

Last week, after Benfica's routine 2-0 win over Marítimo in the bwin Cup, a story appeared on the A Bola website, declaring that whilst the Eagles were still focused on signing a forward during the January transfer window (a desire fulfilled by the acquisition of José Luis Fernández from Racing Avellenada), the club's priority was now a left-sided defender. It's not hard to work out what

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-74017886427965511002011-01-06T16:07:00.008Z2011-01-07T12:13:39.506Z

As pronouncements go, dismissing the notion that your first match at a new coaching post is one of "life or death" isn't exactly an unfamiliar one in football. Speaking to the press before Friday's home meeting with fellow relegation strugglers Vitória de Setúbal, new Portimonense coach Carlos Azenha emphasised the fact that "there are still sixteen rounds" left to play, and that anything less

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-82073107303765118732011-01-03T13:19:00.002Z2011-01-03T14:40:20.835Z

Rarely, if ever, has a meeting between two sides with as much mutual emnity as Sporting Braga and Vitória de Guimarães been described as "a good training game" by one of the participating coaches. Yet that is the phrase that Guimarães' Manuel Machado chose to use when asked for his thoughts on Monday night's match. Whilst he made sure to emphasise the fact that his players would take to the field

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-3506768989254385852010-12-31T15:09:00.004Z2010-12-31T16:44:04.559Z

Hours before the revelry starts, and it's time for the last of my season so far reviews. When considering how to present these I knew that the most sensible option would be in order of Liga standing, but now I realise that I was also unconsciously putting off the most depressing post until last. Sorry about that. 13th: Rio AveCoach: Carlos Brito. Total Points: 14. Biggest win: 4-1 vs. Estrela de

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-10965257830621597252010-12-30T11:58:00.005Z2010-12-31T00:38:26.965Z

Part three then, and as we move into the lower half of the table, the examination and prognosis becomes a little less rosy. Whilst we aren't at the bottom yet, we are entering a world where expectations haven't exactly been met with flying colours. However, a word of caution: such is the tightness of the Liga table that the lowest-ranked side in today's post are a mere seven points off Vitória de

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-87126626489972831792010-12-27T13:28:00.006Z2010-12-29T14:29:35.903Z

So that, my friends, was Christmas. Hopefully your festive period was as indulgent, relaxing, and not quite as utterly devoid of football as mine. I was denied even the most questionable of pleasures when Watford's trip to Ipswich was called off yesterday afternoon. Gone was the prospect of yelling at the BBC's text updates. It was awful. Anyway, it's less than a week until the BWIN Cup (look

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-63637067259070920902010-12-23T13:06:00.006Z2010-12-27T14:16:35.330Z

On Monday evening, the curtain came down on Portuguese football in 2010. Sporting's 3-0 win at Setúbal wasn't exactly the most auspicious of endings, but it nevertheless ensured a traditional top three going into 2011. However, that doesn't tell half the story. It's been an intriguing season, and with the Liga now pausing until January 7th, I thought that the time was right to look at how the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-3181716082655183492010-12-17T14:06:00.001Z2010-12-20T16:45:59.328Z

Arsenal-Barcelona, AC Milan-Tottenham, Lyon-Real Madrid...meh. For a man who loves Portuguese football as much as myself, there's only one game in the European footballing town this season, and that's the Europa League. Now, the more snarky readers amongst you may point out that this is because both Benfica and Braga were eliminated from the Champions League. And, well, you'd be right. But after

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-74570377885475307752010-12-13T22:12:00.006Z2010-12-20T16:31:26.170Z

Conventional British wisdom holds that European clubs care little for the quicksand of knockout-style competitions, and whilst there is little doubt that the Taça de Portugal is of lesser standing than, say, the FA Cup, it does have prestige of its own. However, it is undeniably often viewed as the junior partner to other, more notable successes – as the junior partner in a double-winning

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-31569781364642030512010-12-03T11:59:00.000Z2010-12-03T11:59:27.086Z

(Photo Credit: A Bola) After Braga and Benfica all but sealed their passage to the knockout rounds of the Europa League last week, it was left to Sporting and Porto to fly the Portuguese flag on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. There was considerably less at stake - given that Porto had already confirmed their qualification, and Sporting just needed a point from their final two games - but

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-83686091417686186512010-11-25T14:06:00.002Z2010-12-20T16:34:56.882Z

(Photo Credit: A Bola)...gone. In a week of contrasting fortunes for the two Portuguese sides in European action, both Braga and Benfica now appear to be headed towards the Europa League rather than the Champions League knockout stages. Here's a few disconnected thoughts on a pair of memorable evenings. Watching Braga's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, I was reminded of a boxing match that took place

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-62472195891609679302010-11-18T18:02:00.000Z2010-11-18T18:02:29.542Z

(Photo Credit: EPA/António Cotrim) It was with about twenty-five minutes remaining that the first Olé! was heard reverberating around the Estádio da Luz. At the time, I was a little reluctant to endorse such an obvious show of smugness, but three minutes later, Hélder Postiga turned home (with a little help from the ankle of Sergio Ramos), and my party-pooping antics looked, well, a little

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-84632461342222555242010-11-15T13:48:00.002Z2010-12-20T16:35:40.303Z

(Photo Credit: A Bola)International football and domestic considerations have never been the easiest of bedfellows, and ahead of Wednesday's game Paulo Bento has today had to cope with a number of withdrawals from his squad. Silvestre Varela (pictured) limped off on Sunday evening in Porto's 2-0 home victory over Portimonense after just thirty-eight minutes; with the winger apparently complaining

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-50987330526073789542010-11-11T13:21:00.001Z2010-12-20T16:36:10.841Z

(Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images)Paulo Bento has this afternoon named his squad for the upcoming friendly between Portugal and Spain, to be played this Wednesday (November 17th) at the Estádio da Luz, kicking off at 21.00 local time. Although there are no qualification points at stake, and the whole affair is part of a wider public relations campaign for the joint Iberian World Cup 2022 bid, there

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-80006740721307506252010-11-05T14:05:00.001Z2010-12-20T16:36:24.378Z

Whilst I hope that my writing offerings are of sufficient depth and quality to keep you coming back for more, change, as Gang of Four once said, can do you good. To that end, this week's Game of the Weekend preview will be offered in the form of a podcast...the PortuGOAL.net podcast to be precise. Anchored by renowned European football expert Andy Brassell, helped by site founder Tom Kundert and

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-67677468344161754512010-11-02T16:36:00.001Z2010-12-20T16:37:06.865Z

(Photo Credit: The Offside)It is, as they say, put up or shut up time for Portuguese sides in Europe. Matchday Three saw two teams virtually seal qualification from the Europa League group stages, another preserve their Champions League status for one more round, and one set themselves up for a tense finale. The fixtures from a couple of weeks ago are reversed this week, meaning that this preview

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-33416432371795945502010-10-29T13:24:00.000+01:002010-10-29T13:24:04.058+01:00

(Photo Credit: Lusa) "I long to beat FC Porto." Bold words from a young manager trying to make his way in a league dominated for much of the last decade by the Dragons. But Jorge Costa is no ordinary young manager, and for a variety of reasons, Académica-FC Porto is no longer an ordinary fixture in Portugal. The first reason is Costa himself. During fifteen years at Porto, he carved out an

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-15833983217834360772010-10-28T15:04:00.001+01:002010-12-20T16:37:29.789Z

(Photo Credit: Braga Blog)After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, the waiting has finally come to end for fans of Sporting Clube de Braga. President António Salvador, after announcing last month that he would not seek re-election, appears this week to have reversed his decision, after reportedly receiving messages of support and (one presumes) pleas that ran into the thousands. On Tuesday

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-10186020769946698832010-10-23T17:21:00.001+01:002010-12-20T16:37:56.348Z

(Photo Credit: Flickr)Whilst FC Porto have established an iron grip on the Championship as we approach and pass the quarter-way point, an altogether more intriguing contest is developing over the four remaining European places. Between Vitória Guimarães in 2nd and Vitória Setúbal in 11th, there sit a clutch of teams separated by just three points, and this weekend sees two of the main

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-89109389032645921812010-10-19T15:23:00.001+01:002010-12-20T16:38:46.545Z

(Photo Credit: The Offside)With Matchday Two in the books, the fortunes of Portuguese sides in Europe are hanging by a thread, and much could be decided this week. Two stand on the brink of qualification for the next round, another is on the verge of elimination, and one lies somewhere in the middle. All four matches promise to be entertaining, so without further ado...all kick-off times are UK.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-30329701550786398432010-10-15T15:58:00.001+01:002010-10-15T19:08:51.498+01:00

(Photo Credit: SAPO Desporto) Whilst the international break might be over, Liga action doesn't return to Portugal until next weekend, with the Taça taking precedence this coming Saturday and Sunday. As in the UK, the top-flight sides enter at the third round stage, and as in the UK, that denotes the precise moment at which the television companies begin to take a noticeable interest in the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-22040495693169496392010-10-14T13:47:00.002+01:002010-11-18T21:43:03.875Z

(Photo Credit: ZeroZero) Following his side's recent goalless draw with Manchester United, which was attended by a below-capacity 41,709, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn warned supporters of the Black Cats that their club's current financial largesse was unsustainable without continued commitment from the local area. Speaking at the introduction of a ten-game ticket valid for the second

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-46537104105679868022010-10-12T15:25:00.001+01:002010-10-12T15:25:00.118+01:00

(Photo Credit: Watford FC) Yeah, sorry about that. It's just that, being simple folk, the first person that I thought of when I saw that Portugal had been drawn with Iceland was Heidar Helguson. For those of you who weren't aware, Helguson (currently at Queens Park Rangers) is one of the finest strikers ever to wear the yellow shirt of Watford, and will always, always remain a hero at Vicarage

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-37967881163040995692010-10-11T15:38:00.003+01:002010-10-11T16:34:39.963+01:00

(Photo credit: Jose Coelho) 'Everything turned Bento.' That brief but illustrative phrase (it's a rough translation, thanks to one of my Twitter followers for an explanation here, here and here) appeared as a headline in the Saturday edition of Record, who, along with their peers in Portugal's sporting press, were left scrambling on Friday evening for original ways of saying: 'wow, that was

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-50042005719829018882010-10-07T14:42:00.000+01:002010-10-07T14:42:55.552+01:00

(Photo credit: Getty Images Europe) It's become a familiar refrain for fans of Portugal in recent times, but Friday's meeting with Denmark at the Dragão really is a must-win game, if the Selecção are to retain any realistic hopes of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships. But hang on a minute, haven't we been here before? Indeed we have, my friends, indeed we have. Denmark are a

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-58997006434375556692010-10-01T16:59:00.002+01:002010-10-01T18:29:44.157+01:00

(Photo Credit: Record) What a difference a year can make. Hell, not even a year, six months. When Benfica hosted Sporting Braga on March 27th 2010, the game was billed as the one that would determine the destination of the 2009/10 championship. Benfica came out on top in a tense encounter, with captain Luisão proving the difference between the two sides. Even after that, Braga's 2-0 victory

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-87744242965435456852010-10-01T14:42:00.004+01:002010-10-01T15:23:10.828+01:00

(Photo Credit: Record) After all the talk, all the agencies and Presidents and Special Ones, Paulo Bento has named his first squad as Portugal coach, always a symbolic moment for any new manager. Although the Selecção will take to the field against Denmark in just seven days, you would imagine that Bento wanted to reach this stage as quickly as possible. You can never stop people from talking,

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-47422002194465000792010-09-28T17:11:00.000+01:002010-09-28T17:11:22.495+01:00

(Photo credit: The Offside) Matchday One was, with a single painful exception, a happy hunting ground for Portuguese sides in Europe. Three wins and one comprehensive defeat spread across both the Champions and Europa Leagues isn't a bad return, and all four sides have reasons to be optimistic heading into Matchday Two. Here's a game-by-game look at what Portugal's representatives on the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-43434464084422626802010-09-24T16:07:00.003+01:002010-09-24T17:05:01.082+01:00

(Photo Credit: Record)I love this time of the season. As we enter Round 6 of the Liga ZON Sagres, the table still retains a gloriously unfamiliar look (with the exception of FC Porto out in front). Aided and abetted by the sluggish starts from Benfica and Sporting CP, a number of sides have seized the opportunity and helped set the early pace. Chief among these have been Académica and Vitória

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-43913976402052547512010-09-22T16:21:00.002+01:002010-09-22T17:44:57.728+01:00

(Photo Credit: Álvaro Astiz Conde)About a month ago, I wrote a little preview of the Vuelta a España, profiling the main contenders, as I saw them. The Vuelta finished in Madrid this past Sunday, so I thought it appropriate to wheel out those predictions and bask in their glory, or wallow in shame. Whichever emerges as the more appropriate option. But before we get into that, a word on the race

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-67213800409274504592010-09-13T13:36:00.004+01:002010-09-16T00:21:34.787+01:00

(Photo Credit: The Offside)Firstly, an apology. There have, over the last decade or so, been many developments in football which have left me shaking my head, but the proliferation of the term 'Matchday' is prominent amongst them. I'm not sure whether it's the assumption that you can just subjugate the laws of grammar to fuse two independent words for marketing purposes, or the fact that there

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-3103943079669024162010-09-10T10:41:00.006+01:002010-09-10T17:07:35.596+01:00

(Photo Credit: Mirror.co.uk)It's true what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men. The Federação Portugesa de Futebol (FPF) had, until last Friday's defensive debacle against Cyprus, a plan that they were willing to fight for. Despite the long arm of the national anti-doping authority sticking their beak in with the imposition of a six-month ban on an increasingly beleaguered Carlos

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-11674010934804419712010-09-03T22:45:00.003+01:002010-09-09T13:48:57.498+01:00

(Photo credit: Record)A few years back, my beloved Watford enjoyed (if that's the right word) a brief but painful sojourn in the Premier League. By the time April rolled into view, it had become abundantly clear that we were destined for a swift return back to the unforgiving environs of the Championship. I had come to terms with this uncomfortable truth as best I could, and it was with a not-so

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-52598200577095375242010-08-27T15:24:00.004+01:002010-08-27T17:12:42.150+01:00

(Photo credit: Record)With the new season underway in Portugal, and about to commence in Italy, I've decided on a new weekly feature for the blog- a game of the weekend in both leagues. I'll do a brief preview of each team, who they've brought in over the summer, how they're doing in the league etc etc, as well as providing some thoughts about how the game might unfold.Benfica-Vitória Setúbal (

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-49265972907446051932010-08-26T14:51:00.002+01:002010-08-26T15:31:50.780+01:00

(Photo credit: Trevino)With the new season underway in Portugal, and about to commence in Italy, I've decided on a new weekly feature for the blog- a game of the weekend in both leagues. I'll do a brief preview of each team, who they've brought in over the summer, how they're doing in the league etc etc, as well as providing some thoughts about how the game might unfold. Fiorentina v Napoli (

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-7928846049431217552010-08-25T15:03:00.003+01:002010-08-25T17:19:10.824+01:00

(Photo credit: Unipublic).This Saturday sees the beginning of the 65th Vuelta a Espana, the final Grand Tour of the 2010 cycling season. Since the Vuelta moved to its current date of late August/early September in 1995, the race has suffered somewhat in terms of its ability to attract the top stars of the cycling world. The fact is that with the Tour de France finishing just a month before the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-22288295295467487052010-08-11T18:01:00.003+01:002010-08-22T13:59:56.496+01:00

Good news my friends, good news. The lovely people over at In Bed With Maradona (if you don't know about them, where have you been?) have accepted my request to become their Portuguese football correspondent. IBWM is a new site, designed to showcase some of the excellent, but criminally underexposed football writing out here in the big wide world of the internets. Their writers include Jack Lang

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-20872081200775534842010-08-09T11:52:00.003+01:002010-08-09T12:50:56.156+01:00

Photo Credit: Bad Left Hook (SB Nation).In the co-main event of Saturday night's HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast, the Road Warrior Glen Johnson squared off against the exciting young light-heavyweight Tavoris Cloud, in a matchup which had significant implications for the division going forward. The two men are separated by thirteen years, but the stylistic similarities were visible early on. Both

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-39304538847959256102010-07-26T16:29:00.002+01:002010-07-26T19:42:52.693+01:00

At a glance it all seems to have been rather predictable. The Yellow Jersey battle at the 2010 Tour de France was widely expected to be contested by just two riders, and so it turned out. Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) slugged it out over three weeks, over cobbles, mountain passes and flat time trial courses; and eventually finished comfortably ahead of the third man on

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-74580532747941365242010-07-17T15:07:00.003+01:002010-07-18T00:30:33.404+01:00

It's been a long, strange trip for Luiz Felipe Scolari. His last decade in management has been bookended by spells at Palmeiras, the second of which began with a 2-1 victory over Santos this past Wednesday. In between, he's guided an unfancied Brazil side to World Cup glory, been the most successful coach in the history of the Portuguese football team, struggled to adapt to the demands of the

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-80331649597549816612010-07-12T11:50:00.004+01:002010-07-12T17:06:33.837+01:00

Well, it's over. The 2010 World Cup has drawn to a close with what in the end was a straightforward, logical conclusion. The best team in the world won, playing with the same style that had taken them to the final. Spain's path to glory in the 2008 European Championships may have announced their presence on the world stage, but this victory is indisputably more impressive. Vicente Del Bosque has

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-66236222363984022122010-07-09T15:25:00.002+01:002010-07-09T15:49:19.757+01:00

With the group stages a dim and distant memory, here's a few brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because it's almost always more entertaining. Tiki-Taka=the new Catenaccio?Before you navigate away from this post in disgust, consider this. Spain, who entered the tournament as the most vaunted proponents of possession-based

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-70961111400863867972010-07-01T13:41:00.002+01:002010-07-01T14:39:20.117+01:00

With the group stages a dim and distant memory, I've decided to provide some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- good and bad. Expect plenty of the bad, because it's almost always more entertaining. Send for Gok WanMuch of the chatter surrounding Brazil at this year's World Cup has been preoccupied with the absence of the oft-cited but rarely identified Joga Bonito.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-70532440930717629432010-06-27T00:00:00.002+01:002010-06-27T00:34:08.373+01:00

With the group stages over and done with, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more entertaining. Here's Group F. Breaking news- leagues exist outside of EuropeThere are plenty of things to get annoyed about surrounding this World Cup, just as with any major sporting event.

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-29864331974210134582010-06-26T12:38:00.002+01:002010-06-26T13:24:47.542+01:00

As the group stages draw to a close, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more amusing. The Netherlands are just doing their thing again...right? If you cast your minds back to my pre-tournament Netherlands preview, you might recall that I referred to that age-old

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-47966179807306423802010-06-25T11:57:00.002+01:002010-06-25T12:35:18.566+01:00

As the group stages draw to a close, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more amusing. Here's Group D. They transformed the economy, now it's time for the football teamFollowing the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961, West Germany began to experience an acute shortage of

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-70261127777326720222010-06-24T13:15:00.003+01:002010-06-24T13:48:24.570+01:00

As the group stages draw to a close, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more amusing. Here's Group C. The USA- not quittersIn an event known for its notoriously money-grabbing/shoulder-rubbing tendencies, the presence of former US President Bill Clinton at his country's

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-744130972765709852010-06-23T11:59:00.002+01:002010-06-23T12:44:02.570+01:00

As the group stages draw to a close, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more amusing. Here's Group B. Lionel Messi don't need speed to be specialIt's a tactical fact of tournament football that the star players face greater odds in their efforts to shine, and nowhere has

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-22687297519535592772010-06-22T16:57:00.002+01:002010-06-22T17:48:50.430+01:00

As the group stages draw to a close, I'll be providing some brief thoughts on what we've learned from each of the teams- the good and the bad. Expect plenty of bad, because the bad is almost always more amusing. We start, neatly enough, with Group A. Time to rewrite some stereotypes? After producing a textbook tournament group stage performance, surely it's time to rewrite the crusty old

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-41160237550923302992010-06-10T20:55:00.002+01:002010-06-10T21:14:00.679+01:00

Well, here we are. After days, months, and years of preparation, speculation and waffle, we are just under eighteen hours away from the 2010 edition of football's biggest tournament; which will kick off when the hosts South Africa take on Mexico, in Soccer City, Johannesburg. Depending on where you are in the world, it'll begin anywhere between 3am or 5am on June 12th, but regardless of time zone

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-72816943621198115892010-06-10T14:23:00.003+01:002010-06-10T16:01:21.144+01:00

Between now and the opening ceremony, I'll be taking a look at the nations participating in this year's World Cup, an event which is slowly consuming me with excitement. Share my pain! Our final preview looks at the European champions and the best side in the world, Spain. Until 2008, Spain were known as the chronic underachievers of world football. Generations of fine players had come and gone,

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-27209213182873272292010-06-09T13:47:00.002+01:002010-06-09T15:42:01.383+01:00

Between now and the opening ceremony, I'll be taking a look at the nations participating in this year's World Cup, an event which is slowly consuming me with excitement. Share my pain! Today's penultimate (!) preview takes a look at Chile, who stand to be one of the more memorable sides of South Africa 2010.You may recall the nostalgia (or lack thereof)-tinged opening of yesterday's Switzerland

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-9870190571167924012010-06-08T13:19:00.002+01:002010-06-08T19:25:34.708+01:00

Between now and the opening ceremony, I'll be taking a look at the nations participating in this year's World Cup, an event which is slowly consuming me with excitement. Share my pain! Group H continues today with the land that gave us cuckoo clocks, numbered bank accounts, and wonderful, wonderful chocolate- Switzerland. Perhaps it's those crude national stereotypes at work again, but I've

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434095606616875382.post-39711557398464990022010-06-07T15:42:00.002+01:002010-06-07T17:02:24.680+01:00

Between now and the opening ceremony, I'll be taking a look at the nations participating in this year's World Cup, an event which is slowly consuming me with excitement. Share my pain! Today's second preview (so many teams, so little time) looks at the third and least familiar CONCACAF representative, Honduras. Linguistic relations have been reflected oddly at this year's World Cup, and nowhere

Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15307368959238131617noreply@blogger.com0