Sunday, June 29, 2014

Colombian Futbol on the Rise

As we now have entered the knockout stage, I thought it was fitting to highlight one of my favorite teams; Colombia. This has been an incredible cup so far, full of upsets, great goals, and intense matches. There's been the usual teams and players that I've enjoyed, however also new ones that have inspired me. I intend to give a full recap when it's over but for now I wanted to capture a quick profile on the Colombian national team.

The cup always brings out my American patriotic side, more than any other sporting event, simply because I want the game of soccer to grow in the states. However it also brings out my Latin side, and I naturally find myself cheering for the South American teams, especially Colombia since I am half-Colombian. 

Colombia is playing excellent right now, despite not having their superstar striker Radamel Falcao. They won each of their group stage matches and just yesterday they won a stunning knockout victory against Uruguay. They now will move on to the quarter-finals for the first time ever in it's history. They'll face the host country Brasil which will not be an easy match but victory is very possible. This is an exciting time for the country of Colombia.

Golden Team of the 90s

Colombia was never a soccer power in the early years of international play. They could never compete with their successful neighbors Brasil, Argentina, and Uruguay. However in the 90s this changed and the Colombian national team entered a golden era of success on the field. A lot of which was influenced by drug money from Pablo Escobar's cartels. 

Nonetheless the team was an international force to be reckoned with. They were lead by their superstar midfielder Carlos Valderrama (and his signature blond afro) as well other notable players such as defender Andres Escobar, goalkeeper Rene Higuita, midfielder Leonel Alvarez, and strikers Freddy Rincon and Faustino Asprilla

They qualified for three consecutive cups in 1990, 1994, and 1998. At the 1994 World Cup in United States they were one of the favorites to win the tournament however had a terrible performance. One of the most memorable moments came when Andres Escobar scored an own goal against USA, that caused them to lose the match. (He was later killed for this in his home country). They managed to qualify again for the 1998 cup in France, however once again had a poor performance and did not make it out of the group stage. Ever since the death of Escobar and the retirement of Valderrama the country's team took a sharp decline. They did not qualify for three consecutive cups in 2002, 2006, and 2010. 

Back on the Rise

After the 2010 cup in South Africa however, the Colombian national team began to enter a new era of success. This time it was on the shoulders of their new superstar, Radamel Falcao. By 2012 Jose Pekerman became manager and established a new successful identity with the team. Besides their superstar Falcao, Colombia has a great supporting cast of talent such as James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, Freddy Guarin, and Adrian Ramos

At this cup I was devastated at the news that they would be without their superstar Falcao who injured his knee. However I still intended to give them my full support along with team USA, and thus far they have not disappointed. They won each match in their group stage against Japan, Greece, and Ivory Coast. Yesterday I was thrilled at their victory against Uruguay and celebrated hard with my friends. Next week it will be against the hosts Brasil, which won't be an easy task however Brasil has already proved to be beatable. I can only hope for the best for the Colombian national team. 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

FIFA World Cup

Well after a long wait the time has finally arrived. Tomorrow the 2014 FIFA World Cup will begin in Brazil. I've emerged myself in a total soccer phase dating back to last fall, in preparation. I began brushing up on my European leagues, players, the Fifa video game, got involved in a soccer team here at work, and even got cable so that I can watch the games on ESPN. I think it's fair to say that I am more than excited for the cup this year.

This is nothing new however for me. The World Cup has been one of my favorite sporting events, ever since I was a kid. I first was inspired by the tournament in 1994, and haven't stopped following it ever since.  It happens four times a year, an international soccer tournament to crown the best country in the world. 32 teams from 6 continents qualify to partake at the host country's venues. After a month of matches, there can only be one champion in the end. This year the world stage for the cup happens to be at Brazil.

What makes this tournament so special is the coming together of the world to partake in a game. A game that happens to be the most popular sport in the world. Just as we do for the Olympics, politics and indifference are set aside to partake in this game. The world shares a common passion to watch, play, and cheer for their countries in good spirit. This tournament is a step above the Olympics in my opinion, because soccer is a more widespread game. It is the beautiful game. It blends teamwork with creativity, finesse, athleticism, patience, and precision. When a goal happens it is truly a moment of wonder. I enjoy everything about this game and the cultural celebration that this epic tournament has become.


Brief History

FIFA, the Federation International Futbol Association, was formed in 1904 as the governing body of international futbol tournaments. In 1908 soccer became an official game of the London Olympics and this tradition lasted until 1928. However the Olympic games were only for non-professionals so the quality wasn't as good. Therefore FIFA began an international tournament known as the World Cup and in 1930 Uruguay hosted the inaugural event. Ever since the cup has traveled to different host countries every four years, except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. This cup in Brazil will be the 20th World Cup.

World Cup Winners

Men
YearWinnerRunner-Up
Score
Host Country
1930UruguayArgentina
4 - 2
Uruguay
1934ItalyCzechoslovakia
2 - 1
Italy
1938ItalyHungary
4 - 2
France
1950UruguayBrazil
2 - 1
Brazil
1954West GermanyHungary
3 - 2
Switzerland
1958BrazilSweden
5 - 2
Sweden
1962BrazilCzechoslovakia
3 - 1
Chile
1966EnglandWest Germany
4 - 2
England
1970BrazilItaly
4 - 1
Mexico
1974West GermanyNetherlands
2 - 1
Germany
1978ArgentinaNetherlands
3 - 1
Argentina
1982ItalyWest Germany
3 - 1
Spain
1986ArgentinaWest Germany
3 - 2
Mexico
1990West GermanyArgentina
1 - 0
Italy
1994BrazilItaly
0 - 0
United States
1998FranceBrazil
3 - 0
France
2002BrazilGermany
2 - 0
Korea / Japan
2006ItalyFrance
5 - 3
Germany
2010SpainNetherlands
1 - 0
South Africa

5 Championships: Brazil (1958, 1962, 1968, 1972, 2002)
4 Championships: Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
3 Championships: Germany (1954, 1974, 1990)
2 Championships: Argentina (1978, 1986)
2 Championships: Uruguay (1930, 1950)
1 Championship: France (1998)
1 Championship: England (1966)
1 Championship: Spain (2010)

World CupGolden BallSilver BallBronze Ball
1930 UruguayUruguay José NasazziArgentina Guillermo StábileUruguay José Leandro Andrade
1934 ItalyItaly Giuseppe MeazzaAustria Matthias SindelarCzechoslovakia Oldřich Nejedlý
1938 FranceBrazil LeônidasItaly Silvio PiolaHungary György Sárosi
1950 BrazilBrazil Zizinho[1]Uruguay Juan SchiaffinoBrazil Ademir
1954 SwitzerlandHungary Ferenc PuskásHungary Sándor KocsisWest Germany Fritz Walter [2]
1958 SwedenBrazil Didi[3][4][5]Brazil PeléFrance Just Fontaine
1962 ChileBrazil Garrincha[6]Czechoslovakia Josef MasopustChile Leonel Sánchez
1966 EnglandEngland Bobby CharltonEngland Bobby MoorePortugal Eusébio
1970 MexicoBrazil PeléBrazil GérsonGermany Gerd Müller
1974 West GermanyNetherlands Johan CruyffWest Germany Franz BeckenbauerPoland Kazimierz Deyna
1978 Argentina[7]Argentina Mario KempesItaly Paolo RossiBrazil Dirceu
1982 SpainItaly Paolo RossiBrazil FalcãoGermany Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
1986 MexicoArgentina Diego Maradona[8]West Germany Harald SchumacherDenmark Preben Elkjær Larsen
1990 ItalyItaly Salvatore SchillaciGermany Lothar MatthäusArgentina Diego Maradona
1994 United StatesBrazil RomárioItaly Roberto BaggioBulgaria Hristo Stoichkov
1998 FranceBrazil RonaldoCroatia Davor ŠukerFrance Lilian Thuram
2002 Korea/JapanGermany Oliver KahnBrazil RonaldoSouth Korea Hong Myung-Bo
2006 GermanyFrance Zinedine ZidaneItaly Fabio CannavaroItaly Andrea Pirlo
2010 South AfricaUruguay Diego ForlánNetherlands Wesley SneijderSpain David Villa

World Cup Qualifications


The qualification process is just as much a part of the tournament as the tournament itself. The purpose is to reduce the 200 participating countries to 32 teams. This usually begins about 2 years before the cup, and each country, regardless of their previous performances, must prove themselves to enter the tournament. Countries within the continent are grouped with one another, and after several games the teams with the best records are selected to enter the world cup. Of the 6 continents a certain number of countries are allowed into the tournament based on their number of countries as well as their relative performance. This number is determined by FIFA prior to the qualification process. In 2014 the following number of spots were determined by FIFA;


  • 13 spots for EUFA (European Zone)
  • 5 spots for CAF (African Zone)
  • 4 spots for AFC (Asian Zone)
  • 6 spots for CONMEBOL (South American Zone)
  • 4 spots for CONCAF (North American Zone)



2014 Host Nation: Brazil


This year the cup has returned to Brazil for a second time (they first hosted it in 1950). This is a fitting place to have the tournament as Brazil is one of the most celebrated soccer cultures in the world. They have won the cup 5 times, (3 of which were lead by soccer icon, Pele). They have also been runner-ups twice and finished in the final four three times. They last won it in 2002, lead by their superstar striker Ronaldo and the supporting cast of Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldinho. They are a clear favorite this time around and will especially be hungry for another championship on their home soil.



2014 Teams to Watch


Brazil
  • Group A: Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
  • Previous Cup Honors: 5 championships (1958, 1962, 1968, 1972, 2002), 2 runner-ups (1950, 1998), and 3 final four finishes (1938, 1974, 1978)
  • Head Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari (Managed the 2002 championship team)
  • Team Captain: Thiago Silva (46 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Neymar (Barcelona FC) David Luiz (Chelsea) Thiago Silva (PSG) Dani Alves (Barcelona FC)
  • FIFA Ranking: #3  
Croatia 
  • Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 final four finish (1998) 3 qualifications (1998, 2002, 2006)
  • Head Coach: Niko Kovac (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Darijo Srna (113 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk)
  • FIFA Ranking #18

Spain

  • Group B: Netherlands, Chile, Australia
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 championship (2010), 1 final four finish (1950)
  • Head Coach: Vicente del Bosque (Managed the 2010 championship team)
  • Team Captain: Iker Casillas (154 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona FC), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona FC), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona FC), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid) Sergio Busquets (Barcelona FC)
  • FIFA Ranking: #1

Netherlands

  • Group B: Spain, Chile, Australia
  • Previous Cup Honors: 3 runner-ups (2010, 1978, 1974), 1 final four finish (1998)
  • Head Coach: Louis van Gaal (Managed the team at the 2002 cup)
  • Team Captain: Robin Van Persie (84 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin Van Persie (Manchester United), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbache)
  • FIFA Ranking: #15
  Colombia

  • Group C: Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
  • Previous Cup Honors: 4 qualifications (1962, 1990, 1994, 1998)
  • Head Coach: Jose Pekerman (Managed Argentina at 2006 cup)
  • Team Captain: Mario Yepes (97 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Adrian Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan) James Rodriguez (Monaco) Falcao-injured (Monaco) 
  • FIFA Ranking: #8

Ivory Coast

  • Group C: Colombia, Greece, Japan
  • Previous Cup Honors: 2 qualifications (2006, 2010)
  • Head Coach: Sabri Lamouchi (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Didier Drogba (101 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
  • FIFA Ranking: #23

 Uruguay
  • Group D: Costa Rica, England, Italy
  • Previous Cup Honors: 2 championships (1930, 1950), 3 final four finishes (1954, 1970, 2010)
  • Head Coach: Oscar Tabarez (Coach since 2006; Final four finish in 2010)
  • Team Captain: Diego Lugano (94 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Luis Suarez (Liverpool FC), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
  • FIFA Ranking: #7


England

  • Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, Italy
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 championship (1966), 1 final four finish (1990)
  • Head Coach: Roy Hodgson (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Steven Gerrard (110 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Frank Lampard (Chelsea FC), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool FC), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
  • FIFA Ranking: #10

Italy
  • Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England
  • Previous Cup Honors: 4 championships (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), 2 runner-ups (1970, 1994), 2 final four finishes (1978, 1990)
  • Head Coach: Cesare Prandelli (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Gianluigi Buffon (140 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)
  • FIFA Rakning: #9

Switzerland

  • Group E: Ecuador, France, Honoduras
  • Previous Cup Honors: 9 qualifications (1934, 1838, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1994, 2006, 2010)
  • Head Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld (Manged team at 2006 and 2010 World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Gokhan Inler (73 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Philipe Senderos (Aston Villa)
  • FIFA Ranking: #6

France

  • Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 championship (1998), 1 runner-up (2006), 3 final four finishes (1958, 1982, 1986)
  • Head Coach: Didier Deschamps (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Hugo Lloris (57 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Frank Ribery-injured (Bayern Munich)
  • FIFA Ranking: #17


Argentina

  • Group F: Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
  • Previous Cup Honors: 2 championships (1978, 1986), 2 runner-ups (1930, 1990)
  • Head Coach: Alejandro Sabella (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Lionel Messi (86 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Lionel Messi (Barcelona FC), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona FC), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
  • FIFA Ranking: #5

Germany
  • Group G: Portugal, Ghana, USA
  • Previous Cup Honors: 3 championships (1954, 1974, 1990), 4 runner-ups (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002), 5 final four finishes (1934, 1958, 1970, 2006. 2010)
  • Head Coach: Joachim Low (Managed team at 2006 and 2010 World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Philip Lahm (106 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Manuel Nueur (Bayern Munich), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Kloze (Lazio), Marco Reus-injured (Borussia Dortmund)
  • FIFA Ranking: #2

Portugal
  • Group G: Germany, Ghana, USA
  • Previous Cup Honors: 2 final four finishes (1966, 2006) 5 qualifications (1966, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2010)
  • Head Coach: Paulo Beto (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo (111 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United), Raul Meireles (Fenerbache), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Pepe (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas)
  • FIFA Ranking: #4


United States

  • Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 final four finish (1930), 9 qualifications (1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)
  • Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann (Managed Germany in 2006)
  • Team Captain: Clint Dempsey (105 caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Tim Howard (Everton), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jozy Altidore (Sunderland)
  • FIFA Ranking: #13

 Belgium
  • Group H: Algeria, Russia, South Korea
  • Previous Cup Honors: 1 final four finish (1986), 11 qualifications (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
  • Head Coach: Marc Wilmots (1st World Cup)
  • Team Captain: Vincent Kompany (59 Caps)
  • Star Players to Watch: Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid) Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal)
  • FIFA Ranking: #11

Other Players to Watch
  • Mexico: Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
  • Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea)
  • Chile: Arturo Vidal (Juventus) Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona FC)
  • Australia: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
  • Greece: Sokratis Papastathopoulus (Borussia Dortmund)
  • Japan: Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)
  • Costa Rica: Joel Campbell (Arsenal)
  • Ecuador: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
  • Honduras: Andy Najar (Anderlecht)
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
  • Iran: Ashkah Dejagah (Fulham)
  • Nigeria: Victor Moses (Liverpool FC), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbache)
  • Ghana: Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Kevin Prince-Boateng (FC Schalke), Michael Essian (AC Milan)
  • Algeria: Saphir Taider (Inter Milan)
  • Russia: Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit Saint Petersburg)
  • South Korea: Ji Dong-won (Borussia Dortmund), Park Chu-Young (Arsenal)