Is Becks a Hex?

Okay, the entire sporting world was tired of hearing about David Beckham before he was sold to the United States’ MLS Galaxy squad in 2007. Since then, the aging star has basically faded into football oblivion everywhere outside of tabloid land.

Beckham was attempting to make huge headlines by becoming the only footballer Englishman in history to appear in four World Cups. The 35-year-old Beckster isn’t a spring chicken, but America’s football (soccer) isn’t exactly as competitive as the rest of the world’s football.

This is why Beckham went on loan to AC Milan in January of both 2009 and 2010. He wanted to prove to English Three Lions coach Fabio Capello that he could keep pace with the faster, younger and skillful stars. However, that dream was crushed when Becks tore his Achilles’ tendon in a Serie A match against Chievo Verona.

Still injured and out for the entire World Cup, even if England makes the final, Beckham is still currently in South Africa, planning on attending his country’s game via the sidelines and even “helping out” with scouting and coaching decisions.

Forget what you think about Beckham and ask yourself if this is the right move for the English team. It’s great of Beckham to make the trek, but he’s still not playing – he’s not technically on the team. How many of you would like to sit on the sidelines but won’t get the opportunity?

Has David earned the right to mix it up with the players out there and actually act as a coach?

Beckham means well. He really does. And although he’s never been the best footballer out there, he has consistently tried to be. But everywhere he goes it ends up being a side show.

England and the United States have played a historic match (1-1). These two countries rarely meet but are bitter rivals when out on the field. Beckham’s presence could have very well been conflicting. And it could have been quite helpful, as he has intimate knowledge of a few players on America’s side having played with them.

Maybe Beckham would better serve his team if the dimming star stayed indoors and played casino games online while the footballers balled, but that’s certainly not his style.

It will be interesting to see what’s made of Beckham’s looming presence, win or lose. Will he be given credit, much like a double agent, if England wins? Will he bear some of blame’s brunt if the US wins? Is Posh Spice in the locker room?

These important questions will be answered in time.

Football Legends. France - Portugal 1984

Remember Michel Platini? Here he is at his prime. EURO 1984 in France.



via Box Office Football

Platini scored 9 goals in 5 matches in this tournament. I guess counting him as one of the best players in the history of football should be pretty obvious. I really see something similar in the way Frank Ribery plays today and Michel Platini played back in the '80. First international title for France and the next one to come was in 1998 when they also were hosts and they had another incredible playmaker: Zinedine Zidane.

How Big is a Football?

Not many know details about the center of the game, the ball. Here are some details:

A little background:
- the ball used to be inflated pigs bladder but Columbus discovered the rubber ball in his explorations of America
- some pictures with a lot of antique balls http://www.asdiansi.com/anball.htm

Shape, size, weight, pressure, material:
- sphere
- circumference of 68–70 cm (or 27–28 inches)
- 410–450 (or 14–16 ounces)
- 8–12 psi
- leather (not really used anymore), other new materials.

Here is the official ball for the EURO 2008 from last year. As you can see the 32 patches in black and white that were the symbol of football are gone.

The future will bring us microchips in balls so that we will know when the ball has passed a line in the game and the referee doesn't really stand a chance in being accurate.

A major problem today is the exploitation of children in some poor countries for ball production but let's hope that will soon disappear.

Here are the official rules from FIFA regarding the ball:

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
In addition to the requirements of Law 2, acceptance of a ball for
use in matches played in an official competition organized under the
auspices of FIFA or the confederations is conditional upon the ball
bearing one of the following:
• the official “FIFA APPROVED” logo
• the official “FIFA INSPECTED” logo
• the “INTERNATIONAL MATCHBALL STANDARD” logo
Such a logo on a ball indicates that it has been tested officially and
found to be in compliance with specific technical requirements,
different for each logo and additional to the minimum specifications
stipulated in Law 2. The list of the additional requirements specific to
each of the respective logos must be approved by the International
F.A. Board. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the
approval of FIFA.
Member association competitions may also require the use of balls
bearing any one of these three logos.

Decision 2
In matches played in an official competition organized under the
auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations,
no form of commercial advertising on the ball is permitted, except
for the emblem of the competition, the competition organizer and
the authorized trademark of the manufacturer. The competition
regulations may restrict the size and number of such markings.

Top 10 Football Derbies in Europe

This is a list with the top 10 football derbies in Europe, each with a little history and some graphical information. To make it clear a derby is a match between teams from the same city, so no, Barcelona - Real and such other very important and fascinating games will not be on the list. I will focus more on the rivalry and not really on international results.

1. Fenerbahce - Galatasaray, the derby of Istanbul, a city split up in two sides, one in Europe and one in Asia.

Always a very spectacular match as these two teams always go for the title, and if the game might get boring at times, the atmosphere in the stadium will not fail to impress you, the clip will say more than I can say in words.




2. AS Roma - Lazio Roma Il derby Capitolino, from the city of Rome is probably the most political derby on the list, left vs right.

Two teams that aren't really full of trophies but in a city as big as Rome there is adrenaline and lots of chaos before the start of the game. The political factor plays an important part in this one and that is maybe what makes this derby so intense.




3. Celtic FC - Rangers FC also named The Old Firm derby, from the city of Glasgow, one of the oldest in the world and all about religion, Catholics - Protestants.

A game full of hate mainly because of the religious history of the match, Celtic having Irish roots (hence the colors) and thus being Catholic and the conservative Rangers see themselves as more Scottish and protestant. I'm sure you know about all the religious problems in Ireland, well it seems that Glasgow has also been influenced, and in a strong way.




4. Olympiakos Piraeus - Panathinaikos Athens The Eternal Enemies, probably one of the most intense matches in the stands.

If you want great atmosphere and great football then this is a game that you should not miss. With a lot of investments made in football in recent history, Greek football is sure to catch up with the western part of Europe.




5. Red Star Belgrade - Partizan Belgrade the Veciti Derbi, always a very violent match in which wounded policemen is not something rare.

As I already mentioned this is probably the most violent match from this list, arrests, injured and even casualties every time the match is played.




6. Arsenal FC - Tottenham Hotspur the North London derby, probably the most important rivalry in England a country full of local derbies.

First match in 1887, I don't really have a reason why I consider this match the most important in English football but I love it, so much passion.




7. AC Milan - Internazionale Milano Derby Della Madonnina, the match in which the best teams from Milan fight for glory and prestige.

Maybe the most followed derby from the list around the world, 2 teams with great history and even greater prestige. It might not appeal to everyone because of all the tactics that Italian football teaches but nonetheless a match that I hope to see live in this lifetime.




8. Benfica - Sporting Lisbon the O Clássico, the derby of the capital city between teams with a lot of trophies.

Huge trophy rooms and huge support for the two teams from the capital city of Portugal. The stadiums will surely be full when these two teams go head to head and as EURO 2004 was held in Portugal they both have new and beautiful stadiums. Estadio da Luz for Benfica and Jose de Alvalade for Sporting.




9. Spartak Moscow - CSKA Moscow teams with a lot of support in Russia not only the capital.

Spartak has won about everything in Russia in the ninetees but recently CSKA has made up ground by winning the League in 2002 and 2006. There is a lot of money invested in Russian football and that is making them go further in Europe, like Zenit winning the UEFA Cup and the national side doing an impressive job at EURO 2008. Be sure to watch this one.




10. Dinamo Bucharest - Steaua Bucharest the Great Derby, a rivalry that started in the communist era and was basically the Police vs Army.

With both teams founded in the communist regime they always had the support of politicians and generals, basically all the good players were playing for them and the national side was a mix. This has made the derby quaite decesive for winning the League and most people from Romania picking one of them to support. With two romanian teams in the UEFA Champions League this year (CFR Cluj and Steaua) it seems that the quality of the football is on the rise and you also should follow the explosive fans in the stands.

Goalkeeper equipment rule 1972

Did you know that from 1972 the goalkeeper had to wear equipment different than the ones players and referees had?

Number of players rule from 1871

The first mention of the use of 11 players in the field is from 1871, before that the teams agreed the numbers of players that could play before the start of the match.

Throw in rule 1864

Did you know that from 1864 until 1877 you had to throw the ball in the field at a 90 degrees angle with the line (rugby style) and the ball entered the play only after hitting the ground?