World Cup Update #5: Best National Anthems

Here are the best national anthems of the teams at this year's World Cup Finals (presented in alphabetical order)--

Brazil

Cameroon

Italy

Spain

Uruguay

And the best national anthem of a team not at this year's finals--

World Cup Update #4: north Korea will be missed

For an article about north Korean player Jong Tae-se, click here.

To see video footage of the north Korean national team at the Johannesburg Zoo, click here.

World Cup Update #3: The group stage is over

Here are some important statistics from the group stage of the 2010 World Cup:

• Teams that won all three of their matches: Argentina, Netherlands
• Teams that lost all three of their matches: Cameroon, north Korea
• Teams that allowed no goals in the group stage: Uruguay, Portugal
• Teams that scored no goals in the group stage: Algeria, Honduras

• Most goals scored: Argentina, Portugal (7)
• Most goals allowed: north Korea (12)

• Milan players who have appeared at the World Cup: Zambrotta, Pirlo, Gattuso (Italy); Adiyiah (Ghana); Huntelaar (Netherlands); Onyewu (United States)
• Milan players who have scored at the World Cup: Huntelaar
• Milan players who have not appeared at the World Cup: Thiago Silva (Brazil)

Milan have a new coach

A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL NOTE

6/25/2010

MILAN - A.C. Milan communicate that Massimiliano Allegri is the new coach of the First Team.
The coach has signed a contract until 30 June 2012.

THE COACH IS ALLEGRI!

6/25/2010 3:42:00 PM

Freshness, youth, determination. That's the human and professional baggage of Massimiliano Allegri, whose offensive vocation embarks at Milanello and on the Rossoneri's bench. Good luck coach! From the heart.

MILAN - Massimiliano Allegri, born on 11 August 1967 in Livorno, is our new coach. Now it's official. The announcement arrived today. All the Rossoneri fans are very satisfied. The wait made the moment even more gratifying.

As a player, his journey in Serie A took six years, from 1992 to 1998 with Pescara, Cagliari and Napoli. In reality his professional activity has been 19 years long, starting in 1984. The new Rossoneri coach ended his career on the pitch in the same summer, 2003, when Milan became European champions for the sixth time in Manchester.
As a coach, Massimiliano Allegri has worked in all categories, starting in Serie C2 with Aglianese, then in C1 with Spal, Grosseto, and Sassuolo. In Emilia, at the court of a great Rossoneri fan like Giorgio Squinzi, Allegri earned the promotion to Serie B and won the C1 Supercoppa.

Then, Cagliari. Massimiliano Allegri's destiny subtly started to cross that of Milan while he was on the Sardinians' bench.

In the first five matches of the 2008/2009 season, Cagliari always lost, despite playing well. On the sixth matchday, there was Cagliari-Milan at the Sant'Elia. Carlo Ancelotti's Rossoneri were coming off the derby victory at San Siro with Ronaldinho's goal and the Uefa qualification obtained in Zurich. The predictions were all for a Rossoneri victory, but the match finished goalless with many chances for the home side. Allegri obtained the first point of a great season (ninth place in the end for the Rossoblu, 53 points, victory in Turin against Juventus and a draw away to Inter after Acquafresca's opening goal), against the Rossoneri. For the 2008/2009 season, Allegri won the 'Golden Bench' award, given to the best coach according to Serie A and B coaches.

As a footballer, Allegri played at Pescara alongside Stefano Borgonovo, who's still very connected to the Rossoneri colors, and scored his first goal in a spectacular Pescara-Milan on 13 September 1992: it finished 5-4 for Milan with a hat-trick by a certain Marco Van Basten, whose heel has often been talked about during this summer.

Milan have a new goalkeeper

A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL NOTE

6/23/2010

A.C. Milan communicate the acquisition of MARCO AMELIA from Genoa, with the right to claim the compartecipation, and the definitive sale of MARCO STORARI to FC Juventus.

The two photos above are of Marco Amelia. The photo below is of Marco Storari.

The US' Chances to make it through the group stage...

I am rooting for the US.

So, after yesterday's (unrightful) draw with Slovenia, and England's draw with Algeria, it stands like this:

Slovenia: 4 points

USA: 2 points

England: 2 points

Algeria: 1 point

Ways for the US to Get Through:

1. England beats Slovenia, USA wins
2. Slovenia beats England, USA wins
3. Slovenia beats England, USA ties
4. England and Slovenia tie, USA wins
5. England and Slovenia tie, USA ties (this is only a possibility, there would be a tie between England and the US on points and the tiebreaker would be goal differencial).

There is a total of 9 possible combinations of results of the two next games... Now, we just have to wait and see if the US can pull off the result!

PS. It's weird being patriotic...

World Cup Update #2: Highlights so far

Disturbing summer 2010 transfer rumor #1

Milan To Move For Roma's Philippe Mexes If Thiago Silva Leaves - Report

The Frenchman could be used to replace the Brazilian...

By Rick D'Andrea

Jun 14, 2010 1:01:00 AM

Milan has revealed that Roma defender Philippe Mexescould be brought to the Rossoneri should Thiago Silvaleave for Manchester City.

The Eastlands club has put an offer for the Brazilian in excess of €30 million, with the Diavoli finding it difficult to refuse, according to Itasportpress.it.

Silva has also requested that the side raise his salary, in order for him to stay.

Mexes was already a target of the Italian giants, but the Frenchman recently stated that it was his intention to stay at the Giallorossi despite seeing little game time during the second half of the season.

Scenes from the Derby della Madonnina in the recent past

Please pay careful attention. I am not sure what any of this means, however.

World Cup Update #1: Laser pointers

In just three days, there has already been a lot of complaining about the ball, the quasi-artificial pitch at some stadiums, and the vuvuzelas. Not much has been made, however, of the fact that Lionel Messi and others were menaced with a laser pointer in yesterday's Argentina-Nigeria match.

Why I will not be rooting for the USA (or Honduras) in the World Cup

Back in October of 2009, the United States faced Costa Rica in its final qualification match. The U.S. team had already clinched a spot in the 2010 World Cup, so the game was meaningless to them, but Costa Rica's qualification depended on earning a win. The late goal by Jonathan Bornstein meant that Costa Rica had to take on Uruguay in a playoff for one last chance to go to South Africa. Uruguay won, so Costa Rica will be watching from home this year.

Obviously, people in Honduras were quite happy (and have even made Bornstein something of a hero), but I can only imagine what the Costa Ricans must have thought as they witnessed the U.S. players and fans going beserk over a completely meaningless goal.

Maybe this is the U.S. team's way of making up for the U.S. approved coup in Honduras last year.

What's wrong with this picture?

On the Sports Illustrated for kids website SIKids.com, there is a photo display of World Cup X Factors-- players who may make the difference for their team in the 2010 World Cup. The photo above is captioned "Kaka". Can you tell what is wrong with this picture?