Catch 90'

Vishwa Rohera

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Ode to Andrea Pirlo For the pen is mightier than the sword. For some, the feet are more elegant than the hands Running spikes during the day Comfortable loafers at night A man with such elegance is no man at all. What might one name such a man? The architect, the traffic warden, the orchestrator, the poet, the conductor, or maybe no words at all. As he leads his symphony, left, right, forward, backward, sideways, diagonal, Andrea Pirlo will find you. Whistle blown, stoppage of play, free kick, edge of the box, who is the man to step forward? The man with feet more elegant than his hands. As it seems soccer is a simple game, 22 men run back and forth for 90 minutes and at the end, Andrea Pirlo reigns supreme. In the battle between aesthetic and athletic it was the short man with a beard that stood tall.

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The legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo. Currently 29, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese and Real Madrid forward is the icon of soccer today. It’s been half a decade since Cristiano made the big money move from Old Tradford of Manchester to the Santiago Bernabeau of Madrid. The progression from traditional winger to a goal-scoring machine has been a staggering change in Ronaldo’s style of play. It was just yesterday Cristiano was learning the ropes of English football under Sir Alex Ferguson. Today, we are witnessing one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. Nike, HerbaLife, Castrol, Konami and just any other company that’s able to afford the illustrious price tag are advertisement companies Cristiano Ronaldo has been a part of to spread their mission statements throughout the world. It’s no secret when signing a renowned athlete like Ronaldo you are bound to attract some attention from avid soccer fans throughout the world. The average mindset of many fans is to replicate each and every aspect of the “celebrity” status that Ronaldo entails. It’s not surprise the amount of money that is involved in football today, but what makes Cristiano Ronaldo so different than any other footballer or athlete in the world? There is a familiar term in sports known as “ceiling” this is known as the highest potential an athlete is able to reach throughout his/her career. The level of play that is expected out of these top athletes is seemingly increasing year by year because of certain expectations that seem just about outrageous for anyone else to accomplish. Cristiano Ronaldo is a true professional; say what you want about his arrogance, stature, fashion style or even his love for pricey sports cars, Cristiano comes to work day in and day out to work at a pace where no one can catch him. Literally. Look at this from a perspective of a coach who has the privilege to coach a player like Cristiano Ronaldo. Value; Cristiano’s abilities throughout the pitch are without a doubt the best around but bringing such a lethal presence in front of goal and enhancing the value of other players around you is more than enough of what each coach expects out of his players. Clubs however, cannot expect this out of any player that they start recruiting. Cristiano is a one of kind player and replicating his style of play and the productivity he brings to a squad would be astonishing to find in some of the young stars today. Yet, people all over the world feel the need to criticize Cristiano Ronaldo for even the slightest mistakes. This is the kind of world we live in today. Luckily enough, Cristiano has rebuilt the empire of one of football’s greatest clubs that is Real Madrid. Likewise has his Argentinean counter-part, who has accomplished the same goal for archrivals Barcelona. Reports suggest, Lionel Messi has been Cristiano’s Achilles heel for the past five years. Personal achievements, fame, fortune, and the spotlight are what any footballer in this world dream of yet it seems to push to Lionel Messi’s favor. Undoubtedly, the past two years a change has been brought upon and the tides have turned to Cristiano’s favor. When you perform at a high level consistently you are bound to get the benefit of the doubt once in a while and the majority would agree so too. Does this give a reason for football fans all over the world to hover a storm cloud over Lionel Messi for the rest of his career? No. The reality is we are honored today to witness two of the greatest footballers to ever play this game. Oddly enough the best players in the world are ones that face the most criticism. The fact of the matter is this generation of footballers keeps getting more talented by the day but you have a higher chance of winning the lottery than finding a talent like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. A talented player can only hope and pray his teammates contribute as much as he does so they can end up with the right result. On the other hand, a great player takes initiative to lead his team to heights unimaginable. Cristiano Ronaldo withheld that burden by storming victorious over Sweden in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup. A lost, young, and unbalanced Portugal side had no reinforcements at the time and the only person to come and carry them across the finish line was the potent, Cristiano Ronaldo. The headlines of Brazil 2014 were not leery in anyway possible towards Cristiano Ronaldo. The weight of a nation and legacy was on the line for Ronaldo. Little did the world know at the time Cristiano suffered a chronic knee injury. Reports suggested it could have been to some extent the end of Ronaldo’s professional football career. The magnitude of the situation was unfathomable yet, the pride and integrity Cristiano had for his nation was unmatched. In this day and age it is rare to see just one player single handedly carry a team on his back. The level of play in football today has been advancing daily and Germany showed the world the importance of unity and discipline throughout a squad. Yet, the only player to show signs of carrying his country through unreachable heights has been Cristiano Ronaldo. The struggles of being a professional athlete are hard felt. Distinguishing yourself from millions of other aspiring football players is hard enough, yet the criticism doesn’t seem to end for those players at the highest level of the game. Ronaldo’s consistent rampant form shows the amount he has contributed to this beautiful game and surprisingly enough his drive to be the best makes him want to contribute even more. That sad day will come while listening to Spanish commentary and not hearing the obnoxious repetition of Cristiano’s name for every step-over he executes. “Cristiano Cristiano Cristiano Cristiano Cristiano Crisitiano CRISTIANOOOOO GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOALZO” That memory will always be safe and secure in the hearts of all football fans throughout the world. Obrigado Cristiano. Hala Madrid. Forca Portugal.

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El Clasico It’s Barcelona vs. Real Madrid the stakes just don’t get any higher. The excitement and wait just keeps increasing but the countdown is on and the 261st meeting between the two Spanish giants will be held on Saturday, October 25th. With all the media built up leading to this historic match, the projected 500 million viewers will not be disappointed. Some of the biggest names in world football will be gracing the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu and it shows just why this match always has such substantial importance. Both squads currently seem to be in top form with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way with yet another season filled with numerous amount of goals. On the other side the Catalan club seems to be finding their groove and showing the world hints of their harmonic play that has been witnessed numerous amount of times at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr seem to have the best partnership in world football at the moment and it shows just how dangerous the two can be together. It has to be mentioned and everyone tuning in on Saturday’s match know the return of Luis Suarez is inevitable. Nonetheless, it would bring in great drama if the misunderstood Uruguayan were to make his debut for the Catalan club against Real Madrid. Say what you want about politics regarding football, this kind of drama makes for some great television and it’s no surprise why 500 million people will be tuning in for the match. The matchups are intriguing to say the least. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr appear to be the frontrunners for their respective squads in terms of goal scoring. Toni Kroos and Andres Iniesta seem to be shaping up the midfield with their creative passing techniques but the matchup to look forward to would be James Rodriguez and Lionel Messi. Many consider these two as the finest creative players in all of world football. In terms of creating goal scoring opportunities Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez bring the most value on a team. Both defenses seem to neutralize the outside wing players easily but having a player like James or Messi could make the vital difference in a game. It’s simple, the stage is set, the lights are bright, the players have something to prove and the whole world waits with anxiety to find out who will once again reign supreme in the El Clasico. Mark your calendars boy and girls, the countdown starts now!

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Picking your favorite English soccer team. 

  Want to spice up your life? Looking to make your office down time a little more exciting? Talk soccer! Hundreds of years pass and people all over the world are able to converse on a mutual topic such as soccer.  Once being introduced to a new sport the obvious first step is picking a team to support. Although when it comes to futbol there is specific etiquette to be followed. As the great Eric Cantona once said, "You can change your wife. You can change your religion but you can never change your favorite football team." And it's not a surprise why these professional futbol clubs seem to be affecting people’s lives in a bigger spectrum. England as some may call it is the Mecca of all things soccer and it goes to show why the English Premier League is the one of the most popular leagues in the whole world. 

To start off, enter the famous city of Manchester the home of two BPL squads at the moment, Manchester United and Manchester City. If you were that one kid at school who got picked on but now seem to be showing up to your high school reunions with a Bentley and a pretty girl in your arms then it is suggested you join the Blues at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester City). It is one thing to get picked on as a child but being the actual aggressor throughout the young stages and even teenage years, now that is a rare bread of people that are known as Manchester United fans because all soccer fans know the real Bulldogs of English football were the Red Devils of Manchester.  If you headed east on route M62 then you would eventually reach Narnia, which is known as the honorable town of Liverpool. Honor, if any acquaintances of yours happen to advocate for you and one of first things that pops into their mind is that you are a honorable or honest person then it is inferred you pick a club from the Merseyside area. There is no need to panic; the options are cut down to two illustrious clubs. Honor is one thing, but to hold your head high after a loss caused in the dying moments of a game is another thing. It is hard felt being an Everton supporter, if you in your right mind feel you have the dignity or stomach to be a Toffee's (everton) supporter then by all means live life on the edge and go for glory! (Or at least dream of it)  Do you ever just go to work one day and tell yourself you don't want to eat lunch in the cafeteria because you don't want to hear "that one guy" who lectures day in and day out about his glory days in college? If by any chance you happen to be "that one guy" then congratulations you are now a Liverpool supporter, welcome to the KOP where just about all your mates are either 40 year olds living in their mother's basement or aspiring football players who now work a minimum wage job. "Ball is life". If this happens to be your motto in life and basketball seems to be your thing then have a look at the North London side, Tottenham Hotspurs. Not only are the referred to as the "Spurs" but their famous training ground is known as the "Bulls Cross". For all of you basketball junkies catching onto the NBA references cheers to you, you have now found a new English soccer club to support!  There are some people in this world who strive to be winners and then there are others who would not mind "settling" for second best. There is a fine line between winning and losing but if you are the type of person who wouldn't mind going with the flow and ending up in 4th place then welcome aboard you are now a Gunner of Arsenal.

  Would you ever consider yourself a person who lives their life with a high standard of living? Spending a lot of money yet making a lot of money likewise. There is special place in East London known as Fulham, London where the famous Blues of Stamford Bridge originated. Owned by the famous Roman Abramovich, Chelsea Football Club has a high standard in terms of finances and that does not necessarily mean spending all of that money, the revenue generated is a staggering number as well.

There are certain types of people in this world that are real fighters and some are so brave that just about every situation that is presented to them they want to be challenged some how. The thrill of working in a hardworking environment and being accustomed to ambitious situations are what some people in this world live for. Amusingly enough there is an English football team that correlates with these exact consequences and they are known as the Saints from Southampton, Hampshire. Southampton Football Club thrived in the world of football with their youth academies and providing English football some of its biggest stars to date. Starting off at the very bottom and fighting their way up is how Southampton was even noticed by the world of football.

  The fascinating thing about sports is that no matter what the circumstances or the pre-match predictions you never really seem to grasp the outcome of a match. The types of teams that thrive on setting a standard for the squad with the least amount of odds to win a match are known as the “Underdogs”. Many people in society today are bound to be different than what the majority goes by and these are usually the people who support the underdogs. Leicester City Football Club ladies and gentlemen, the definition of the underdog in English football. The priceless moment of conquering something that was against all odds is one of life’s most thrilling moments and it is shown throughout the world of soccer as well as with Leicester City in recent times.

  Is that it? Those are the only teams left in England’s first division of soccer? As all sports fans know, there are professional teams in each sport that don’t seem to be on the map. These teams don’t seem to standing out as either a dominant side or even a poor team. There is good news to be taken from this. There are a handful of teams that are just waiting for more and more supporters. At this point it is picking and choosing by which club has the best sounding name or which of these teams have the best kits (uniforms). Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Hull City, Burnley, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United and finally the once illustrious club that is Aston Villa Football Club. It is yours to pick and choose.

  Disappointment, anticlimax and misfortune, sadly enough English football even with its high reputation seems to be associated with those exact words. If losing does not happen to be in your dictionary then the final substitute for you is the Spanish Primera Division where the thrill of hearing obnoxiously loud Spanish commentators and winning seem to be a regular affair.

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The “New” Barcelona

    As any average person on this planet knows, FC Barcelona are one of, if no the biggest club on the planet. The mentality of “bigger than a club” has led to major success not just on the field but excess popularity all over the world.

  Pep Guardiola, legendary Barcelona manager/player embarked his name at the club when he led the iconic “Tiki Taka” football club to enormous amount of trophies. Many described this Barcelona squad to be the greatest of all time, yes that is how legendary the team was thought to be.

  Guardiola has now set his sights to a new journey now that happens to be FC Bayern Munchen. Throughout the time of Guardiola’s departure, Barcelona faced their own struggles of adjusting to new managerial tactics. It is now basically implied, the magical Barcelona that once was doesn’t seem to be coming back anytime soon.

  Luis Enrique, ex-Barcelona star has been the newest manager having embarked on the Catalan club. Reports suggest Luis Enrique has approached Barcelona’s squad with a different mindset but at the moment seems to be effective on the players. News letters all throughout Spain last season suggested, Enrique’s Celta Vigo squad seemed to have rigorous training sessions and the same has been enforced at the Catalan club. At least the club seems to be going in the right direction with the right work ethic in order to be a top football club in of the world’s most prestigious football leagues. Club superstar, Lionel Messi looks like he is in the best shape of his life and has been handed the new “playmaker” role at the football club.

As a manager, you know that the best player on your squad should have the ball as much as possible, that is a given. Luis Enrique is not only using Lionel Messi to his advantage but also wanting to take players such as Neymar Jr and Luis Suarez to make them the main source of their goal scoring options. With the caliber of Suarez and Neymar at your disposal including Messi seems quite incredible.

  This might not seem like the perfect Balanguera squad that once embarked the pitch at the Camp Nou but these are some altering times in the world of football and Luis Enrique himself realizes that. It is a long process being accustomed with new surroundings. With the right finances, management, and work ethic once again Barcelona can be the legendary club it once was. Best of luck to Luis Enrique on his new campaign. Hope his journey at the Camp Nou leads to a new generation of Catalonian football with Lionel Messi leading the charge.

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Soccer is a religion; it’s more than just an ordinary sport. Yes, these are some of the exact words that echo around the whole world. It’s no secret the sport we all love is sharing its passion with even more people all over the world which is something to be proud of! Statistics show that 712 million peopled tuned in to watch the 2006 World Cup Final and now in 2014 a rough estimate was to be told at 1 billion for the World Cup Final. Yes, a billion with a “b”. To make myself clear, this was the World Cup Final for men’s soccer not women’s. It’s a funny thought when referring to the “The World Cup” everyone just assumes you’re talking about the men’s world cup. Sadly it doesn’t cross anyone’s mind that one might be referring to the prestigious women’s tournament, which traditionally is held the year after the men’s world cup.

  As many don’t know, in 2015 the Women’s World Cup will be held in Canada! Yay or nay? Nay the critics say! Why you might ask, well FIFA as we all know is in charge of all things that include professional soccer and FIFA have authorized Canada to use artificial grass (turf) to be the theme pitch for the women’s world cup. Artificial grass. So, what the real issue here? Turf, that’s the conflict in hand right now. Turf is known to harm the physical body in more ways imaginable. For instance, turf burns as an ordinary soccer player knows is a real pain in a**. To make myself clear, that was not an exaggeration. Once the bare skin has made contact with turf it tears the skin off. The friction between your skin and the turf causes a “turf burn” and you are left with bruises/marks throughout your whole body. Famous athlete, Kobe Bryant, has always shown his support for the game of futbol but he has taken that fan support to a new level by spreading awareness of this present problem with FIFA and has taken social media as his primary source of speech to his followers all over the world. Being a decorated such as Kobe Bryant, he knows exactly what it’s like not to have fair play and his support for this issue shows his sophistication of being a voice for every other athlete in the world.

  4,000 players and athletes including the great Abby Wambach and Sydeny Leroux signed a petition to remove the turf and advocate for real grass. Their lawyers have submitted their petition and as far as reports show, the petition that was sent about 1 month ago and was showing no sign of progress from FIFA to overturn their original proposition.

  FIFA currently and previously has shown many signs of corruption yet, no “change” has been advocated for, to clear all the corruption that circulates throughout the FIFA headquarters. Shameless, to say the least.

  As history shows, women have not had a significant voice in society. Finally, there was women’s suffrage, equal job opportunities, and a voice that would be heard by the whole world. Currently it is 2014, and the fact that there have been reoccurring issues of gender rights, should have caught some eyes throughout the world. Again, this is futbol, a sport that in essence was suppose to bring the world together with peace and equality. “Soccer is a religion; its more than just an ordinary sport” If this sport really was out of the ordinary, ignorant judgments such as gender rights would not be raised.

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James Rodriguez, Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski and these are just a few names having the burden to shine bright for the new football clubs. Preseason for many clubs is coming to a close and now the hunger and desire to win 3 points for each football club is becoming more of a necessity than a desire.

  The Barclays Premier League kicked off this past weekend and as always it made quite a noise in the world of football. Newly promoted Leciester City made quite an impression in the first division with a fighting spirit against an Everton side that was determined to become a top 4 squad this season. With the new permanent signing of Romelu Lukaku, Everton finally looked like they were ready to spend a great deal of money to bring in quality players to their squad. This is just the start to the new beginning at Goodison Park.

  On the other side of the spectrum, Manchester United came in with a newly hired manager Louis Van Gaal. Van Gaal lead his previous Dutch side the World Cup semi-final which put a boat load of expectations on Van Gaal. Manchester United faced a hungry Swansea side that looked determined to be more than an ordinary mid table squad. Goals from Ki Sung-Yeung and Gylfi Sigurdsson secured the 3 points for the Welsh side. This game was a real buzz for the world of football because of a club like Manchester United their reputation as one of the world’s greatest sports clubs was slowing diminishing. Unfortunately Louis Van Gaal has a lot of reviving to do at the moment.

  The one squad that caught my eye over the weekend was the famous London side, Chelsea. Finances for the Blues were not a surprise and as the football world knows, they weren’t afraid to spend their money. The big additions of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa made Chelsea a creative and young squad. The Monday night performance against Burnley came as a big surprise for the Premier League because of the fluidity in their playing style. Cesc Fabregas himself was able to smoothly deliver passes all throughout the pitch, which gave a great jumpstart to Chelsea’s campaign this season.

  The old saying that the Barclays Premier League is a physical and tough league is an overrated statement. Yes, the Premier league lacks a lot of creativity; teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich thrive on this. Spanish and German players have this calm and seem less passing ability that no one else in the world has, especially players like Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Toni Kroos can make all the difference from a good football club to a great football club. If I’m wrong about this statement then why has no premier league squad won a Champions league trophy since 2007 (Manchester United) with the exception of 2011 (Chelsea). Take Real Madrid, for example. They have the most European Cups of all time at 10. Real Madrid saw to it that their club needed execution from all aspects such as high finances, a top-notch coaching staff, and prestigious players to represent the club. It’s about time England as a nation made a splash in the world of football.

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Its finally over! It's a funny feeling but there's a sign of withdrawal of football from the whole world. The summer is still young and people miss their football. To say the least, the World Cup gave us a real treat. All of that time waiting and anticipating for the world's greatest stage to start and now it's finally over. As a result, there were some enduring legacies left behind in Brazil. As of now, known to be the most nonsense statistic of all time, a European team was never able to win in South America. Well, the Germans had something else to say about that. Just take a moment and listen to those fireworks going off from Berlin. With that being said, the Germans were the most deserving team to win this World Cup. The Germans just seemed like the most professional and smartest players on the pitch at all times. It's some how the German culture has invested in their players with a great professional attitude and do much knowledge for the game of football. All praise should be headed towards Joachim Löw. Reports suggest, Low told Mario Götze before he was about to be substituted on in the World Cup final, "Go show the world that you're better than Messi." Götze was able to control the ball with such skill off his chest and was able to finally get the ball in the back of the net. A moment of brilliant management. This is a move that should be admired by the whole world. Although, there were some question marks surrounding the trophy accommodations that concluded the tournament. For instance, the Golden Ball was awarded to Lionel Messi. It's no secret Messi is the greatest player in the world at the moment but being the best player at the tournament, maybe not so much. Even Messi's country man, the great Maradona admitted Lionel Messi didn't deserve the Golden Ball award and claims that Colombian wonder boy, James Rodriguez. Leading up to the World Cup, Colombia were a force to be reckon with but only if they had their talisman, Radameal Falcao. It was allegedly reported that Falcao was not fit enough to play for Colombia. This surrounded many questions around Colombia's World Cup campaign. With the World Cup finally being over, everyone in the whole world has a different perspective on the Colombian National Team and also James Rodriguez. It wasn't a surprise James was a great talent because he had a big money move to Monaco for €83.7 million from Porto but to put the tag that he would have emerged as one of the world's best seemed too good to be true. Slowly James has started to gain more and more followers as he sets his sights on the greatest sports club of all time, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. Brazil 2014, wasn't a perfect World Cup but with all the events that unfolded it just so happens to be one of the most entertaining world cups. It's really hard to tell whether or not the world can anticipate another World Cup like the one held in Brazil this year. Obrigado Brazil!! (Thank you Brazil)

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All mighty country of the United States of America. Usually known for the world's highest GDP or the world's greatest country in the western civilization but soccer, maybe not so much. The 2014 FIFA World Cup would be the ultimate test for USA and to finally defy all the critics and the non-believers. As a nation it started from "I BELEIVE" to winning football matches. From a personal stand point a sense of patriotism was established in every single person in America. Now that is something to be proud of. The all might God that is Jurgen Killinsmann had a an A grade plan to take on the group of death head on. The odds were stacked against the United States yet with some will and tenacity they were able to trump victorious and kick out the footballing giants that are our arch rivals Ghana and Portugal. All credit to Jurgen. Putting America as a footballing nation would not first pop to mind but there is a sense of change and it's as if we are approaching a new country. Seeing massive crowds all over the country in cities such as Chicago, Boston, New York, and Columbus showed everyone all over the world that USA were fighting for their country, together! This act by the people of the United States shows even a small thing such a football match can bring people together to bond with one another and rejoice in happiness. Such great moments to remember. Although the future seems to be bright, there are some dreadful concerns to be pointed out. The idea of establishing will, tenacity, strength, and physical ability is excellent but the United States are in dire need of a technically gifted footballer such as an Eden Hazard or Cristiano Ronaldo. There has to be a dominate goal scoring machine for this country, they deserve it more than anyone at the moment. Renowned clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United know how important it is to find a top goal scorer for their teams to flourish. I'm sure Jurgen Killinsman has the hunger in him to find the hidden gems that the United States has to offer. The only issue that stand here is finding those all stars that no one has discovered at the moment. The day will come when the United States of America will come together and hoist the ultimate trophy that is the FIFA World Cup and the only man that deserves the credit for starting that dynasty is Jurgen Killinsmann

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He's more interesting than the most interesting man in the world. Andrea Pirlo, an icon of Italian football. Some may consider this footballer to be Italy's maestro but describing with words what he does on the pitch would not give it justice to the actual beauty he has in his game. Passing the ball is important in football but passing the ball efficiently is an essential part of football and Pirlo takes pride in creating chances through his innovative passing techniques. It is no secret that even Andrea's set pieces have separated him to be one of the world's best footballers. Once there is a dead ball situation inside of 25 yards the last person a goal keeper would want in front of the ball is Andrea Pirlo. It takes long hours of practice to master such an art but Pirlo makes it look so easy. To be honest, most professional footballers are decent free kick takers but the pressure of the moment can get to anyone. One aspect of his game that not necessarily everyone catches is that he doesn't fear pressure. "I don't feel pressure, I don't give a toss about it. I spent the afternoon of Sunday, July 9, 2006, in Berlin sleeping and playing the Playstation. In the evening, I went out and and won the World Cup." This quote from Andrea's book, "I Think therefore I Play" can show you how calm his presence is on the pitch and how essentially it affects his game in a positive way. Managers throughout the world are against "old" footballers because they believe the intensity and pace has taken its toll in modern football today. What some coaches may not know is that with a player like Andrea Pirlo even with all of his football abilities comes a high football IQ. Pirlo's deep-lying midfield role has given him the ability to see so much more throughout the pitch than any other player. This essentially gives Pirlo the ability to arrange passes throughout the entire pitch and toy with the opponent's defense. Many young footballers are yet to learn the ways of patience in making the vital pass for the forward to score. Andrea Pirlo can be a role model for these young and upcoming footballers. Many reporters can go on and on about Pirlo's abilities but the only way to truly appreciate his magnificent play is to witness it live. It truly cannot be put into words the kind of magic that takes place whenever Pirlo enters onto the pitch. He is one of a kind

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Is it Total Football or is it Total Madness? Getting their revenge on the raining champs and fighting back against the Socceroos of Australia was impressive to say the least. Reports suggest Louis Van Gaal, current Dutch manager has his sights set on his future managerial position at Manchester United. I beg to differ. The ball movement the Dutch have assembled was appealing to the human eye yet so effective on the pitch! Although Van Gaal has an inexperienced back line. He managed to overcome the tournament's biggest challenge yet and that was the "tiki-taka" that Spain had to offer. Not just shut it down, but absolutely dismantle it and take away Spain dignity. Absolute master class by the Dutch. The Dutch changed the game of football forever once they implemented the idea of "Total Football" in the early 1960s with Johan Cruyff's Dutch team. For those of you that don't know, "Total Football" it is a complex football tactic used by managers to implement more and more movement on the pitch and the wing players have more leniency with positioning throughout the pitch. Arjen Robben for instance was a key player in the Spain game and the way he was able to switch positions throughout the whole field at will to confuse the Spanish defense was astonishing to watch. Even though reporters might suggest, you can only make magic happen when you have the ball at your feet, well I'm sure those critics haven't captured the full essence of football at it's finest. Making the right runs and having different schemes to bring creativity was exactly the motto for the Dutch. I was very impressed to say the least.

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1st round impressions Yankees, Azzuri and Oranje these names flashed up more often than not. In other words the USA, Italy and the Netherlands were the real stars of the first round in the World Cup. As a real enthusiast of the beautiful game there were many instances throughout the first round that really caught my eye. Let's start off first with the yanks from the mighty land of America (at least the majority of the team is). The whole world will never know how good the Americans actually are, but we can never ever test their tenacity and will to win a game. The way the United States were able to salvage back a game winner versus Ghana was impeccable. I was absolutely mind blown. I for one am very glad most teams in this World Cup have proven me wrong from per match projections, this sport is much more than just statistics and census. Look from within and appreciate the finer things football has to offer it shows the real beauty in football itself. From the first glimpse, Italy and the Netherlands were real eye catchers and their talents were gleaming on the biggest stage that football has to offer. A similar characteristic I was able to see from both teams was their humble presence on the field. As everyone knows Brazil has some harsh weather and most teams have seen the worst side effects of the weather conditions. The Dutch and Italians were able to win from within and just play humble football. It was beautiful to say the least. I would highly suggest for everyone to tune in and witness sure brilliance that is being held in Brazil, some true footballers are blossoming into legends.

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Sadly less desirable. The beautiful is not as beautiful as it used to be. It was brought to my attention a few months back that Qatar won the bid for the 2022 World Cup. Yes, Qatar. A country with a population of just about 250,000 people, that's less than a normal city in the Unites States let alone a whole country. If this is a surprise to you, Qatar is actually a lot more powerful than you think. As we all know many Arabians all over the world control the oil supply which in essence makes them one of the most powerful people in the world. So what's the big deal here about another World Cup being held in a country such as Qatar? As mentioned before, Qatar has a population of 250,000 people and their project for 2022 has them building basically a whole new city, which means they need labor. You might think oh how are they getting these jobs done? Go to South Asia! There's cheap labor! Cheap enough in fact the amount these workers make would not satisfy a proper meal. How demoralizing. These Qatar project builders don't even have the sense of human rights. Even more so that the workers work in 120 degree weather and live in a room filled with 35 people! One room! These unrighteousness deaths have lead to all cardiac arrests. At such a young age, the only thing correlating with cardiac arrest is poor health such as dehydration, no proper food and proper digestion. Of course including the intense temperatures. Here's something that will catch your attention, there were reported 500 south Asians dead just in the span of 4 months. Who is to blame? The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) of course! It would be no surprise to me that the Qatar representatives somehow bribed their way into winning the 2022 World Cup bid. Point the finger towards Sepp Blatter, he allegedly wanted to be elected for president of FIFA for another term, yet he has so much blood in his hands. Sir! People are dying! Why has there been no significant consequences for the organizers of this project! Take my word for it, football as we know it has been corrupted by money. My beautiful and cherished game has taken its toll and turned towards the dough. (Sadly)

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#APorLaDecima. At the 10th they will conquer. This obsession for Real Madrid C.F. has been a burden for the longest time now since 2002. It has personally been the responsibility for Cristiano Ronaldo to bring Real Madrid back to final and win. As all great teams know, success cannot be achieved by a one man show. Even with a shaky start to the 2013/2014 campaign Real Madrid were able play together in harmony to achieve their goals throughout the season. With different players shinning at different points in the season Real Madrid made it all the way to the European Final and beat their neighbors the Rojiblancos (Atletico Madrid). One of the main names that most people recognize now is Sergio Ramos. Reminisce for a minute and think about the impact this man made for the final stretch of the season. Yet once again Ramos scored at a crucial moment for Real Madrid to eventually make Real Madrid the most successful team in Europe. It all started off with Alfredo Di Stefano's legacy and becoming the icon for Real Madrid Club dé Fútbol. The expectation kept growing over the years and the expenses also grew exponentially. As everyone can tell, money has become a pivotal part in football today. Real Madrid are one of those clubs that funds have been a top priority. Essentially, Real Madrid have been a top club when it comes to European football. It's not some joke or accident to win 10 European titles. It has taken hard work, commitment, and a combined effort from the club's staff to achieve such outstanding goals throughout every season. The city of Madrid has real pride in their football and this year especially, it has been all Real Madrid. ¡Hala Madrid!

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I AM MARIO BALOTELLI. The world always wants to know what this young lad is up to every minute of the day. Is it because of his talent? Or is it because he is one of Italy's phenomenons? Nope. According to just about every media source in world, Mario Balotelli is a "cancer" in the locker room and not just on the field but a nuisance off the field. Lets not get too feisty now, these are just some random reporters only trying to spice up their articles that feature on some low-class news source. As a real football fan you have to appreciate the finer things athletes bring to the sport. To me, Balotelli is an icon for young boys and girls all over the world. The confidence and swagger he brings wherever he goes shows how much more of a positive influence he can be rather than a liability to his club and his country. Yes I do realize that his AC Milan campaign this year wasn't the greatest season but trust me when I say this, the transfer from Manchester City to AC Milan will be a turning point in his career and the World Cup will be an additional boost to his résumé. There is only one issue I have with Balotelli but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. For instance, whenever Balotelli ends up putting on a Italy shirt, the whole world turns upside down and Italy become the most dominant force. The European Championship in 2012 for example was a shocker for the whole world when Balotelli single handedly beat the Germans in the Semi-Final. For this miraculous turn around for international performances has only one explanation. Cesare Prandelli. It's been a long time coming but Prandelli deserves a lot more credit for what he has done for Italia. If you take a glimpse at the Italy 2014 World Cup squad it doesn't shout "intimidation" right away. Don't get me wrong, they are a squad filled with talent, but what separates them from the rest of the countries is the management staff lead by Prandelli. The way Prandelli is able to bring out the best in Balotelli and at the same time have an organized defense is a real plus. Italy are being pushed to their limits by being put in a very intimating World Cup group which consists of Uruguay, England and Costa Rica. Although it does seem like a long road towards the crown, but this is the type of stage Prandelli thrives on and players like Mario Balotelli explode with their best performances. Forza Italia! (P.s. Puma have made a great investment on both Italy and Mario)

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As Gary Linker said, "22 men go back and forth chasing a football for 90 mins then at the end the Germans would win everything." Surprisingly enough he wasn't wrong. Even though it has been 18 years since their last piece of silverware, with the likes of The Kaiser (Franz Beckenbauer), Jurgen Kilnsmann, Lothar Matthaus they've achieved so much for the great nation of Germany that it goes to show how prestigious their status was. Once the Great Wall fell, Franz Beckenbauer said together Germany as one would take the world by storm, unfortunately that didn't span out the way he planned. 2014 is another year for the Germans to make a real impact on the big stage. Who will be the next star to emerge as a German legend? You might think this would be an easy answer but the German talent has really exploded in the past 5 years. To me the race has to been broken down to 3 footballers. Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, and Mats Hummels. Now, this is just my opinion the rest is up to the soccer Gods to determine who the real superstar will end up being. Yes, surprisingly enough I don't make up the rules. All in all German football will still be making it's regular impact on the big stages with teams such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. We all might see Barcelona and Real Madrid to be the best clubs in the world but the Germans are known to be the great organized clubs. Props to the Germans

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Priorities Where is this World Cup going to be held this year? Oh that's right in Rio, Brazil. I seem to have mixed up some news that's going on in Brazil which quite honestly doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. "Actions speak louder than words." This quote is very true but the country of Brazil has not taken it literally. If you haven't heard the news lately and this blog is your only news source for news around the world then first of all, thank you and second the "great" nation of Brazil is suffering dreadful times of poverty. This is no surprise since there is no stable government and all the money is being spent on stadiums and attractions for the World Cup, instead of solid reform for the poor! How demoralizing! Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that football is a worshiped practice in the country of Brazil but the people of Brazil should become the main priority. I out of all people know how great football is and what kind of impact it has had to the world, but what ever happened to human rights and giving back to the people? What happened to the set moral principles for proper living that mankind deserves? People, this is a serious issue we are dealing with. Just about everyday on the news you hear about a construction worker dying. I personally feel a sense of despair. I can't stand to see hardworking people die everyday and no change being put to the system. At least in America we have the people of society voicing their opinion and having some type of reform being built. If you don't know, outside of America is a whole different world. I still find it mind boggling that building a facility to play a football tournament is more important than saving lives. Football fans, organize your priorities and put what "logically" is the more important thing to do. Remember to keep your morales straight and recognize the fact that world is not as perfect as you would think it is. Which is exactly why we need bright young minds to change society for the greater good!