A Football Report

So I haven’t really made it a secret (at all), but I’m incredibly proud to have brought together such an amazing group of writers from all over the world for A World Cup Report, which will be home to AFR’s coverage of the month-long madness over the next few months!

The regular class-acts who have already established themselves here (besides Jordan & myself) at AFR, Dominic Vieira (Portugal), Andy Jones (England), & Mirko Corli (Italia) will all be joining relatively new, quality contributors with American, Brazilian, France, Asia & African, Greek, Scottish, English, & Spanish perspectives.

I’ve already introduced the community to Oliver Sparrow (England fan based in England), Nick Lichtenberg (USA supporter based in New York City), Lawrence Prince-Wright (Greek-blooded supporter studying at Emory University), Fernando Sell (Brazil supporter based in Juiz de Fora, Brazil), Ryan Morrison (Glasgow-based Scotland supporter, a “neutral”), and Dylan Lebecki (Spain supporter who is an Ecuador-born American living in Portugal, but will be going to university in Spain next year).

I’m ecstatic to announce the final two additions to the World Cup Report team: Soraya Soemadireja and Ulysse Pasquier!

Soraya describes herself as just another recovering diplobrat with a passion for the beautiful game! She’s particularly fascinated by the socio-political aspects of football, which she often mentions in her own blog. Having grown up transcontinentally, trailing after parents in international development and working in humanitarian relief, she has experienced first hand how football truly does bridge linguistic, religious, cultural, economic and age gaps…as much as it can divide. A hard-core Madridista, Soraya also follows Liverpool FC and Toronto FC, but grew up with radio and tv glued to Eredivisie, Serie A and Bundesliga. When it comes to the World Cup, she is all about the developing nations, since her Indonesia and her former hosts, the Philippines, have yet to break through (though she does have a startling large collection of Spanish jerseys…). Currently studying at the University of Toronto, Soraya cannot wait to share her intelligent insight from the perspective of those who are not heard the loudest in both politics and football.

Mr. Ulysse Pasquier, on the other hand, is a France-born, Quebec-based student at McGill University. Born in Paris, Ulysse moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when he was 10 years old where he discovered the English Premier League and quickly grew a passion for it. Staying up late at night to watch the games, it was love at first sight when he saw Thierry Henry’s Arsenal play and he has been a devoted Gunners fan ever since. Thierry is still Ulysse’s favourite footballer of all time and my biggest regret will always be to never have witnessed his skill in Highbury’s glory. Now studying Political Science and Geography at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, his love for football has spread to the Spanish Liga and the Ligue 1. When it comes to international football however, he is still a Frenchie after all, and he does support Les Bleus.

So there you have it! A complete team that will be covering all the class, cunning, controversy on A World Cup Report. Though still starting up, the site is sure to be an amazing read encompasing the diversity that really embodies the tournament as a whole. The world’s game captured by global perspectives. What more can you ask for?

Cheers,

Eric Beard

By the way, if you haven’t been hiding under a rock (ahem, Real Madrid fans), then you know that the second leg of the Champions League tie between Arsenal & Barcelona finished Lionel Messi 4-1 Arsenal (6-3 Barcelona on aggregate, 4-3 Messi on aggregate). Barcelona will now face Inter Milan (who won 2-0 on aggregate against CSKA Moscow). That’s right, the Messiah is back, and I’m sure he’ll have something to say about this very soon. Until then, here are the highlights of the little Argentine’s destruction.

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By Lawrence Prince-Wright

Once again another exciting week for Greek football has drawn to a close with Panathiniakos celebrating their 8^th away win over home team Panionios by two goals to nil. Djibril Cisse continued to demonstrate his worth to fans by carrying on in top form after scoring the only and most important two goals in the games; consequently placing the Green Giants top of the league just two points ahead of former league champions Olympiakos. Although a good win for the ‘Thrylos’ the game was open to much controversy after referee Kalopoulos awarded a 21^st minute penalty kick against the home side after Ninis was allegedly fouled inside the home team’s box.

Personally, however, after viewing the replay a number of times, I cannot help but to question the validity of Kalopoulos’s decision; from the angle I saw Ninis fall at it seemed that he was hardly touched by Kontoes. In other games former league titans Olympiakos managed to defeat Atromitos 2-0, with Englishman Matt Derbyshire opening the score line in the 18^th minute. Further defending blunders by the away side in the 94^th minute gave enough space for Kostas Mitroglou to hit a wonder shot from well outside the 18 yard box, after goalkeeper Mihalidis came too far outfield. A.E.K. still battling for one of the top three spots in the Super League aided their endeavours through an impressive scissor kick by Tsibour allowing the ‘doubled headed eagle’ a 1 goal win against Erogtelis.

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Written by Lawrence Prince-Wright

This last Thursday (25-02-10), despite pessimism, proved to be a spectacular day for Europa League showdowns. Upsets, joys, anger, anxiety and all sorts of emotions where mixed into Thursday‘s cauldron of football mayhem! Personally the performance of the teams which battled it out on Thursday evening conveyed the high level of prestige and competition that the Europa League has to offer; keep in mind that it is the Champions League little brother making it the second biggest European league worldwide. The number of goals scored that evening averaged out to be at around 3 per game, most definitely illustrating the level of excitement that kept fans anxiously on the edge of their seats. Liverpool while showing a rather lousy performance domestically, managed to secure a 4-1 aggregate score against Romanian rivals Unirea Urziceni. Similarly underdogs Fulham managed to proceed onto the next round by defeating former European champion giants Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 on aggregate. Despite the splendid news it is to hear that two English sides are advancing on to the next stages of the league, I am also thrilled to mention that Panathiniakos have knocked out the Italian stallions A.S. Roma after a fascinating 3-2 victory at Stadio Olimpico.

Although it was not a day for the ‘sensational substitutes’, it was however a day where Cisse proved to spectators that he’s still got that Liverpool form, and 19 year-old Sotiris Ninis left his mark on awe-struck spectators by scoring his first (and definitely not last) international goal of his career.  The two teams met in Athens last week, and their meeting this Thursday was very similar, if not identical. The scores were the same, and the order in which they were scored was similar, the only difference was the stage that the games were played out at.

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By Lawrence Prince-Wright

My apologies for such a late commentary on what may seem like a game played quite a bit ago. But superb victories, in the hearts of fans, last for an eternity. The celebration and boasting will go on until, well, the fans have been proven otherwise! Last Thursday’s game (18-02-10), for Panathiniakos at least, proved to be such a day. The outstanding 3-2 home victory against AS Roma, proved vital in Panathinaikos’s shaky Europa League campaign. The home victory encouraged fans to flock into the streets of central Athens chanting songs such as ‘Pantha mou glykia’ and ‘thryle ole ole’.

With all the commotion present one may have thought something bigger was at stake; and how very right they would have been! After all it is the beginning of the most nail biting part of the Europa League, the group stages are done and now we find ourselves anticipating the results of the last-32 standoff. Last Thursday’s result proved the importance of this phase in the competition, the relief of the home victory gave Pantha, in essence, a sort of firm ground to regain their bearings after having a somewhat wobbly start to the competition. Failure to qualify for the Champions League this season was understandably upsetting for the team and fans alike, however the progress in the Europa League has compensated for earlier disappointments. Maybe this year Pantha will end their 32-year drought of international cups?

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