Champions League: Lennon Could Face the Axe After Celtic's 3-0 Defeat

Neil Lennon should start worrying about losing his dream job as Celtic manager after seeing his team all but crash out of the Champions league. The Glasgow club was embarrassed 3-0 by Portugal’s Sporting Braga, and if the game was any indication of the way the team will play this season, the Scottish FA might as well just hand the championship to Rangers.

Apart from the first ten minutes of the first half, Celtic never looked like it could threaten the northern Portuguese club. Samaras, who was singled out by Braga coach Domingos Paciencia as the Catholics' star-man, was never given enough room to run at defenders and was easily cancelled out by Moises. Meanwhile, club captain and resident hard-man, Scott Brown, proved too slow to compete with a Braga midfield that was led by Alan, the scorer of the first goal. The Scots looked visibly exhausted early into the second half, which should raise some questions about Lennon’s intense training regime.

On the other hand, Braga looked like at team that could do some damage against traditionally stronger opponents in the group stage of the competition. Surprisingly having finished second last season behind Benfica, the Arsenalistas, as they’re known in Portugal due to their Arsenal-like kits, look like they can compete with Portugal’s big three for this year’s league championship. It should definitely not be a shock to see the team reach the groups stages of the Champions League.

If Celtic is ousted from the Champions League, Lennon will most likely be the first major managerial casualty this year, and then all hell will break loose in Glasgow as the team administrators look under every rock for a more experienced manager.

Bigsoccerhead with the Footie Stars

Bigsoccerhead's Eric Krakauer & Wayne Rooney (photo: Eric Krakauer/Bigsoccerhead 2010)

Bigsoccerhead caught up with a vacationing Wayne Rooney at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay after a Rihanna concert that was attended by numerous celebrities.

Proving that he's just like everyone else, Rooney waited patiently for a taxi in a line of hundreds.

His take on goal-line technology: "no comment on that, mate."

CopaNYC: New York's World Cup

16 teams will be competing in Copanyc 2010

Soccer is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about New York’s Soho. Nevertheless, it is exactly in a Spring street office that Copanyc, one of the country’s most exciting soccer tournaments, finds its roots. The brainchild of Spencer Dormitzer and Chris Noble, Copanyc is a tournament that looks to bring together city-based players from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds by having them step on the field wearing the colors of their ancestral nations. Think of it as a mini world cup, taking place in the world’s most diverse city.

“It would make a lot of sense to make the world cup in New York city,” Noble says as he begins to explain Copanyc’s genesis. He recalls seeing numerous games being played all over the city and always feeling that something was missing. “I saw it was incomplete. A lot of people were playing, but they were very segregated.” Noble is alluding to the fact that in a country where soccer is easily overshadowed by basketball, football, and baseball, surprisingly, it is soccer that is the most played of all. In New York, people play the sport everywhere. Yet, unfortunately, while upper-middle class New Yorkers benefit from an abundance of organized tournaments, those who live in poorer urban areas, are limited to pick-up games that have very little structure. It is that street soccer culture and talent that the Copanyc wants to exploit. For Noble, “the focus should be in the inner city, should be on diversity, and the picking up of other people’s skills.”

Copanyc's Sean Corcoran, Spencer Dormitzer, Elicia Banks-Gabriel

In order to bring together the often undiscovered talent that is spread all over the city, Dormitzer and Noble reached out to community leaders who manage teams representing different countries, and are responsible for putting together the squads that compete in Copanyc. In some cases teams are run by the consulates of the countries they represent, and their involvement raises the tournament’s notability outside the United States. In fact, Copanyc has gained so much prominence that some consulates have arranged for former and current professionals to join the teams (it was recently announced that Inter Milan’s Julio Cesar would play for the Brazilian team, and former French world cup winner, Youri Djorkaeff, will likely suit up for the French). Dormitzer lights up at the idea of seeing amateurs playing along side some of the world’s biggest stars. “Imagine seeing your hero playing for your country in the world cup, and now you’re passing him the ball.” He also doesn’t believe there is a huge disparity in skill between both groups of players. Having played in New York’s Cosmopolitan league for many years, Dormitzer has competed with and against players that he firmly believes could have become professionals had they been given a chance.

Hosting the tournament just a few weeks after the end of the world cup is no coincidence, as well. Both Dormitzer and Noble realize how important it is to ride the wave of excitement that surrounds this year’s world cup. Never before has there been so much buzz concerning soccer in the United States. The US national team’s knockout game against Ghana alone saw ESPN earn more ratings than FOX did for all of last year’s world series games combined. “Soccer is exploding in this country right now, and we’re right in the middle of it,” Dormitzer raves as he points at a poster depicting Pele’s last game for the Cosmos at Giants stadium. Both he and Noble were at that game, and they equate the excitement currently gripping the city to that of that day. “That’s where I fell in love with soccer,” Dormitzer says. “I knew that it was bigger than all of us.”

While this is only the second Copanyc being held, Dormitzer and Noble claim that there has been an enormous growth in popularity, something they attribute to their partnership with Anomaly, a NYC and London based marketing company, and Umbro sportswear, which has recently been bought by NIKE. “Anomaly and Umbro have really helped us improve on last year’s copa, since they have so many resources,” Dormitzer says. Mayor Bloomberg’s involvement has also brought a lot of attention to the tournament, having recently hosted over eight hundred people at Gracie Mansion to acknowledge the tournament.

Copanyc’s success is sure to catch on in other cities, and Noble makes no secret of his intentions to expand across the United States. “If things continue to go well, LA could be next.” As for, Dormitzer: “I just can’t wait to see who wins this year.”

The preliminary rounds of Copanyc will be held July 24th at Pier 40 in Manhattan.
The finals will be played on July 31st and August 1st at Flushing Meadows.
(Admission is free)

Copanyc

Bigsoccerhead's World Cup First 12

Line-up based on 4-3-3 formation

Eduardo: Portugal's best player?


1. Eduardo (Portugal): Villa’s game-winning goal that sent the underperforming Portuguese home, was the first goal the Portuguese keeper surrendered in the world cup. Eduardo made key saves against the Ivory Coast and Brazil to ensure Portugal’s progression to the knockout rounds, and against Spain he postponed what everyone knew was the inevitable, an early Portuguese departure.

2. Philipp Lahm (Germany): Moved from the left side of defense to the right, and made captain due to Ballack’s injury, Lahm continued his club form, supplying attacking support on the wings with ominous crosses, and making crucial tackles at the back. Against the Spanish, Lahm was one of the only Germans who played well, helping lock down the defense before Puyol’s header gave the Iberians a much-deserved victory.

3. Carlos Puyol (Spain): His header against the Germans was symbolic of Puyol’s hard work and commitment to the team. His leaping header followed a fifteen-yard run that resulted in an unstoppable goal. Defensively, the Spaniard showed the grit and tenacity that has become a rarity in international football, and frustrated some of the world’s best forwards. Just ask Cristiano Ronaldo.

4. Arne Friedrich (Germany): Calm and consistent throughout the entire tournament, the right-back turned center-back proved an almost insurmountable wall in the German defense. Dwarfed by Mertesacker, the now Wolfsburg man marked some of the world cup’s best forwards, which included David Villa and Gonzalo Higuain.

5. Jorge Fucile (Uruguay): Initially replaced by FC Porto teammate Alvaro Pereira, Fucile soon won back his spot and proved an unshakable left-back. Steady in every game, the Uruguayan shone against the Germans, making life difficult for Thomas Muller, and providing some much needed assistance in the upper third of the field.

6. Xavi Hernandez (Spain): It’s a cliché to call him the human metronome, but that is exactly what he is. His partnership with Iniesta is arguably the best in the world and will unlock any defense. Always composed under pressure, and with a nose for the prefect pass, Xavi’s air of tranquility must send shivers down opponents’ spines. Every player on the field looks much better when the diminutive Barcelona man is on the field.

Schweinsteiger: Bigsoccerhead player of the tournament

7. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): My pick for the tournament’s Golden Ball, and an absolute motor in the German midfield. Schweinsteiger was the quintessential box-to-box midfielder, setting the tempo for the German offense and putting in some game-saving tackles at the back. It’s fair to say that almost every single German counterattack resulted from one of his tackles or was initiated by one of his passes. Against Spain, the Bayern Munich man was able to navigate through Spanish pressure, but was ultimately let down by most of his teammates who seemed intimidated by the opposition.

8. Wesley Sneijder (Holland): The quintessential number 10. A bit of a non-factor in the final, but mostly because an awesome Spanish midfield foursome overwhelmed him. Sneijder played behind three forwards and still managed to outscore all of them with five goals. With a solid defensive midfield behind him, the Inter man was free to pull the strings for the Oranje with his incisive passes. Without him, Holland would never have reached the final.

9. Andres Iniesta (Spain): The catalyst of the Spanish offense, and the difference maker in the final (not just because he scored). Iniesta was almost impossible to mark since Del Bosque gave him license to go where he pleased - van Bommel will have nightmares about his inability to stop Iniesta in the final, no matter how much he hacked him. His flick assist for Villa’s goal against Portugal epitomizes his creative spark on the field, and exemplifies how important it is to allow imaginative players to express themselves in football.

Forlan: FIFA's Golden Ball winner 

10. Diego Forlan (Uruguay): The fan favorite, player of the tournament, and influential leader of the Uruguayan national team, Forlan proved to the world that in his current form his name deserves to be mentioned with the best players of the game. Only a crossbar prevented him from scoring his sixth goal of the tournament, and kept Uruguay from drawing even with the Germans. One couldn’t help but root for the success of the Atletico Madrid man, who gave hope to underdogs all over the world.

11. David Villa (Spain): Deadly when attacking from the left and responsible for driving Spain to victory in the group games, the new Barcelona man dazzled fans with his craftiness, agility, and eye for goal. Villa’s performances suffered when Torres was benched in the semis, as he had to fend for himself as Spain’s lone striker. Nevertheless, he always proved to be a goal scoring threat and gave his midfielders plenty of room to operate by drawing extra-special attention from defenders.

12. Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay): Guiding Uruguay to the world cup twice is already enough of an accomplishment for any coach, so guiding the team to the semis will surely turn the former teacher into a folk hero. His tactics may have landed Uruguay in the world cup final, but the team’s lack of depth just couldn’t compete with the more talented sides of Holland and Germany.

What's your first 11?

Previews & Predictions: Holland vs. Spain (final)

By five o’clock pm eastern time on Sunday, this year’s world cup will have set some new records. It will have been the first world cup held in the African continent, it will be the first time a European nation will be crowned champion outside its home continent, and it will be the first time a nation will be etched into the world cup trophy that isn’t one of the previous seven champions.

Whilst Holland will be competing in its third world cup final, Spain will be making its first attempt at conquering the trophy, and that being the case, Sunday will pit the two best nations never to win the world cup against each other in what promises to be a mouth-watering encounter. Whereas in the past, world cup finals have showcased opponents that play very different styles of football, this final will exhibit two teams that play two very similar brands. Holland has long been credited with the honor of having created “total football,” an approach to the game that emphasizes its technical beauty, as well as the creativity of individual players. Today, though, it is Spain’s football that is being labeled as beautiful, with its stress on short, intricate passing, and maintaining possession.

Preview

Holland

Once the Dutch beat Brazil, there was little doubt they’d reach the final. Although Uruguay had performed well in its previous games, nobody really believed the South Americans would be able to overcome the Orange Machine. Still, Holland didn’t have an easy time dispatching Uruguayans, only tilting the scales after Wesley Sneijder scored a controversial goal in the second half. In fact, the Dutch are far from playing the football that has won them countless fans outside their own country. Apart from the defensive frailties that have be highlighted time-and-again, the team’s offense looks disconnected, save those few moments when Sneijder finds the time and space to display his flair.

Robben will hope to exploit Capdevila's lack of speed


The Dutch know that they will be entering Sunday’s final as underdogs, and in order to win they’re going to have to assert themselves early on in the game. Up to now, all the teams that have faced the Spanish have allowed them to possess the ball for most of the game, have attempted to close space, and have hoped to capitalize on mistakes. And apart from a very fortunate Switzerland, all have been unsuccessful, including a confident German team that easily dominated its previous opponents. The Oranje need to attack in numbers and avoid the Spanish defensive pressure, which is as efficient as the team’s offense. Holland’s best chance at success will be to use the width of the field. Sergio Ramos enjoys the freedom Del Bosque gives him to go up the field, and he sometimes tends to neglect some of his defensive duties. Capdevila, who platoons the left side of defense is more conservative than Ramos, but doesn’t have the speed to keep up with Robben, who usually tortures slower defenders. On the defensive side, the Dutch will have to hope that Nigel de Jong is rested enough to neutralize Iniesta after missing the semis through a suspension.

Spain

Joachim Low followed his team’s defeat to Spain by claiming that no team can beat the current European champions. The Germans were outplayed from the beginning, and rarely showed the counter attacking proficiency that allowed them to reach the semifinals. For many, Spain’s masterful vanquishing of the Germans all but crowned them world champions. The Iberians have only gotten better as the tournament has progressed, and not even a far-below par Fernando Torres has hindered the team. Del Bosque has also shown that he is not afraid to change his tactics to address problems. Whether playing with one striker, or two, Spain is a formidable team that can score in many ways, including set pieces.

Spain can also score from set pieces

The Spanish should line up against the Dutch exactly the same way as they did against the Germans: employing Villa up-front by himself, and allowing Iniesta to roam all over the offensive third of the field. Del Bosque will also be aware that Holland will look to exploit the wings, and as such, expect Sergio Busquets and Xavi Alonso to provide Ramos and Capdevila with a lot of help. Like always, Xavi will be the team’s metronome, setting the pace of the game, and stretching the field with Pedro’s speed. If Spain fails to score in the first half, Torres will certainly make an appearance with the hope of providing some size in the box, which should provide Villa more room to do his damage.

Prediction: Holland 0 – Spain 2

The Spanish have put on commanding performances in every game of the world cup so far, and after the slip in their first game, no team has looked good enough to beat them. In contrast, Holland has reached the final not playing the best football, and has benefited a little from luck. Truth be told, the Brazilians should have beaten the Dutch, but their inability to control their tempers, led to their demise. When all is said and done, Holland will leave South Africa still empty handed, and will continue to be referred to as the best nation never to have won the world cup. On the other hand, the Spanish will follow up their European cup with a world cup, just as West Germany did in 72 and 74.

The Return of the Number 10

Traditionally, the number 10 jersey has been assigned to a team’s most skilled and creative player, who is usually responsible for setting up offense, is given license to roam, and remains relatively free from defensive duties. However, the growing emphasis on tactics at the expense of individual expressiveness over the past fifteen years has rendered this original position almost obsolete. Teams both at club and national level have preferred formations that rely on box-to-box midfielders who are as adept at defending as they are at attacking.

Yet, this world cup has marked the return of the number 10. In fact, most of the teams that made it past the group stage, relied on the inventiveness of a 10, including all four semifinalists. It could be argued that Diego Forlan carried Uruguay on his shoulders, and Germany, often criticized for its boringly effective style of play, added some pazzaz with Oezil. Additionally, the finalists, Holland and Spain, have played the most attractive football of the tournament, and are dependent on 10’s. Holland’s success is widely attributed to Wesley Sneijder, who is probably the favorite to win the tournament's Golden Ball, while Spain’s play improved visibly after Iniesta recovered from a nagging groin injury.

Historically, men adorning the number 10 jersey have regularly left their mark on the world stage. Pelé was perhaps the first player to make the number famous, and was followed by other Brazilian greats such as Zico, and Ronaldinho. Maradona’s impact wearing the number 10 was so great that any other Argentine wearing the famous shirt is immediately compared to the man who led Argentina to world cup victory in 1986. Almost two decades later, Messi may have finally fit the bill. In 1994 Roberto Baggio graced America with his elegant football, taking Italy to the brink of a championship against Brazil, who was led by Rai, younger brother to football legend Socrates, and possibly the worst player to wear the number 10 for the seleção. Four years later Zinedine Zidane won the world cup with France and redefined what a number 10 should play like. He also established what not to do in a world cup final when he head-butted Marco Materazzi for insulting his sister.

Forlan carried Uruguay to the semis 

Just as they’ve been and continue to be influential on the field, number 10’s have always been inspirational for those of us off the field. Look at the stands of any stadium in the world, and most of the replica jerseys being worn by fans will bear the number 10, as will the t-shirts of street soccer players all over the world. Hopefully, the reemergence of the number 10 at the world cup will translate to the club level, and we wont have to wait four years to see it again.