Copa America 2015 - Butt poking, Suspensions and Penalty shoot outs.

Updated July 7th, 2015

Well the Final wasn't quite as exciting and open as we would of liked. Di Maria having to go off so early in the game injured didn't help Argentina or the flow of the game, but host nation Chile stepped up at the penalty shoot out after the game had ended 0 - 0 and won their first ever Copa America which sparked national celebrations. Well done Chile, not just for winning, but also for putting on such a great Copa America.

Updated July 3rd, 2015

As correctly predicted in my previous post, the final of the Copa America 2015 will be between host nation Chile and Argentina.

Chile's win was not an easy one. Peru started out really well in that game but when their defender  Zambrano was sent off (harshly in my opinion) you knew it was going to be an uphill battle for the Peruvians. They did well to level the match at 1 - 1 but then an absolute wonder goal from Eduardo Vargas sealed the win and a place in the Final.

Argentina were just sublime in their 6 - 1 win over Paraguay with both Messi and Di Maria in scintillating form. The photo below shows Messi leaving two Paraguays defenders in his wake as he sets up another attack.

Final prediction.

I'm hoping for a great final. Both teams are playing some beautiful footy, but both teams look like they may have some defensive weaknesses. I'd love to see the home nation win but I think with Messi and Di Maria in such fine form Argentina will be victorious.


Posted June 28th, 2015

We now know the semi-finalists for Copa America 2015, currently being held in Chile.

1. Chile v Peru
2. Argentina v Paraguay

Like most people I was looking forward to seeing the sleek skills of Brazil and Argentina, but for me the team of the tournament so far has been the host nation Chile. They have played some quite beautiful football/soccer at times and thoroughly deserve to be into the semi-finals. I thought Peru played well in their quarter-final game against Bolivia, but that was well, you know against Bolivia so I'll be very surprised if Chile do not make the final. Chile and Juventus star Arturo Vidal and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez have been outstanding.

Up until the quarter-final game against Colombia I had been quite disappointed with Messi and Co, but in that game they played some exquisite footy. It was therefore somewhat of a surprise that the game ended in a 0 - 0 draw and needed to go to a penalty shoot out which I'm glad it did because it was an exciting end to the game.

Brazil without the now suspended Neymar look to be a very ordinary team. Coming so soon after their humiliating 7 - 1 defeat at home to Germany in the World Cup, their early exit from Copa America must be a major concern for this footballing great country.  They couldn’t do enough to beat Paraguay and often looked bereft of ideas. They never looked confident either as they lost the penalty shoot out with Paraguay, which followed their 1 - 1 draw. Personally I’m glad Paraguay made it to the semi-finals as it means I get to watch Roque Santa Cruz for another 90 minutes on Tuesday (swoon).

I’m hoping for great things from the Chile verses Peru semi-final on Monday based on the evidence of both teams lovely attacking football so far. I don’t think Argentina verses Paraguay will be quite as exciting. I predict a Chile verses Argentina final, and what a treat that would be for football fans.

Now we can’t talk about this years Copa America without mentioning the Gonzalo Jara and Edinson Cavani incident. Cavani was sent off for retaliating and barely touching Jara. Jara then went down like he had been hit flush on the jaw by Mike Tyson. Cavani was gone. The replay of the incident showed what Jara did. Java is shown sticking his finger up Cavani’s butt hole. Even though I’m a little envious that Jara got to do this, the way he forced Cavani into a reaction and then acted like he was pole axed to get Cavani sent off was disgusting and I hate it when things like this happen in football. Not cool, Jara. Jara’s club team Mainz are now listening to offers for him as they have made it clear they will not tolerate such antics.

Jara has a history of touching opposing players inappropriately. He had previously touched Luis Suarez's genitals during a game in 2013. Suarez responded by punching Jara in the face (he was probably out of biting range).

The best improvement to the beautiful game in years.

There’s a few things I’ve thought about over the years that could improve the beautiful game. One was goal line technology which thankfully has been introduced. I still think some type of instant video reply review system should be introduced in the major leagues and competitions to be used for game changing incidents. I also think a line should be added between the goal line and the halfway line to be called the offside line. I think being offside anywhere in the opposing half is a silly rule. If the area an attacking player can be offside in is reduced this may increase attacking play and cut down on so many silly offsides.

However, the best improvement in my mind in recent times is the introduction of the skin tight jersey. The first team I noticed wearing this type of jersey was Uruguay and since then I’ve seen a few teams adopt this type of jersey. As if the beautiful game wasn’t beautiful enough…

 

 

The hottest players around. Sizzle baby!

Please leave suggestions in the comments area on who to add to this page.

Olivia Giroud. Maybe the hottest guy in world football right now. Ooh la la...

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Robbie Rogers. One of our own of course.

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Bad boy Jack Wilshire.

The current FIFA Scandal.

So I start my blog at the same time as Sepp Blatter has announced his resignation as FIFA president amid the FBI's probe into corruption. Rejoice! Like the majority of football/soccer fans, this is something that has needed to happen for a very long time. I feared Blatter was going to one of history's true untouchables, so I was surprised as much as anyone when he announced his resignation. I can't imagine he resigned under his own volition, so I assume he felt under pressure from both inside and outside the organization. It's not like the man has ever had football/soccer's best interest at heart. FIFA as an organization is a laughing stock now. Football fans have had to stand by for a long time powerless to do anything as this corrupt organization makes a mockery of the sport on the world stage, so it's great that people outside of the football world are now taking action against FIFA.

The awarding of the World Cup to Qatar was just a joke and it's obvious the only way that the tournament was awarded to that small RICH country with it's extreme summer heat was through less than honest means. Qatar already has a horrible human rights record before the World Cup was even awarded to them. It was FIFA’s ultimate middle finger to the sane world to let them know how untouchable they thought they were.

Can you believe a World Cup could be given to a country where flogging and stoning are legal. For gay people who want to see a World Cup bear in mind that sodomy between consenting adults is illegal and can be punished by up to 5 years in prison. For Muslims it’s much worse as homosexuality is a crime punishable by death.

When Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup, Blatter was asked about what gay football fans should do given that homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state. He joked: "I'd say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities."

Blatter later apologized "It was not my intention and never will be my intention to go into any discrimination," Blatter said. "If somebody feels hurt, then I regret and present apologies."

There has also been the controversy over migrant worker deaths as they work on the Stadiums for the tournament. The Guardian newspaper's investigation into the migrant worker's conditions in Qatar reported migrants were dying at a rate of one every two days. The Guardian also reported that migrant deaths there in 2012/2013 was an incredible 964. That's just awful.

The sooner the old relic, Blatter is removed from being the figurehead of world football the better. Football and the world in general can well do without his often offensive views and comments.

In regards to racism and sexism he gave us these gems.

In June 2011, Blatter said that any racism on the field of play could be solved with a handshake. When pushed further about racism on the pitch, Blatter told CNN "I would deny it. There is no racism.There is maybe one of the players towards another -- he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one. But the one who is affected by that, he should say: 'This is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands.' And this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination." Really Blatter, sigh…

Blatter also caused a stir in January 2004 when he suggested women footballers should wear more feminine clothes.

"Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball," he said at the time.”They could, for example, have tighter shorts." Okay, so we all have our pervy thoughts every now and then, but you don't say such things for the whole world to hear.

Whoever takes over the presidency will sure be a breath of fresh air to the organization and the beautiful game as a whole.

Candidates.

Here are my thoughts on some of the candidates who are already in the running for the FIFA presidency.

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

At the recent FIFA elections I was desperate for Prince Ali to win, but that was because he was the only person standing against Blatter. Now that he's no longer the only candidate my feelings are split. I will say, however, that because he was the only one brave enough to stand against Blatter he probably deserves it just because of that.

Michel Platini.

Probably the favorite now. Although he's been very critical of Blatter and has called for him to resign in the past, I was disappointed he didn't put himself forward as a candidate at the election. As head of UEFA I think he's probably the best candidate of them all now.

Luis Figo.

He said he pulled out of the recent presidential election because he didn't want to split the anti Blatter vote, and because he didn't want absolute power. If he runs again in the new presidential vote I think he'll be an outsider as I can't really see him winning many votes.

Michael Van Praag.

The Dutch football chief also recently pulled out of the presidential race so he wouldn't split the anti Blatter vote. At the time of writing this he's still considering whether he'll run again or not. I like that he's interested in the human rights conditions of the workers employed to build the stadiums and that he wants to limit FIFA's presidency to two terms only.

David Ginola.

Ginola has already said he would be running in the election again, although he wasn't taken very seriously in his last attempt and had to withdraw because he could not get the backing of the 5 football associations needed to stand. A big, big outsider, although I loved him as a player.

My ideal choice.

So my ideal choice for the role would be David Beckham. He was part of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid. Since retiring as a player he is still a great ambassador for the game and has the experience of playing in World Cups. He's also played for some of the world's top club teams and LA Galaxy (sorry Galaxy fans, bad joke) and is currently involved in getting his MLS side up and running. With Beckham at the helm, FIFA would take on an immediate image makeover. And damn, he's so good to look at.

No matter who wins the upcoming election, I believe the beautiful game will be the ultimate winner. Of course this wouldn't be a gay themed blog if I didn't list them in order of attractiveness. So here is how I see it based on looks.

1st choice: David Beckham

2nd choice: David Ginola

3rd choice: Luis Figo