Category Archives: Soccer

Soccer Betting Guide – How to Bet On Soccer

Betting in soccer is one of the high-end hobbies of this generation especially in the foreign countries like UK, France, Germany etc. They always cheer their local football club of the city. People are always so excited to watch soccer and betting on it. Betting on soccer is not really simple as it looks because the history itself says that many majorities of matches will end at equal score and the last round will be the deciding factor. Last round is a half chance based on your team’s fortune. But fortune doesn’t take your side all the time. So, when betting in soccer you must think of the following factors given below because they affect the game very significantly.

1) Weather of that particular day: Whenever you want to make a bet in a game of soccer which is on that particular day you must check the weather forecast first as it is the primary factor for the game to be happen. If overcast conditions are there then you must avoid making a bet.

2) Current form of your team: You should have knowledge about your team’s recent form. Whether it is good, bad, excellent or a decent one. Soccer is a game where form of the players as well team matters the most. So, if you want to win a bet then you must have to consider this factor thoroughly.

3) Past schedules of your team: Before betting you must have to check that what number of matches your team had play in the recent schedules. If more matches are played then there will be a chance that they will make a win.

4) The opponent team: You must have to consider the recent form of opponent team too. The skills and the form of players of opponent team will directly have an effect on your team as well. If the star player of the opponent team is facing some injuries than it will be your golden luck to earn some good number of bucks by betting.

5) Captain of your side: The captain is the one who will lead the team in a way so that they always tend to win the game. If your team’s captain leads from the front then your team will always be the favorites of the match.

6) Head to Head records between the two teams: Head to Head statistics doesn’t define the result of that particular day but it will definitely help you to compare the skills and quality of the players of the two sides. Majority of the people make bet on the side which had won more games in the past instead making bet on other team.

7) Checking whether your team is playing in home conditions or in away conditions: Home team always had an edge over the other team because playing in home ground is like playing at home. Home conditions leads to gather more and more local support which ultimately had an effect on your team game. Your team always feel motivated during the game.

8) If there is any injury or not? : Injury had become a major issue not in the game of soccer but in any other game because the demands of the people as well as team management is rising day by day. Players are trying to improvise new techniques and skills in very less time which are taking a toll on their body. This ultimately leads to a chance of injury. If your main player gets an injury then please avoid betting on that match. If players would perform their dynamic warm up, they would get less injured during the game.

So, a plenty of factors should be observed before soccer betting because every single point mentioned above have significant role in deciding the outcome of the match result. Soccer is a team game and if everyone plays with all his efforts then a win will be ensured.

Quarterfinals for 2010 FIFA World Cup Set

2010 FIFA World CupWith Paraguay beating Japan on penalty kicks and Spain beating Portugal 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon, the quarterfinal matchups are set for the 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa.

Here are your quarterfinal matchups:

Friday, July 2nd:

  • Netherlands vs Brazil, 10:00 a.m., ESPN
  • Uruguay vs Ghana, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, July 3rd:

  • Argentina vs Germany, 10:00 a.m., ABC
  • Paraguay vs Spain, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The winners of the Netherlands/Brazil and Uruguay/Ghana match will meet on July 6th in the semifinals while the winners of the Argentina/Germany and Paraguay/Spain match will meet in the semifinals on July 7th.

While all of these games should be great, we’ve got two different games featuring the heavyweights of the tournament in Netherlands vs Brazil and Argentina vs Germany. This games will be fun to watch.

Round of 16 for 2010 FIFA World Cup Is Set

2010 FIFA World CupWith Spain beating Chile 2-1 and Switzerland and Honduras playing to a 0-0 draw, the knockout stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on Saturday.

First let’s list the groups winners and runner-ups:

  • Group A: Uruguay, Mexico
  • Group B: Argentina, South Korea
  • Group C: United States, England
  • Group D: Germany, Ghana
  • Group E: Netherlands, Japan
  • Group F: Paraguay, Slovakia
  • Group G: Brazil, Portugal
  • Group H: Spain, Chile

And here’s the schedule for the second round:

Saturday, June 26th:

  • Uruguay v South Korea 10:00 AM, ESPN
  • United States v Ghana 2:30 PM, ABC

Sunday, June 27th:

  • Germany vs England, 10:00 AM, ESPN
  • Argentina vs Mexico, 2:30 PM, ABC

Monday, June 28th:

  • Netherlands vs Slovakia, 10:00 AM, ESPN
  • Brazil vs Chile, 2:30 PM, ESPN

Tuesday, June 29th:

  • Paraguay vs Japan, 10:00 AM, ESPN
  • Spain vs Portugal, 2:30 PM, ESPN

Obviously besides the USA vs Ghana game tomorrow afternoon, the game I’m most looking forward to watching is the Spain/Portugal game on Tuesday. Spain is the second ranked team in the world and Portugal is the third.

Giuseppe Rossi Jinxed By ESPN The Mag Cover

Giuseppe Rossi - ESPN The Magazine covers

Look out Sports Illustrated. It looks like there’s a new magazine jinx in town.

Back when ESPN the Magazine hit newsstands on May 17th, American-born Italian National Soccer Team player Gisueppe Rossi graced the cover of the magazine in the leadup to 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The games will begin on June 11th.

But when the Azzurri kick off their run to the championship on June 14th against Paraguay, Rossi won’t be there as he was cut from the squad yesterday.

This is all Italian head coach Marcello Lippi has said about the exclusion of Rossi:

“All the exclusions were difficult, maybe Giuseppe Rossi’s was the most difficult one.

Rossi had this to say over on his Twitter page:

didnt make it, but i have no regrets…worked hard and showed what i could do..i gues the coach had other plans. good luck Italy..

….cant wait to go back home to my family now…….!! gonna enjoy a beautiful summer…

So do we have a new magazine jinx on our hands? I guess we’ll have to see as each subsequent issue of The Mag comes out.

US Announces 23-Man Roster for 2010 World Cup

US Men's National Soccer Team in 2010 FIFA World Cup

Having played soccer for over 2/3 of my life, I, like many people across the world, will be following the action in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. One of my favorite teams to watch is Brasil but I will be watching and supporting the United States Men’s National Soccer Team while they are in South Africa.

The United States will kickoff their 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa starting on June 12th at 2:30 p.m. when they will take on England.

Here’s the 23 man squad that head coach Bob Bradley will be bringing to South Africa:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Stuart Holden (Bolton, England), Jose Torres (Pachuca, Mexico).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla, Mexico).

Committee Seeks World Cup Excitement and Culture For America in 2018/2022

Here’s a guest post from Marc Parker of Sports A La Mode about the United States bidding to host either 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

US Men's National Soccer LogoIn a couple weeks when the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa it will bring with it a new level of attention and popularity for the game of soccer. The majority of the world is accustomed to the popularity of the sport since soccer is widely considered the “globe’s game.” However, in the United States, soccer isn’t considered as interesting in comparison to the other four major sports the country has to offer. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Soccer doesn’t get the respect it rightfully deserves in the States, but when it comes down to Team USA versus the world and bringing a cultural event to the country, no matter how Americans feel about the game, they pay very close attention.

The 1994 World Cup (the last time the games were held in the United States) was attended by a total of 3.6 million people, which is still a record even though the games have expanded. From a United States perspective, it was the highest attended single sporting event in U.S. history. The United States Bid Committee, which is in charge of bringing the games back, understands the significance of hosting such an event and has pulled out all the stops to bring the games to America over other locations like England, Australia, and Japan.

The U.S. Committee’s board of directors is made up of important figures like U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg, Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Counselor to former President Clinton, Doug Band. The addition of Doug Band to the U.S. Committee is a smart move on behalf of the committee because Band, an avid fan of the game, is co-creator of the Clinton Global Initiative, and has worked tirelessly to help millions across the globe, adding an internationally recognized face on America’s bid. Band’s commitment and global understanding is exactly what the Committee needs to make the games and culture of the 2018/2022 World Cup an American reality.

With the world watching, the 2010 World Cup will be on the forefront of sports viewing technology with some of the games even being broadcasted in 3-D for the first time ever. Team USA drew a favorable bracket and will open the games against England which has many in the country ready to rename this soccer battle the Revolutionary War Part II. Team USA is posed to begin their quest for their first ever World Cup, and America is ready to root them on showing that 2018/2022 is the time to bring the cultural relevance of the world’s most popular sport back to America.

The United States wants to bring the world’s attention to America by hosting the World Cup and demonstrating their embrace for the international game of soccer. Billions of people come together under the banner of soccer and root for their country’s team in hopes of holding the cup. Winning the World Cup bid will hopefully bring the games to our shores but will also convey the message that America welcomes diversity and respects worldwide culture.

United States National Team’s 2010 World Cup Schedule

US Soccer in 2010 World Cup

The 2010 World Cup Draw was held on Friday and the United States National Team found themselves placed in Group C. They join England, Algeria and Slovenia in the group.

The US is 2-7 lifetime against England, last winning in 1993. Their only other win came in 1950 when they beat England 1-0 in the first round of the 1950 World Cup held in Brazil. They have never faced Algeria and Slovenia on the pitch.

England is currently ranked 9th in the world while the US is ranked 14th. Algeria is ranked 28th and the Slovenian side is ranked 33rd.

The United States will kick off their road to the World Cup against England on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa.

Here’s the full schedule for the United States:

Here are some quotes from Landon Donovan, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey about the draw for the United States.

The 2010 World Cup will get underway on June 11, 2010 when host South Africa will host Mexico in Johannesburg.

Complete 2010 World Cup Schedule [FIFA.com]

2010 World Cup Draw

2010 World Cup in South Africa

Group A: Group B: Group C: Group D:
France Argentina Algeria Australia
Mexico Greece England Germany
South Africa Nigeria Slovenia Ghana
Uruguay South Korea United States Serbia
Group E: Group F: Group G: Group H:
Cameroon Italy Brazil Chile
Denmark New Zealand Ivory Coast Honduras
Japan Paraguay North Korea Spain
Netherlands Slovakia Portugal Switzerland

Holy Cartwheels Batman!

On ESPN’s Not Top 10 Moments this morning on Sportscenter, the number one highlight this morning was University of Hartford Hawks goalkeeper Nenad Cudic doing cartwheels before a penalty kick.

This happened back on November 11th in the semifinals of the America East Men’s Soccer Tournament which they lost to the Stony Brook Seawolves.

I don’t want to give too much away here so just enjoy the clip:

{flowplayer}http://ianbethune.com/hartfordsoccer.flv{/flowplayer}

Beckham Returns To Real Madrid Lineup

Just a day after returning to the Real Madrid lineup, David Beckham showed his worth to the club by scoring a goal in the first half of their game versus Real Sociedad. The game is still being played and I will update this post after the game.

Beckham had been benched by Real Madrid coach, Fabio Capello, after Beckham announced he would be leaving Real Madrid to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS in the United States. Capello was worried that Beckham wouldn’t play or train with the same intensity he used to. However, Beckham was impressive in practice this week, thus he was named to the 20 man squad for the game and was inserted into the starting lineup.

Without Beckham in the lineup, Real Madrid was 2-2, putting the pressure on Capello to win. It is rumored that if Real Madrid doesn’t win the game against Real Sociedad, Capello will be fired.

Currently, Real Madrid is in 4th place in the Spanish League with 38 points, 5 behind leader FC Barcelona.

Update: Real Madrid won the game 2-1 behind goals from Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Beckham finished with 4 shots (2 on goal) and yellow card besides the goal.

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