Author argues money, size give USA World Cup potential

December 16, 2009

The World Cup champion United States? It at least is one of three nations that has the greatest potential to catch and surpass the traditional soccer powers of Western Europe, according to the author of a new book.

Simon Kuper, co-author of Soccernomics, tabs the Americans along with Japan and China among the nations with the best chance of claiming soccer’s biggest prize.

“The U.S. is almost there and will only get better,” Kuper said.

Kuper, a Paris-based British sports writer, who wrote Soccernomics with Stefan Szymanski, an economics professor at Cass Business School in London, says three key factors are essential for future soccer supremacy – wealth, a large population and Western European soccer “know-how.”

While the U.S. has money and the greatest number of young soccer players of any country, he says the 14th-ranked nation lacks soccer know-how because it lets nationalism get in the way.

“I suspect the U.S. will get only stronger when it drops its isolationist idea that it has to have a U.S. coach and starts importing Western European coaches,” Kuper said.

Kuper contends his and Szymanski’s book, released originally in Britain in August and last month in the United States, quantifies soccer through statistics and other measureable means.

He claims the United States, Canada, Mexico and other “marginal” soccer countries have suffered from their distance from the soccer know-how networks in Western Europe.

He calls this knowledge “collective soccer” — which quickly diffused throughout Western Europe following World War II due to the large population and close proximity.

Kuper asserts that countries outside the core European Union region – due to distance, poverty or closed borders – typically struggle because they’re isolated from the exchange of ideas. Since they’re out of touch with the “best soccer,” they’ve responded by creating their own dysfunctional styles.

But, their fortunes can change quickly.

“Culture doesn’t mean much. Any country with a good Western European coach and time to prepare can learn Western European football quickly,” Kuper said.

However, the Americans’ recent performance may dispel the notion that they lack soccer know-how. The squad, with mostly Western European-based players, beat Spain to reach the Confederations Cup final, led by American Bob Bradley, who came through the U.S. college and pro ranks of Major League Soccer.

Kuper explains the success of Brazil and Argentina by attributing it to the best individual players and an ingrained culture of excellence.

He likens Canada to the United States saying it too suffers from a lack of soccer knowledge.

“Canada is very attached to the economic knowledge network of the U.S. and since the U.S. doesn’t have great soccer know-how, Canada is extremely far removed from the soccer networks of the world and this is the reason why it has underperformed,” he argues.

In Soccernomics, both countries made the list of the world’s top 10 most underperforming nations.

Despite this, Kuper believes Canada has hope thanks to its passion for the game and growing business interest.

Paul James, soccer analyst for The Globe and Mail and former Canadian U-20 manager feels increasing ties to Western Europe are not necessarily a panacea for future success.

“Kuper’s analysis, when applied to CONCACAF, is oversimplistic, because some countries lack professional infrastructure, while others don’t have a true soccer identity, James said. “No amount of Western European soccer knowledge will correct those two important factors.”

When asked about the future of the rest of CONCACAF, Kuper isn’t optimistic.

He contends that Mexico’s national team would be stronger if the clubs in the Primera Division were poorer. This would force top Mexican players to play in Spain and give them a chance to acquire Western European soccer experience.

Ivan Orozco, a freelance reporter who has covered Mexico since 2001, isn’t convinced, suggesting Mexico has the talent and skill, but needs to improve its athleticism.

“Mexican players lack size, strength and agility to compete against most Western Europeans nations, so the Mexican federation should focus on developing the players’ athletic ability, not only their soccer skills,” he said.

And the Caribbean and Central American nations?

Kuper says they lack all three factors – wealth, a large population and experience playing top Western European countries, leaving them with little hope.

“What these countries need to do is import Western European football know-how and export their best players,” he says, “so that they gain Western European know-how in Western Europe.”

By Vijay Setlur

Tags: Borders, british sports, business school, canada mexico, close proximity, co author, economics professor, european coaches, european soccer, european union, fortunes, nationalism, simon kuper, soccer players, sports writer, stefan szymanski, traditional soccer, western Europe, world cup champion, world war ii

Vuvuzelas set to take World Cup by storm

June 25, 2009

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) – You either love them or you hate them but whichever way you lean it seems certain that the vuvuzela is going to take the World Cup by storm.

The long plastic trumpet is as essential an item to South African fans as getting decked out in the national colours or painting one’s face.

Forty thousand of them being blown at full volume sounds like a swarm of angry bees buzzing in your ear, or, as one newspaper put it, an elephant in distress.

It is a tuneless din that takes getting used to, but that’s exactly what anyone planning to be here next year will have to do.

Be prepared, because no one in South Africa will take your football credentials seriously if you turn up at the stadium without one.

Whereas European supporters sing, chant and wave, South Africans blow vuvuzelas and, as a rule, make as much noise as possible.

But it has hurt the sensibilities of some, with one suggestion that they should only be allowed when South Africa plays.

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is the highest profile player to criticise the instrument.

“I think they should be banned,” he said. “We’re used to when people shout but not to this trumpet noise which doesn’t allow you to concentrate and is unbearable.”

Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk, who was in South Africa on a fact finding mission, was another to take offence.

“At home watching TV it really was annoying, but in the stadiums you get used to it but it is still unpleasant,” he said.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given them his blessing, blasting the detractors by telling them Africa is about dance and music and moaning about the instrument bordered on discrimination.

“We have brought the World Cup to Africa where the atmosphere and the culture are different,” he said.

“What message would we be sending out if we said, ‘We are going to prohibit the instrument you use to express your joy’? That would be discrimination, pure and simple.

“I always said that when we go to South Africa, it is Africa. It’s not western Europe.”

The whinging by players, as well as some journalists who complain that they can’t work properly with so much noise, has sparked a lively debate in newspaper letter pages and led to opinion pieces in its defence.

“The Confed Cup and its big mama, the World Cup, will come and go but the vuvuzela will stay,” said the Business Times defiantly.

“Those in search of tranquility are free to watch on TV and make sure they press the mute button on their remotes.”

The Sowetan called the ubiquitous instrument’s sound “a loud and beautiful noise.”

“If you can’t handle the heat, then get out of the kitchen,” it said.

“The vuvuzela is part of our culture and it’s here to stay. The Europeans sing all game long and we blow our vuvuzelas.”

Another distinct phenomenon that will confront travelling fans in South Africa is the makaraba — a neatly decorated hand-made helmet sporting the team’s colours.

“It is part of our history, it’s something we can be very proud of,” said fan Brendan Mokone.

“I think many other countries will adopt makaraba in 2010, because from what I have seen people like it a lot.”

Blatter worked hard to bring the World Cup to Africa for the first time ever and as one commentator put it: “What would be the point of taking the World Cup to Africa, and then trying to give it a European feel?”

Tags: Africa, Alonso, angry bees, bert van marwijk, blatter, Bloemfontein, bloemfontein south africa, Brendan Mokone, chant, dance and music, detractors, european supporters, fact finding mission, FIFA, midfielder, national colours, offence, profile player, sensibilities, Sepp Blatter, South Africa, south african fans, south africans, Spain, stadiums, vuvuzela, watching tv, western Europe, World Cup, xabi alonso

Iraq stifle South Africa in Confed Cup opener

June 15, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The 2009 Confederations Cup opened with a goalless stalemate between hosts South Africa and Asian champions Iraq at Ellis Park here on Sunday.

With Group A favourites Spain, in action against minnows New Zealand later on Sunday, expected to steamroll into the semi-finals, the point apiece keeps both teams in the running to join the Euro 2008 winners as group runners-up.

South Africa coach Joel Santana said his Bafana Bafana side had been undone by a combination of missed chances and Iraq’s defensive strategy.

“We had 17 shots on goal, compared to three from Iraq,” the Brazilian remarked.

“After a nervy start we controlled all aspects of the game and could have scored three or four goals. I was surprised at the way they held back in defence.

“Do you know how many minutes we played football in the first half? 32! It wasn’t us stopping the match all the time. They tried to paralyse the game.

“This wasn’t the result we wanted but I don’t think we played badly.”

Iraq’s experienced coach Bora Milutinovic defended his tactics.

“To some the game may have been boring. For me it was one of the highlights of my career, and now we have a point and a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.”

Santana gave a starting place to the nation’s favourite footballer, Teko Modise, who sat out the warm-up win over Poland, with Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who had limped off injured in that match, on the bench.

Milutinovic, opting for a five-man backline, had the luxury of fielding a full-strength side captained by striker Younis Mahmoud with the artful Nashat Akram in midfield.

In a cagey first half, one of the rare bright moments came early on when Russia-based midfielder MacBeth Sibaya forced Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid into an athletic dive to keep out his angled 20-metre attempt from the right.

That effort came minutes after Kassid had safely scooped up Bernard Parker’s shot from outside the box.

Akram, who will be the first Iraqi to play in western Europe after signing for Steve McClaren’s Dutch side FC Twente, had a frustrating time, sending one free-kick over Itumeleng Khune’s bar and another into the South African wall.

South Africa striker Thembinkosi Fanteni picked up a yellow card from Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda after an over-zealous tackle on Iraqi midfielder Karrar Jasim in the opening minutes.

With a quiet or perhaps not-so-quiet word from Santana ringing in their ears, South Africa emerged for the second half with much more urgency, encouraging the home crowd of 48,837 or so which included South Africa President Jacob Zuma.

Dominating play, the hosts had a clear chance in the 69th minute only for Fanteni’s miscued shot to edge wide of Kassid’s right-hand post, the Maccabi Haifa striker banging his head with his fist in frustration.

After Akram received the second booking of the encounter Fanteni was at the centre of the action again, rising above the Iraqi defence to head Siboniso Gaxa’s corner just over the crossbar.

Katlego Mashego then came on for Fanteni and the Orlando Pirates striker quickly found himself with only Kassid to beat in the box, but the Iraqi keeper did well to snuff out the danger.

With five minutes left on the clock, Parker will never know how he failed to tap the ball home when faced with an open goal.

Santana introduced Pienaar in a last-ditch effort to grab the points but to no avail.

South Africa are next up against New Zealand on Wednesday with Iraq facing the Spaniards.