Cheering on the the Underdog in the World Cup

Maybe it’s because I am English, maybe it’s because I am a Forest fan but I always find myself drawn to the underdogs in the World Cup, and this year will be no different.

I honestly think some of the best World Cup stories come from the no-marks who go on to succeed against all odds. There is almost always a fairytale story somewhere in the World Cup.

This weird desire for some country I might never even visit let alone have any particular affinity for other than in this month long period of time gives the World Cup a new guise for me. I think in part created from me being an impressionable 9 year old during World Cup 1990. I remember telling my friends I thought Cameroon would at least draw with the World Champions Argentina. Never mind getting to the Quarter Finals where a slight confused part of me kind of wanted the Indomitable Lions lead by Roger Milla of corner circle hip wiggling fame, to actually put us out.

1994 passed me by. A lot of games being on too late for me to watch though I do remember being woken up about the Dutch impending doom against, and my memory might be wrong, Saudi Arabia? Even so, I did enjoy the dour Bulgarians putting out the Germans

1998 was the first World Cup I made a solemn promise to watch all the games, I missed a boring 0-0 involving Paraguay and someone else because of I had an exam that day. This was the year I had bought a Nigeria shirt, I liked the shirt and they had a good growing reputation after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics win. They put in a good account of themselves, again reaching the knock out stages.

2002. The best year of the under dog. Senegal and their defeat of France. South Korea and the somewhat suspect run to the semi finals. And the fact pre tournament I was talking (although somewhat drunkenly) to a Turkish guy in one of the kebab houses of the student ghetto of Liverpool where I lived at the time that I thought Turkey might do well. I also said Ronaldo would be top goal scorer. I wish I were a betting man at that time.

2006 to me wasn’t a great underdog year. Yeah the Germans had no expectations and did well, but none of them set the world alight really to me. I cheered for the Australians because I have spent a lot of time there. Apart from that no-one took my fancy

This year and the ultimate underdog for me. North Korea. Partly out of fear that if they fail badly at the World Cup that they might well all get assassinated by Kim Jong-Il in a purge of failed footballers. The fact there is doubt it being broadcast there unless they win, coupled with nobody knowing anything about them, and attracts me to their cause. Long gone are the days where the sticker albums were filled with vague comments about players knew nobody knew much about, the globalisation of the game has changed that, but for the North Koreans. I also will have a vague soft spot for the Aussies again and maybe New Zealand.

All in all I hope this is a good underdog year again, these make the events more memorable. Like with other sporting underdogs succeeding, it always attracts the attention. Not like Eddie Edwards, or Eric the Eel, but underdogs actually succeeding

MLS clubs should give a damn about CONCACAF Champions' League

by Max Power

It doesn't pay to win, but that's not why we play.

It's often been said that clubs from Major League Soccer don't put enough effort into external competitions such as the US Open Cup or the CONCACAF Champions' League. But they should care about a fledging competition, because the MLS was once, and to some extend still is, a fledging competition. Therefore, they should give a damn.

We all know why these competitions are played...for money, and to a lesser extent...for pride. But, I think the MLS and the United States Soccer Foundation should look at it from another angle, playing against our regional competition will help our national product tenfold. If we look at the European model, those teams are playing against the best competition available. Instead of playing a defensive Stoke or Wolverhampton, they are playing an explosive Barcelona or tactically smart Inter Milan. In the same light, MLS club would be playing against skillful Mexican clubs and physically tough and emotionally draining Saprissa.

Case in point, the Puerto Rico Islanders play in (at the time of competition) the USL first division. They fared well in their respective league, but they were a revelation when they played the top teams of the region. They eventually lost in the semi final but went on to play in USL final against Vancouver. It was a test of skill, depth and mettle of the club and they past the test with flying colors.

I have full faith in the MLS. Since the birth of the league, and my personal love for the game has grown, the league has been been growing. Even a decade ago, the league was on life support and a couple of the teams had to be folded; but as Forbes Magazine reports, 3 of the 16 clubs operated with a profit. However, this is all changing. As the fan base grows for each team, the clubs are moving into smaller, soccer specific stadia which relieve the team's balance book of expensive rent. They now own property outside of markets that are growing. I believe within 5 years, the number of clubs operating in the black will double, if not triple.

If the MLS teams are able to field competitive squads in CONCACAF Champions' League, they may be able to beat their Mexican counter parts, who have up until now, dominated the competition and went on to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. I'm not saying our boys will be able to beat the FC Barcelona or Boca Junior clubs of UEFA or CONMEBOL Libertadores, but the prize money is available. Even if they finish last, they still stand to earn $500,000.

But, today my argument is not about the financial benefit of participating in these competitions, but the sheer experience of playing against the best competition of our region and perhaps the best competition in the world. The subsequent money will roll in with increased interest in the league. People in England, Germany and Russia will be interested in where all these American players are coming from and how they're able to beat a strong Spanish team in a Confederations Cup or why their next defensive prospect is currently playing for a Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire. If we can improve our game, the product will produce the results and that will produce the money to go out and do it again next year.

Write the Future

Playoffs: Agony/Ecstasy

They say the best way to go up is via the playoffs. The feeling of euphoria of navigating these most tricky of matches and the success of an on the day success makes it a day like no other.

As a Nottingham Forest fan I think it is something I am starting to doubt we will ever experience.

Three times now we have qualified to the playoffs and three times we have failed in the semi finals. A strange aura of acceptance seemed to emanate from City Ground last night.

Like we all sort of expected to be defeated, despite having a wonderful home record, finishing above Blackpool in the league and arguably having the better team on paper.

This, the wonderful unpredictable nature of Football though. A team who have a wonderful home defensive record (indeed 12 hours without conceding a goal) and we go and concede 4, and I won’t take anything away from Blackpool, they deserve to be going to Wembley.

It’s been a day now; it still doesn’t make the bitter pill easier to swallow. I saw the goals earlier, and it remained difficult to watch. When we lost to Yeovil in the playoffs in much more dramatic and self destructive style, it took me fully 2 years to be able to watch those goals again on Youtube. And even then it was painful.

This time it is easier to take in. Maybe because we didn’t have the two goal lead from an away leg. Maybe because this season we have been far better than any of us expected, whereas in the League One playoffs we had much higher expectations.

Some have said the playoffs are merely unfair. A way from the football league to stretch the season out and mil more money, but consider the three Forest games and each one has been utter excitement, in which the game takes many twists and turns. Seldom is it a mundane one goal in over two legs match.

For instance, right now I am watching Cardiff v Leicester. The first leg may have been just a single goal, but this second leg has been exciting with goals flying in and shots rattling the woodwork or with great saves, making it hang in the balance so finely.

My brother last year managed to attend the playoff final when Sheffield United reached it and lost to Burnley, my brother I should add is a Sheffield United fan. He said that losing in the final is worse than whatever I can feel now. It’s the worst game to lose in football was his contention.

Maybe it is, I’d almost say I would like to know. The one main way we had of comforting ourselves was the fact it’ll save £100+ each for not having to buy a ticket, get the coach/train/car etc down to London and then the other associated costs of beer and all that jazz. It’s scant consolation.

We all knew we’d prefer to have “wasted” that money and lose at Wembley than the semi finals which have become our graveyard.

And this is the beauty of the playoffs.

It can be torture, it can be ecstasy.

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