The German Reich Strikes Again

Ball Harambee By Bagga Wilks

Out of the sixteen teams that participated in Euro 2012, only four are left, three countries whose economies are in a shaky shape, Portugal, Spain and Italy and the country that has been laying the golden egg for the European Union, Germany.

England, Russia, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, the Czechs, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden have all made a less than gracious exit.

Holland was in the final of the World Cup in 2010 but failed to advance out of the first round.

England and France managed to get out of the first round but did not deserve to be in the semi-final. The teams that have become proficient in the modern game have qualified for the semi-final. All of those teams not only have down pat the pass and more game but have nurtured creative players.

Spain is the defending champion of both the Euro and the World Cup. But defeating Portugal will not be an easy task as their creative players like Ronaldo and Nani will find a way to be on the scoreboard.

Germany’s football has stepped up. They are not just a disciplined team but have now produced a new crop of creative players like Ozil, Muller and Khedira. The European recovery is dependent on Chancellor’s Merkel’s largesse. I suspect that the Germans will topple the Spanish from their soccer perch. The Spanish banking system is in some disarray but their soccer prowess is not in doubt. Nonetheless, I pick the Germans to emerge as European champions in 2012.

The Brazilian Enigma

By Bagga Wilks

The Brazil under 20 edged Spain to reach the semi-final of the World Cup being played in Columbia. They will play Mexico on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 for one of the semi-finals. Mexico won the Under 17 World Cup for which they were the host.

Against Spain, the Brazilian Under 20 were outplayed. Spain had the majority of possession and Brazil kept giving up possession. In the overtime, tied at 2-2, Spain tired and the Brazilians finished strong. Unlike in Copa America when the Brazilian national team muffed all their penalty kicks against Paraguay, the Under 20s converted all four penalty kicks and squeaked through to the semi-final as Spain flunked two of their penalties.

The Brazilian national team not only failed to advance in Copa America, but was thrashed by Germany in an international friendly on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. The final score was 3-2 but the score belies the reality. The Germans completely dominated play and for most of the game the Germans had the Brazilians chasing in futility.

Mano Menezes will not survive as the national coach if Brazil continues to give those sub-par performances. The game has changed and perhaps it would be beneficial to Brazilian soccer to employ a non-Brazilian as the national coach.



After being in charge for a year, Menezes’ team has no chemistry. Danny Alves has not performed as a national player and his fellow full back Andres Santos has been equally lacklusure. Neymar and Pato as strikers do not make a compatible marriage and Lucio and Silva make an odd couple. Further complicating the back line is that Julio Cesa seemed to be rapidly rolling down the hill of Father Time.

The Brazilian Squad needs a blood transfusion and organ transplants to be competitive on the world stage. Menezes, the former Corinthian coach, is out of his depth. The scouting of players abroad in the top leagues will have to improve. Anderson of Manchester United will have to be a main stay in mid-field and once the Tottenham defensive midfielder, Sandro, recovers from his knee surgery, he should help to give that position the defensive and offensive capabilities vital to that position. Robinho is one of the few players in the squad who is playing exceptionally well. There is enough talent inside and outside of Brazil to mold a team that can give Brazil its sixth lien on the World Cup trophy when they play at home in 2014. If that is to occur, the Brazilian Federation has got to get cracking and put to pasture the leftovers from the Dunga era.

Who had better goals? Ronaldo or Messi?

The biggest question in modern soccer is "Who is a better Player? Messi or Ronaldo?" Take a look at there goals for the season and let me know in the comment section who scored better goals?

David Villa Upper 90 Goal: Champions League Final

This is clearly my favorite goal of Champions League Final. Not only did David Villa hit upper 90 but he smoothly bend the ball around Manchester United Defender just so Van Der Sar could not see the ball..Pure World Class

Barcelona's Eric Abidal gets hit w/ Object Then Scores 1st Goal

AMAZING! Abidal gets hit with a foreign object thrown from the stands that knocks him out and leaves a severe lump on his forehead to then score the game winner to stick it to the opposing fans. NICE

#1 Spot

It's clear that between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi you have the top 2 Futbolrs in the world. Now, to pick who is at the top goes deep into debate. You can take into account World Cup, La Liga or Champions League success and still have a strong debate for either side. But, it seems that yesterday during the friendlies both of these magician came out to perform.

Messi, was able to get involved with his effective dribbling and even curled a shot off the outer post of the upper 90 with precision. That might have been spectacular on the other side of the post, but 2 minutes into injury time Leo decided that noone wanted a draw. So he drove into 2 brazil defenders cut to his left at the top of the box and paced a perfect strike out of the reach of Brazil's keeper Viktor. Top Futbolr?

Well, maybe CR7 had watched the Brazil vs. Argentina because he was on a mission to spank the Spanish in front of a lightly attended Portuguese crowd. Ronaldo showed amazing individual effort by taking a ball down the wing at full pace, cutting the ball behind himself in the box losing the defender, feigning the next defender, drawing San Iker out of the goal and placing a perfect chip only for offside Nani to head a ball that was already going in to be disallowed. We all know Ronaldo is a whiner, but I was with him on this one. Not too long after, Cristiano once again took another Spanish defender to the practice pitch with a brilliant spanner and shot that rebounded to set up the first goal of a 4-0 lashing of Spain via Portugal.

Take a look at the highlights for yourself:

Spanish Nutmeg

Netherlands only needed to practice one thing to beat Albiol at the back. It's the nutmeg in the video above. Not only is the drag and meg timed well, Albiol gives it an extra twist with a spin for emphasis on how bad he was beat. Even the Russian judge would give a 9.9!!

Andres Iniesta tries to blow Vuvuzela

Barcelona and Spain international Andres Iniesta tries to blow Vuvuzela and eventually fails. Who knew you needed talent to play those things..lol

Barcelona gives a clinic in Champions League 2009 Final

FC Barcelona were crowned European champions for a third time and the second in four seasons as a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United FC in Rome 2-0.
Barcelona, who are the first Spanish side to win the Copa del Rey (domestic cup), Primera Liga (domestic league), and Champions League in the same season, recovered from a aggressive start from Manchester United to show off their own brand of fluent attacking football with Andres Iniesta and Messi at the heart of their play. Wayne Rooney who had a sub par game stated "They are a brilliant team and I think Iniesta is the best player in the world at the moment."