"In 1970, three American buddies and I sat in what seemed like the 145th row of a grand, cavernous 105,000-seat Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and watched enthralled what today remains the most exciting World Cup game I have seen live: Italy vs. West Germany.
That's odd, because I am not a particularly fond of German or Italian soccer, the two nations that Friday advanced to a Tuesday semifinal in Dortmund. But on that day long ago, in the semifinal of Mexico '70, as German fullback Karl Heinz Schellinger surged forward to tie the match at 1 in the 89th minute, little did I know what was in store for the next 30 minutes. It was breathtaking stuff, with goals galore. Italy won 4-3 in extra time. Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, with his arm in a sling, made so many broken-field runs in a match played in mid-afternoon in the middle of a Mexican summer. That incredible battle will stay with me forever."
For Marcos' full report go to the Tampa Tribune >>
Saturday, July 1
After 48 Hours Of Withdrawal, The Games Are Back
"After 18 straight days of games, soccer withdrawal is hell. I even get a twinge of sympathy for smokers who try to go cold turkey, and now I simply cannot wait for the next games.
Soccer is probably my only addiction. From playing it actively from about age 5 to actively promoting it for the past 40 years in the United States, soccer is the only continuous thing I have done. From all signs, the habit is far from over. It must count as an addiction, but others might know better. I bring it up because I thought the past two days would be a great break with no games, either live or on TV. And since my American friends left early and my American-Portuguese son, Julian, had to leave for 10 more days of school, I was by myself. After driving all over this vast country, it was time to unwind.... Wrong."
For Marcos' full report visit the Tampa Tribune >>
Soccer is probably my only addiction. From playing it actively from about age 5 to actively promoting it for the past 40 years in the United States, soccer is the only continuous thing I have done. From all signs, the habit is far from over. It must count as an addiction, but others might know better. I bring it up because I thought the past two days would be a great break with no games, either live or on TV. And since my American friends left early and my American-Portuguese son, Julian, had to leave for 10 more days of school, I was by myself. After driving all over this vast country, it was time to unwind.... Wrong."
For Marcos' full report visit the Tampa Tribune >>
Thursday, June 29
Canada and the World Cup
During halftime of Vancouver's match against Puerto Rico Sunday, Shaw TV took a look at Canada's 20th Anniversary of their lone appearance in the World Cup, which includes some footage of the 1986 tournament as well as a look into the Whitecaps role in the nation's development of players to qualify in the future. The three-minute segment is worth seeing.Check it out >>
Friendship, Sunshine And Bad Refs
"It has been a blast and beginning Friday, it gets so nasty and intense. I can already sense it.
By most accounts, the 2006 World Cup has lived up to most of the hype. As Germany promised "a time to make friends" - and that sort of slogan is often just another marketing genius making $10,000 an hour for being "creative" - the hosts have delivered.
Graham Poll, the English Premiership's best ref, gave out three yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic before realizing that two is the max. What were Poll's assistants, especially the fourth official, doing? Why do the refs wear an earpiece? Poll is back home, presumably enrolled in a first-grade summer school arithmetic class....
These are but a few snapshots of games I have attended. They are far too numerous. Of course, there has been a lot of good refereeing. But when you talk World Cup finals, it all has to be outstanding. Why? Because the universe is watching. Every aspiring referee is hoping to learn from what they are seeing but the pictures coming through are not very clear."
For Marcos' full report visit the Tampa Tribune >>
By most accounts, the 2006 World Cup has lived up to most of the hype. As Germany promised "a time to make friends" - and that sort of slogan is often just another marketing genius making $10,000 an hour for being "creative" - the hosts have delivered.
Graham Poll, the English Premiership's best ref, gave out three yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic before realizing that two is the max. What were Poll's assistants, especially the fourth official, doing? Why do the refs wear an earpiece? Poll is back home, presumably enrolled in a first-grade summer school arithmetic class....
These are but a few snapshots of games I have attended. They are far too numerous. Of course, there has been a lot of good refereeing. But when you talk World Cup finals, it all has to be outstanding. Why? Because the universe is watching. Every aspiring referee is hoping to learn from what they are seeing but the pictures coming through are not very clear."
For Marcos' full report visit the Tampa Tribune >>
Tuesday, June 27
Something Needs To Be Done About Worsening Officiating
"FIFA has simply got to do something about the refereeing here - the unfairness of it, the timing of it, and the out-and-out robbery of taking away a glorious chance for the deserving Aussies to reach the final eight. It is getting worse as the tournament goes on rather than better.
It has been nearly 24 hours since the out-of-body experience I had watching my native Portugal defeat the Netherlands to vault into the World Cup's quarterfinals. My emotions are now more or less bottled back inside. The majority of papers and Web sites agree the Portuguese did indeed beat the Dutch 1-0 and the so-called referee from Russia is as good as gone from the tournament after completely losing control of the match. Injuries are being treated and Portugal is going to appeal the red card issued to star midfielder Deco. For me, Saturday and England cannot come fast enough."
Read Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>
It has been nearly 24 hours since the out-of-body experience I had watching my native Portugal defeat the Netherlands to vault into the World Cup's quarterfinals. My emotions are now more or less bottled back inside. The majority of papers and Web sites agree the Portuguese did indeed beat the Dutch 1-0 and the so-called referee from Russia is as good as gone from the tournament after completely losing control of the match. Injuries are being treated and Portugal is going to appeal the red card issued to star midfielder Deco. For me, Saturday and England cannot come fast enough."
Read Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>
Monday, June 26
Battle Of Nuremberg One For The Ages
"A game that is supposed to be 11 against 11 became a game of eight-man flag football.
You will have to excuse me if my journalistic objectivity will look slightly out of kilter today because I just had my first out-of-body experience at this World Cup. I thought I was prepared for it but clearly this was not the case after my native Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the round of 16.
The often-overlooked Portuguese squad has made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1966. The tension and joy was such that I couldn't even muster a few tears, as I did in sadness the other day in this same stadium when my other home country, the United States, had been sent packing by Ghana. This is almost the exact reversal of four years ago in Korea, where I felt such exuberance for the U.S., even after it had helped send Portugal home. Such are the emotional twists of a World Cup if you also happen to be a fan of the game, as well as a journalist.
Sunday night, I actually went so far as to ask for a seat in the non-working area of the media section. I was quite sure that I would display more than a little emotion during the 90-plus minutes of the Portugal-Holland encounter. I may have lost a little control during that time, but nowhere near as much as a Russian referee named Valentin Ivanov. By almost universal consensus, it was among the worst officiated World Cup matches ever. If there is such a thing as a killjoy individual, surely this ranks high among them."
View Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>
You will have to excuse me if my journalistic objectivity will look slightly out of kilter today because I just had my first out-of-body experience at this World Cup. I thought I was prepared for it but clearly this was not the case after my native Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the round of 16.
The often-overlooked Portuguese squad has made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1966. The tension and joy was such that I couldn't even muster a few tears, as I did in sadness the other day in this same stadium when my other home country, the United States, had been sent packing by Ghana. This is almost the exact reversal of four years ago in Korea, where I felt such exuberance for the U.S., even after it had helped send Portugal home. Such are the emotional twists of a World Cup if you also happen to be a fan of the game, as well as a journalist.
Sunday night, I actually went so far as to ask for a seat in the non-working area of the media section. I was quite sure that I would display more than a little emotion during the 90-plus minutes of the Portugal-Holland encounter. I may have lost a little control during that time, but nowhere near as much as a Russian referee named Valentin Ivanov. By almost universal consensus, it was among the worst officiated World Cup matches ever. If there is such a thing as a killjoy individual, surely this ranks high among them."
View Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>
Sunday, June 25
Germany, Argentina Set Up 'Anticipated Final'
At the end of a long day in the heart of former East Germany, we found the matchup that many will now consider the "anticipated final," Brazilian supporters not withstanding. Juergen Klinsmann, the "Americanized" coach of the Germans who commutes between his Huntington Beach, Calif., home and Deutschland, is now making many a critic literally eat their words for the scathing pre-Cup criticism that was heaved upon him. Until recently, armchair coaches in Germany were asking Klinsmann, "What's wrong with this country that you must live in the USA?" They're not asking that anymore. Klinsmann can do no wrong. And right now, he could run for chancellor and avoid the messy political situation Germany experienced a few months ago. There would be no tie, no run off. Read Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>
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