
FIFA met today, and we now know a lot more about what’s coming Friday. First….unexpectedly, FIFA based its 2-8 rankings on current FIFA rankings instead of a formula where previous World Cups are weighted equally with current FIFA rankings. I say 2-8 because you can’t really tell me that S. Africa is one of the top 8 teams in this tournament. Historical perspective on this: is this fair? This was very unexpected. Here’s what’s… Read more

A Ricardo Clark howler set up by (Who Else?) Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan gave the U.S. its first three road points of the Hexagon and vaulted the Americans to the top of the group and ever closer to South Africa 2010 last night in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. That’s about all you can say about the game that doesn’t involve guarded optimism or outright criticism. The good news now is that it would take a monumental collapse in the final two games,… Read more