Mes: febrero 2022

The field of football, as one of England’s most popular sport, has gone under different changes since its beginning. From including an astounding number of teams and football clubs, the English Soccer League has transformed into the elite football organization that it is today. As of present time, it is one of England’s multi-million dollar industries, what with all the advertisements and investment deals that this sport has spurred.

As a matter of fact, its popularity is no longer confined to the territory of the country which it originated from. The English Soccer League has managed to attract the attention of soccer and football enthusiasts from all over the world. As a matter of fact, quite a big number of people are also making money out of it, without actually being involved in the game.

Sports better from all over the world have come to recognize English football as the fruitful betting platform that it is. For this reason, hundreds and hundreds of betting sites have been put up with the purpose of helping betters connect with each other during English soccer seasons. Millions of dollars trade hands as the games progress, while most betters place their money on the teams that have the biggest chances of winning.

Different betting techniques are used to calculate the winning-losing odds of the different teams involved in the English Soccer League. There are different factors that affect people’s betting choices, all of which are included in the calculations made. While it is simpler to place your bets on your favorite teams, this practice is very much discouraged. After all, there are different resources that you can use to compare a certain team’s statistics against that of the others. By taking all of these resources leads together, there should be no way for you to not be able to place your money on the best bet.

The teams’ past performances, along with the statistics of every single one of their players, are used to lend integrity to the comparison. Those that have good win-loss ratios and who have skilled players naturally ranks well in all forecasts resources. As a matter of fact, there are certain teams that have managed to consistently make it to the list of the best picks, for quite some time now.

One of these teams is Manchester United. MU has consistently managed to rank high in almost every soccer league in England, thanks to its wealth of home-grown and imported players. As a matter of fact, Manchester United is perhaps the most popular soccer team in England, as far as opinion polls are concerned.

The Liverpool Team is also a popular betting choice, because of its proven ability to win back to back games. Kay players score astounding records in almost all of their game, which makes placing your bets on this team a sound choice.

Another team that consistently manage to get into the betters’ picks is Manchester City. This team has a roster of good players, which makes almost every game an easy win.

INTRODUCTION:

I studied drawing at scool for many years, but I did not like it very much. My favourite subject at school were the olympic sports. I remember when I was a child and I played soccer with my friends. My best memory was when El Salvador,a small Central American country, qualified at the World Cup in 1982.I did not think «ES» defeat Mexico, sixth place in the FIFA World Championship in 1970.

Between 1978 and 1989, El Salvador had one of the worst civil war in the modern history of Latin America.Unfortunately, more than 70,000 people were killed by anti-communist dictatorships and marxist rebels.

Certainly, I was a big fan of Salvadoran soccer. I once said: «ES ganarà el Mundial ( El Salvador will be win the FIFA Soccer World 1982..!).However, the only thing that I clearly remember is that Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in the World Cup in Spain…Good Bye ES…!

Like many people, I think that soccer is «passion» in the world since 1910. When Cameroon, ex French colony in Africa, won its first gold medal at the XXVII Summer Olympics Games in Australia (2000)…Yaoundè, the capital city of Cameroon, was carnival for days.Cameroon was the second African country to win the gold olympic…

Unfortunately, Liberia was the nightmare of the Third World…From 1980 to 2005, more than 180,000 people were killed by dictatorships and AIDS…Currently, the poverty is a plague…Its percapita income of $ 80 a year is one of the worst in the World History. Hundreds of thousands of Liberian people fled the country. Like neighboring Sierra Leone, the African country has one of the highest number of orphans in the Africa in relation to its population.

Fortunately, Liberia is home to George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah, one of the World`s most famous and charismatic players. In 1995 the FIFA selected George Weah as the best footballer of the Year.Certainly, he became a «World Star» in the 1990s.Like Iman (former super-model from Somalia) and Dikembe Mutombo (basketball player from the Democratic Republic of Congo), George Weah is an icon in the African continent. Since then, he made a great contribution to Liberian human development. Currently, George Weah is UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
He was national team captain for many years, but his country did not qualifity for the FIFA Football World. Ironically, Liberia was not one of the best teams of Africa in the 20th Century.

In 1994 Bolivia`s qualification for the finals was one of the surprises in the Third World sport. Under the leadership of Marco Etcheverry, Bolivia beat Brazil 2-0 in the Pre-World Cup in La Paz, Bolivia`s capital. I remember that Etcheverry, best known for his nickname «El Diablo», was the idol of millions of Bolivians.It was one of the greatest sporting moments in Bolivian history since 1978. At that time, Bolivia, under the leaderships of Guadalupe Yañez, qualified for the FIBA Women`s World Championship in Seoul, South Korea´s capital.

In my opinion, the FIFA World Championship is a world without frontiers. Ferenc Puskas, was born on April, 1926, in Budapest, Hungary, made his debut in the friendly against Austria at the age of only fifteen…In the past Century, Puskas represented both Hungary, a former communist State, and Spain.At the time, Santamaria played for Uruguay and Spain. Traditionally American players have Latin American and African roots: Hugo Perez (El Salvador), Tab Ramos (Uruguay), Claudio Reyna (Argentina), Josmer Altidore (Haiti) and Freddy Addu (Ghana).
Today Gerald Asamoah, was born in Accra (Ghana), is one of the best footballers in Germany at the moment. While Alex (Alessandro) Santos, was born in Brazil, is a Japanese player.Santos played many times for Japan, including appearances at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Personally, I think that this Century will be an era of «Sports Miracles» in the Third World. Cote D`Ivoire, best known as Ivory Coast, qualified for the FIFA Soccer World 2006…Angola made its debut in Germany…Trinidad-Tobago made its debut in the World Cup…Paraguay won the silver medal in football in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

CHRONOLOGY:

1930: FIFA World Cup in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, one of the most development countries in the 1930s.The final ranking:1-Uruguay,2-Argentina, 3-Yugoslavia,4-USA,5-Chile, 6-Brazil,7-France,8-Paraguay,9-Romania, 10-Peru, 11-Belgium, 12-Bolivia, 13-Mexico.

1934: World Cup in Rome. Uruguay did not participate. The final ranking:1-Italy, Czechoslovakia,Germany, Austria, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Argentina, France, Holland, Brazil, Egypt, Belgium and the United States.

1938:World Cup in France.The final ranking:1-Italy, Hungary,Brazil,Sweden,Czechoslovakia,Switzerland,Cuba,France,Romania,Germany,Norway,Poland,Belgium,Holland,Netherlands Indies.

1950:FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In Rio, the host lost the final 2-1 to Uruguay. Brazil was the big favourite… Uruguay had its second World Cup!

1954:World Cup in Switzerland.The final ranking:1-West Germany,Hungary,Austria,Uruguay,Switzerland,Brazil,England,Yugoslavia,France,Italy,Turkey,Belgium,Mexico,Czechoslovakia,Scotland,Korea.

1958: World Cup in Sweden…The final ranking:1-Brazil, Sweden, France, West Germany, Wales, USSR, Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia,Czechoslovakia,Hungary,England,Paraguay,
Argentina, Scotland,Austria and Mexico.

1962:World Cup in Santiago de Chile…Certainly, the people of Brazil produce the World`s best coffee, but also the best soccer…The final ranking:1-Brazil,Czechoslovakia, Chile, Yugoslavia, Hungary, West Germany,USSR, England, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, Colombia, Bulgaria and Switzerland.

1966: World Cup in London,UK…The final ranking: 1-England,
West Germany, Portugal, USSR, Argentina, Hungary, Uruguay, North Korea, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil…

1970:Brazil won the FIFA World Cup on June 27th in Mexico City. The final ranking: Brazil, Italy, West Germany, Uruguay,USSR, Mexico, Peru, England, Sweden, Belgium, Romania, Israel, Bulgaria, Morocco, Czechoslovakia and ES.

1974:World Cup in West Germany…After Zaire, today`s Democratic Republic of Congo, qualified for the FIFA World Championship, a legal holiday was declared by Mobutu Sésé Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa zan Banga, tyrannical president of the African country……Haitian footballers sometimes use the language «creole» during games to confuse rivals… Brazil and WGermany were the obvious favorites.The final ranking:1-West Germany, Holland, Poland, Brazil, Sweden, Argentina, East Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Italy, Scotland, Australia, Chile,Uruguay, Haiti and Zaire.

1978: World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The final ranking:1-Argentina, Holland,Brazil, Italy, West Germany, Poland,Austria, Peru, Tunisia, Spain, Scotland, France, Sweden, Iran, Hungary and Mexico.

1982: For first time, there were 24 teams. FIFA World Cup in Spain. Italy won the trophy. The ranking final:1-Italy, West Germany, Poland, France, Brazil, England, USSR, Austria, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Argentina, Spain, Algeria,Hungary. Scotland, Yugoslavia,Cameroon,Honduras,Czechoslovakia,Peru, Kuwait, Chile, New Zealand, ES.

1986: World Cup in Mexico. The final ranking:1-Argentina, West Germany, France, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, England, Denmark, USSR, Morocco, Italy, Paraguay, Poland, Bulgaria, Uruguay, Portugal, Hungary, Scotland, South Korea, Northern Ireland, Algeria, Irak and Canada.

1990:World Cup In Italy.The final ranking:1-West Germany, Argentina, Italy, England, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Cameroon,Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Romania, Colombia, Uruguay,CR,Egypt,Austria,Scotland, USSR,Sweden, South Korea,USA and the United Arab Emirates.

1994: World Cup in the United States. The final ranking:1-Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Netherlands, Spain,Nigeria, Argentina, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, USA, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, Russia, Colombia, South Korea, Bolivia, Cameroon, Morocco and Greece.

1998:World Cup in Paris. The final ranking:1-France,Brazil,Croatia, Netherlands, Argentina,Italy, Germany, Denmark, England, Yugoslavia,Romania,Nigeria, Mexico, Paraguay, Norway, Chile, Spain, Morocco, Belgium, Iran, Colombia, Jamaica, Austria, South Africa, Cameroon, Tunisia, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, South Korea, Japan and the United States.

2002:World Cup in Japan and South Korea…1-Brazil, 2-Germany, 3-Turkey,4-South Korea…SKorea has one of the best sporting infrastructure in the world…

2006: World Cup in Germany…1-Italy, 2-France,3-Germany,4-Portugal…

REFERENCES:
-Laity,Paul. «Costa de Marfil Brujería: que forma de ganar», National Geographic,MexicoDF, junio 2006

-Matthews,Meter.Whitaker´s Almanac Internacional Sports Records and Results 1998-9, London:The Stationery Office, London, 1998.

-Vickery,Tim. «Paraguay:Rags and Riches»,World Soccer Special Edition, London, Summer 2006

-1976 Almanaque Mundial Deportivo, Editorial América, Panama, 1975

-1977 Almanaque Mundial Deportivo,Editorial América, Panama, 1976

-2001 The World Almanac, World Almanac Books, New Jersey,2000

The World Cup USA 94 was a heated affair both on and off the pitch. The sweltering heat had the entire Irish team running for refreshments during the match never mind at half time and many most notably Stan Staunton had turned beetroot in colour.

The Irish had only qualified for the Finals after a late Alan McLaughlin goal against Northern Ireland in Windsor Park. The match probably one best forgotten due to its sectarian atmosphere, was aptly portrayed by Marie Jones’ in ‘A Night in November’. However Ireland marched on after the 1-1 draw due to the fact that Spain had beaten Denmark that same night.

USA 94 was a mixed tournament on and off the field for Ireland and it could be said that this was the case for football in general. It saw the demise of one of the legends of world football Diego Maradonna. He was sent home after failing a drugs test which would be the last time we would see the Argentinean maestro on the world stage. Of much greater magnitude was the fate of a Colombian defender Escobar. Colombia who had been considered a dark horse to go all the way in the tournament were tamely knocked out in the group stages. Escobar had scored an own goal against the United States, a match they lost 2-1. Tragically he paid for this with his life ten days later when he was shot outside a pub in a Medellin suburb, Colombia.

Ireland was drawn in a group with Italy, Mexico and Norway. Their first match was against Italy their victors four years previously. In the Giants Stadium the Irish team walked tall as they recorded their first ever victory in the World Cup Finals. Yet another memorable day as Ray Houghton chests down a poor header from Franco Baresi, adjusts his feet, swings a left foot, the ball loops over Gianluca Pagliuca and dips under the bar and into the net. The goal celebration says it all and determination allowed the Irish to shut out the Italians and hold on to a one nil victory.

Later on that day Irish fans and indeed the players would learn of the events at home which would overshadow that great occasion. Loyalist paramilitaries had gone into a pub full of people watching the Italy, Ireland match in Loughinisland, spraying the pub with bullets and in turn killing 6 people watching a football match. Players and fans alike were devastated as it marked another low point in Irish History and yet another atrocity added to the long list, carried out by both sides.

However the football continued and Ireland’s next match was against Mexico, a decent side which by no means lacked style as is characterised by their flamboyant Goalkeeper Campos. His jersey, designed by himself should not let us be distracted by the fact that he was one of the best Goalkeepers around at this time. It was always going to be a hard fought match with two contrasting styles, unfortunately Ireland lost out this time, going down to a 2-1 defeat. The match will be remembered more for outbursts on the touchline, as confusion and indeed a delay in John Aldridge coming on as substitute, led to rants and tempered exchanges with officials. The aftermath was that Aldridge finally came on and scored and Jack Charlton was suspended from the dugout for their next game against Norway.

The Norway game turned out to be a dull affair. Both teams lacking goals in their side and as both played similar styles it was inevitable that they would cancel each other out. The game ended nil nil, however results went their way in the other game as Mexico held Italy to a one all draw. With each team ending on four points Ireland managed to progress to the Second Round as a result of John Aldridge’s crucial goal in the defeat against Mexico.

The Second Round saw them pitched against the Dutch. The 4th July was the date and Orlando the setting. It was set up for another remarkable story, if Ireland beat a lacklustre Dutch team the prospect of playing the mighty Brazilians in the Quarters was mouth watering. However as most well laid plans end so did the hopes of the Irish team. A few defensive errors proved costly as Denis Bergkamp sent the Dutch on their way with 11 minutes on the clock and it got worse in the 41st minute when an innocuous hit and hope attempt by Jonk was fumbled by Packie Bonner into the back of the net. Unfortunately it would be the end of an era as we would not see many of the great Irish players play again on the world stage, including unbelievably Roy Keane. It was also the last tournament Jack Charlton would steer us to.

Paul Robinson was born in Hull, England and graduated from the Leeds United soccer academy. Having proven himself to be a very confident and agile shot stopper, 27-year-old Paul Robinson has since matured into one of Europe’s leading keepers. He worked hard to edge David James as the number one goalkeeper in England a few years ago. He played a key role in England’s World Cup qualification and will be donning the Number 1 jersey when his team begin their challenge next month.

The goalkeeper has always been a vital aspect in determining a team’s success or failure and this is also expected to be the case in the World Cup as the best teams in the planet battle it out for soccer supremacy.

England will be stepping into the pitch with what has been termed the «best English squad since 1970» and Robinson will also have to rise to the occasion and live up to his reputation as the «best goalkeeper England have had».

Robinson made his England debut as a second-half substitute against Australia in 2003 while still with Leeds United and after a successful first season with Tottenham, he overtook David James as England’s first choice goalkeeper in September 2004.

Popularly known as «Robbo», he hails from Beverly in East Yorkshire, England and played for Leeds from 1997 – 2004 before he transferred to Tottenham in May 2004 for a fee of £1,500,000. He set a new record for being the highest paid goalkeeper in England a couple of years back.

«The World Cup is the biggest stage for any footballer and it is their dream to play in the final … I am no different. I have worked very hard to get here with England and at this point, it is even more important that I work even harder to stay here. Things can change in a blink of an eye in football and no one knows that more than me,» Robinson said in a recent interview.

During the world cup qualification matches, Robinson played in 9 matches and displayed excellent form. He did not let in a single goal in 6 of those matches. With such impression form, Robinson will no doubt be a stabilizing force for England between the posts.

In such a high-profile spectator sport like the World Cup, the expectations of the fans and England football officials are very high. There is immense pressure from all sides to do well. Under such circumstances, mental training becomes increasingly important in order for players to stay calm and keep cool despite the pressure.

«You have to be very mentally strong to be a keeper at this level. We are there to be shot at and that’s the part of things we have to accept. You just have to try and make sure mistakes don’t happen», said Robinson