South American Futbol - Libertadores, Sudamericana, World Cup 2010

Once upon a time, the Copa Libertadores was South America’s ultimate soccer competition. For many, it still is. But the much-improved Copa Sudamericana has grown in prominence so much that clubs and fans alike now lust after a tournament that has room only for pulsating knockout matches. While the expansion of the Libertadores has ballooned [...]

I can hardly believe my eyes. Australia is going to the World Cup. Having lived in Australia practically my entire life, I have seen the Socceroos go from one failure to another. From being eliminated by Argentina in qualification in 1994, to a repeat performance against Iran in ’98, to a heartbreaking loss to Uruguay [...]

The mad dash is near an end. With 27 spots in Germany secured, we’re in the final, most desperate stages of World Cup ’06 qualification: the playoff rounds for the final five berths. Win and you’re in, with a chance to mix it up with the world’s best. Lose and you go home a failure, with [...]