Obama: World Cup Impacting Some Foreign Policy Moves
“We had elements — which I won’t detail — of our foreign policy that have been shaped around the World Cup,”
Since he got a slap on the wrist, I bet there is more biting in his future. He was punished less for this bite, than his last one. (9 vs. 10 games)
A lot of people say “professional help” is what the guy needs.
That’s like taking a smoke break during a lap dance. Not that I’d know – I Googled it.
At least it gives us an opportune moment to take stock on a World Cup that has harped back to a bygone era.
Losing one season's pay from Liverpool F.C. and possibly a lot of sponsorship money will make him think twice about doing more antics on the pitch.
Go USA...Beat the Phlegms.
... Germany has been nearly this good for four World Cups running. It finished in the top three in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, a feat that’s usually only accomplished when a country is experiencing a “golden generation” of talent. That’s when a rare confluence of gifted footballers simultaneously spring forth to lead their national team to glory. Germany had one of those over the past decade, with forwards such as Klose and Lukas Podolski, defenders Philipp Lahm, Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker, and midfielders Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
By the time such a group is in its third World Cup cycle, though, its heyday is almost always over. Indeed, Ballack and Friedrich are retired, and the rest are either on the wrong side of 30 — Klose, while still on the national team, is ancient at 36 — or rapidly approaching it. But this year’s German side isn’t being carried by the dimming stars of days past. Rather, it has produced an entirely new golden generation, right on the heels of the previous one, and led by the likes of Muller.
While the Belgians are loaded with talent, with stars including Manchester City center back Vincent Kompany, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, it’s an untested team.
Belgium hasn’t even played in a major tournament since 2002, failing to qualify for every World Cup and European Championship since. Given a forgiving group, alongside Algeria, Russia and South Korea, it won all three games but none by multiple goals.