The request by the Republic of Ireland to FIFA to grant them an extra place in the upcoming World Cup in South Africa is to my mind, funny. I sympathise with the Irish for the bad goal they conceded against France but I think the matter must be put to rest. It must be taken as one of those strange things that happen in football when the best team never always wins. more »

I doff my heart to South Africa and the USA for making the just ended Confederations Cup all that exciting. When South Africa failed to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the feeling in football circles was that they were going to waste everybody’s time by hosting the World Cup. But Brazilian coach Tele Santana’s explanation that his boys would soon mature has been proved right at the Confederation Cup when they exhibited good brand of football only to miss the bronze medal by a whisker. more »