SPORTS NOTES - IT'S ON!!! - FIFA World Cup Begin - COACHES & PLAYERS ON THE MOVE - Part 2

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

198 nations attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, while a record 204 countries entered qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, where an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany - CLUB MUSICAL CHAIRS AGAIN with Jose Mourinho, Raphael Benitez, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole on the move - Part 1 WORLD CUP BEGINS

Friday June 11, 2010

WORLD CUP HISTORY

In all, 76 nations have played in at least one World Cup. Of these, seven national teams have won the World Cup, and they have added stars to their crests, with each star representing a World Cup victory. (However, Uruguay are an exception to this unwritten rule; They choose to display four stars on their crest, representing their two gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics and their two World Cup titles in 1930 and 1950).

With five titles, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have played in every World Cup to date. Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only nations to have won consecutive titles. Brazil and Germany have both made the most appearances in the final, with seven, while Germany has made the most appearances in the top four, with eleven.

The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously on 13 July 1930, and were won by France and USA, who defeated Mexico 4-1 and Belgium 3-0 respectively. The first goal in World Cup history was scored by Lucien Laurent of France. In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in front of a crowd of 93,000 people in Montevideo, and in doing so became the first nation to win the World Cup.

The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of World War II.

The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982, and then to 32 in 1998, allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. In recent years, teams from these regions have enjoyed more success, and those who have reached the quarter-finals include: Mexico, quarterfinalists in 1986; Cameroon, quarterfinalists in 1990; Korea Republic, finishing in fourth place in 2002; and Senegal and USA, both quarterfinalists in 2002. European and South American teams have remained the stronger forces; for example, the quarterfinalists in 2006 were all from Europe or South America.

198 nations attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, while a record 204 countries entered qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, where an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.

ON THE MOVE - CLUB MUSICAL CHAIRS AGAIN

The World Cup is on center stage but European clubs are making big decisions and moves to prepare for the upcoming season. As we know what goes around comes around and this upcoming football season will result in many clubs having made many changes. Jose Mourinho signing with Real Madrid makes it almost a no brainer that Real will be the most popular team in football with fans salivating at the thought of Mourinho managing Cristiano Ronaldo, KaKa and the other standout players on the squad, the problem is Mourinho has a history of ego problems with Ronaldo.

Mourinho's departure at Inter Milan opened the door for Rafael Benitez after he agreed to depart Liverpool and within a week taking Mourinho's spot at Inter for three years at 5 million Euros a year with the details yet to be finalized.

Benítez has a mixed history of success and disappointments. He was appointed coach of Valencia and he proved himself to be amongst the top Spanish managers by winning La Liga in the 2001-02 season. Don Balón and El País named him Manager of the Year. In 2004, another league title and a UEFA Cup victory were added. However, a disagreement between Benítez and the club director over team investment caused the Spaniard to switch to English Premier League team Liverpool F.C.

Benítez was a high-achiever in his first season as he guided Liverpool to victory in the UEFA Champions League, the highest honor in European club football. In the following three seasons he won the FA Cup, amongst other honors, and reached the 2007 Champions League Final, but remained unable to win the Premier League, with Liverpool's best performance under Benítez a second place finish in 2008-09. The clubs 7th place league finish this past season was his low point with the team.

The recent sad news is German notional team captain Michael Ballack having had his ankle injured in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth thereby eliminating his chances of playing in another World Cup where he's looked upon as being their leader. After putting it all on the line for Chelsea they have decided to part with the German midfielder giving him and Joe Cole their walking papers noting that they have no interest in resigning them.

Ballack was on holiday in the USA when he heard the news and was shocked. He was prepared to restructure his contract to remain with Chelsea. It is now believed that the will return to Germany and play there next season.

For Cole his life is a bit better as he was called for England's World Cup warm-up games and made the squad. As a 16-year-old child prodigy he received national media attention when he scored 7 of the 8 goals the England youth team scores against Spain in one match. Cole won a number of trophies with Chelsea, including three Premier League titles and two FA Cups. The now 28-year-old midfielder's contract expires on July 1st and Chelsea decided not to renew it. Cole previously played for West Ham United from 1998 to 2003 before joining Chelsea who he played from 2003 to 2010.

In April Cole scored the last of his 40 goals for the club against Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford to virtually secure the league championship. Cole has been linked with two of Chelsea's city rivals, Arsenal and Tottenham as well as Man U. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, for whom Cole previously played for at West Ham where he began his career as a youngster has expressed his interest in signing Cole. At this time Cole has bigger fish to fry as he is in South Africa with England's national team trying to win the World Cup.

England suffered a loss when Rio Ferdinand suffered a knee injury ending his participation in the World Cup. He will now have more time to devote to his magazine. Without Ferdinand England remains a side not to be considered lightly.

Part 2 - WORLD CUP HIGH ACHIEVERS - CAMBODIAN FOOTBALL's DECLINE

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