Monday, February 25, 2008

David Suazo – La Pantera

The 28 year old Honduran striker was one of Inter’s many purchases before the end of the August transfer period for 2007. And by all accounts, he has proved to be one of the better investments by Inter president Massimo Morratti.

The genuine motive behind Inter’s surprise move for a fifth high ranking striker is a bit blurred. No one is doubting Suazo’s impact in Serie A, yet the controversy surrounding his signing plays well into the mindgames and politics between the Inter and Milan clubs. There was a tug-of-war going on for Suazo between the two Milan clubs. Inter being the first to claim his services, then Milan, and eventually Suazo was unveiled in the Inter jersey after heavy media coverage. With the departure of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea and Alberto Gilardino not being able to deliver on a consistent basis, Milan’s only established goal scorer was in the form of Pippo Inzaghi. But at 34 years of age, Inzaghi cannot be charged with a full campaign consisting of Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, and the Club World Cup. Using Kaka as an out and out striker did have some success, but few people will disagree that Kaka is best utilized running at defenders from a deeper position. Milan needed David Suazo much more than Inter did. And with a minimal 10 million Euro price tag, Suazo’s transfer can easily be seen as the most important internal transfer in Serie A.

In Cagliari, Suazo had two seasons in Serie B due to relegation but continued to produce the goals. Promotion back to Serie A also saw the arrival of Gianfranco Zola. Truly a great player with a world class reputation. Make no mistake about it; having a great player such as Zola within your team ranks can greatly improve player development. Zola himself was privileged enough to play alongside Diego Maradonna at Napoli when he first began his career in Serie A and to this very day admits he learned everything from the Argentine. The learning circle continues as Suazo scored 43 goals in Cagliari within Serie A, with a large chunk of goals coming from the creative genius of Zola. Suazo is not only a certified finisher of exceptional quality but he has also been educated in Italian soccer with a prestigious teacher in Zola.

Currently, the 2007/2008 season has seen Inter score 48 goals. Unfortunately for Suazo, the combination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz have accounted for 24 of the 48 (Ibrahimovic claiming 14 and Cruz with 10) and has limited his playing time. Suazo has still made the most of his opportunities in both Serie A and the Champions league, netting goals in both competitions. On Saturday, Suazo scored a brace to beat Livorno 2-0 as Crespo and himself partnered up to rest Ibrahimovic and Cruz ahead of the Champions League tie against Liverpool. Inter’s ability to field two proven and effective pairs of strikers are the reason they are in first place in Serie A with 59 points (9 ahead of second place Roma, and 21 points ahead of fourth place Milan) and why they are favoured to take this year’s Champions League title. The arsenal of offence available for Coach Roberto Mancini is allowing him to keep his strikers rested, healthy, and hungry. With a world class midfield, strong and fearless defenders, and the goaltender that is Julio Cesar, Inter are finally becoming the team they’ve always wanted to be.


Streaming Live Soccer Matches: The How To

For those living in countries that have yet to accept soccer as the world’s game or those living in parts of the world that make watching live matches next to impossible due to time differences, this guide is for you.

The first thing you should know is that the process is quite simple. Yes you will have to download a package of programs and you will also have co-ordinate your viewing with the help of channel guides, but in the end, you will get what you are looking for.

The second most important thing to keep in mind is that this is free. Because of that, imperfections may arise. They are not the end of the world. And if you follow this guide as closely as you can, you will avoid many of the hang-ups that have turned people off the idea of steaming live content.

System Requirements

In order to stream live video content you will need high speed internet and any computer with at least 1.0 Ghz processor and 256 Mb of RAM. These requirements are quite low and any computer purchased within the last 4 years will get the job done.

Next is software. There is an abundant amount of software available to do this job. However, we want to focus on the ones that have comprehensive football/soccer coverage. These programs include: TV Ants, Sopcast, TVU, and PPMate. These programs allow for satellite television to be streamed via the internet on your computer. They also allow for users to stream their own video content from their PC and share it to the rest of the world. The feeds you will be using to watch high profile soccer games will likely come from a satellite television channel, but for some of the more low key matches, it is not unexpected to have some noble person supplying the video feed from his or her home.

Live Matches

I would like to introduce the following sites: www.myp2p.eu and www.allp2ptv.org. The MyP2P website is updated hourly on match days and will provide a list of channels that will be streaming the match of your choice. Obviously, the more popular games will have more channels available, but even the low key matches will have three to four channels available. MyP2P will list and link to the channels and identify which program will be required. It also contains links to all the programs you will need. So in the event that the channel you are seeking requires a program you currently do not have installed, it will be easily accessible from the website. If the program is already installed, clicking the link will automatically launch the program and load the channel for you from within the website. Quite convenient. However, I have noticed a bit of a problem when doing this with the newer versions of Sopcast. Sometimes the program will open but the channel will not automatically load. If this happens, do not panic. Simply right click your mouse over the channel link and select ‘Properties’. A screen will open that will have the channel address written out for you in the form of sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/42854, with the numbers of course varying. Simply highlight the text, copy it, and paste it in the Sopcast application under the channel address bar and the problem is solved.

TV Ants will load fine but you must be patient as the channel loads. Sometimes, channels will load and be a little choppy for the first minute or two. If the problem continues, look for another channel. TVU has two soccer channels, GolTV and Fox Soccer Channel (FSC). GolTV is Spanish only and FSC has English commentary, but it isn’t of much quality. The video quality for both channels are always high and reliable.

Viewing Replays

Now, catching live streams may be a problem for some people depending on what part of the world you are living in. There are always replays of high profile matches. But MyP2P will not cut it for this job. This is where www.allp2ptv.org comes into play. All P2P will list all of the matches that are available on any given day. Unlike MyP2P, All P2P is not restricted to live games. It will also list any and all replays of any football/soccer that may be taking place. The problem is that it does not offer the convenient links to the channels and the software like MyP2P does. All P2P only provides the time and channel that the game will be airing on, you have to do the rest. For this job, it is essential to download PPChooser (http://www.ppchooser.com/download.htm).

PPChooser will allow you to choose the channel you wish to view and will launch the appropriate player with the proper channel. Remember, the program needs to be installed ahead of time before using PPChooser. By browsing All P2P, you will find a game that you wish to view. By clicking on the game, it will load a webpage where it will list the channels the game will be viewable from. Run PPChooser. It will list six different channels on the screen for you. Each channel will have anywhere from one to ten different feeds from programs such as TV Ants, Sopcast, TVU, etc. You have the option of choosing which program you would like to view the channel with in most cases. For example, if all All P2P says there is a game you want to see on ESPN China for example, load PPChooser, find ESPN China, click on the program you wish to view the channel with, and you are off and running.

As I mentioned earlier, when you open PPChooser, you will view a list of six channels. These are not the only channels available. At the top of the screen, there is a button called “Custom Channel List”. Click this button, and you will be brought to a screen listing additional channels available. On the left hand side you will have a list of channels in collapsible file tree view, similar to Windows Explorer. On the right hand side, you will have the channel names listed. You will notice that the first six channels that are listed are the same six channels that are listed on the main window of PPChooser. Rearranging the order of these channels by using the up or down function on the top right of the window, you can select which six channels you would like to appear. So, if you are looking for CCTV5 and it is not visible from the main window of PPChooser. Click on the “Custom Channel List”. Find the channel in the right hand side. If it is not listed there, find the channel in the left hand side and simply drag the channel from the left to the right hand side. This will bring the channel over to the right side of the screen. Then, using the ‘Up’ button, bring the channel within the first six channel options. Close the window and return to the main window of PPChooser. The channel should now be listed there. Choose the program with which you would like to view the channel with, and once again, you off and running.

Do not be discouraged. It is easier than you think. And in scenarios where you cannot afford outrageous cable or satellite TV costs, this is a viable option that also provides more freedom in terms of scheduling.

Terzo Tempo

I love soccer. I feel it perfectly balances simplicity and complexity. What I mean by that is all you need is a ball and some open space. This makes it simple. But at the highest levles and on the greatest stages, soccer is a complex combination of physical endurance and ability, psychological mindgames, and of course intelligence. The complexity of soccer is best demonstrated during 11 v. 11, full field soccer. People may argue that other forms of soccer, such as futsal, beach soccer, or others with the same general principles are also as complex as the 11 v. 11 version. Yet, competition in these forms have not been as thoroughly developed and therefore still have a long ways to go before ever being evenly compared. Proper soccer, in my view, is 11 v. 11 and must be played for a minimum of 90 minutes.

I do not enjoy watching any one type of soccer. Different styles of play are interesting to watch, especially in direct contrast. Though I disagree with the idea that short passes or long passes should be one dominant style of play for a full 90 minutes. There are many different techniques, styles, and approaches for soccer and I feel a mixture of them all is what makes the really great games. In some instances, short passes may be the way to go, in other cases, playing it long will do the trick. But what about medium passes? Slicing through balls that can disassemble defences? Chipped passes that turn defenders into pylons? They should be used as the scenario dictates.

I feel the same way about the players. I liked to see a variety of skills on display by any given player. At the highest level of soccer, players should be well practiced in every aspect of the game. Every player should be two footed. Every player should have an accurate and potent shot. Not every player will be equal in all attributes, but they needed to be versatile in their approach. Much like musicians that play many instruments or a mathematician who employs countless formulas; that is how I expect the greatest players and teams in the world to perform.

My nickname is ‘Terzo Tempo’. I have taken it from Serie A’s new formality that requires players to line up at the end of a match to exchange mutual respect between opponents. Until recently, this formality was only required at the start of play. But many of us that watch soccer regularly know that many things can change over the course of 90 minutes. Wealth of emotions are bursting from every player with a central desire to win expressed by all participants. I feel this new addition is an intelligent step to help keep the beautiful game, beautiful. No more carrying grudges from bad tackles, or refereeing calls that did not go one particular way. After the match, regardless of the outcome, respect is exchanged between opponents who can take a minute from their adrenaline and self-pride and realize that the game is bigger than them. Win or lose; forgetful performances or memorable ones; the game entertained people around the world and was an important exercise in the power of sport. It displayed polished skill, high-class competition, and team unity. No one watches soccer to see grown men arguing with themselves or with the one man charged with keeping it all honest.

I practice what I preach. I play soccer with the upmost respect to my opposition. I do not cheat, bicker, or verbally attack officials. I play with a team; I’m not a solo act. And above all else, I play to best of my abilities because that is what the game requires.

Soccer as study

As a kid, sports were my life. I played organized soccer and hockey — a goalie in both — knew most NHL team rosters by heart, collected hockey cards, cried when Italy was eliminated from the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, asked for Azzurri, Juventus and/or Toronto Maples Leafs jerseys every birthday and Christmas, and spent hours imagining myself as a professional athlete competing in some glorious (and often tragic) championship game.

When I got to high school, my mind and time became preoccupied with other things — music, for the most part, but also writing, working out, drinking, drugs, and friends. By the time I reached university, sports were barely on my radar. I’d follow the Tour de France every July and watch the Leafs blow a playoff run each spring, but not much else. As for soccer, I was a fan of the most casual variety, tuning in every two years to watch the Italians compete in the big international tournaments.

I’m not sure how my obsession with the beautiful game blossomed. I know it loosely overlaps with the time I first read Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch, but I don’t remember ever thinking, “Hey, I need to become more like this guy.” My friends all seemed to start talking a lot more about the game at the time, but perhaps that was because I started talking more about it.

If I don’t know exactly why calcio caught my attention, I do know when: 2005. The Champions League round-of-16 had just begun. I watched as AC Milan, led by a young a Brazilian with the hilarious and gross name of Kaká and a good-looking Ukranian named Andriy Shevchenko, took out Manchester United. I watched as the next round ended in fiasco, with Inter fans littering the pitch with flares, ending the match prematurely and allowing their city rivals to advance. For the semis, I saw the thrilling second leg encounter between Milan-PSV Eindhoven at small bar in Rome with tourists from Holland who were heartbroken that their side had not advanced despite a 3-1 win (ah, the away goals rule). I remember being surprised by how many Italians in the bar cheered against Milan. How little I knew.

And, of course, I remember the classic final in Istanbul, as Liverpool overcame a 3-0 Milan first half lead to shock the Rossoneri in a penalty shootout. I watched the game alone in the family room of my parents house, making espresso for myself at half time, a ritual I was now practicing regularly. Though rooting for the Italian club, I felt euphoric after the match. I’d just witnessed one of the greatest soccer encounters of all time.



My approach to soccer is almost academic—soccer as study. Because I live in Toronto, I am separated from the passion and romanticism that pervades fan culture in Europe. Besides the Italian national side (and Toronto FC, by default), I support no team in particular. So instead of investing emotion into the success and failings of a particular side, I focus on learning something new about the game each time I watch it. I’m elated when I can say things like, “That’s a classic Inter goal,” when I am able to anticipate who will be substituted, or when I suddenly can see how a role player fits into a squad’s formation and judge how effective he is.

I am also intensely interested in the culture of soccer off the pitch. Fan culture, yes, but also the role of television and journalists in shaping the way we see the game, in the language we use to describe the game, in scandals, and violence, and politics, in the way a society is reflected in its soccer and vice versa. I have purchased several books on the game in recent months and plan on sharing my thoughts about them on this blog.

I’m not an expert. I probably never will be. But I’d like to get as close as possible. Watching soccer to me is like literature, like film, like music, like art. Some people can view it simply as entertainment, a way of passing the time on weekends, and be perfectly content. I have never been able to do that with literature, film, music and art. The same applies to soccer. If I’m not able to study something, to investigate it deeply, then I am bored by it. Luckily, with the beautiful game, there’s more than enough there to keep me fascinated for a long time.

Monday, February 18, 2008

United Arab Emirates Football League - Al Wahda

With Liverpool knocked out of the FA Cup Saturday and their Champions League tie not until Tuesday, I wished to fill my Sunday afternoon with some local football. I imagined that a match between mid-table Al Wahda FC (located not far from my apartment, they are practically my home team), and basement-dwelling Emirates, in a United Arab Emirates League match would lift my spirits.

So I caught a cab to the stadium behind Al Wahda Mall and met up with a friend. Having seen one match previously, he was already a loyal fan.

It was my first taste of UAE football and I was eager — perhaps over eager — to fall in love with Al Wahda as he had. Afterall, it would be the first time I had a club to support whose matches I could watch live. While I’ve seen Toronto FC play, it was business-related viewing and the closest I’ve gotten to seeing Liverpool live was from the First National pub.

So I bought a scarf and ambled into the free match, expecting an easy win and the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

Things started promisingly for Al Wahda — who last lifted the league trophy in 2005 — when they opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The bleachers were far from full but the crowd around me — all men, most wearing disdasha’s — was in good spirits. In the bleachers opposite me, a large group dressed (and presumably paid for their efforts) sang constantly. Near the end of the half, when they broke out the Arabic version of “We Will Rock You,” including the verses, I had fallen in love.

It took 45 minutes for the honeymoon to end.

After a half-hour half-time break, Al Wahda came out looking sleepy and within minutes had conceded the equalizer. Later, the impossible happened when a through-ball into the area was knocked into the back of Al Wahda’s net. My friend and I shook our heads ruefully as the crowd around us actually applauded the goal, each clap dripping with sarcasm. They weren’t happy at all and neither was I.

“This is disgusting,” I said.
“That sums it up perfectly,” my friend replied.

Minutes later, Emirates added a third on a 50-yard free kick that bounded past everyone into the back of the net. I looked to my friend and asked, “Are there any other teams in Abu Dhabi?” Turns out Al-Jazira Sports Club play just as close to where I live and are currently in third place in the league.

“I think I might go watch them play,” I said. “Before I get stuck supporting these guys for the rest of my time here.”
“You’re already hooked mate,” he said.

The home fans kept applauding Emirates, who were actually showboating with the ball now. When the final whistle mercifully blew, they crowded the guard rail and clapped and cheered Al Wahda's effort wildly as the dejected players strolled into the change rooms. Policemen wearing track suits kept a watchful eye.
Al Wahda’s next home game isn’t until April and Al Jazira have three home games in the interim. There is time for me to save myself yet.

But like Nick Hornby with Arsenal, I fear I am already a goner. Al Wahda may not play very attractive football, but “We Will Rock You” never sounded so good.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Antonio 'Peter Pan' Cassano

I have heard a lot about Antonio Cassano’s brilliant play for Sampdoria this season. I’ve read a lot about it, too. I have seen the choppy, blurry YouTube highlights of his many goals, his many near goals, and his many set-ups. But due to my reliance on TLN for Italian soccer coverage, I had not seen Cassano play an entire game until this morning, when I watched Samp take on their derby rivals Genoa.

The jewel of Old Bari was by far the best player on the pitch in the Blucerchiati’s 1-0 win, delivering several magnificent through balls, including one that followed a wicked spin deke in midfield. He set up the game-winning goal by dribbling around two defenders and curling a perfect back-post cross to goalscorer Christian Maggio. When the ref blew the final whistle to end the match, Cassano, who was substituted in the final minutes, dumped a bottle of water onto the head of Samp manager and Dustin Hoffman lookalike Walter Mazzarri to celebrate.

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Cassano is occasionally known by the nickname Peter Pan, due to his seeming inability to grow up. (A nickname less commonly used in the media but probably more commonly used among fans is “Whiny Bitch.”) Though his immaculate skills shone in today’s Derby della Lanterna, the immaturity and petulance that makes him one of the most despised players in the game today was also on full display. He yapped at the official incessantly, drawing a yellow card for arguing in the 26th minute. On several occasions, he went to ground without provocation, clutching his face like he’d taken a punch from Joe Frazier.

Despite all this, Cassano seems to have found a home with his new club (although it should be remembered he’s still on load from Real Madrid). The club, including Mazzarri, seems willing to put up with Peter Pan’s antics so long as he leads them to victory, and hopefully, a UEFA Cup spot. Cassano, for his part, is at his best when he doesn’t have to share the spotlight. Unfortunately, like a child, sometimes he doesn’t seem to care whether the attention he gets is good or bad.

Match Highlights: