some canadian guys writing about soccer

(Cross-posted to The Daily Squizz)

All of the hype, all of the merchandise sold, all of the drama, and all of the moistened panties worldwide… and it all comes down to this.

It’s an ignominious end to a fascinating career, and an especially heartbreaking one for Beckham himself, who wanted nothing more than to represent England one more time at this summer’s World Cup. Now, to be clear, even though Becks may yet again be physically capable of playing soccer again (he is under contract to the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer through 2011, after all), his career — his time at the top (conceptually, if not necessarily in on-field performances) of the world footballing landscape is done. Read more »

In a piece in the Lancashire Telegraph today, Junior Hoilett has a lot to say about his ascent to the first team at Blackburn Rovers, and how homesickness for Canada made life hard for him. Since he offers precious little as to his international ambitions, I’m going to see his comments (about his life in Canada as encouraging signs that, if he suits up for anyone, it’ll be Les Rouges. It’s not much to go on, but what the hell, eh?

…well, wait a second. Further info from the Telegraph suggests that, as much as we’re waiting with bated breath for Junior to declare for Canada, he’s not going to offer an answer any time soon. “I am still trying to cement my place in the first 11 at Blackburn Rovers,” he said. “I am really not focused on the international scene at the moment. Hopefully that will all come later. Right now I am focusing on my future at Blackburn. I will have to make a decision at some stage but I don’t believe we are at that stage yet.”

So, it’s still a waiting game, I guess.

If, like us, you have nothing better to do but keep track of how long it is until the 2010 World Cup begins in South Africa, you’ll know that today marks 100 days until the tournament kicks off.

Yes, we’re that excited. And that pathetic.

As much as we’d all like to forget Canada’s friendly against Macedonia last November, it’s in the news again. The Bulgarian referee, one Anton Genov – who seemed especially disposed to award a penalty kick whenever any attacking player so much as looked at the 18-yard box – has been acquitted of match-fixing charges by UEFA.

While Canada certainly didn’t prosper from the at-one-point-allegedly dubious penalties (I think that might pass legal muster against libel), there were allegations that Genov may have been implicated in some kind of horseplay involving betting on the final outcome of the game, including the number of penalty kicks taken. Now that UEFA has taken a good hard look at thing, it seems that he’s not a crook, but just a crap referee – even through the grainy, stop-motion internet feed some of those four penalties looked absurd.

This is all a part of a sweeping investigation of over 200 league and international matches, in four countries being conducted by German police. So far a Ukrainian ref and a Croatian ref have each been susepended.

Such luck was not with the unfortunately named Bosnian ref Novo Panic, who has been banned from “football activities” for life by UEFA. I mention this for three main reasons: “completeness,” I guess; so I can mention that Mr. Panic isn’t really a name that inspires confidence in someone trying to slip something past the authorities; and that I like the idea that “football activities” can be taken in the broadest sense, and that, five years from now, Panic will get spear-tackled by a UEFA secret policeman while having a kick-about in the park with his kid.

Congratulations Mike Klukowski, winner of the inaugural Some Canadian Guys Writing About Soccer Player of the Year Readers’ Choice Award. (Yes, were working on shortening the name.)

One thing, readers: you just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you? Squizz and I were happily smug and self-satisfied after the CSA’s official player of the year nod to Simeon Jackson vindicated our choosing him as Canada’s best in 2009.

Then you people came along and sided with Grant. Twenty-six per cent of you.

Not to take anything away from Kluka, who had a great year: a rock-solid Gold Cup (including a nomination to the team of the tournament) and a good year in Belgium. We at Some Canadian Guys want to officially congratulate Mike on this most prestigious of awards (ahem), and we’re looking forward to seeing more of him for Canada in 2010.

It’s just that there’ll be no talking to Grant, now.

Much to-do and hoopla has been made recently about the four centimetres of snow that have shut down the UK and sent the EPL season into a shambles of cancellations and rescheduling, and amidst the chaos commentators and fans still seem anxious to find out one important question: which players are so wussified by the sub-zero temperatures that they’ve lowered themselves to wearing gloves. Read more »

We here at Some Canadian Guys are big fans of democracy. Really, we love it. We think voting is just about the best thing since sliced bread (although, admittedly, it’s not as good for sandwiches). That’s why we think you should vote, too.

But, jeez, what to vote for?

Hang on! You can vote for us! Some Canadian Guys Writing About Soccer has (inexplicably) been nominated for “Canadian Sports Blog of the Year” by the Canadian Blog Awards.

We may not have much of a shot at the title, but we’re not the type to lose heart in the face of a hopeless campaign – we are, after all, fans of Canadian soccer.

To vote, go here and click on “Sports.” Then make Some Canadian Guys Writing About Soccer your #1 choice. If you don’t, you’re a terrorist who hates democracy. It’s up to you.