World Cup Round Up: Otto Pfister to terrorize the Fashion World again, Longshots in Asia

Perhaps best remembered for his odd fashion choices during the 2006 World Cup, Otto Pfister has been named the new boss of Cameroon. Pfister managed Togo to a first round exit in Germany that included the players revolting against the football federation and Pfister being labeled a drunk by the secretary of Togo’s football federation and the coach threatening to quit days before the competition. Sounds like a great hire, eh Cameroon? To his credit, the German has been involved with African football forever and inherits a Cameroon side that is rich in talent but that has been disappointing in recent international competitions. He also can earn some extra money for the country by pretending to be Dick Cheney.

They are fired up to play a World Cup qualifier in India against Lebanon as long as a monsoon doesn’t get in the way. Gotta hate when that happens.

Some fans in South Africa prove that they should stick with the nickname Bafana Bafana. Hot Beans? WTF?

You were probably thinking earlier today about the state of Rwanda’s coaching situation. Think no more. The Croatian Josip Kuze has the fun task of trying to right the ship in a nation that doesn’t have a strong football tradition.

You were probably equally curious about the U-17 position in the United States. Sorry, you didn’t get that gig either. Unless you are named Wilmer Cabrera and you are reading this blog.

Joachim Low not only wants to lead Germany to a championship in Euro 2008 but he also wants them to play beautiful football in the process. That might be the first time the terms beautiful football and Germany have ever appeared in the same sentence.

Looking for a cure for insomnia? You will snooze right away when you read FIFA’s report about Brazil’s readiness for the 2014 World Cup.

Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta hates international football but even he admits that poor countries shouldn’t have to pay for his big salary players. How very noble of him. Now if he would just shut up already and let his players represent their countries in peace we could all get on with life.

There are a ton of people in Asia excited that their teams will advance to the next round of World Cup qualifying, but the killjoys at Reuters tell us that their celebration will be shortlived. Bah humbug. Turkmenistan in South Africa 2010. You heard it here first.

Syria defeated Afghanistan 2-1 Friday to advance to the next round of World Cup qualifying in Asia.

Upcoming World Cup qualifying Fixtures
26/10/07
Afghanistan 1-2 Syria
28/10/07
Iraq v Pakistan
Tajikistan v Bangladesh
Hong Kong v Timor-Leste
Nepal v Oman
Maldives v Yemen
Myanmar v China PR
Korea DPR v Mongolia
Singapore v Palestine
Chinese Taipei v Uzbekistan
Turkmenistan v Cambodia
India v Lebanon
United Arab Emirates v Vietnam
Jordan v Kyrgyzstan
Qatar v Sri Lanka