World Cup Round up: Whither the Rotation, Staunton Sacked, Lippi Looking for Work

What Sepp Blatter wants, Sepp Blatter usually gets (except for tighter uniforms on female players). The FIFA czar-for-life has repeatedly expressed his desire to end the rotation system for hosting the World Cup and next week he will urge FIFA’s executive committee to make the bidding process more like the Olympics. In other words, countries seeking to host future World Cup tournaments will have to outdo one another in lavishing the FIFA execs with gifts.

My thoughts are that we shall open the market and make the World Cup available for everybody apart from the last confederation which has just organized it, which means South America cannot bid for 2018,” Blatter said.

Instead of spreading the game to different parts of the world, Blatter is once again chasing the money. That is too bad in my opinion.

It is probably too late to be giving this bit of advice, but Franz Beckenbauer has given it anyway. He has told Germany and Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann to shut his trap about his lack of playing time. Somehow I think that message will fall on deaf ears.

After winning the World Cup in 2006 with Italy, Marcello Lippi has taken a little vacation that has included the cliché role as a television commentator. He has had enough of this semi-retirement and is eager to get back in the managerial racket. Language skills might prevent him from managing in England. Evidently he has never heard some of the Premier League bosses talk. They don’t speak English either.

If Lippi does take some crash English courses he could manage Ireland. They have said good-bye to Steve Staunton after he guided the country to a poor Euro 2008 run.

As far as stadium designs go, one that looks like a laptop and is built underground certainly is unique. Wouldn’t have to worry about the shadows like they did in Germany in 2006.

FIFA VP and world-class crook Jack Warner paid a visit to South Africa today and came away impressed. He also probably came away with pockets full of money, but that is a scandal for another day.

There is a new documentary out about my favorite team from the 2006 World Cup. “The Dream of the Sable Antelope” follows the lads from Angola along their journey to group play elimination.

Upcoming World Cup qualifying Fixtures
26/10/07
Afghanistan v 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

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