The biggest sporting event in the world--no, not the Olympics, not the Super Bowl or World Series, not even the Final Four or BCS Championship Game--starts next week...the 2010 World Cup.
Soccer--or futbol--will be on the global stage from June 11 through July 11 in South Africa.
"It's my favorite time, this time every four years," said fourth-year USC women's soccer coach Ali Khosroshahin, who led the Women of Troy to the NCAA title in his 2007 debut season. "You get to see the best of the world's best competing and representing their countries. There is no other event like this that stops the world's people in their tracks. It's bigger than the Olympics or Super Bowl because the whole world is watching.
"We don't really appreciate the enormity of the World Cup in this country. I wish everyone in the United States could go to another country and watch a soccer match there, because it's hard to replicate that feeling, that emotion, that passion here. Soccer, and especially World Cup soccer, is in people's blood, whether they're four years old or 44 or 94."
With the event taking place on the other side of the globe, watching the matches could be somewhat challenging for Americans, especially those of us on the West Coast. The Pacific time zone start times will be 4:30 a.m., 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
"I'll be up for the first game each morning to watch on TV," said Khosroshahin, who was an assistant with Mexico during the 1999 Women's World Cup. "I'll try to watch the next two games each day, but I might have to tape some of them. Heck, I'm not sure I'll be able to stay awake to watch those last two games!"
Khosroshahin might also have to rely on TiVo because he'll have some coaching obligations to fulfill.
"Actually, it's ridiculous," he said. "All soccer activity should be stopped during the World Cup so everyone can watch it. This is the tournament of all tournaments. This is the best teacher, the best textbook, for players, coaches and fans. It's a phenomenal opportunity to learn the game."
Khosroshahin said he isn't good at making predictions, but he does believe this will be a "very interesting and fun tournament."
He says the "usual suspects" should be considered favorites.
"Argentina, even though they struggled through qualifying, should be a real interesting team to watch. They have all the talent in the world and they have Diego Maradona, who might not be the greatest coach but he has a lucky horseshoe in his pocket. He has a knack for rallying his team, which is comprised of some of the best players on the planet.
"Brazil is Brazil. Now with Dunga as the coach, they'll be more defensive-minded than ever. That can be scary if you combine that with everything else they bring to the table.
"Spain is probably the favorite coming into the tournament. Half their team is from the Barcelona team and those players are used to being successful. They're riding good momentum, having won the Euro 2008 title and so many recent qualifying matches. And I think their loss to the U.S. in the 2009 Confederations Cup will serve them well, making them realize they can't take anyone lightly.
"England has a lot of talent, but they have some injuries to overcome. They have a very successful coach in Fabio Capello, who has changed the discipline surrounding the team and the players are loving it. It's different from the past now that they've instilled the team concept to their play.
"I think you also have to count in the Ivory Coast, because they have Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers in the world, and they're playing on their home continent. And, of course, there's the Dutch and the Germans to watch for."
What about the U.S. team?
"I think we have a good chance of advancing out of the group stage. I'm hopeful. But the one thing the U.S. teams always struggle with is while we are playing the opponent's team, the opponent is playing more than our team, they are playing everything that the U.S. stands for. The value of beating the U.S. is life and death to these other teams. If they beat us, they become national heroes. That's the type of thing that makes the World Cup so special."
Khosroshahin also thinks there are several other reasons why the 2010 World Cup competition will be an interesting one.
"There are a lot of variables this year," he said. "Being in Africa and the logistics that presents, there will be some challenges to overcome. Also, the threat of terrorism is bigger than it has ever been and the amount of security put in place by the World Cup organizers is unprecedented. I'm sure that will weigh on people's minds. And FIFA (soccer's governing body) has introduced a new ball and the players are already complaining about it, so it could take a while through the early games for the players to adjust to it."
So get your sleep now. The opening match--host South Africa faces Mexico in Johannesburg--is at 7 a.m. Pacific on Friday, June 11. All 64 matches will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.
Soccer--or futbol--will be on the global stage from June 11 through July 11 in South Africa.
"It's my favorite time, this time every four years," said fourth-year USC women's soccer coach Ali Khosroshahin, who led the Women of Troy to the NCAA title in his 2007 debut season. "You get to see the best of the world's best competing and representing their countries. There is no other event like this that stops the world's people in their tracks. It's bigger than the Olympics or Super Bowl because the whole world is watching.
"We don't really appreciate the enormity of the World Cup in this country. I wish everyone in the United States could go to another country and watch a soccer match there, because it's hard to replicate that feeling, that emotion, that passion here. Soccer, and especially World Cup soccer, is in people's blood, whether they're four years old or 44 or 94."
With the event taking place on the other side of the globe, watching the matches could be somewhat challenging for Americans, especially those of us on the West Coast. The Pacific time zone start times will be 4:30 a.m., 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
"I'll be up for the first game each morning to watch on TV," said Khosroshahin, who was an assistant with Mexico during the 1999 Women's World Cup. "I'll try to watch the next two games each day, but I might have to tape some of them. Heck, I'm not sure I'll be able to stay awake to watch those last two games!"
Khosroshahin might also have to rely on TiVo because he'll have some coaching obligations to fulfill.
"Actually, it's ridiculous," he said. "All soccer activity should be stopped during the World Cup so everyone can watch it. This is the tournament of all tournaments. This is the best teacher, the best textbook, for players, coaches and fans. It's a phenomenal opportunity to learn the game."
Khosroshahin said he isn't good at making predictions, but he does believe this will be a "very interesting and fun tournament."
He says the "usual suspects" should be considered favorites.
"Argentina, even though they struggled through qualifying, should be a real interesting team to watch. They have all the talent in the world and they have Diego Maradona, who might not be the greatest coach but he has a lucky horseshoe in his pocket. He has a knack for rallying his team, which is comprised of some of the best players on the planet.
"Brazil is Brazil. Now with Dunga as the coach, they'll be more defensive-minded than ever. That can be scary if you combine that with everything else they bring to the table.
"Spain is probably the favorite coming into the tournament. Half their team is from the Barcelona team and those players are used to being successful. They're riding good momentum, having won the Euro 2008 title and so many recent qualifying matches. And I think their loss to the U.S. in the 2009 Confederations Cup will serve them well, making them realize they can't take anyone lightly.
"England has a lot of talent, but they have some injuries to overcome. They have a very successful coach in Fabio Capello, who has changed the discipline surrounding the team and the players are loving it. It's different from the past now that they've instilled the team concept to their play.
"I think you also have to count in the Ivory Coast, because they have Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers in the world, and they're playing on their home continent. And, of course, there's the Dutch and the Germans to watch for."
What about the U.S. team?
"I think we have a good chance of advancing out of the group stage. I'm hopeful. But the one thing the U.S. teams always struggle with is while we are playing the opponent's team, the opponent is playing more than our team, they are playing everything that the U.S. stands for. The value of beating the U.S. is life and death to these other teams. If they beat us, they become national heroes. That's the type of thing that makes the World Cup so special."
Khosroshahin also thinks there are several other reasons why the 2010 World Cup competition will be an interesting one.
"There are a lot of variables this year," he said. "Being in Africa and the logistics that presents, there will be some challenges to overcome. Also, the threat of terrorism is bigger than it has ever been and the amount of security put in place by the World Cup organizers is unprecedented. I'm sure that will weigh on people's minds. And FIFA (soccer's governing body) has introduced a new ball and the players are already complaining about it, so it could take a while through the early games for the players to adjust to it."
So get your sleep now. The opening match--host South Africa faces Mexico in Johannesburg--is at 7 a.m. Pacific on Friday, June 11. All 64 matches will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.
This really isn't a comment on this article, but there is no email address to write those behind RipsIt. What's the status of hiring a new person to take over where Ben left off? Perhaps this has already been done, as the posts are as informative as ever. Just wondering... and when will an email link to this person(s) be available?