Why England lose: A note on 'soccer'

Luke T Johnson gets his hands on a useful book about the world game.

By Luke T Johnson
Assistant to Editor
luketjohnson@sph.com.sg

 

AS THE eight remaining World Cup teams prepare for their quarterfinal ties this weekend, we fans can also take a moment to breathe (and hopefully catch up on some sleep).

I've managed to squeeze in a few hours of reading in the precious downtime of these last couple of weeks. But of course I can't steer too far away from the subject on everybody's mind.

I just finished reading a book published last year called Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the US, Japan, Australia, Turkey — and Even Iraq —

To be young and free

Jonathan Wong reflects on the inspiring youths of today.

By Jonathan Wong
Sports Reporter
jonwong@sph.com.sg

 

AS I read about Jordan Romero’s successful ascent up Mount Everest last Friday, I was reminded of a recent conversation which struck me. "You cannot imagine what it’s like to feel old," grumbled a colleague in his familiar gruff way.

I suppose what he meant was, that feeling of invincibility of your 20s, when restless energy sweeps your body, and becomes a distant memory when the bones creak and the joints ache as your birthday cake struggles under the weight of almost 50 candles.

Maybe he’s right. After all, it’s a wonderful thing to be young. This past month

The secret of football is the ball

Terrence Voon looks back on childhood games and the balls of World Cups past.

By Terrence Voon
Sports Reporter
tvoon@sph.com.sg

 

LONG before aerodynamics and thermally-bonded synthetic panels, my football dreams were made of cheap plastic, purchased for a dollar and fifty cents at the friendly neighbourhood provision store.

These air-filled spheres were primitive, but they were all I could afford on my primary school stipend.

Available in rusty red, garish green or boring blue, they were enough for me to run rings around 'defenders', namely the chairs, tables and assorted family members in my living room.

It's all about the little things

Lin Xinyi is impressed by the S'pore women paddler team's preparations.

By Lin Xinyi
Sports Reporter
xinyi@sph.com.sg

 

MATCHES are often won and lost by the narrowest of margins. A shot that goes in off the crossbar for a goal, a forehand that misses the chalk by a hair's breadth, an outstretched limb that takes an athlete across the finish line.

At the Madrid Masters, Jurgen Melzer sealed victory against Fernando Verdasco on his first match point with a shot that hit the net cord, fell over and died.

That is not to say that Melzer would not have eventually won the match had he lost that point. Rather, that the little things matter.

Swimming in sync

Caroline Chia is amazed by the Singapore synchronised swimming team.

By Caroline Chia

cchia@sph.com.sg

 

These swimmers amaze me. I attended the training sessions of the Singapore synchronised swimming team as they trained for the Japan Open. I was not training with them. I doubt I would have been able to make it through a session.  Instead, I was there to tell a story. The story of how a young team is so dedicated and works so hard even though their only reward might be in knowing that they had done their best. They are proud to represent Singapore despite knowing that their sport gets little attention here.

Synchronised swimmers preparing to thrust their teammate out of

An unremarkable season

Jonathan Wong picks his Best XI of the season, but ignores the Big Four.

By Jonathan Wong
Sports Reporter
jonwong@sph.com.sg

 

IT'S been a season remarkable in that no team has stood out. Neither of the top two (Chelsea and United) have set the pulses racing or looked close to being invincible.

So instead of celebrating the achievements of the Big Four (that's Chelsea, United, Arsenal AND Spurs... Liverpool in seventh place should be the strongest reminder that the euphoria of Istanbul 2005 has faded), I’m picking my Best XI of the Season from the other 16 clubs.

Pepe Reina, Liverpool's goalkeeper. PHOTO: AFP

A little respect please

Jeff Ang admires the determination of student athletes

By Jeff Ang
Sports Reporter
jeffang@sph.com.sg

 

MODERN sports with all its rules, regulations, categories, contracts can boggle your mind. Sometimes you wished that sports could be a little simpler.

But they can be, if only you know where to look.

School sports have been much maligned, probably more so in recent days. Sideshows such as fights and petty rule infringements threaten to overshadow the gala performance that students present passionately and whole-heartedly.  

Stop raising expectations

Leonard Lim explains that the YOG will be a mix of fun and serious sport.

By Leonard Lim
Sports Reporter
leonard1@sph.com.sg

 

LET'S be realistic. The Youth Olympic Games will not showcase world-class performances, and will be far from anything like the Summer Games.

What it is, is this: a celebration of youthful vigour, a chance to build a sporting culture in a generation obsessed with Nintendo Wii and iPods and spending little time on sport, and an event for Singapore to show the world it can put on a good show.

International Olympic Committee officials and Singapore organisers have gone on about how the world's best athletes will converge in Singapore in August for the inaugural YOG.

Defeat could be blessing in disguise

Lin Xinyi thinks the ill-disciplined Lions need a wake-up call.

By Lin Xinyi
Sports Reporter
xinyi@sph.com.sg

 

LIKE many football fans in Singapore, my first reaction towards the revelations about the ill-disciplined Lions was one of shock and disappointment.

Two players oversleeping during the day of the Asian Cup qualifying decider? A player smoking at half-time?

Rooney or Ronaldo?

Jonathan Wong wonders which famous player you'd rather have on your team.

By Jonathan Wong
Sports Reporter
jonwong@sph.com.sg

 

GO AHEAD and say it. The British newspapers already have. Who needs Cristiano Ronaldo when you have Wayne Rooney?

WHILST the distance between the former teammates has been extended from five yards on the pitch to over 900 miles from Madrid to Manchester, the footballing space between them has narrowed.

Following his most productive season in front of goal, netting 28 times in 35 appearances so far, the Manchester United No. 10 appears to have barged out of Ronaldo's shadow.