“ITALY” Defenders of the World

Undeniably, this World Cup has been one of defenses. Here is what tips you off—it was the second lowest scoring cup on record, second to 1990; moreover, Germany 2006 now has the record for the most cards ever shown in a World Cup.

This means that the team that sports the best defense would come out on top. In this instance, Italy gave up only two goals in Germany. Irrespective of how many they scored, which was upwards of twelve, success came their way.

There is no argument to deny that Italy is equipped to win this type of Cup. My question is, “Why would teams like France and Brazil, who are more equipped to win cups, geared toward offensive movement, allow them to get suckered into playing defensive soccer?”

A few of the great coaches of the world were hypnotized into thinking that this was the way to go—horrible miscalculations to think that you can walk into a spider’s web and fight the spider.

I rarely agree with Tommy Smyth, ESPN pundit, and all around old geezer, but when he made the inflammatory statement, “The Greeks killed football,” I can see that success for the Cinderella Greeks in Euro 2004, reeling off 1-0 defensive wins one after the other, all the way to the finals, would make any coach reconsider his game plan. 

So, we are left with the best defensive team in the world and everyone else trying to match their goal strangling prowess. Normally you would drink champagne from this Cup, but this year they should fill it with gruel. 

Class work for the Italians, for the other teams of the Cup leave the web spinning to spiders, and if you are a cheetah take your fights to the open plains.

All Smiles on the Field,

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
4skills.com

Remember the Cup

The thing I hate most in this world is regret. How about you? Regret makes you feel like you should have done it, and now it is too late. Frustrating, right! I do my best to avoid that feeling as much as possible.

You know the World Cup is almost over. Do you have anything to remember it by? A shirt, a bag, how about a poster? If not, click here and put all that regret to rest.

Yes, the World Cup is only every 4 years. Each one is unique and different. Remember this one the right way, with no regret!

All Smiles on the Field,

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
4skills.com

Time to Break Friends

The motto for this year’s World Cup has been Time to make friends. Now with the Finals set, anyone in the world would agree that playtime and friendship is over.

To be the Champion of the World, you must be the strongest, the best, and the most skilled. Wouldn’t you agree?

So, can we toss the smiles and handshakes out the window? Can France and Italy line up in the Thunder-dome with the motto, Two will enter; only one will leave? Hey we are about to crown the best players in the world. I don’t think we are going too far. People have gone to jail or worse for less.

Please Zidane and Buffon, on Sunday, when it is do or die, please no extra long hand shakes before the game because there is really something at stake. That is not being unsportsmanlike—just serious and focused.

So let’s squint your eyes and grit your teeth because only one can go beyond Thunder-dome.

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
4skills.com

All Wheels Have Come Off of Brazil

No mate, it is not because they lost out of the cup. It is because they have lost Roberto Carlos. Yes, he has been lost and retires amidst what I have seen as a shunning of this gifted left footer.
They disrespected Roberto Carlos on that field! Brazil themselves thought nothing of him to the point they didn’t use him.

So much fan fair, so much love for R10 (Ronaldinho the lie of the Cup) No love was left for Roberto, who was looked at not as a great, but as a do-boy that had to earn his right to take a shot or even run up the field.

I am glad Roberto has retired from International play, only for the fact that I cannot take him being treated that way. Ronaldinho should get busted in his horse tooth for leading Brazil from “A beautiful way to play” to “how much do you pay.”

Roberto, I promise to watch as many Real Madrid games or Chelsea if England is lucky, because “You Da Man.” You have one World Cup metal to lean back on and a Mongoose’s respect.   

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
4skills.com

Europe Rules the World Again

As much as I hate to admit it, Europe has laid claim to the World Cup extra early this year.

Do the math! The four teams that are left are all within a few hundred miles of each other. We don’t have to look far to see the Mecca of football this year. Again I hate to admit that.

Yes, Brazilian football is beautiful and Argentinean is elegant, but in this case looks are deceiving and European style that displays elegance and a pretty face sometimes still prevails  with industry at its base.

I remember seeing Angola fight against Portugal in their first game of the cup. Angola reminded me of a Brazilian club team in their style and movement. I could see where Brazil’s roots are from. Portugal is the word.

France, Germany, Italy, they all have been at the forefront of soccer since the beginning, why should today be any different. This year it isn’t. Surely this should start a fire for African teams to represent or for the USA to score a goal when they need it.  Because someone put these old dogs to rest and do the job that we expect Brazil to do every year.
 
Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
www.4skills.com

Two Can Wear the Golden Boot!

And then there were two that could wear the Golden Boots. This is the award given to the leading scoring of the World Cup. If the Cup ended today, Miroslav Klose the lean German would wear these shoes with five notches on his belt.

There is still one who can catch this front flipping German. None other then the leading scoring of the Barclay Card's English Premiership. French Football Artist Thierry Henry is the only other horse left in the race. With 3 tallies he is distant, but with two games in both of these strikers future, there are games to be won and goals to be scored.

My vote is for the Thierry. I flat out don’t see the beauty in Miroslav Klose taking the title. It will mean a mediocre team with a mediocre world striker has overcome. At least with Henry, some justice to brilliance is still apparent. 

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Skills Guru
www.4skills.com

Brand New Attacking Angles

When Argentinian or Brazilian Strikers receive the ball in attack, how do they run at defenders? How do they approach defenders? Do they run straight at them? Do they run straight at the goal and the defender is just a second thought?

The answer is, "It depends on the situation." How many attackers are with you? How many defenders are there? Where are you on the field plus a thousand other questions that these strikers answer in a split second.

The main question you must answer is what is the defender most vulnerable too and what are your attacking strong points. If the answer is the defender is slow and you are good with your first touch in the air, then take a direct angle that will put the ball past the defender on your first touch from an air ball.

For more advice and videos to displaying attacking techniques, check out 4skills.com Virtual Soccer Trainer or our Striking Package.

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Skills Guru
www.4skills.com

South Korea is 2/3rds of a Team

This Asian team has the heart to fight on the world stage. They display every quality needed to compete at the highest level, except finishing.

What in the end is most important in soccer? Well, it is probably your ability to score goals.

The South Koreans lack the confidence at the highest level to put the ball away cleanly. Yes, they can fight the ball into the back of the ne,t as they did against France. A clean flowing movement  though is almost out of the question.

We as Americans are caught between these two worlds. We fight as hard as anyone, but composure and technique need to be displayed from 30 yards in to score quality goals.

At 4skills.com we take pride in teaching these traits and techniques please take a look at these products that will help you or your players improve. Try the Strikers Package and WallWork.

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Skills Guru
www.4skills.com

The Kaiser Keller Will Fly the Plane

Kasey Keller will be known to us as the Kaiser (The King in German). Kasey Keller is the US player in soccer. Who is second to him on the US team? Unfortunately, it is another goalkeeper—Tim Howard. These guys are great players, showing that the US creates phenomenal keepers. Now that I think about it, Brad Friedel, who is not even on the team, retired from international play, is actually our 2nd best player, making Tim actually our 3rd most valuable player.

What does this all mean? Well the Kaiser is our mental captain and what he says goes! He is in charge of keeping us in Germany and making sure the mission is accomplished. He may have had a shelling in the first game against the Czechs, but that was down more to his defense, as the Americans left him high-and-dry on the back line. Against the Italians, however, Keller bounced back and made a string of saves in the 2nd half to keep American hopes alive.

What is our mission? Well from the looks of it, the plan is to make it out of the group stage with a victory over Ghana with help from Italy’s defeat over the striker-void Czech Republic. Making it to the Round of Sixteen is the Kaiser’s mission.

Do not think that the mission is not perilous. It might be the hardest thing the US has ever done in soccer, and listen to me, this will be the hardest thing this squad of men will ever do in the game.

Keller is our leader though, who will be handling the yoke and flying American Soccer to victory, or defeat. How will they return—as heroes like in 94 and 02, or in infamy like in 98?

If you think our mission is to win the cup, then you’re probably new to the World Cup. Don’t worry, the 2nd round and beyond always means respect. We don’t have the strength, or depth, though to make it past 4 games.

Maybe if we were in a different group we could go 5 games, but not this time. It has been 3 D-Days for the US in Group E, which has lived up to all the expectations of a group of death.

Each game a battle fought by our heroes, with nothing still assured. We could be sent packing from Germany, or escorted out on the shoulders of Uncle Sam’s Army—the cup and time has the answer. 

Kamal de Gregory
Director
www.4skills.com

Battle in the Beer Garden

One of the nicest places to be in Germany is a beer garden. One of the nicest games to see this world cup was USA vs. Italy.  As I sipped the local drink from my stein, I witnessed the heart and the fight of the Americans. Italy had no real offensive answer except for one well executed free kick. The Americans swarmed, clawed, scratched, did almost anything to get a result.

Yes, both team's play was far from Jogo Bonito but when you need a result at this level, beggars cannot be choosers. The Red, White and Blue needed something and they were going to get it hands down.

It seemed it would be an elusive 3 points but a U.S. player strayed into offside territory as winged footed Demarcus Beasley worked to levitate the game in the U.S.'s favor.

Now with one game left, every team in group E must go all in to walk the tight rope to the next round. Nuremberg is a small stadium and I have seen 10 times more U.S. fans then Ghanaian here. It seems that the Americans will enjoy a home away from home.

To celebrate and remember Germany 06 in style, pick up a From the Cup with 4skills.com Beer Stein. It will surely give you good memories and keep you warm at night. :)

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Skills Guru
www.4skills.com