Paraguay

World Cup
Appearances 7 (First in 1930)
Best result Round 2, 1986, 1998, 2002
Copa América
Appearances 33 (First in 1921)
Best result Winners, 1953 and 1979

2010 will be the fourth World Cup in a row for Paraguay. Impressive play in the qualification process saw Paraguay beating Brazil 2-o, Chile 3-0 and tying Argentina in the mythical Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Since the last WC they have been in transiation in which former Paraguayan stars retired from national duty.

Player to Watch – Roque Santa Cruz
The Manchester City striker has 21 goals in 67 caps. He had a long spell with Bayern from 1999-2007, then to Rovers for a couple years. His season with Man City was somewhat slowed due to some injury issues that have since seemed to clear up. On another note, German football magazine Kicker, voted him as the sexiest man in the 2006 tournament. So… Read the rest

The Timbers won off a 90th minute free kick by Rodrigo Lopez. Keel and Pore scored the first two goals. More coming soon, including an interview with Keel.

Boca Juniors

Saturday May 29th
7pm @ PGE Park

… Read the rest

North Korea

World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 1966)
Best result Quarter-finals, 1966
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 1980)
Best result Fourth place, 1980

This will be North Korea’s second World Cup, back in 1966 they shocked the world by upsetting Italy 1-nil and advancing to the quarter finals. There was so little known about that 1966 squad, that many remarked that “it was as if the team was from the moon.” A 2002 documentry was made about the surviving members of that 66 team, titled “The Games of thier Live,” link to trailer.

Now, 44 years later North Korea enters its second World Cup, as mysterious as ever. The country is as secretive and paranoid as ever. “North Korea severs all ties with rival South Korea,” is a headline from the Guardian on Wednesday. That sucks for North Koreans, because South Korea is their main hope for… Read the rest

It’s been pretty gloomy in Portland lately. Bits of sun overshadowed by bunches of clouds, plenty of rain, and a lot of gray, but really, just another crazy spring in the Rose City. Northwest weather has a tendency for teasing, getting your hopes up with a bright, beautiful morning only to rain on everyone the rest of the afternoon.

The Timbers started off the season a bit like that.

They gutted out a few early matches, not playing their best, but still finding ways to win. Then the clouds started to roll in. A loss to Crystal Palace at home. Giving up a last minute draw to last place AC St Louis at home. A loss to Montreal at home. Of course last Saturday’s failed attempt at revenge in Baltimore where the team gave up a 1-0 second half lead. And you could mention the 3-1 friendly loss to FC… Read the rest

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Boca ran a light hour long practice today at Nike World Headquaters, with a small crowd watching. There is a Manchester United sponsored tournament for under 13 or 14 year old kids, from around the country right now at Nike and many of them were watching the practice.
Boca guys seem in a good mood and I tell you one thing, these boys got skillz.

I took a lot of pictures but I won’t be able to get them up until around 10ish. I also took some pictures of a Nike display about the history of Nike and soccer. I got some great pictures of the first ever Nike sponsored soccer jersey, of who else, the Portland Timbers.

#1. Austin Aztex (2.13 points per game) Good offense has got them at the top of the league.  Unbeaten on the road. (previously #4)
#2. Tampa Bay Rowdies (1.88 points per game) Brought two matches against Austin to a draw (previously #10)
#3. Montreal Imapact (1.83 points per game) No slow start this year for reigning champs. (previously #7)
#4. Vancouver Whitecaps (1.71 points per game) Got 5 points out of 3 home matches, including Montreal draw.  Still unbeaten at Swangard. (previously #2)
#5. Carolina Railhawks (1.33 points per game)  Need to do a better job at home (previously #9)

#6. Crystal Palace Baltimore (1.25 points per game) Quality wins against Portland, and held the Whitecaps to a draw (previously #11)
#7. Rochester Rhinos (1.38 points per game) Have lost two in a row,  1-1-2 in May. (previously #6)
#8. Puerto Rico Islanders (1.50 points per game) Dropped their only… Read the rest

Nigeria

World Cup
Appearances 3 (First in 1994)
Best result Round of 16, 1994 and 1998
African Nations Cup
Appearances 16 (First in 1963)
Best result Winners, 1980 and 1994
Confederations Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 1995)
Best result 4th, 1995

This will be Nigeria’s first World Cup in 12 years, and they will face a tough group that includes Argentina, South Korea and Greece. They have a solid WC record, in which they advanced out of the first round in their first and second WC in 94&98.

Player to Watch – Obafemi Martins
If you see a player doing somersaults, there is a very good chance that Nigeria just scored and Obafemi Martins is the one responsible. You may know him from his stints with Inter 2002-2006, 28 goals, or maybe with Newcastle for three years and 28 goals, or just maybe from his most recent play for Wolfsburg, where he scored 6… Read the rest