Football 'round the World

Lots of notable results on the international soccer circuit: first, after the staying home during the Euro Cup, and barely sneaking by Andorra, the English seem to be playing a lot better lately. After crushing Croatia 4-1 a few weeks ago, an English b-team downed the Germans yesterday 2-1 in Germany.

The Brazilians finally played like it yesterday, cruising to a shockingly easy 6-2 victory over Portugal at home. Kaká, Robinho, Adriano, and Luis Fabiano kept the pressure on the Portugese all night long, with the latter erupting for a hat trick. And as if watching a Brazilian offense hitting on all cylinders wasn’t fun enough, Cristiano Ronaldo was kept off the score sheet. That should take some of the heat off of Dunga.

For a coach still firmly planted on the hot seat, we need only look to the north, to Sven-Goran Eriksson. A 1-0 loss to Honduras showed the Mexicans looking hopeless and frustrated. Flat and uninspired. Listless and unimaginative. Limp and timid. Simple-minded and simpler-footed. More adjectives? Just plain crappy.

Given the number of talented Mexican players on the offensive end, there is no reason for them to be scoreless against Honduras. Ever. Part of the problem was despite saying that the team needed to be more offensive, Eriksson started only one forward, Matías Vuoso, who plays a lot better when balanced by a speedy guy creating space on the other side, a la Christian Benítez. Eriksson also waited way too long to go with a more talented offensive lineup that included Omar Bravo, Carlos Vela, and Nery Castillo. Well before the final whistle, the Mexicans weren’t playing like they believed in the chances of getting an equalizer, and frustration abounded. The normally sportsmanlike Carlos Vela's expulsion with a couple of minutes left could not have been more deserved without the aid of a firearm. The Tri advanced to the next phase of World Cup 2010 qualifying thanks to goal differential, but there is now serious concern about the team’s ability to punch their ticket to South Africa.

And lastly, congratulations to Diego Maradona on getting a win to open his career as the coach of the Argentine national team. Hopefully his entire tenure can provide as much non-football drama as this game did, what with Diego dodging questions about the Hand of God goal and claiming to not know who Terry Butcher is; Diego and Kun Aguero jetting off to Madrid to visit Diego’s daughter, six months pregnant with Aguero’s child and hospitalized with some minor complications; and, of course, the mere sight of Diego engulfed by a jacket that would have been two sizes too big even before the stomach stapling surgery. Te quiero Diego!