05/07/24
June 30, 2003
Fifa Centennial celebration plans announced.: The highlight of the centennial events will be a re-run of the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ Final between France and Brazil at the Stade de France (St. Denis/Paris) on 20 May 2004. In the days before the match, FIFA will hold its centennial Congress and a final decision will be made on the host nation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. My local paper had it as a match of the last two World Cup champions, but whatever. Here's the official FIFA Centennial site, which includes a link to a page about "The 100" a photography book and travelling exhibition showing "the 100 most popular active and retired football players alive." What would you have FIFA do celebrate?
posted by Ufez Jones to soccer at 10:01 AM - 16 comments
Ufez, unless I was drinking something other than coffee this morning, it is both a 1998 rematch and matchup of the two previous Cup holders. My big question about the match is: Will the teams field top quality squads? Look at the just completed Confederations Cup, where many teams left off their best because "it was so close to the end of the European leagues' seasons."
posted by billsaysthis at 01:09 PM on June 30, 2003
Ufez, unless I was drinking something other than coffee this morning, it is both a 1998 rematch and matchup of the two previous Cup holders. Oh, it's both, Bill. I just thought that the justification behind having the last two winners made more sense than having the final from a random year (1998). Regardless of their justification, they'll have the top two teams in the world playing (at least as of now) which is in all likelihood what they want. I just thought having a remtach of the second most current Cup didn't make much sense.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:17 PM on June 30, 2003
Ufez, I blame the coffe.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:10 PM on June 30, 2003
France should field a strong side because they are the home team and they will be fielding a full strength team in the not-long-after Euro 2004 tournament so some playing time together would be valuable. But what do i know. (hint: no thing).
posted by gspm at 04:22 PM on June 30, 2003
You may know no thing gspm, but I'd bet on you being right. France v Brazil is defo more attractive when billed as the last two World Cup Winners. It makes little sense otherwise. What would I like to see FIFA celebrate? Russian linesmen. :-)
posted by squealy at 04:40 PM on June 30, 2003
squealy, not Wichita Linesmen?
posted by billsaysthis at 06:24 PM on June 30, 2003
squealy: What would I like to see FIFA celebrate? Russian linesmen. :-) I don't get it.
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:40 PM on June 30, 2003
posted by squealy at 03:22 AM on July 01, 2003
How do I think FIFA should celebrate? Here's how: 4 DVD collection! DVD 1: Goals! A celebration of goal scoring and strikers from the past and present, including:
- interviews with the greatest strikers
- top 100 list of the greatest goals (based on skill and importance) decided on by a panel of experts
- top 100 greatest goal scorers, and clips of them in action
- pages of statistics for players, teams, leagues up to and including the 2003 seasons/tournaments (DVD ROM portion)
- interviews with the greatest keepers
- top 100 list of the greatest saves (based on skill and importance) decided on by a panel of experts
- top 100 greatest keepers and clips of them in action
- pages of statistics for players, teams, leagues up to and including the 2003 seasons/tournament (DVD ROM portion)
- interviews with the managers, players and famous fans of these teams
- top 100 list of the greatest matches by championship teams
- top 100 list of the greatest teams in league and in World Cup history
- pages of statistics for players, teams, leagues up to and including the 2003 seasons/tournament (DVD ROM portion)
- interviews with managers, players, and famous fans of the teams
- top 100 list of the greatest defeats in league and World Cup history
- top 100 list of the biggest surprise performances in league and World Cup history
- pages of statistics for players, teams, leagues up to and including the 2003 seasons/tournament (DVD ROM portion)
posted by grum@work at 09:30 AM on July 01, 2003
How do I think FIFA should celebrate? Try and make the Americans call soccer football - and call their own version of helmet football something else. It would make Sportsfilter a little less confusing at any rate...
posted by BigCalm at 10:29 AM on July 01, 2003
BC: How about American Rules Football? Because you know how Americans love to give in to pressure from other countries. Grum: Great idea! If the price was reasonable, say $49.99 or less for the set, I'd be a buyer.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:27 AM on July 01, 2003
Great idea grum... Ah soccer posts....keep em comin'!!
posted by StarFucker at 11:31 AM on July 01, 2003
I'm w/ grummy and Calmy and the Fooker!
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:12 PM on July 01, 2003
And squealy: ta for clearing up that Russian linesmen reference. A beautiful moment.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:15 PM on July 01, 2003
Oh, btw, I forgot to ask: The World Cup in 2010 is already set for Africa, they're just going to announce which nation(s) are going to host. Who would you have? I figure the possibilities (assuming, of course, that these countries still exist by that point in time) will be something like South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, or possibly Egypt. Where would you have them put it, all things considered?
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:21 PM on July 01, 2003
What would you have FIFA do celebrate? All the board members and executives should resign. That would be cause for quite a bit of celebration.