• I grew up watching Gerd Mueller, the all time leading goal scorer in World Cup History in his NASL stint with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. (where he played alongside worldwide greats Elias Figeroua, Nene Cubilias and George Best). Mueller’s record of 14 World Cup goals is serious jeopardy of finally being broken in this World Cup. The thinking pre tournament was that Ronaldo who has 12 goals in world cup play would break it, but Ronaldo has looked out of shape and ineffective in Brazil’s first two matches. But Miroslav Klose now very quietly has 9 goals and could score several more based on the freedom coach Jurgen Klinnsman (who himself has 11 World Cup goals) is allowing him to play with up front.
  • I’m rooting for Klose to break the record if not in this World Cup in the next. Why? Klose proves all the Soccer snobs are wrong: You don’t have to be raised in the glamorous youth academies, get a national team call up as a teenager, play in the Youth World Cup or for a big club to be a world class player.
  • Trinidad’s Cornell Glen of the LA Galaxy in MLS has become a much talked about striker in this World Cup. Considering Glen has bounced around MLS the last few years, will LA GM Alexi Lalas take note and make sure MLS locks him up long term. Let’s hope Glen’s first half injury against Paraguay today was not serious enough for him to miss substantial MLS time.
  • Sven Goran Eriksson’s decision to bring a half fit Michael Owen to the World Cup will cost England dearly in the knock out stages. Consider Wayne Rooney isn’t fully fit himself and Peter Crouch is well Peter Crouch, I’d seriously consider placing Steven Gerrard up top. The decision not to bring Shaun Wright-Phillips or Jermain DeFoe to Germany could be very costly for Sven’s side.
  • Roger Lemerre is the only coach in history to win both the European Championships (with France in 2000) and the African Nations Cup (with Tunisia in 2006). Unfortunately, Lemerre is poised for his second consecutive first round exit from the World Cup. At least his current Tunisian side has scored a few goals unlike his France side in 2002 which went scoreless in three group matches.