As the World Cup quarterfinals come to a finish today, we have already seen the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and the whole Spanish side falter in the Group Stage. No Ronaldo and no Spain opens the door for Lionel Messi to stake his claim as the best in the world by leading an underwhelming Argentina side to its first World Cup title since the days of Diego Maradona in 1986.

Messi has already participated in two previous World Cups. In 2006, he played mostly in a substitute role. The 2010 World Cup saw Messi make the list for potential Golden Ball (Player of the Tournament) candidates. Now, Messi has helped Argentina progress through to the quarterfinals, where they face Belgium on Saturday (Noon ET/9am PT). Furthermore, Argentina has not performed to the standards expected of them once the draw gave them arguably one of the weakest groups in the World Cup. It has been up to Messi to score a wonderful goal against Bosnia to put Argentina ahead 2-0 and hold off for a 2-1 win. Iran proved a much tougher test holding Argentina level through 90 minutes. However, it was the left foot of Messi that snatched a victory away from a match that looked destined to end in a 0-0 draw – 1-0 for Argentina. Finally, Messi scored quickly against Nigeria and then again from a brilliant set piece to help Argentina to a 3-2 victory taking all three group matches.

What makes this World Cup so different for Lionel Messi is that he has become comfortable with the role of dominant leader of a talented, but underperforming, Argentinian side. Such was the ways of Diego Maradona in the 1980s. As Maradona looked on during the Iran match, announcers spoke of the curse Maradona had on Argentina – largely connected to his terrible management of the 2010 World Cup. However, it seemed that as the ball curled towards the top corner from Messi’s magical left foot that finally the Messi hype moved beyond the brilliance at Barcelona and onto the global stage.

The greatest players in the world may be phenomenal for their club, but their World Cup performance ultimately dictates their legacy. Cristiano Ronaldo has experienced ups and downs during the World Cup. David Beckham will never live down his red card in the 1998 World Cup. Pelé played in four World Cups and led Brazil to three championships in those four tries (although not playing most of the 1962 tournament due to injury). Maradona gave Argentina his only World Cup crown in 1986 and led them back to the Final in 1990. These are the World Cup legends that will live in infamy. It is the World Cup that makes them.

Now, as Messi enters the quarterfinals with arguably one of the easiest paths to the semi-finals against either Netherlands or Costa Rica, a nation’s hopes have not been higher in 20 years. The talent level for the squad is undeniable. However, their performances have been found wanting. And yet, they have won each game. Why? It does not take a rocket scientist to notice that Messi has carried this side. He is making a case for the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot (Top Goal Scorer). If Higuain, Agüero, Mascherano and di María decide to begin playing well, Argentina will easily be a favorite, if not THE favorite, to win the World Cup particularly given the injury to Neymar, which has ruled him out of the World Cup.

So, what will it take to solidify Messi as one of, or maybe the greatest of all time? Given the status of Maradona around the globe, and the fact that he only won one World Cup, a single World Cup title will place Messi in the top 3 players of all time and could give him more credibility to challenge Pelé as the greatest footballer to ever live, as well as to stake a claim as the current world’s best footballer, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo. Certainly winning multiple World Cup titles will place him in those discussions, but the first one is there for the taking and his performance, beginning today, will start the path to etching Messi’s name along with the greats. He is still only 27 years of age. This gives him at least one more World Cup appearance – and likely two. However, the quarterfinals can be cruel. Today begins the journey for Lionel Messi to steal the show of the 2014 World Cup and place himself among the greats of world soccer.

Throughout the World Cup viewers are able to witness the playing of every participant’s national anthem. This can be a moving experience for the participants. It also provides people around the globe the opportunity to observe national pride through the singing (and sometimes screaming) of the words. During the Chile-Brazil Round of 16 match, this was quite evident as both nation’s players sang well past the musical rendition offered through the public address system. This poses an interesting question: who has the “best” national anthem?

This article is going to grade each of the 32 participant’s national anthems on the basis of five categories to determine who really has the “best.” These categories will include: historical relevance, ease of memorization, national identity, musical catchiness and the emotional factor. Each category contains a 10-point scale yielding a possible 50 points. A brief breakdown of each of these categories follows using the Star Spangled Banner to give an example of how the category applies.

Historical Relevance

Historical relevance examines the significance the anthem has with respect to the nation and its history. While seemingly obvious, not every anthem actually pertains to anything specific within the nation’s history. Historical relevance grades on the basis of the words and the national history. The strength of the link to the national history will increase the score in this category. (Ex: Star Spangled Banner explained that Americans continued to fight during a War of 1812 battle against the British that seemed hopeless and yet the flag remained flying throughout the night amidst relentless explosions.)

East of Memorization

This category deals with the catchiness of the wording. Some national anthems (like England) do not require a lot of effort to memorize the whole anthem. The easier the anthem to memorize, the greater the score for this category. However, this does not mean that the anthem must be simple, just easy to memorize. Rhyme schemes also play a pivotal role in gaining points here – rhyme based on original language, not English. (Ex: Star Spangled Banner attempts to aid in memorization by the tune, but wording is not easy to memorize – ask the numerous musicians that failed to properly sing it before a sporting event.)

National Identity

Similar to historical relevance, national identity seeks to tease out the link between the words of the anthem and the people of that country. Some anthems portray a national spirit (pride, brave, free, monarchy, etc.) while others simply speak to the country itself (terrain characteristics). Greater link to the identity of the culture and people yields a greater score in this category. (Ex: Star Spangled Banner’s final two lines are “O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”)

 Musical Catchiness

This category is all about the tune itself. If you listen to the song with no words, how much enjoyment comes from the tune? While much of the rating in this category deals with musical preference, most national anthems utilize an orchestra. Greater scores in this category come from the ability to follow the tune and its likeability. (Ex: Star Spangled Banner uses trumpets to guide the music through each line and a clanging cymbal to signify moving on to another line.)

Emotional Factor

The final category, emotional factor, links the history, music, words and identity into a single factor. Having a strong emotional factor comes through when all of these elements drive the listener to feeling what it might be like to be a citizen of that nation. It shows in a heartfelt moment when players begin to weep because they believe in what they are singing and feel the weight of the nation on their back. This category also serves as the tiebreaker for equal totals. (Ex: Americans often close their eyes and place hands on hearts during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner because it tries to link the past sacrifices to the present lifestyle in a type of emotional memorial.)

Here are clips of the top 10 national anthems:

1. Chile

2. Brazil

3. USA

4. Iran

5. Ivory Coast

6. Spain

7. France

8. Nigeria

9. Uruguay

10. Mexico

As an American who was raised speaking English, some may question me when I say that Univision is far superior viewing for the World Cup. My primary rationale lies in the announcers for each game. While Ian Darke calling US and England games has become a staple, I cannot continue to bore myself with the remaining English speaking announcers ESPN has insisted upon for the other games. I’m a Seattle Sounders fan and having Kasey Keller as the color commentator just puts me to sleep. Therefore, I felt it would be appropriate to express the reasons why Spanish announcers are far better for the viewer than English announcers.

Here are my three reasons:

1. Lack of dead time

When you watch ESPN, how many times during the game do commentators feel it necessary to take a tangent and discuss some player’s personal life or reminisce on the past greats of one of the country’s playing? Or worse, they take time to compare the teams to the US Men’s National Team! Spanish commentators could care less about connecting to the teams to Mexico unless it is in their group. Additionally, the play-by-play commentators remind me of watching hockey on NBC when Mike Emrick is announcing. The speed and accuracy is tremendous.

2. Excitement

This is, perhaps, the biggest reason why I find myself so attracted to Spanish announcers. Just go back to Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria in the previous World Cup. Everyone who watched is familiar with Ian Darke’s classic call:

However, here’s just one example of the type of excitement you can hear with Spanish-language commentators on Univision:

Once I heard Spanish-language commentators, I was hooked on the energy and enthusiasm. Simply put, it is difficult to compete with the excitement of hearing someone simply yell “Goooooooooooooooooooool!” for almost 30 seconds uninterrupted.

3. Learning or brushing up on another language

Let’s face it, being someone who only speaks a single language in such a globalized world is becoming more difficult. That does not mean it is impossible, but how many of you wish that when you see beautiful people from a different county, you knew more than “Hola!” In case that is all you know, try saying “Como se llama?” next time. That means “What is your name?” or “How do you call yourself?” After all, initiating the conversation is half the battle – according to Adam Sandler in Big Daddy.

For myself, I watch to try and follow as much as I can. I was fairly fluent a few years ago, but living in the middle of the country where no one spoke Spanish took away a large portion of my memory and understanding. Thus, watching fútbol enables me to enjoy the game while also expand my knowledge. Also, it brings a little joy every time I’m able to follow the entire sentence – even though it was spoken far faster than I can process.

Also, Spanish announcers rarely care who is playing. Tim Cahill scored a wondergoal against the Netherlands. Neither team is Spanish-speaking. And yet, Cahill’s goal sent announcers into a frenzy of yelling “Goooollllaaaasssoooo!” (That’s the Spanish equivalent to saying wondergoal). The joy in calling the game and the excitement of a goal is not missed when watching Univision. Similarly, the build up to chances also gets Spanish announcers excited. It is not just the goals. It is also the play that drives their vocal inflections. They are just excited to call the game.

So, when you find yourself at work preparing to turn on your iPad, tablet, computer, etc. to watch some of the World Cup while the boss is not paying attention, try downloading the Univision Deportes app or going to the Univision website to “Ver en vivo” (watch live) and compare for yourself.

Group A saw the expectations of many come to fruition on Match-day 1. The future for Group A begins today with Brazil-Mexico and continues tomorrow with Cameroon-Croatia. Here is each team’s scenario entering Matchday 2:

Brazil

Despite the controversial penalty that was awarded to Brazil against Croatia and lack of real interest in the first 20 minutes, Brazil still managed to avoid becoming the first host nation to lose its opener. Following the penalty, Brazil took control and finished with an expected 3-1 victory. However, their World Cup really begins today against Mexico. Three points today will all-but-assure a spot in the Knockout round.

Mexico

Mexico, too, accomplished what was expected of them in their first game. Albeit having two goals incorrectly disallowed, Mexico fought and finally were rewarded with Peralta’s rebound finish. Today sees Mexico able to exhale slightly. They head into a match that they are not expected to win and should expect to play with nothing to lose. A point here would be worth celebrating.

Most to Gain on Matchday 2: Mexico

Mexico, with even a point, put themselves in a great position heading into Matchday 3. Do not expect them to push, but any result except being blown out by Brazil will suffice.

ESPN studio analyst and Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that England can take the World Cup by storm, saying “The potential is undoubtedly there and it has also been recognized. Now it just needs to be realized.”

Does England truly have the opportunity to get through Group D with Italy and Uruguay? Martinez says they can get through the group and beyond.

It has been 48 years since England hoisted the Cup. The 1966 team also had the advantage of playing on home soil. The 2014 World Cup presents weather that spans any number of climates and very formidable group opponents. But, as Martinez describes, “you are talking about players who, tactically and technically, are as gifted as those in any country, such as Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshere and Adam Lallana. As a generation, that’s as good as it gets.” And Martinez is being very pointed in his comments of the youth in the English squad. Only 6 of the 23 squad members (Hart, Johnson, Gerrard, Milner, Lampard and Rooney) have World Cup experience.

Martinez’s other comments signify that his intent is to illustrate the quality of the youth in the squad and the need for this youth to develop the way Spain developed in the late 2000s leading up to World Cup 2010. “Look at the young players coming through – they are now good enough and, just as important, are ready to go abroad and be important players.” English players have not been notorious for going abroad and succeeding. The only player not playing in England on the current squad is backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster (Celtic).

Throughout his interview with the Liverpool Echo newspaper, Martinez alludes to the success of the Spanish as having spawned from the dominance of nations like Germany. Spain developed youth systems that did not force players to be loaned to lower divisions in hopes of playing. Instead, top clubs in Spain utilize B teams to ensure that the younger talent are able to gain valuable experience. The hopes of these B teams are to discover the talent of 18-22 year olds earlier and give them experience that will translate to first team football. To put this in the English team context, 7 of the first-time World Cup players are over the age of 26 (Foster, Forster, Baines, Cahill, Jagielka, Lallana and Lambert).

The closer look at the English squad does demonstrate one trait that will surely be evident – determination. Having a mixed batch of under-25s, first-timers over 25 and World Cup veterans, Hodgson does have a solid balance to ensure that the youth in the squad is not overexposed. Being able to see the likes of Rickie Lambert playing in his first World Cup at 32 will give Hodgson the assurance that nothing will be left on the field. Older players have a different level of experience. Granted, it is not at the World Cup. But, that experience will be invaluable for this squad.

As for the youth, Martinez summarizes their capabilities and comparisons to Spain by saying, “England should not feel inferior to Spain to be intimidated by their achievements. They should use their success for inspiration, because they are now in a position to emulate them. And that is the whole nation’s responsibility.” If that you can come together and play on the coattails of the experienced players, they likely can achieve what Portugal failed to do in 2002, go far in the World Cup – possibly even win.

The major question for England in this World Cup is in their youth. Having to start off their World Cup campaign against Italy is not going to be easy. However, given the schedule for England (Italy, Uruguay, then Costa Rica), the goal in the first two matches may be to just get a point. If England can set themselves up for a win-and-advance final match against Costa Rica, that youth will now have two quality matches behind them and experience may drive them far.

Today, the excitement begins for England – squad and nation – and the real test begins for the group Martinez feels can match Spain’s Golden Generation.

SEE MORE — Read the England World Cup Preview and listen to the England World Cup Preview podcast.

It’s been a rough week for Cardiff City supporters, the club, manager and players — all because of the inane actions by club owner Vincent Tan. While Cardiff are trying to set up talks between Tan and Malky Mackay to settle their differences, it’s important that Tan sticks with Mackay for the following six reasons:

1. Points total. Cardiff are four points clear of the relegation zone and have a +4 goal difference on the “best” club in the relegation zone – Fulham. As there are two games left in the first half of the season, this is quite an accomplishment considering they have not played consistently. Additionally, their final two games in the first half of the season are at home and very winnable fixtures.

2. Results. Cardiff have not had easy home fixtures – the “easiest” being West Brom/ They have already faced Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle and Swansea. Somehow they have managed 11 points with this grueling home schedule. What does this mean? It means the remainder of the first half and the whole of the second half sees the likes of Southampton (on bad form currently), Sunderland, West Ham, Norwich City, Aston Villa, Hull City, Crystal Palace, Stoke City and Fulham visiting Cardiff City Stadium. Call me crazy, but if Cardiff can take points against those they have faced at home already, those nine fixtures I just mentioned will surely produce an abundance of points – enough to certainly keep Cardiff up this season.

3. Favorable schedule. Cardiff has a favorable schedule late in the season. If you view the second half of the 2013/14 schedule, Cardiff were not gifted a friendly January – at Arsenal, home West Ham, at Manchester City and at Manchester United. However, they were given two stretches of point grabbing fixtures. First, the month of February is home to Norwich, at Swansea, home to Aston Villa and home to Hull City. Second, from the end of March through April, Cardiff are away to West Brom, home to Crystal Palace, at Southampton, home to Stoke and at Sunderland. They finish the season away to Newcastle and home to Chelsea. However, those final two games could be a formality if points are grabbed where they need to be. Having a five game stretch where wins are feasible in every game is crucial. But that is even more the case when those fixtures fall at season’s end.

4. Transition. January’s treacherous schedule gives reason to be optimistic of any team transition – via transfer or simply testing lineups/formations. Knowing that Cardiff will have the ability to be rid of three awful fixtures in January rather than March or April provides a bit of a relief should any loan players or new signings arrive or if players like Andreas Cornelius are finally able to attempt to integrate into the starting 11. Additionally, this provides Cardiff with a benchmark: be out of the relegation zone by the end of January and it is almost certain they will stay up.

5. Respect. You do not find managers as respected as Malky Mackay this often. I started with some of the outlooks for the rest of the season because that seems to be the focus. But in the end, it all comes down to how the club, the players, the fans and those around the league view the manager. Mackay is not a rebel without a cause. He could have left this offseason for jobs elsewhere (most likely Sunderland as he was one of their top choices). However, he believed that Cardiff fans and the club deserved to finish the goal of getting to and staying in the Premier League. With a club with the makeup of Cardiff having so few players with Premier League experience, staying up would certainly provide a grounding whereby next season might come much easier for such young talent like Mutch, Kim, Noone, etc.

6. Don’t rock the boat. We must be wary of the dangers faced by clubs that are not in imminent danger and what major changes might cause. Crystal Palace received a small boost from a managerial change, West Brom appear lost, Fulham are calling Clint Dempsey back to pull a Landon Donovan loan boost, Sunderland have fought and still look hopeless while Tottenham are still suffering from a major identity crisis. Consider what happens when you do not make the shotgun change: Newcastle is the prime example. Earlier this season, Pardew was a certain sacking. Now, his club is on the edge of a European spot. I am not saying Cardiff will challenge for Europe – certainly not this season. But, given that the squad is still coming together, change will only equal disaster especially with so many winnable fixtures looming in the season’s second half.

It should come as little surprise that the World Cup groups are unbalanced. As I mentioned in a previous article, the lack of balance in place of geographical parity has led to groups that will either excite or bore depending on the country you most want to watch. What follows is a quick calculation to illustrate the lack of group parity, to evaluate group strength and to determine the true Group(s) of Death, plus to provide some insight on what to expect next summer. 

Group A – Average Ranking of 24.25

Brazil (10^th)

Croatia (16^th)

Mexico (20^th)

Cameroon (51^st) 

Group A is a dream draw for Brazil. Following the unbelievable decision to draw a random European side into Pot 2, Brazil faced the possibility of being stuck with a top 10 European side. As it turned out, Brazil avoided the European side drawn into Pot 2, Italy, and further benefited from drawing a disoriented Mexican side and the weakest African nation, Cameroon. The group is weak and Brazil should easily progress into the Knockout Rounds. Do not be surprised if Mexico progress as well given the favorable schedule of playing Cameroon first and getting Croatia last – in a potential knockout match.

Group B – Average Ranking of 21

Spain (1^st)

Netherlands (9^th)

Chile (15^th)

Australia (59^th)

While it is understandable that the average ranking (21) does not reflect this group’s strength, it does reflect the parity problem. This group should be renamed the “Beat Australia or Go Home Group.” Any one of the top 3 sides who does not take 3 points from Australia will find themselves on a plane back home earlier than desired. Additionally, what an irony to see the World Cup 2010 Final replayed in the first tie of the group stage. Spain will be irate at the draw, and Chile may find themselves sneaking through if the Netherlands are unable to stay healthy leading up to the World Cup. While Spain and the Netherland should move on, the result of the Spain – Netherlands tie could cause the group to turn in Chile’s favor.

Group C – Average Ranking of 20.25

Colombia (4^th)

Greece (12^th)

Ivory Coast (17^th)

Japan (48^th)

Like Group B, Group C appears to be a group in which the top 3 should get 3 points from the weakest side. However, Japan is far better than Australia even if their ranking does not show it. Having a decently respectable display at the Confederations Cup should warn Colombia, Greece and the Ivory Coast of the dangers Japan pose. Additionally, looking at these four teams, one thing is lacking in all of them – consistency. There are moments when Colombia look a real power (like drawing the Dutch and whipping Belgium last month), but at other times they struggle (getting dominated by Uruguay in September and Chile in the first half of their game in October). The Ivory Coast always seems to underachieve at World Cups of late and Greece never looks a real attacking threat against quality opponents. This should be one of the more interesting groups to watch as it is hard to really say what will happen.

Group D – Average Ranking of 14.25

Uruguay (6^th)

Costa Rica (31^st)

England (13^th)

Italy (7^th)

This is a group that could arguably be considered a Group of Death. Uruguay were unfortunately handed the misfortune of taking the ‘randomly selected’ European side from Pot 2, Italy, as well as a historical power in England. Furthermore, Costa Rica poses an interesting attacking threat with the likes of Bryan Ruiz, Rodney Wallace, Alvaro Saborio and Joel Campbell. Additionally, given the inconsistencies of Italy this past year (dominating their Qualifying group, but drawing to Nigeria, Armenia and Haiti), Uruguay may truly look the favorites to walk out of this group. England will be tested as their first two games are Italy and Uruguay making points critical for their hopes of progression. This group still looks safe to assume Uruguay and Italy will emerge.

Group E – Average Ranking of 22.75

Switzerland (8^th)

Ecuador (23^rd)

France (19^th)

Honduras (41^st) 

If there is such a thing as the Group(s) of Death, this group will certainly fall into the category of the Group of Life.  This group will certainly be entertaining to watch because any one of these teams (and yes, that includes Honduras) could emerge on top. Switzerland coasted into the World Cup playing Cyprus, Iceland, Norway, Albania and Slovenia. Ecuador has looked promising at times, but relied heavily on early success to ensure their qualification having only won 1 of their last 6 qualifiers. France should not have even made the World Cup, but yet again referees gifted them a critical goal (see the second goal in the second leg and how far offside Benzema was prior to scoring). Overall, I recommend viewers tune into this group for it might yield the most surprising final results of the tournament.

Group F – Average Ranking of 26.25

Argentina (3^rd)

Bosnia-Herzegovina (21^st)

Iran (45^th)

Nigeria (36^th)

Unlike Group E, this is not a true Group of Life, but rather a group of battling for second. Argentina will coast in this group (likely taking 9 out of 9). Bosnia is not good away from home and did not have a difficult group in Qualifying (Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Greece and Slovakia). Iran is an unknown here as North Korea was in 2010. Nigeria have always had talent, but winning an AFCON title does not mean much as Egypt has taken numerous AFCON titles without qualifying as did Zambia two years ago. Second place is up for grabs and should give viewers a reason to tune into Iran-Nigeria in the first set of fixtures.

Group G – Average Ranking of 11.25

Germany (2^nd)

Portugal (5^th)

Ghana (24^th)

USA (14^th) 

Group of Death. This will be the headline for each of the respective countries in this group. All four countries do have a chance to get out of this group and all four could also be embarrassed by the other three teams. Yes, that includes the United States. It is time for the rest of the world to face the facts. The United States has some depth and is not afraid to compete. I mentioned in a previous article that countries did not want to draw them because it likely meant the Group of Death and the USA was basically the only strong member of Pot 3. Ask Ghana, Germany and Portugal if they now agree. Furthermore, the average ranking is actually a massive understatement. Ghana is far better than half of the European nations ahead of them in the FIFA rankings and much more consistent in global tournaments than the Ivory Coast (the top ranked African side). Germany and Portugal speak for themselves. Storylines abound here with the Boatengs facing off, US-Ghana history, Ronaldo carrying Portugal, Germany vs. Klinsmann, etc. This will easily be the most watched group in the tournament.

Group H – Average Ranking of 28.25

Belgium (11^th)

Algeria (26^th)

Russia (22^nd)

Korea Republic (54^th)

The World Cup youth and inexperience for Belgium will not matter much with a group this easy. Algeria have some experience with World Cup 2010 and South Korea always seem to play well during the World Cup, but this is going to be more of a battle for second as Belgium should take at least 7 of 9. Thoughts are Russia should come out second given the youth of South Korea and the lack of historical success with Algeria, but anything is possible. The Russia-Korea game in the opening fixture could prove vital for determining who takes second in this group.

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Concluding Thoughts:

1) There are 2 Groups of Death!

Group D and G are both viable Groups of Death. This is not just based on average ranking, but also due to the eye test for each of the teams. Costa Rica could prove a surprise as well as Ghana. Both groups will be highly entertaining.

2) Global Parity Needs to Stop!

The global parity has created group disparity. There is no reason why in a tournament field with such quality there are only 2 groups with an average ranking of less than 20. Additionally, with 2 groups having an average over 25 makes the tournament unbalanced. It warrants FIFA reconsidering the format of dividing pots by region. Why not simply rank the teams 1 to 32 and then divide them into 4 pots accordingly? Parity makes for better viewing pleasure and gives those countries that have deserved to be a top 8 nation more of an opportunity to progress.

3) There Should Never Be a Group of Life!

Group E is an absolute joke. As mentioned with respect to parity, Group E provided teams like France and Honduras a chance to advance to the Knockout Round when few other groups would have allowed such an opportunity. Yes, it is the World Cup and anything is possible. But, can you honestly say it is fair and desirable to have nations working four years to be a top contender to find they may need to win 2 out of 3 just to reach the Knockouts? Additionally, should there really be groups with no one favored because no one is genuinely a World Cup Title contender?!

4) MUST WATCH FIRST FIXTURES!

It is hard to recall so many quality fixtures happening the first week: Spain vs. Netherlands, England vs. Italy, Germany vs. Portugal, USA vs. Ghana, Brazil vs. Croatia and Colombia vs. Greece. Talk about a reason to stay tuned even though there is such disparity among the groups! It used to require just a decent showing over three games to progress if you were a quality side. But, with games like these being first for these countries, their fate could be sealed after a single game. World Cup 2014, here we come!

Now that the World Cup pots have been confirmed, countries around the globe will be tuned in Friday for the official draw. Managers will now have to quell nerves and focus on preparing their staffs for the task of scouting their future opponents. With a six month preparation window, final roster tweaks and lots of prayers for the health of players will fill the minds of the likes of Vicente Del Bosque, Roy Hodgson and Jürgen Klinsmann. But before the draw, it is worth noting a few nuances and expectations for Friday.

1. How many can say they expected the 9th European side to be drawn from Pot 4 into Pot 2? Analysts were expecting the lowest ranking UEFA side would be shifted into the pot housing the African sides and remaining South American sides. Few saw this as an opportunity for FIFA to place a random European side in this pot. What does this mean? Well, it means that France no longer face the prospect of a group with a top South American side and a quality European side (unless they are drawn from Pot 4 Friday). Furthermore, it means that Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands (all now ranked in the Top 10 in FIFA rankings) could potentially find themselves in an unenviable position that would force them into a group with a top 10 side from South America. This matters because only South American nations have won World Cups hosted in South American countries. Additionally, this also poses the threat of having a group with 3 Top 10 countries in a single group. Had the lowest ranked side (France by October rankings and Russia by November rankings) been placed in Pot 2, this would not be possible.

2. We can say there are certainly going to be 3 groups with 2 European countries and 1 South American country. It is almost certainly within these three groups that a Group of Death or multiple Groups of Death will emerge. As mentioned, having the potential for a group with 3 Top 10 countries from the most recent FIFA rankings would be entertaining and a shame for the side that would not finish in the top 2 of that group. Also, European sides will also not want to be placed in a group with Chile or Ecuador. Both of these countries are guaranteed to be paired with 2 European countries. Chile will certainly be the more feared of the two after their dismantling of England at Wembley last month. However, playing in Brazil will only enhance the support for the two South American sides that have already begun scouting the European sides that will prove major tests in their bid to get out of the group stage in World Cup 2014.

3. The pots are heavily unbalanced. While it is understandable that FIFA tries to ensure some geographic parity, they have failed to create balance within the pots themselves. Pots 2 and 3 are the prime example. Pot 1 and Pot 4 have essentially become the top ranked teams and the second highest ranked teams (although the United States, Chile, Ivory Coast and Mexico do all rank higher than the lowest ranked European side). As per the November FIFA rankings, here are how the pots average:

Pot 1 – 5.625 average ranking

*Pot 2 – 27.429 average ranking

Pot 3 – 39 average ranking

*Pot 4 – 13.778 average ranking

*It is worth noting that Pot 2 will have an average ranking between 24.625 (if Portugal are drawn into Pot 2) and 26.75 (if Russia are drawn into Pot 2) while Pot 4 will have an average ranking between 12.75 (if Russia are drawn into Pot 2) and 14.875 (if Portugal are drawn into Pot 2). However, the disparity is still great with Pots 2 and 3 having such a lower average ranking.

4. The United States actually has become the team that no one wants to draw. The United States is the highest ranked country outside of teams in Pot 1 and 4 and while the Pot 2 European side is certainly a team that one of the top 4 South American sides want to avoid, the United States is the team everyone in Pot 1 and 4 will want to avoid. It does not guarantee the United States will create a Group of Death as statistics show a 50% chance of that happening, but it does guarantee that the group will have the highest non-European and non-South American side awaiting it. Does this mean the United States will ruin someone’s World Cup hopes? Certainly not. What it does mean is that the United States are the one team in Pot 3 with a legitimate chance to cause major problems to the top nations in the tournament. No offense to Iran, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras, but those teams are a welcome opponent to many given the strength of the tournament field. However, this also means that the US must hope beyond hope that they receive a favorable draw to progress into the Knockout Stage.

Friday will present a lot of drama and heartache, but it was certainly worth pointing out some of the unique characteristics of World Cup 2014 prior to the draw taking place.

Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 11:00 ET on NBCSN 

The 106th edition of the South Wales Derby will make its first appearance in the Premier League on Sunday. Cardiff City will host Swansea City in a fixture that has had its share of blood on and off the pitch. It is somewhat unfortunate that this derby has been absent for almost three years (last played on February 6, 2011). However, there has been no grander a stage than the one at Cardiff City Stadium this weekend.

First played in 1912, the South Wales Derby has been viewed by many as one of the more entertaining in all of British football. With a history of crowd fracases, this derby has two sets of fans that want nothing more than pain for the others. An example came just this week as Cardiff City fans hacked the Swansea City website and using a number of derogatory terms to describe the Swans and their fan base.

This week’s fixture between the two Welsh sides will see two teams facing different Premier League battles. Cardiff are currently fighting the relegation zone as well as instability in the front office. Vincent Tan came into Cardiff’s first season in the Premier League with lofty expectations (some reports saying he wanted a Top 4 finish). Malky Mackay has been rumored to be out for a few weeks now following the firing of the club’s Chief Scout Iain Moody. All the while, Cardiff are still a point clear of the relegation zone, and have not shown any promise of attacking football for much of the season. Rather, they have relied on their defensive shape and gritty play that comes with a Mackay-led club.

On the other side, Swansea, now Premier League regulars are attempting to balance the difficulties of the Europa League with the Premier League. Rumors of transfers for Ashley Williams and Michu continue to circle with the January window approaching. But the Swans have begun to show a solid run of form of late with a 4-0 thrashing of Sunderland followed by a hard fought 0-0 draw with West Ham in less than ideal weather conditions. Still, Michael Laudrup’s side needs to continue their solid form in order to make their way into the European places.

So what should be expected this weekend? For Cardiff, they are finally going to be fully healthy as Andreas Cornelius’ lingering injury appears to be clear if Mackay so chooses to put him on the team sheet. Furthermore, having the fixture at Cardiff City Stadium will provide Cardiff with a much needed boost while they try to add some separation from Norwich and Stoke (both a point behind Cardiff). Swansea will see this match as an opportunity to set sights on the top third of the table. And, although the last derby was in 2011, the result was a 1-0 win for Cardiff at the Liberty Stadium. Craig Bellamy provided that goal and will look to do the same as he is set to return to the Cardiff lineup.

As mentioned, Cardiff will be at full strength for this fixture. This will only be the second league match in which they can make this claim. Swansea are still without the services of Jonjo Shelvey and Ben Davies. These two absences could prove important as Shelvey has shown moments of creativity and Davies has emerged as a star for both Swansea and Wales.

Expected Lineups:

Cardiff – Marshall, Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, Taylor, Medel, Bellamy, Mutch, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Odemwingie

Swansea – Vorm, Taylor, Chico, Williams, Rangel, Britton, Dyer, Routledge, De Guzman, Michu, Bony

Prediction:

As much as this would seem to favor Swansea due to consistency and depth in their squad, this is the South Wales Derby. Historically, Swansea have shined in the league fixtures winning 20 and drawing 16 of the 54 matches. However, this match will feel like that of the Manchester City fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium earlier this season. It is hard to bet against the home side getting points. But, it is too difficult to go against the smart play of a draw. At the final whistle, do not be surprised to see a 2-2 draw and possibly some fans of both sides trying to brawl in the parking lot.

Last night, I watched Arabe Unido (from Panama) beat Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the CONCACAF Champions League. Aside from the vile filth that was supposedly futbol, I could not help but notice a few reasons why CONCACAF will never have a successful Champions League like that of UEFA. As such, I felt the need to share the reasons in hopes that CONCACAF will one day realize it can no longer be run by a group of committee members who are out of touch with reality.

Here are a few things that need changed immediately if CONCACAF ever wishes to be seen as a more respectable region around the globe:

1) Fields – It goes without saying that the field surfaces of a majority of CONCACAF nations and clubs would be seen as poor conditions for a hobo. To think, Costa Rica complained about playing in the snow in Denver, when every time they play at their own national stadium they probably wear spikes designed for ice wall climbing just to prevent breaking ankles. This is one of the biggest reasons why Jürgen Klinsmann was unable to comprehend how superior teams in the region, such as the United States, struggled in Central America. FIFA has some standards about the surface, but only in that it must be some form of natural grass. This is one of the reasons Seattle was almost not given a World Cup Qualifier (the Sounders and Seahawks play on an artificial surface). So, CONCACAF, try establishing a higher standard and force some of these teams to put in a surface sufficient for quality to shine.

2) Fans – As an American, I am a bit of an amateur when it comes to hooliganism. However, having been to a number of European matches, I am well aware that even those famous for their destruction will concede that it should never interfere with the game itself. As Costa Rica visited Mexico (a supposedly more civilized country in CONCACAF), thanks to ESPN the United States was able to hate their neighbors to the South even more. Fans hitting Costa Rican players with beer bottles during the game is the behavior of troglodytes (that means cavemen for those CONCACAF committee members who were able to read this far). In the United States, there are cameras on the stands and security everywhere waiting to escort morons out of the stadium and into the back seat of a police vehicle when such behavior is even attempted. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying all fans in CONCACAF and Central America are horrible. Having a good fan base is necessary for teams to have an advantage at home. However, belligerent fanaticism is something that must stop to improve the perception of the region.

3) Tournament Format – This is directed to the Champions League itself. In CONCACAF, there is some odd format that puts teams into a three team round robin with only one advancing into a home-and-away knockout phase quarter final. With only 24 teams qualifying for the tournament to start, why not make it more interesting by forcing the smaller regions to have qualifying rounds prior to a group phase? This is the way it is done in UEFA. It prevents the bigger teams from having to go play in Azerbaijan against some team that no one has ever heard of and be forced into a midweek match that only hurts the bigger clubs’ chances in the league. In the case of tonight, Houston and LA Galaxy played important matches for CONCACAF Champions League only days before the final game of the MLS Regular Season. Houston is still in the MLS Playoff race, but was forced to travel to Panama and back, leading up to their crucial match with DC United. Finally, why does CONCACAF schedule their Champions League alongside the international schedule when half of the countries in CONCACAF have their seasons end in November? The CONCACAF Champions League group phase ends this week and then the quarter finals are not until mid-March. That’s an entirely new season with different players for MLS squads. That defeats the purpose of a Champions League – where the team that actually won the title competes, and not a team a year and a half later.

4) Referees – As a referee myself, I am sorry to have to say that CONCACAF has some of the worst referees on the planet. Just last night, Courtney Campbell (Jamaica) was unable to keep control of Arabe Unido’s players (falling on the ground and rolling around like they had just been shot), training staff (who came onto the field numerous times without being summoned by Campbell) and even the ball boys (throwing balls on the field randomly). I witnessed one sequence that took 45 seconds to have a simple throw-in taken because ball boys kept throwing balls onto the field when the Arabe Unido player had one in his hand.

Additionally, Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell managed to fool an entire officiating crew into believing Matt Besler knocked him out. What is sad is that Campbell was sanctioned by FIFA for the dive, but CONCACAF did nothing to the officiating crew for believing it. Understandably, there is not instant replay to help, but the linesman covering behind the play is only supposed to flag something if he or she is certain to have seen it. In the case of CONCACAF, the referees receive an F across the board, and bad referees who cannot control unsportsmanlike tactics (i.e. diving, simulating injuries, keeping control of who is permitted on the field, etc.) are only going to keep fans away from the competition.

So, in closing, I feel the need to give CONCACAF committee members one piece of advice – either learn how to take control of your growing list of problems or just resign so someone who will can take office. Needless to say, I will not pay much attention to the CONCACAF Champions League anymore. Instead, I would rather watch teams in Europe that I have no personal attachment to, but at least the soccer is quality.

Huzzah! The international break is over. Saturday, Sunday and Monday will provide viewers with an interesting set of fixtures in the Barclays Premier League. A list of the fixtures, times, television broadcast, a quick set of key points and the latest on injuries are as follows:

Saturday, October 19, 2013 

Newcastle United vs. Liverpool – 7:45EST on NBCSN

Newcastle looks to continue a good run of form with a steady Liverpool visiting St. James’ Park. Loïc Remy has been on a goal scoring tear with 3 in their last 2 games. Luis Suárez, also with 3 in his last 2 games, seeks to continue his easy integration into the squad following an early season suspension. The big question will be whether Liverpool can overcome their list of injuries to take much-needed away points.

Injuries
Newcastle United – Coloccini, Haidara, R Taylor and S Taylor (Out)
Liverpool – Aspas, Coates and Coutinho (Out); Allen, Johnson and Cissokho (Probable)

Prediction: Newcastle 2 – 2 Liverpool

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Arsenal vs. Norwich City – 10:00EST on NBC Live Extra

Norwich is in search of goals – with only five all season. Arsenal has too many goal scorers. This game looks a danger for Norwich on paper. However, their previous two performances – even the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea – showed promise in their play. Arsenal will look to shake off a number of minor injuries and finally unveil the Özil-Cazorla midfield duo. Playing at the Emirates will likely see Arsenal through.

Injuries
Arsenal – Diaby, Sanogo, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott (Out); Cazorla, Özil, Rosicky and Sagna (Probable)
Norwich City – E Bennett (Out); Pilkington (Late Fitness Test)

Prediction: Arsenal 3 – 0 Norwich City

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Chelsea vs. Cardiff City – 10:00EST on NBC Live Extra

Chelsea look to continue their latest 3 game unbeaten run – their second of the short season – as Cardiff City make the journey to Stamford Bridge. Fernando Torres rejoins the ranks following his 1-game ban, but still has not found the back of the net in Premier League competition – which comes as no surprise to many. Cardiff hopes to put the chaos of the past two weeks behind them and steal precious points on the road. To do so will require goals against a back line that has given up only 5 in 7 matches. Look for Chelsea to win, but not without having to put in a solid effort against Cardiff.

Injuries
Chelsea – Cole, Schürrle and Van Ginkel (Out); Torres (Probable)
Cardiff – Cornelius (Late Fitness Test)

Prediction: Chelsea 3 – 1 Cardiff

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Everton vs. Hull City – 10:00EST on NBC Live Extra

Two of the more pleasant surprises thus far in the Premier League – Everton and Hull City – square off at Goodison Park where Everton are unbeaten so far this season. Hull City is seeking every point they can muster early in the season. Perhaps the biggest concern for Hull will be the absence of James Chester and his solid play on the back line this season. Everton look too good at home not to expect at least a point. Given Hull’s early season performances, expect a tough test for Everton.

Injuries
Everton – Alcaraz, Gibson and Pienaar (Out)
Hull City – Chester and Koren (Out); Brady (Late Fitness Test)

Prediction: Everton 2 – 1 Hull City

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Manchester United vs. Southampton – 10:00EST on NBCSN

Arguably these are two clubs whose early season form have them heading in opposite directions. Manchester United have only managed 10 points in 7 matches and required the emergence of Adnan Januzaj to steal an away win at lowly Sunderland in their previous match. Southampton has not given up a goal in their previous four and was given the word first team goalkeeper Artur Boruc should be fit for the match at Old Trafford. The biggest factor could be Wayne Rooney’s current run of form with the national team – assuming he brings it back with him to United.

Injuries
Manchester United – Cleverley and Fletcher (Out); Ferdinand and Rafael (Probable)
Southampton – Boruc and Shaw (Probable)

Prediction: Manchester United 2 – 0 Southampton

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Stoke City vs. West Bromwich Albion – 10:00EST on NBC Live Extra

Stoke City and West Brom are two clubs scrounging for points early in the season. Stoke started well taking 7 points out of 12 in their first four matches. Since then, three straight losses have left them out of the drop zone only by goal difference. West Brom has shown a bit more promise having taken 8 points out of 12 and going unbeaten in their previous four. It will take a much better effort from Stoke – even at home – to get points here. Their saving grace might just be the injury woes facing West Brom heading into this fixture.

Injuries
Stoke City – Walters (Probable); Cameron (Late Fitness Test)
West Bromwich Albion – Foster, Gera, Sinclair and Thorne (Out); Anichebe and Vydra (Probable)

Prediction: Stoke City 0 – 0 West Bromwich Albion

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Swansea City vs. Sunderland – 10:00EST on NBC Live Extra

Another matchup pitting two teams in need of points takes place at the Liberty Stadium with Swansea hosting Sunderland. New manager Gus Poyet will be hoping to light a fire into a stagnant Sunderland squad. Changes are coming, but there is uncertainty regarding how the squad will integrate them in this debut for Poyet. Swansea faces a different challenge. The Swans have only managed 7 points in 7 despite solid play throughout the squad. There are numerous players from both squads entering this game with knocks as well. Don’t expect those to matter too much and don’t anticipate a glorious debut for Gus Poyet.

Injuries
Swansea City – Williams (Out); Britton, De Guzman, Monk and Vorm (Probable); Davies and Hernandez (Late Fitness Tests)
Sunderland – Brown (Out); Bardsley, Fletcher and Westwood (Probable)

Prediction: Swansea City 3 – 1 Sunderland

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West Ham United vs. Manchester City – 12:30EST on NBC

The final match on Saturday pairs two of the most inconsistent squads in the league thus far. West Ham is coming off an unbelievable three goal stomping of Tottenham at White Hart Lane while Manchester City put in a solid effort in a 3-1 win over Everton. City will still be without captain Vincent Kompany and West Ham finally received news that Andy Carroll should return…in November. With this matchup, just expect the unexpected.

Injuries
West Ham United – Carroll, Collins and Diarra (Out)
Manchester City – Demichelis and Kompany (Out); Rodwell (Probable) 

Prediction: West Ham United 2 – 2 Manchester City

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Sunday, October 20, 2013 

Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur – 11:00EST on NBCSN

Sunday’s matches also contains two clubs whose form is nothing short of confusing. Aston Villa has recorded wins over Arsenal and Norwich away and Manchester City at home. And yet, they still only sit on 10 points due to having lost three matches to Chelsea away and Liverpool and Newcastle United at home. Tottenham looked to be early title contenders, winning four of their first five. However, the previous two matches have seen a draw at Chelsea and an absolute drubbing at the hands of West Ham at White Hart Lane. Look for the big story to be the return of Christian Benteke and how he reintegrates into the Villa side.

Injuries
Aston Villa – Gardner, N’Zogbia and Okore (Out)
Tottenham Hotspur – Capoue and Rose (Out); Lennon (Probable); Kaboul (Late Fitness Test)

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

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Monday, October 21, 2013 

Crystal Palace vs. Fulham – 15:00EST on NBCSN

The close of gameweek 8 sees two clubs that must win. Crystal Palace looks a favorite to drop while Fulham continue to struggle despite having numerous attacking options at their disposal. If Palace cannot get three points against another of the drop favorites, and even though it is early, form suggests Ian Holloway’s men may simply play the remaining 30 games as a spoiler. Fulham also face difficulties with instability in goal scoring and with manager Martin Jol. Sadly the storylines facing this game will likely overshadow the small television audience who would actually pay attention to these clubs. Do not watch if you expect quality football.

Injuries
Crystal Palace – Dikgacoi, Hunt, McCarthy, Murray and Williams (Out); Gabbidon (Late Fitness Test)
Fulham – Briggs (Out); Dejagah and Stekelenburg (Probable); Berbatov, Hughes and Parker (Late Fitness Tests)

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Fulham

It’s that time again. The final set of World Cup Qualifiers. Time has come for celebrations and heartache. Some of the usual suspects have already booked their tickets to the World Cup – Brazil, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Netherlands, Italy, United States and Argentina – along with a couple of teams who are not so common to recent World Cups – Iran and Costa Rica. But in the next week, teams from UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF will be securing a majority of the remaining World Cup spots. Perhaps the most intriguing of these regions is CONCACAF due to the storylines that could transpire if results go right – or wrong depending on the nation. As such, this article will serve to provide a number of scenarios for each of the CONCACAF nations.

First and foremost, with the United States and Costa Rica having qualified for World Cup 2014, their results will not be of any concern. Furthermore, due to FIFA’s decision to use the October 17 rankings for seeding purposes, the United States is virtually assured of no possible seed and spot in Pot 1. Thus, each of the four remaining CONCACAF nations will serve as the primary focus here.

Jamaica (0.2% chance of advancing) – In their final two matches, Jamaica will face the USA (away) and Honduras (home). In terms of difficulty, Jamaica faces about as difficult a task as possible. With only 4 points in their first 8 Hexagonal matches, getting wins against the US and Honduras would seem impossible. However, this is the ONLY chance Jamaica has of advancing. Additionally, results in the other matches must result in Mexico and Panama only getting a maximum of 2 points each in their final two matchups – with Mexico hosting Panama this Friday.

Prediction – Jamaica bids farewell to the World Cup after losing by at least 2 goals to the US on Friday.

Mexico (50.3% chance of advancing) – Mexico is truly in a difficult position. While they have a slight advantage over Panama by hosting their match at home, Mexico has been awful – to say the very least – at the Azteca during the Hexagonal. They have scored only a single goal – in a loss to Honduras – and have been forced to take three 0-0 draws in their other home fixtures. To make matters worse, Mexico must go to Costa Rica in their final fixture. Oh, and Bryan Ruiz will be returning for Costa Rica, which can only make Los Ticos better, which is difficult to imagine given their 4-0-0 record at home. A win against Panama looks to be the only hope Mexico has of advancing to the World Cup.

Prediction – Mexico scores first against Panama and suffers the agony of a late goal to settle for a 1-1 draw. The devastation continues in San Jose with a 3-1 loss to Los Ticos. (See Panama’s prediction to see who advances).

Panama (50.8% chance of advancing) – Panama’s task is simple: beat Mexico. However, even with Mexico having played so poorly at home, Panama’s road form is just as bad at 0-2-2. The task does not get any easier with a home fixture against the United States on October 15. Panama does control their destiny as a win against Mexico virtually assures at least a fourth place finish. But, their home fixture with the US could prove a backup if they are unable to get the task done in Mexico. At home, Panama are 1-3-0 and they will face an injury-ridden US squad who has had mixed results on the road (1-1-2).

Prediction – As mentioned, Panama and Mexico draw 1-1. While the US is depleted, a road win is still likely against Panama and will force Panama to go to the dressing room to see the Mexico-Costa Rica score. Panama 1 – 2 United States. This result means that Panama will beat Mexico by goal difference and advance to the Playoff with New Zealand in November.

Honduras (98.8% chance of advancing) – While Honduras is almost guaranteed to advance to the World Cup, their primary concern will be getting the result on Friday to ensure they are not forced into the Playoff with New Zealand. Honduras must beat Costa Rica in San Pedro Sula in order to have a chance at guaranteeing they advance to the World Cup. Theoretically, if Mexico or Panama wins in Mexico City, Honduras could beat Costa Rica and still need a result in Jamaica to see their way through to Brazil. The only chance of not even getting a fourth place finish is to lose both of their remaining fixtures. This would leave them with 11 points and both Mexico and Panama would be able to pass Honduras by just getting 3 points and a solid goal difference in the final two fixtures.

Prediction – With Mexico and Panama drawing in Mexico City, Honduras see a similar fate against Costa Rica (1-1) and are forced to get a result in Jamaica to advance. With Jamaica eliminated, they will throw caution into the wind and surprise Honduras 2-1. Lucky for Honduras, both Panama and Mexico lose on the final day and they still advance to Brazil.

Final Table Prediction

Cardiff City Stadium: Saturday, October 5^th, 10:00EST

As Round 7 of the Premier League approaches on Saturday, one of the more intriguing matchups will be outside of England in South Wales. Cardiff City host Newcastle United at the Cardiff City Stadium in what can only be described as a game between two teams searching for identity early in this Premier League season.

Newcastle makes the long journey to Cardiff having dropped six straight points despite scoring two goals per game. The Magpies are not lacking in attack as Loïc Remy has scored three of the four goals in the past two contests. The previous three games have seen Newcastle score six goals, which is in stark contrast to their first three matches in which they only managed a single goal from Hatem Ben Arfa in a 1-0 win against Fulham. Alan Pardew’s men are playing with just as much inconsistency defensively. They have given up eleven goals in six fixtures. Surprisingly, this includes two clean sheets. Questions about which Newcastle defense will make the trip to Cardiff could possibly determine the outcome.

Cardiff, on the other hand, is coming off a run of form that has been seen as consistent over the past five games. After dropping a rough fixture against West Ham at Upton Park 2-0, Malky Mackay has gotten his team back to playing the style Mackay implemented at Cardiff in the Championship the previous two seasons. The Bluebirds have played each of the previous five games with great discipline in their shape and have been led by strong efforts defensively from Ben Turner and Steven Caulker. Cardiff has been largely inconsistent in attack as through the first five games they managed only 41 total chances and only 10 of those were on goal. That was a Premier League low. However, against Fulham, Cardiff seemed to find their stride with Odemwingie and Whittingham having strong performances and Theopile-Catherine and Taylor getting up the wings to add to the attack.

The biggest questions entering this match revolve around the Cardiff attack and the Newcastle defense. If Cardiff presses forward like they did at Fulham, Newcastle could be in for a long day. A particular concern for Newcastle will be Peter Whittingham and Cardiff set pieces. Cardiff has scored three of their five goals from corner kicks and their size and aerial ability has been impressive. However, if Newcastle can keep their shape defensively and not give up set pieces, they can turn to their attack to give them a real chance at three points in the fortress that is Cardiff City Stadium. 

Prediction: Given the foothold Cardiff have found with Odemwingie and their strength in defense, Newcastle will be forced to improve their finishing on set pieces if they hope to come away with points. Cardiff will press high from the opening whistle and force Newcastle’s back line to play under pressure. Cardiff should come away with the three points easily at home, 3-1.

Likely Lineups:

Cardiff City – Marshall, Taylor, Turner, Caulker, Theopile-Catherine, Medel, Whittingham, Kim, Gunnarsson, Odemwingie, Campbell

Newcastle United – Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Debuchy, Sissoko, Anita, Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Tioté, Remy